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Chat Reel: Marty Burns

Expect the unexpected in tonight's draft

CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's NBA Draft chat with Marty Burns. Welcome, Marty, and thanks for joining us.
Marty Burns: Great to be here. Can't wait to get the junior prom, err, the NBA Draft started.

From BF: If Kobe had not turned out to be a great player, would any of these high school guys be drafted in the top 5?
Marty Burns: Yes. Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady would have been reason enough for these kids to come out. The bottom line is that most of the highest-rated high school kids to come out have done fairly well in the pros. But the kids need only one example to follow because the money is just too good to pass up.

From Barry in New York: What kind of a world do we live in where a player like Shane Battier is not being considered to be picked No. 1 over all?
Marty Burns: (Laughs.) It's a world where people play the lottery and try to get rich at Las Vegas or through offshore Internet gambling sites. Battier is clearly the most well-rounded player out there and a guy who did nothing but win for a major college program. Yet it appears most NBA teams would rather roll the dice and take a chance on crapping out than select a solid player who, while he might never be a superstar, should be in the league for 10 years. The main reason is that the draft used to be a place where teams expected to get a franchise player at No. 1. However, the times have changed, and the No. 1 pick is no longer a sure thing. Too many GMs are still under the impression that the pick has to be a home run.

From Brent in Germany: Looking back at what has transpired over the past two years, would you say that teams now have to draft paying particular attention to the "Shaq factor"? Should team needs be focused on winning it all or just getting better?
Marty Burns: It depends on the team. It's interesting, however, that we haven't heard much discussion about Shaq in regard to this year's draft. In year's past, teams would be looking for a big man to possibly give them a fighting chance against Shaq. But this year's crop of big men are so young and raw that nobody expects any one of them to step in and battle Shaq. It's a scary thought for the league, because it looks like it might take three or four years for a guy like Eddy Curry or DeSagana Diop to develop into a player capable of holding his own. That means Shaq and Co. have a good chance of winning more titles in the coming years.

From Stewart in Madrid: The media here in Spain is saying that Spanish entry Pau Gasol is all but certain to go in sixth place. However, I haven't seen him higher than 13th in any CNNSI prediction. Are the Spaniards getting a little overexcited or could they know something you guys don't?
Marty Burns: Gasol has shot up the charts in recent weeks, and could go as high as No. 5 to the Warriors. Even Atlanta, at No. 3, was said to be seriously considering the 7-foot Gasol. But they traded the pick to the Grizzlies. The catch with Gasol is that he is still under contract with this Spanish club, FC Barcelona, and has said he will return to play there next season if he is not drafted in the top six. Consequently, it's hard to get a good read on where he will fall among those top 12, 13 picks. Some clubs might be reluctant to draft him if they are going to have to wait until 2002-03 to get him in uniform.

From madmax777: Marty, have you heard the real skinny on how Jordan broke his ribs -- in a fight with Ron Artest? Any thoughts on "Money" being so foolish?
Marty Burns: Artest is not afraid to mix it up on the court, as Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson learn this past season. However, I seriously doubt even a pit bull like Artest would dare tangle with the Messiah in his own pickup game. Nobody seems to know exactly how Jordan cracked those ribs. Artest apparently was involved somehow, while trying to defend him in the post. Witnesses said Jordan continued playing and that no one even knew he was hurt at the time. It looks like it was just an innocent accident. But your story is a lot more interesting.

From The: Who are the late climbers and sliders? I've heard Jamaal Tinsley's name dropping all the way out of the first round.
Marty Burns: Tinsley is a guy who apparently has slipped. He's a bit out of control at times, according to scouts who have seen his workouts. And he hasn't shot the ball particularly well. Diop is another guy who could slide, mainly because of concerns about a foot injury he suffered last year and poor conditioning. As hard as it might be to believe, Battier is in a very precarious position tonight out of the top 10 if things don't break right for him. As for risers, keep an eye on point guard Tony Parker from France. He's a virtual unknown, but he is now considered perhaps the top PG prospect and could go in the top 20. Also, Vladimir Radmanovic has shot up the charts and could go from anywhere from No. 9 to No. 15.

From Jamie: What are the Celtics and the Blazers up to? I don't understand the deal.
Marty Burns: The word right now is that the Celtics might swap players with Portland if the Blazers can select Tony Parker with the No. 19 pick. Boston needs a point guard and they seem to like Parker. If so, they could trade their No. 11, most likely Kedrick Brown, to Blazers in a straight swap. The problem is that those players have to be available when those picks are made, otherwise the deal won't go down. Also the Celtics are holding back in case there is a shake up at the top that leads them to go a different direction or enables them to package the two picks together to someone else for some veteran help. The Portland-Boston deal might one of trades that ultimately never gets done, even if it has been agreed upon in advance.

From Rick T. in Valrico, Fla.: Do you think John Gabriel will trade Mike Miller or Darrell Armstrong for a higher draft pick (and better big man) or take his chances by clearing cap room for Antonio Davis?
Marty Burns: I definitely look for Gabriel to make some move with those draft picks tonight. The Magic definitely want to get rid of those picks and clear cap space for a run at free agents Chris Webber or, more likely, Antonio Davis. The Magic seem willing to part with Mike Miller right now, but would prefer to keep Armstrong out of any deal unless absolutely necessary. If the Magic trade Miller along with Mike Doleac and Bo Outlaw, they would need to deal with a team that has cap room. That makes Chicago their most likely target for such a deal. Would Jerry Krause give up the No. 4 pick for Miller, Doleac, Outlaw and Orlando's two picks? Stay tuned.

From Morgan: What is the deal with Gary Payton? Got the scoop on any deals?
Marty Burns: Right now, Gary Payton and Stephon Marbury might be the two most important figures in tonight's draft -- besides Jordan, I mean. A lot of teams are factoring the possible availability in making their decisions. For example, the Heat were said to interested in trading to get into the first round, but now have backed off in hopes of landing either of those two players. Payton is definitely being shopped by the Sonics. Marbury is more of a question. But a lot of teams are looking to see if they can swing a deal to get them. Payton's most likely suitors right now are the Heat, the Blazers, the Bucks, the Kings and the Knicks.

From Cyclops: Why do some people have the Pistons selecting Jason Richardson if he's still available. Isn't Stackhouse the resident slasher with a poor jump shot?
Marty Burns: (Laughs.) Obviously Richardson has some strong local ties, having tied for Michigan State. He also might be able to play some small forward, meaning he and Stackhouse could be on the floor together and take turns missing jump shots. Seriously, Detroit needs all the athletic scorers they can get. So Richardson might not be a bad choice. However, it looks like he probably will be gone by the time the Pistons get on the board at No. 9.

From webx: If you could pick the most likely "sleeper" of the draft, who would you pick?
Marty Burns: Keep an eye on Trenton Hassell, a 6-5 guard from Austin Peay. He's got size, and one of the sweetest shooting strokes of any player in the draft. Right now, he's stuck behind other shooting guards, such as Richardson, Arkansas' Joe Johnson, UNC's Joseph Forte and Arizona's Gilbert Arenas, but Hassell should go late in the first round. He could turn out to be a steal for a team like Sacramento at No. 25 or the Spurs at No. 28.

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Marty Burns. Marty, thanks for joining us and enjoy the draft.
Marty Burns: Thanks for having me.

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