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By Andy
Katz
ESPN.com
With the number of impact players available
in the NBA draft somewhere between few and none, this year's selections
will be based on the potential of the underclassmen and the needs of the
teams.
NBA scouts, general managers and player personnel directors are
banking heavily on impressions made at private workouts and the Chicago
pre-draft camp June 6-9. Because so many players are relatively close in
terms of talent and opinions could change almost daily, this is the first
of several projections we'll have on ESPN.com.
A number of players still have work to do to earn first-round
spots, but could easily sneak back on with impressive workouts and/or a
strong showing in Chicago.
The borderline first-rounders who didn't make ESPN.com's list but
have a chance to move up are UCLA sophomore forward JaRon Rush, LSU
senior center Jabari Smith, Temple junior guard Mark
Karcher, UCLA freshman guard Jason Kapono, Purdue senior
forward Brian Cardinal, Connecticut junior point guard Khalid
El-Amin, Indiana senior guard A.J. Guyton, Ohio State senior
point guard Scoonie Penn, Northern Arizona senior center Dan
McClintock, Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd, Penn State
senior center Jarrett Stephens, Turkey forward Hidayet
Turkoglu and Nigerian forward Olumide Oyediji.
Any of these players could crack the bottom third of the draft over
the next month. The problem for underclassmen such as Kapono and Karcher
is they must decide if it's worth the risk to stay in the draft.
Underclassmen have until June 21 to pull their name out and still return
to school. Rush, El-Amin and Redd have all said they plan on staying in
the draft, regardless of what happens.
ESPN.com checked with scouts around the league to get a feel about
its mock draft and came up with these 29 selections for the week of May
22.
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| Mihm towered over much of the competition in
college. |
1. New Jersey -- Chris Mihm, 7-0, Jr., Texas: The Nets need
a center and could go with Mihm or Kenyon Martin, but the pick here is
Mihm. The Nets could either hold on to the pick and see if Jayson Williams
plays next season, or deal it to the Bulls for the No. 4 and No. 7 picks.
2. Vancouver - Kenyon Martin, 6-9, Sr., Cincinnati: The
Grizzlies would be getting a steal by grabbing Martin at No. 2. He's the
hardest-working player in the draft and, with a healthy leg, the most
effective low-post scorer. Martin could play next to Shareef Abdur-Rahim
and Bryant Reeves. If the Grizzlies aren't ready to go with Martin, he
makes for a tantalizing trade.
3. Los Angeles Clippers - Stromile Swift, 6-9, So., LSU: The
Clippers have already inquired about Swift and see him as a potential
small/power forward (which goes against LSU coach John Brady's philosophy
of how to use him defensively). But, if Swift knows he's going to the
Clips, he could opt to return to school. He has said he will not hire an
agent, leaving the door open for a return.
4. Chicago -- Joel Przybilla, 7-0, Soph., Minnesota: The
Bulls need a center for their triangle offense. If they can't trade for
Mihm, Przybilla is next in line. He needs work but he has the skills to
develop into a better offensive product than Luc Longley was during the
Bulls' championship runs.
5. Orlando -- Marcus Fizer, 6-8, Jr., Iowa State: The Magic
love Darius Miles but won't let Fizer drop below No. 5 if he's available.
Fizer gives the Magic an inside scorer and a tough presence on the
backboard that they lacked last season. Doc Rivers will fall in love with
his work ethic.
6. Atlanta -- Mike Miller, 6-8, Soph., Florida: The Hawks
have been high on Miller for a month and won't let him slide past them.
Miles might be a better scorer but Miller's versatility will win the Hawks
over at No. 6. Atlanta wants a small forward over a big guard.
7. Chicago -- Darius Miles, 6-9, HS, East St. Louis (Ill.):
The Bulls can package Miles and Przybilla to the Nets or keep two players
who could be solid players in the league. Miles might have more of an
upside than Tracy McGrady. Tim Floyd knows all about working with high
school seniors and would have the patience to wait for Miles to develop.
8. Cleveland -- Iakovos Tsakalidis, 7-1, Greece: The Cavs
want size and the third-rated center in the draft is Tsakalidis. The
Celtics covet him, too, but Cleveland might not give them the chance
because of the Cavs' need for size with the uncertainty in their
frontcourt. Reviews on Tsakalidis are split -- either scouts love him or
think he's too slow.
9. Houston -- Courtney Alexander, 6-5, Sr., Fresno State:
Alexander could go higher but not above six. The Rockets need scorers and
Alexander will produce during individual workouts. The choice of
Alexander, DeShawn Stevenson, DerMarr Johnson or Morris Peterson is hard
to argue. Alexander can rise over a defense for a jump shot and has a pro
game.
10. Orlando -- DeShawn Stevenson, 6-5, HS, Washington Union
(Fresno, Calif.): The Magic will take one of the two high school
seniors with one of their three picks. If Miles is gone, Stevenson will be
too by No. 11. Orlando has scouted him for months and Rivers can afford to
let Stevenson mature without feeling pressured to play him next season.
11. Boston -- DerMarr Johnson, 6-9, Fr., Cincinnati: Johnson
can't slip past 11 with his Lamar Odom-like skills on the wing. The
Celtics need size but can't let a scorer get past them in the draft.
Johnson learned defense from Max Good and Bob Huggins, so Rick Pitino's
pressure defense shouldn't be much different.
