| | By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
New Jersey's options for the No. 1 pick took a surprising turn
Wednesday when the Nets worked out LSU sophomore forward Stromile Swift -- in
New Jersey.
LSU coach John Brady told ESPN.com that Swift wouldn't travel for
workouts because he would have to pay for them himself if he wanted to
return to college next season.
|  | | Stromile Swift, shown here blocking Chris Mihm's shot, could go No. 1 overall to the Nets. |
Swift paid for the trip to New Jersey for obvious reasons.
"We've got the No. 1 pick," said John Nash, the Nets current
general manager, who confirmed that Swift, not the Nets paid for the trip.
Nash said the Nets intend on keeping the No. 1 pick instead of
trading it for multiple first-round picks or a pick and a player.
Nash said the Nets most pressing needs are defensive rebounding and
a post presence. The original obvious choices for the top spot were Texas
junior center Chris Mihm and Cincinnati senior forward Kenyon Martin.
Nash said the Nets haven't worked out either player -- yet. The Nets
have worked out other players in case they do choose to trade down in the draft.
But, if the choice is Nash's to make, the probability of a trade is unlikely. That means the
Nets won't draft players who have already worked out, such as Minnesota sophomore center
Joel Przybilla and Michigan State senior wing Morris Peterson.
Mihm, who Nash views as primarily a center, answers the need for
low-post scoring. Martin would be a logical choice for defensive rebounding
purposes. But Swift offers an intriguing package. At 6-foot-9, Swift
is still developing into a scorer. He's a shot-blocker who still needs to
become tougher in the post.
But he doesn't turn 20 until November.
"You can't get fooled by simply addressing your needs (in the
draft)," Nash said. "Portland had Jim Paxson and Clyde Drexler and that's
why they drafted (center) Sam Bowie instead of (guard) Michael Jordan (in
1984)," Nash said. "If someone comes in and blows your socks off and you
have someone in the position, then you just rearrange."
On paper, the Nets have a frontline of Keith Van Horn and Jayson
Williams (who is still recovering from a broken leg). Putting Swift into that mix
wouldn't fill the Nets' gaping hole for a low-post offensive presence but
it would give the Nets more athleticism inside with a shot blocker and a
gazelle on the break who could finish as well if not better than anyone on
their roster.
"Stromile is a wonderful young player who could address our
deficiencies," Nash said. "He could play small forward or score in the
post."
Brady said Swift has hinted that he may return to school if he were
convinced the Los Angeles Clippers would take him at No. 3. If the Nets were
to take Mihm or Martin, the Clippers will likely tab Swift at No. 3.
Vancouver, which has the No. 2 pick, fancies both Mihm and Martin, with the
thinking that Mihm could play power forward next to Bryant Reeves if Martin
goes to the Nets.
Swift has to decide if he wants to stay in the draft by June 21, a
week before the NBA draft. Swift hasn't signed with an agent and is still
taking intersession classes at LSU.
If Swift were assured he would go No. 1, he wouldn't return to LSU.
But the decision to draft Swift may not be Nash's to make in June.
The Nets are close to hiring former Georgetown star Michael Jackson and
could be close to tabbing former Georgetown coach John Thompson to head up the front
office. One thing is certain -- a coach may not have a say in the
process.
Assistant Eddie Jordan was working out Swift on Wednesday and remains a
viable head coaching candidate. But the Nets haven't made it clear if and
when they will hire a head coach. Coincidentally, the Nets, Grizzlies and
Clippers -- the top three picks -- are all without head coaches.
The Nets have videotaped their workouts for whoever becomes head
coach. But it doesn't seem to be that pressing to the teams who are working
out potential top three picks.
"You want your coaches on board to determine style of play and
philosophy," Nash said. "But the scouting department has seen these guys."
Dick Versace, the Grizzlies new president of basketball operations, said a head coach in the
draft process is essentially unnecessary.
"No coach who is doing his job in the NBA should be watching college
games," said Versace. "And, the coach we may hire is probably with another
NBA team watching the same guys work out that we are. If we get him two or
three weeks before the draft then we'll take his input."
Versace, Chuck Daly and Billy Knight make up the new brain trust of
the Grizzlies. Their clear top choice is Martin, who fills Vancouver's needs for toughness, a shot blocker and a rebounder. Mihm doesn't answer the toughness quotient, but he is a rebounder and shot blocker. Swift fills the same two roles as Mihm, but with more athleticism.
But if the Nets pulled a stunner and selected Swift at No. 1, the
Grizzlies would take Martin. The Clippers would then look to take Iowa State's Marcus Fizer at No. 3 because they already have Michael Olowokandi at center. That would drop Mihm into the Bulls' lap at No. 4.
The results of workouts with Martin, Mihm and Swift will likely
alter the top three spots over the next few weeks. The safe bet has the Nets
taking Mihm, the Grizzlies choosing Martin and the Clippers nabbing Swift.
But Swift could upset the top three if his workouts match his potential of
being a rising star in the post.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. | |
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Draft: Top five players by position
NBA draft order
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