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Sacramento stays at No. 10; Portland, Seattle rise to top
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, May 23, 2007
On the Sacramento surface, everything went as expected.
The Kings, who entered Tuesday's NBA lottery in Secaucus, N.J., in the 10th position for the June 28 draft, were still there after the pingpong ball combinations had fallen. But the Kings' happy medium was nothing compared to the unexpected elation up the coast, where Portland beat the odds to land the top pick and Seattle was awarded the second selection.
The Trail Blazers, who entered in the sixth position and had a 5.3 percent chance of finishing No. 1, will have their choice of Ohio State center Greg Oden or Texas talent Kevin Durant. And the SuperSonics, who face more uncertainty about their future in their city than the Kings, gladly will take the "other" player who is seen as a franchise changer. Atlanta will pick third.
Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, whose team had just a 1.8 percent chance of winning the first pick and a 2.12 percent chance at No. 2, was glad to have avoided a backslide even if returning to the playoffs might have become even harder in an instantly improved Western Conference.
"I don't feel as good as Portland or Seattle, but I obviously don't feel as bad as Memphis or Boston," Petrie said.
Not only did Memphis enter with a 46.5 percent chance of finishing in the top two yet wind up picking fourth, but the Grizzlies' coaching search might have become more difficult. It was widely believed that Hall of Famer Larry Brown would wind up as Memphis' coach if Oden was coming to town.
Brown already has interviewed with owner Michael Heisley, who is looking to make splashes after his team finished with a league-worst 22-60 record.
"I don't like the draft lottery, never liked it," Grizzlies president Jerry West, who is leaving the organization when his contract ends June 30, told reporters in New Jersey. "It's not sour grapes. I just think it's a terrible system, and it needs to be addressed. Every other league in the other professional leagues, they all draft according to how they finish in the season."
The three teams with the league's worst records -- Memphis, Boston and Milwaukee -- were all disappointed, as the Celtics will pick fifth and the Bucks sixth.
For the Kings, the process of compiling a wish list of talent continues.
Per a rule change this year, draft workouts for teams can't begin until after the pre-draft camp in ends June 4. Still, Petrie and basketball vice president Wayne Cooper spent much of the season scouting on the collegiate level and made a recent trip to evaluate the European scene in anticipation of what Commissioner David Stern called one of the deepest drafts in decades.
Petrie said he likes 15 players and that he would be open to obtaining a second pick via a trade. The Kings do not have a second-round pick.
"If on draft day there happened to be a player there we really liked that we might be able to acquire, we would do that," he said.
As for the first pick, the Kings might be able to add to their front line with the likes of Georgetown center Roy Hibbert or Florida forward Joakim Noah, or maybe expand their point guard contingent should Ohio State's Mike Conley Jr. fall that far.
"I think you can get a good player (at No. 10)," Petrie said. "Whether you can get a great player ... is hard to say."
As for the coaching search, Petrie said he had a formal interview with Kings assistant Scott Brooks on Tuesday. Petrie will meet today with former Kings assistant Elston Turner, the last of a group of seven that included former Miami coach Stan Van Gundy, New Mexico State coach Reggie Theus, Houston assistant Tom Thibodeau and Los Angeles Lakers assistants Brian Shaw and Kurt Rambis.
NBA Draft order
June 28 in New York
1. Portland
2. Seattle
3. Atlanta
4. Memphis
5. Boston
6. Milwaukee
7. Minnesota
8. Charlotte
9. New York-x
10. KINGS
11. Atlanta
12. Philadelphia
13. New Orleans
14. L.A. Clippers
15. Detroit
16. Washington
17. New Jersey
18. Warriors
19. L.A. Lakers
20. Miami
21. Philadelphia
22. Charlotte
23. Chicago-x
24. Phoenix
25. Utah
26. Houston
27. Detroit
28. San Antonio
29. Phoenix
30. Philadelphia
Past 10 at No. 10
Bee staff writer Scott Howard-Cooper looks at the past 10 players selected No. 10 overall (listed with year drafted, college if applicable and the team that drafted them):
2006 Mouhamed Sene Senegal SuperSonics
• Comment: Just three starts as a rookie despite an obvious need for a center in Seattle.
2005 Andrew Bynum High school Lakers
• Comment: Great potential for a young center but still inconsistent.
2004 Luke Jackson Oregon Cavaliers
• Comment: A bust who has landed in the D-League and is down to signing 10-day deals.
2003 Jarvis Hayes Georgia Wizards
• Comment: Swingman has averaged double-digit scoring once in four seasons.
2002 Caron Butler Connecticut Heat
• Comment: Has developed into a scoring threat and a key to promising Wizards roster.
2001 Joe Johnson Arkansas Celtics
• Comment: One of the top offensive weapons in the game with the Atlanta Hawks.
2000 Keyon Dooling* Missouri Magic
• Comment: Career backup.
1999 Jason Terry Arizona Hawks
• Comment: Durable and high-scoring starting guard with the Dallas Mavericks.
1998 Paul Pierce Kansas Celtics
• Comment: Five-time All-Star and the reminder of what still could be late in the lottery.
1997 Danny Fortson** Cincinnati Bucks
• Comment: Has all but played his way out of the league with weight and attitude problems.
