|
1:
Washington Wizards
|
Kwame Brown
|
PF
|
|
| A history-making choice by Michael Jordan. Brown is the best all-around athlete of all the high school hot-shots, and the Wizards surely need a good frontcourt player. But will Brown become the next Antonio McDyess or another Korleone Young?
|
|
2:
Los Angeles Clippers
|
Tyson Chandler
|
PF
|
|
| (Chandler and Brian Skinner traded to Chicago for Elton Brand)
What a steal for the Clippers! In Brand, they get a proven 20/10 guy who is also a hard worker and a good influence in the locker room. He's also good pals with Corey Maggette, which should help keep Maggette happy despite the crowded perimeter situation.
|
|
3:
Atlanta Hawks
|
Pau Gasol
|
SF
|
Spain
|
| Surprise! Gasol, a 7-footer from Spain, was the best player on Europe's best team. He was supposed to go in the top 10, but the soon-to-be Memphis Grizzlies needed a small forward to replace Shareef Abdur-Rahim -- who they are trading for this pick -- so he moves up. Hope Gasol likes rhythm and blues.
|
|
4:
Chicago Bulls
|
Eddy Curry
|
C
|
|
| (Bulls trade Elton Brand to L.A. Clippers for Tyson Chandler) Curry, a 6-11, 285-pound man-child who hails from the Chicago suburbs, is a safe pick. But what is Jerry Krause doing? Chandler might be an exciting prospect, but Brand is a proven player and the type of guy an organization builds around. Unless Krause has some grand plan yet to be revealed, this looks like the biggest disaster in Chicago since Mrs. O'Leary's cow.
|
|
5:
Golden St. Warriors
|
Jason Richardson
|
SG
|
Michigan St. Spartans
|
| Big surprise. Richardson, a 6-6 guard, was the highest-rated 2 on the board. He's athletic and a solid defender, but he's suspect as a shooter and the Warriors already have Larry Hughes. Eddie Griffin would have seemed the more logical pick here.
|
|
6:
Vancouver Grizzlies
|
Shane Battier
|
SF
|
Duke Blue Devils
|
| The consensus college player of the year should be able to step in and help the Grizzlies immediately, something they definitely need. They might someday regret passing on Rodney White or Eddie Griffin, but Battier is solid.
|
|
7:
New Jersey Nets
|
Eddie Griffin
|
SF
|
Seton Hall Pirates
|
| (Griffin traded to Houston for Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins and Brandon Armstrong)
The Nets apparently went for quantity over quality, giving up a primo prospect in Griffin for three solid players in Jefferson, Collins and Armstrong. It means they either like Van Horn at small forward, or they have another deal (Bryon Russell? Donyell Marshall?) in the works.
|
|
8:
Cleveland Cavaliers
|
DeSagana Diop
|
C
|
|
| Guess the Cavs aren't counting on Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Diop, a 7-foot high school center from Senegal, could turn out to be the best true center in the draft. But he did have a stress fracture in his foot, and do the Cavs really want to take a chance on another center with bad feet?
|
|
9:
Detroit Pistons
|
Rodney White
|
SF
|
Charlotte 49ers
|
| Solid pick. White is a versatile 6-9 forward from Charlotte who fills a need and should fit in well next to Jerry Stackhouse. He only played one year of college ball, but he's 21 years old so he might be more ready than most. Michael Jordan was said to be very high on him.
|
|
10:
Boston Celtics
|
Joe Johnson
|
SF
|
Arkansas Razorbacks
|
| Too good to pass up. The Celtics already have good perimeter players in Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker, but the 6-8 Johnson is a versatile athlete who can shoot the ball. He was among the nation's leading 3-point shooters last year.
|
|
11:
Boston Celtics
|
Kedrick Brown
|
SF
|
Okaloosa-Walton
|
| A bit of an unknown. He's a versatile player who can play a lot of positions, but the Celtics already have several players like that in Walker, Pierce and now Johnson. Could be involved in a possible trade with the Blazers.
|
|
12:
Seattle SuperSonics
|
Vladimir Radmanovic
|
PF
|
Yugoslavia
|
| After Gasol, the best European prospect in the draft. He is a 6-10 forward from Bosnia who has been compared to Peja Stojakovic for his ability to pass and shoot the ball. With Rashard Lewis already in Seattle, he'll be able to be groomed slowly.
|
|
13:
Houston Rockets
|
Richard Jefferson
|
SF
|
Arizona Wildcats
|
| (Jefferson, Jason Collins and Brandon Armstrong traded to New Jersey for Eddie Griffin.)
