Fw: Insider Playoff team needs.in 2003 draft

["Josh Ozersky" <jozersky1@xxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steven Wallace" <swallace4922@attbi.com>
Newsgroups: alt.sports.basketball.nba.boston-celtics
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 6:16 PM
Subject: Insider Playoff team needs.in 2003 draft


> Attributed to the author
>
> Draft needs of playoff teams
> By Chad Ford
> NBA Insider
>  Monday, May 19
> Updated: May 20
> 9:52 AM ET
>
>
> The playoffs are just getting interesting, but that doesn't mean that the
> rest of the league is sitting at home watching the Mavs and Spurs duke it
> out for the Western Conference title.
>
>
> Draft workouts get into full swing today. Right now the guys fighting for
> their draft lives are working out. But by next week, the lottery hopefuls
> will join the ranks, and in two weeks, things will hit full tilt as every
> NBA team descends upon Chicago for the pre-draft camp.
>
> While we know who's going Nos. 1, 2 and 3, the rest of the field is wide
> open.
>
> Insider made some phone calls, sorted through some depth charts and
> incentive-laden contracts to give you a first look at what each
non-lottery
> team will be looking for on draft night.
>
>
> Milwaukee Bucks
> Picks:
> 14*, 35*, 43* Team Needs The Skinny
>  Point guard
> Low-post scorer
> Size The Bucks already have two starting point guards in Gary Payton and
Sam
> Cassell, but for how long? There's a chance both could be gone by next
> season.
>
> No one is sure what Payton, an unrestricted free agent, will do this
summer.
> If he re-signs, the Bucks most likely will move Cassell and bring in
someone
> for Payton to mentor. He can't play forever.
>
> If Payton bolts, the team will try to draft a point and go young. That
means
> Cassell still probably will be on the block, and the Bucks will have a big
> hole at the point. Of course they also could use some size and toughness
in
> the post, but that's a much rarer commodity where the Bucks will be
picking.
>
> They'd love to get their hands on T. J. Ford, but it's unlikely he'll be
> around. Leandrinho Barbosa, Kirk Hinrich, Luke Ridnour and Reece Gaines
are
> the other top point guard prospects. If none of the top point guards
strike
> them as worthy, guys like Mike Sweetney or Maciej Lampe might be a good
fit.
>
> And now for the big question, where will the Bucks be picking? If Atlanta
> doesn't get one of the top three picks, the Bucks will receive the Hawks
> first rounder (likely to be No. 8 overall). If that happens, the Bucks
will
> send their own pick (No. 14) to the Sonics. If the Hawks do get one of the
> top three picks, the Bucks will keep their own pick (No. 14) and send
their
> two second round picks to Seattle instead. Got all that? It will become
much
> clearer on Thursday, when the draft lottery is held.
>
>
> Orlando Magic
> Picks: 15, 42* Team Needs The Skinny
>  Tough center
> Big point guard The addition of Drew Gooden helped fill the Magic's
whopping
> hole in the middle toward the end of the season, but it's not enough. They
> still need a big, physical guy to bang around in the post. Pavel Podkolzin
> would fit the bill, but he probably won't around when the Magic pick at
No.
> 15, and besides, he's at least two years away from helping a team. Guys
like
> Mike Sweetney, Anderson Varejao, Sofaklis Schortsanitis, Nick Collison and
> Mario Austin wouldn't be bad picks, but none of them really fit a team
need.
>
> So, barring a surprising drop by someone, expect the Magic to focus on
their
> need at point guard. With Darrell Armstrong and Jacque Vaughn hitting free
> agency, the team will have a big hole. Doc Rivers likes big point guards,
> and three of them could be around at No. 14. Leandrinho Barbosa would give
> them the energy and athleticism, but he doesn't speak English, which could
> be a big problem the first year. Reece Gaines had a big senior season at
> Louisville. If he projects as a point guard, he'd be a nice pick-up for
the
> Magic.
>
> But I'm going out on a limb here and saying Washington State's Marcus
Moore
> could be the Magic's man. Moore is a legit 6-foot-6 point guard (unlike
> draft bust Jeryl Sasser), can score in bunches and is poised to star at
the
> Chicago pre-draft camp in June. That's significant, because the Magic have
> taken a Chicago pre-draft camp star the last three seasons (Stephen
Hunter,
> Sasser, Ryan Humphrey). For whatever reason, that's their talent pool
> lately. Just because they've struck out the last three years, doesn't mean
> they won't keep going to the well.
