George O'Brien
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Nothing remarkable with this list except that it is much higher for Charlie Villanueva than other boards.
Chicago Sun Times
An early lottery list for Bulls to look at
February 9, 2004
BY LACY J. BANKS Staff Reporter
It has been six years, two operations chiefs and five coaches (including interims) since the Bulls last reached the playoffs. During that dry spell, they have made 26 draft picks, including six lottery selections.
Given the Bulls' disappointing record this season, it looks like the only reward will be another lottery ball and a bittersweet top spot in the NBA draft June 24.
Former operations chief Jerry Krause pinned the future of the franchise on high school stars Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry, who have yet to produce as hoped. While some guess current operations chief John Paxson might be reluctant to go that route again, Paxson admits all options remain open.
''I would never rule anything out,'' he said. ''I wasn't part of the process before when [Krause drafted Curry and traded Elton Brand to the Clippers for the rights to Chandler]. But you have to look at everything. I thought Krause's decision was definitely a bold move. Everybody did. But it also happened at the time when [preps-to-pros prospects] Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady had proven that this is a potentially legit way to do business.''
Although these projections can change before the draft five months from now, here are the players expected to be the first 13 lottery picks:
1. Emeka Okafor, 6-9, 246, PF, Connecticut: Not a great shooter, but his shot-blocking, work ethic, all-around talent and court leadership are excellent. Basketball Digest editor Brett Ballantini says if UConn wins the NCAA title, Okafor is 80 percent likely to enter the draft rather than play another year. ''Okafor could play in the NBA right now,'' NBA talent consultant Chris Ekstrand said.
2. Dwight Howard, 6-11, 230, PF, S.W. Christian H.S. (Atlanta): Veteran scout Bob Gibbons says Howard will be the first high schooler picked ''because of his ability, potential and all-around game.'' He needs work on his low-post game, but that's the only negative.
3. Pavel Podkolzine, 7-5, 305, C, Russia: Declared for draft last year, then pulled out when scouts did not assure him of being a top-five draft pick. Added seasoning playing for Varese, a member of Italy's top pro league, may help. Ballantini says ''he has great size, very long arms make him a big-time shot-blocker. Good 20- to 22-foot jumper, good inside-outside shooter. Handles ball well for a big man and runs the floor like a guard but is very raw defensively.''
4. Kosta Perovic, 7-3, 240, C, Serbia-Montenegro: Led by the likes of Sacramento Kings teammates Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic and former Bull Toni Kukoc, Serbia-Montenegro and Croatia have distinguished themselves for outstanding programs producing more NBA-ready players than any countries outside the United States.
5. Luol Deng, 6-7, 190, SG, Duke: Scout Adam Miller says Deng ''has great athleticism, a big wingspan, adapts well to the defense, anticipates the play and sees plays a pass ahead of everybody else. He can handle the ball, play three positions, has good range and is a decent defender.'' He reminds many scouts of Los Angeles Clippers sensation Corey Maggette at a similar stage.
6. Josh Smith, 6-9, 210, SF, Oak Hill (Va.) H.S.: Some insiders see Smith progressing well enough to go as high as Howard, if not higher. Smith has signed to play for Indiana, but many feel he will enter the NBA draft.
7. Andre Iguodala, 6-6, 205, SG, Arizona: Ballantini calls this former Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year from Springfield's Lanphier the ''best unknown'' of this year's prospects and likens him to Miami Heat rookie Dwyane Wade. Lakers rookie forward Luke Walton, a teammate last year, says ''he is going to be one of the best players to ever come out of Arizona by the time he is done.''
8. Jameer Nelson, 6-foot, 193, PG, Saint Joseph's: He is the main reason St. Joe's is off to a sizzling start. He's an Allen Iverson type of athlete who's bulkier and more team-oriented.
9. Tiago Splitter, 7-foot, 236, PF, Brazil: It took fellow 6-11, 260-pound Brazilian Nene a year to get the hang of the NBA and to average double-digit points and rebounds for the surprising Denver Nuggets. But scouts feel Splitter is more mature than Nene at a similar stage.
10. Ha Seung-jin, 7-3, 300, C, South Korea: Now that China has made its splash in the NBA, here comes the best of South Korea. He's only 18 years old but scouts are projecting him to become at least a poor man's Yao Ming, who is taller, more experienced and more coordinated but not bigger.
11. Ivan Chiriaev, 7-1, 235, SF, Russia: Here is a 19-year-old with the height to play the 4 and 5 but not the body to bang with those NBA biggies night after night. He had good mobility and a deft touch to wound from the wings. Ballantini figures some size-hungry Eastern team will pick him in the top 10.
12. Christian Drejer, 6-9, 210, SF, Florida: Ballantini calls him ''a solid prospect'' at either shooting guard or small forward. He's not the best player on his team but he's projecting high because of his size and athleticism.
13. Charlie Villanueva, 6-11, 230, PF, Connecticut: He first thought of entering the NBA, then committed to playing for Illinois before the defection of Bill Self to Kansas. He wound up at Connecticut, where he is teaming well with Okafor.