12. Dallas -- Mamadou N'diaye, 7-0, Sr., Auburn: Trying to
predict what Don Nelson will do is the most difficult thing in this mock
draft. But the Mavericks need athleticism in the frontcourt. They can't
afford to go with a foreigner or a slower big man. N'diaye fits here if he
does well in workouts and in Chicago -- if he shows.
13. Orlando -- Mateen Cleaves, 6-2, Sr., Michigan State: The
Magic have to take a point guard with one of their three picks, but no one
is good enough to spend the No. 5 or No. 10 pick on. Cleaves is at the top
of the point-guard list list -- and would fit Rivers' style of play and
coaching because of his leadership and toughness.
14. Detroit -- Morris Peterson, 6-6, Sr., Michigan State:
The Pistons won't let the local hero leave the state. Peterson gives them
a scorer to go next to or in place of Grant Hill if he leaves via free
agency. Peterson could go higher -- if he's gone, the Pistons will take
Alexander or Johnson.
15. Milwaukee -- Etan Thomas, 6-9, Sr., Syracuse: The Bucks
want a power forward and Thomas is fourth on their list behind Martin,
Fizer and Swift. None will be available by the time they pick. Thomas can
give them a rebounder and defender, something they lacked in their playoff
losses to the Pacers.
16. Sacramento -- Erick Barkley, 6-1, Soph., St. John's: The
Kings need a backup point to Jason Williams. Barkley could come in and
wouldn't be under any pressure to perform immediately. He's the No. 2
point guard behind Cleaves.
17. Seattle -- Quentin Richardson, 6-6, Soph., DePaul: Had
Richardson stayed, he would have probably been in the lottery next season.
But he doesn't fit all of the teams' needs above, which is why he falls
all the way to the Sonics. He gives them another rebounding wing and a
scorer to complement Rashard Lewis, if he re-signs.
18. Los Angeles Clippers -- Keyon Dooling, 6-3, Soph.,
Missouri: The Clippers need a point guard but won't take one at No. 3.
Dooling has the upside that some of the senior points don't carry into the
draft. But the potential of being a mid-teens draft pick may scare Dooling
into returning to school.
19. Charlotte -- Jerome Moiso, 6-10, Soph., UCLA: Moiso
could still slide up into the late lottery (maybe to Dallas) but if he
falls, the Hornets will catch him. Moiso can play power forward or center
for the Hornets because of his ability to block shots and score from 12
feet in to the basket. The Hornets could use a frontcourt player or
shooting guard in this draft.
20. Philadelphia -- Jamal Crawford, 6-6, Fr., Michigan: The
Sixers have already called on Crawford's behalf and love him as a combo
guard to come off the bench. Crawford would likely stay in the draft if
he's in the first round, regardless of where he's being picked.
21. Toronto -- Craig "Speedy" Claxton, 5-11, Sr., Hofstra:
The Raptors have already begun working out point guards and have Claxton
in their top five. If Cleaves, Barkley, Dooling and Crawford are all gone,
Claxton is the natural pick for the Raptors.
22. New York -- Jamaal Magloire, 6-11, Sr., Kentucky: The
Knicks took some heat for taking Frederic Weis last year. Jeff Van Gundy
wants tough, physical players. Magloire gets the nod over Jason Collier if
the Knicks go big. Magloire proved this season that he can play with
passion in the post.
23. Utah -- Hanno Möttölä, 6-9, Sr., Utah: The Jazz can't go
wrong with picking Möttölä from nearby Utah. He can score from the wing,
but he'll end up playing more inside because of his defensive limitations
as a small forward. If Möttölä doesn't go to the Jazz, he could slip out
of the first round.
24. Chicago -- Jeryl Sasser, 6-7, Jr., SMU: The Bulls have
to find a point guard in this draft but can't go after one in the lottery.
The most intriguing point guard left could be Sasser. He can play both
guard positions, he's one of the better defenders in the draft and would
give the Bulls some versatility on the floor.
25. Phoenix -- Jason Collier, 7-0, Sr., Georgia Tech: The
Suns need another big guy to go with Luc Longley -- either as a backup, or
on the floor together. Collier has more offensive potential than many big
men. The Suns have the luxury to allow Collier a few years to develop into
a NBA center.
26. Utah -- Chris Carrawell, 6-6, Sr., Duke: The Jazz need
to add athleticism and fresh legs, either with Carrawell or Oklahoma
State's Desmond Mason. Carrawell will probably get the nod because of his
Duke pedigree. He could still go higher but his 'tweener status fits more
as a late first-round pick.
27. Indiana -- Donnell Harvey, 6-8, Fr., Florida: Harvey is
getting rave reviews for his work ethic in workouts, and he didn't leave
school early without some sort of assurance he could go in the first
round. The Pacers have a history of going younger in the draft.
28. Portland -- Soumaila Samake, 7-2, Cincinnati Stuff
(IBL): The Blazers don't need much but could go with a wacky pick by
taking the first player to jump from the fledgling IBL to the NBA. Samake
has the size, shot-blocking skills and potential to be an NBA center.
Arvydas Sabonis doesn't have many miles left in his legs.
29. Los Angeles Lakers -- Desmond Mason, 6-6, Sr., Oklahoma
State: Here's where any one of the bubble players could go, such as
Rush, Karcher or Stephens. But Mason is a more polished, experienced
player. He gives the Lakers an athlete on the wing who would fit in well
in their system.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at
ESPN.com. |
