Draft Preview 2001
Ok, I've said this for three years in a row now - but truly, this 2000-01 rookie crop has gotta be the worst since the SABL was formed. Almost no one can help anyone out of the box this season, but there are some potential stars lurking around. You'll just have to look harder this draft to find them . . . and pray more than ever than you're right.
Bettendorf has cut every single player on his team and will become the first SABL franchise to draft a completely new team this year - all 14 rounds. Bettendorf has traded for a lot of draft picks to get ready for this. At the other end of the extreme are Galactic and Good News, which didn't cut a single player - Steve and Chris will have to wait until next year's draft when MJ returns.
We seem to have better shot columns this season, but fewer dazzlers in the passing columns.
Let's first look at our SABL teams and how they are sitting for next season:
ROYAL CONFERENCE
EAST
1. Richmond - Coach Frank Rowley has always been in the playoffs. He just usually got eliminated real quick. Not this year. Frank's Raiders will pillage the entire Royal Conference this season and make it all the way to the SABL Finals. Dirk Nowitzki has become the best shooting 7-footer in the league and Baron Davis is about to become a star point guard. Jamal Mashburn had career highs in PPG, RPG and APG. Add Stojakovic, fantastic Finley, and perennial assist guru Mark Jackson and who is gonna beat Frank in the East?
2. East Asia - For two years in a row, Coach Paul Bennett has dominated the Royal Conference, winning that conference championship in 2000 and 2001. He may not repeat in 2002.
It's true that I traded David Robinson one year too soon. He's set to have his second great season since I traded him and he anchors the Dragons league-best defense which includes Outlaw, Eddie Jones and Darrell Armstrong. Those same guys will deliver enough offense to put East Asia in the playoffs. But Richmond is just too strong this year for the Dragons to take their third East Division crown in a row.
3. Miles - Antoine Walker is gonna be hot. Bibby will be bubbling. Mutombo will be marvelous and Mercer is OK, too. That puts the Bulldogs in the playoffs, but not in the Finals.
4. Akron - For the third year runnings, Allen and Garnett will lead the Blimps to perhaps the first round of the playoffs, but nowhere else.
5. Brooklyn - OK, Steve Feldheim's got Odom. He's got the first pick in the draft. And he's got nothing else. But he won't be the worst team in the league this season.
NORTH
1. Iowa - I made my worst prognostication ever last season by saying "It's Iowa all the way in the North . . ." Iowa went on compile the second-worst record in the league in 2000-01. Well, I'm a glutton for punishment, 'cause I'm picking Iowa again. Coach Dennis Derby has Vince Carter, McGrady, Francis, Howard and Van Horn. Though not in Richmond's class, it's the best in the North Division right now. A bunch of good young guys that can carry the Tornadoes for years.
2. Davenport - The division gets mediocre after Iowa. I'm not even sure if the Dazzlers can make the playoffs even if they finish second. The best player on the team is probably Cliff Robinson.
3. Tri-City - Really gets muddy here. But I like any team with Mr. Marbury on it. Hughes could become super, too.
4. River City - Trade Reggie ASAP.
5. Bettendorf - Drafting an entirely new team is a first in league history and it probably assures that the Druids will be the worst team in the SABL this year. Will Michael Jordan be joining Mark Feeney's squad next year?
CLASSIC CONFERENCE
SOUTH
1. St. Lucie - Will Kobe be better than A.I.? I honestly don't know and I probably gave up too much to find out, but I had it to give up. The only difference between this year's Aces and last year's Aces is that I don't have the bench depth of my 2001 championship team. Of course I couldn't play all those guys anyway, so it probably doesn't matter. Until someone does a denial of service attack on my computer, St. Lucie is a favorite to repeat as champs.
2. Galactic Coach Steve Walters always seems to know how to beat me. We split in the regular season (4-4), but never met in the playoffs because Sublimity upset the Thunder in post-season play. Unless the cards are kind to Steve, he is not gonna be as good this year. Malone, Stockton and Brandon will get him in the playoffs but perhaps not any farther.
3. McLean - Coach Rob Storey has Stackhouse, Rose, Van Excel and Anthony Miller. Could make the playoffs.
4. Chapel Hill - Intriguing players, but Coach Tommy Field will likely not have the horses to make the playoffs.
5. Tulsa - Tough to pick the Twisters for last place again, seeing as I was wrong about it last year and I might be wrong about it again. Shawn Marion will keep getting better, though.
WEST
1. Bakersfield - Glenn Robinson, Brand, Houston, Kidd and co. will lead new Coach David Squires to the divisional crown in the West.
2. Finney - Even though Coach Doug Dillingham traded Kobe, he improved himself by picking up real-life MVP Allen Iverson. Close pick, but the Longhorns should have enough to make the playoffs.
3. Good News Roosters - Abdur-Rahim and Pierce will lead Coach Chris Gertridge to the playoffs.
4. Holcomb - The Duncan deal possibly puts the Heat into playoffs.
5. Garden City - Coach Josh Marquardt bit the bullet, traded Duncan for a future gold mine, but will not escape the West's cellar this season.
PROSPECTS
There are some prospects you want to look at and using no other brain but my own faulty one, I'll try and pick the best players available by NBA team. I have not reviewed players without cards:
Atlanta - Demarr Johnson (Number 18) has potential Chris Crawford can shoot outside.
Boston - Red Auerbach must be unhappy in his old age.
Charlotte - Magloire (Number 19) is a possibility.
Chicago - Hey, is Chicago's entire team STILL available in the draft? However, unlike last year, there is no Brand or Artest available.
Cleveland - He's 7-1, so Chris Mihm (Number 7) will play in the NBA for a while.
Dallas - JR shot this team.
Denver - Wahad is a blank on penetration and the break.
Detroit - Barros has a good offensive card.
Golden State - Marc Jackson might be the best big man available in the draft - Number 3. McPherson has a great offensive card and Blount can rebound.
Houston - Carlos Rogers' can block shots.
Indiana - Ty Edney has dazzlers and can steal the ball. But Indiana still wants you, don't go back there.
Clippers - Darius Miles is Number 2. Keyon Dooling is Number 4.
Lakers - Actually, the Lakers have more players in our draft this year than any other team! And these are the World Champions? Actually, Lue (Number 17) has potential now that he's off the Lakers. Rider has a good offensive card.
Miami - The Heat is off.
Milwaukee - Can't pronounce his name, but Przybilla is Number 5 with a bullet.
Minnesota - Is Jesse Ventura available?
New Jersey - Kenyon Martin is my pick for best in the draft this year - Number 1.
New York - Buck Owens and I still agree about the Big Apple.
Orlando - Mike Miller is Number 6
Philadelphia - Is Pat Croce related to the late Jim Croce?
Phoenix - Big Jake Tsakalidis could start at center. Number 8.
Portland - Schrempf is not the best point guard on Portland this season.
Sacremento - Check out Nick Anderson's free throw percentage. Darrick Martin has a freakishly good offensive card.
San Antonio - There's still no basement in The Alamo.
Toronto - Alvin Williams is 12 and Morris Peterson is Number 13
Seattle - Desmond Mason is Number 10, Wolkowyski is 15 and Oyedeji is 16.
Utah - Stevenson is 14.
Vancouver - Swift is 11. Abdul-Rauf can shoot.
Washington - Courtney Alexander is 9.