| "The Dawn of Another Draft Day..." (June 24, 1998)
As I write, we are on the dawn of a new draft. But this draft unlike most is totally underwhelming. There is not one potential superstar in this draft. There hasn't been this much speculation about the first pick overall since possibly Pervis Ellison, back in 1989. Back then no one if Ellison, Danny Ferry or Sean Elliot was to be the first player taken. But I digress. This year's crop is pretty unimpressive. From the word on the street, Mike Bibby, who is probably the consensus number one player, would be a 6-10 pick in a stronger draft. But because the draft is so weak and Bibby will be number one. Bibby isn't stupid. He knew this is a weak draft, especially at point guard. So he'll go to the team that needs one. If the Clips and Elgin Baylor pull another bonehead move and don't draft him, he'll be snatched up by the Grizzlies, who are in need of a point guard since their draft pick from last year, Antonio Daniels was overmatched. If Vancouver doesn't pick Bibby, he'll go to Denver, who at least check, have absolutely nothing. It's funny, but I've heard a lot of talk about trading in this draft, especially concerning the Raptors and Denver. You've got to laugh at Denver when a team with 16 wins (Toronto) doesn't find anyone of value on their whole roster. From what I've heard, the Nuggets want Chauncey Billups and would only give up Bobby Jackson. The Raptors were not going to swap picks for and then swap Billups and Jackson. Jackson is mediocre at best and had a bad rep. Billups has a huge upside, even if he wasn't great last year and he didn't sit out at the end of a game because he didn't like losing.
So if everyone agrees the Clippers should take Mike Bibby, why do I get the sneaking suspicion that they won't. If they take Michael Olowakandi, the massive center from Pacific, they aren't too bad off either. He's supposed to be a super athlete, can learn quickly and has some nice moves from the post. At best, he's another Hakeem Olajuwon, at worst, he's seven feet, 270 lbs and has 6 fouls or in other words, Yinka Dare. Personally, I think you can't teach height, so it wouldn't be a bad thing. The Clips aren't going to keep Ike Austin. For as much as I would love to seem him in a Clipper uniform, he's gone to Arizona to play with Phoenix. But then again, who isn't? (Side note: According to rumors, the 1999 Phoenix Suns will have Steve Nash (unless traded), Jason Kidd, Rex Chapman, Danny Manning, Antonio McDyess, Scottie Pippen, Isaac Austin, Joe Smith, Jerry Stackhouse, Jerry West, Doug West, Doug Collins, Henry Rollins, Henry Bibby, Mike Bibby, some kid in a bib, Da Kid, and you've got to be kidding. What I'm saying here is: Phoenix will not be a superpower like the former Soviet Union. Don't believe the hype.) So the Clips are in a no lost situation. The BIG MAN they could use at center or the point guard they could use period. The Clips are loaded up front, especially if they resign Loy Vaught. They do have Maurice Taylor would played well, Rodney Rogers, Lamond Murray, Lorenzen Wright and stick boy Keith Closs. So they have some player and talent up there. They don't have too much in the back court. Brent Barry is gone via the Austin deal so it's Eric Piatkowski or bust and that rookie from the heat included in the Austin deal. At point it's good ol' Pooh Richardson, Darrick Martin or James Robinson. None great. Martin is a decent enough player, but a better backup. But here's the $9 million guaranteed question? Who will make the bigger impact in the span of the three year contract? A big man who is a question mark? A project? Or a point guard who has shown skills at the height level? I'm leaning towards Bibby because the NBA has developed into a league where you need the dominant point guard to lead you. You don't need the true prototypical center anymore. Look at Seattle and Utah. No true center who plays meaningful minutes. But they have point guards who run their teams. Michael in Chicago. Or is that Scottie in Chicago. Either way, it's dominant force who has the ball and useless lug in the middle.
I have heard Vancouver will draft Olowakandi if he falls to number 2. Kind of funny because they already have Bryant Reeves. I read they were thinking about a twin towers approach, a Duncan-Robinson or a Sampson-Olajuwon. But here's the difference, all of those players were and are athletic players who can play inside and move out from the basket 15 feet. Reeves a low post player who moves like a glacier and the Kandi Man is an athletic big man who has only moves from inside the paint. But if they draft him, they can trade him at their leisure. Interesting to say the least. But in the NBA, there isn't hustling the draft and trading down for value. I think moving down some slots to get a player and a pick isn't a wise move at all. Vancouver, I hear, wants to do this. Christie and the Raptors pick at 4 for number 2. This is a good deal for Vancouver is they get the player they want at number 4 but Paul Pierce will be gone by then. And I don't think Toronto will do this deal. Two slots up for a player of equal skill and similar caliber. I just think it's foolish.
I also find some humor in this. Utah could have taken Orlando's number 12 pick this year. They didn't so they are forced to take it next year. I have to laugh because that tells you how weak the draft is. If they won't take a reasonably high pick, then you've got to reason that it's because the draft is so weak. I hear Utah wanted Michael Doleac but couldn't get him at number 12. Milwaukee seems his eminent destination. Utah didn't want Nazr Mohammed, who will probably go to the Boston Celtics for wayward Wildcats. Utah wouldn't take a chance on Keon Clark because of his reputation. And that German center is well, German. And you know about the Germans and the Mormans don't you? I don't. But there's got to be something there. The summarize: Utah says no. Thinks the Magic will suck even more next year and they'll get a better pick in a better draft year. Orlando is stuck with three picks in a weak draft. As is Houston. Orlando has three picks. One of them is bound to be Jason Williams, unless Jerry West trades up for him. Williams is a talent except he's a supreme head case. That's a story in itself.
Did I mention that Houston will not reload this year. They will falter. They are going to empty their whole roster (except Rod Rhodes, Hakeem and Brent Price) and have three draft picks, all of which will be mediocre. The word is, Rashard Lewis the high schooler from Texas. Sure, might as well draft a high schooler. They have three picks, take a flyer. Houston is going to suck next year. You've got to feel sorry for Hakeem who signed a big contract two years ago.
Anything else of note? Falling stars: anyone from my beloved UCLA. Jelani McCoy and J.R. Henderson are late first rounders at best according to the experts. Toby Bailey might actually get beat our by Felipe Lopez. Talk about humiliating. Bottom line. Weak draft. No trades. Lock out July 1. You've got to love this game.
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