Paul, Taft are scouts' early favorites for No. 1

By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider

With the NBA season in full swing, NBA scouts and personnel directors already are shifting their focus to the 2005 draft.

Their challenge is finding the next LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Andrei Kirilenko.
Chad Ford also examines the Top 5 Draft Prospects by position.

This year, scouts believe that the college class is one of the strongest ever. The international class doesn't have a clear No. 1, but there's a lot of depth. And the high school class? You might want to wait until next year, when Indiana big man Greg Oden is eligible for the draft.

While injuries, a strong season or the late discovery of an international sleeper can certainly change this group, the dozen or so NBA scouts and GMs Insider talked to all were in agreement on which prospects had a shot at the No. 1 pick.

There isn't a clear-cut No. 1 this year. But each of them, with patience and a few breaks down the road, has the potential to be an NBA superstar.

Here are the contenders:


COLLEGE
Chris Paul, PG, Wake Forest
6-0, 170 (Sophomore)
13.5 ppg, 5.3 apg, 4.5 rpg, 2 spg on 40 percent shooting

The skinny: The last player under 6-foot-8 to be drafted as the No. 1 overall pick was Allen Iverson in 1996. Before him, you have to go all the way back to 1981 when the Mavs drafted Mark Aguirre. In other words, Paul faces a pretty steep climb against history if he's going to be No. 1.

So why does he top our list?

First, scouts believe that he is the best point-guard prospect to come into the NBA since Jason Kidd. Not some of them. Everyone Insider talked to. It's easy to understand why scouts absolutely love him. He is T.J. Ford with a jumper. He's lightning quick, has unbelievable court vision, is a superb decision maker and shoots the lights out from the field and the three-point line. He pushes the ball relentlessly on offense and already is one of the best penetrators in the game. His defense is top notch as well. Teams wish Paul was stronger, but given his age they believe that will come.

Second, the Bobcats, a team that has as good of a shot at winning the No. 1 pick as anyone else, love him. If the Bobcats get the No. 1 pick, sources in Charlotte have told Insider that they will pick Paul. GM/Coach Bernie Bickerstaff needs a young point guard and believes that Paul is the perfect fit for the team that he's trying to build. The fact that he's a local, and very popular in North Carolina, probably doesn't hurt him, either.

Still, you have to wonder whether Paul can he live up the hype. With those lofty standards set for him, how will he respond? So far Paul is off to a so-so start for Wake. He has a large target on his chest and that means that opposing coaches, defenders and scouts are constantly working on breaking down his game.

Paul continues to claim that he's returning to Wake for his junior season, regardless of what the draft buzz is surrounding him. If he continues to struggle, some scouts might cool on him a little, making that decision a little easier. But there's a large contingent of NBA people who are convinced he has what it takes to be a superstar in the league – whether he plays well this year or not.

Chris Taft, PF, Pittsburgh
6-10, 230 (Sophomore)
12.3 ppg, 6 rpg, 50 percent shooting


The skinny: Taft, over the summer, moved into a dead heat with Paul as a favorite for the No. 1. He definitely fits the more traditional bill.


Like Paul, Pitt's Taft is off to a so-so start thus far. But he remains high on NBA wish lists.
Taft has the rare combination of size, athleticism, strength and power that NBA scouts covet in a good power forward. And unlike many players who possess those abilities, Taft prefers to score with his back to the basket. His footwork is sound, patient in the paint and always working for a good shot.

Taft, too, has enjoyed his share of hype this summer. And he, too, has struggled a bit to live up to it. Despite his superior strength and athleticism, he's been just an average rebounder and shot blocker this season.

However, he's also the only American big man with the talent to justify a No. 1 selection. In other words, he could end up on top by default, the way so many big men before him have.

Marvin Williams, F, North Carolina
6-9, 240 (Freshman)
8.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 38 percent shooting

The skinny: Williams flirted with declaring for the 2004 draft. Had he done so, he would have been a likely lottery pick. Several NBA scouts had him rated as the second-best high school player in the country behind only Dwight Howard.

Adding a year playing for Roy Williams at North Carolina should only help his stock.

