Man I hope Lebron James will live up to the expectations

carayip · Mar 19, 2003

... for the sake of the NBA, the team drafting him and most importantly the kid himself. With the amount of hype he's generated right now, it looks like anything short of a HOF career plus at least a couple of rings (remember Ewing's bashed in his whole career for failing to winning a championship for NY despite having a HOF career) will be considered big disappointment.

Here at Stein Line HQ, the tournament is already over. All too typically, it was over before it started. Our beloved Cal State Fullerton dragged Utah State to overtime in the first round of the Big West Tourney, wound up losing by six after going 5-0 in OT league games, then watched as the Aggies inevitably won the next two rounds to claim the automatic Big Dance bid that has eluded us since 1978.

It was all more maddening than our Marches normally are. It proved a rather torturous way to commemorate the 25th anniversary of my Titans' only trip to the NCAAs, when they shocked Michael Cooper's New Mexico and Bill Cartwright's San Francisco to reach the Elite Eight and become Cal State Who? It is why we proceed straight to a question that will actually have an impact on the NBA Draft, because the Field O' Sixty-Five -- with no obvious must-see teams or players and without the Titans -- offers little to hold the Line's interest.

Question is ...

Darko Milicic could be the next Dirk Nowitzki ...
Is there any scenario that could materialize in the next few months that would make Darko Milicic the No. 1 overall pick in June's NBA Draft?

Ahead of LeBron James?

It's a more reasonable question, surely, than asking general managers which collegians can really help themselves between now and New Orleans. As so aptly described on ESPN's "Sports Reporters" on Sunday morning, you haven't heard of most of the guys who will decide the office pool and you will forget the majority of them as soon as the tournament ends. That is the state of today's scholastic game, with the bulk of the college-aged NBA talent already playing in the NBA and the charm of the bracket sitting on your desk forced to make up for what's lacking on the floor. There likewise isn't a lot of scout-based excitement about what the next few weeks hold, with no one on display on par with LeBron and Darko. Syracuse freshman Carmelo Anthony is next on teams' lists but hasn't totally committed to leaving school.

"You pretty much draw a line after the top three, because there doesn't seem to be a whole lot there," said one Western Conference executive, referring to the trio of aforementioned studs he's not allowed to discuss by name.

"The first three picks," an Eastern Conference GM adds, "are basically etched in stone."

As a result, sadly, not even our LeBron vs. Darko question -- founded upon the basketball wisdom that dictates drafting Legit Big Man over a swingman -- spawned much debate. The notion that there might actually be a team out there willing to pass up all the interest (read: revenue) James will generate, in addition to the otherwordly potential package he'd be bringing in, didn't last any longer than Fullerton.

It has already been decided, folks.

"The gap that once existed with international players is gone, and with the position that (Milicic) plays, he's right in line to take a team that's not on the map and put it there," Eastern Conference GM No. 2 said. "But it would be a pretty big test of someone's conviction in the European market."

Put in more succinct fashion, courtesy of Western Conference executive No. 2: "There will be 13 teams at the lottery with LeBron jerseys to hold up."

It apparently doesn't matter that Milicic is a 7-footer with more back-to-basket polish, at this stage, than any of his Euro predecessors. Doesn't matter that he has been playing pro ball against men for a few years now. Doesn't matter that Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie were drafted ahead of little Michael Jordan in 1984, or that the Dallas Mavericks went bold and overseas in 1998 (Dirk Nowitzki) when safe and domestic (Paul Pierce) made for a comparable decision at No. 9 that year.

It doesn't even matter that the lottery-bound Sonics and (most famously of all) the Knicks are desperate for size -- that the grand fortune of winning the lotto could put those teams in line to snag an All-Star post prospect.

... but the chance of selling LeBron James as the next No. 23 is too tough to pass up.
"I have Darko as a clear-cut No. 2," West exec No. 2 said. "But I just think LeBron is going to be like Magic (Johnson). He's a 6-foot-8, 240-pound point guard. He's smart. He's competitive. LeBron's shot will be an issue at the start, but Darko is nowhere near LeBron on his development curve. As good as Darko is, he hasn't played (in the summer) with NBA players and left them standing speechless like LeBron. He's not like (Pau) Gasol, who came here from playing at a high level in Spain."

Said East GM No. 1: "We don't draft players because of what the fans think or what the media thinks, but if you're going to draft (Darko over LeBron), you better have a damn good reason. This has been the biggest buildup of a high school player of all time. There has never been a high school player known worldwide."

A third Eastern Conference official was even more emphatic.

"We all like Darko, and all of us want the next Nowitzki, but I don't care who you are," he said. "I don't see how any owner would allow (drafting Darko ahead of LeBron). The Lakers would still take LeBron, and they have Kobe (Bryant)."

That's because James is guaranteed to sell out every building he plays in and move reams of merchandise and provide the franchise lucky enough to land him with everything it could wish for business-wise. He's probably just as certain to be voted by the fans into next February's All-Star Game as a rookie starter.

