Collins Column June 24, 2004
Ben Collins |
1 - Orlando Magic - Emeka Okafor - The Magic could very well flip-flop between Okafor and Dwight Howard her, leaving the Bobcats with Okafor because the Magic are truly committed to rebuilding and would want to pick a high schooler in Howard, but it looks as if Okafor will be the pick. The reason why every GM in the league wants Emeka Okafor is the the reason why every GM wants Ben Wallace. The only thing they were skeptical of Wallace of when he was to be drafted (or, not drafted) was that he didn’t have any offensive game. Okafor most certainly does. The UConn Junior could very well be a dominant center in this league. He has the defensive intensity to make people fear coming in the paint and, on the other end of the court, has a nice soft touch within eight feet. He is 6’9” and, if he was two or three inches taller, every GM in the league would trade their entire team for him. He’s also a perfect citizen and one of the most booksmart and brilliant people in this league.
At best: Bill Laimbeer (without all of that messy elbow stuff)
At worst: Ben Wallace (three years ago)
Most likely: Ben Wallace (now)
2 - Charlotte Bobcats - Dwight Howard - The Bobcats put themselves in a great position in this draft. Simply by trading away their second round pick, they get the other difference-maker in this draft. Whether this is to be Dwight Howard or Emeka Okafor, Bernie Bickerstaff did a great job making the best of his expansion team status. Howard is a high school power forward who could very well help right away and, unlike last year’s second selection in the draft Darko, will undoubtedly get a chance to show off his skills next year. His game is much like what would happen if you mated Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett at eighteen. His touch isn’t quite as soft as Duncan, but he as much more explosiveness -- and character, for that matter—than Duncan will ever have. He has a nice jumper from fifteen feet and he uses that to his fullest advantage. This could work out very well for Charlotte.
At best: Tim Duncan/Kevin Garnett breed
At worst: Jermaine O’Neil (when he was eighteen)
Most likely: Jermaine O’Neil (right now)
3 - Chicago Bulls - Ben Gordon - The Bulls are in a great position.
They wanted a combo-guard to take over for Jamal Crawford and they wanted a solid, great small forward. By trading for the seventh pick, they don’t have to pick someone they don’t want in a Luol Deng, or an Andre Igoudala, to try to fill both positions with one person. Ben Gordon is the perfect combo guard for this team. With a 6’4” Kirk Hinrich running the point and Ben Gordon at the two-guard, this is one of the most explosive combinations in basketball. Both are point guards that can shoot and Kirk can cover the two position for Gordon to develop. This would be a great move by the Bulls. Jim Paxon fell in love with him at workouts. That’s a good person to fall in love with.
At best: Allen Iverson
At worst: Larry Hughes (the confused, “I don’t know what position I’m playing”-Larry Hughes)
Most likely: Jason Terry
4 - Los Angeles Clippers - Shaun Livingston - In truth, the deal for them to send the second overall pick and a somewhat-bad contract to Charlotte for the fourth pick and the 33rd pick in the NBA draft was actually a great deal for them for this simple reason: If they select Shaun Livingston and they keep him as a Clipper for the next three years, the Clippers will no longer be a joke franchise. There is no possible way you can find a better talent in this draft than the 6’7” point guard who was previously committed to Duke. He will be good next year. He will be great in three years. This could reach heights of Magic Johnson or, dare I mention him in the same sentence, Lebron James if they can wait. His combination of great ballhandling ability and a strong will to get to the basket will give whatever team does select him a great inside-outside. The height catches GMs attentions. His ability keeps their attention. He could be a real good player in this league and I hope that he slips one more slot.
At best: Magic Johnson
At worst: Jeryl Sasser
Most likely: A taller, better Baron Davis
5 - Dallas Mavericks - Luol Deng - This was out of the blue. A top-five pick, an expiring contract and a top-30 player for another top-30 player? I’ll take it any day. Youth, depth and financially, this trade all makes sense. There will be more on this trade later, but this pick is the important thing now. If the Mavericks reach (mind you, this would be a huge reach. If there was a bold button on this program, I would press it. This is a massive reach. Did I tell you that it’s a reach?) for Pavel Podkolzine in the fifth pick in the draft, there is a strong chance we keep this pick and develop our 7’5”, 303 pound, young big man.
