http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0626draft0626.html
Intrigue just part of the draft game
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 26, 2003 12:00 AM
2003 NBA draft
WHEN: Today, beginning at 4 p.m.
TV: ESPN.
SUNS PICK: 17th in first round - should happen at about 5:55 p.m.
DRAFT PARTY: Fox Sports Grill, but it's open only to season ticket holders.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Cleveland will make Ohio high school sensation LeBron James the No. 1 overall pick. Detroit (Darko Milicic) and Denver (Carmelo Anthony) follow. After that, the intrigue begins.
Suns shopping list
THREE WHO PROBABLY WON'T BE THERE
• Maciej Lampe, 6-11, F, Poland: Indications that he may have slipped apparently were unfounded. When Pavel Podkolzin, the 7-foot-4 Russian center, pulled out, Lampe's stock went up. Now he could end up in the top five, depending on trades. Suns would probably love to see him slide, because he's big and can hit the outside shot.
• Reece Gaines, 6-6, G, Louisville: Big point guard who could also play the off-guard spot. His game may be too similar to Penny Hardaway's and Joe Johnson's anyway.
• Nick Collison, 6-9, F, Kansas: Reportedly did poorly in strength test and had a high body-fat percentage but still considered a likely top-16 pick.
FIVE WHO MAY
• Marcus Banks, 6-2, G, UNLV: He wouldn't work out for the Suns, allegedly due to an injury. That indicates he expects to go higher. Somebody may have been telling him a fib.
• Luke Ridnour, 6-2, G, Oregon: Light build and poor defense at the collegiate level apparently have scared off some teams. But unless the Golden State Warriors get some assurance from Gilbert Arenas that he's sticking around, Ridnour probably doesn't get past the Warriors at No. 11.
• Brian Cook, 6-10, F, Illinois: May be a higher pick than many are projecting. Memphis supposedly loves him and picks 13th. If that's a smoke screen, Cook could be on the board for Phoenix.
• Zarko Cabarkapa, 6-11, F, Serbia: This is a player many have projected the Suns taking, and it makes sense. He fills the need for a big man who can shoot, complementing Amare Stoudemire.
• Sofoklis Schortsanitis, 6-9, F, Greece: The player nicknamed "Baby Shaq" just turned 18. He doesn't have the perimeter game that the other forwards have, but lots of upside and could play center against a lot of teams.
FALLBACK PLANS
• Aleksandar Pavlovic, 6-7, F, Serbia: "He's pretty good," one Suns insider said.
• Boris Diaw-Riffiod, 6-8, G, France: Son of Elisabeth Riffiod, the best female center in French hoops history. Terrific athlete, but not a shooter.
• Anthony plans to prove his worth during season
• Whispers of trades begin with Toronto
The NBA draft has always been shrouded in a certain amount of secrecy. The advent of the Internet has taken the deception, deceit and manipulation to reality-TV levels.
Agents float rumors about players moving up or down, usually to benefit their own clients.
General managers say they're interested in Player A, knowing they wouldn't take him if he were the last player on the board.
Meanwhile, they may bad-mouth another prospect they actually covet, hoping word will spread and the player will slide to them.
Whom to believe?
Usually, nobody.
"There's so much information out there; you have to disregard a lot of that and focus on your pick," said Dick Van Arsdale, the Suns' senior vice president for player personnel.
"People are sending out all sorts of signals that aren't serious."
What the Suns do know is they're picking 17th today and aren't likely to make any major deals - although they're trying.
"I've talked to one team that is possibly interested in doing something with a pick in front of us," said Suns President and general manager Bryan Colangelo, who declined to specify the team. "But there hasn't been a lot of headway."
As always, the rumor mill is grinding out all sorts of good stuff. While much of it is just speculation, there appear to be a few undeniable truths:
• The top three picks are going to be LeBron James to Cleveland, Darko Milicic to Detroit and Carmelo Anthony to Denver.
• The Raptors, who pick fourth, and Miami Heat (fifth) are willing to trade down - which could hurt the Suns.
• Seattle, with two picks, wants to move up. The Knicks, who pick ninth, also are shopping to move up, but if GM Scott Layden can't find a way to get to four or five, he might try to move down instead.
• Milwaukee (No. 8) wants to deal guard Sam Cassell and would love to get its hands on Texas guard T.J. Ford.
A year ago, the Suns were in the middle of the lottery intrigue with the ninth pick - which eventually yielded Rookie of the Year Amare Stoudemire. This summer, they're sitting with the 17th pick and probably aren't going to find a player who will make an immediate impact, as Stoudemire did last season.
