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Posted: Thursday June 29, 2000 12:03 PM
Sports Illustrated's Marty Burns covered the NBA Draft in Minneapolis on Wednesday. He offers his grades for each team's selections and trades.
Atlanta (B) -- SG DerMarr Johnson is just the kind of tall athletic shooting guard
the Hawks need. PF Hanno Mottola and PG Scoonie Penn are solid second-round
picks.
Boston (B-) -- Rick Pitino gets a big guy in PF Jerome Moiso -- who can run and
jump and play his system -- but will he someday regret passing up SG Courtney
Alexander?
Charlotte (C+) -- PF Jamaal Magloire has a chance to be good, but the Hornets
already have a crowded frontcourt. Meanwhile, Eddie Jones is a free
agent.
Chicago (A-) -- GM Jerry Krause didn't get Darius Miles, but he got two hot
commodities in PF Marcus Fizer and PG Jamal Crawford, as well as a decent
project in C Dalibor
Bagaric.
Cleveland (A-) -- C Chris Mihm fills their gaping hole in the middle, and was
expected to go much higher. A steal for the
Cavs.
Dallas (B+) -- C Etan Thomas provides some much-needed bulk in the middle. With
trades for John Wallace, Donnell Harvey and Courtney Alexander, a big day for
Big
D.
Denver (C) -- They needed a center, and got two 7-footers in Mamadou N'dyiaye (No.
26) and Dan McClintock (No. 53). Unfortunately, neither are likely to be the
answer.
Detroit (C) -- Joe Dumars goes Big Ten all the way with Mateen Cleaves (No. 14)
and Brian Cardinal (No. 44). Cleaves is a winner, and fills a need, but will he
make
shots?
Golden State (B-) -- SF Chris Porter was highest-rated player left at No. 55, and
the Warriors need help at his position. Still, he's only a shade over
6'5".
Houston (C-) -- Basically the Rockets traded the No. 9 pick (Joel Przybilla) for a
longshot prospect (Jason Collier) and a middling future first rounder.
Yawn.
Indiana (C) -- C Primoz Brezec might be another Rik Smits someday, but not yet.
Still, a solid pick considering the Pacers have few other pressing
needs.
L.A. Clippers (B+) -- SF Darius Miles could be next Kevin Garnett, and SG Quentin
Richardson is a rebounding machine, but both are high risk. L.A. can't afford
any more Bo
Kimbles.
L.A. Lakers (C) -- PF Mark Madsen was a solid pick at No. 29. But can L.A. really
afford another guy who can't make free
throws?
Miami (C+) -- Pat Riley rolls the dice with second-round longshots in PG Eddie
House (No. 37) and C Ernest Brown (No. 52). At least these guys have high
upsides.
Milwaukee (B+) -- Who thought they'd get a true big man like Przybilla with the
No. 15 pick? Second-rounders SG Michael Redd and PG Jason Hart also were astute
calls.
Minnesota (B-) -- Even at No. 51, it's hard to believe the pint-sized Igor
Rakocevic was best shooting guard left on the board. Better than Miami's Johnny
Hemsley? An odd
pick.
New Jersey (B+) -- Got the man they needed in PF Kenyon Martin, while C Soumaila
Samake was projected by some to go in the first round. But will the Nets regret
bypassing
Miles?
New York (B) -- PF Harvey was a good pick at No. 22, since it helped them make
deal with Mavs for a proven guard in Erick Strickland. Also, SF Lavor Postell
could be a
sleeper.
Orlando (A) -- Didn't get Martin or Miles, but the Magic came out in great shape.
Got terrific prospect in F Mike Miller, and cleared lots of cap
room.
Philadelphia (C-) -- Speedy Claxton is quick and can leap over tall buildings, but
a backup point guard at No. 20? Seems like SF Morris Peterson would have made
more
sense.
Phoenix (B) -- Even though he's under contract in Greece, C Iakavos Tsakalidas is
a solid pick. The Suns weren't going to get immediate help at No. 25, and can
afford to
wait.
Portland (D) -- Erick Barkley has skills, but he's not the big point the Blazers
reportedly covet. Unless they plan to deal Damon Stoudamire, this one's a
mystery.
Sacramento (C) -- Hidayet Turkoglu is a legitimate prospect, but do the Kings
really need another defensively challenged swingman? And is he better than Q.
Richardson?
San Antonio (C+) -- SG Chris Carrawell is a good call at No. 41, but the Spurs
dealt their other pick (No. 54) to the Lakers for two future second-
rounders.
Seattle (C) -- SF Desmond Mason and PF Olumide Oyedeji are both intriguing
athletes with big upsides. But both could just as easily turn out to be colossal
busts.
Toronto (A-) -- SF Peterson was simply best available guy at No. 21. He might even
be able to step in as a starter if Tracy McGrady
leaves.
Utah (B-) -- SG Stevenson is a great athlete with mad hops, and a reasonable pick
at No. 23. But is he ready to step in and replace Jeff
Hornacek?
Vancouver (A) -- PF Stromile Swift is just the kind of athletic big man they
needed. It was an easy call, but give the Grizzlies credit for not blowing
it.
Washington (D) -- The Wizards already have one Michael Smith who can't play. Now
they have another in SF Mike Smith, whom few had rated going so high (No.
37).
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