Lottery breakdown

Emeka injury has teams backing off




Emeka Okafor

Some years, the NBA lottery is a Powerball drawing. Other years, the teams might as well be handed Bingo cards before the drawing.

After the Cavaliers hit the jackpot by winning the draft rights to LeBron James last May, we're back to church-hall Bingo Wednesday. Not that there isn't some intrigue about what will happen with the top draft pick this June. We've already got some fascinating plot lines developing involving a few lottery teams:


Orlando has the best chance (25%) to finish with the first pick. The Magic hasn't had a dominant big man since you know who. But even nearly a decade since Shaq bolted for L.A., Orlando has to have questions about Emeka Okafor's back.


The UConn star is nearly everybody's No. 1 pick. But he still is recovering from a back injury and has been limited to riding a stationary bike since winning the NCAA Tournament. Because Okafor isn't working out, several GMs are starting to wonder if this is another T.J. Ford situation. Last year before the draft, Ford was red-flagged by several teams because of a spinal condition. Going in, doctors told teams that Ford would likely require surgery if he reinjured himself. The Bucks knew that, but drafted Ford anyway, at No. 8, and sure enough, he took a spill and missed the final two months because of an injury that required surgery.
Orlando has been discussing Okafor and what to do in case his injury is more than just a temporary condition.
"The real problem here is that you're going to be taking a guy who is a limited offensive player, who is a 6-9 center with no face-up skills, and who has an existing back problem," said one Eastern Conference GM. "If I had the No. 1 pick, I'd have to be more than a little concerned."
if the lottery holds to form, Phoenix will get the No. 7 pick overall. The Suns would love to move up a few spots, presumably to take Ben Gordon to be their point guard of the future. They are one of several teams (along with Portland, Golden State, Seattle, the Clippers and Chicago) that are slated to attend Gordon's workout Tuesday in New York.
In remodeling their team after they traded Stephon Marbury to the Knicks, the Suns have come to the conclusion that Marbury's replacement, Leandro Barbosa, is a shooting guard. That's why they'd like a shot at Gordon. If they can secure Okafor's ex-UConn teammate, then they can address their other needs in free agency. They'll have enough cap space to make a run at Kobe Bryant, but he's not on their wish list. All indications are that they are targeting Detroit's Mehmet Okur, who can leave the Pistons if he gets a dollar more than the mid-level exception from another team. Okur wants to get away from the Wallaces and Larry Brown. With Rasheed all but certain of being re-signed and Ben not going anywhere, Okur sees that he'll never get any playing time. He likes the idea of relocating to Phoenix, according to several teammates.
The Clippers have a 10.5% chance of finishing first, but they'd love to stay right where they are, in the fifth slot. They are looking for a point guard and Sebastian Telfair is one they're targeting. Telfair was scheduled to go to L.A. on Friday for a workout, along with Jameer Nelson.
The Clippers are also interested in Gordon and have discussed making a run at Minnesota's Troy Hudson, who is going to opt out this summer to become an unrestricted free agent. Coming off surgery to repair torn cartilage in his ankle, Hudson expects to field other offers from Phoenix, Atlanta and Utah, among other teams. Considering how old Sam Cassell has looked, the Timberwolves would do well to re-sign Hudson. But they did themselves no favors when they went public with their opinion that Hudson should have waited until after the season to have surgery. Fact is, he could hardly walk.
Lottery lightning struck twice when the Magic won it in back-to-back years to get Shaq and Penny Hardaway. But the Cavs, with only a 1.8% chance of getting the top pick, are not banking on another No. 1 pick. What they are eager to see is how much LeBron improves over the summer.
He certainly wasn't your typical 18-year-old, and he seems to know that more is going to be expected of him next season. So after a few weeks off, he's ready to get back to working on his game. What, specifically?
"Everything," he said. "People basically learned how I score, so now I'm going to have to add more to my game, every year. And that's every aspect of my game. Not just dribbling or shooting. I think every part of my game needs to get better."That's the kind of at ude that is going to help make him even more special than he already is.
Slam Dunks
Hubie Brown plans on returning for one more season in Memphis, pending the results of a comprehensive physical exam. Brown, who turns 71 in September, had a fainting spell late in the season and wants to get checked out before making a commitment. With the Grizzlies moving into their new Fed Forum for the upcoming season, Jerry West wants Brown back. He feels it's important that Brown gets to coach in the new arena in its inaugural season . . . Kobe watch: Clips owner Donald Sterling recently told his basketball execs, "If we can get Kobe, let's go get him."
another reason brand might be traded!!!!!!


If Byron Scott doesn't get the New Orleans job, the Hornets would still like to hire a minority candidate. Memphis assistant Lionel Hollins, Indy assistant Mike Brown, Lakers aide Jim Cleamons, Hornets aide Alvin Gentry and ex-Mav and Spur Avery Johnson are on their list.
Michael Cooper got a call, but simply as a courtesy. Who will replace GM Bob Bass, who took the hit for the team's lack of discipline under Tim Floyd and was forced to retire? Jersey assistant Brian Hill has been mentioned in the Hornets' internal discussions, but he would prefer a head-coaching position.
What's going on with Mark Cuban? Amazingly, no heads have rolled since the Mavs' first-round exit. This past week one of Don Nelson's top assistants confided, "We're safe." Word is, Cuban knows that he could lose Steve Nash to free agency if he fires Nelson. Denver wants Nash. . . What did it cost Bucks owner Herb Kohl when his team took a nosedive at the end of the season, thereby blowing the homecourt advantage for the first round? Sources say $7 million. That doesn't grow on trees out in Beer City.
Denver is going to address Kiki Vandeweghe's contract before making a move with coach Jeff Bzdelik. Look for Vandeweghe to get more money, but not more years. He flirted with Portland last spring and now his name has surfaced in Toronto and New Orleans for their GM openings. The Raptors are reopening their search and are upping their standing $750,000-per-year offer to attract a top-flight candidate. You can forget Julius Erving running the Raptors. The word from the very top of the franchise is that if they hire him, they'll then have to hire someone who does the actual work.

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