Joe Joe is correct. Williams could declare, and if MJ (or if he didn't mind the Bulls) is in position to grab him, he'd stay in, or he could get out of the draft, after finding out the order. The Wizards will definitely have a top 5 pick, and have a pretty high chance of getting the top pick (especially with the MJ-Stern factor). Everything I've heard, Battie isn't the most popular guy in Boston, and is very movable (probably would be attached with their real contract, Potapenko). He's also more of a PF size, than a center, though he can play one in the east. ------------------ "That's been a lifelong dream of mine." -Vince Carter, after laying it in on a breakaway, much to the Vancouver crowd's displeasure.
gr8-1: I think there are always going to be some curious coincidences. The Wizards have a great shot at it anyway. Jason Williams, if he comes out will be the #1 pick. Just about any team will take him #1. He's the consensus #1 unless Ming is as for real as some people claim he is, and he comes out. Assuming he comes out, either the team with the #1 pick will pick him, or trade down a few slots. Teams won't want to take a guy at #1 who won't absolutely contribute solid numbers immediately, which is why if Williams or Ming comes out, the HSers will not go #1. If Ming and Williams stay, then there is no player that has #1 type of potential, and will contribute solid numbers immediately, which gives Chandler and Curry a shot at the #1 slot. ------------------ "That's been a lifelong dream of mine." -Vince Carter, after laying it in on a breakaway, much to the Vancouver crowd's displeasure.
NIKEstrad, do you see Williams coming out if the Warriors win the lottery? Obviously they would pick him, and I doubt he would want to join that team. I can see the Washington connection.Also ,I know Williams is good, but do the bulls honestly draft another point guard in the lottery when they already have their future pg in Crawford? I don't think they do.There's no point in drafting another point guard, when they have bigger question marks in other areas. They'd benefit more from drafting size. I have this feeling Williams is not coming out. We'll see though...... ------------------
If Williams comes out and the Bulls have the opportunity to draft him, they will, regardless of Crawford, unless they're REALLY high on Curry. Crawford had been mentioned in trades last year--he wasn't happy with his pt and the way he was used. He wouldn't be hard to trade. Plus if the Bulls were to keep him they could always play them together some...Crawford doesn't hurt you too much if you play him at the 2 since he's 6'5 or 6'6 anyway. ------------------ P.S. This is what part of the alphabet would look like if Q and R were eliminated.
Problem is they have Mercer at the 2, Artest who sometimes runs the 2, and Hoiberg. If they get rid of Crawford, then of course they draft him, but Chicago seemed to have alot of confidence in Crawford near the end of the season. He came a long way throughout the season. Also, do the Bulls really want to have their point guard spot rotation consist of a 2nd year player and a rookie? I see them drafting big. ------------------ [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited April 29, 2001).]
So Nike, you think there is a possibility that the lotto could be rigged ? ------------------ "norm, would you like to buy an indian scalp ? This deal isn't gonna make or break me Norm, so don't jerk me around." Harry Carey "Norm, if I had a mohawk scalp, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."
If the Bulls and Wizards don't have the number 1 or 2 pick in the draft, I don't think they'll be able to package a deal together to move up to nab Williams. Only if Chicago or Washington holds the 1 or 2 pick do I see him coming out. The only other team I see that would definitely pick him would at the 1 or 2 spot would be golden state, and I doubt he'd be thrilled about playing in the bay area. ------------------
If the lotto isn't rigged, why not do it live ? It would help the ratings, and I think they used to do it. I think it is a HUGE coincedence when SA won it and when Chicago won it. And, I can see why Stern would want NJ to win it. I'm somewhat a conspiracy theorist, but I would love to see the lotto be a live drawing. ------------------ "norm, would you like to buy an indian scalp ? This deal isn't gonna make or break me Norm, so don't jerk me around." Harry Carey "Norm, if I had a mohawk scalp, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."
If the lotto isn't rigged, why not do it live ? It would help the ratings, and I think they used to do it. The lottery use to be live back when all teams had a single ball. Once they went to the weighted system, the actual drawing hasn't been live, but there's a pretty good reason for that. The way the lottery works, there are are 14 numbered balls placed in a hopper. There are 1000 four number combinations assigned among the lottery teams (there is one dead combination that isn't assigned to anyone). four balls are selected and they check to see who owns that combination. If it's the dead combination, then they draw again, otherwise the team owning that combo has the first pick. Then they put all the balls back in and draw four more balls for the second pick. If the combination drawn is either the dead combination or a combination owned by the team that won the first pick, then they pick again. Repeat the process for the third pick. As you can see, there's a very good chance that some of the picks will have to be redrawn (possibly multiple times) and the fact that once a combination is drawn, they have to go check a chart to actually find out who's holding that combination. It's not fixed, it just doesn't make for very compelling TV. ------------------ [This message has been edited by aelliott (edited April 30, 2001).] [This message has been edited by aelliott (edited April 30, 2001).]
For all you conspiracy theorists, keep in mind that every team in the lottery has a representative monitoring the actual drawing. ------------------
REASONS 1. Chicago-Eddy Curry-Sent a scout to every single one of his games this year. He has dominated the post season all-star games and shown huge potential, would make a great addition to bulls who already have best low post player in eastern conference. 2. Golden State-Eddie Griffin-Would fit great in with Jamison, Fortson, Jackson and Dampier forming one of the best frontcourts in the league. With the talent already there he wouldnt have pressure on him to do anything but play defense early on. We all know he can do that too. 3. Washington-Zach Randolph-This guy is unstoppable. He may not have started for MSU, but thats all because of Izzo. If you remember last year Richardson barely played as well and look how he turned out. Randolph is a beast, and would fit perfectly in a frontcourt that starts a weaker, but athletic player at 3 in Hamilton. 4. Vancouver-Jason Richardson-He would fit great in Vancouver, where they could move SAR to the 4 which he says is his natural position, and play Dickerson and him on the wings forming a great athletic tandem. This guy is gonna be good. Remember he scored 19 on the dream team in 1 half.
Here is a mock draft from a media site. I changed the Rocks 13 pick for someone I thought more likely that was available. 1. Eddy Curry 6-11 C 2. Eddie Griffin 6-9 3. Tyson Chandler 7-1 4. DeSagana Diop 7-0 C 5. Jason Richardson 6-6 SG 6. Michael Bradley 6-10 PF 7. Shane Battier 6-8 SF 8. Zach Randolph 6-9 PF 9. Jamaal Tinsley 6-3 PG 10. Richard Jefferson 6-7 SF 11. Loren Woods 7-1 C 12. Joe Johnson 6-9 SF 13. Rodney White 6-9 PF/SF 14. Troy Murphy 6-10 PF 15. Tayshaun Prince* 6-8 SF 16. Brendan Haywood 7-0 C 17. Joseph Forte* 6-3 SG 18. Ken Johnson 6-11 C 19. Ousmane Cisse 6-8 PF 20. Alvin Jones 6-11 C 21. Jason Collins* 6-11 C 22. Gerald Wallace 6-7 SF 23. Trenton Hassell 6-5 SG 24. Jarron Collins 6-10 PF 25. Gilbert Arenas 6-3 SG 26. Carlos Boozer* 6-9 PF 27. Kenny Satterfield 6-2 PG 28. Horace Jenkins 6-1 PG Note that this mock has Terrance Morris available at 22, also. If any of Yao Ming, Jason Williams or Paul Gasol come out, it makes Joe Johnson available at 13. If they are all in, it makes Richard Jefferson available at 13. ------------------
