WINNERS
Blazers get help
Portland added Texas forward LaMarcus Aldridge and Washington guard Brandon Roy. Charlotte added a proven scorer who will sell tickets in Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison. Memphis got forward Stromile Swift from Houston for forward Shane Battier. New Jersey, with the 22nd and 23rd picks, added two UConn players who can help immediately late in the first round in point guard Marcus Williams and center Josh Boone. New Orleans-
Oklahoma City also added two solid players in the middle of the first round in UConn center Hilton Armstrong and North Carolina State forward Cedric Simmons.
LOSERS
Woe to Spike Lee
The New York Knicks passed up several talented players at No. 20 to select a possible second-round pick in South Carolina forward Renaldo Balkman. The Seattle SuperSonics passed on several talented players to select unproven forward Mouhamed Saer Sene, who goes to a team with several young big men. Also losers: teams that needed point guards and passed on Marcus Williams.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Not another trade
The Portland Trail Blazers made four trades in the first round.
Other surprises: The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Detroit guard Maurice Evans for a second-rounder; and athletic Michigan State guard Shannon Brown surprisingly fell and was a steal by Cleveland with the 25th pick.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
No love for locals
None of the area’s stars, led by University of Denver’s Yemi Nicholson, Wyoming’s Justin Williams and Boulder’s Louis Amundson of UNLV, was drafted. Also, Marcus Williams dropped to No. 22 after being viewed as a lottery pick and the draft’s top point guard.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Scorers will shine
Expect Adam Morrison, Brandon Roy and Minnesota newcomer guard Randy Foye to help their teams right away.
DID YOU KNOW?
UConn full house
Connecticut had five players drafted, including four in the first round: Gay, Armstrong, Williams, Boone and Denham Brown.
