8. Los Angeles Clippers (from Atlanta)
Insider's Pick: Dajuan Wagner, G, Memphis
No. 2: Maybyner "Nene" Hilario
Sleeper Pick: Qyntel Woods, F, Northeast Mississippi CC
The Skinny: The Clippers are trying to move this pick, but if they keep it, it will be hard to pass on Wagner if he slips this far. Point guard isn't really a need, but he's great insurance if Keyon Dooling or Marko Jaric don't work out. He's got the requisite swagger and chip on his shoulder to play with the Clippers. The other alternative is to shore up the middle and draft either Borchardt or Hilario as insurance in case Michael Olowokandi decides to bolt. The fact that teams are beginning to project Hilario as a center could make him a smart pick for L.A. The Lakers are still trying to get into the mid-to-late lottery. The Lakers worked out Qyntel Woods this weekend and are trying to pry this pick away from the Clippers.

9. Phoenix Suns
Insider's Pick:Maybyner "Nene" Hilario, F/C, Brazil
No. 2: Jared Jeffries, F, Indiana
Sleeper Pick: Amare Stoudemire, F, HS Senior
The Skinny: The Suns love Wilcox but Hilario has the potential to play both power forward and center in the pros. The team won't let him slip if he's still around when the Suns draft at No. 9. Jeffries has also been impressive in workouts. He's smart, polished and has really buffed up. But he doesn't have the raw power of someone like Nene or Wilcox. No one is sure exactly what you'll get with Stoudemire. He too has an NBA body and plays with a lot of determination. But he is very raw on both ends of the court -- no one is sure exactly what he can do besides dunk. Still, several teams told Insider that with the proper coaching (Stoudemire bounced around a lot in high school) he could be the best power forward in the draft.

10. Miami Heat
Insider's Pick: Jared Jeffries, F, Indiana
No. 2: Qyntel Woods, F, Northeast Mississippi CC
Sleeper Pick: Curtis Borchardt, C, Stanford
The Skinny: Pat Riley has pined for a tall small forward in the mold of Lamar Odom for the last few years. There really isn't a player in this draft who fits the description exactly. He'd love to get his hands on Butler, but he'll like have to part with Eddie Jones to do it (see above). Jeffries may be the closest, but doesn't have the athleticism or the ball-handling skills Odom does. Considering he was recruited by Bob Knight, however, means he must have the discipline that Riley covets. Woods is the athlete Riley has searched for at small forward. The team has scouted him as extensively as anyone, but the word inside the Heat is that Riley prefers Jeffries. If both players are gone, they could take a chance on Borchardt. With Zo's health constantly in question, it's good to have a backup plan.

11. Washington Wizards
Insider's Pick: Qyntel Woods, F, Northeast Mississippi CC
No. 2: Bostjan Nachbar, F, Slovenia
Sleeper Pick: Dan Dickau, G, Gonzaga
The Skinny: If Woods falls this far, the Wizards will snatch him up. Some scouts still insist that on talent alone, he's the best player in the draft. Michael Jordan is looking for a dynamic small forward to replace him when he retires at the end of next season, and if Woods is anywhere near the talent scouts say he is, he's worth the risk. A year playing under the watchful eye of Jordan should be enough to teach this kid what he needs to do to succeed in the NBA. If Woods is gone, the Wizards have several possibilities. The team has been enamored for some time with Nachbar and will get one last look at him Monday. Dickau is a real sleeper here. This may seem high, but Jordan would really like to upgrade the point guard position. He's already been in for workouts twice.

12. Los Angeles Clippers
Insider's Pick: Amare Stoudemire, F, HS Senior
No. 2: Curtis Borchardt, C, Stanford
Sleeper Pick: Kareem Rush, G, Missouri
The Skinny: Several league sources told Insider late Tuesday that the Blazers and Clippers are working on a deal that would send the No. 12 pick in the draft to Portland for Zach Randolph and $3 million. The Blazers will use the pick to draft high school phenom Stoudemire, if he's still on the board. If he's gone at No. 12, they feel that another big man, either Nene Hilario or Curtis Borchardt, will still be available. The Clippers plan to use the money to help defray the cost of bringing in their 2000 second-round pick, Marko Jaric. If L.A. can't move this pick, Borchardt would be some nice insurance if the Clippers can't afford to re-sign Michael Olowokandi. They could alway use Rush's shooting.

