DON'T SLEEP ON THE SECOND ROUND

By Marty Blake

With teams working out players virtually almost to the start of the 2007 Draft, there could be a lot of surprises, especially in the latter half of the first round and deep into the second stanza. We arrive in Gotham Tuesday afternoon (Ryan and I) not looking to actually slot players into first and second round picks, but preparing information for those teams who have multiple second round picks should they require some added stats or info. This is the year to have second round picks!

Portland, with the top pick in the Draft, can shore up things with a quartet of second round choices (37, 42, 52 and 53), but probably will dispatch some of them should the occasion arise.

This one year that we do have a large contingent of international players available through early entry and due to the 22-year-old age limit, which automatically makes them eligible for this draft. Teams with extra second round picks could draft an international player and allow him to work on his game overseas and bring him back a year from now. That’s been the modus operandi of New Jersey, San Antonio, Washington and other NBA clubs for some time.

One such possibility is Tiago Splitter, a Brazilian now playing for Tau Ceramica in Spain. The 6-10, 232-pound forward is not flashy but he is a solid all-around player who may be the best big guy in Europe. He has a big buyout in his contract but will be a free agent a year from now. He is only 22 years old and has at least five years of international experience (at the minimum). Where he will be taken cannot be predicted but taken he will be.

Seattle, under the aegis of Sam Presti and Scott Perry, has the Draft’s second pick (Durant?) and second round picks at 31 and 35. This year, No. 31 is at least as good as No. 27, and No. 35 could bring an eventual starter. Chicago at No. 9 has picks 49 and 51 and has a good history of success at these spots. Golden State, at No. 18, has a shot at six to 10 players who are certain to go in the first round and have obtained pick No. 36 from Minnesota and No. 46 from New Jersey. I consider picks 31 to 40 virtually equivalent to first round picks of other years. Boston has pick 32, San Antonio has pick 33, Dallas No. 34, Philadelphia No. 38, Miami No. 39 and the Lakers No. 40.

As we stated in an earlier column, last year’s 42nd pick, Daniel Gibson, started several playoff games for the Cavs in this year’s Finals while Utah’s 47th pick last year, Paul Millsap, was a valuable sixth man for the Jazz.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CENTERS: Darryl Watkins (Syracuse), James Hughes (Northern Illinois) and Chris Richard (Florida).

POWER FORWARDS: Jermareo Davidson (Alabama), Stephane Lasme (UMASS), Herb Hill (Providence), Nick Fazekas (Nevada), Coleman Collins (Virginia Tech), Carl Landry (Purdue), Anthony Tolliver (Creighton), Ryvon Covile (Detroit Mercy), Caleb Green (Oral Roberts) and Justin Doellman (Xavier).

SMALL FORWARDS: Alando Tucker (Wisconsin), Demetris Nichols (Syracuse), Reyshawn Terry (North Carolina), Dominic McGuire (Fresno State) and Cartier Martin (Kansas State).

SHOOTING GUARDS: Arron Afflalo (UCLA), Daequan Cook (Ohio State), Trey Johnson (Jackson State), Sammy Mejia (DePaul), Brandon Heath (San Diego State), Russell Carter (Notre Dame), Blake Schilb (Loyola) and Coby Karl (Boise State), who could make it as a one guard.

POINT GUARDS: Taurean Green (Florida), Jared Jordan (Marist), Aaron Brooks (Oregon), Nate Funk (Creighton), Zabian Dowdell (Virginia Tech), Ramon Sessions (Nevada) and DaShaun Wood (Wright State).

Any of the above could easily move up into the first round. Trust me, this is a great draft.

Let’s jump to the first round for a minute. With picks one and two set in stone, and a baker’s dozen of names expected to get nods (from pick 3 to 20), here are some names to remember as the Draft progresses.

Center Aaron Gray (Pittsburgh), who played well in the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando and whose play there embarrassed some players who either declined invitations or pulled out at the last minute. Gray was insistent on coming and playing and that effort could result in a first round pick.

Glen “Big Baby” Davis (LSU) has slimmed down quite a bit and remains one of the true “sleepers” in the Draft in my book. Duke’s Josh McRoberts could go anywhere in the top round – he’s hard to figure for most scouts – but he should know how to play.

Please note: Dallas has no first round picks (at this time) but three second round picks - 34 (from Atlanta); 50 (from Miami) and 60 their own.

Please also note: Dallas has had excellent luck in taking players with late picks (Howard) or players who are not drafted (Juan Jose Barea and Pops Mensah-Bonsu) so don't be surprised come June 28 with their picks.

HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED:

Has Wilson Chandler (DePaul) made an impression on teams at the recent workouts?

Has Jared Dudley’s Orlando play really elevated his stock? (We think it has)

Is Morris Almond (Rice) as good an all-around player as we expect?

Where does Rodney Stuckey (Eastern Washington) stand? Is he the next Gilbert Arenas?

Is Nick Young (USC) moving up in the charts after excellent workouts, especially with West Coast teams?

Everyone figures 7-foot Yi Jianlian (China) will be picked high in the first round but what about his countryman Sun Ye, the 200-pound forward/guard who stood out at Orlando?

Can 7-foot Jason Smith (Colorado State) eventually be able to play the post or is his future in the pros as a power forward?

Lots of questions but there are plenty of answers awaiting on Thursday night. Expect a flurry of trades right up to (and during) the night. Happy days are here again.