ducks
06-26-2004, 11:03 PM
NBA Draft winners and losers
Jack McCallum, SI.com
WINNERS
The 2003-04 St. Joseph's backcourt: Yes, it was embarrassing to watch college player of the year Jameer Nelson slide to No. 20. And yes, some teams (Miami and Portland, to name two) will regret that they didn't take him. But Nelson ended up in a good place (Orlando), and his Hawks homeboy Delonte West, who was torn about whether to stay in school, showed he made a smart decision when he was snagged at No. 24 by Boston. That's guaranteed first-round money.
The Orlando Magic: Even though we don't know whether Tracy McGrady will be traded -- or, for that matter, whether Grant Hill will be able to come back from injury -- the Magic made the correct pick when they went for Dwight Howard over Emeka Okafor. Why? For a simple reason: Howard not only has more "upside" (the phrase of the night) but he's a better player than Okafor, as much as the Connecticut deserves props for earning a degree in three years. And getting Nelson was nice, too. If I was T-Mac, I'd stick around.
Tim Grover: Through his association with Michael Jordan, the Chicago-based trainer has become the NBA's body doctor. The Clippers' Shaun Livingston and Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala are two of the high picks who trained with Grover, and his reputation for turning skinny young dudes into ready-to-play hunks is only growing. (What he can't do, though, is turn them into Michael Jordan.)
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Andris Biedrins: In a draft with too little real emotion (except from weeping mothers in the green room), the 18-year-old forward from Latvia burst into tears when his name was called at No. 11. Cynics would say it was because he was picked by the Golden State Warriors, but, see, I'm not a cynic.
Sasha Vujacic: The Slovenian guard was taken by the Lakers at No. 27. At this point, he's one of only about three guys who will definitely be on L.A.'s roster next season, so he's due for some significant playing time. But Sasha needn't worry even if he doesn't start. Lakers rookie Luke Walton didn't play much this year, but Britney Spears still engaged him in some prime-time flirting.
LOSERS
America's ear drums: Dick Vitale analyzing the NBA draft? Why not bring in The Galloping Gourmet to analyze the war in Iraq? Vitale is a relentless self-promoter who is ignorant of the NBA game and should've gone to bed before the first round instead of the second. Vitale added nothing to the analysis by screaming about his own travel schedule, who's going to be No. 1 in college basketball next year and Jameer Nelson being overlooked. While Vitale was foaming at the mouth about Nelson, his ESPN colleague David Aldridge, who does know something about pro hoops, pointed out that Nelson would probably be traded from point guard-loaded Denver. Which is exactly what happened a few minutes later.
The Atlanta Hawks: I didn't like either of their first-round picks. Although he is a bright young man who will represent the franchise well, Josh Childress isn't quite good enough to go No. 6. And taking prep player Josh Smith at No. 17 was a major risk. Of course, the Hawks don't have anyone to coach these guys yet, either.
The compulsory workout: It's not just highly rated college guys who are kept out of workouts by agents. Seven-footer Robert Swift, out of Bakersfield (Calif.) High School, didn't audition for any teams before the draft but was drafted 12th (by Seattle) and even drew interest from a couple of franchises that were picking higher.
Jerry Stackhouse: It wasn't too long ago that Stackhouse was a supposed franchise player in Philadelphia. Then he was the purported franchise player in Detroit. Then he played second fiddle to 40-year-old Michael Jordan in Washington. Then Stackhouse got injured. Now he's almost an afterthought as part of a deal that sent him (along with another fading star, Christian Laettner) to Dallas in exchange for Antawn Jamison. Look for 'House to be a piece in a future Mavericks deal, possibly the Shaquille O'Neal Sweepstakes.
Commissioner David Stern: He wants an age minimum for his league -- does anyone with a brain disagree with him? -- yet he was forced to stand at the microphone and announce the names of eight high school players among the first 19 picks. Was it my imagination, or did he seem less than thrilled with it all and relieved when he handed over second-round duties to deputy commissioner Russ Granik?