"One thing that could change the draft is if Toronto moves from four to somewhere lower in the lottery," Colangelo said. "The most likely scenarios are to 12 or 14 (with Seattle). There is some speculation that Toronto likes some of the same players we like, so that perhaps throws a wrench at us."
Still, the club believes at least one of a handful of players it's most interested in should be on the board when the Suns pick - Serbian forward Zarko Cabarkapa, Illinois forward Brian Cook or Oregon point guard Luke Ridnour. Eighteen-year-old Sofoklis "Baby Shaq" Schortsanitis may have moved into the picture after a strong workout.
If a big man unexpectedly slides, such as Polish forward Maciej Lampe or Georgetown forward Mike Sweetney, all the better.
With any of those options, the Suns will have an opportunity to fill a need. They need a backup point guard, which Ridnour would fill, and they need a big player who can complement the inside game of Stoudemire - a bill that either Cabarkapa or Cook would fill.
Schortsanitis may not be the best short-term fit but appears to have a lot of upside.
Ultimately, the Suns' pick could depend greatly on what Boston director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, a former Suns coach and player, does at No. 16. Ainge has hinted lately he may like Cabarkapa, and the Celtics are looking at deals.
"There are so many rumors, you just don't know," Van Arsdale said. "There are rumors about making a trade for this or that; this guy is up, this guy is down. . . . It's a whirlpool."
The Suns don't have a second-round pick, but if they want one, it likely could be had. Chicago has three second-round picks, including the 36th overall. New York has a pair of second-round picks - including the first pick of the round.
Detroit and Seattle each have two first-round picks and a second-rounder and may want to unload their second-round choices.
It's regarded as a deep draft, but Colangelo said he isn't interested in adding a second-round choice - yet.
"There are some picks available," he said. "We're not actively seeking one, primarily because of our roster. We've got commitments to nine players, a 10th will be our draft pick.
"We've talked about our desire to bring back Jake Voskuhl and Scott Williams and the need to sign a backup guard if we go big in the draft. So now you're talking 13 players. I don't think there's room to go out and pay a lot for a second-round pick or swap a pick for someone that might not make your team."
That said . . .
"Of course, you've got to think on your feet and have a couple of deals in your pocket," Colangelo said. "Maybe a player is there you don't expect."
Intrigue just part of the draft game
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 26, 2003 12:00 AM
2003 NBA draft
WHEN: Today, beginning at 4 p.m.
TV: ESPN.
SUNS PICK: 17th in first round - should happen at about 5:55 p.m.
DRAFT PARTY: Fox Sports Grill, but it's open only to season ticket holders.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Cleveland will make Ohio high school sensation LeBron James the No. 1 overall pick. Detroit (Darko Milicic) and Denver (Carmelo Anthony) follow. After that, the intrigue begins.
Suns shopping list
THREE WHO PROBABLY WON'T BE THERE
• Maciej Lampe, 6-11, F, Poland: Indications that he may have slipped apparently were unfounded. When Pavel Podkolzin, the 7-foot-4 Russian center, pulled out, Lampe's stock went up. Now he could end up in the top five, depending on trades. Suns would probably love to see him slide, because he's big and can hit the outside shot.
• Reece Gaines, 6-6, G, Louisville: Big point guard who could also play the off-guard spot. His game may be too similar to Penny Hardaway's and Joe Johnson's anyway.
• Nick Collison, 6-9, F, Kansas: Reportedly did poorly in strength test and had a high body-fat percentage but still considered a likely top-16 pick.
FIVE WHO MAY
• Marcus Banks, 6-2, G, UNLV: He wouldn't work out for the Suns, allegedly due to an injury. That indicates he expects to go higher. Somebody may have been telling him a fib.
• Luke Ridnour, 6-2, G, Oregon: Light build and poor defense at the collegiate level apparently have scared off some teams. But unless the Golden State Warriors get some assurance from Gilbert Arenas that he's sticking around, Ridnour probably doesn't get past the Warriors at No. 11.
• Brian Cook, 6-10, F, Illinois: May be a higher pick than many are projecting. Memphis supposedly loves him and picks 13th. If that's a smoke screen, Cook could be on the board for Phoenix.
• Zarko Cabarkapa, 6-11, F, Serbia: This is a player many have projected the Suns taking, and it makes sense. He fills the need for a big man who can shoot, complementing Amare Stoudemire.
• Sofoklis Schortsanitis, 6-9, F, Greece: The player nicknamed "Baby Shaq" just turned 18. He doesn't have the perimeter game that the other forwards have, but lots of upside and could play center against a lot of teams.
