High School Sports
NBA mock draft

By Percy Allen
Seattle Times staff reporter

Dwight Howard

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1. ORLANDO MAGIC
Emeka Okafor
PF, 6-10, 257, Connecticut
With all of the uncertainty surrounding the Magic — trade four-time All-Star Tracy McGrady or keep him? — Orlando knows Okafor will be a solid NBA player. Of course that's assuming his back is OK.

2, CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Dwight Howard
PF, 6-10, 240, SW Atlanta Ch. HS
Traded up to get the high-school player of the year, who reminds many of Kevin Garnett. Howard fits perfectly with the Bobcats, an expansion team with a teenage star.

	Luol Deng

3. CHICAGO BULLS
Luol Deng
SF, 6-8, 220, Duke
This is where the draft gets crazy. The Bulls have listened to several offers for this pick and would love to move back in the draft. Deng isn't a perfect fit, but he's an upgrade over Ronald Dupree.

4. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Ben Gordon

	Ben Gordon

PG, 6-3, 192, Connecticut
Only one thing is for certain, the Clippers will select a point guard. History says they'll choose Shaun Livingston, the Peoria, Ill. prep phenom. Devin Harris is also a strong possibility.

5. DALLAS MAVERICKS
Pavel Podkolzine
C, 7-5, 300, Russia
The 19-year-old Russian, considered a long-term project, may be used by the Mavericks in their attempt to deal for Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal, who has demanded a trade.

6. ATLANTA HAWKS

	Shaun Livingston

Shaun Livingston
PG, 6-7, 186, Peoria Central HS
Tried desperately to move up and select hometown product Howard, but in time the Hawks will be happy that they chose Livingston, who has more upside than anyone in the draft.

7. CHICAGO BULLS
Luke Jackson
SF, 6-7, 212, Oregon
The Suns reportedly traded this pick to Chicago for one of the Bulls' second-round picks (No. 31), a future first-rounder and an undisclosed sum of cash. Jackson impressed Chicago in workouts.

8. TORONTO RAPTORS

	Devin Harris

Devin Harris
PG, 6-3, 170, Wisconsin
If the draft plays out like this, the Raptors would have reason to celebrate. Harris is a steal this late, and many believe he's better than Livingston and Gordon.

9. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Andre Iguodala
SF, 6-6, 217, Arizona
Gives the 76ers an athletic defender on the perimeter who they can play with veterans Eric Snow and Allen Iverson. Iguodala could be the most exciting player in the draft.

10. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

	Jameer Nelson

Jameer Nelson
PG, 6-0, 190, St. Joseph's
This could be a stretch. The Cavs need a point guard, and Nelson is an experienced leader whose size (6-0) will be less of a problem with LeBron James next to him.

11. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Josh Childress
SF, 6-7, 196, Stanford
New coach Mike Montgomery would love to get his former star at Stanford. Childress is a slasher with a knack for rebounding. He could challenge for a starting job.

12. SEATTLE SONICS

	Kirk Snyder

Kirk Snyder
PG/SG, 6-6, 228, Nevada
Don't be surprised if they trade this pick to the Jazz for two of Utah's three first-round picks (Nos. 14, 16, 21). Snyder, with an NBA-ready body, would be a gift for coach Nate McMillan.

13. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Josh Smith
SF, 6-8, 221, Oak Hill (Va.) Acad.
The Blazers draft another player with no major-college experience. He would join Jermaine O'Neal, Qyntel Woods and Travis Outlaw. Smith is just too good to pass on this late.

14. UTAH JAZZ

	Rafael Araujo

Rafael Araujo
C, 6-11, 280, Brigham Young
This pick appears perfect in a mock draft, but probably won't happen. The Jazz is losing Greg Ostertag, and Jarron Collins is a better fit at power forward. Araujo could develop in friendly confines.

15. BOSTON CELTICS
Andris Biedrins
PF, 7-0, 240, Riga, Latvia
Difficult to know what GM Danny Ainge is thinking. He needs a big man in the worst way. He could select Robert Swift or Peter John Ramos. Don't be surprised if Celtics trade up.

