Insider Draft Guide
By Chad Ford
ESPN.com
Everything can change tomorrow.
A trade, an injury, an unbelievable workout ... Insider's mock draft is always just seconds away from self destructing.
So anyone who tells you they know how this thing is going to play out on Thursday is either lying or not telling the truth.
See, you can't tell the difference, either.
Still we try. ESPN was kind enough to have my cell phone surgically implanted in my ear. And did I mention a late night with a Native American "medicine man" on Sunday?
Without further ado, here's the annual Insider NBA Draft Guide. We break down who's in the running for each pick, team needs and enough analysis to get you through draft night. Just print it out, sit back and yell, "I told you so" every five minutes Thursday night when ESPN broadcasts the draft live (
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James
Small Forward | 6-8, 240 | Draft Player Card
St. Mary/St. Vincent (Ohio) High School
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Ummm. . .
Sleeper Pick: You're kidding right?
The Skinny: General manager Jim Paxson and coach Paul Silas are quickly developing a game plan for James. They plan on playing him at the point, using Ricky Davis at the off guard, and Darius Miles at small forward. Dajuan Wagner will come off the bench. Paxson believes that if James eventually will be an NBA point, he might as well dive into the deep end of the pool now.
2. Detroit Pistons (via Grizzlies)
Darko Milicic
Power Forward | 7-1, 250 | Draft Player Card
KK Hemofarm | Serbia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Power Forward, Shooting Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
Sleeper Pick: Chris Bosh, Georgia Tech
The Skinny: There's zero truth to the rumors that Larry Brown is trying to strong arm Joe Dumars into selecting Carmelo Anthony over Darko Milicic. Brown knew what he was getting into when he decided to coach the Pistons -- Dumars was making the decisions. And Dumars will take Darko with the No. 2 pick. Forget Anthony. They like him, but even if they had a sudden change in heart, they'd probably take Chris Bosh, who did work out for them, over Melo.
3. Denver Nuggets
Carmelo Anthony
Small Forward | 6-7½, 234 | Draft Player Card
Freshman | Syracuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Shooting Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Darko Milicic, Serbia
Sleeper Pick: Mickael Pietrus, France
The Skinny: Carmelo may already have a locker in Denver, but will the Nuggets send him packing on draft night? Right now, the answer appears to be no. The Bulls-Nuggets trade talk is dead. No one else really has the right combination of young talent and high draft picks to make it worth Denver's while. The trade talks are hot and heavy below, but right now everyone in the Rocky Mountains is on a Carmelo high.
4. Toronto Raptors
Chris Bosh
Power Forward | 6-11½, 225 | Draft Player Card
Freshman | Georgia Tech
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: T. J. Ford, Texas
Sleeper Pick: Chris Kaman, Central Michigan
The Skinny: The Raptors are desperately trying to move this pick along with a bad contract in hopes of landing another top-flight player. Rasheed Wallace, Antoine Walker, Latrell Sprewell and Raef LaFrentz have all been mentioned. Here's one you haven't heard. Vladimir Radmanovic, Brent Barry and the No. 12 for Jerome Williams, Michael Bradley and the No. 4. With the 12th pick, the Raptors will grab Georgetown's Michael Sweetney, a guy they've been enamored with for a while. Obviously, the Sonics would try to solve their big-guy woes overnight with Chris Bosh and Williams.
5. Miami Heat
Maciej Lampe
Forward | 7-0, 240 | Draft Player Card
Real Madrid | Poland
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Center | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Chris Kaman, Central Michigan
Sleeper Pick: Dwyane Wade, Marquette
The Skinny: The Heat are also looking to move their pick. Like Toronto, they aren't convinced there's anyone left on the board who gets them any closer to the playoffs this year. That's why they're flirting with Lampe at No. 5. He's probably the player with the most upside after the first four guys are off the board. He won't be able to contribute right away, but at least he gives you a solid 7-footer to develop. If they do get a trade done, don't be shocked if it's with Milwaukee. The Heat would send Anthony Carter and the No. 5 to the Bucks for Sam Cassell.
