1. New Jersey-Kenyon Martin: It doesn't matter all the mind games they're playing. Martin is #1. 2. Vancouver-Stromile Swift: Grizzlies have completed their roster loaded with talent, how can a team with Bibby, Dickerson, Abdur-Rahim, and Swift NOT make the playoffs? Chemistry, will the new management bring it? 3. Los Angeles Clippers-Marcus Fizer: Either way, if Fizer is 6'9'', he'd be great for the Clips, if he isn't, their management will fall for whoever started the rumor. 4. Chicago-Chris Mihm: Krause has wanted Mihm all along. 5. Orlando-Joel Pryzbilla: Doc Rivers needs a defensive center who doesn't need the ball, if he's going to get a few stud Free Agents 6. Atlanta-Mike Miller: I think the Dermarr Johnson thing is a cover. Miller makes a much better fit as Atlanta wants to win now. 7. Chicago-Darius Miles: Great luck for the Bulls that Miles is still there. 8. Cleveland-Iakovos Tsakalidis: Cleveland has inquired about his buyout, and Ziggy is still an unknown healthwise. 9. Houston-Dermarr Johnson: Francis wants his fellow DC boy on his wing. A sweet shooting tall athlete fits Houston well. Moiso is also possible 10. Orlando-Courtney Alexander: The Magic need someone who can contribute immediately. Alexander is one of the best prepared in the draft/ 11. Boston-Jerome Moiso: An athletic PF, he'd make a nice tandem with Walker up front. 12. Dallas-Olumide Oyedeji: Some rumors say Dooling and Crawford, but The Mav front line, excluding Trent is soft. 13. Orlando-Erick Barkley: They'll pick a PG here, it comes down to Barkley and Crawford, Barkley gets the nod. 14. Detroit-Jamal Crawford: A hometown pick. multipurpose pick, as he can play the point, or switch to be the SG next to Lindsey Hunter if Hill leaves. 15. Milwaukee-Etan Thomas: Milwaukee's front line is sad. He's the best left. 16. Sacramento-DeShawn Stevenson: Nick Anderson will be gone soon. They'll take a chance with a possible corner stone who. 17. Seattle-Quentin Richardson: A great player to go into their backcourt. Brent Barry doesn't cut it. 18. Los Angeles Clippers-Mateen Cleaves: They need a leader, and he fits the mold 19. Charlotte-Chris Carrawell: Both sides (team and player) are in a "I'd love to play for them" mode, almost a lock. 20. Philadelphia-Morris Peterson: They need a defensive guard, and he's good. He can jump up to play SF, and provides another option. 21. Toronto-Keyon Dooling: An uptempo PG might keep Carter happy. If McGrady stays, that's an incredible 1-2-3 athletic trio. 22. New York-Ernest Brown: They need another center, as Camby and Ewing seem to be out of favor. 23. Utah-Desmond Mason: Fills the shooting guard void. 24. Chicago-Speedy Claxton: They'll pick a PG here, and he's the best one left. 25. Phoenix-Mamadou N'Diaye: They need a defensive center, and that's what N'Diaye is. 26. Utah-Jason Collier: Collier is a Jazz type of player. He fits well with the Jazz. 27. Indiana-Soumaila Samake: Smits is on the way out, and Samake is a project, he can at least play D, and is the best center available. 28. Portland-Corey Hightower: Can play 1-2-3, and the Blazers have an aging player at all those positions (Anthony, Smith, Pippen). Another multi-talented player. 29. Los Angeles Lakers-Donnell Harvey: This is scary. The Lakers achilles heel has been PF, imagine what a young, rebounding machine would do? Comments? Suggestions? ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
NIKEstrad, Does Atlanta have enough talent left to win now? After botching things with the Portland trade last summer, it seems like they would be closer to a rebuild than a quick patch. Chicago makes a mistake taking Mihm. The Griz mgt will finally get it together because consultant Daly has a chance to redeem his name from the mud in Orlando. He won't blow that chance. Griz fans will come back to the CC BBS and brag about how great their team and mgt are. Current management will look brilliant courtesy of all the high lottery picks left by the prior management team. Mango ------------------ Live long and prosper. Donate blood! Now...back to updating The Serious Police Files. [This message has been edited by Mango (edited June 20, 2000).]
Mango-the reason I said that, is because they claim that MUTUMBO is their center piece, and are trying to give him an extension. That would sound like they want to win sooner, rather than later to me.... ------------------ Rockets fans wanted at hoopsboards.com Draft Chat, NBA Chat, Team Chat, and more!
NIKEstrad, Do you think they have enough talent left that a quick patch will get them into a high seed playoff spot? If I was the GM and got a great offer for MUTOMBO, then he likely would be gone and a rapid rebuild mode would go into place. Mango ------------------ Live long and prosper. Donate blood! Now...back to updating The Serious Police Files.
I share the opinion that the Hawks want to win now! I think it not unlikely that both Miller & Johnson get passed over as the Hawks select Alexander at #6. I know Ryder is still a bleeding wound, but if you want an immediate impact, neither Miller nor Johnson will bring it like Alexander!!! While none of the three will help defensively near term (you still have Mutombo inside), and Alexander likely outperforms the others offensively next year. Alexander is a very hungry youngster IMO, and he will have a good rookie year which should make him quite tradeable if the Hawks don't like the chemistry with him. Finally, it's been previously suggested that perhaps next year's draft will be better for SFs. It's wierd, but something in my gut tells me Alexander goes at #6. MManal & NikeSTRAD, great posts by you both as always. ------------------
I am in agreement with Nike, and the strategy that the Hawks appear to be taking. They are not as far off as it appeared last season imho. There were just way too many elements going against them. First off, Lenny Wilkens is not the proper coach for a young team like they had transformed into. I was hearing on the radio recently (I believe from Michael Murphy) that Wilkens is great to have with a veteran team but does not communicate as well with the young players. Their new coach, Lon Krueger is an excellent fit imho. The Hawks were trying to integrate a rookie PG, Jason Terry, into the mix. Rookies at that position usually take time to develop (not everyone is like Steve Francis or Magic Johnson.) I think Terry should become a very solid PG for them and should show more improvement this season. He does possess a good amount of natural talent. Also, the Rider episode destroyed the morale of that team and basically made them sink to extremely low levels. The players just could not communicate with Lenny Wilkens and the whole thing snowballed. Also, the young, athletic PF that they committed 42 million dollars to in Lorenzen Wright did not play well until late in the season. I think he along with Terry should have much improved seasons next year. I have been a big believer in Jim Jackson's abilities for a long time and think he should have a solid campaign next season as he takes over the SG spot. With the East being such a weak conference and a ton of question marks for the some of the top teams (Indiana and Miami), the Hawks need to take advantage of that and make something happen soon. Drafting a point forward like Mike Miller who should be able to step in quickly will help them reach the playoffs soon. I would not at all be shocked if they make it back there next season. I feel that Lon Krueger is going to do an excellent job with that team and bring along the young players. They have two veterans in Dikembe Mutombo and Jim Jackson, three young players in Jason Terry, Lorenzen Wright and potentially Mike Miller and a solid Alan Henderson to fill out the frontcourt. They should take advantage of the fact that Mutombo is still playing at a high level and go for it. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
