The Perpetual NBA Thread

**ssaloon** · June 25th, 2004 11:36 AM

carmelo anthony pinasok sa team usa ah!

**empy** · June 25th, 2004 11:38 AM

first round, copy/pasted from CBS Sportsline:

1. Orlando: Dwight Howard, PF, Atlanta SW Christian Academy (Ga.)

The Magic stunned a lot of people with the selection of Howard instead of Okafor. Okafor is a hard-working, finished product -- a defensive presence and rebounder. But Howard -- just 18 -- may be like Kevin Garnett, or he could be Vin Baker as the third prep No. 1 over the past four years.

2. Charlotte: Emeka Okafor, PF, Connecticut

The Bobcats caught a big break when the Magic took Howard. In Okafor, they now have a building block in the middle, with an Alonzo Mourning-like work ethic and presence inside. He's a great shot-blocker and is improving as an offensive force every season. Anyone who saw the NCAA Championship game knows his back isn't an issue.

3. Chicago: Ben Gordon, PG/SG, Connecticut

Surprising a lot of people, the Chicago Bulls fell in love with Ben Gordon, and they figure he'll fit perfectly in the backcourt with last year's top pick Kirk Hinrich. He's a great shooter, surprisingly strong, and although there are questions surrounding his ability to play the point, he excelled in the two-guard front at Connecticut.

4. L.A. Clippers: Shaun Livingston, PG, Peoria Central H.S. (Ill.)

There's little doubt that coach Mike Dunleavy got his way with the wonderful ballhandling and passing skills of this skinny high school product. Livingston has been compared to Magic Johnson coming out of high school, but he's extremely skinny and has to work on his shooting ability.

5. Washington: Devin Harris, PG, Wisconsin

Drafting for the Dallas Mavericks following a trade Wednesday, the Wizards took this superb point guard from Wisconsin. Harris has very long arms, is effective defensively, and is a great clutch shooter. Harris gives the Mavs a point guard for the future should Steve Nash be traded or leave as a free agent in the summer. That's provided the Mavs keep the pick.

6. Atlanta: Josh Childress, SG/SF, Stanford

This was somewhat of a surprise with the Hawks taking Childress, a smooth swing player with the ability to run the floor, score on the perimeter, or slash to the basket. He comes from a great program at Stanford that focused on defense and shared the ball. He needs to get stronger, but shouldn't have a problem sliding into the backcourt.

7. Phoenix: Luol Deng, SF, Duke

Sliding down to seven despite expected to go third, Deng still ends up on the Chicago Bulls thanks to a trade with Phoenix. Deng has a lot of ability to defend, run the floor and gives the Bulls a lot of versatility. This fits the new concept of playing tough that Scott Skiles wants to emphasize with the Bulls as general manager John Paxson continues to change the face of this team with attitude.

8. Toronto: Rafael Araujo, C, BYU

The Raptors have been in dire need of a big body, and they got it with the oldest player in the draft, the 290-pound Araujo, who is 24. He's a terrific passer, has decent touch and protects the slim and blossoming young Chris Bosh up front. He can hit the face-up jumper from 17 feet and that helps the Raptors.

9. Philadelphia: Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, Arizona

The Sixers reverted to form, going for defense with Andre Iguodala. He's extremely athletic and long, but is very limited shooting the ball. He can fly up and down the floor, move the ball and shut people down. He should fit well with Allen Iverson in the backcourt or even play some small forward.

10. Cleveland: Luke Jackson, SF, Oregon

Nobody was surprised by the Cavs taking Luke Jackson. They needed a great perimeter shooter like Jackson to complement the slashing ability of LeBron James. He also can take the ball to the glass and dish it when defenses collapse on him going to the basket.

11. Golden State: Andris Biedrins, PF/C, BK Skonto Riga (Latvia)

With the possibility of losing Erick Dampier to free agency, the Warriors elected to go with another big man. Andres Biedrins carries 240 pounds on a 6-11 frame, and he has the ability to put the ball on the floor and go to the glass. The problem is, he's only 18 and doesn't have the offensive moves or strength to score consistently inside. Most importantly, he wants to play inside and it gives the Warriors a future power player.