Jack McCallum, SI.com
WINNERS
The 2003-04 St. Joseph's backcourt: Yes, it was embarrassing to watch college player of the year Jameer Nelson slide to No. 20. And yes, some teams (Miami and Portland, to name two) will regret that they didn't take him. But Nelson ended up in a good place (Orlando), and his Hawks homeboy Delonte West, who was torn about whether to stay in school, showed he made a smart decision when he was snagged at No. 24 by Boston. That's guaranteed first-round money.
The Orlando Magic: Even though we don't know whether Tracy McGrady will be traded -- or, for that matter, whether Grant Hill will be able to come back from injury -- the Magic made the correct pick when they went for Dwight Howard over Emeka Okafor. Why? For a simple reason: Howard not only has more "upside" (the phrase of the night) but he's a better player than Okafor, as much as the Connecticut deserves props for earning a degree in three years. And getting Nelson was nice, too. If I was T-Mac, I'd stick around.
Tim Grover: Through his association with Michael Jordan, the Chicago-based trainer has become the NBA's body doctor. The Clippers' Shaun Livingston and Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala are two of the high picks who trained with Grover, and his reputation for turning skinny young dudes into ready-to-play hunks is only growing. (What he can't do, though, is turn them into Michael Jordan.)
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Andris Biedrins: In a draft with too little real emotion (except from weeping mothers in the green room), the 18-year-old forward from Latvia burst into tears when his name was called at No. 11. Cynics would say it was because he was picked by the Golden State Warriors, but, see, I'm not a cynic.
Sasha Vujacic: The Slovenian guard was taken by the Lakers at No. 27. At this point, he's one of only about three guys who will definitely be on L.A.'s roster next season, so he's due for some significant playing time. But Sasha needn't worry even if he doesn't start. Lakers rookie Luke Walton didn't play much this year, but Britney Spears still engaged him in some prime-time flirting.
LOSERS
America's ear drums: Dick Vitale analyzing the NBA draft? Why not bring in The Galloping Gourmet to analyze the war in Iraq? Vitale is a relentless self-promoter who is ignorant of the NBA game and should've gone to bed before the first round instead of the second. Vitale added nothing to the analysis by screaming about his own travel schedule, who's going to be No. 1 in college basketball next year and Jameer Nelson being overlooked. While Vitale was foaming at the mouth about Nelson, his ESPN colleague David Aldridge, who does know something about pro hoops, pointed out that Nelson would probably be traded from point guard-loaded Denver. Which is exactly what happened a few minutes later.
The Atlanta Hawks: I didn't like either of their first-round picks. Although he is a bright young man who will represent the franchise well, Josh Childress isn't quite good enough to go No. 6. And taking prep player Josh Smith at No. 17 was a major risk. Of course, the Hawks don't have anyone to coach these guys yet, either.
The compulsory workout: It's not just highly rated college guys who are kept out of workouts by agents. Seven-footer Robert Swift, out of Bakersfield (Calif.) High School, didn't audition for any teams before the draft but was drafted 12th (by Seattle) and even drew interest from a couple of franchises that were picking higher.
Jerry Stackhouse: It wasn't too long ago that Stackhouse was a supposed franchise player in Philadelphia. Then he was the purported franchise player in Detroit. Then he played second fiddle to 40-year-old Michael Jordan in Washington. Then Stackhouse got injured. Now he's almost an afterthought as part of a deal that sent him (along with another fading star, Christian Laettner) to Dallas in exchange for Antawn Jamison. Look for 'House to be a piece in a future Mavericks deal, possibly the Shaquille O'Neal Sweepstakes.
Commissioner David Stern: He wants an age minimum for his league -- does anyone with a brain disagree with him? -- yet he was forced to stand at the microphone and announce the names of eight high school players among the first 19 picks. Was it my imagination, or did he seem less than thrilled with it all and relieved when he handed over second-round duties to deputy commissioner Russ Granik?