Williams has a great NBA body, top-notch athleticism and the ability to play just about anywhere on the court. He's got one of the most developed inside/outside games of anyone his size. He played point forward for his high school team for much of the year but was also the team's best rebounder, shot blocker and low-post scorer. Scouts claim that he's a great, unselfish kid who adapts his game to the circumstances around him.

At North Carolina, he's playing primarily at the four and putting up impressive rebounding numbers given the minutes he's playing. Regardless of whether Williams increases his minutes, he'll be a legit contender for a pick in the top five. If he turns into a superstar this year, No. 1 overall isn't out of the question.

Rudy Gay, F, Connecticut
6-9, 220, (Freshman)
10 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 45 percent shooting


The skinny: Gay, unlike most of his peers, never seriously considered going pro last season. There's a pretty serious internal debate between scouts concerning whether Gay is actually a better prospect than Williams.

He has great size for a small forward. He is an above-average athlete with serious hops. He's also deceptively strong. He does just about everything well. He can slash to the basket, pull up for the mid-range jumper, beat up a defender in the post and make the perfect pass. If his ball handling was just a little bit better, there wouldn't be anything not to like. Scouts also claim he's a great kid with a tireless work ethic.

He's been very productive in UConn's first two games, though it remains to be seen how much Jim Calhoun will actually use him this year. If Gay breaks out, he'll challenge all three of the players above for the top spot. However, the chances are good that Calhoun will limit his minutes. If that happens, Gay might have to wait until 2006 to enter the draft.


INTERNATIONAL
Martynas Andriuskevicius, F,C, Lithuania
7-3, 240, (19 years old)
1.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg in 8 mpg
The skinny: Andriuskevicius declared for the 2004 draft but withdrew when he couldn't get a top-five commitment from a team. However, he wasn't far off that quest. The Suns, who had the No. 7 pick, seriously were considering taking him and leaving him in Europe before he pulled out of the draft.


Andriuskevicius is 7-foot-3 and owns a deadly-accurate three-point shot.
This year the chances are high that he declares for the draft and sticks with it. Scouts almost uniformly claim he's a lock for the top five.

Andriuskevicius has great hands, is a fantastic passer and doesn't shy away from contact despite his thin frame. He's got great quickness for his size and is capable of playing both inside and outside. The fact that he's being tutored daily by Arvydas Sabonis is evident.

Right now, Andriuskevicius is much more comfortable playing as a finesse four. At the Reebok Eurocamp last June, he showed excellent court vision and made a number of picture-perfect passes off the dribble to driving big men. He has great court instincts and always seemed to know when and how to make the right play. The game comes easy to him. He ran the floor as well as anyone in the camp and showed impressive athleticism for a guy his size. He also has a stellar perimeter shot. He shot 15-for-25 from the international 3-point line and has the ability to shoot off the dribble. Eventually, he may make the move to the five, but right now his body is still too weak to hold position in the paint.

"I saw Dirk [Nowitzki] when he was 18, and I'm not sure he was as comfortable with the ball as this kid is," Mavs president Donnie Nelson told Insider in May. "I think his true position in the pros is at forward. He's really talented."

Andriuskevicius looked solid this summer at the European Under-18 Championships in Zaragoza. He averaged 16.9 ppg and 13.4 rpg there but didn't exactly dominate.

"His skill set is fantastic, but he disappears from games," one NBA scout said. "If things get physical, he doesn't always fight for it. That will come with time. Another year playing with Arvydas Sabonis is really going to help this kid."

With Sabonis injured right now, Andriuskevicius is actually seeing some playing time in Euroleague play this year. While his numbers certainly don't suggest greatness yet, the extra year playing at a top level and practicing with Sabonis should pay off if he can remain healthy.

Nemanja Aleksandrov, F, Serbia
6-10, 210, (17 years old)
6.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg in 18 mpg

The skinny: He's been projected all year as a contender for the No. 1 overall pick since the summer of 2003. However, his stock took a series of hits this summer that he's yet to totally recover from.


Serbia's Nemanja Aleksandrov has a shot at being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.
Aleksandrov played to mixed reviews at Reebok Eurocamp in June and the Under 18 Championships in Zaragoza this summer. In both tournaments, he struggled with his perimeter shot and looked passive much of the time.

