Atlanta Hawks: Jason Terry is a good addition. Trading the fading Mookie Blaylock was a good move. Jason Terry is a great defensive point guard and averaged 20 points per game in college. Although he won't score at that clip, he's a solid player and a senior who knows how to play the game. Steve Smith should take some pressure off Terry with his ball handling skills. Cal Bowdler was a surprise here. They needed a big man and he can bang around. He's pretty skilled and will play some power forward and the pivot. He should be an adequate backup for Dikembe Motumbo and Alan Henderson. Dion Glover is a hometown product who can score. If he's healthy, and back to his freshman form, he's a sleeper, if not, he's a waste. From what I saw of him last year, Glover can play. He should provide some decent depth to the Hawks bench. He can add some scoring and long range shooting. The Hawks traded Jumaine Jones to the Philadelphia 76ers for a future 1st round pick. Jone s would have been a nice addition to a team that needs a scoring small forward, but did not want to be saddled with 4 first round picks with guaranteed contracts. The Hawks drafted Boise State product Roberto Bergerson but traded him to Portland for cash. When Paul Allen gives Ted Turner cash, you know that Allen is loaded.

Boston Celtics: The Celts traded their first round pick this year for Vitaly Popatenko. Pop is probably better than any big man they could have drafted at the 8th position. Or better yet, Pop is probably better than Andre Miller. Any way you put it, it was a good deal for Rick Pitino. He got a big man who can play and he's a young veteran. With their 2nd round pick, the Celts drafted Kris Clack. I thought Clack would have gone higher. I heard rumors that he might land in the first round. He's a swing man who is a stone scorer. Just what the Celtics need, another player who needs the ball in his hands.

Charlotte Hornets: With the roll of a ping pong ball the Hornets draft changed dramatically. Instead of praying for a lower echelon point guard to fall to their pick, the Hornets could pick and choose at the three spot. Baron Davis is a potential superstar at point guard. He will probably sit a year behind David Wesley, but Paul Silas will have a tough time keeping this kid on the bench. He's a true point guard, who can shoot, drive, break down his man off the dribble and can elevate. His workouts put to rest any fears about his torn ACL. This kid can play. A great pick for the Hornets. Just like the Spurs when they lucked into Tim Duncan because of injuries, the Hornets did the same. Next year, with a healthy Anthony Mason and the newly acquired Davis, they will be loaded. Lee Nailon is a banger who can score, but will be cut because there are already too many power forwards on the Hornets.

Chicago Bulls: The Chicago Bulls loaded up for the next decade. Elton Brand isn't going to be a superstar, but he'll be a truly solid NBA power forward for the next decade. It was the safest pick for Jerry Krause. It must have been a big surprise when Ron Artest fell to the 16th pick. The Knicks should have taken him, but he's a welcome addition to the Bulls. He's a power player who plays small forward and shooting guard. With Brand and Artest, the Bulls could have rested on their laurels, but in the second round, the Bulls drafted bangers Michael Ruffin from Tulsa and Lari Ketner from UMass. Both of these guys have a good chance to make the Bulls. There are a lot of roster spots and Krause wanted to remake this team into a meaner, tougher team. With these four picks, the Bulls are no longer a finesse team. A very good draft for the Jerrys and the Bulls.

Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs did just ok. Getting Andre Miller was good. Drafting Trajan Langdon with the 11th pick was bad. So it averages out. Miller will press Brevin Knight at point guard and should start. He's a great player, who can score and play defense. He's a pass first point guard who is a veteran of the NCAA championships and international play. Langdon is a great shooter, but that's about it. He could be the next Dell Curry, but with the 11th pick you hope for more. With a team that was screaming for small forward help, the Cavs could have had James Posey, Quincy Lewis, Ron Artest, Jumaine Jones or Shawn Marion. I guess Jim Paxson has his own idea of how a club should be run. A.J. Bramlett was selected in the 2nd round. With all the injuries the Cavs had, he should be able to make the team as a backup center.

Dallas Mavericks: Don Nelson is an idiot. Or maybe it's his son Donnie Nelson. Both are idiots. Giving a guaranteed contract to Leon Smith? He wasn't even going to be drafted. They could have had him with their 2nd round pick. They are idiots! He's going to be a bust. With their second round pick the Mavs selected Wang Zhi-Zhi is from China. Umm, is there something here I should be aware about? A high school center who has no skills, except his size. Some unknown player from China? I think Don Nelson has gone insane.

Denver Nuggets: James Posey is a good defensive player. He can shoot and can put the ball on the floor. With Eric Williams suspect at small forward, he can replace Williams if need be. As well, he can move to shooting guard, which might be his final destination, with his array of skills. Chris Herren, oft trouble, is a talent. He's a pass first point guard, who if he makes the team, makes Cory Alexander expendible. Francisco Elson, a center from California, was drafted in the 2nd round. He's big. Enough said.

Detroit Pistons: The Pistons drafted Melvin Levett to replace Joe Dumars? Levett is a good athlete, but not much more. He's a shooting guard but undersized. He'll have a tough time making the team.

