14. Seattle SuperSonics (via Bucks)
Marcus Banks
Point Guard | 6-2, 200 | Draft Player Card
Senior | UNLV
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Team Needs: Power Forward, Point Guard | Depth Chart
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No 2: Luke Ridnour, Oregon
Sleeper Pick: Leandrinho Barbosa, Brazil
The Skinny: Marcus Banks has to be the success story of the draft. He's an above average college point guard, but not a great one. He's short in stature, struggles from the perimeter and isn't even close to the best playmaker in the draft. However, everyone seems to want him right now. Why? He has an NBA body, he's unstoppable taking it to the basket and he's an aggressive defender. Is that what the Sonics need? If they don't move Barry, he and Ray Allen will do much of the ball handling anyway. Perhaps a spark plug like Banks is what they need.
15. Orlando Magic
Reece Gaines
Point Guard | 6-6, 205 | Draft Player Card
Senior | Louisville
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Team Needs: Point Guard, Center | Depth Chart
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No 2: Luke Ridnour, Oregon
Sleeper Pick: Leandrinho Barbosa, Brazil
The Skinny: We've had Gaines pegged to Orlando for the past two months and see no reason to change now. His ability to play the one and the two, his size and athleticism and that smooth outside jumper should earn him some minutes in Orlando during year one. If he's off the board, expect Doc Rivers to still push for a point guard. You've got to believe that if Gaines is gone, Ridnour's still on the board. I think he's a questionable fit in Orlando. He lacks the size, toughness and defensive prowess they're looking for in a point. Barbosa would be a great fit -- if the Magic can be patient for another year. Like everyone else, they'd love to move up and get their hands on someone like Hinrich or Wade. The latest has them dangling Gordan Giricek and the No. 15 to get it done. If I'm the Bulls, I take that deal and run.
16. Boston Celtics
Luke Ridnour
Point Guard | 6-2, 175 | Draft Player Card
Junior | Oregon
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Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward, Center | Depth Chart
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No 2: Alexsandar Pavlovic, Serbia
Sleeper Pick: Boris Diaw, France
The Skinny: We're not sure who leaked it that the Celtics were in love with Banks. It backfired. Everyone raised a suspicious eyebrow when he stopped working out and now everyone seems to be enamored with him. The Celtics thought they'd get him with the 20th pick. Now he might not be around at No. 16. That could leave the Celtics choosing between Luke Ridnour, Leandrinho Barbosa and Reece Gaines. They'd love to get their hands on Gaines. But he won't slip this far. Ridnour shoots the ball well enough to survive and his flashy style would be a hit with the fans. If he's off the board, they may dump their point guard pursuits and grab Pavlovic. GM Danny Ainge was blown away in his first workout and he won't be available when they pick again at No. 20. Ainge just left for trip to France to check out Boris Diaw. You don't leave the country this late in the draft process unless you're serious about a guy.
17. Phoenix Suns
Zarko Cabarkapa
Power Forward | 7-0, 235 | Draft Player Card
Serbia/Montenegro
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Team Needs: Small Forward, Back-up Point Guard | Depth Chart
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No 2: Boris Diaw, France
Sleeper Pick: Leandrinho Barbosa, Brazil
The Skinny: Promises, promises. The rumor has been flying around for weeks that Cabarkapa is the Suns' guy. Apparently, everyone in the West feels like they need a Nowitizki-type player, and the Suns have Cabarkapa pegged as that guy. Cabarkapa is a fine shooter, has a great handle and is pretty mature at age 22. A nice player who can fit several roles. But a promise? The Suns say no. They like Brian Cook and Marcus Banks and would've probably taken both if they were here. But if the draft plays out the way we think it will, Cabarkapa is they guy they like the most. Diaw is another possibility, though the similarities to Joe Johnson may be a little too close for comfort. Everyone seems to be high on Barbosa but there's just one little issue -- GM Bryan Colagnelo has never seen him in person.