>
>
> Boston Celtics
> Picks: 16, 20* Team Needs The Skinny
>  Low-post scorer
> Point guard Last season the Celtics didn't have a first round pick, this
> year they have two -- their own (No. 16) and Philadelphia's (No. 20). If
> Chris Wallace were still the GM in Boston, you could be pretty sure that
one
> or both of these picks would be an international player. Wallace spent
> upwards of three weeks in Europe scouting guys, and with the Celtics'
salary
> cap woes, it probably makes sense to draft a young international and leave
> him in Europe for a season.
>
> But with Danny Ainge now running the show, expect things to be a little
> different. Ainge will have more flexibility from ownership to spend, and
> he'd like to make a splash now, if he can. The question is whether there
is
> enough talent left at 16 and 20 to make a difference.
>
> The Celtics' biggest need is to get a scoring presence in the paint who
can
> command a double team. With Vin Baker out indefinitely and Antoine Walker
> obsessed with launching 3s, the team needs a player willing to play with
his
> back to the basket. Nick Collison, Brian Cook, Mario Austin, David West
and
> Sofaklis Schortsanitis should be around when the Celtics draft at 16.
>
> The team also needs a more traditional point guard, preferably one who can
> shoot from the perimeter. Luke Ridnour, Reece Gaines and Marcus Moore
could
> be on the board when the Celtics draft.
>
> Pick 20 should give the Celtics a chance to swing for the fences. An
> international player like Boris Diaw could be an interesting pick, though
> his lack of scoring could haunt a team desperately in need of a third
> scorer. And don't count out BYU's Travis Hansen. Ainge knows him and was
> touting him around the league before taking the job in Boston. If he plays
> well in Chicago, you never know. He has the kind of toughness and maturity
> most top draft picks lack these days.
>
>
> Phoenix Suns
> Pick: 17 Team Needs The Skinny
>  Center
> Shot blocker
> Back-up point Whoever the Suns get at 17 will be gravy. They already have
> blossoming young stars at the point (Stephon Marbury), shooting guard (Joe
> Johnson, Casey Jacobsen), small forward (Shawn Marion) and power forward
> (Amare Stoudemire). While the team is still high on Jake Tsakalidis,
there's
> no question it could use another shot blocker in the paint.
>
> Problem is, there aren't a lot of great options here. High school center
> Kendrick Perkins is available, but he's probably a reach. Zaur Pachulia, a
> 19-year-old, 6-foot-11 big man playing in Turkey, might be a nice pick-up
> here. He's a project, but the Suns have time to develop him.
>
> If no legit big men are available, the team may try to find a big,
athletic
> small forward or a back-up point. The Suns would love to get their hands
on
> 7-foot Maciej Lampe, but it's doubtful he'll be around at this spot.
> France's Boris Diaw could be here, but his game is too reminiscent of
> Johnson's. Russia's Viktor Khryapa would give the Suns a serious defensive
> presence. Illinois' Brian Cook would be a good fit. He's seen as a bit of
a
> risk, but the Suns can afford to gamble a bit. Ditto for high schoolers
> Travis Outlaw or Ndudi Ebi.
>
> As far as point guards go, a number of them, like Oregon's Luke Ridnour,
> Alabama's Mo Williams or UNLV's Marcus Banks could be a good fit here.
>
>
> New Orleans Hornets
> Picks: 18, 48 Team Needs The Skinny
>  Low-post scorer
> Perimeter shooter
>  In all likelihood, forward P. J. Brown will bolt this summer, leaving the
> Hornets with a pretty big hole to fill in the paint. Brian Cook, Nick
> Collison, Mario Austin and Anderson Varejao are all potential candidates
> here.
>
> The Hornets also could use a tall sharp-shooter from the perimeter. David
> Wesley is better coming off the bench, and Courtney Alexander was a bit of
a
> bust this year. Someone like Yugoslavia's Aleksandar Pavlovic would be a
> great fit in New Orleans. He's a top-notch shooter, an above-average
athlete
> and he's got great size (6-foot-7) for the position.
>
>
> Utah Jazz
> Picks: 19, 47 Team Needs The Skinny
>  Athletic 2 guard
> Center
> New mailman? With John Stockton heading for retirement and Karl Malone
> pondering greener pastures, the Jazz could be in for a major overhaul.
