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Get ready for a wacky Wednesday
Stephen A. Smith, CNN/SI's Bob Lorenz talk draft
Posted: Wednesday June 30, 1999 05:47 PM
ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- It's time to think ahead to the 1999-2000 season and the new crop of talent will join the pro ranks Wednesday night when the draft takes place on TNT.
Among the teams to watch, the Chicago Bulls who own the top pick for the first time in a decade. They went with Stacey King that time and they hope to do a little better this time. Or maybe they'll trade No. 1 away.
Atlanta has four first-round picks (No. 17, No. 20, No. 21, No. 27) and figures to deal. The Utah Jazz are rather rich too with three first-rounders mid to late (No. 19, No. 24, No. 28). Will they bring in a lot of new blood or work a deal? And Toronto and Cleveland own a pair of lottery picks each.
This year there are 38 underclassmen available in the Draft. And the talent seems to be spread a little more evenly than usual. CNN/SI's Bob Lorenz spoke with Stephen A. Smith, the NBA writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer about this year's selection process.
Bob Lorenz : Stephen, a lot of people are wondering what the Chicago Bulls are beholding. They've done pretty well keeping their intentions for the No.1 pick secret. The belief was whoever had it, Lamar Odom out of Rhode Island was the best player and would go No. 1. But his stock is slipping. Why?
Stephen Smith : Well, obviously a lot of talk has been going about some off the court behavior on the part of Lamar Odom.
I think it has cost him. My sources tell me, that he has dropped to as low as seven and may even end up dropping out of the lottery because there's so much indecisiveness going on. No one knows what's wrong with this guy. No one knows why he has not shown up to numerous workouts so anything could happen right now. But one thing you can rest assure, he will not go No. 1.
BL : Yeah, plus he wanted back in school, he's not going back. Very confusing there. Meanwhile one star player who's stock seems to be on the rise is Steve Francis, the point guard out of Maryland. Has he moved up to being a favorite to go No. 1?
SS : He's the favorite but also, sports agent David Falk is putting out the word that the Chicago Bulls may ultimately end up taking Elton Brand, the 6-foot-8 center out of Duke. I can't see that happening but anything is possible. Remember, we're dealing with Bulls' owner Jerry Krause here.
Stephen A. Smith gives CNNSI his take on the NBA draft. CNN/SI |
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BL : Yeah, Faulk was kind of trumping that up at the NBA Finals wasn't he?
SS : Yes he was.
BL : Well how about point guard Baron Davis? There's talk that the UCLA product could be sticking around L.A. What are you hearing?
SS : Well, you know what? There's rumors, there's a lot of talk going on that the Lakers are willing to trade Glen Rice to Vancouver for the No. 2 overall pick. That way they would be able to grab Baron Davis, a local product out of UCLA because there's no way the Charlotte Hornets are going to let him fall past No. 3. If he's available at three, my sources tell me that the Charlotte Hornets have called Baron Davis' agent, Arn Tellem, and assured him that whether he likes it or not, he is coming south if he's available with the No. 3 pick.
BL : Amazingly, he has said he wants to play for the Clippers. A lot of guys aren't willing to go on the record and say that.
SS : Bravery.
BL : And from the real "kiddie-corps" in the Draft if you will Stephen, Mississippi prep star Jonathan Bender, a forward out of Picayune High School is gaining favored player status with some teams. You think there's going to be a team that's take's a first-round flier on this guy?
SS : Well, a lot of people are comparing him to Kevin Garnett, his height, his physical frame or what have you. He may get picked with the No. 5 overall pick. From what I'm hearing, the Toronto Raptors and Butch Carter are going to grab this guy with the No. 5 overall pick. That is why they have not elected to trade Tracy McGrady along with their No. 5 pick to move up and grab Steve Francis because with Jonathan Bender, they are expected to grab him with the No. 5 pick.
BL : Do you get the feeling we're going to see more moves than usual maybe in this Draft?
SS : Oh there's no question about it because the Draft is not strong. There's only about 10 or 12 players that a lot of people feel that are quality players. Everything else is just a guessing game right now so I think you are going to see a lot of wheeling and dealing going on.
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