2004 PROSPECTS

By Scott Ellis, SABL Commissioner

After two great rookie drafts in a row, I think this year's is a little thinner. Even with LeBron and Carmelo.

The draft is full of guard prospects, but very little else. And what prospects there are not gonna help ya' much this year.

We aren't drafting as far into the regular season as we did last year, thank God, but because of the expansion draft, we are still drafting about two weeks later than we usually do. That means the regular NBA season will be started and we'll know more about how much playing time these guys are really gonna get.

This is being written before the regular NBA season starts, so take it all with a grain of salt. In fact, get a whole container of Morton Salt, because my predictions have been known to be real wrong. But everyone likes to see me screw this up, so here goes again.

There are some prospects you want to look at and using no other brain but my own faulty one, I'll try and pick some of the best players available. Just keep in mind, I'm probably gonna miss a lot of folks. And I might change my mind once the draft actually starts! If you like somebody, draft 'em! If I like somebody you don't, don't draft 'em! With some notable exceptions, I have not reviewed players without cards:

1. - LeBron James, Cleveland, G -  We already know that Akron's Dave Scott is gonna take LeBron. Hey, Dave lives in Ohio, what do you expect? Besides, we'd have to have him committed if he didn't.

2.  Carmelo Anthony, Denver, SF - We already know that New Orleans Coach Jeff Perigoni is gonna take Carmelo. Again, a trip to the loony bin if he doesn't.

3. DeWayne Wade, Miami, G - Another no-brainer, but Miami should play him at SG, not PG.

4. Marquis Daniels, Dallas, G - Best shooting guard in the draft after LeBron.

5. Kirk Hinrich, Chicago, PG - Best point guard in the draft. Only gonna get better and he's gonna get plenty of PT in Chicago.

6. Chris Bosh, Toronto, C/PF - Decent inside and fastbreak shooting columns and a talent too big to ignore for the future.

7. Jarvis Hayes, Washington, SF - Best small forward in the draft after Carmelo. But no help this year, at all though. In fact, most of the guys from here on down don't help you much this year and if they do, it's only gonna be in one or two things on their cards.

8. Willie Green, Philadelphia, SG - Being touted as this year's starting SG for the 76'ers. Explosive little guy. Put him with Iverson and Philly goes boom!

9. Sam Dalembert, Philadelphia, C  - Rebounder, shot-blocker, defender deluxe. A zero offensively. Can you say Ben-Wallace-lite? You can't, he's not that good yet, maybe never will be.

10. Damon Jones, Milwaukee, PG - This guy should be the starting PG for Miami, not Wade. Wade should move to SG and Eddie Jones should move to SF. Dazzlers, defense. Despite his age and backup status on the Heat, he's probably the best PG card in the draft, unless it's the next guy on this list.

11. T. J. Ford, Milwaukee - This man has the best dazzler PG card in the entire set. Not just this draft, the entire set. But, like Damon Jones, he doesn't steal that well for a PG, his FB shooting is mediocre and he can't shoot much at all in his other columns. And his defense, not to mention his back, sucks. However . . . were it not for that bad back, he'd probably be listed 3rd here instead of 11th. If he does overcome his back problems, he's gonna be awesome for years.

12. Mike Sweetney, New York, LF -  A mini-Zach Randolph. That means he can score and rebound. But if you take him, you are also entering the No-Defense Zone.

13. Josh Howard, Dallas, F - Good defense, offensive a liability.

14. Nazr Mohammed, New York, C - Good rebounder that's gonna play major minutes this season. He was also available last year and I can't believe he wasn't drafted.

15. Raul Lopez, Utah, PG - Really nice dazzler, FB shooting card. If he stays healthy, will play a lot for Jerry Sloan.

16. Rasual Butler, Miami, SF - Now slated to start at SF for Miami, he can shoot threes and has a good outside shooting column.

17. Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix, G - Good FB shooting, steals, 3-pointers. Young, lots of minutes for SABL this year.

18. Udonis Haslem, Miami, PF - Now slated to start at PF for Miami, he has lotsa minutes, too.

19. Jason Hart, San Antonio, PG - Perhaps the starting PG for Charlotte.

20. Luke Ridnour, Seattle, PG - Darrell Armstrong-lite, only lots younger.

21. Luke Walton, Lakers, F - Bill Walton's son has to be drafted in our first round. Or Bill will kill us all. Actually, I just wanted to list the two Lukes together. Seriously, nice ball-handler with lotsa dazzlers. Not much else, though.

22. Richie Frahm, Seattle, G -  Is he an oil filter? He's got the best FB shooting column in the entire card set this year. Good on 3s and outside, too. Not gonna play much, though.

23. Zendon Hamilton, Philadelphia, LF/C - Get your freak card on, he's a penetration/inside monster with great rebounding. And it's all F2s, baby.

24. Mickael Pietrus, Golden State, SF/G - This rookie can play defense and score on the break. May have a future.

25. Marcus Banks, Boston, PG - The backup to Gary Payton is a great defender and stealer. OK FB shooting column. Young.

26. Zoran Planinic, NJ, G - What planet is Planinic on? Good FB shooting column, young, needs to be a SG to succeed.

27. Eddie Gill, Portland, PG - Nice FB shooting card. See the pattern here? Lots of these guys available in this draft.

28. Devin Brown, San Antonio, G - For the millionth time, nice FB shooting card.

29. Boris Diaw, Atlanta, G - Yawn, nice FB shooting card, good defense, too.

30. Darvin Ham, Detroit, F - Nice FB shooting card? Yes!!! Good outside defense.

31. Avery Johnson, Golden State, PG - Dazzlers and Yes, nice FB shooting.

32. Antonio McDyess, Phoenix, F - Yeah, he's still here.

33. David West, New Orleans, PF - Another good one for the future. Great rebounder.

34. Chris Kaman, Clippers, C- Having a good pre-season. Of course, pre-seasons can mean nothing.

35. Primoz Brezic, Indiana, C - Having a good pre-season. Of course, pre-seasons can mean nothing. Yes, not a typo, just like Kaman, IMHO.

36. Jamal Sampson, Lakers, C- Never heard of him, have you. You will.

37. Maciej Lampe, Phoenix, PF - Never heard of him either, have you.

38. Kyle Korver, Philadelphia, SF - Good shooter.

39. Zaza Pachulia, Orlando, C - Named after one of the Gabor sisters, dahhh-ling. Actually, I think Eva Gabor had better moves.

40. Fred Jones, Indiana, SG - Freddie's not dead. That's what I said.

41. Darko Milicic, Detroit, C - Everybody loves Raymond's brother.