FALLBACK PLANS
• Aleksandar Pavlovic, 6-7, F, Serbia: "He's pretty good," one Suns insider said.
• Boris Diaw-Riffiod, 6-8, G, France: Son of Elisabeth Riffiod, the best female center in French hoops history. Terrific athlete, but not a shooter.
• Anthony plans to prove his worth during season
• Whispers of trades begin with Toronto
The NBA draft has always been shrouded in a certain amount of secrecy. The advent of the Internet has taken the deception, deceit and manipulation to reality-TV levels.
Agents float rumors about players moving up or down, usually to benefit their own clients.
General managers say they're interested in Player A, knowing they wouldn't take him if he were the last player on the board.
Meanwhile, they may bad-mouth another prospect they actually covet, hoping word will spread and the player will slide to them.
Whom to believe?
Usually, nobody.
"There's so much information out there; you have to disregard a lot of that and focus on your pick," said Dick Van Arsdale, the Suns' senior vice president for player personnel.
"People are sending out all sorts of signals that aren't serious."
What the Suns do know is they're picking 17th today and aren't likely to make any major deals - although they're trying.
"I've talked to one team that is possibly interested in doing something with a pick in front of us," said Suns President and general manager Bryan Colangelo, who declined to specify the team. "But there hasn't been a lot of headway."
As always, the rumor mill is grinding out all sorts of good stuff. While much of it is just speculation, there appear to be a few undeniable truths:
• The top three picks are going to be LeBron James to Cleveland, Darko Milicic to Detroit and Carmelo Anthony to Denver.
• The Raptors, who pick fourth, and Miami Heat (fifth) are willing to trade down - which could hurt the Suns.
• Seattle, with two picks, wants to move up. The Knicks, who pick ninth, also are shopping to move up, but if GM Scott Layden can't find a way to get to four or five, he might try to move down instead.
• Milwaukee (No. 8) wants to deal guard Sam Cassell and would love to get its hands on Texas guard T.J. Ford.
A year ago, the Suns were in the middle of the lottery intrigue with the ninth pick - which eventually yielded Rookie of the Year Amare Stoudemire. This summer, they're sitting with the 17th pick and probably aren't going to find a player who will make an immediate impact, as Stoudemire did last season.
"One thing that could change the draft is if Toronto moves from four to somewhere lower in the lottery," Colangelo said. "The most likely scenarios are to 12 or 14 (with Seattle). There is some speculation that Toronto likes some of the same players we like, so that perhaps throws a wrench at us."
Still, the club believes at least one of a handful of players it's most interested in should be on the board when the Suns pick - Serbian forward Zarko Cabarkapa, Illinois forward Brian Cook or Oregon point guard Luke Ridnour. Eighteen-year-old Sofoklis "Baby Shaq" Schortsanitis may have moved into the picture after a strong workout.
If a big man unexpectedly slides, such as Polish forward Maciej Lampe or Georgetown forward Mike Sweetney, all the better.
With any of those options, the Suns will have an opportunity to fill a need. They need a backup point guard, which Ridnour would fill, and they need a big player who can complement the inside game of Stoudemire - a bill that either Cabarkapa or Cook would fill.
Schortsanitis may not be the best short-term fit but appears to have a lot of upside.
Ultimately, the Suns' pick could depend greatly on what Boston director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, a former Suns coach and player, does at No. 16. Ainge has hinted lately he may like Cabarkapa, and the Celtics are looking at deals.
"There are so many rumors, you just don't know," Van Arsdale said. "There are rumors about making a trade for this or that; this guy is up, this guy is down. . . . It's a whirlpool."
The Suns don't have a second-round pick, but if they want one, it likely could be had. Chicago has three second-round picks, including the 36th overall. New York has a pair of second-round picks - including the first pick of the round.
Detroit and Seattle each have two first-round picks and a second-rounder and may want to unload their second-round choices.
It's regarded as a deep draft, but Colangelo said he isn't interested in adding a second-round choice - yet.
"There are some picks available," he said. "We're not actively seeking one, primarily because of our roster. We've got commitments to nine players, a 10th will be our draft pick.
"We've talked about our desire to bring back Jake Voskuhl and Scott Williams and the need to sign a backup guard if we go big in the draft. So now you're talking 13 players. I don't think there's room to go out and pay a lot for a second-round pick or swap a pick for someone that might not make your team."
That said . . .
"Of course, you've got to think on your feet and have a couple of deals in your pocket," Colangelo said. "Maybe a player is there you don't expect."