Golden State Warriors: The Warriors' draft day started early when they acquired Mookie Blaylock. He gives them their first real starting point guard since Tim Hardaway. If Mookie can recapture his game from a few years ago, this might turn out to be a great move. Jeff Foster was drafted and then traded to Indiana for a future 1st round pick and Vonteego Cummings. Cummings is a point guard who can score. He should provide good backup to Blaylock. Tim Young was drafted from Stanford, meaning, he doesn't even have to change his phone number.

Houston Rockets: Kenny Thomas has a big time body, but gets injured often. He can score from the power forward position and he's a tenacious rebounder. He gives the Rockets some insurance if Barkley retires or gets injured again. Tyrone Washington and Venson Hamilton, both centers, are just big men to take up space. It's not like either of them could actually beat out Hakeem Olajuwon for a starting position. They might make it as backups, you can't teach height.

Indiana Pacers: The Pacers got younger, really young. They unloaded veteran power forward/center Antonio Davis for high schooler Jonathan Bender. He's either the next Kevin Garnett or the next Rashard Griffith. He's young, but talented. Not as talented as Garnett, but at 6'11", he's got a good outside shot and excellent ball handling skills. Losing Davis, and replacing him with a player who doesn't even deserve being called a rookie because he's so young, doesn't help the Pacers run at another championship. Al Harrington and Bender make it two years in a row that the Pacers have gone the high school route. Trading for Jeff Foster, a center, is insurance if Rik Smits retires.

L.A. Clippers: The Clips needed this one. Lamar Odom is the most talented player in the draft. He's going to start at the small forward position from day one. With Lamond Murray and Rodney Rogers both free agents, Odom will be pressed into duty. He can do it all. He's a tough rebounder, a good shooter, an excellent passer and has an uncanny basketball sense. I don't care what the experts say about his attitude or mindset, he can play. The Clips also drafted rugged small forward Rico Hill from Illinois State, who played in Spain last year. He should make the team on defensive intensity alone.

L.A. Lakers: Devean George, another typical Jerry West find. He'll have trouble making the team, never mind cracking the lineup to play. If this another diamond in the rough? He was invited to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament where he made the all-tournament team. He's very athletic and I think he could develop at the same rate as some of these higher-profile college players. John Celestand, a point guard from Villanova, hasn't shown any great skills, but Jerry West has a way to see what most can't see.

Miami Heat: The Heat tried to move up and couldn't. So they took the best player on the board. Tim James, a hometown product, from the University of Miami, is a good athlete, a decent shooter, a great defensive player and a good addition to the Heat. He's a Pat Riley type of player. Rodney Buford, the Heat's second round pick, was a consistent scorer in college, but Creighton isn't the NBA. Ask Benoit Benjamin.

Milwaukee Bucks: With only a second round pick, the Bucks selected Galen Young from UNC-Charlotte. I could write a whole lot about him, but I won't. He won't stick.

Minnesota Timberwolves: The T-Wolves had a great draft. Unloading potential free agent Stephan Marbury for Terrell Brandon and a 1st round pick was a stroke of genius, as it landed the T-Wolves the 6th pick overall, which turned about to be sweet shooting Wally Szczerbiak. Wally can shoot. He's a great player. He's got NBA skills. He can shoot, put the ball on the floor, play defense and rebound. He's strong and fast. He is definitely not a typical "white guy". He should open the floor up for Garnett. Look for Szczerbiak to start at small forward. William Avery gives the T-Wolves a backup for Brandon or a replacement depending on whether Brandon wants to resign. Avery is young. He left Duke after his sophmore season, but he can shoot and he's fast. He's got a real upside. Louis Bullock was drafted in the 2nd round out of Michigan but was unloaded to the Magic.

New Jersey Nets: Stephan Marbury was worth their first round pick. Don't kid yourselves. There was no one in this draft who even came close to that kind of talent. The Nets must have been estatic that Evan Eschemeyer was available. He was tabbed as a mid-first round pick. He's a 6th year senior. He was a man among boys. He's strong and has some good moves around the basket. He should give some decent minutes as a backup at both the power forward and center position, since Jayson Williams and Rony Seikley are both recovering from injuries.

New York Knicks: Frederic Weis is supposed to be the most talented big man in Europe. Isn't that like being valadictorian in summer school? He's 7'2". He's got some nice touch. He's also got some back problems and is recovering from back surgery. He probably won't play for the Knicks this year, but with Camby, Ewing, Dudley and Thomas at 4 and 5, he wouldn't get much of chance to play. You have to think Ron Artest would have been a better fit. J.R. Koch, the second round pick, will have to go the same route as DeMarco Johnson, the Knicks second round pick last year, and go to Europe for a season at least, for seasoning.