13. Milwaukee Bucks
Insider's Pick: Curtis Borchardt
No. 2: Jiri Welsch, G, Czech Republic
Sleeper Pick: Marcus Haislip, F, Tennessee
The Skinny: Several GM's feel that the lottery really extends 15 or 16 picks deep this year, so the Bucks are in a great position to pick up a player who slips. Even though the team has Joel Przybilla and Ervin Johnson, it can always use another shot blocker, especially a kid who can step away from the basket and sink jumpers. Because of luxury tax issues, the Bucks could also decide to go with Welsch or even Bostjan Nachbar and keep them overseas for a year or too. Haislip is a bit of a sleeper here. He's a tough athlete who can block shots and rebound. But he's very raw and won't be able to help Milwaukee for another year or two.

14. Indiana Pacers
Insider's Pick: Jiri Welsch, G, Czech Republic
No. 2: Kareem Rush, G, Missouri
Sleeper Pick: Dan Dickau, G, Gonzaga
The Skinny: The Pacers don't have any glaring holes. They're young, but have solid players at every position. Eventually, the team will need to figure out how to replace Reggie Miller. They face a tough choice between Welsch and Rush. But ultimately, cap considerations will probably push them to Welsch. Both players can shoot the ball and have handles, but Welsch's ability and willingness to play overseas next season combined with his point guard skills kill three birds with one stone. Dickau seems like a stretch, but the team has put on the full-court press to get him into workouts. With Jamaal Tinsley already on the roster, you wonder whether there's room, but he would give them the shooting ability that Tinsley lacks.

15. Houston Rockets (from Toronto)
Insider's Pick: Bostjan Nachbar, F, Croatia
No. 2: Mladen Sekularac, F, Yugoslavia
Sleeper Pick: Tayshaun Prince, F, Kentucky
The Skinny: If the Rockets get Yao, and if Stoudemire (who they love) is off the board, expect them to address their need at small forward with this pick. The best small forward left on the board is Nachbar, a sharp-shooting 6-foot-8 forward who also has the athleticism to take it the basket. Earlier this year, Nachbar was virtually unstoppable for his team, Benetton Treviso. He leveled off toward the end of the year and his stock slipped just a bit. Teams compare him to the Sonics' Vladimir Radmanovic. At 22, he will be able to contribute right away. The same goes for Sekularac and Welsch. Both players have the maturity and the skill set to come in and contribute immediately.

22. Phoenix Suns (from Boston)
Insider's Pick: Marcus Haislip, F, Tennessee
No. 2: Frank Williams, G, Illinois
Sleeper Pick: Casey Jacobsen, G, Stanford
The Skinny: Call it the best of both worlds. If Haislip really falls this far, he'd be a steal. His athleticism is off the charts, but teams say he's very raw. Questions about what position he plays also may cause him to slip a bit. If the Suns don't strike gold, and if they don't get Tskitishvili or Hilario in the lottery, don't be surprised to see them go international. Pachulia is very young, but has the body to play down low in the NBA.

23. Detroit Pistons
Insider's Pick: Frank Williams, G, Illinois
No. 2: Mladin Sekularac, G, Yugoslavia
Sleeper Pick: Roger Mason, G, Virginia
The Skinny: Williams may not be around when the Pistons pick, but if he is, he'll be a steal here. The team needs an upgrade at the point. Williams already has the defense that coach Rick Carlisle demands and has shown flashes of offense at Illinois. He has nice size at the position, has NBA strength and has shown good leadership skills. However, he can be woefully inconsistent and struggles with his outside jumper. If he's gone, either Mason or Sekularac might not be a bad consolation prize. If Mason can show teams that he can run the point, he'd be very hard to pass up here.

24. New Jersey Nets
Insider's Pick: Nenad Kristic, C, Yugoslavia
No. 2: Casey Jacobsen, G, Stanford
Sleeper Pick: Tito Maddox, G, Fresno State
The Skinny: The team is pretty set at every position, but luxury tax issues and roster problems will probably force them to either trade the pick or draft an international player. Kristic has the potential and size to be something down the road. The Nets can afford to wait. They thought Brandon Armstrong was the answer to their shooting woes last year, now they're not so sure. Jacobsen is probably the best shooter in the draft and may get a look here. The team could use help at the point and a more consistent long-range gunner for Jason Kidd to drive and dish to. Maddox was the best point guard at Chicago and plays a similar game to Kidd. If the Nets are afraid that Kidd will bolt, adding Maddox to the mix is decent insurance.

