Bogut impresses No. 1 Bucks

The closer it gets to Tuesday's NBA Draft, the more it looks like former University of Utah star Andrew Bogut will be the No. 1 pick of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks still haven't made their intentions known, but they were very impressed with Bogut's workout last week. Most media experts have tabbed Bogut as the No. 1 pick, and the word out of Milwaukee is that Bogut is the Bucks' man.

Bogut was impressive in all aspects of his visit to Milwaukee last week from his non-stop 45-minute workout (he refused to take a break) where he showed off his basketball skills, to his meeting with owner Herb Kohl, when he showed up in a three-piece suit carrying his resume.

"Andrew's biggest asset is his ability to step in and play right away because of his international experience and what he's done up to this point in his career," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. "He said he's taken two weeks off in the last three years, and to me that says a lot."

One newspaper report out of Milwaukee said that Kohl sat quietly for the workout of North Carolina's Marvin Williams, the other possible No. 1 pick, but for Bogut, Kohl was on his feet, pacing, "in the manner of a car-lot customer on the verge of a decision, but needed to expend nervous energy just to make sure."

When asked to name the Bucks' starting lineup, Bogut confidently predicted a lineup that included himself at the center position.

Bogut has been saying he doesn't care where he is picked, that he "just wants to play basketball." He said the same thing in an interview in Salt Lake a week ago, but he couldn't hide the fact that he'd prefer to go to Milwaukee and that he'd like to be No. 1.

He likes the fact that there is a large Croatian population there (his parents are Croatian) and the Bucks are a better team than the half dozen or so teams behind them in the draft. Also, the team needs a center and Milwaukee is a smaller city, more like Salt Lake, where he enjoyed living.

Bogut has said he would be fine going to Atlanta, but he hasn't shown quite the same enthusiasm.

When he worked out in Atlanta later last week, Bogut was asked to name the Hawks' lineup. He declined at first before coming up with a starting lineup that included himself at center. But then he added, "Most importantly, I want to be the No. 1 pick."

That isn't possible with Atlanta, unless there's a blockbuster trade.

After working out for Atlanta Thursday, Bogut left for New York, where he was to join his parents, Michael and Anne, who flew in from Australia earlier in the week, along with his sister and two aunts.

The family will be together Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, where if things go as planned, Bogut will be the second University of Utah athlete to hear his name called first at a major draft, as quarterback Alex Smith was at the NFL Draft in April.

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