Washington: Kwame Brown 6-11/250 (Glynn Academy High
School, GA) A week ago everyone was convinced that Griffin would be
number one. It looks like Kwame is climbing up the ladder due to terrific
workouts and an exception NBA body. He's also pegged to play either
forward or center, and probably has more potential than Curry. I think
that Griffin is the runner up.
LA Clippers: Eddy Curry 6-11/285 (Thornwood High-High
School) Since they are picking at number two they are only looking at two guys
cuz they will get one of them. Griffin won't fit too well on their team,
crowding Odom and Miles, so its down to the two high school seniors. As
of this minute, the Clips like Kwame over Curry. Some mock drafts have
Chandler as a lock, but I don't buy it.
Atlanta: Pau Gasol 7-0/220 (Spain) It has been rumored, but unconfirmed that Vancouver picked up this
pick in a trade along with Lorenzen Wright and Brevin Knight for Shareef
Abdur-Rahim. The Hawks had been infatuated by Battier, but they started
to back off that position. If they keep the pick they say they are
deciding between Griffin and Gasol. If Vancouver/Memphis gets it then
they will probably take Gasol.
Chicago: Eddie Griffin 6-9/205 (Seton Hall-Freshman) The Bulls will just take whichever one of the top players slip. I
think they like Curry the best, but Battier has also impressed them. They
just can't pass on Eddie Griffin though.
Golden State: Tyson Chandler 7-1/230 (Compton,
CA--High School) Chandler has moved to the head of the board for
Golden State. They still could take Rodney White, or one of the top 4,
but Chandler has been solidifying his draft position once again.
Vancouver: Shane Battier 6-8/215 (Duke-Senior)
The Griz are high on Richardson, but I also don't think they will pass
on Battier.
New Jersey: Rodney White 6-8/230
(Charlotte-Freshman) White has been skyrocketing up the draft lists
and is almost certain now that he will end up in either GS, Vancouver or
New Jersey. The Cavs are also drooling for him. Rumor has it the Nets
want to go big and are willing to gamble on high school talent. So they
might also consider Diop, but he's falling like a rock. They would love
to get their hands on Tyson Chandler though.
Cleveland: Jason Richardson 6-6/220 (Michigan
State-Sophomore) Richardson is a good pickup here, although they
are probably still hoping for White. If White or Richardson aren't
available then they will go with Joe Johnson. They also are toying with
taking Diop, but I don't think that is a problem they should take on if
they can get someone like White, Richardson or Johnson.
Detroit: Joe Johnson 6-8/225 (Arkansas-Sophomore) They are looking hard at Troy Murphy, Rodney White, Joe Johnson and
Vladimir Radmanovich. I originally thought they liked Woods, but he has
slipped. I think they will take Johnson if he is still available over
Murphy, but White would be their number one realistic choice.
Boston: Troy Murphy 6-11/240 (Notre Dame-Junior)
Next to Rodney White, Murphy is the hottest commodity not named
Gasol right now due to some really good workouts. He finds himself
back in the lottery and should be there to stay. The Celts want Gasol and
might trade up to get him. They will also consider Radmanovich, but I
think they will settle for Murphy. They would definately take Johnson or
White if the slip...or basically anyone else that is in the top 9.
Boston (from Denver): Kedrick Brown 6-7/220
(Okaloosa-Walton Community College, FL-Sophomore)
Boston took this pick from Denver to give them 3 first rounders, so they
can gamble. It has been reported everywhere that Brown has been given a
promise by the Celts, and he has been invited to the Big Show in New York,
so I am relenting and saying it will happen.
Seattle: De Sagana Diop 7-0/305 (Oak Hill Academy,
Virginia-High School) His stock is falling a bit, but all he needs
is one good workout. His problem right now is that teams really don't
know what he is going to do because an injury has limited what he can
show. The Sonics will take a big man here. They will be happy with
either Woods or Haywood, if they can't get Diop.
Houston: Vladimir Radmanovic 6-9/225 (Yugoslavia) Radmanovic has been skyrocketing and the Rockets like
him. Conventional wisdom has them taking one of the senior center
prospects, but it looks like they will slide. Did you know that this guy
can shoot too? Boston, Seattle or Detroit just might pick him up though,
and that would mean that Houston would probably get Murphy.
Golden State (from Indiana): Michael Bradley 6-10/245
(Villanova-Junior) Unfortunately, Bradley is slipping just a little
because Troy Murphy has been more impressive in workouts. Consensus has
been that they will take a PG, but Bradley is a better prospect and the
PGs are slipping.
Orlando: Loren Woods 7-1/225 (Arizona-Senior) Woods has
been very impressive in workouts and been bulking up recently, but he
still seems to be slipping. Orlando is going big with this pick,
and you would have to think that Haywood or Woods would be on the top of
their wish list for slipping. They also liked Jason Collins in his
workout for them. A couple weeks ago many thought that Troy Murphy would
be slipping here, but now it seems he will be long gone.