6. Los Angeles Clippers
T.J. Ford
Point Guard | 6-0, 162 | Draft Player Card
Sophomore | Texas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: New Owner, Center, Point Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Dwyane Wade, Marquette
Sleeper Pick: Nick Collison, Kansas
The Skinny: We'd be lying if we told you we knew what the Clippers are doing. They've liked Ford for a long time, but over the past week the signals from L.A. all say that they don't anymore. It could be smoke or it could just be the Clippers tripping over their own feet. Lately they've been enamored with Wade and apparently owner Donald Sterling is in love with Collison. Given that Elton Brand might be the only one of their free agents to stay around, this of course makes perfect Clippers "sense."
7. Chicago Bulls
Mickael Pietrus
Shooting Guard | 6-6, 210 | Draft Player Card
EB Pau-Orthez | France
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Small Forward, Back-up Point Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Dwyane Wade, Marquette
Sleeper Pick: Maciej Lampe, Poland
The Skinny: The Bulls were shopping this pick for a month and were close to pulling off a deal before Jay Williams' tragic motorcycle accident. Now they're left without much leverage. Many believe that the Bulls' interest in Pietrus is a bluff to convince Jerry West to include Shane Battier in a package to move up. Maybe. But I've seen enough of Pietrus to say with confidence that he shouldn't slip past No. 7. Pietrus isn't a project. He already plays NBA-caliber defense and can score. Of course, it doesn't matter what I think. The real question is whether the Bulls have seen him enough. GM John Paxson hasn't. Assistant GM B. J. Armstrong has and he's sold. If Paxson isn't, will he take Pietrus anyway and try to work out a trade later? That got GM Jerry Krause in trouble on more than one occasion (ask Marcus Fizer). He could play it safe with Wade. Or he could really roll the dice, if Lampe falls this far, and grab the 7-foot shooter. He'd be a big hit with Chicago's huge Polish population.
8. Milwaukee Bucks (via Hawks)
Kirk Hinrich
Point Guard | 6-3¾ | 186 | Draft Player Card
Senior | Kansas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward, Center | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: T. J. Ford, Texas
Sleeper Pick: Maciej Lampe, Poland
The Skinny: The Bucks have too many point guards. So why on Earth would they draft another one? Because no one believes that Gary Payton will be back next season and everyone is wishing that Sam Cassell would follow him out the door. Owner Herb Kohl wants to sell the team. He knows that task is easier if he clears off any bad contracts now. Besides, they really like Hinrich and Ford. One of the two will be there when they pick. If they aren't, that means Lampe has fallen and they snatch up the big man and try to repent from shipping off Dirk Nowtizki for Robert Traylor in 1998.
9. New York Knicks
Chris Kaman
Center | 7-0½, 252 | Draft Player Card
Junior | Central Michigan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Center, Point Guard, Small Forward | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Kirk Hinrich
Sleeper Pick: Mike Sweetney
The Skinny: GM Scott Layden scores a huge break here if Kaman is still on the board. The Knicks need a center and there is exactly one legit center in this draft -- Kaman. Anyone else would be a disaster for the Knicks. Sure there's talk of their love for Ford and Lampe. But no one realistically believes they have the juice to move up. They do, however, have the juice to move down. If they feel Kaman is too flaky, or if he's off the board, they're better of packaging this pick with an untouchable (Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley) and praying that they get someone who can help them win this year.
10. Washington Wizards
Nick Collison
Power Forward | 6-10, 255 | Draft Player Card
Senior | Kansas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Reece Gaines, Louisville
Sleeper Pick: Mike Sweetney, Georgetown
The Skinny: Why Nick Collison when the Wizards have Kwame Brown and Christian Laettner? Because he's safe. And when you don't have a GM, have a brand new coach and string of personnel disasters strewn along the path, you pick safe. Collison is Wonder Bread without the mustard. He goes down nice and easy. So do Gaines and Sweetney. No risk, no reward you say? I think Abe Pollin can live with that after the past few years of lots of risk and even more disarray.
11. Golden State Warriors
Dwyane Wade
Shooting Guard | 6-4¾, 212 | Draft Player Card
Junior | Marquette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Reece Gaines, Louisville
Sleeper Pick: Ndudi Ebi, Western Christian High School
The Skinny: Wade is too talented to slip this far. But every year someone does and the Warriors -- well they deserve a break. With Gilbert Arenas flirting with Denver, they need the next closest thing to step in and take over if he bolts. Enter Wade. He doesn't quite have the handle that Arenas does, but he's a better defender and is creative in finding ways to score. Coach Eric Musselman wants guys who push the ball, defend and put the ball in the basket. Wade qualifies on all accounts. If he's gone, they also like Gaines. The Warriors have needed a solid perimeter shooter for sometime and Gaines has a great stroke. Ebi comes from the weird rumor of the day file. There is an undercurrent going around the league that they are in love with him. We have him slipping into the second round and feel pretty comfortable with that. But if they call his name on draft night here, well, you read it here first, right?