The Rockets got exactly what they wanted. They unloaded their three picks for one, saving cap room for a run at Chris Webber or some other free agent. They also got a terrific small forward prospect in Griffin, who someday should make fans forget about Shandon Anderson.
|
|
14:
Golden St. Warriors
|
Troy Murphy
|
PF
|
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
| Like Battier, Murphy is an experienced college player who should be able to step in and contribute immediately. The 6-11 lefty has a good feel for the game, and can shoot the ball. The Warriors sorely needed a shooter, and Murphy can help there.
|
|
15:
Orlando Magic
|
Steven Hunter
|
C
|
DePaul Blue Demons
|
| No surprise. The Magic were said to be high on this 7-footer from DePaul, who wowed the scouts at pre-draft camps after a less-than-stellar college career. He should fit in well with the up-tempo Orlando attack.
|
|
16:
Charlotte Hornets
|
Kirk Haston
|
PF
|
Indiana Hoosiers
|
| Bit of a surprise. Haston, a 6-10 forward from Indiana, is a good scorer and shooter but he was projected to go later in the first round. Apparently his impressive workouts helped his stock. The new rules, which have put a premium on shooters, didn't hurt his cause either.
|
|
17:
Toronto Raptors
|
Michael Bradley
|
PF
|
Villanova Wildcats
|
| Insurance against losing Antonio Davis? Probably. Bradley is a 6-10 forward from Villanova who possesses a nice all-around game. Zach Randolph might have more upside, but Bradley is solid.
|
|
18:
Houston Rockets
|
Jason Collins
|
C
|
Stanford Cardinal
|
| (Collins, Richard Jefferson and Brandon Armstrong traded to New Jersey for Eddie Griffin.)
The Rockets got exactly what they wanted. They unloaded their three picks for one, saving cap room for a run at Chris Webber or some other free agent. They also got a terrific small forward prospect in Griffin, who someday should make fans forget about Shandon Anderson.
|
|
19:
Portland Trail Blazers
|
Zach Randolph
|
PF
|
Michigan St. Spartans
|
| The best player available. Randolph, a 6-9 forward, only played one year at MSU but he's got a big body, great hands and quick feet. He gives the Blazers another big guy in case Arvydas Sabonis retires and Dale Davis gets traded.
|
|
20:
Cleveland Cavaliers
|
Brendan Haywood
|
C
|
North Carolina Tar Heels
|
| (Haywood traded to Orlando for Michael Doleac.)
The Cavaliers already had a center project in Diop, and apparently wanted a veteran like Doleac who can step in and play defense and hit shots. Meanwhile, the Magic don't have much use for Doleac anymore, not with their up-tempo attack. Haywood has a chance to be a legitimate center, and that could be useful for them in the future.
|
|
21:
Boston Celtics
|
Joseph Forte
|
SG
|
North Carolina Tar Heels
|
| Another perimeter player for the Celtics. Forte, a 6-4 shooting guard from North Carolina, is a good shooter who can create his own shot and hit the midrange jumper. But he’s a bit undersized at the 2, and there are doubts he can play the point full time.
|
|
22:
Orlando Magic
|
Jeryl Sasser
|
SG
|
SMU Mustangs
|
| Along with Trenton Hassell, one of the dark horse candidates among shooting guards in this draft. Sasser, a 6-6 scorer from SMU, has size, shooting touch and he has the maturity that comes with staying in school four years. But when is he going to get court time with T-Mac and Grant Hill around?
|
|
23:
Houston Rockets
|
Brandon Armstrong
|
SG
|
Pepperdine Waves
|
| (Armstrong, Richard Jefferson and Jason Collins traded to New Jersey for Eddie Griffin.)
The Rockets got exactly what they wanted. They unloaded their three picks for one, saving cap room for a run at Chris Webber or some other free agent. They also got a terrific small forward prospect in Griffin, who someday should make fans forget about Shandon Anderson.
|
|
24:
Utah Jazz
|
Raul Lopez
|
PG
|
Spain
|
| Lopez, a 6-foot point guard from Real Madrid in Spain, is considered a "poor man's Steve Nash or John Stockton." He can get in the lane and looks to pass first, making him a good fit for the Jazz system. But he's under contract in Europe for several more years, meaning he probably won't make it here for at least two seasons.
|
|
25:
Sacramento Kings
|
Gerald Wallace
|
SF
|
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
| Another hidden gem for Kings GM Geoff Petrie. Wallace, a 6-7 super athlete from 'Bama, was one of the nation's top high school players a year ago. He struggled last year in college and is still raw, but has tremendous upside.
|
|
26:
Philadelphia 76ers
|
Samuel Dalembert
|
C
|
Seton Hall Pirates
|
| Dalembert, a 6-11 shot-blocker from Seton Hall, gives the Sixers an athletic big man to go with Matt Geiger and Todd MacCulloch. Apparently Philly is confident Eric Snow and Aaron McKie will be back at full strength next season because it passed on promising shooters Jeff Trepagnier, Gilbert Arenas and Trenton Hassell.
|
|
27:
Vancouver Grizzlies
|
Jamaal Tinsley
|
PG
|
Iowa St. Cyclones
|
| Tinsley, a 6-3 playmaker from Iowa State, can get in the lane but there are questions about his shooting and decision-making. He is apparently headed to the Pacers, who are desperate for a true playmaking point guard who can give them a change of pace from Jalen Rose. Tinsley is a New York City guy, and Pacers GM Donnie Walsh loves him. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, have a glut at the point with newly acquired Jason Williams and Brevin Knight. They can use the first-round pick next year, especially since they might lose their own to Detroit as part of an earlier deal.
|
|
28:
San Antonio Spurs
|
Tony Parker
|
PG
|
France
|
| Parker, a 6-2 Belgian-born point guard who played the past two seasons in France, rose fast with some strong pre-draft workouts. He also has athletic bloodlines: his father played for Loyola U. in Chicago and then professionally overseas. The Spurs hope to groom him to replace Avery Johnson and Terry Porter.
|
