NBA teams should
draft more wisely
SPORTS
Yao. Wow.
For months, speculation has
had Chinese superstar Yao Ming
going first in the NBA Draft and
Wednesday, the prophecies
came true.
Too bad.
In a league where size matters,
Houston spent its first pick on
seven-plus feet of skin, bones and
jump shoot
ing. Did some
body in the or
ganization
forget to real
ize that a cen
ter without
post-up moves
is about as
useful as Shaq
shooting free
throws?
Sure, the big
guy claims to
make them
when they
count, but the
only reason he gets the opportuni
ty to put up uncontested flicks-of
the-wrist is because he’s a domi
nant force close to the basket.
Does Houston really believe
that teams won’t be smart
enough to put a power forward,
maybe even a small forward on
Yao to frustrate the quick-bodied
“center?”
As much as I hate to give free
press to a movie, I think we’ve all
heard of the “Great White Hype.”
Remember Shawn Bradley? As
much as we’d love to believe Yao
is different, he isn’t.
He’s Chinese, taller than some
trees, from overseas, but, really,
please.
With a frame like his, Ming will
be lucky to last past his guaran
teed three-year contract. Big bod
ies like Shaq will pound Ming,
athletic fours like Rasheed Wal
lace will rise above Ming, and
quick and tall players like Kevin
Garnett will abuse Ming in every
aspect of the game.
A few years back, athletes cho
sen in the lottery made an imme
diate impact. No longer.
In last year’s draft, only Pau
1111 1
Schmidt
Sports editor
Gasol and Shane Battier — both
of the Memphis Grizzlies
— made significant contribu
tions. Teams like the Bulls
crossed their fingers and, in one
humble sports fan’s opinion,
made huge mistakes by drafting
kids who just graduated from
high school and probably don’t
even know what B.A. stands for.
Judging by the Bulls’ previous
lottery picks, Jay-don’t-call-me
son Williams will be a bust. The
guy can’t hit free throws when
they count and his quick step
will only get him so far on a team
of throw-aways. Add to that po
tential chemistry problems-with
Jalen Rose, who was happier
than a nun on Sunday to end up
in Chicago — a team with no di
rection that allows him to shoot
continuously.
While it is true that it takes
kids some time to develop,
when a player goes in the lot
tery, fans want to see immediate
results. Not since 1999, when El
ton Brand, Stevie Franchise,
Baron Davis, Andre Miller and
Jason Terry were drafted, have
we seen impact.
Mike Dunleavy will, without a
doubt, be named Rookie of the
Year. He’s still growing and adds
bulk each year. His sharp shooting
and pesky defense place him atop
the forward-laden draft. Junior
will get plenty of playing time
with Golden State and with Jason
Richardson still developing aside
the always-shooting Antawn
Jamison, Run-TMC could be res
urrected as Gun-JRD.
And as for the Blazers?
The team that is always re
building, reworking and regress
ing chose junior college small
forward Qyntel Woods, an un
polished player who will need a
few years to develop. Judging
from the Blazers’ depth at just
about every position, he should
have plenty of time.
Another brilliant move by the
Blazers.
And maybe, just maybe, he’ll be
good. If that’s the case, he’ll want
out. Just ask Jermaine O’Neal.
Contact the sports editor
at bradschmidt@dailyemerald.com.
His opinions do not necessarily
represent those of the Emerald.
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