12. Seattle SuperSonics
Brian Cook
Power Forward | 6-10, 240 | Draft Player Card
Senior | Illinois
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Power Forward, Point Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Mike Sweetney, Georgetown
Sleeper Pick: Nick Collison, Kansas
The Skinny: As we said, Seattle is trying to move up. Its targets? Chris Bosh, Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison in that order. What they'd like to do is get Brent Barry out of the trade talks with the Raptors and just swap Vladimir Radmonovic and this pick for Michael Bradley and the No. 4. Then they'd love to see if they could send Barry and the No. 14 to Miami for Anthony Carter and the No. 5. With the fourth and the fifth pick they'd grab Bosh and Hinrich. That's in a perfect world. In a less perfect world, they're stuck at No. 12 with Collison already off the board. We've been speculating for months that Mike Sweetney was their guy. He isn't anymore. He didn't impress the Sonics in an individual workout. Cook did. He showed toughness, a silky smooth stroke from the perimeter, and he tested well in their psych tests. Cook has the skills to be taken this high. Apparently, the Sonics also feel he has the head.
13. Memphis Grizzlies (via Rockets)
Michael Sweetney
Power Forward | 6-8, 262 | Draft Player Card
Junior | Georgetown
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Center, Shooting Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Brian Cook, Illinois
Sleeper Pick: Alexsandar Pavlovic, Serbia
The Skinny: What to do Jerry West? Everyone he's coveted, from Pietrus to Lampe to Wade to Cook, is off the board here. Sweetney is an interesting possibility here. The Grizzlies don't have a low-post bruiser. They get by in the paint with the finesse games of Pau Gasol and Stromile Swift. Sweetney offers a nice chance of pace. But would he ever get any playing time? The other area of need is two guard. They had Jarvis Hayes in for two workouts
By Chad Ford
ESPN.com
Everything can change tomorrow.
A trade, an injury, an unbelievable workout ... Insider's mock draft is always just seconds away from self destructing.
So anyone who tells you they know how this thing is going to play out on Thursday is either lying or not telling the truth.
See, you can't tell the difference, either.
Still we try. ESPN was kind enough to have my cell phone surgically implanted in my ear. And did I mention a late night with a Native American "medicine man" on Sunday?
Without further ado, here's the annual Insider NBA Draft Guide. We break down who's in the running for each pick, team needs and enough analysis to get you through draft night. Just print it out, sit back and yell, "I told you so" every five minutes Thursday night when ESPN broadcasts the draft live (
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James
Small Forward | 6-8, 240 | Draft Player Card
St. Mary/St. Vincent (Ohio) High School
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Ummm. . .
Sleeper Pick: You're kidding right?
The Skinny: General manager Jim Paxson and coach Paul Silas are quickly developing a game plan for James. They plan on playing him at the point, using Ricky Davis at the off guard, and Darius Miles at small forward. Dajuan Wagner will come off the bench. Paxson believes that if James eventually will be an NBA point, he might as well dive into the deep end of the pool now.
2. Detroit Pistons (via Grizzlies)
Darko Milicic
Power Forward | 7-1, 250 | Draft Player Card
KK Hemofarm | Serbia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Power Forward, Shooting Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
Sleeper Pick: Chris Bosh, Georgia Tech
The Skinny: There's zero truth to the rumors that Larry Brown is trying to strong arm Joe Dumars into selecting Carmelo Anthony over Darko Milicic. Brown knew what he was getting into when he decided to coach the Pistons -- Dumars was making the decisions. And Dumars will take Darko with the No. 2 pick. Forget Anthony. They like him, but even if they had a sudden change in heart, they'd probably take Chris Bosh, who did work out for them, over Melo.
