Espn Insider for 6/3/02

Monday, June 3 Updated 8:44 AM EST

NBA Draft Sleepers
by Chad Ford
Send an Email to Chad Ford

Also Below: Are the Jazz after Andre Miller? | Are Mourning
and Mutombo on the block? | Draft Rumors: Dunleavy going
"back-and-forth" on draft | Writers Bloc: Was David Stern
shooting the Kings' free throws?


Inside the NBA
Draft: Draft IN and
OUT List

NBA Playoff MVP:
Bibby's worth isn't
measured by
numbers



The NBA's annual Chicago pre-draft camp gets underway Tuesday with most of
the top prospects once again choosing to stay away and let their private
workouts speak for themselves.

All of the top underclassmen and even most of the top seniors, like Maryland's
Juan Dixon and Kentucky's Tayshaun Prince, are skipping the event despite
serious questions about their draft status.

Still, the event continues to show its relevance. Last year, two probable
second-round picks, DePaul's Stephen Hunter and Pepperdine's Brandon
Armstrong, played their way into first round. Two years ago, Jamal Crawford
went from a marginal second-round prospect to a lottery pick with his play in
Chicago. Speedy Claxton also raised his stock with a good performance.

Of course, not everyone who plays well gets to the promised land. Omar Cook
got great reviews in Chicago last year but still slipped into the second round.
Ditto for Michael Redd the year before.

And a few players actually hurt their stock. Arizona's Jason Gardner made
enough mistakes last year to put a permanent black mark on his pro prospects.

Who could be this year's Chicago sleeper? Insider takes a look at 10 players
who have already turned a few heads in private workouts and may be able to
parlay a good showing in Chicago into some guaranteed money in the first
round.

1. Jason Jennings, C, Arkansas State
With Chris Marcus out of the draft, Jennings' agent, Jimmy Sexton, wasn't even
sure whether Jennings needed Chicago anymore. Jennings had already worked
out well in Memphis and Phoenix and knew, with the dearth of centers in the
draft, that his client was a coveted commodity. Like a lot of agents with players
on the bubble, Sexton wasn't sure whether Chicago could do more harm than
good. Private workouts are a controlled environment. Draft camps are more
unpredictable. Besides, it's usually the little guys with the ball in their hands who
help themselves. In the next few days of free-for-alls, centers don't get nearly
enough touches down low. Still, despite all of the talent in that 7-foot-1 frame,
Jennings remains a virtual unknown. A chance to parade in front of every GM will
get him a few more workouts and seal his place in the first round.

2. Darius Songaila, F, Wake Forest
Probably the most underrated player in the draft. He has the size, strength and
fundamentals that pro scouts love in the foreign players they go ga-ga over these
days. The fact that he played for four years in the ACC may have erased some
of the intrigue, but Songaila is the real deal. He has the ability to play with his
back to the basket and put the ball on the floor or spot up for a mid-range
jumper. He's not an athlete, but has enough muscle to make an impact in the low
post right now. If he shows some of that savvy in Chicago, he'll sneak into the
first round.

3. Kei Madison, F, Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) CC
His athleticism and versatility at his size would place him in the first round if he
were coming straight from high school. However, a checkered past and a
sketchy junior college career have given him second-round baggage. His
workouts have been going well. In Chicago, he'll try to show teams that he has
the jumper and ball-handling skills to play shooting guard in the pros.

4. Marcus Taylor, G, Michigan State Taylor has managed to generate zero
buzz so far. One GM asked me Friday if he was still in the draft. He is, and it
looks like he's staying in. Like a lot of the point guards in this draft, he has to
convince scouts that he really isn't just a shooting guard trapped inside a point
guard's body. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, he has the size and raw abilities of a
first-round pick. The question is whether he has the decision-making skills.
That's what scouts will be looking for in Chicago.

5. Ryan Humphrey, F, Notre Dame
There has been a fair amount of buzz about Humphrey in workouts the last few
weeks. He surprised teams with his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter
and then play down low on the block. He may be a bit of a tweener, but if he can
prove to scouts that he can be a small forward in the league, he could be on the
move.