12. Seattle: Robert Swift, C, Bakersfield H.S. (Cal.)

In dire need of help inside, the Sonics sent for the 7-foot, 250-pound Robert Swift. He's a natural talent, and didn't work out for teams. They never worked him out or spoke to him, but still opted to draft him despite already having three marginal veteran centers on the roster. It will be interesting to see how quickly this recent high school grad will adjust to playing at the NBA level.

13. Portland: Sebastian Telfair, PG, Brooklyn Lincoln H.S. (N.Y.)

This was a shock to a lot of people that the Blazers would take this 5-11 high school grad with the 13th pick. Sebastian Telfair has been one of the more publicized high school players around, but he's short and can't score at the NBA level. It's hard to believe they would take him ahead of Jameer Nelson, the player of the year who played four years at St. Joseph's. They need help in the backcourt, but they could have done better than Telfair at this pick.

14. Utah: Kris Humphries, PF, Minnesota

Kris Humphries has all the tools and is a classic player that Jazz coach Jerry Sloan will work into shape. There are concerns about his father and selfishness, which Sloan will eradicate quickly and loudly. He's got all the tools and it will be interesting how long it requires Sloan to slap this 19-year-old into shape.

15. Boston: Al Jefferson, PF, Prentiss H.S. (Miss.)

This was a great pick by the Celtics to build on, as Al Jefferson is the bull they need inside. As the fifth high school player taken among the top 15, Jefferson has exceedingly long arms on a 6-10 frame. He'll pound the glass and can score facing up. His potential is enormous and they're hopeful he can come in and earn some minutes quickly.

16. Utah: Kirk Snyder, SG, Nevada

With the second pick of the first round, Kirk Snyder is a steal with the 16th pick. He's got a body like Larry Johnson, can shoot from the perimeter and can handle the ball. He is erratic with the ball, but he'll get physical defensively and will work just fine in the Utah system.

17. Atlanta: Josh Smith, SF, Oak Hill Academy (Va.)

The Hawks got the double-dose of a local high school kid with the rep of being an exciting player with great athleticism. But he has little game and has a long way to go to become the second coming of Dominique Wilkins. We'll see if the Hawks are patient enough to help him develop a game rather than just the ability to run the floor and dunk the ball.

18. New Orleans: J.R. Smith, SG, St. Benedict's (N.J.)

J.R. Smith is yet another superb high school talent, and he'll have to develop quickly at the big guard position where they have been in dire need for years. He can shoot, run the floor and go to the rim hard. His size and skills are exceptional, but he's just another kid and it will be interesting to see if he can develop quickly enough to earn minutes by running the floor for new coach Byron Scott.

19. Miami: Dorell Wright, SF, South Kent Prep (Conn.)

Dorell Wright is the third first round athlete in a row taken by the Heat, following Caron Butler and Dwyane Wade, but as the eighth prep player out of the top 19, he's going to be sitting for a long time for the Heat. He's got great athleticism, can shoot and run the floor. But he has to develop physically and mentally be able to play an 82-game schedule in the NBA, and it's a surprise they didn't go with one of the big centers that hadn't been taken yet.

20. Denver: Jameer Nelson, PG, Saint Joseph's

The Nuggets took Jameer Nelson for the Orlando Magic, getting a future first round pick in exchange for Jameer Nelson. Nelson is the kind of leader and winner the Magic need to build around, and will have a profound positive effect on an 18-year-old like Dwight Howard. For whatever reason the first 19 teams saw fit to pass on Nelson, the Magic have to be thankful. He's the point guard they've been seeking since Penny Hardaway left town.

**empy** · June 25th, 2004 11:39 AM

21. Utah: Pavel Podkolzine, C, Varese (Italy)

The Jazz picked Podkolzine for the Dallas Mavericks, in exchange for a future first round pick. Although only 19, he's 7-5, has soft hands and he figures to fit the bill as the Mavs continue to build a package they believe can woo Shaquille O'Neal from the Lakers. If not, well, the Mavs have a slew of players that they'll have to sort through and reconfigure as they move forward in this off season.