Then again, do you remember Sam Bowie? If you do, it’s for only one reason—he was picked above Michael Jordan in the 1983 NBA Draft because the Portland Trailblazers needed a center. It turns out all the Portland Trailblazers needed was Michael Jordan. If Mark Cuban, Donnie Nelson and Don Nelson know one thing, it’s to pick talent over size in a draft. Everyone expected them to pick Maciej Lampe last year, but they selected Josh Howard. Howard ended up to be an All-Rookie player. Lampe? Eh... not so much.
Luol Deng is a 6’8” shooting guard that very well could be a Jordan-esque type player. Maybe not as skilled, maybe without as nice of a jumpshot, but he has a much stronger build than Jordan ever had to make up for it. He could be a superstar in this league. Last year, as a high schooler, people were considering him over Darko Milicic and Carmelo Anthony with the second pick in the draft, if he were to declare. If the Mavericks pass on a Deng or Livingston-type player for a center, it really could come back to haunt them. Don’t make that mistake and be the cursed Mavericks. Deng is that good of a player.
Then again, if the pick is anyone except Podkolzine, expect the Mavericks to immediately trade the rights of the pick, Antoine Walker, Jerry Stackhouse, Christian Laettner, Josh Howard, Eduardo Najera and/or Shawn Bradley and our second-round pick for Shaquille O’Neal. That is the most realistic speculation I’m hearing. Keep your eyes and ears out this draft night. It’s our turn to just sit back, relax and enjoy the show. This is truly exciting. Tonight at seven, we will see how big of a genius Donnie Nelson truly is.
At Best: A poor man’s Michael Jordan
At Worst: Jamal Mashburn
Most Likely: Michael Finley/Clyde Drexler-combo
6 - Atlanta Hawks - Andre Igoudala - The Hawks need a player to put people in the seats. Andre Igoudala does just that and more. This former track star has more athleticism than pretty much anyone in this draft and, at 6'6", that's quite the accomplishment. If anything draws a crowd, it is flashy dunks and Igoudala's dazzling vertical shows gives him the ability to dunk from the half court line.
7 - Chicago Bulls - Luke Jackson - The Bulls put themselves in a great position to pick the guy that everyone wants, but for some reason, everyone was afraid to pick. That was of course until the phone rang, Larry Bird was on the phone and he was willing to give up his first born child to get a 6'7" shooting guard/small forward combo named Luke Jackson. This kid can do everything. He's better than 90% of the other people in the draft at shooting, passing, seeing the floor, ballhandling, getting to the basket, getting good in positioning for rebounds and just, flatly, being a basketball player. His vertical, which was second in all of the NBA workouts, also helps him out, too. If the Mavericks don't pick Livingston or Deng, I want this kid to be a Maverick. He could be a real help to the Bulls and I think he and Gordon will help push Chicago into the playoffs for the first time in years.
8 - Toronto Raptors - Devin Harris - I really thought this was going to be Andris Biedrins for the longest time because I thought that if the Raptors new GM didn't pick a center he would immediately be fired, just like his predecessor, who couldn't get a center after an entire season of working. I just don't think the Raptors can pass up on what some scouts call the "Next Steve Nash". I don't think is even close to "there" yet, but I think he can really help out, even next year, as a solid starter at the point in the NBA. I just don't think he's star-potential. I was wrong about Hinrich last year, though and he's much like Hinrich. This is the Raptors other hole, which is gaping, at point guard with an "okay" starter in Alvin Williams and, who but Hall Of Famer Roger Mason Jr. as the backup. Harris is a nice fit. Biedrins is a nicer one.
9 - Philadelphia 76ers - Josh Childress - The 76ers need an athletic player with this pick and this draft is chalk full of him. Childress seems, to me, like the ultimate roleplayer. He can jump out of the gym and finish around the basket. He could very well be a Reggie Miller-type, if he works hard enough in his NBA career. He's a perfect asset for Allen Iverson, to help do the little things, like cut towards the basket, make easy hoops and hit open jumpers. He's a nice pick for the 76ers. Maybe it's a little high, but this is still a nice pick.
10 - Cleveland Cavaliers - Kirk Snyder - This player reminds me so much of Josh Howard with a jumpshot, it scares me. This is a Josh Howard/Michael Finley-type player that Cleveland would love to gobble up with this pick if Childress, Deng, Igoudala and the three "big" point guards are off the board. This pick could easily be traded for Al Harrington and the 29th pick in the draft. Snyder is a good scorer and would be a great, athletic pairing alongside Lebron.
