Look for Chicago to not take any risks and simply pick the best player available and watch him develop. Today I think that best player is Francis. They are still willing to move the pick for the right price. Krause likes Odom and Wally World, but Francis might be too tempting to pass up. If they trade the pick, then Francis is the guaranteed #1, if Chicago keeps the pick I say 40% Francis, 40% Brand and 20% Szczerbiak. If the Bulls really think that Wally is their guy I say go for it!
They are really looking for a PF, and Elton Brand is probably their guy. Although Brand has been knocked for not being big enough...the number one college player can still develop into a strong post player. Odom has slipped, although the only team in the top 6 that will take him is the Grizzlies. I'd guess 60% Brand and 40% Odom. If Chicago doesn't take Francis, then I think the Grizzlies will trade their pick and Francis will go 2.
SF Wally Szczerbiak (Miami of
Ohio) 6-7/244
Rumor has it that they really have their eye on Baron Davis and would have taken him even at number one. They can really...really use a PG, too. I am pretty sure their realistic #2 choice is Wally Szczerbiak, although they would Francis and Brand.
Jonathan Bender
(Picayune HS) 6-11/210The Raptors have reached an agreement with Indiana to draft Bender and trade him to Indiana for Antonio Davis.
Hamilton would be the perfect fit for the T-Wolves. They have also taken a good hard look at Maggette. If Odom is still here do they take him?
SF Lamar Odom (Rhode
Island) 6-10/220He has lost his NCAA eligibility so at this point there is no way he can pull out. The factor that have caused him to slide are his refusal to work out for teams, and his refusal to have a physical in Chicago (ie questions of drug tests). I expect that the Wizards won't be drafting on need, but potential. Therefore, Maggette might also go here. They will probably try to grab whoever falls through the cracks. They have stated that they will pick Bender if available...they could be just blowing smoke, though.
Right now Cleveland could go in a number of directions, since they are solid at every position. They will look for the player that can get the most minutes for them, and that could develop into a star player. I think they are holding their breath for Wally World, but he probably won't be here. They really want to move up to snatch Wally, so they might try to deal for 3 or 4.
Word out of Phoenix says Bender's the guy the want. They could also very easily snatch one of the PGs since there's a couple on the board still in Miller, Avery and Terry. KJ and Kidd played together and didn't do too bad. Bottom line is they have to take the best available player that slips.
Atlanta traded away Mookie to draft a young point guard. They could like Avery best, and they should have their pick of the two.
This can be a troublesome pick for them because the best available players are PG and SFs, which they don't really wanna draft with this pick, but if Avery is still available I think he's too tempting to pass up, and he provides insurance for Knight. They have taken a hard look at Posey, though.
PF/C Evan Eschmeyer (Northwestern)
6-11/255
Eschmeyer has demonstrated an ability to play and has emerged as the #1 center prospect. Plus, everyone knows they are looking for a big man.
Jones name hasn't been mentioned much lately, but he is still a legit lottery pick and he could gain in popularity as draft day approaches. Every mock draft in the world has either Avery or Terry here, but I think they might be gone already. If one of them is here....
They will want to take whoever is the best swingman left on the board, and who can play a perimeter game. Their choice between Marion and Artest. They would nab one of th PGs if he slips.
PF/SF James Posey (Xavier)
6-8/216The Cavs have taken a hard look at Posey, but I don't see him going in the lottery. The Knicks will aim for the best big man still on the board, and decide that Radojevic is still too big a project They are also hoping to take one of the PGs that may drop...ie Avery, but I don't see it happening. Their choices are Kenny Thomas, Lee Nailon and Posey. I don't think they will throw Herren into the PG mix, but I could be wrong. They will probably take Artest if he drops. Even odds on Nailon or Posey if both are still there...
Chicago needs to hit it big in this lottery. I don't think they will take a big man that probably won't ever be more than a solid role player. Rather they will roll the dice on potential.
They Hawks will probably keep this pick and draft a nice, solid forward. I like Nailon, and I don't see why he would drop any lower than here.
SG Trajan Langdon (Duke)
6-3/200The Nuggets can use help at any position, but the word out of the Nugget's camp is that they are enamored with this native Alaskan.
C Aleksandar Radojevic
(Barton County CC) 7-3/245
They will want to pick a viable alternative to Ostertag that could pay off big. It could be Weis, I'm not sure which one is better at this point.
I think that Padgett will prove to be a nice all-around forward and an asset to the Hawks team. If they go small they can pick between Quincy Lewis and Herren.
PG/SG Chris
Herren (Fresno State) 6-1/173My prediction is that Herren's stock will continue to rise, he could go even higher. But who do the Warriors want with this pick? They traded for a PG, but Herren could have time to develop behind Mookie.
He's probably not their first choice, they like Posey and Langdon, but he will do.
I see his stock falling cuz he refused to go to the Chicago Camp...and he wasn't he there to be measured! Who knows what West will see talent wise...
With three first round picks, the Jazz can afford to gamble on a player who could have a big payoff. He could generate some trade interest for either this pick or Atlanta's picks. We'll let him be the newest Jazz bench player. You figure that no-one they take with this pick could get any playing time.
He's been up and down in a lot of mock drafts...I say he ends up sliding.
The only real (tiny) hole the Pacers have is another big body at center when Smits gets in foul trouble.
Bramlett, once the forgotten man, has started to get some interest from NBA teams, and he might go as high as 15 or 20....or he's a second rounder.
PF Kenny Thomas (New Mexico)
6-8/260I think that Kenny may slip a bit.
SG Laron Profit (Maryland)
6-4/205They have lots of options with the last pick in the first round, probably options they don't want to take. They've taken a hard look at Laron and would like to add his athleticism.
Second Round
C Todd MacCulloch (Washington)
7-0/280He's falling faster than his big body. He didn't go to the Chicago Camp which could kill his chances.
C Tim Young (Stanford)
7-1/250He's falling pretty fast and could slide all the way to the Wizards.
June 30, 1999