He's obviously one of the most skilled big men you'll ever find at his age. He has a very good three-point shot, good athleticism (though just a 24-inch vertical), a great handle and great feet in the paint. During the 5-on-5 tournament, he put several moves on in the paint that were reminiscent of Kevin Garnett. He's quick and a real match up problem on offense.

The issue with Aleksandrov is heart. He often coasts in games, doesn't always defend and will disappear for large chunks of the game. He seems to be able to turn it on and off at will, but that's a scary attribute in a top prospect like this.

"He's got unbelievable talent," one NBA scout told Insider. "But you can't change who you are. He's laid back. He doesn't play hard. I think that's impossible to teach. Someone will grab him because of his size and skills. But I think they'll walk away from the experience three years later with their heart broken."

That fact is starting to scare away the same scouts that boldly predicted last year that he'd be the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft. Still, no one is ready to write him off, either.

"From a skill standpoint, he's probably the most skilled 17-year-old big guy I've ever seen," one NBA international scout told Insider. "He has Toni Kukoc-like skills. His issues are well known. He doesn't play with a lot of passion. He doesn't seem to have a killer instinct. But we've got to keep reminding ourselves that he's just 17.

"He had a huge target on his chest this summer. Everyone was trying to shut him down. He still managed to put up pretty good numbers and was effective in the paint. I just think people expected him to improve dramatically the past year, and he didn't. But that may say more about the situation he's in than his talent. In my mind, he's still one of the top five or six prospects for next year."

We'll see. No one denies the talent. But NBA GMs have tired of fundamentally-sound Europeans who look great in workouts and struggle in actual games. Aleksandrov might not fit into that category, but as the backlash grows more severe, he might suffer from it anyway.


HIGH SCHOOL
After the ABCD camp in New Jersey, the Nike camp in Indianapolis and the adidas camp in Atlanta, followed by several big AAU events like the Big Time in Las Vegas, scouts remain as enamored as ever with the American high school crop – just not this year's.
Greg Oden, who is starting his junior year this fall and O.J. Mayo, who is ready to begin his sophomore year, both look like sure-fire picks at the top of the draft in 2006 and 2007. This year, it's pretty ugly.

Scouts have been predicting NBA doom for this class all year, but all of them hoped a player or two would emerge from the summer play. While several caught their eyes, no one in the class is close to being a lottery pick – let alone No. 1.

"This is the worst high school class I've ever seen," one veteran NBA scout claimed. "There are a lot of kids in it who will help their college teams. But NBA teams? I'm not sure that even after four years of college most of these kids will be ready for the NBA. It's awful."

Depending on who you ask, Louis Williams, a lightning quick 6-2 shooting guard from Georgia, Andray Blatche, a 6-11 power forward playing prep ball in Connecticut, and Gerald Green, a lanky swingman in the image of Tracy McGrady, are the three players scouts are watching closely.

Still, this should be the first year since 1998 that a high school kid doesn't crack the top 10.


DRAFT CARDS

Several NBA scouts are quietly saying that Washington's Nate Robinson is their favorite basketball player in college basketball. When you look at his numbers – 21.6 ppg, 5.9 apg, 4.2 rpg on 57 percent shooting and 54 percent from three – it's kind of tough to argue. Right?
So why isn't Robinson on our list of potential No. 1 overall picks? Size matters in the NBA and Robinson stands 5-foot-9 in shoes (according to official measurements at the 2004 Chicago pre-draft camp). The fact that he isn't even a point guard also doesn't help matters.

Still, that hasn't stopped scouts from drooling over the possibility of adding Robinson late in the first round.

"He's the best finisher in college basketball," one NBA scout gushed. "He's almost impossible to guard."

Robinson put up impressive numbers last season too. He was one of the better players at the Chicago pre-draft camp, averaging 11.7 ppg and ranking second in the camp in assists. In fact, he ranked No. 1 among all the players in the camp in athletic testing. He measured a 43.5 inch vertical and ran the three-quarters court sprint in 2.96 seconds, a Chicago record. However, he couldn't convince one team to give him a promise in the first round, so he went back to school. That sounds like it's going to change this year.

