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Reactions: NBA Mock Draft Users pick class of 2000's top 29Posted: Wednesday June 07, 2000 01:25 PM
After CNNSI.com issued a mock NBA draft, users responded with what they thought the first round picks should be. Many users made cases for who they thought New Jersey would take at No. 1. Others thought their favorite team should go for a player at a different position. A collection of some of our users' most interesting responses follows: This year looks like a good draft. There are a lot of seniors in this draft as well. My favorite team is the New York Knicks. I think Jamaal Magloire is a good pick; the team could use a younger center since Ewing and Chris Dudley are aging. However, I would like to see them draft a point guard. Someone like Jason Hart, Ed Cota, or Shaheen Holloway. Those guys are good point guards. Courtney Alexander is a good pick for the Atlanta Hawks. He should play well with Jim Jackson and the other team members. Joel Przybilla is a good pick for the Chicago Bulls, but Mateen Cleaves I think would be a better fit for the L.A. Clippers instead of the Bulls.
The Grizzlies are in desperate need of an athletic power forward to add to its collection of young talent. They would be very fortunate to grab Kenyon Martin with the second pick. Trading down for more picks or to acquire a veteran rebounder would be a major mistake.
This is the way it is going to be. The Nets are going to see that Kenyon Martin is the way to go with the first pick. However, organizations such as the Nets do not always make wise decisions in these situations. Jayson Williams has the heart, determination, and time to recover and become a respectable center once again. This would move Keith Van Horn to his more natural position at small forward. Vancouver will take Chris Mihm with the second pick creating a dynamic inside presence alongside Shareef. The Clippers will take Stromile Swift with the third to continue their trend of picking players with big upsides. Sadly enough, he will probably never fulfill his potential with the Clippers. The Bulls, my favorites, will take Marcus Fizer with the fourth pick and let him play small forward. During the offseason they are going to go hard for Duncan, and if they do not get him, they may have to go with Przybilla with this pick. The Magic will pick Darius Miles with their pick because of his tremendous potential and the fact that Doc Rivers cannot resist the temptation of having a star of the caliber of someone like Kevin Garnett. The Hawks will take Courtney Alexander with the sixth pick. He will be the big scoring presence that Steve Smith was. Lastly, the Bulls will pick Mateen Cleaves to be their floor general. He has the heart and mind of a winner.
Why would New Jersey pass on somebody like Kenyon Martin? I mean, injury aside he's still the best player in the draft and may be to good for the Nets to pass up. How do we know Mihm won't be another Feick or Eschmeyer?
I see things happening differently in light of the inevitable wild trades that will take place on draft day. Also, I would have no problem with my Rockets taking Alexander, especially if we lose Mobley. But I see us going a little bigger if possible -- as in a Peterson or a Miles.
After the Rider fiasco, Courtney Alexander is the last guy the Hawks would pick. Given the Hawks new head coach, Lon Kruger, and their stance on picking the best available player, I see the Hawks drafting DerMarr Johnson or Darius Miles.
I think that Etan Thomas of Syracuse should go in the top 10. You get someone else that can block that many shots and get that many rebounds anywhere else. Also if the Knicks get Magloire, they'll be unstoppable. I think the 76ers will go in a different direction than another young small forward such as Jumaine Jones. I believe if the 76ers plan on keeping Iverson, they will draft Jamal Crawford. If they trade Iverson, they will draft Desmond Mason.
Przybilla and Cleaves to the Bulls? What are you smoking? We need TALENT -- not projects or one-dimensional point guards. Cleaves MIGHT be better than Sherman Douglas, so I would wait until the 23rd pick to even consider him. Otherwise, let some other team make this stupid pick at seven.
Watch out for A.J. Guyton and JaRon Rush. They will go mid-first round. You're also wrong at the top spot. Kenyon is complete and will go first. Watch for Fizer to move up higher like three or four. Mateen Cleaves, in my opinion, can't shoot the ball and will be a wasted pick for the Bulls (who should look to Eric Barkley who has a better upside). This draft has some potential role players, but maybe at best one or two future stars. If I was drafting, I would take Miles early. Who needs college anymore?
I'm a Nets fan and I don't care if the Nets have no centers. Mihm is definitely not worthy of a No. 1 pick. They need some defensive toughness and picking Martin is their best bet to get it. He'll come around on offense, but they need his defense. Let Jayson Williams and Eschmeyer play center and bring Gill off the bench as the sixth man while Van Horn will play PF and Martin SF. Mihm will be another Sam Bowie, Benoit Benjamin, Yinka Dare, Jim McIlvaine, Shawn Bradley clone. Too soft, no inside game, I don't care what he did in college.
In several years there will be a trivia question..."who was taken ahead of Darius Miles in the 2000 draft?" People will sit back and laugh that there was someone taken in front of him.
I think your choice for Houston is a bit off line, considering the fact that Rockets management has shown a history of drafting players who are seasoned college players. I really do not think that they will stray from that much. I see them taking someone like Peterson from Michigan State, or possibly Mike Miller of Florida despite him being only a sophomore.
Rumor is that Chicago wants to trade for the first or second pick. The Nets should trade the pick because they need to fill a couple more slots (C and PF/SF). Chicago would surely get Mihm, leaving Martin for Vancouver, which needs a high caliber big-man and should keep their pick. This will be the perfect fit because Chicago could get Jones or McGrady as free agents and still be able to get a quality PG at No. 24. Vancouver is one big man away from getting over the hump. And two picks are better than one for the Nets, who already have Keith and Stephon.
I think you are right on with the first six picks, but I think the Bulls will take Miles at seven. There is no way Cleaves will go that high.
As a Grizzly fan, I love the possibility of getting Kenyon Martin. I have heard they might trade down with either Chicago or Orlando. Dumb move. Why trade down and get someone less talented? History has shown that one who trades up usually gets the best out of the deal.
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