Feigan: Rockets likely to choose between Radmanovic, Murphy, Jefferson at 13

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/954258

Feeling a draft

Rockets play wating game in uncertain draft

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle

The Rockets know what they want. They are all over that. A versatile forward that can shoot and a shot-blocking center.

They know all about the draft's talent. Tonight's NBA draft is full of versatile forwards who can shoot and shot-blocking centers.

But the problem is that on the eve of the draft, they had little clue about what will be available at No. 13, much less their two other first-round picks.

More than any draft Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson could remember, the order of players taken remained uncertain late in the process, throwing the Rockets' options into limbo.

But barring a major shakeup in the draft order or the picks expected to be made, the Rockets likely will choose between whoever is left between; forwards Troy Murphy of Notre Dame, Vladimir Radmanovic of Yugoslavia's Red Star team and Richard Jefferson of Arizona, or the draft's deep collection of centers.

"We're confused because we don't know what the people in front of us are doing," said Dawson, declining to speak of specific options. "They're confused because they don't know what the people in front of them are doing.

"Every time you talk to somebody, you hear something different. In years past, by now you would talk to people and they would say the same thing. It's really volatile for being this late.

"It changes every day, every day. If it would stay the same, we could leave. It's different today than yesterday, totally different than yesterday. It always changes, but more so this year because of the youth that's in front."

After the constant demand that a player fits well with his current players, Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said the Rockets' priorities were shooting ability and size. Tomjanovich spoke of the search for a scorer and a shot-blocker. If things fall right, they have a chance at both.

"Our concerns are trying to pick players that fit the players that we have, the guys who create plays for us," Tomjanovich said.

"Areas like shooting are always a consideration. We also have to think about size. I think we're one of the smaller teams in the league. Hopefully with those three picks we can get a combination of some of those things taken care of."

Because there is an unusually large assortment of centers expected to be taken in the top 20 picks, it would seem more likely the Rockets go after their perimeter option first.

Radmanovic would bring the versatility and shooting touch the Rockets covet and seemed to have a chance to last until No. 13. There had been indications Detroit would choose Radmanovic at No. 9, potentially allowing Joe Johnson to fall all the way to No. 13. But the Pistons seem more likely to opt for Johnson.

The Celtics, holding the No. 10 and 11 picks, would then be able to choose between Murphy and Radmanovic, leaving the other for the SuperSonics at No. 12.

Seattle is considered especially high on Radmanovic. But the Sonics have a greater need for a center. The Sonics sent two coaches to see teenager DeSagana Diop's workout in Philadelphia this week and have praised Diop extensively since. Seattle also has shown signs of interest in North Carolina center Brendan Haywood.

But many scouts have evaluated Radmanovic and Murphy as better prospects than Diop or the other centers.

If Radmanovic and Murphy are gone before the Rockets choose, Jefferson could bring the scoring talent they were seeking with tremendous athleticism. But the Rockets could consider his talents too similar to Shandon Anderson's -- as a strong defensive guard/forward, outstanding in the open court but with an inconsistent outside shot -- to fill a need.

At center, the Rockets were impressed with the workouts of DePaul teenager Steven Hunter and Haywood. Arizona senior Loren Woods or Ohio State senior Ken Johnson also would bring shot-blocking talents.

The Rockets also have looked at Stanford's Jason Collins, Seton Hall's Samuel Dalembert, Georgia Tech's Alvin Jones and Kansas' Eric Chenowith, all potential first-round picks.
But with a draft considered deep in centers, and few centers expected to be available in next season's draft or free agency, there could be advantages in using multiple picks to take a center that would need time to develop.

"You don't see drafts this deep normally," Dawson said. "We felt this is a good year to have three picks."

But the Rockets have been pursuing a deal that would package their picks -- No. 13, 18 and 23 -- to move up into the top 10. But Tomjanovich said Tuesday that the odds are the Rockets would remain where they are.
"I'd say there's probably an 80 percent chance we'll take all three and then 95 percent we'd take (at least) two," Tomjanovich said.

"There's been a lot more talk about it this year because we have more ammunition," Dawson said. "We try every year to move up. It's very difficult. This year there is more interest. It has been a lot more congenial. You don't get the door slammed in your face.

"You get a million calls from people wanting the 18th pick or the 23rd pick from us. We're trying to go the other way. But you get a lot of calls from people trying to get our pick. This is the most busy I've been on the phone. We're trying to move forward."

There were brief conversations with the Nets about dealing all three picks for the Nets' pick, seventh in the first round. Those talks did not develop, in part because the likelihood Rodney White would be available at No. 7 seemed to be diminished.

But with more recent changes in the projected draft order, White or 7-1 Spanish forward Pau Gasol could slip enough to offer a suitable carrot for the Rockets to move up.

But after weeks of trying to make a deal, a move that major would be a significant last-minute shift. But then this is a draft in which it might be best to expect the unexpected.

"We probably don't have a handle on it as much as in the past years, as much as we'd like to," Dawson said. "There's so many high school guys up in front of the draft, it makes it a little uncertain up in front of us. We don't know what's left for us at 13. It was crazy to start with. It's been longer and harder to figure it out than most years.

"But because the draft is so deep, it doesn't bother us."

It might even get them what they want, even if they don't know just how they will get it.

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The Mo Taylor Fan Site

"Basketball players win basketball games. Athletes win track meets."-- Shane Battier

Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more!

Cat's Mock Draft

 

Insider today essentially backs up what Feigan said:

The Rockets will only it do it however, if one of the players they covet (Rodney White or Eddie Griffin) were to fall there.

Aside from that, here's something I just thought of. Let's imagine for a minute that the first six picks are Brown, Curry, Chandler, Griffin, Gasol, and Richardson. If the Rockets trade up for 7, do you pick Battier, White, or Joe Johnson? I would probably pick Battier... but was wondering what the consensus was from the rest of the BBS.

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The Mo Taylor Fan Site

"Basketball players win basketball games. Athletes win track meets."-- Shane Battier

Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more!

Cat's Mock Draft