Draft Preview 2000

And I thought last year's cards were the worst. THIS year is the worst offense year I've ever seen in a Strat basketball card set, making this year's draft no better than last year's. There are some good prospects however, enough to last a good two rounds. Most striking this year is the plethora of potential point guards.

ROYAL CONFERENCE

EAST

1. East Asia - Last year's defending Royal Conference champs are not head and shoulders above anyone else in this parity-filled division, but if there's anything Coach Paul Bennett proved last year in his rookie SABL season is that he knows how to play the game and win. He'll have to use all his talent to repeat because unlike last year, this year he will actually miss Antoine Walker in his rotation. The best defense in the conference will put Paul back on top, though.

2. Richmond - Coach Frank Rowley could catch East Asia. He has all his old weapons, along with a new one, Dirk Nowitzki, who developed nicely after Frank plucked him in the middle of the first round last year.

3. Miles - Antoine Walker finally got the card he deserves and Coach Tom Jargo should make the playoffs in his new conference this year. Mutombo is a good old defensive rebounding/blocking machine at center and he has enough young talent around him to keep the team humming. Miles will also likely get Lamar Odom in the draft, which makes things look even better.

4. Akron - The talent is there - Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett - but the coaching has not been. When Dave Scott brings that to the table, watch what this playoff-potential team can do.

5. Brooklyn - Even with Elton Brand, Steve Feldheim might be the worst again the SABL. The rebuilding continues.

NORTH

1. Iowa - It's Iowa all the way in the North this season. Coach Dennis Derby suffered last year, but he will reap his reward this year. Imagine Steve Francis added to a team that already has Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Big Dog Robinson, Latrell Sprewell and Isiah Rider. This team is good for years to come and is a good center away from being truly dominant in the entire league.

2. Davenport - Avery Johnson got a killer passing card, Cliff Robinson rocks, Kukoc can pass at the forward slot. Add the fifth-pick in the draft, Mashburn, Smits and Greg Anthony to the mix, and you spell playoffs.

3. Tri-City - Mr. Marbury keeps this team interesting. Of course, he isn't the only superstar-caliber point guard on the team. Detleff Schrempf, of Portland in real life, got the passing card Scottie Pippen should've got, in this year's freak SOM card accident. Schrempf can play ANY position, rebound, shoot and throw dazzlers all over the place on the break.

4. River City - Trade Reggie ASAP.

5. Bettendorf - OK, I picked the Druids last in the this division last year, too. The Druids actually stayed in first place until the last month of the season. Picking up Glen Rice might help them repeat their Cinderella playoff-earning performance, but I don't see anyone touching Iowa.

CLASSIC CONFERENCE

SOUTH

1. St. Lucie - Before you storm the SABL Parliament and throw me out of office, in my defense, let me point out that my team is much worse than it was last year. It's just that everyone else's is, too, so that makes me the favorite to win the conference. I don't have the Mailman or the Admiral, but I do have three young guys named Iverson, Thomas & Knight for the future. Cassell has the best point guard card in the set. And McDyess and Webber will actually get to play this year.

2. Galactic Coach Steve Walters got me and everyone else last season, winning his first SABL championship. He's gonna be tough again this year, but the cards didn't break his way as well this time as they did last time. Scottie Pippen's fastbreak passing card is his worst ever. But with The Mailman, Stockton, Brandon and many others still looking good, Steve's a lock for the playoffs.

3. McLean - McLean made several trades in the last year that's changed the team's look, but it still has Zo. With him, Stackhouse, Bibby and VanExel, Mr. Storey is a strong playoff contender.

4. Chapel Hill - Coach Tommy Field will experience the joy of having a killer center, David Robinson. Because of that, he has an outside shot at the playoffs for the first time ever. Derek Anderson, Rasheed Wallace & Walt Williams got good cards, too.

5. Tulsa - This could be the toughest year yet for Philip.

WEST

1. San Jose - San Jose knows the way to the divisional title, which would be the franchise's second straight. Rahim, Snow, Pierce - like Iowa, only a good center keeps them from the league's upper echelon.

2. Finney - In the last three years, either the San Jose or Finney franchises have won their division. Finney coulda' contended for it this year, too, if Kobe's fastbreak passing card hadn't also come down with Pippenitis.

3. Garden City - It gets murky after that in this division. I gotta go with Tim Duncan in third, although . . .

4. Sublimity - . . . could be sublime after getting the fourth pick in the draft, which ought to be Andre Miller.

5. Holcomb - Charlie will rebound, but he will also rival Brooklyn as our league's worst franchise 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 - Jason Terry has potential. Number 10.

Boston - Adrian Griffin has star potential, but in Rick Pitino's system, you just don't know what's gonna happen. Number 17.

Charlotte - I don't care what they say, the Baron is good. Number 9. Eddie Robinson is gonna play and he has a great card. Number 14.

Chicago - Hey, is Chicago's entire team STILL available in the draft? At least some of these guys are very good, like Brand (1) and Artest (12).

Cleveland - Andre Miller is number 4. Yet another Cav PG, shortie Earl Boykins, is 21st, with a good card.

Dallas - JR shot this team. Dennis Rodman is available.

Denver - James Posey is hurt, but he will play when he gets back. Number 23.

Detroit - Mikki Moore is number 16. Heck, I like his name and he has a great Inside column.

Golden State - He has an attitude, but he also has talent. Votino Cummings is 19. Tony Farmer's card is good, number 26.

Houston - Steve Francis is number 2. Kenny Thomas is gonna play. Number 7. Moochie Norris's card makes him 20th. Carlos Rogers' Inside column is good, number 28.

Indiana - Indiana wants you, don't go back there.

Clippers - Lamar Odom is number 3.

Lakers - With Phil Jackson in town, don't look for too many rookies like Devan George (24) to play for about 5 years.

Miami - Anthony Carter will probably play again, number 26.

Milwaukee - I'm a Ham for Darvin. Number 8.

Minnesota - Wally Szcerbiak is number 5.

New Jersey - Elliott Perry got another good card, 27.

New York - Buck Owens and I agree about the Big Apple.

Orlando - Chucky Atkins was not drafted last year. There are big differences this year. He's got a good card and he's gonna play on his new team, which ain't Orlando. Number 11. Corey Maggette's gonna play, too, now that he's out of Florida. Number 15, with a good card. John Amechi ain't that much to write home about IMHO, although is Inside card is good - Number 22.

Philadelphia - Jumaine Jones has potential - 25.

Phoenix - I like Shawn Marion a lot. Please don't draft him. Number 6.

Portland - I tried to trade for Detleff Schrempf, who Strat obviously thinks is the best point guard on the Blazers team, but that's irrelevant. 

Sacremento - These Kings are Queens.

San Antonio - There's no basement in The Alamo.

Toronto - I don't like foreigners playing our game.

Seattle - Ruben Patterson did pretty good. Number 18.

Utah - How tall do Mormons get?

Vancouver - This is what happens when marijuana is too freely available.

Washington - I will bow to popular opinion and rate Richard Hamilton number 13.