The NBA draft is expected to truly start tonight with the Portland Trail Blazers’ third pick.
Milwaukee is expected to select Utah center Andrew Bogut with the top pick tonight at Madison Square Garden. Atlanta is expected to take North Carolina forward Marvin Williams. But with the third pick, it’s uncertain whether the Blazers will keep or trade the pick since they are talking to at least four teams.
General manager John Nash told The Oregonian he has had discussions with Utah, Charlotte, New Orleans and Toronto about the Blazers’ pick. New Orleans, Charlotte, Utah and Toronto own the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh picks, respectively, and all have interest in a point guard. The Salt Lake Tribune also has reported Portland and Utah have had “intense discussions.”
“Talks have intensified,” said Nash, to The Oregonian on Monday. “We’re still exploring any and all options for the third, fourth and fifth time.”
After Bogut and Williams, the next two top regarded prospects are point guards Chris Paul of Wake Forest and Illinois’ Deron Williams. But Portland drafted a point guard in the first round last year in New York prep star Sebastian Telfair. The Blazers might be interested in Seattle Prep shooting guard Martell Webster because of his shooting ability.
“I’ve heard a lot of talks of trades so you don’t know what to expect right now,” said Deron Williams, at a predraft media session in New York on Monday. “This draft is so wide open right now, so there’s no telling where you might end up.”
Said Paul: “I’m just excited to be in the situation I’m in. I couldn’t complain with any team that I go to.”
Lucas’ draw
Oklahoma State guard John Lucas Jr., played very well at the predraft camp in Chicago. But the 5-foot-9 1/2, 154-pounder’s size is expected to be held against him tonight. Former NBA star and former Nuggets assistant John Lucas Sr., the top pick of the 1976 draft, said his son is getting interest from the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston, San Antonio and Chicago in the second round.
“John has trained to be a pro his whole life,” Lucas Sr. said. “But guys don’t look at if you can play. They look at your size. But all I keep telling him is get in the door.”
Nuggets guard Earl Boykins, a Cleveland native, said he felt Lucas Jr., was an NBA-caliber player after playing against him in the offseason when his father coached Cleveland.
“Not only can he play, he’s been around NBA players his whole life and is not intimidated by them,” Boykins said.
Boykins, who went undrafted in 1998, said it could be better to not to be drafted than selected in the second round.
“If you don’t get drafted, you can go wherever you want,” Boykins said. “You can look at what free agents a team signs. You can pick the best situation. You can do well one season and then be a free agent. From a business standpoint, it’s better to not get drafted in the second round.”
Footnotes
Despite expectations, Marvin Williams said he has not received a promise from the Hawks that he will be drafted second. “Atlanta’s young, they’re really young, so I would definitely be a good fit there,” he said. …
ESPN has reported that St. Joseph’s (N.J.) High center Andrew Bynum could be the sleeper of the draft. …
On the possibility of staying home in North Carolina if Charlotte drafts him, Paul said: “I couldn’t complain. I’ve been in North Carolina my whole life.”
arc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