"I'm not sure where he will go in the draft, but don't forget the 'wow' factor here," an NBA exec told Insider. "Every time he touches the ball, everyone holds their breath. He can sell tickets. Fans react to him. I think he's going to go much earlier than people think. If he's a mid-first rounder I wouldn't be surprised.


Possible sleeper Vazquez makes up for lack of strength with hustle.

This year's Euro sleeper looks like it will be the Spanish league's Francisco Vazquez. The 6-foot-10, 230-pound forward is getting regular minutes for Malaga and is averaging 7.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg in 20 mpg in Euroleague play.
Just about everyone in the league has been over to Europe to watch him play, including Larry Bird and Jerry West.

The scouting report on Vazquez reads as follows: He's an athletic, bouncy big man with great hands. What he lacks in physical strength he makes up for in energy and hustle. His aggressivness and quickness leads to a lot of dunks. Right now he still relies on his physical gifts more than basketball skills, but scouts say he's improving.

The 21-year-old forward has played well enough that almost every scout agrees that he'll be a mid-to-late first-round selection. But watch him closely this year. Several scouts claim he could rise if he keeps producing for Malaga this season.


Chris Paul's status as the best point guard in the country is no longer a secret. But here's one you haven't been hearing. More and more scouts are claiming that the next best point guard on the board is Illinois' Deron Williams. Twenty NBA GMs and scouts watched Williams outplay Paul and the Demon Deacons on Wednesday. Williams finished the game with eight points and 11 assists. Overall, Williams is averaging 13.6 ppg, 7.4 apg on 46 percent shooting this season.
“ Deron is a lot like Kidd in the half court. They play the same way. They're both straight-line guys. Once he gets his hip on you, he's gone. Deron's not as fast as Kidd in the open court, but Deron can shoot. Jason can't. ”
— One NBA scout, telling ESPN Insider how Illinois G Deron Williams compares to All-Star G Jason Kidd

Williams, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior, made the most of his opportunity as a counselor in Michael Jordan's camp last summer. Scouts who saw him play there said he improved dramatically by playing against the best point guards in the country and a handful of NBA veterans.

While Paul is getting tagged as the best point guard prospect since Kidd, Williams is getting the rep as the player whose style and body most resemble Kidd's.

"Deron is a lot like Kidd in the half court," one NBA scout said. "They play the same way. They're both straight-line guys. Once he gets his hip on you, he's gone. Deron's not as fast as Kidd in the open court, but Deron can shoot. Jason can't."

The irony of Williams' ascension is that head coach Bruce Weber believes that Luther Head, another 6-foot-3 point guard, is the best guard on his team. "Luther has been maybe our best guard, and people don't even realize it," Weber said Wednesday.

Head, a senior from Chicago, is averaging 17.2 ppg and 6.8 apg for the Illini. He, too, is a great athlete with excellent floor vision and legit three-point range. Scouts have been traditionally a little down on Head because of his inability to shoot off the dribble, but he seems to have worked on that over the summer break and is getting serious interest from scouts as well.


Tripkovic is no longer a secret.

Speaking of point guards, Partizan's Uros Tripkovic is sure turning some heads in Europe. The 19-year-old combo guard has been great all summer in the various youth tournaments, but he's really making an impression now that he's playing big minutes for Partizan in both the Adriatic and Euroleague.
Tripkovic is averaging 13.3 ppg on 52 percent field-goal shooting in the Adriatic league. He's also averaging 6.2 ppg in 22 mpg in the Euroleague.

Insider spotted the lanky 6-foot-6 guard for the first time when we traveled to Serbia in the winter of 2002. The Partizan team literally hid him from Pistons scout Tony Ronzone and I when they allowed us into practice. Here's an edited version of how it went down.


December 18, 2002 – 10:45 a.m. Ronzone notices the court is partitioned and hears balls bouncing on the other side. We casually walk over and peek behind the curtain.
Bingo.

On the other side of the gym, working alone with another assistant coach is Uros Tripkovic, a 16-year-old, 6-foot-6 point guard who already is being prepped to take over the team once star point guard Milos Vujanic leaves for the NBA at the end of the season.

