1. CAVS: LeBron James, St. Mary/St. Vincent H.S.
No need for second thoughts on this one. Team owner Gordon Gund already has the King’s jersey, locker and custom toilet ready to go.
And speaking of uniforms, ain’t those some snazzy new unis? A vast improvement over those new-age, sci-fi-nightmare-looking outfits of the past decade. Perhaps good karma?
2. PISTONS: Darko Milicic, KK Hemofarm (Serbia)
Even though new coach Larry Brown is pushing for Carmelo Anthony, GM Joe Dumars has had his sights set on Milicic for some time, and he will be the pick. It just makes you wonder-is Otis Thorpe worth this much?
3. NUGGETS: Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
Hark! A college player is finally chosen! ‘Melo went from relative obscurity to national prominence in just a few months’ time last season, which culminated in a national title. Now, playing on a perpetually bad Nuggets team, he’ll get the chance to show everyone what he can do. Big numbers should be expected.
4. (PROJECTED TRADE) SONICS: Chris Bosh, Georgia Tech
And…it looks like the Sonics will win the Chris Bosh sweepstakes. Will he be enough to make local fans forget Gary Payton? No. Can we scream ‘bust’ any louder?
5. HEAT: Kirk Hinrich, Kansas
Pat Riley could go with a big man here, but we’re thinking he’s just about fed up with seeing Anthony Carter run his offense. Hinrich is a big point guard who can shoot-and he should be able to handle the tough physical grind of Miami’s starting spot.
6. CLIPPERS: Chris Kaman, Central Michigan
Michael Olowokandi is as good as gone, and Andre Miller is as good as dead to Clips GM Elgin Baylor, the king of draft-day blunders. So what is it this time? Yet another forward? Or will he actually try filling a need this year? The team could go after Dwayne Wade, but we have a sneaky suspicion Baylor’s head will be stuck up his ass once again. Taking an overrated Stiff White Center would be no surprise.
7. BULLS: Mickael Pietrus, France
What to make of a team that just lost its future superstar, Jay Williams, possibly forever? An athletic slasher from overseas could be just the ticket.
8. BUCKS: T.J. Ford, Texas
With Gary Payton gone, the team desperately needs a point guard and a scorer. So which route will they take? Bet on Ford-even if he is a brick factory.
9. KNICKS: Maciej Lampe, Poland
If Antonio McDyess is healthy, he and Lampe could form quite a pair in the coming years. Now if only the Knicks could find a point guard not named Charlie Ward.
10. WIZARDS: Nick Collison, Kansas
Collison could play both forward spots and could prove valuable for a team desperate for another option. Then again, he could be another Raef LaFrentz.
11. WARRIORS: Reece Gaines, Louisville
12. (PROJECTED TRADE) RAPTORS: Dwayne Wade, Marquette
13. GRIZZLIES: Sofoklis Schortsanitis, Greece
14. SONICS: Marcus Banks, UNLV
15. MAGIC: Mike Sweetney, Georgetown
16. CELTICS: Luke Ridnour, Oregon
17. SUNS: Jarvis Hayes, Georgia
18. HORNETS: Zarko Cabarkapa, Serbia-Montenegro
19. JAZZ: Brian Cook, Illinois
20. CELTICS: Aleksander Pavlovic, Serbia-Montenegro
21. HAWKS: Zaur Pachulia, Georgia (the freakin’ country, not the state university)
22. NETS: Zoran Planinic, Croatia
23. BLAZERS: Josh Howard, Wake Forest
24. LAKERS: David West, Xavier
25. PISTONS: Travis Outlaw, Starkville MS H.S.
26. T-WOLVES: Carlos Delfino, Argentina
27. GRIZZLIES: Kendrick Perkins, Beaumont (Tex.) H.S.
28. SPURS: Travis Hansen, BYU
29. MAVS: Boris Diaw, France