18. New Orleans Hornets
Jarvis Hayes
Shooting Guard | 6-7, 220 | Draft Player Card
Junior | Georgia
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Team Needs: Power Forward, Shooting Guard | Depth Chart
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No 2: Alexsandar Pavlovic, Yugoslavia
Sleeper Pick: Jerome Beasley, North Dakota
The Skinny: The Hornets are slowly edging their way into front office purgatory alongside the Clippers, Wizards and Warriors. They're just flat out goofy. So forgive us if we predict a smart pick here. Hayes could go as high as No. 7 to the Bulls, No. 10 to the Wizards or No. 13 to the Grizzlies. But our guess is that he falls into the Hornets' lap at No. 18. His outside shooting touch and athleticism will be a nice complement to Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn. If he's not around, they also like Pavlovic. And from the weird rumors department, they've been doing some extensive background checks on North Dakota's Jerome Beasley. Originally, the Hornets' plan was to take someone like Brian Cook here. With Cook moving up and out, at least one source in New Orleans claims that Bob Bass has become enamored with Beasley. This is pretty high for Beasley to go, but factor in the goofy comments above, and it just might make some sense.
19. Utah Jazz
Alexsandar Pavlovic
Shooting Guard | 6-6, 207 | Draft Player Card
Budcunost | Serbia
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Team Needs: Power Forward, Shooting Guard, Point Guard | Depth Chart
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No 2: Boris Diaw, France
Sleeper Pick: Carlos Delfino, Argentina
The Skinny: Jazz GM Kevin O'Conner has to be pretty happy. The team is going to end up with a pretty good pick no matter what happens. First order of business is to find a long-term replacement for Karl Malone. It won't be easy. They'd prefer Brian Cook if he were still around here. He won't be, so they'll try to find a long-term replacement for Calbert Cheaney. That's a little easier. If Pavlovic falls to them here, they're in good shape. He's arguably the best shooter in the draft and a top-notch athlete. The team has been following Diaw for years and likes his good defense and ball handling abilities. Delfino is a wild card. He's tough, athletic and has a great jumper. He's a Jerry Sloan player all the way.
20. Boston Celtics (via 76ers)
Sofoklis Schortsanitis
Center | 6-10, 287 | Draft Player Card
Greece
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Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward, Center | Depth Chart
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No 2: Zaur Pachulia, Rep. of Georgia
Sleeper Pick: Kendrick Perkins, Ozen High (Texas)
The Skinny: Now you know why they're trying to trade up in the draft. Somehow it's hard to believe that the combination of Ridnour and Schortsanitis will put you over the top. But that's what the Celtics are faced with. They'd like to go big with one of their picks and are said to be mulling Sofoklis, Zaur Pachulia and high school big man Kendrick Perkins here. All three are projects. All three have a flaw that makes teams suspicious. Both Sofoklis and Perkins are bit undersized in the height department and oversized in the waist area. All three are a couple years away from contributing now.
Marcus Banks
Point Guard | 6-2, 200 | Draft Player Card
Senior | UNLV
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Power Forward, Point Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Luke Ridnour, Oregon
Sleeper Pick: Leandrinho Barbosa, Brazil
The Skinny: Marcus Banks has to be the success story of the draft. He's an above average college point guard, but not a great one. He's short in stature, struggles from the perimeter and isn't even close to the best playmaker in the draft. However, everyone seems to want him right now. Why? He has an NBA body, he's unstoppable taking it to the basket and he's an aggressive defender. Is that what the Sonics need? If they don't move Barry, he and Ray Allen will do much of the ball handling anyway. Perhaps a spark plug like Banks is what they need.
15. Orlando Magic
Reece Gaines
Point Guard | 6-6, 205 | Draft Player Card
Senior | Louisville
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Center | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Luke Ridnour, Oregon
Sleeper Pick: Leandrinho Barbosa, Brazil
The Skinny: We've had Gaines pegged to Orlando for the past two months and see no reason to change now. His ability to play the one and the two, his size and athleticism and that smooth outside jumper should earn him some minutes in Orlando during year one. If he's off the board, expect Doc Rivers to still push for a point guard. You've got to believe that if Gaines is gone, Ridnour's still on the board. I think he's a questionable fit in Orlando. He lacks the size, toughness and defensive prowess they're looking for in a point. Barbosa would be a great fit -- if the Magic can be patient for another year. Like everyone else, they'd love to move up and get their hands on someone like Hinrich or Wade. The latest has them dangling Gordan Giricek and the No. 15 to get it done. If I'm the Bulls, I take that deal and run.