6. Lee Benson, F, Brown Mackie JC
The feel good story of the draft will have to convince teams that even though he's
29 years old, he has the body of a 22 year old. Teams have already been
impressed with his workouts. Now they'll get to see if he can play against some
real competition.

7. Vincent Yarbrough, F, Tennessee
His stock has slipped due to injuries and questions about what position he
plays. But he's an athlete who knows how to put the ball in the basket. If he can
show some shooting range and the ability to handle the ball, he has the raw skills
to be the darling of the camp.

8. Jannero Pargo, PG, Arkansas
He really impressed teams with a strong Portsmouth tournament. Like Taylor
and a host of other point guards, the question is whether he's too focused on his
own offense. Several teams told Insider that in his early team workouts against
better know point guards like Dan Dickau and Juan Dixon, he's more than held
his own. Pargo has been working out with Michael Jordan's trainer, Tim Grover,
and has reportedly put on quite a bit of muscle. If he shines in Chicago, he's got
a shot.

9. J.R. Bremer, PG, St. Bonaventure
Speaking of muscle, Bremer can reportedly bench press 350 pounds. He's
been on the workout circuit with Dickau and Dixon and has impressed teams
with his shooting range and strength. He was the NCAA's fourth leading scorer
last year with a 24.6 ppg average. Like Pargo and Taylor, Bremer has gotten a
rap as a shooting point guard. In this case it might not be entirely fair. Bremer
spent the first three years of his college career running the point. It was only
during his senior season that he was asked to play two guard.

10. Chris Owens, F, Texas
A preseason All-American candidate, Owens had his senior season cut short
when he tore his ACL in his right knee in December. Owens is out to show
teams that he's recovered and worth a look. He won't be in great playing shape,
but a few league physicals may go a long way toward convincing teams that this
first-round talent is worth the risk.

Are the Jazz after Andre Miller?

The Cavs-Andre Miller saga gets more interesting by the day.

Speculation has already been running rampant that the Cavs may attempt to
trade their only star this summer after Miller publicly stated that he wants a max
contract extension this offseason.

The Cavs have been balking, instead saying that they'd prefer to wait another
year before committing that kind of cash to Miller. Owner Gordan Gund has said
publicly that he doesn't believe Miller could command a maximum contract
anywhere else.

The lid was blown off that Sunday when the Akron Beacon Journal reported that
the Jazz would make a run at Miller next summer when he becomes a restricted
free agent. According to the report, which cited a source close to the Jazz, the
team has no qualms about paying Miller the max.

If the Cavs believe Miller will be tendered a max offer by the Jazz or someone
else, then they'll likely explore trading him this summer while they can still get
value in return. How real has this possibility become? Several GM's told Insider
over the weekend that they definitely think he'll be moved by draft night. That's
interesting because the Cavs recently canceled their annual draft night party for
fans. Speculation is the team might want to avoid the negative reaction if it
trades Miller on draft night.

The Dayton Beach News Journal reported that the Magic were trying to pry Miller
away. To get something to work, the Magic would likely have to give up Mike
Miller, Darrell Armstrong and some future first-round picks (something the Magic
have a plethora of).

The Chicago Tribune reported that the Cavs and Bulls may be having
discussions that could presumably lead to a Jay Williams-Miller trade. The big
question for the Bulls is whether they're ready to scrap the triangle offense. Miller
is the type of old-school floor leader who was made obsolete by the use of the
more structured triangle offense. Still, Miller has the type of court savvy and
pass-first mentality the Bulls are in desperate need of.

The Tribune also reported that the Clippers have shown an interest in Miller. But
with owner Donald Sterling on the precipice of big contracts for Elton Brand,
Michael Olowokandi and (eventually) Darius Miles, the team may not be able to
afford Miller's asking price.

And the New York Daily News reports today that the Knicks have coveted Miller
for the past three years. Knicks GM Scott Layden followed Miller's career closely
when he was in Utah and has longed for a reliable point guard to run the team for
years.

If those aren't enough possibilities, Indiana, Milwaukee and Minnesota have also
been mentioned as possible destinations for Miller.