Charlotte: Joseph Forte 6-4/185 (UNC-Sophomore) This
just fits doesn't it? Charlotte can afford to draft for talent and not
for need as they are solid at all positions.
Toronto: Zach Randolph 6-9/270 (Michigan
State-Freshman) He may be the best PF prospect in the draft, but
then again he might be number 4 or 5. Believe it or not this year's draft
class is just full of good solid big men! Randolph is slipping just a
little bit behind White, Murphy and Bradley. Toronto will
try to grab the best big man that they can.
Houston (from Orlando from Phoenix from NY): Richard
Jefferson 6-7/222 (Arizona-Junior) Houston has
exercised their option to take this pick from the Magic and I think they
want to take another chance on grabbing someone that might slip to
them. They still need a center, but I think they like Alvin Jones as much
as Haywood and he will still be available when they pick later in the
round. They will consider Jefferson with their first pick this round, so
will probably go ahead and grab him here. Jefferson's problem in slipping
will be that he will be several team's second choice.
Portland: Brendan Haywood 7-0/270 (UNC-Senior)
A few days ago we all thought this pick would be Kedrick Brown.
Cleveland (from Miami): Steven Hunter 6-11/224
(DePaul-Sophomore) Hunter and Cook helped themselves the most at
the Chicago pre-draft camp. This is a reach, but he just might take a
leap over the other center prospects.
Boston (via Phoenix from Denver): Jamaal Tinsley 6-3/185 (Iowa
State-Senior) Is Tinsley the big time NBA point guard? He is slipping
and this could just be where he slides. Boston wants to not only add some
big bodies, but also a PG. There are really very few choices at point
this year, but Tinsley I think is still number one, followed by Tony
Parker of France and Omar Cook, who had a great Chicago Camp, showing he
can run a team, but his workouts have produced spotty and questionable
shooting.
Orlando (from Houston from Milwaukee): Jason Collins
7-0/265 (Stanford-Sophomore) The Magic need to get a
center, but Tinsley or Cook might be too good to pass up. They liked
Collins in his workouts so I say they grab him if he is still here.
Houston (from Orlando from Dallas): Alvin Jones 6-11/265
(Georgia Tech-Senior) You figure that the Rockets will grab the best
available here, if they get their big man earlier. Nope didn't get there
center so they will go with who they like in the middle....Jones.
Utah: Gilbert Arenas 6-3/188 (Arizona-Sophomore) Arenas has emerged as Utah's top prospect that they can realistically
pickup. They also like Hassell, which would also be a good fit. Another
choice is Tony Parker, but I think that is a stretch.
Sacramento: Trenton Hassell 6-5/195 (Austin
Peay) Sacramento often does something surprising, and
they've been going overseas alot in recent years, but I don't think they
will pass on someone who can help them. They will probably have a shot at
either Hassell or Arenas, and maybe even one of the PF slips like Zach
Randolph.
Philadelphia: Gerald Wallace 6-7/210 (Alabama-Freshman) The Sixers will look hard for a solid role player. They actually have
pretty good depth at center so watch them try to take a gamble on someone
who can score. They might also like Hassell, Trepagnier or Arenas if they
are still available. He is probably the best athlete in the draft and is
very explosive, but can't shoot.
Vancouver (from LA Lakers via New York): Kirk Haston
6-10/230 (Indiana-Junior) He said he would go back to school unless
he was a first round pick and now it looks like he will be one. Vancouver
still wants to take a chance on a center and he has more upside than the
other players that are available. Other players who
might be here are Alvin Jones or Delambert. They will have to decide.
San Antonio: Jeff Trepagnier 6-4/195 (USC-Senior)
Once again San Antonio will try to add a decent athletic swingman.
They will probably not jump on one of the big centers
that will be available, or go with a PG. They would rather take Hassell,
Arenas or Wallace, but they all might be gone by now.
*Minnesota forfeits their first round pick.
Chicago: Samuel Dalembert 6-11/230 (Seton Hall-Sophomore)
Golden State: Tony Parker 6-2/170 (France)
Orlando (from Washington): Omar Cook 6-1/190
(St. Johns-Freshman) This is where Orlando will probably look for
a PG and settle for Cook, Parker, Satterfield or maybe even Tinsley. They
can get someone that will slide.
Vancouver: Mehmet Okur 6-10/225 (Turkey)
Atlanta: Jeryl Sasser 6-6/200 (SMU-Senior)
New Jersey: Ousmane Cisse 6-8/240 (St. Jude High School
in Alabama) I'm not quite sure where Cisse might land, he is
slipping.
Cleveland: Antonis Fotsis 6-9/210 (Greece)
Philadelphia (from LA Clippers): Terence Morris 6-9/215
(Maryland-Senior)
Detroit: Ken Johnson 6-11/227 (Ohio
State-Senior) Johnson has been slipping a lot because he's been hurting
himself in workout and the camps
New York (from Boston via Seattle): Martin Rancik 6-8/230
(Iowa State-Senior)