It's also because, even with a whole league of vets coming at him like no 18-year-old has ever faced -- and in spite of the very public growing pains, under the most intensely focused microscope in history, sure to follow -- there isn't a team in the league that doubts LBJ's scouting reports.

"The chances of LeBron not being a great player someday," East exec No. 3 added, "are very, very, very remote."

In Stein Line terms? The odds are about the same that we'll see Cal State Fullerton, back within four points of the Final Four, just like that glorious spring of '78 when Sidney Moncrief's Arkansas didn't topple the Titans until the last few seconds.

In my lifetime.
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Joe (Cincy): Marc, just read your article on Lebron vs. Drako. Let's pose a hypothetical, say the Magic fall hard and out of the playoffs. Would they take Lebron, even with their huge need for a legit big man and T-mac being rather similar to Lebron. Would drafting Lebron inslut

Marc Stein: For purely basketball reasons there's no question it would make sense, in that scenario, to draft Darko over LeBron. But it still wouldn't happen. The Magic is struggling at the gate even with T-Mac. There has never been a player like LeBron, who is unanimously projected for superstar status and who can also guarantee his franchise insane revenue streams in an economy where EVERYONE needs more money. I don't think drafting LeBron would insult T-Mac and I don't think even the Magic could pass him up after everything that has happened there -- losing Shaq, and then Ben Wallace, and now with the news that Grant is having a fourth surgery. Read today's Stein Line for more on this -- lots of interesting observations from league executives on the LeBron vs. Darko question.

John (Chicago): If the Bulls get the 2nd pick, do they (or should they) use it for the big guy overseas or trade it? If they do trade it, what should they go for?

Marc Stein: Same thing here. Bulls have bigs but Darko is too good to pass up at No. 2. If the Bulls were lucky enough to get the No. 2 pick, they could grab Darko and trade Curry or Chandler if they wanted for help at another position. Although I like both of those guys, too. The way they're playing now, after all the bashing, just reminds you that you have to be patient with these tall teen-agers.
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bajabill · Mar 19, 2003

Interesting and Amazing.....but, I just can't buy the hype....it may be true, but I can't buy it. If LeBron turns out to be as good as a T-MAC or Kobe I would be surprised....not amazed, but surely surprised.....but, I can say the same for Darko...if Darko turns out to be as good as Duncan I would be surprised....not amazed, but surely surprised.......Kobe/T-MAC or Duncan, Kobe/T-MAC or Duncan????????? 2 possible franchise players and the GM picking first can't be wrong..........oh, and Marko just put up 37pts(17/19 3/4) 9rbs 9assts in 30min....in an early round Fiba cup game.... Kobe/T-MAC or Duncan, Kobe/T-MAC or Duncan......hey, how come there are 2 swing men and only one big???????? And the MVP was who???????

rezdawg · Mar 19, 2003

Darko is the next Dirk.

bajabill · Mar 19, 2003

From what I read he is definitely not Dirk and not Pau....he is already a low post threat(at 17) and his handling and outside skills are just in addition....whereas Dirk is still trying to get there....no a more athletic Duncan or a KG that likes and can play in the post....that is what I get coming from europe.....Darko thinks the KG side is favored and scouts think Duncan side is favored......I love Dirk, but anyone pasing on this 17 year old is fooling themselves if they they have settled on the Dirk analogy.... Tim Garnett or Kevin Duncan....then the "easy" disappears......scouts had better do their homework.

nigma2000 · Mar 21, 2003

Man i hope LeBron and Millicic get drafted by eastern conference teams. We need some balance in the NBA again because this is pathetic. The East is just a joke.

Imagine if LeBron gets drafted and leads his team to the finals in his rookie year, i am not saying winning it but just go to the big dance. What would be the reaction.

Man how many "the next Jordan" are we gonna get. First it was Grant Hill, Kobe, Vince, and now James. Enough already.

GATER · Mar 21, 2003

I'm not convinced James will live up to the hype. However, in a truly just world LeBron needs to be a Cavalier next fall. IMO, this is the best scenario for the league...both the Cavs (whom I believe are for sale) and the EC need him.

As a bonus for local fans, Gund Arena is about a 30 minute drive from Akron.

acejeff5 · Mar 21, 2003

remember how he said he will refuse to play for cleveland cavaliers, that still true?

GATER · Mar 21, 2003

Originally posted by acejeff5
remember how he said he will refuse to play for cleveland cavaliers, that still true?
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I have never seen this in print. The NBA fined Lucas and the Cavs for inviting him to a workout of some sort.

kidrock8 · Mar 21, 2003

Originally posted by GATER
I have never seen this in print. The NBA fined Lucas and the Cavs for inviting him to a workout of some sort.
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A workout in which he supposedly dominated the Cavs.

The kid is the real deal.

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