Chicago Sun Times
An early lottery list for Bulls to look at
February 9, 2004
BY LACY J. BANKS Staff Reporter
It has been six years, two operations chiefs and five coaches (including interims) since the Bulls last reached the playoffs. During that dry spell, they have made 26 draft picks, including six lottery selections.
Given the Bulls' disappointing record this season, it looks like the only reward will be another lottery ball and a bittersweet top spot in the NBA draft June 24.
Former operations chief Jerry Krause pinned the future of the franchise on high school stars Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry, who have yet to produce as hoped. While some guess current operations chief John Paxson might be reluctant to go that route again, Paxson admits all options remain open.
''I would never rule anything out,'' he said. ''I wasn't part of the process before when [Krause drafted Curry and traded Elton Brand to the Clippers for the rights to Chandler]. But you have to look at everything. I thought Krause's decision was definitely a bold move. Everybody did. But it also happened at the time when [preps-to-pros prospects] Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady had proven that this is a potentially legit way to do business.''
Although these projections can change before the draft five months from now, here are the players expected to be the first 13 lottery picks:
1. Emeka Okafor, 6-9, 246, PF, Connecticut: Not a great shooter, but his shot-blocking, work ethic, all-around talent and court leadership are excellent. Basketball Digest editor Brett Ballantini says if UConn wins the NCAA title, Okafor is 80 percent likely to enter the draft rather than play another year. ''Okafor could play in the NBA right now,'' NBA talent consultant Chris Ekstrand said.
2. Dwight Howard, 6-11, 230, PF, S.W. Christian H.S. (Atlanta): Veteran scout Bob Gibbons says Howard will be the first high schooler picked ''because of his ability, potential and all-around game.'' He needs work on his low-post game, but that's the only negative.
3. Pavel Podkolzine, 7-5, 305, C, Russia: Declared for draft last year, then pulled out when scouts did not assure him of being a top-five draft pick. Added seasoning playing for Varese, a member of Italy's top pro league, may help. Ballantini says ''he has great size, very long arms make him a big-time shot-blocker. Good 20- to 22-foot jumper, good inside-outside shooter. Handles ball well for a big man and runs the floor like a guard but is very raw defensively.''
4. Kosta Perovic, 7-3, 240, C, Serbia-Montenegro: Led by the likes of Sacramento Kings teammates Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic and former Bull Toni Kukoc, Serbia-Montenegro and Croatia have distinguished themselves for outstanding programs producing more NBA-ready players than any countries outside the United States.
5. Luol Deng, 6-7, 190, SG, Duke: Scout Adam Miller says Deng ''has great athleticism, a big wingspan, adapts well to the defense, anticipates the play and sees plays a pass ahead of everybody else. He can handle the ball, play three positions, has good range and is a decent defender.'' He reminds many scouts of Los Angeles Clippers sensation Corey Maggette at a similar stage.
6. Josh Smith, 6-9, 210, SF, Oak Hill (Va.) H.S.: Some insiders see Smith progressing well enough to go as high as Howard, if not higher. Smith has signed to play for Indiana, but many feel he will enter the NBA draft.
7. Andre Iguodala, 6-6, 205, SG, Arizona: Ballantini calls this former Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year from Springfield's Lanphier the ''best unknown'' of this year's prospects and likens him to Miami Heat rookie Dwyane Wade. Lakers rookie forward Luke Walton, a teammate last year, says ''he is going to be one of the best players to ever come out of Arizona by the time he is done.''
8. Jameer Nelson, 6-foot, 193, PG, Saint Joseph's: He is the main reason St. Joe's is off to a sizzling start. He's an Allen Iverson type of athlete who's bulkier and more team-oriented.
9. Tiago Splitter, 7-foot, 236, PF, Brazil: It took fellow 6-11, 260-pound Brazilian Nene a year to get the hang of the NBA and to average double-digit points and rebounds for the surprising Denver Nuggets. But scouts feel Splitter is more mature than Nene at a similar stage.
10. Ha Seung-jin, 7-3, 300, C, South Korea: Now that China has made its splash in the NBA, here comes the best of South Korea. He's only 18 years old but scouts are projecting him to become at least a poor man's Yao Ming, who is taller, more experienced and more coordinated but not bigger.
11. Ivan Chiriaev, 7-1, 235, SF, Russia: Here is a 19-year-old with the height to play the 4 and 5 but not the body to bang with those NBA biggies night after night. He had good mobility and a deft touch to wound from the wings. Ballantini figures some size-hungry Eastern team will pick him in the top 10.
12. Christian Drejer, 6-9, 210, SF, Florida: Ballantini calls him ''a solid prospect'' at either shooting guard or small forward. He's not the best player on his team but he's projecting high because of his size and athleticism.
13. Charlie Villanueva, 6-11, 230, PF, Connecticut: He first thought of entering the NBA, then committed to playing for Illinois before the defection of Bill Self to Kansas. He wound up at Connecticut, where he is teaming well with Okafor.
