Inside the NBA Draft

An interesting bit of information came up when Randy Foye underwent his physical last month in preparation for the NBA Draft: His heart is not in the normal place.

Several league sources say that Foye's heart is located in the right side of his chest. "The doctors say it's like looking in a mirror," says an Eastern Conference executive who received a briefing on Foye's condition.

A source at Villanova says the school became aware of his condition when Foye underwent a checkup for asthma. "The doctor couldn't find a heartbeat," the source says. "It was because his heart was on the other side."

Foye's camp investigated and was told by cardiologists that the rare condition posed no physical risk. The Chicago Bulls were among the teams aware of it, and based on their recent history with center Eddy Curry -- who was traded to New York last year after a series of highly publicized heart scares -- no team could be expected to take a harder look at Foye's condition than Chicago. But the Bulls' medical staff ultimately cleared him, and the Bulls say they would have taken him had he fit into their basketball plans.

All sources agree that Foye's condition has had no negative effect on his career nor is it expected to have any effect on his future.

The potential suitors for Allen Iverson -- led by the Celtics, Hawks and Nuggets -- are expected to restart negotiations for the available All-Star guard in July. Several league sources report that in the last few days Cleveland power forward Drew Gooden has emerged as a player who could be sent to Philadelphia in facilitation of a multiple team trade. Because Gooden is a restricted free agent, he would have to cooperate in such a deal, and his potential base-year status could make the trade more complicated.

Utah's Carlos Boozer remains another player who could be packaged to Philadelphia in a scenario that would send Iverson to Boston or elsewhere. Here are two questions to consider: (1) In spite of the Nuggets' sincere interest, would Iverson be happy living in Denver? A source believes he's more likely to accept a move to a bigger market. (2) Does the idea that Philadelphia is interested in power forwards to replace Iverson imply that Chris Webber will shift to center next season? It would be a natural move as he approaches the final years of his career.

The frenetic draft day of the Portland Trail Blazers began Wednesday afternoon, hours before the draft, as they pressed the Celtics on a long-discussed trade that would send point guard Sebastian Telfair to Boston for the No. 7 pick and Dan Dickau. The Celtics wanted to wait until the last minute, just in case Brandon Roy or another player they coveted slipped to them at No. 7. The Blazers were seeking a commitment in principle, which would assure them of two picks in the top seven and enable them to make other plans.

The Celtics offered an amendment: They would commit to the trade (which would become official later that night) if Portland threw in center Theo Ratliff in exchange for Boston's Raef LaFrentz. Fifteen minutes later the Blazers called back with the surprising news that the deal was on.

The Celtics couldn't believe their good luck. They never believed they could escape the three years and $37 million remaining on LaFrentz's contract. In Ratliff they get a veteran shot-blocker to share time with young center Kendrick Perkins, or they could use Ratliff's remaining two years and $23 million to help push through a potential trade for Allen Iverson next month.