| | By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Chicago and the Los Angeles Clippers were the two losers Sunday by
not winning the NBA draft lottery.
But the Bulls and Clippers' losses could end up being big gains for Texas junior center Chris Mihm and Cincinnati senior forward Kenyon Martin.
|  | | Kenyon Martin could find himself living in Jersey soon. |
New Jersey, which was the winner of Sunday's draft lottery, will
likely go for a big man with the first pick. Jayson Williams is still a
question mark at center, meaning the Nets will go for a big man.
A quick survey of scouts Sunday night concluded that Martin
and Mihm would be the top two choices for the Nets. The scouts also agreed
with most of the names ESPN.com had penciled in with the rest of the
lottery.
Vancouver could end up trading the second pick, but if the Grizzlies
don't they'll go with a shot-blocker. Mihm, Martin, LSU sophomore Stromile
Swift or Iowa State junior Marcus Fizer fit the Grizzlies' needs at the
second pick.
The Clippers desperately need a point guard, but No. 3 is too high for that position in
this draft. Fresno State shooting guard Courtney
Alexander could be a possibility but, once again, the talent of Fizer and
Swift, if either is available, could be too tantalizing to pass up.
The wild card for the Clippers could be Darius Miles, the 6-foot-9 McDonald's
All-American from East St. Louis, Ill.
Chicago needs a center, and if it can't get its hands on Mihm,
Minnesota sophomore Joel Przybilla is the next option. If the Bulls
brass isn't sold on Przybilla offensively, they may play it safe with Swift
if he drops to No. 4. Swift could play next to Elton Brand inside with Swift
concentrating more on the defensive end.
Orlando has to decide what it's going to do with free agency (Grant
Hill, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady). But the Magic won't let Swift go if he's available at No. 5. If he's not, the Magic will likely look at Miles or
Michigan State guard Morris Peterson. The Magic don't feel the pressure of
needing to win with this draft and could take one or two of the high school
players with their three lottery picks.
Atlanta will take the best small forward or big guard available at
No. 6, with the likely order being Florida sophomore Mike Miller, Miles,
Alexander or Cincinnati freshman guard DerMarr Johnson.
If Chicago goes big at No. 4, it may have to grab a point at No. 7.
If the Bulls do, the first one up on the block is Michigan State senior Mateen
Cleaves. It may still be too high, which could allow the Bulls to trade down
a pick or two before taking Cleaves. If they stick with the pick, Johnson,
Alexander, Peterson and DePaul sophomore guard Quentin Richardson are possibilities.
Cleveland needs a big man at No. 8, and Przybilla wouldn't slip past
the Cavs if he hasn't been selected by this pick. The other option could be Greek
center Iakovos Tsakalidis. If the Cavs don't have either choice or aren't
ready to commit to Tsakalidis this high, Peterson and Alexander become
options at the wing.
Houston will go with the next best three-man -- most likely Miller, Miles or Peterson -- at No. 9. Alexander, if still available, could squeeze into this
spot, too.
Orlando has its eyes on Fresno guard DeShawn Stevenson (Washington
Union High) at No. 10. Richardson also becomes an option with this pick. But
if the Magic decide to go with a point here instead of at No. 13, Cleaves and St. John's
sophomore Erick Barkley are the top two choices.
Boston is in love with Tsakalidis if he's available, but the Celtics could
dance with the idea of taking Miles if he has slipped to No. 11. Grabbing a
backup point (Cleaves or Barkley) is an option, as is looking at a power
forward such as Syracuse senior Etan Thomas or UCLA junior Jerome Moiso.
Dallas could do just about anything with No. 12 (see Don Nelson's
draft-day trade for Leon Smith last year). They need a rebounder, which could mean
Thomas or Moiso, but some scouts could see Nelson going with a Dirk Nowitzki
clone in Utah senior Hanno Mottola. Nelson and Utah coach Rick Majerus are
close friends, which could help Mottola move into the lottery.
Orlando closes the lottery at No. 13 and will take a point guard if
it hasn't by now. Cleaves or Barkley wouldn't slip past this position.
If they took a point at No. 10, look for Stevenson to go at No. 13. Trading
this pick is also a possibility.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
| |
ALSO SEE
NBA draft lottery gives New Jersey huge Net gain
Draft: Projecting the first round
Draft: Top five players by position
Nets hope to fill front office spots soon
Draft: Who could go in the first round
|