New tune could foil Miller plans
Chris Tomasson / Akron Beacon-Journal
Magic may be wooing Cavs' free agent Miller
Ken Hornack / Daytona News-Journal
Knicks Point To Cavs' Miller
Frank Isola / New York Daily News

Are Mourning and Mutombo on the block?

Could the East be preparing to remove the last vestiges of the big-man
movement that dominated general managers' thinking the last two decades?

Chicago Tribune columnist Sam Smith writes that the migration of all of the good
NBA big men to the West might be complete this summer. Smith writes that with
the success of more finesse teams like the Nets, Celtics and Bucks, teams like
the Sixers and Heat may be willing to part with their centers for a package of
skilled, athletic players.

With so many Western Conference teams still trying to figure out how to beat the
Lakers, there could be a very large market for players like Dikembe Mutombo
and Alonzo Mourning despite their obvious weaknesses.

The Blazers, Mavs, T-Wolves and the Spurs (with David Robinson on his last
breath) are all searching for answers in the middle.

Smith writes that the Heat and Mavs have been exploring a Mourning trade
since mid-January. With sign-and-trade issues factored in, Smith believes that
the Mavs might be willing to put together a package with Raef LaFrentz, Nick
Van Exel, another first-round pick, one of their excess big guys like Shawn
Bradley and the $3 million Cuban likes to add to deals. The deal would give the
Heat missing scorers and players to spread the court and compete with Eastern
teams and it would give the Mavs a physical low-post presence to bang with
Shaq. While Mourning's health remains an ongoing issue, Cuban is one of the
few owners in the NBA who could afford the risk.

If Larry Brown really wants a few more headaches, he could probably swing a
Mutombo-for-Rasheed Wallace deal that would give the Sixers another solid
option offensively and give the Blazers that defensive presence in the middle
that they've sorely missed since Arvydas Sabonis retired.

A tough-guy migration
Sam Smith / Chicago Tribune

Draft Rumors: Dunleavy going "back-and-forth" on draft

Is Mike Dunleavy in the draft or is he returning to the Duke Blue Devils for his
senior season?

That is the biggest question on many general managers' minds right now.
Dunleavy's presence in the draft alters almost everyone else's thinking. It isn't
very often that a projected top-5 pick is still flirting with the draft this late in the
process.

Dunleavy's father, former Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy Sr., says that his son his
having a tough time deciding what to do.

"He's having a hard time," Dunleavy Sr. told the Denver Post. "It's really more the
fact that he planned on going to school for four years. [His senior] year was
supposed to be his year, his team. He wanted to take that challenge. ... I don't
know how many people would turn this down. But he goes back and forth. One
minute he says he wants to do it, and the next minute he thinks he still wants to
stay."

When can teams expect to get a more definitive answer for Dunleavy Jr.?

He has until June 19th to pull his name out of the draft. "It will really come to the
wire," Dunleavy Sr. said. "It will be a last-minute decision for him."

Chris Wilcox's decision to limit his workouts to three general sessions -- June
12 in Chicago; June 15 in New York; and June 19 in Phoenix -- where all teams
can attend, drew some boos from several lottery teams. Several lottery
executives told Insider that Wilcox was making a big mistake.

"He's obviously got a lot of raw talent, but with a kid like that, you want to be able
to go over him with a fine tooth comb," one GM told Insider. "With Gooden, Nene
[Hilario] and [Amare] Stoudemire working out well and not shying away from
team workouts, you wonder if he's getting the best advice. He'll still be a lottery
pick, but I think he may slip a bit."

Gooden, Hilario and Stoudemire have all been playing to rave reviews in
workouts so far. Several teams now feel that Gooden has the shooting range
and ball-handling ability to play small forward until he gets strong enough to
handling the physical pounding in the paint. More teams are now projecting
Hilario to be a center, something that will surely raise his stock on draft day. And
one GM thinks Stoudemire may "redefine the power forward position" once he
gets a few years of experience under his belt.