16. UTAH JAZZ

	Sergey Monya

Sergey Monya
SF, 6-8, 220, Russia
Can you ever have enough long, athletic Russian swingmen? Probably not. Having made Andrei Kirilenko into an All-Star, the Jazz might look to repeat the process if it retains the pick.

17. ATLANTA HAWKS
Robert Swift
C, 7-1, 260, Bakersfield (Calif.) HS
The Hawks' marketing department would love the pairing of Swift with Livingston. It's a bit of a stretch, but together they remind many of a young Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal.

18. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

	Al Jefferson

Al Jefferson
PF, 6-10, 263, Prentiss (Miss.) HS
Former coach Tim Floyd was on a short leash, but new coach Byron Scott will be given the time to develop Jefferson, who should play nicely alongside All-Star Jamaal Magloire.

19. MIAMI HEAT
David Harrison
C, 7-0, 250, Colorado
Playoff defeat to Indiana taught the Heat that it needs size if it's going to beat the top teams in the East. President Pat Riley isn't fond of international players or else Peter John Ramos or Anderson Varejao might land here.

20. DENVER NUGGETS

	Kris Humphries

Kris Humphries
SF, 6-9, 235, Minnesota
A slight fall for this sharp-shooter who played one year of college ball. He provides a nice addition to the Nuggets' faced-paced offensive attack. Hard to pass on a guy with his size and ability.

21. UTAH JAZZ
Anderson Varejao
PF, 6-10, 230, Brazil
Again, it's highly unlikely that Utah keeps all three first-round picks. Still, Varejao has been a monster in workouts and he has the nastiness that coach Jerry Sloan would love. He's feisty and foul-prone.

22. NEW JERSEY NETS

	Sebastian Telfair

Sebastian Telfair
PG, 5-11, 170, Lincoln (N.Y.) HS
Marriage made in hoops heaven. Telfair, a Brooklyn native, would be at home when the team moves to his old neighborhood. Nets need to start grooming an heir for 31-year-old Jason Kidd.

23. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Peter John Ramos
C, 7-3, 266, Puerto Rico
If Telfair is available, the Trail Blazers will take him. The other top-notch PGs they had in for workouts aren't likely to be around. Ramos, who was in Portland last week, could back up Theo Ratliff.

24. BOSTON CELTICS

	Sasha Vujacic

Sasha Vujacic
PG, 6-7, 210, Slovenia
Combo guard who can run the team if needed. The Celtics have many needs and Vujacic won't get them back into the playoffs. Look for them to package two of their picks in a trade.

25. BOSTON CELTICS
Dorrell Wright
SF, 6-8, 215, S. Kent (Conn.) Prep
This late in the draft, teams are hoping for a miracle and Wright is the best of the bunch. Donta Smith and South Korean center Ha Seung-Jin are also candidates for this pick.

26. SACRAMENTO KINGS

	Viktor Khryapa

Viktor Khryapa
SF, 6-9, 235, Russia
Kings need to start replacing aging forwards. Khryapa may not fall this far. He's been likened to Andrei Kirilenko and it wouldn't be a surprise if he were to land among the top 20 players.

27. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Ha Seung-Jin
C, 7-3, 305, South Korea
With all of the turmoil surrounding Shaquille O'Neal, it may make sense to select a center just in case O'Neal leaves town. Ha Seung-Jin is a project, but he has an NBA-size body.

28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS

	Jackie Butler

Jackie Butler
PF, 6-9, 263, Coast. Ch. (Va.) Acad.
Only high-schooler who may not be chosen in first round. His checkered past may not sit well with straight-laced Spurs. Still, former Mr. Basketball in Mississippi could be a diamond in the rough.

29. INDIANA PACERS
Donta Smith
SG, 6-7, 215, SE Illinois College
Indiana doesn't have many holes to fill and Smith is simply the best player available. The Louisville, Ky., native should feel at home with Pacers. He can defend NBA shooting guards and small forwards.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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