Magic confident it got top pick

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando general manager John Weisbrod asked his assistants the night before the NBA draft why the Magic should not pick Dwight Howard.

The high school senior, with stellar pre-draft interviews, had edged past Connecticut All-America Emeka Okafor atop the Magic's wish list. Now Weisbrod, wary of wasting the No. 1 pick on a mirage, was playing devil's advocate.

Howard, at 6-foot-9, 240 pounds, has impressive physical skills but will he try to get by on those alone? Why won't the glitter and glamour of the NBA lifestyle ruin the 18-year-old? How long will his development take?

But the coaches and scouts never wavered under the questioning, and Thursday night's draft reflected their certainty.

"They picked the best person for the job," a confident Howard said Friday during his post-draft visit to Orlando. Moment earlier, he was smiling through braces while holding up a jersey bearing No. 12.

By choosing potential over experience, Weisbrod is taking a risk in trying to rebuild after last season's 21-61 disaster. He acknowledges Okafor will give more help next year to the Charlotte Bobcats than Howard will help the Magic.

"There was a national consensus, 'The Magic are so bad, they have to take the guy who's more proven, established and NBA ready,' " Weisbrod said. "I was aware of that, but I really didn't let myself fall into that thinking.

"When you come into a draft you're addressing the needs of your team, but when you have the No. 1 pick your responsibility is to pick the best player."

Orlando traded for another first-round pick, acquiring Saint Joseph's guard Jameer Nelson from Denver. Nelson, selected 20th, played four seasons with the Hawks, earning consensus national player of the year honors as a senior.

Orlando coach Johnny Davis speculated that many pundits believe Okafor to be better than Howard simply because of exposure. There were three years of competition in the TV-friendly Big East for Connecticut as well as a lengthy tournament run capped by the national championship.

"Maybe it's the known versus the unknown," Davis said. "But when I sat down with (Howard), when I viewed his tapes and then watched him work out, I came away thinking, 'Wow, this young man has the whole package.' "