Kansas junior Drew Gooden seems to be falling back into favor with several
NBA teams. According to several league sources, Gooden has shot the ball
extremely well in workouts and showed surprising ball-handling ability.

Gooden has worked out for the Rockets, Bulls, Warriors and Grizzlies. He has
workouts scheduled with the Knicks and Cavs after the Chicago pre-draft camp.

His workout in Memphis Friday went well. "I've seen him a lot," Griz director of
player personnel Tony Barone told the Memphis Commercial Appeal . "You tend
to sometimes try to find something wrong with them. You say 'he can't be that
good.' This kid has great quickness with the basketball. There are guys who are
quick and there are guys who are quick with the basketball. A guy his size at
6-11, his ball quickness is phenomenal."

Gooden still feels confident he'll be a top-3 pick. "I'm a top lottery pick, wherever
I end up," said Gooden, who already has visited Houston, Golden State and
Chicago. "My workouts definitely have put me there. . .I'm starting to open a lot of
eyes now. My last three workouts have shown [my shooting ability] pretty well."

Add Knicks GM Scott Layden to the list of GM's who feel that Dajuan Wagner
can make the move to point guard in the NBA. Wagner worked out for the
Knicks Friday and impressed.

"I don't know if Dajuan is a point guard or a two-guard, but he's going to find a
way to play," Layden told the N.Y. Post. "What he can do is play both positions
and therefore be more valuable."

Duke's Dunleavy might be out of Nuggets' reach
Marc J. Spears / Denver Post
Gooden impresses Griz
Ronald Tillery / Memphis Commercial-Appeal
Gooden scheduled to pay Cavs a visit
Chris Tomasson / Akron Beacon-Journal
Layden's Sure That Dajuan Will Find A Place In The NBA
Mark Hale / New York Post

Writers Bloc: Was David Stern shooting the Kings' free
throws?

NBA conspiracy theorists can sleep a little easier tonight. Their beloved Roswell
Ray Guns (aka the L.A. Lakers) have somehow mysteriously managed to
overcome the odds (they're the first team in 20 years to win Game 7 of a
conference championship on the road) and make it to the Finals.

Maybe all of that meditating got the Lakers and refs in synch one more time. Or
maybe, just maybe, the Kings lost this one all by themselves. Last time we
checked, David Stern wasn't shooting the Kings' free throws.

L.A. Times columnist Bill Plashcke sums up the mood Sunday night in L.A. --
Whewwwww!

"This time, for the first time, their greatness didn't come from the sky. This time,
the Lakers of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal could jump no higher, stretch no
farther. This time, as a stomach-turning Sunday afternoon became evening, they
reached down. Down past the ego. Down past the glitter. Down past everything
the sports world has come to believe about a pretty basketball team that had yet
to show its soul."

Sacramento Bee columnist Ailiene Voison sums up the mood in Sac-town --
Damn Lakers!

"The one thought that will keep the insides of [coach Rick] Adelman and Geoff
Petrie twisting throughout the long, dry summer, the issue that will haunt long
after Mike Bibby is re-signed -- and this is an absolute necessity -- is that while
the Kings remain deep, versatile and immensely talented, Shaq and Kobe aren't
going away. And if Shaq undergoes surgery on that arthritic right toe during the
offseason and returns next season at his fighting weight?"

N.Y. Daily News columnist Mitch Lawrence sums up the mood in New Jersey --
Holy crap.

"The Nets' celebration officially ended at 10:40 last night, Jersey Standard Time.
That's when they found out their prize for winning the East: The team nobody
wants to play in June."

Digging Deep to Find Heart of a Champion
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times
Huge opportunity, grand frustration
Ailene Voisin / Sacramento Bee
This Time, N.J. Gets Swamped
Mitch Lawrence / New York Daily News

 

A big chuck of insider's content comes from newspapers. Also, I took it from another website. I see no reason why the stuff should not be free anyway. If they are going to be so bold to put a price on it then they would have to be so bold to patrol it. We all have out respective sense as to what is fair and I certainly do not think I am being unfair to ESPN. Finally, I made no money on it.