With
> the exception of small forward (with Matt Harpring and Andrei Kirlilenko),
> they need a little help everywhere.
>
> If Malone bolts, they'll need some sort of scoring in the paint. Nick
> Collison looks the part -- hard working, blue collar, scrapper -- but he's
> not Karl Malone.
>
> Point guard will be an issue if Raul Lopez isn't healthy enough to play
next
> season. The Jazz will make a strong run at Andre Miller this summer, but
> there are no guarantees. If Ridnour or Hinrich fall here, the Jazz would
> have to seriously consider them.
>
> The team's other big need is at the 2. DeShawn Stevenson looks like a
bust,
> and they know Calbert Cheaney won't perform this well forever. They need
an
> athletic player who can create his own shot and sink 3s. The team is high
on
> Yugoslavia's Alexsandar Pavlovic and France's Boris Diaw. If Georgia's
> Jarvis Hayes slipped to them, they'd also give him a lot of consideration.
>
>
> Philadelphia 76ers
> Pick: 50* Team Needs The Skinny
>  True center
> Help at the 4 The Sixers might be stuck without a draft pick this season.
> They must send their first-round pick to Boston, and they have the option
of
> sending their second round pick (No. 50) to the Pistons. Detroit is
looking
> to pick up another second rounder, so there's a chance Philly goes ahead
and
> sits this one out.
>
> They might as well. The team needs major help in the paint. With Todd
> MacCulloch's career possibly over, and Derrick Coleman, Tyrone Hill and
> Kenny Thomas all hitting free agency, the Sixers could be in a lot of
> trouble next season. But at No. 50, the cavalry just isn't there.
>
>
> Indiana Pacers
> Pick: 49 Team Needs The Skinny
>  Big point guard
> Back-up center The Pacers also are stuck without a first-rounder this
year.
> They must send their pick to Atlanta to complete the Jamaal Tinsley trade.
> It's too bad. The team could really use another point guard, and there
would
> be several on the board at No. 21.
>
> Instead, the Pacers are looking at the 49th pick, deep in the second
round.
> With the influx of point guards entering the draft, there's always a
chance
> someone like Notre Dame's Chris Thomas slips to them here. But more
likely,
> the Pacers will try to steal a more experienced point guard out of Europe.
> Lativa's Kristaps Voltars, Croatia's Zoran Planinic, France's Paccelis
> Morlende and Slovenia's Alexsandar Vujacic could all be impact players for
> the Pacers in a year or two.
>
>
> New Jersey Nets
> Picks: 22, 51 Team Needs The Skinny
>  Back-up PG
> Sharp-shooter
>  The Nets scored one of the steals of the draft last year when they
selected
> little known Yugoslavian center Nenad Kristic. Kristic stayed in Europe
this
> year and blossomed into a legit prospect who could really make an impact
> next season.
>
> Will lightening strike twice? The Nets have been canvassing Europe again,
> this time for a combo guard who also doubles as a sharp-shooter. There are
> whispers they're high on Slovenia's 6-foot-6 Alexsandar Vujacic, a
> 19-year-old who some scouts believe has a huge upside. They've also taken
a
> look at Yugoslavia's Alexsandar Pavlovic.
>
> However, they might not have to go the European route this year. With an
> influx of point guards, it's not out of the question that someone like
Reece
> Gaines could fall to them here.
>
>
> Portland Trail Blazers
> Picks: 23, 54 Team Needs The Skinny
>  Center
> 3-point shooter
> No criminal record What does a team that has two of everything need in the
> NBA draft? The last two years, the team has been able to gamble with risky
> prospects like Zach Randolph and Qyntel Woods. Randolph is now paying big
> dividends, and despite Woods' marijuana problems, they think he too could
be
> a big time player next year.
>
> That means the Blazers probably can afford to raid either the high school
or
> European ranks for their next pick. Travis Outlaw, Kendrick Perkins and
> Ndudi Ebi are all possibilities here, as are Brazil's Anderson Varejao,
Zaur
> Pachulia, Sengal's Malick Badiane and Yugoslavia's Zarko Cabarkapa.
>
>
> Los Angeles Lakers
> Pick: 24 Team Needs The Skinny
>  Power forward
> Sweet-shooting SF
> Big PG The Lakers will try to address most of their dire needs via free
> agency. At the end of the day, expect P.J. Brown or Juwan Howard to end up
> in a Lakers uniform. But the team won't have enough money to fill every
> hole.
