Tonight’s NBA Draft (5:30 p.m. MDT on TNT) boasts a talent pool unlike those of years past.
In addition to a bench-full of exceptional underclassmen, there are a handful of high schoolers and foreign players whose names will soon be called in the 1-13 lottery picks.
The U’s only draft hopeful is center Chris Burgess, who will be lucky to go in the second round, but will undoubtedly get asked to earn a spot on an NBA roster.
Nevertheless, here are my thoughts on the first 20 picks in the draft:
1)Houston?Yao Ming, C, Shanghai (China).
With all of the clearance needed from the Chinese government and Yao’s club team for Houston to be able to gamble on Ming with the first pick, we may be looking at World War III if he’s not taken at No. 1.
The Rockets have had luck with foreign big men, as Hakeem Olajuwon led the team to two titles in the non-Jordan years.
In a game that values the big man, how can you pass on a 7-foot-5, 270-pound monster?
2)Chicago?Jay Williams, PG, Duke.
The Bulls’ decision to take Williams with the second selection is as solid of a decision as Williams’ name change.
The Bulls get a proven play-maker and court commander, while Williams distinguishes himself from Memphis point guard Jason Williams, the turnover-prone showboat who can’t speak intelligibly, and Jayson Williams, the former Net who found himself in the middle of a murder investigation.
Not a bad decision by either.
3)Golden State?Mike Dunleavy, SF, Duke.
Hey, at least since he decided to enter the draft he can’t keep the Dukies in any more games with his dead-on accuracy.
Maybe he’ll bring some of that to the Warriors, so Golden State drops to No. 7 or 8 in the draft next year.
4)Memphis?Drew Gooden, PF/SF, Kansas.
The last of the four picks that seem to be cemented in stone. But how will Gooden jive with bloomer Pau Gasol?
Is there a trade in the works?
5)Denver?Nikoloz Tskitishvili, F, Benetton Treviso (Italy).
With the Nugs looking to ship power forward Antonio McDyess and overpriced forward Juwan Howard, look for them to take the 19-year-old big man.
The only problem is, Denver needs much more before they can even dream of reaching the playoffs.
6)Cleveland?Dajuan Wagner, PG, Memphis.
With talks of Andre Miller on the trading block with the Clips (I don’t understand either), the Cavs take Wagner, a scorer and a play-maker (as opposed to Miller not being one?).
7)New York?Chris Wilcox, PF, Maryland.
The 6-foot-10 former sixth man will inject some desperately needed inside game back into the Big Apple with his long-armed, rebounding personae.
8)L.A. Clippers?Caron Butler, SF/SG, Connecticut.
Clips gladly take the 6-foot-7 scorer Butler, who slips because of the depth of the draft.
9)Phoenix?Jared Jeffries, PF/SF, Indiana.
Ute fans know Jeffries’ inside-out game all too well. In addition, he added 15 pounds since the NCAA title game. A nice complement/back-up to fellow Suns slasher Shawn Marion.
10)Miami?Qyntel Woods, SF, NE Mississippi C.C.
Turns out playing for NE Miss. C.C. didn’t get Qyntel lots of TV time, so I don’t know a thing about him. But hell, he’s on all the draft lists, so he must be good.
11)Washington?Curtis Borchardt, C, Stanford.
Nothing can help the Wiz get Jordan back to the top. So they settle on a solid center in Borchardt instead of another project.
12)L.A. Clippers?Amare Stoudamire, F/C, Cypress Creek HS (Florida).
The 6-foot-10, 245-pound Stoudamire draws comparisons to a young Shawn Kemp or Alonzo Mourning. Portland is trying to trade up in hopes of getting the young Kemp, as opposed to the old, overweight one the team possesses now.
13)Milwaukee?Maybyner “Nene” Hilario, PF, Vasco Da Gama (Brazil).
Still stewing over the whole Dirk Nowitski for Robert Traylor draft day fiasco a couple years ago, the Bucks will select foreigner Hilario, a 6-foot-10 power forward who can add size to Milwaukee’s run-and-gun offensive style.
14)Indiana?Kareem Rush, SG, Missouri.
The Pacers need to replace their aging shooting guard Reggie Miller. Give Kareem a couple years of Reg’s tutelage and he’ll be set.
15)Houston?Melvin Ely, PF/C, Fresno State.
Has the size at 6-foot-10, and his post moves can further develop while he plays alongside Yao Ming.
16)Philadelphia?Jiri Welsch, PG/SG, Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia).
Welsch is the token, mid-first round draft pick from Eastern Europe. I don’t know why, but there’s one in every draft. Perhaps a future Predrag Stojakovic.
17)Washington?Marcus Haislip, PF, Tennessee.
The Wizards got the pick by trading Courtney Alexander to N’awlins Tuesday, and they will take Haislip, a 6-foot-10 leaper who can step outside and hit the jumper. With his talent, he can compete in D.C. for a starting job.
18)Orlando?Frank Williams, PG, Illinois.
The Magic want Williams to replace aging floor leader Darrell Armstrong. Too bad they can’t draft a voodoo cure for Grant Hill’s ankles.
19)Utah?Dan Dickau, PG, Gonzaga.
Ooh, look! Another standout point guard from Gonzaga.
With the Malone-Stock era ushering to a close, can the lame-ass Jazz resist?
Didn’t think so.
If Dickau’s already gone, look for the Jazz to pick Maryland shooting guard Juan Dixon or a foreign product you’ve never heard of who we won’t get to see for a couple years (See Raul Lopez).
20)Toronto?Rod Grizzard, SG/SF, Alabama.
So Toronto already has a decent shooting guard. Big deal. Vince has the tendency to get hurt, so the Raptors will turn to Grizzard and his outside touch that torched the Utes.