3. Denver Nuggets
Carmelo Anthony
Small Forward | 6-7½, 234 | Draft Player Card
Freshman | Syracuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Shooting Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Darko Milicic, Serbia
Sleeper Pick: Mickael Pietrus, France
The Skinny: Carmelo may already have a locker in Denver, but will the Nuggets send him packing on draft night? Right now, the answer appears to be no. The Bulls-Nuggets trade talk is dead. No one else really has the right combination of young talent and high draft picks to make it worth Denver's while. The trade talks are hot and heavy below, but right now everyone in the Rocky Mountains is on a Carmelo high.
4. Toronto Raptors
Chris Bosh
Power Forward | 6-11½, 225 | Draft Player Card
Freshman | Georgia Tech
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: T. J. Ford, Texas
Sleeper Pick: Chris Kaman, Central Michigan
The Skinny: The Raptors are desperately trying to move this pick along with a bad contract in hopes of landing another top-flight player. Rasheed Wallace, Antoine Walker, Latrell Sprewell and Raef LaFrentz have all been mentioned. Here's one you haven't heard. Vladimir Radmanovic, Brent Barry and the No. 12 for Jerome Williams, Michael Bradley and the No. 4. With the 12th pick, the Raptors will grab Georgetown's Michael Sweetney, a guy they've been enamored with for a while. Obviously, the Sonics would try to solve their big-guy woes overnight with Chris Bosh and Williams.
5. Miami Heat
Maciej Lampe
Forward | 7-0, 240 | Draft Player Card
Real Madrid | Poland
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Center | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Chris Kaman, Central Michigan
Sleeper Pick: Dwyane Wade, Marquette
The Skinny: The Heat are also looking to move their pick. Like Toronto, they aren't convinced there's anyone left on the board who gets them any closer to the playoffs this year. That's why they're flirting with Lampe at No. 5. He's probably the player with the most upside after the first four guys are off the board. He won't be able to contribute right away, but at least he gives you a solid 7-footer to develop. If they do get a trade done, don't be shocked if it's with Milwaukee. The Heat would send Anthony Carter and the No. 5 to the Bucks for Sam Cassell.
6. Los Angeles Clippers
T.J. Ford
Point Guard | 6-0, 162 | Draft Player Card
Sophomore | Texas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: New Owner, Center, Point Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Dwyane Wade, Marquette
Sleeper Pick: Nick Collison, Kansas
The Skinny: We'd be lying if we told you we knew what the Clippers are doing. They've liked Ford for a long time, but over the past week the signals from L.A. all say that they don't anymore. It could be smoke or it could just be the Clippers tripping over their own feet. Lately they've been enamored with Wade and apparently owner Donald Sterling is in love with Collison. Given that Elton Brand might be the only one of their free agents to stay around, this of course makes perfect Clippers "sense."
7. Chicago Bulls
Mickael Pietrus
Shooting Guard | 6-6, 210 | Draft Player Card
EB Pau-Orthez | France
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Small Forward, Back-up Point Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Dwyane Wade, Marquette
Sleeper Pick: Maciej Lampe, Poland
The Skinny: The Bulls were shopping this pick for a month and were close to pulling off a deal before Jay Williams' tragic motorcycle accident. Now they're left without much leverage. Many believe that the Bulls' interest in Pietrus is a bluff to convince Jerry West to include Shane Battier in a package to move up. Maybe. But I've seen enough of Pietrus to say with confidence that he shouldn't slip past No. 7. Pietrus isn't a project. He already plays NBA-caliber defense and can score. Of course, it doesn't matter what I think. The real question is whether the Bulls have seen him enough. GM John Paxson hasn't. Assistant GM B. J. Armstrong has and he's sold. If Paxson isn't, will he take Pietrus anyway and try to work out a trade later? That got GM Jerry Krause in trouble on more than one occasion (ask Marcus Fizer). He could play it safe with Wade. Or he could really roll the dice, if Lampe falls this far, and grab the 7-foot shooter. He'd be a big hit with Chicago's huge Polish population.
8. Milwaukee Bucks (via Hawks)
Kirk Hinrich
Point Guard | 6-3¾ | 186 | Draft Player Card
Senior | Kansas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward, Center | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: T. J. Ford, Texas
Sleeper Pick: Maciej Lampe, Poland
The Skinny: The Bucks have too many point guards. So why on Earth would they draft another one? Because no one believes that Gary Payton will be back next season and everyone is wishing that Sam Cassell would follow him out the door. Owner Herb Kohl wants to sell the team. He knows that task is easier if he clears off any bad contracts now. Besides, they really like Hinrich and Ford. One of the two will be there when they pick. If they aren't, that means Lampe has fallen and they snatch up the big man and try to repent from shipping off Dirk Nowtizki for Robert Traylor in 1998.