Sacramento stays at No. 10; Portland, Seattle rise to top
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, May 23, 2007
On the Sacramento surface, everything went as expected.
The Kings, who entered Tuesday's NBA lottery in Secaucus, N.J., in the 10th position for the June 28 draft, were still there after the pingpong ball combinations had fallen. But the Kings' happy medium was nothing compared to the unexpected elation up the coast, where Portland beat the odds to land the top pick and Seattle was awarded the second selection.
The Trail Blazers, who entered in the sixth position and had a 5.3 percent chance of finishing No. 1, will have their choice of Ohio State center Greg Oden or Texas talent Kevin Durant. And the SuperSonics, who face more uncertainty about their future in their city than the Kings, gladly will take the "other" player who is seen as a franchise changer. Atlanta will pick third.
Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, whose team had just a 1.8 percent chance of winning the first pick and a 2.12 percent chance at No. 2, was glad to have avoided a backslide even if returning to the playoffs might have become even harder in an instantly improved Western Conference.
"I don't feel as good as Portland or Seattle, but I obviously don't feel as bad as Memphis or Boston," Petrie said.
Not only did Memphis enter with a 46.5 percent chance of finishing in the top two yet wind up picking fourth, but the Grizzlies' coaching search might have become more difficult. It was widely believed that Hall of Famer Larry Brown would wind up as Memphis' coach if Oden was coming to town.
Brown already has interviewed with owner Michael Heisley, who is looking to make splashes after his team finished with a league-worst 22-60 record.
"I don't like the draft lottery, never liked it," Grizzlies president Jerry West, who is leaving the organization when his contract ends June 30, told reporters in New Jersey. "It's not sour grapes. I just think it's a terrible system, and it needs to be addressed. Every other league in the other professional leagues, they all draft according to how they finish in the season."
The three teams with the league's worst records -- Memphis, Boston and Milwaukee -- were all disappointed, as the Celtics will pick fifth and the Bucks sixth.
For the Kings, the process of compiling a wish list of talent continues.
Per a rule change this year, draft workouts for teams can't begin until after the pre-draft camp in ends June 4. Still, Petrie and basketball vice president Wayne Cooper spent much of the season scouting on the collegiate level and made a recent trip to evaluate the European scene in anticipation of what Commissioner David Stern called one of the deepest drafts in decades.
Petrie said he likes 15 players and that he would be open to obtaining a second pick via a trade. The Kings do not have a second-round pick.
"If on draft day there happened to be a player there we really liked that we might be able to acquire, we would do that," he said.
As for the first pick, the Kings might be able to add to their front line with the likes of Georgetown center Roy Hibbert or Florida forward Joakim Noah, or maybe expand their point guard contingent should Ohio State's Mike Conley Jr. fall that far.
"I think you can get a good player (at No. 10)," Petrie said. "Whether you can get a great player ... is hard to say."
As for the coaching search, Petrie said he had a formal interview with Kings assistant Scott Brooks on Tuesday. Petrie will meet today with former Kings assistant Elston Turner, the last of a group of seven that included former Miami coach Stan Van Gundy, New Mexico State coach Reggie Theus, Houston assistant Tom Thibodeau and Los Angeles Lakers assistants Brian Shaw and Kurt Rambis.
NBA Draft order
June 28 in New York
1. Portland
2. Seattle
3. Atlanta
4. Memphis
5. Boston
6. Milwaukee
7. Minnesota
8. Charlotte
9. New York-x
10. KINGS
11. Atlanta
12. Philadelphia
13. New Orleans
14. L.A. Clippers
15. Detroit
16. Washington
17. New Jersey
18. Warriors
19. L.A. Lakers
20. Miami
21. Philadelphia
22. Charlotte
23. Chicago-x
24. Phoenix
25. Utah
26. Houston
27. Detroit
28. San Antonio
29. Phoenix
30. Philadelphia
Past 10 at No. 10
Bee staff writer Scott Howard-Cooper looks at the past 10 players selected No. 10 overall (listed with year drafted, college if applicable and the team that drafted them):
2006 Mouhamed Sene Senegal SuperSonics
• Comment: Just three starts as a rookie despite an obvious need for a center in Seattle.
2005 Andrew Bynum High school Lakers
• Comment: Great potential for a young center but still inconsistent.
2004 Luke Jackson Oregon Cavaliers
• Comment: A bust who has landed in the D-League and is down to signing 10-day deals.
2003 Jarvis Hayes Georgia Wizards
• Comment: Swingman has averaged double-digit scoring once in four seasons.
2002 Caron Butler Connecticut Heat
• Comment: Has developed into a scoring threat and a key to promising Wizards roster.
2001 Joe Johnson Arkansas Celtics
• Comment: One of the top offensive weapons in the game with the Atlanta Hawks.
2000 Keyon Dooling* Missouri Magic
• Comment: Career backup.
1999 Jason Terry Arizona Hawks
• Comment: Durable and high-scoring starting guard with the Dallas Mavericks.
1998 Paul Pierce Kansas Celtics
• Comment: Five-time All-Star and the reminder of what still could be late in the lottery.
1997 Danny Fortson** Cincinnati Bucks
• Comment: Has all but played his way out of the league with weight and attitude problems.
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