WASHINGTON -- A grab-bag of analysis and observation from the 1999 NBA draft:

High riser: Trajan Langdon. The Duke sharpshooter was picked ahead of fellow Blue Devils Corey Maggette and William Avery even though he lacked Maggette's explosiveness and Avery's ability to play the point. In a draft of specialty players, Langdon's outside shooting was a top commodity in a league that couldn't shoot straight last season.

Slip-sliding away: Maggette. Once bandied about as a potential No. 1 overall to Chicago, the Duke freshman slipped to the last spot in the lottery -- No. 13 and Seattle -- before being shipped to Orlando in a five-player, two-draft-pick trade.

	St. John's forward Ron Artest stands with NBA commissioner David Stern after being selected 16th by Chicago in the first round of the NBA draft.

Center doesn't hold: The first U.S. center wasn't picked until Jeff Foster at No. 21. Foreigners Aleksandar Radojevic (No. 12 to Toronto) and Frederic Weis (No. 15 to New York) are major projects, but apparently held more potential than Northwestern's Evan Eschmeyer (No. 34 to New Jersey) or Washington's Todd MacCulloch (No. 47 to Philadelphia), who is Canadian but played at the University of Washington.

Best deal/worst-kept secret: Jonathan Bender to the Pacers for Antonio Davis. Toronto coach Butch Carter all but made it official in a TNT interview, saying "we wanted to send a message to our veterans that we want to win now, and Antonio does that." Davis, who can play power forward or center if the Raptors want to go small, certainly sends that message while allowing the Raptors to let Charles Oakley exit via free agency. Expect this deal to include more than just a straight-up swap.

Immediate impact: Wally Szczerbiak. When Minnesota lost Tom Gugliotta, everyone in the Land 'o Lakes wondered who would play alongside Kevin Garnett in the frontcourt. After a one-year experiment with Joe Smith, the Timberwolves found their man in Szczerbiak.

Waiting game: Jumaine Jones. Projected as a lottery pick, the Georgia sophomore was left as the only player in the Green Room when Tim James was picked at No. 25. Jones didn't get to press the flesh with commissioner David Stern until No. 27 with Atlanta's fourth pick of the round.

Random question: If Lamar Odom has a good year, is he eligible for comeback player of the year?

Second-round steal: Eschmeyer. New Jersey needed some size up front and it fell into the Nets' lap at No. 34. Eschmeyer isn't afraid to mix it up and doesn't need a lot of shots to be effective. That's a good thing, seeing as how the Nets barely have enough balls to go around with Stephon Marbury, Keith Van Horn, Kerry Kittles and Kendall Gill.

Tough-luck case: Ron Artest. Falling out of the lottery, the New York native could have been picked by the Knicks at No. 15. Instead New York opted for size in French project Frederic Weis, and Artest went at No. 16 to Chicago.

Best haul: Tie -- Chicago and Minnesota. With four overall picks, the Bulls got big in a hurry -- Elton Brand (6-8, 260 pounds), Michael Ruffin (6-8, 248) and Lari Ketner (6-10, 285) all like to bang, and even Artest, who could play shooting guard, tips the scales at a robust 246. The Timberwolves got an outside shooter in Szczerbiak and a point guard of the future in Avery.

Least with most: Atlanta. The Hawks had a chance to remake their roster with four first-round picks after bottoming out in the playoffs. Instead, only Jason Terry looks ready to play right away. Cal Bowdler played at Old Dominion and will have to adjust to big-time competition, Dion Glover blew out his knee last October and just started working out again and Jumaine Jones was traded to Philadelphia for a future first-round pick. They also shipped their second-round pick, Roberto Bergersen, to Portland for cash considerations.

Most with least: It was going to be Seattle, until the Sonics gutted their roster by shipping Maggette and three current players to Orlando for Horace Grant and two future second-rounders. With Vin Baker opting out of his contract, Seattle got a replacement power forward and cleared a ton of cap room. But passing on a potential superstar like Maggette, the player who most resembles Vince Carter in this year's draft, could come back to haunt Seattle.

Best dressed: Steve Francis. In an all-black ensemble, Francis' attire matched his mood after being picked by Vancouver. Francis acted like he was at a funeral instead of the NBA draft. Honorable mention: Terry, in a cobalt-blue three-button long coat ... and his lucky game socks, which he wore throughout his career at Arizona.

Worst dressed: Baron Davis, although not by his design. A stylish cream outfit could have helped him make a run at best dressed, but the teal Hornets hat ruined the look. Honorable mention: Odom, who donned a tan suit with light blue stripes, a light blue shirt and multicolored tie.

Build for tomorrow: Indiana. The Pacers, who saw their aging legs painfully exposed during the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks, will put high-schooler Bender next to last year's first-round pick, prep star Al Harrington, as soon as the swap with the Raptors becomes official.

Top quote: Artest on his sleepless night before the draft: "I was up all night. I was ironing clothes that didn't need to be ironed. I was ironing my socks, underwear, dollar bills. I went to sleep at like 2 in the morning and woke up at 7. I even ironed by brother's pants. I was so nervous. Anybody need any clothes ironed? I'll iron anybody's clothes."

Wait 'til next year: The pick-less Portland Trail Blazers, until they swooped in and grabbed Bergersen from Atlanta just before Rod Thorn announced the final pick.