 

Also Below: Rockets making progress on Yao | Draft Rumors:
The NBA's top 15 | Ralph Nader attacks NBA officiating |
Writers Bloc: Can the Nets gets some respect?


Inside the NBA
Draft: Updated Top
25

NBA playoffs: Four
more questions you
were afraid to ask



CHICAGO -- Organizers of the NBA pre-draft camp in Chicago were already on
pins and needles about who would and wouldn't show up Tuesday.

Imagine their surprise when no one did.

Actually, no one is a bit of an exaggeration. Still, thunderstorms and a security
breach at O'Hare airport in Chicago kept many of the camp's players and NBA
personnel from getting to Chicago Tuesday. The disruption was significant
enough that the NBA was forced to cancel Tuesday night's drills and start again
this morning.

Despite the slow start, there was good news from Chicago. Insider confirmed
that Oregon's Freddie Jones will play at the camp. Jones, a super athletic two
guard, is perhaps the best player so far to accept an invitation to the tournament.

While some teams have him already penciled in as a first-rounder based on his
incredible athleticism and scoring prowess, other teams still question his size
(he's 6-foot-4) and shooting touch from outside.

Jones can't do much about his size, but he's already begun answering his
shooting critics. At a recent workout in Memphis versus Caron Butler, Jones
nailed 21 of 25 NBA threes. If he shoots like that here, he's a first-round lock.

That's what his agent, Bill Duffy, is hoping for.

"Freddie's worked out great, but I thought he needed the bigger stage," Duffy
told Insider. "He's still not on everyone's radar screen. But he has the athleticism
and explosiveness to dominate here in Chicago."

Duffy, like every NBA agent, has to carefully weigh whether playing his clients in
Chicago will do more harm than good. Agents rely on a number of factors. Some
of it has to do with exposure. Agents also rely heavily on feedback from teams
after the first few weeks of workouts. Guards will more readily get a green light
than forwards or big men because they control the ball. Big men often have a
hard time getting shots at events like this. The little guys like to run the floor and
gun away.

While Jones got the green light to come, another one of Duffy's clients on the
first-round bubble, Kentucky forward Tayshaun Prince, did not.

"Don't worry about Tayshaun," Duffy said. "He's going to be just fine. He is on
everyone's radar screen. Besides, he's played on a major stage in Kentucky for
four years. Everyone knows what he can do. What does he do here, that he
hasn't already done?"

Agent Mark Bartelstein held out Gonzaga point guard Dan Dickau for a similar
reason.

"It's hard to justify Dan playing in Chicago," Bartelstein told Insider. "He had a
remarkable season and has been sensational in the workouts. I don't know how
anyone can be more tested. There are teams in the lottery who have serious
interest in him. No one else of his status in the draft is playing. What can he
prove in Chicago?"

Still, for players who have the competitive juices flowing through them, the
decision not to play can be a hard one to swallow.

"I just want to play basketball," Dickau told Insider Tuesday in an exclusive
interview you can read later today on ESPN.com. "I was preparing myself to play
and I know I would've played well. . .I'll play anytime, anywhere. But I've figured
out quickly that this is also a business."

Rockets making progress on Yao

Either the Rockets are blowing a smoke screen bigger than The Great Wall of
China or the team is finally making some headway with Yao Ming.

"Things have been progressing well. I think it's time we got together," GM Carroll
Dawson told the Houston Chronicle. "We want them to know where we stand
and let them know we understand Yao Ming's importance to the Chinese
national team."

Dawson admitted that the trip to China, which will include coach Rudy
Tomjanovich, was "a pretty good indication" of what the Rockets hope to do with
the first pick.

"We're optimistic enough," Dawson said. "We think it's the right time to meet
face-to-face. We've got to find out if there is any mystery. We think that the
Chinese government is ready to do this. We're going to find out. If they give their
blessings, the guarantee that the league is looking for, we'll see. Both sides want
certain things. We want an uninterrupted season and playoffs. They want us to
understand how important he is to the Chinese national team, and we do."

Rockets plan to send contingent to China
Jonathan Feigen / Houston Chronicle

Draft Rumors: The NBA's top 15

Believe it or not, the NBA has its own "top 15" draft prospect list that has been
very accurate the last few years.