22. New Jersey: Viktor Khryapa, SF, CKSA Moscow

The Nets took Viktor Khryapa for the Trail Blazers in exchange for point guard Eddie Gill. The Blazers need a guy like Khryapa, who has size, good shooting range and at 22, he's got the maturity of playing professional basketball for several years. He has limited ballhandling skills, but his perimeter shooting ability should compensate as the Blazers needs dictate.

23. Portland: Sergei Monia, SG/SF, CKSA Moscow

The Blazers then took Khryapa's teammate Sergei Monia, who is more of a guard and better suits what the Blazers need. He's got a much better handle, can shoot the ball with range and like Khryapa is ready to play now.

24. Boston: Delonte West, PG/SG, Saint Joseph's

The Celtics needed some help in the backcourt, and the left-handed West provides them with the another natural guard to develop in their backcourt. There is little doubt Danny Ainge is building a young team with versatility, and West fits precisely what they are doing now and in the future.

25. Boston: Tony Allen, SG, Oklahoma State

As if drafting West wasn't enough to get another guard, the Celtics added Tony Allen with their third pick in the first round. He's not a refined offensive player, but he's a very tough defensive player and that's what Ainge wants to build for new coach Doc Rivers. You can see how this team will trap and pressure unmercifully every night. Expect the Celtics to run a lot of players in and out of the lineup as they utilize their youth to play full blast.

26. Sacramento: Kevin Martin, SG, Western Carolina

The Kings needed depth in the backcourt, and Kevin Martin became the first player from Western Carolina taken in the first round. He's got a good touch, but didn't shoot well from 3-point range and he's woefully skinny at 185 pounds on his 6-7 frame. But he's got long arms and can play out on the floor. It's just a matter if he's tough enough to play in the NBA.

27. L.A. Lakers: Sasha Vujacic, PG, Udine (Italy)

The Lakers needed to do something that would shore up a team with only seven players under contract, and drafting Sasha Vujacic proves they were prepared to draft a player they felt was ready to come in and earn minutes. Although only 20, the Slovenian played 30 games in the Italian League and averaged 14.4 points. He's 6-7 with long arms and great hands. The question is his shooting range, but he's instinctive, and runs the floor well.

28. San Antonio: Beno Udrih, PG, Maccabi Tel Aviv

The Spurs got their backup point guard to Tony Parker by drafting Beno Udrih with the 28th pick. Udrih has continously improved his shooting as he has gotten older and in the Italian League, he shot .926 from the line and .424 from 3-point range this season. With his 22nd birthday approaching, he's NBA ready to earn some minutes on this international team.

29. Indiana: David Harrison, C, Colorado

The Pacers needed another center with the loss of Primoz Brezec in the expansion draft and they were surprised that Harrison was still available with the last pick of the first round. He's a big, powerful kid who has three years experience under his belt at Colorado, so he could earn some minutes with the Pacers this season.

**stinkaboy** · June 25th, 2004 12:01 PM

si shaq he wants to be traded ren...

**empy** · June 25th, 2004 12:36 PM

hmm...more trade rumors?

how about:

Shaq to Dallas for Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and the #5 (Devin Harris)?

or Shaq to Indiana for Jermaine O'Neal, Ron Artest and Austin Croshere (screw Croshere, how about Al Harrington?)

**ssaloon** · June 30th, 2004 08:49 AM

it's a done deal!

McGrady gets wish as Magic trades NBA's top scorer for Rockets' Francis

**kimpOy** · June 30th, 2004 09:17 AM

done deal na nga.

untouchable daw si nowitzki sabi ni cuban.

kobe wants lakers to trade shaq first before he will sign. (rumor)
lakers want kobe's commitment before they trade shaq naman. (rumor)

**edzzz** · June 30th, 2004 10:39 AM

Lalong lumakas ang West. Sana mapunta si Shaq sa East para mabalance pa.

I think Houston won in this trade

**pajerokid** · June 30th, 2004 10:59 AM

Yes, Houston winning is a major understatement. Francis is an point with an off-guard's brain. I dont like this one bit.

Tmac can do it all and then some!