GOOD SPORTS
By Jerome Early

1. Washington – Kwame Brown, forward, high school.

Trade rumors have this pick going to Chicago for Elton Brand, or better, to Vancouver/Memphis with Rip Hamilton for Shareef Adbur-Raheem and the sixth pick. Either way, Brown, the best of the pre-teens, goes in the top spot.

2. L.A. Clippers – Eddy Curry, power forward, high school.

Word is Curry is already buds with Lamar Odom and the rest of the Clipper crew. He's also a natural fit in the lineup. I've heard him referred to as "Shaq II." I expect this has more to do with Curry's sexual prowess than his basketball skills, which are not yet mad.

3. Atlanta – Eddie Griffin, forward, Seton Hall.

Pete Babcock and the rest of the Hawk braintrust like Shane Battier, but the Hall frosh is too good to pass up -- although his attitude may remind some in the organization of J.R. Rider. Look for Atlanta to make a playoff run this year.

4. Chicago – Pau Gasol, forward, Spain.

Face it, folks: Jerry Krause is lousy at drafting players. Some say Gasol, the seven-foot small forward, is the next Dirk Nowitski. We'll believe it when we see it.

5. Golden State – Tyson Chandler, forward, high school

Lazy high school kid with nuclear potential, right down to the meltdown. He's Marcus Camby without the heart. The piss-poor Warriors have the time to develop him, but can they make him care?

6. Vancouver – Shane Battier, forward, Duke

Battier has four years of college and won a national championship, which is better experience than beating up on high school kids my size. Duke's Coach K says he "admires" Battier, which is high praise from a guy not known for hyperbole. What he lacks in flash he makes up for in intangibles. If the Reef trade happens, Washington will take Rodney White.

7. New Jersey – Rodney White, forward, Charlotte

An excellent showing in the Chicago pre-draft camps saw his stock rise markedly. He will allow New jersey to deal Keith Van Horn, perhaps to the Jazz.

8. Cleveland – Joe Johnson, shooting guard, Arkansas.

The only thing dull about this big guard is his name. There are a lot of disagreements among scouts on the players in this draft, but everyone loves this guy. The Cavs need more flash and a guy who can fill it up. Johnson does both.

9. Detroit – Jason Richardson, guard, Michigan State

Consensus choice of the Best Athlete in Draft designation, which means he can dunk like nobody's business. But can he shoot? Won't matter -- Stackhouse won't pass him the rock.

10. Boston – Sagana Diop, center, high school

Detractors call him the next Olowakandi, saying, "Take him if you (Yinka) dare." Boston picked potential last year and is loath to do so again -- but Sagana Drop (get it?) is no Jerome Moiso.

11. Boston – Omar Cook, point guard, St. John's

Surprise. With three first-round picks, Boston can afford to pluck Cook a few spots early. He can't shoot, but with Pierce and Walker hoisting up so many shots, he won't have to.

12. Seattle – Brendan Heywood, center, North Carolina

They used to call him Brenda, but no more. Reminds me of Jamaal Magloire, who did a nice job as a rook for Charlotte last season. His stock rose in the camps.

13. Houston – Vladimir Radmanovic, FMP Zeleznik (Yugoslavia).

Rudy T. loves big European players, and Gasol, whom Houston worked out, is long gone by now. Radmanovich has soared up the charts in the weeks leading to the Draft.

14.Golden State – Jamaal Tinsley, point guard, Iowa State

The Warriors have needed a point guard since Tim Hardaway left. Tinsley has four years of college. He's ready to drive the car.

15. Orlando – Michael Bradley, forward, Villanova

His post moves remind some of Tim Duncan. The Magic need more inside players. They are lucky to find him still on the board.

16. Charlotte – Richard Jefferson, guard, Arizona

The Hornets need another quick guard with scoring ability. The exciting Jefferson is just the ticket. They may opt for local hero Joseph Forte, which would be a mistake -- the Tar Heel point guard will not excel at this level (see "Cota, Ed").

17. Toronto – Zach Randolph, forward, Michigan State

Michigan State monster will fill the Oakley-Davis void.

18. Minnesota

Kevin Garnett will have to make due with what he's got, which means another first-round loss. No pick for the Wolves this year. Or next.

19. Houston – Troy Murphy, forward, Notre Dame

Questions persist about his quickness (because he's white, the cynic in me says). He's a great shooter who will be valuable with the zones next year. And he's tall.

20. Portland – Kedrick Brown, forward, junior college

Bizarre pick for a bizarre team.

21. Cleveland (from Miami) – Stephen Hunter, center, DePaul

At last, a big man with no foot problems. Good showing in the camps vaulted him into the first round.

22. Boston (from Phoenix) – Loren Woods, center, Arizona

The Nabokovian lust for high schoolers plummets Woods to #22 -- and he'll be better this year than all of them.

23. Houston (from Milw.) – Gerald Wallace, small forward, Alabama

Yes, he's only a freshman, but Alabama has a tradition of molding great pro players. The scouts love this guy, who is a steal at #23. With three first rounders, Houston can gamble -- or trade the pick to the Knicks.

24. Orlando (from Dallas) – Jeff Trepagnier, shooting guard, USC

Another Mike Miller type, who might be packaged in one of Orlando's constant moves.

25. Utah – Jason Collins, center, Stanford

After four years at Stanford, he's got to be better than Olden Polynice or Greg Oestertag. France's Tony Parker might go here, too, given Utah's fixation on drafting point guards.

26. Sacramento – Gilbert Arenas, shooting guard, Arizona

He left a year too early, which suits Sacramento just fine. They can groom him into a point guard. Chris Webber will stay in Sacramento, but J-Will may be traded.

27. Philadelphia – Ouismane Cisse, power forward, high school

His name might as well be Keyser Soze, we no so little about him. But what we know is, he's tall, he's good, and his secretive ways (and ACL injury) will scare off most teams. The Sixers don't need an immediate impact player, but Cisse might surprise a lot of people. He could replace Tyrone Hill at the 4 in a few years.

28. Vancouver (from Lakers via N.Y.) – Terence Morris, small forward, Maryland

Oodles of potential, but no desire. Would have been a lottery pick last year -- which suggests some of the players in this draft will be big busts. Steve Francis, who played with him in College Park, thinks he's better suited for the pros than college. Grizz management wastes the pick on him.

29. San Antonio – Joseph Forte, guard, North Carolina

We'll see if Forte can live up to his last name.