16. Boston Celtics
Luke Ridnour
Point Guard | 6-2, 175 | Draft Player Card
Junior | Oregon
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Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward, Center | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Alexsandar Pavlovic, Serbia
Sleeper Pick: Boris Diaw, France
The Skinny: We're not sure who leaked it that the Celtics were in love with Banks. It backfired. Everyone raised a suspicious eyebrow when he stopped working out and now everyone seems to be enamored with him. The Celtics thought they'd get him with the 20th pick. Now he might not be around at No. 16. That could leave the Celtics choosing between Luke Ridnour, Leandrinho Barbosa and Reece Gaines. They'd love to get their hands on Gaines. But he won't slip this far. Ridnour shoots the ball well enough to survive and his flashy style would be a hit with the fans. If he's off the board, they may dump their point guard pursuits and grab Pavlovic. GM Danny Ainge was blown away in his first workout and he won't be available when they pick again at No. 20. Ainge just left for trip to France to check out Boris Diaw. You don't leave the country this late in the draft process unless you're serious about a guy.
17. Phoenix Suns
Zarko Cabarkapa
Power Forward | 7-0, 235 | Draft Player Card
Serbia/Montenegro
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Team Needs: Small Forward, Back-up Point Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Boris Diaw, France
Sleeper Pick: Leandrinho Barbosa, Brazil
The Skinny: Promises, promises. The rumor has been flying around for weeks that Cabarkapa is the Suns' guy. Apparently, everyone in the West feels like they need a Nowitizki-type player, and the Suns have Cabarkapa pegged as that guy. Cabarkapa is a fine shooter, has a great handle and is pretty mature at age 22. A nice player who can fit several roles. But a promise? The Suns say no. They like Brian Cook and Marcus Banks and would've probably taken both if they were here. But if the draft plays out the way we think it will, Cabarkapa is they guy they like the most. Diaw is another possibility, though the similarities to Joe Johnson may be a little too close for comfort. Everyone seems to be high on Barbosa but there's just one little issue -- GM Bryan Colagnelo has never seen him in person.
18. New Orleans Hornets
Jarvis Hayes
Shooting Guard | 6-7, 220 | Draft Player Card
Junior | Georgia
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Team Needs: Power Forward, Shooting Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Alexsandar Pavlovic, Yugoslavia
Sleeper Pick: Jerome Beasley, North Dakota
The Skinny: The Hornets are slowly edging their way into front office purgatory alongside the Clippers, Wizards and Warriors. They're just flat out goofy. So forgive us if we predict a smart pick here. Hayes could go as high as No. 7 to the Bulls, No. 10 to the Wizards or No. 13 to the Grizzlies. But our guess is that he falls into the Hornets' lap at No. 18. His outside shooting touch and athleticism will be a nice complement to Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn. If he's not around, they also like Pavlovic. And from the weird rumors department, they've been doing some extensive background checks on North Dakota's Jerome Beasley. Originally, the Hornets' plan was to take someone like Brian Cook here. With Cook moving up and out, at least one source in New Orleans claims that Bob Bass has become enamored with Beasley. This is pretty high for Beasley to go, but factor in the goofy comments above, and it just might make some sense.
19. Utah Jazz
Alexsandar Pavlovic
Shooting Guard | 6-6, 207 | Draft Player Card
Budcunost | Serbia
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Team Needs: Power Forward, Shooting Guard, Point Guard | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Boris Diaw, France
Sleeper Pick: Carlos Delfino, Argentina
The Skinny: Jazz GM Kevin O'Conner has to be pretty happy. The team is going to end up with a pretty good pick no matter what happens. First order of business is to find a long-term replacement for Karl Malone. It won't be easy. They'd prefer Brian Cook if he were still around here. He won't be, so they'll try to find a long-term replacement for Calbert Cheaney. That's a little easier. If Pavlovic falls to them here, they're in good shape. He's arguably the best shooter in the draft and a top-notch athlete. The team has been following Diaw for years and likes his good defense and ball handling abilities. Delfino is a wild card. He's tough, athletic and has a great jumper. He's a Jerry Sloan player all the way.
20. Boston Celtics (via 76ers)
Sofoklis Schortsanitis
Center | 6-10, 287 | Draft Player Card
Greece
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward, Center | Depth Chart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No 2: Zaur Pachulia, Rep. of Georgia
Sleeper Pick: Kendrick Perkins, Ozen High (Texas)
The Skinny: Now you know why they're trying to trade up in the draft. Somehow it's hard to believe that the combination of Ridnour and Schortsanitis will put you over the top. But that's what the Celtics are faced with. They'd like to go big with one of their picks and are said to be mulling Sofoklis, Zaur Pachulia and high school big man Kendrick Perkins here. All three are projects. All three have a flaw that makes teams suspicious. Both Sofoklis and Perkins are bit undersized in the height department and oversized in the waist area. All three are a couple years away from contributing now.