The NBA puts together the list by polling the lottery teams and uses it for
everything from inviting players to Saturday's media session to issuing out
invitations to the Green Room on draft night.

Who's on the list? We'll get our first official peek Saturday afternoon at the
media session.

Insider talked to several league sources and NBA agents and has confirmed
that the following players have been invited to the Saturday session: Duke's Jay
Williams, Kansas's Drew Gooden, UConn's Caron Butler, Memphis's Dajuan
Wagner, JUCO star Qyntel Woods and Missouri's Kareem Rush.

Several of the top international players like Yao Ming and Nikoloz Tskitishivili are
out of the country. Duke forward Mike Dunleavy and Stanford center Curtis
Borchardt are unlikely to attend because of school commitments.

Last year, of the players invited, only one, Brendan Haywood, was not a lottery
pick.

Ralph Nader attacks NBA officiating

Just when you thought things couldn't get any weirder with the NBA's goofy
officiating in the Western Conference Finals, here comes this story from the San
Francisco Chronicle.

Consumer watchdog and former U.S. presidential candidate Ralph Nader sent a
letter to NBA Commish David Stern Tuesday urging a review of the officiating in
the aftermath of the "notorious" refereeing in Game 6 of the Western
Conference finals between the Kings and the Lakers.

"At a time when the public's confidence is shaken by headlines reporting the
breach of trust by corporate executives, it is important, during the public's
relaxation time, for there to be maintained a sense of impartiality and
professionalism in commercial sports performances," the letter read. "That
sense was severely broken . . . during Game 6."

Then it gets nasty.

"Your problem in addressing the pivotal Game 6 situation is that you have too
much power. Where else can decision-makers [the referees] escape all
responsibility to admit serious and egregious error and have their bosses [you]
fine those wronged [the players and coaches] who dare to speak out critically? .
. . A review that satisfies the fans' sense of fairness and deters future
recurrences would be a salutary contribution to the public trust that the NBA
badly needs."

Nader urges NBA to review officiating
staff / San Francisco Chronicle

Writers Bloc: Can the Nets gets some respect?

Have the Nets finally gotten what they've craved all season -- respect? The
Lakers spent Tuesday applying to be official members of the Nets' fan club.

"The Nets are a great team," Shaquille O'Neal said. "I think it's going to be a
great series."

Added Kobe Bryant: "We are not underestimating this team at all."

Newsday's Shaun Powell wonders whether all of the praise the Nets are getting
from the Lakers is just another Phil Jackson smoke screen.

"The Lakers spent yesterday giving more props than a Hollywood set designer.
If only 13 people in the world think the Nets will give us all a good reason to
watch basketball the next few weeks, yesterday gave you the impression it's 12
Lakers and their coach. . . .Assuming the Lakers aren't liars, the Nets finally have
what they've craved the most: respect, just when they need it least."

Speaking of respect . . .not that they're looking past the Nets or anything, but the
Lakers are eyeing history. They have a chance to do something that Magic
Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar could not. The Lakers have not won three
consecutive titles since 1954, when George Mikan was leading the Minneapolis
Lakers, writes L.A. Times columnist J.A. Adande.

"The Lakers' opponents in these NBA Finals aren't the New Jersey Nets. They're
engaged in a battle with history. And they're up against ... the Lakers."

Speaking of legacies and respect, given the Nets' checkered past, Houston
Chronicle columnist Fran Blinebury wonders whether we can ever take them
seriously until they win a title.

"To say they come at this from vastly different places is just the start. The Lakers
vs. the Nets. The yin and the yang. By lineage, all those championship banners
vs. all those miserable years of losing. The sublime and the ridiculous. By
location, the star-studded shores of La-La Land vs. exit 16W of the New Jersey
Turnpike. The penthouse and the outhouse."

Lakers blow smoke, don't light fire
Shaun Powell / Newsday
History Test
J.A. Adande / Los Angeles Times
Inept past makes it hard to take Nets seriously
Fran Blinebury / Houston Chronicle