NBA Draft: NBA's most wanted

NBA Draft expert Chris Monter analyzes the needs of each NBA team heading into the draft. Team Needs Atlanta Hawks Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Center, Small Forward, Power Forward The Hawks need everything and might trade their two first-round picks to move up to get local high-school standout Dwight Howard. Boston Celtics Center, Power Forward, Point Guard, Small Forward The Celtics have three first-round picks. Can they use them to get some needed help for Paul Pierce? Charlotte Bobcats Everything The Bobcats are hoping that their first-ever draft pick will have more of lasting impact that Rex Chapman, Pooh Richardson, Nick Anderson and Bryant Reeves, who were the original picks for the Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively, when each of those teams joined the league. Chicago Bulls Small Forward, Power Forward, Shooting Guard The Bulls' bad luck continues as they fell from the projected second pick to No. 3. They might be willing to make a deal with Emeka Okafor and Luol Deng expected to be off the board by the time they select. Cleveland Cavaliers Point Guard, Small Forward, Depth The Cavaliers found the pot of gold with LeBron James last season. Another piece of the puzzle could mean a return to the playoffs. Dallas Mavericks Center, Bench scoring, Overall depth The Mavs do not have a first-round pick, and after losing to the Kings in the playoffs, they will likely look to make trades to improve their team and find some much needed defensive help. Denver Nuggets Shooting Guard, Center The Nuggets were the most improved team in the league this season and are hoping to make another jump with help at shooting guard or center. Detroit Pistons Power Forward, Overall Depth The Pistons do not have a first-round pick but are hoping that last year's No. 2 selection, Darko Milic, can contribute more than DNP-CDs next season. Golden State Warriors Point Guard, Power Forward New Warriors head coach Mike Montgomery will find recruiting to be harder in the NBA than in college. Houston Rockets Small Forward, Power Forward The Rockets do not have their own first- or second-round pick, so their offseason will be limited to the free-agent market. Indiana Pacers Point Guard, Overall depth The Pacers won an NBA-best 61 games this year and have the last pick in the first round. With no immediate needs, they might look at overseas talent that has a chance to develop. Los Angeles Clippers Center, Point Guard, Depth They moved up to the number No. 2 in the draft, which goes to prove that good luck in the lottery does not always translate into success on the court. Los Angeles Lakers Small Forward, Youth, Depth The Lakers need to get younger if they want to make another push for an NBA title. Memphis Grizzlies Center, Shooting Guard The NBA's Executive of the Year is always a crafty trader on draft night, especially if he can obtain that star Memphis so desperately needs to make a deeper push into the playoffs. Miami Heat Center, Power Forward The Heat were a pleasant surprise with the addition of the talented Lamar Odom and first-round draftee Dwyane Wade. Can they find another talented addition? Milwaukee Bucks Power Forward, Center The Bucks stunned most experts who thought that they would battle for the top lottery pick during the season. They'll find it difficult to improve without a first-round selection. Minnesota Timberwolves Center, Depth The T'wolves do not have a first-round pick again, due to the Joe Smith debacle. Knowing that they were able to get Sam Cassell for Smith last year softens the blow. New Jersey Nets Shooting Guard, Center The Nets have gone the foreign route the past two drafts and have young, talented center Nenad Kristic ready to join the team soon. New Orleans Hornets Power Forward, Shooting Guard The Hornets need a new coach and also have to move to the tougher Western Conference this offseason. They haven't gotten much out the draft the last few years and need an infusion of talent. New York Knicks Center, Power Forward, Small Forward The Knicks dealt their top pick to acquire Stephon Marbury, who helped propel them into the playoffs. Orlando Magic Center, Point Guard, Small Forward The Magic will likely pick Emeka Okafor, the most NBA-ready player in the draft, and hope to get back in the playoffs, which should keep star Tracy McGrady happy. Philadelphia 76ers Center, Power Forward, Point Guard The Sixers need to completely re-tool their team and a ninth pick might not be high enough to get the rebuilding started. Phoenix Suns Shooting Guard, Center, Bench scoring The Suns were the youngest team in the league last year and will hope that another talented newcomer can crank the rebuilding process into high gear. Portland Trail Blazers Center, Point Guard, Shooting Guard The Blazers missed the playoffs for the first time since 1989 but hold two first-round picks, which should allow them to add talent in the backcourt. Sacramento Kings Shooting Guard, Bench scoring, Overall depth The Kings will have an interesting offseason as they try to decide whether to keep the team together or start making deals. It is unlikely that their late first-round pick will make much of an impact and could present the opportunity to pick a foreign player to send overseas. San Antonio Spurs Small Forward, Shooting Guard, Youth The Spurs looked like the team to beat until the Lakers caught fire. They could use another scorer, which will likely be tough to find with the second-to-last pick. Seattle Supersonics Center, Power Forward The Sonics need to figure out what to do with their overcrowded backcourt and lack of a top-flight center. Toronto Raptors Center, Point Guard, Small Forward The Raptors need to address their point-guard problems if they hope to get back into postseason play. Utah Jazz Center, Shooting Guard, Power Forward The Jazz were an amazing story as they nearly made the playoffs despite losing Hall of Famers John Stockton(to retirement) and Karl Malone (to the Lakers) and top player Matt Harpring (to injury) for the second half of the season. Three first- round picks give them plenty of flexibility on draft night. Washington Wizards Power Forward, Center, Small Forward The Wizards' bad luck continued into the lottery as they fell out of the top three. Can they find their frontcourt help with the fifth overall pick?

Chris Monter is the editor/publisher of Monter Draft News and College Basketball News and collegebasketballnews.com. He has been covering college and pro basketball with an emphasis on the NBA Draft for the last 14 years.To subscribe or get more information, call 1-800-NBA-DRAFT or e-mail Cmonter@aol.com.