From Deseret News archives:
Inside the NBA draft: Big Men
CREAM OF THE CROP
There is no doubt which big man will go first in Thursday's NBA Draft. That will be 7-foot Ohio State freshman Greg Oden, who led the Buckeyes to the NCAA title game despite fracturing his right wrist before the season. From size to athleticism, rebounding skill to shot-blocking ability, Oden supposedly has it all. Portland will shock the NBA world if it doesn't take him No. 1 overall, though the Trail Blazers say they're also considering Texas small forward Kevin Durant. If Portland does tap Durant, jubilant Seattle will snatch Oden at No. 2. Behind Oden, Washington's 7-1 Spencer Hawes is the next-best center and a likely lottery pick. As many as six power forwards, meanwhile, could be lottery (top-14) selections: national-champ Florida teammates Al Horford and Joakim Noah, mysterious Chinese 7-footer Yi Jianlian, North Carolina's Brandan Wright, Brazilian 7-footer Tiago Splitter and fast-rising Colorado State 7-footer Jason Smith.
JAZZ TIME
Though many suspect the Jazz are targeting shooting guard/swingmen types with their No. 25 overall first-round choice, Utah could pick from a limited number of big men, including LSU's Glen "Big Baby" Davis, who was in town to audition Sunday, Duke's Josh McRoberts and Nevada sharpshooter Nick Fazekas. All three are power forwards. Also under consideration: Boston College center Sean Williams, who was booted from his college team. Williams could be gone by 25, though. So could Davis, who battles weight issues. One sleeper possibility: 7-1 Ukrainian power forward Kyrylo Fesenko, on whom the Jazz have had a close eye. If Utah does go with a shooter in the first round, they could use their No. 55 second-round pick (or trade up in the round) to get one among any number of big men, including Providence's Herbert Hill, Alabama's Jermareo Davidson, Bosnian Stanko Barac, Wake Forest's Kyle Visser and Florida's Chris Richard.
UTAH NOW
The Jazz's starting big men seem solidified for years to come in power forward Carlos Boozer and center Mehmet Okur, the team's top two scorers and both first-time NBA All-Stars this past season. But with a bench made up of only rookie backup power forward Paul Millsap, veteran backup center Jarron Collins and likely to be re-signed No. 3 center Rafael Araujo, they would love to beef up the power positions with a bona fide shot-blocker. And, no, they aren't interested in bringing back 7-2 Greg Ostertag — who ranks second only to retiree Mark Eaton among all-time franchise blocked-shot leaders — from his one-year retirement, even though Ostertag has said he wants to play again.
FANTASY PICK