11 - Golden State - Andris Biedrins - This pick is a lock. The 6'11" power forward/center is unlike most other international players in that he loves to play the post and we will camp out in there and bang the boards. Golden State, losing Erick Dampier and Adonal Foyle to free agency, desperately need a center. Biedrins can help out a little next year, but years down the line he will do his most damage.
12 - Seattle Supersonics - Al Jefferson - This kid is a beast. He dominated high school competition, averaging, yes, averaging 43 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocks a game. He averaged that as a junior as well. Yes, he averaged a triple double, with one of those stats being blocks. He got some serious help with his stock when he measured in at 6'10", so NBA Coaches won't be afraid to use him at center. Seattle desperately needs a center and can't wait on Pavel Podkolzine, therefore, this will be their pick and Seattle will most likely use him at center.
13 - Portland Trailblazers - Josh Smith - The Blazers have three picks and they would love to get a steal like Josh Smith right here. He might not be the best Josh in the draft; he might not even be the best Smith either, with JR close on his tail, but he is expected to go anywhere between the sixth pick and the seventeenth and this seems about right. The Blazers love his athleticism, but he might get stuck in the young shooting guard doghouse that Mo Cheeks seems to still have a lot of room for, with Qyntel Woods and Travis Outlaw deeply buried in those trenches. Smith can jump out of the gym and he would bring a lot of excitement to Portland if picked here. 14 - Utah Jazz - Sergei Monya - Both the Jazz and the Celtics want Sergei Monya and Robert Swift, so whoever is picked here, the other will be picked shortly thereafter. Monya is the best European basketball player in this draft. The only reason you haven't heard of him is because he's not 8' tall and he can't benchpress 3000 lbs. He's much like Andrei Kirilenko with less defensive ability and height and a much better shooting touch. He could be the NBA Rookie of the Year next year if he comes overseas. He would be a great help at the shooting guard position to a young, offensively inept Jazz squad.
15 - Boston Celtics - Robert Swift - Swift easily has the best footwork in the draft. His 7-foot frame helps him out considerably with his draft position. He can play the post better than anyone in the draft. He's a true back to the basket center. With all of this information, why is he not the first pick in the draft? He's rail-thin. He doesn't have an "NBA-body". Can he make up for it purely with his basketball ability? Only time will tell.
16 - Utah Jazz - Jameer Nelson - With the Jazz needing a point guard badly, as Carlos Arroyo, their starting point guard, is a free agent, the Jazz may have a blessing in disguise, as they pick Nelson. With Arroyo being a free agent, opening up a need, they may, unknowingly, select the best talent in this draft. Nelson, as the nation saw, is a true winner with great leadership ability, scoring ability and, all the while, can play the point guard. He makes up for the fact that he's just barely 6-feet tall. Nelson could be the steal of the night for the Jazz.
17 - Atlanta Hawks - Pavel Podkolzine - The fall finally stops. Do the Hawks need a center? Well, they need everything and they have the time to develop such a project as Podkolzine. He's a real, big center, which has previously been discussed. The problem is, for his team in Italy last year, he only averaged three points and two rebounds a game. Again, in Italy. In the NBA? With ballhandling ability, shooting touch and agility that has been compared to Dirk Nowitzki, who knows what will happen, but I know it won't be this year. This pick could be flipped with the Sonics' pick.
18 - New Orleans Hornets - JR Smith - He is the single best two-guard prospect here and the Hornets take him very easily at eighteen. He could very well be David Wesley's successor. He tanked workouts horribly after his workout with the Hornets, so some think he was doing it on purpose. Smith could be a very exciting, very athletic player who reminds you a lot of a mix between Rip Hamilton and Flip Murray with explosiveness. He could be a real nice player in the league, maybe even this year.
19 - Miami Heat - Rafael Araujo - This is as close to a no-brainer as you can get. The Heat need real size and Araujo is a very safe bet as a nice NBA center. He reminds you of an older Arvydas Sabonis that can't setup from the free throw line and is a better post-up player. He's a very good passer for his size and could be very successful on the Heat, if he slips this far.