9. New York Knicks
Chris Kaman
Center | 7-0½, 252 | Draft Player Card
Junior | Central Michigan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Center, Point Guard, Small Forward | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Kirk Hinrich
Sleeper Pick: Mike Sweetney
The Skinny: GM Scott Layden scores a huge break here if Kaman is still on the board. The Knicks need a center and there is exactly one legit center in this draft -- Kaman. Anyone else would be a disaster for the Knicks. Sure there's talk of their love for Ford and Lampe. But no one realistically believes they have the juice to move up. They do, however, have the juice to move down. If they feel Kaman is too flaky, or if he's off the board, they're better of packaging this pick with an untouchable (Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley) and praying that they get someone who can help them win this year.
10. Washington Wizards
Nick Collison
Power Forward | 6-10, 255 | Draft Player Card
Senior | Kansas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Reece Gaines, Louisville
Sleeper Pick: Mike Sweetney, Georgetown
The Skinny: Why Nick Collison when the Wizards have Kwame Brown and Christian Laettner? Because he's safe. And when you don't have a GM, have a brand new coach and string of personnel disasters strewn along the path, you pick safe. Collison is Wonder Bread without the mustard. He goes down nice and easy. So do Gaines and Sweetney. No risk, no reward you say? I think Abe Pollin can live with that after the past few years of lots of risk and even more disarray.
11. Golden State Warriors
Dwyane Wade
Shooting Guard | 6-4¾, 212 | Draft Player Card
Junior | Marquette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Reece Gaines, Louisville
Sleeper Pick: Ndudi Ebi, Western Christian High School
The Skinny: Wade is too talented to slip this far. But every year someone does and the Warriors -- well they deserve a break. With Gilbert Arenas flirting with Denver, they need the next closest thing to step in and take over if he bolts. Enter Wade. He doesn't quite have the handle that Arenas does, but he's a better defender and is creative in finding ways to score. Coach Eric Musselman wants guys who push the ball, defend and put the ball in the basket. Wade qualifies on all accounts. If he's gone, they also like Gaines. The Warriors have needed a solid perimeter shooter for sometime and Gaines has a great stroke. Ebi comes from the weird rumor of the day file. There is an undercurrent going around the league that they are in love with him. We have him slipping into the second round and feel pretty comfortable with that. But if they call his name on draft night here, well, you read it here first, right?
12. Seattle SuperSonics
Brian Cook
Power Forward | 6-10, 240 | Draft Player Card
Senior | Illinois
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Power Forward, Point Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Mike Sweetney, Georgetown
Sleeper Pick: Nick Collison, Kansas
The Skinny: As we said, Seattle is trying to move up. Its targets? Chris Bosh, Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison in that order. What they'd like to do is get Brent Barry out of the trade talks with the Raptors and just swap Vladimir Radmonovic and this pick for Michael Bradley and the No. 4. Then they'd love to see if they could send Barry and the No. 14 to Miami for Anthony Carter and the No. 5. With the fourth and the fifth pick they'd grab Bosh and Hinrich. That's in a perfect world. In a less perfect world, they're stuck at No. 12 with Collison already off the board. We've been speculating for months that Mike Sweetney was their guy. He isn't anymore. He didn't impress the Sonics in an individual workout. Cook did. He showed toughness, a silky smooth stroke from the perimeter, and he tested well in their psych tests. Cook has the skills to be taken this high. Apparently, the Sonics also feel he has the head.
13. Memphis Grizzlies (via Rockets)
Michael Sweetney
Power Forward | 6-8, 262 | Draft Player Card
Junior | Georgetown
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Center, Shooting Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Brian Cook, Illinois
Sleeper Pick: Alexsandar Pavlovic, Serbia
The Skinny: What to do Jerry West? Everyone he's coveted, from Pietrus to Lampe to Wade to Cook, is off the board here. Sweetney is an interesting possibility here. The Grizzlies don't have a low-post bruiser. They get by in the paint with the finesse games of Pau Gasol and Stromile Swift. Sweetney offers a nice chance of pace. But would he ever get any playing time? The other area of need is two guard. They had Jarvis Hayes in for two workouts