Orlando Magic: For a team with only one draft pick, they sure were busy. They drafted talented swing man, Laron Profit, from Maryland with their 2nd round pick. Profit should stick with this team, as they just dumped the Wilkins brothers and have some room at the small forward position. They traded for Louis Bullock, who was getting more and more press. Bullock is a guard. Not a true point guard and not big enough for 2 guard. He'll make a 4th guard in the NBA. He can score some and run the team a bit as well. With Penny Hardaway probably on his way out, it's decent insurance. The big news was the Magic trading for Corey Maggette. The Magic traded veteran Horace Grant and two 2nd round picks for the rights to Maggette, Don Maclean, Dale Ellis and Billy Owens. This does wonders for the Magic. They get a young potential superstar at the swing position and great depth at 2, 3 and 4.

Philadelphia 76ers: The 76ers had only one pick but drafted Todd MacCulloch with it. MacCulloch was touted as a potential first round pick, but fell far. He's led the NCAA in field goal percentage for the last 3 years, but scouts say he'll have trouble getting his shot off. This is a good pick though. He's shown ability in college and he might just have a place in the NBA. The 76ers traded a future first round pick for Jumaine Jones, who was drafted by the Hawks. Jones was supposed to border on the lottery, but fell to the end of the first round. He's a very talented player who can score in bunches. He should give Iverson some scoring relief and put some points in the board at the three position for Larry Brown. This is the second year in a row the 76ers have traded a future 1st round pick for a player selected at the end of the 1st round. Last year it was Nazr Mohammed, this year Jones.

Phoenix Suns: The Suns needed some athletes to run with Jason Kidd. With Longley in the middle and Gugliotta at 4, the Suns went with a three. Shawn Marion is a terrific inside player. He can defend and block shots. He needs work on his outside shooting, but he's so quick he can go by people off the dribble. He'll be able to run with Kidd.

Sacramento Kings: The Kings drafted Ryan Robertson from Kansas with their only pick. He's an academic All-American and a decent three point shooter. Ho him.

San Antonio Spurs: They made a nice move unloaded Leon Smith to the Mavs for Croatian guard Gordon Gircek and a future 2nd round pick. This way the Spurs aren't forced to sign Smith to a guaranteed contract. Now they have Gircek. If he doesn't make the team, it costs them nothing. Nice move.

Seattle Supersonics: Hello Corey Maggette. Goodbye Corey Maggette. We hardly knew ye! Say hello to Horace Grant. The Sonics are old and now they are still old. Sure they unloaded some massive salaries in Owens, Maclean and Ellis, but Horace Grant? This seems to me to be a move similar to the Raptors. It's insurance if Vin Baker leaves, but it's also bolsters the lineup with a playoff veteran who knows what it takes to win. Would I have done it? No.

Toronto Raptors: Trading Bender for Antonio Davis should help the Raptors in the present, but still leaves a huge hole at point guard. Davis will give the Raptors leadership, rebounding, defense and some low post scoring. He's insurance if Oakley leaves and depth is he stays. Alek Radojevic is a long term project at center. He might not even play in the NBA next year due to some contract dispute with his former European team. With a couple years of seasoning, he might be a good center. William Avery might have been a better pick here. The Raptors needed a point guard, but I hope GM Glen Grunwell knows what he's doing.

Utah Jazz: Three picks in the 1st round, all good. The Jazz really run a good ship. Quincy Lewis can play the small forward, but a lot of NBA people think he can be a very fine two guard. That's a good pick for Utah to go along with their other young players. Andrei Kirilenko is probably one of the best young players in Russia in some time. He's only 18 years old. Needs to put on some weight, but he can go outside and shoot the basketball. Scott Padgett can really shoot the basketball long and they were looking for shooters. With Quincy Lewis, they have added two young men who can really shoot the ball. Padgett also has some big time college experience. He will push Adam Keefe for a job. Edward Lucas was their second round pick.

Vancouver Grizzlies: Steve Francis looked like his dog died when Vancouver drafted him. Sure he's got a point guard's size, but he's got an off guard's game. Similar to Allan Iverson, his game will be best when he's playing beside a solid and steady point guard. Steve Francis meet Mike Bibby. You two will be the Grizzlies back court for the next 10 years. Francis is probably the best all-around guard in the draft, a terrific offensive player who can make the pass, but is primarily going to give you instant offense. Obinna Ekezie was a teammate of Francis who is a big guy who will give the Grizzlies some toughness. He's a risk coming off achilles surgery, but if he's healthy he's a bear down low. Consider this: Second round picks usually don't stick. He's former teammate of Francis. Even if he doesn't make the team, he should be able to get Francis to sign a contract. If he does make the team, it's a bonus. Antwain Smith was also taken by the Grizzlies.< /P>

Washington Wizards: Richard Hamilton is one of the few players in college who were NBA ready. Talk about skills, he can do everything and well. He can shoot, play defense, drive and handle the ball. He'll play small forward if the Wizards resign Mitch Richmond or play shooting guard if they don't. He's a pressure player. Calvin Booth will give the Wizards some size at center. When your incumbant centers are Ben Wallace and Jahidi White, you get some height quickly.