20 - Denver Nuggets - PJ Ramos - The Nuggets want another center other than Marcus Camby and they get one who can help out a little bit now in Peter John Ramos of Puerto Rico. His team in Puerto Rico seriously helped his stock when they partnered him with NBA point guard Anthony Goldwire for his playoff run and let him go to work on the undersized competition in the country. He's extremely mobile for someone who is 7'4", but the fact that he is 260 lbs. doesn't help him out too much with his draft stock. He's worth Kiki Vandeweighe's pick at 20.
21 - Utah Jazz - Kris Humphries - The next Karl Malone? Probably not, but his game is very similar. Once considered a lottery pick, Humphries didn't do that well on workouts, but the fact that he could be a small forward and he measured in at 6'10" helped him out considerably. His outside shooting is very similar to the Mailman's and has the intangibles, like toughness, rebounding and passing much like Humphries. Stockton-to-Malone? Nelson-to-Humphries? A syllables off, but it still makes a decent sound.
22 - Portland Trailblazers - Sebastian Telfair - This pick is a lock, unless somebody goes crazy and picks Telfair ahead of the 22nd pick. He can be the best player in the NBA sometimes. He can be one of the worst at others. If Mo Cheeks can fix his attitude and make him play like every second means his NBA career is on the line, he could be an incredible player. He can get to the basket, shoot and pass like no other if he's in his zone. When he's not is what slips him down to the 22nd pick.
23 - Portland Trailblazers - Anderson Varejao - With the amount of talent Portland already has, there quite frankly isn't enough room for another first round pick on their roster this year. That's why they pick a talent who can develop his game overseas and turn into what people always wanted out of a Drew Gooden-like player. Nastiness. He's a hard worker, who goes for rebounds, has a nice jumpshot and can find his way to the basket very well, but if he can develop a little bit of a mean streak on the court, at 6'10" and a 'fro that rivals Ben Wallace's doo, he could be quite the special player.
24 - Boston Celtics - Dorrell Wright - With the right coach, this kid could be a T-Mac or Kobe-type player. Doc Rivers might be that kind of coach. In three years, he could be polished enough to dominate the game. Until then, he'll be a nice complimentary player that will help the Celtics rebuild and then, if Danny Ainge has his way, including with his salary-issues, he could be a force with Wright in just a few years.
25 - Boston Celtics - Kevin Martin - Do you know who was second in the NCAA in scoring last year? Nope, not Ben Gordon. Not Emeka Okafor, either. Kevin Martin, who averaged over 25 points per game, was, in fact, that man. This kid can put up 15-20 points per game as a Jerry Stackhouse-type player, with a better shooting touch and he can do it maybe even immediately. GMs are scared of his mediocre competition, playing for a mid-major school. Martin should be able to transition well, though and could be a very nice player as a Celtic, with Doc Rivers at the helm.
26 - Sacramento Kings - Donta Smith - Not much to say here. The Kings lost Gerald Wallace in the expansion draft. They gained Gerald Wallace in the NBA Draft. Did I say Gerald Wallace? I meant Donta Smith. HAHEM, sorry. They are literally the same exact player. They have the same explosiveness, same jumpshot and same ability to get to the basket. Smith could be a good pro, it all depends on how much of his potential he decides to use up.
27 - Los Angeles Lakers - Sasha Vujacic - The Lakers loved this kid last year. They offered him a guarantee last year, some say, but he still pulled out. This year he stayed in with the same guarantee. He's a very tall point guard at 6'7" and he could very well be a strong player at running the point in a few years.
28 - San Antonio Spurs - David Harrison - The Spurs need someone to either backup Rasho Nesterovic or take over for him. David Harrison has the ability to do so. The reason a guy who is 7 feet tall and almost 300 lbs. slips in this draft is a little thing called apathy. That's why Marquis Daniels fell out of the draft last year. Think they learned their lesson?
29 - Minnesota Timberwolves - Forfeit. Are you guys enjoying Joe Smith right now? Is he playing well for you guys? Oh wait, he's on the Bucks. Oh. Sorry.
30 - Indiana Pacers - Beno Udrih - The Pacers need a point guard so badly that it might hurt them. One who can shoot, pass, is young, 6'4" and can come over now or next year is something else that can help out. His stock has been rising. Udrih can really work for the future of the Pacers point position and be what they wanted Jamaal Tinsley to be.
Check back later today for more of the Mock Draft and keep those e-mails coming to bencollins@attbi.com