25. Denver Nuggets (from Dallas)
Insider's Pick: Chris Jefferies, F, Fresno State
No. 2: Rod Grizzard, G, Alabama
Sleeper Pick: Nenad Kristic, C, Yugoslavia
The Skinny: The Nuggets will either address their backcourt needs with Dajuan Wagner or their forward needs with Drew Gooden or Caron Butler at No. 5. With their second pick, don't be surprised to see them take a chance on a someone like Jefferies or Grizzard. Or, they may decide to go with a foreign player who they can develop overseas for a few years. That's why Varejão looks like a real possibility here. He's big, athletic and can shoot the ball. He won't be able to play in the NBA next season, but the Nuggets don't mind. If he's gone, Sekularac, Pachulia or Kristic could eventually give them some size down low.

26. San Antonio Spurs
Insider's Pick: Anderson Varejão, F, Brazil
No. 2: David Andersen, F, Brazil
Sleeper Pick: Lazarous Papadoupolos, C, Greece
The Skinny: The Spurs are another team that would be willing to take a chance on Gadzuric, but with the way things are falling in the draft, he may not be around. If he isn't there, the Spurs will continue to mine Europe, this time for a big man. The team is pretty high on Varejão. He's young, but he's another big man who has the athleticism to do something down the road. They'll take a long look at Andersen here. He's more polished than Papadopolous and could play in the NBA right away. To make things sweeter, Andersen is a teammate of Emmanuel Ginobili, the Argentinean shooting guard the team wants to bring over to the NBA next season.

27. Los Angeles Lakers
Insider's Pick: Tayshaun Prince, F, Kentucky
No. 2: Chris Jefferies, F, Fresno State
Sleeper Pick: Casey Jacobsen, G, Stanford
The Skinny: Free agency could hit the Lakers hard this summer. The team is especially anxious about the possibility of losing small forward Devean George. If they can't get their hooks in Woods, Prince may be a nice consolation prize. He shoots and handles the ball well and should be a great fit in the triangle offense. Jefferies is the type of athletic scorer who would go higher had he played for a different program. The Lakers love to capitalize on those type of guys. The Lakers love Jacobsen's shooting range and could use someone to stretch defenses. Still, there may be enough questions about his athleticism and defense to keep him out of the first round.

28. Sacramento Kings
Insider's Pick: Carlos Boozer, F, Duke
No. 2: Nenad Kristic, C, Yugoslavia
Sleeper Pick: David Andersen F, Australia
The Skinny: The Kings can go any direction here. They have plenty of cap problems and may try to get out of this pick or draft another international player. But they'd be hard pressed to pass on Boozer if he's still on the board. They'd love to get their hands on Kristic as well, but it looks like he won't be around. They're still kicking themselves that they let Jerome James slip through their fingers. Don't be surprised if they take a chance on Kristic. While few people know him in the U.S., he plays for a team that Vlade Divac owns in Yugoslavia. One scout described him as the best young true center in Europe. He's Vlade's best player and you can bet that he's sold the Kings on Krisitc as an eventual replacement once he retires.

Other players on the first-round bubble: Freddie Jones, G, Oregon; David Andersen, F, Australia; Sam Clancy, F, USC; Chris Jefferies, F, Fresno State; Juan Dixon, G, Maryland; Casey Jacobsen, G, Stanford; Rod Grizzard, F, Alabama; Roger Mason Jr., G, Virginia; Lubos Barton, F, Valpo; Ryan Humphrey, F, Notre Dame;Ronald Murray, G, Shaw; Lazarous Papadopolous, F/C, Greece; Fatih Solak, C, Turkey; Luis Scola, F, Argentina; Predrag Savovic, F, Hawaii; Steve Logan, G, Cincinnati; Matt Barnes, F, UCLA; Kei Madison, F, Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) CC.; Jamal Sampson, F, Cal; Smush Parker, G, Fordham; Marcus Taylor, G, Michigan St.; Darius Songaila, F, Wake Forest; Vincent Yarbrough, F, Tennessee; Lenny Cooke, G, HS Senior; DeAngelo Collins, F, HS Senior; Aaron McGhee, F, Oklahoma; Randy Holcomb, F, San Diego St.; John Salmons, G, Mia mi; Lee Benson, F, Brown Mackey College (Kan.)