>
> Someone like Brian Cook, Nick Collison, Mario Austin or David West would
be
> a good fit here, if they fall this far. A big point guard like Marcus
Moore
> would also be a good fit, if he's still around. The Lakers also could go
the
> international route, with someone like Zaur Pachulia, Zarko Cabarkapa or
> even Sofaklis Schortsanitis, if they're still on the board.
>
>
> Detroit Pistons
> Picks:
> 6*, 25, 58* Team Needs The Skinny
>  Scoring
> Perimeter shooting
> Back-up PG
> Back-up C How good could the Pistons be next year? Rookies Tayshaun Prince
> and Mehmet Okur are playing big-time roles in the playoffs, and the team
> could add another two first-round picks this year.
>
> Detroit will get Memphis' first round pick if it isn't the No. 1 overall.
> Right now, the Pistons have a little of everything, so they have the
luxury
> of being able to take the best player on the board. If the pick is No. 2
or
> No. 3, then Darko Milicic or Carmelo Anthony will get the call. If it
falls
> to No. 6 or No. 7, the Pistons have had their eye on Chris Kaman all year
> along, with a host of international players as possibilities, too,
including
> Mickael Pietrus, Maciej Lampe and Anderson Varejao.
>
> With their 25th pick, the team will have to come up with a replacement for
> Jon Barry, who likely will leave via free agency. BYU's Travis Hansen
really
> caught their eye in Portsmouth. Rick Carlisle loves mature players, and
> Hansen fits the bill.
>
>
> Minnesota Timberwolves
> Picks: 26, 55 Team Needs The Skinny
>  Big, physical 4
> True PG The T-Wolves finally get a first-round pick, and they're stuck all
> the way at No. 26. The team needs toughness in the worst way. If Mario
> Austin or Nick Collison fell to them here, they'd be tough to pass up on.
>
> They also need more toughness on the perimeter. They like BYU's Travis
> Hansen and Argentina's Carlos Delfino. Both kids are tough 2-guards who
can
> shoot and defend.
>
> They also could use a true point guard to lead the show. Marcus Moore,
> Alabama's Mo Williams and UNLV's Marcus Banks could all still be around
when
> the T-Wolves are picking.
>
>
> Sacramento Kings
> Pick: 56 Team Needs The Skinny
>  History of health
> Back-up center The Kings must send their first-round pick to Orlando,
which
> in turn will send the pick to Memphis as part of the Drew Gooden trade.
>
> Sacramento is stacked just about everywhere, though they may need to land
> another shot blocker in the paint if Keon Clark leaves this summer.
Drafting
> someone like Michigan State's Erazem Lorbek may not be a bad move at No.
56.
> He can season in Europe for a year or two, then be ready to play when
Vlade
> Divac is ready to retire.
>
>
> San Antonio Spurs
> Pick: 28 Team Needs The Skinny
>  Center
> Small forward With David Robinson retiring and Kevin Willis ready to
> celebrate his 87th birthday, they're going to have to add a young big
body.
> Most of the heavy lifting will be done via free agency. The Spurs are
> already salivating over the chance to steal Jermaine O'Neal away from
> Indiana. Guys like Brad Miller, Rasho Nesterovic and Michael Olowokandi
are
> also on their free-agent wish list.
>
> But it won't hurt to add another big guy. They love Anderson Varejao, but
my
> guess is he'll pull his name from the draft if he thinks he has slipped
this
> low. Ditto for Zaur Pachulia and Sofaklis Schortsanitis.
>
> That leave high-school players like Kendrick Perkins, James Lang or maybe
> 7-foot-6 Yugoslavian center Slavko Vranes. When you're on top like the
Spurs
> are, it never hurts to reach just a little bit. .
>
>
> Dallas Mavericks
> Pick: 29 Team Needs The Skinny
>  Tough big man The Mavs aren't going to find the answer to their soft
> mid-section with the 29th pick. But there will be a few options out there.
>
> North Dakota's Jerome Beasley could be an interesting fit. He's big,
> athletic and has a perimeter game to match his low post one. That's always
a
> plus in Nellie's system.
>
> The other kid to keep an eye on is Senegal's Malick Badiane. The Mavs have
> been watching him for years. He's big, pretty strong and very athletic.
> While he's very, very raw offensively, he's the type of kid that could
> blossom into something special if the team gives him a few years.
>
> The Mavs have that luxury. They'd be wise to take it.