Ronzone and I sit down quietly at the end of the bench and hope we aren't noticed. On the far court I'm watching Tripkovic catch and shoot on the perimeter. He has made 12 consecutive 3-pointers from different spots on the floor.

"This just got interesting," Tony says. Five minutes into the workout, an assistant coach spots us from across the gym and begins heading toward us. A friend of Ronzone's is also in the gym and walks toward the coach in an attempt to intervene. There is a heated discussion and Ronzone's friend tells us we have to leave.

"Doesn't matter," Ronzone whispers to me as we walk out of the gym. "I saw everything I needed to see."


Memphis swingman Rodney Carney is off to a great start, averaging 21.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 44 percent field-goal shooting for the season.
The 6-foot-7 junior is the son of two track stars. Carney himself was the Indiana state champ in the high jump as a high school senior. Head coach John Calipari calls him one of the best five athletes in the country, something you know will turn heads in the NBA.

"Just on DNA, you've got to love him," one NBA scout told Insider. "Both parents are track stars. He may be the best athlete in college basketball. On an uptempo team he'd be really good. He's also improved his shooting in the mid-range game, which is why he's having such a big year."

So why hasn't he gotten the publicity of fellow teammate Sean Banks?

"He goes through huge spans where he disappears. He doesn't create his own shot. If he did, he'd be a lock for the lottery."

Look for Carney to get consideration there anyway if he continues to play well. With his size, length, speed, jumping ability and three-point shooting ability, he appears to be the prototypical NBA small forward.


It seems Utah big man Andrew Bogut is back in favor with NBA scouts.
The Australian burst onto the scene at the World Junior Championships in Greece in 2003, when he led Australia to a gold medal over the Americans (and averaged 26.3 ppg and 17 rpg). At the time, some scouts predicted he'd be a lock for the lottery. However, a good but not great freshmen season at Utah caused his stock to slide a bit.

Bogut actually wanted to turn pro last summer, but when the Ute staff did some research, they discovered no team was serious about taking him in the first round anymore.

That has changed. Bogut was great for Australia in the Olympics. He scored 22 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in a victory over Team USA. Most of that time Tim Duncan was guarding him.

His early play for the Utes this season has him turning heads again. He's averaging 17.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg on 62 percent shooting.

The 6-10, 245-pound Bogut does a little bit of everything. Bogut is an excellent, physical rebounder with nice hands. He's a tremendous passer for a big man and averages a couple of assists per game in international play. He's very difficult to guard because of his ability to score in both the high and low post. Overall, he just has an excellent feel for the game.

He's not as athletic as scouts would like, but one NBA executive sees similarities between Bogut and one highly successful, unathletic NBA big man.

"He's a young Vlade Divac," one NBA exec said. "He passes like him, shoots like him, is slow like him. He's tailor-made for the NBA. I'd be stunned is he goes any later than 12 (overall) in the draft."


Spanish point guard Sergio Rodriguez was the star of the Under-18 Championships in Zaragoza, Spain this summer. He looked like a little John Stockton out there, running the offense to perfection and hitting an impressive 50 percent from the three-point line.
He's played well enough that scouts are now claiming he'd be one of the first international players taken in 2005 if he declared for the draft. Several sources told Insider that Rodriguez will not declare for the draft this year, however, because of contract issues with his team. Instead, look for him to make a big splash in the 2006 draft.



Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

Time to trade Curry, Chandler

By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider

Chad Ford's Thursday chat wrap in SportsNation.

Now you know how the Bulls inherited that pungent odor over the years.

After six years of misery and the league's worst record over that time, the real question is … can the Bulls be fixed?

New GM John Paxson has taken some positive steps in that direction over the past year. But has it been enough? Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry are still on the Bulls roster. They represent the dark days and seem to have the ability to take down anyone else that Paxson has on the roster.

As tough as it is to trade two 22-year-old 7-footers with such upside … it's probably time. You can only say, "Wait until next year" so many times.

However, how the Bulls do it is critical. Fire sales won't save the franchise. They have to get the right pieces back in return.

Insider poured over depth charts and salary-cap information and sought the advice of a few NBA general managers to give you the five things the Bulls must do to turn the franchise around.


FORD'S BULLS FIXER-UPPER

STEP 1: Trade Tyson Chandler
Putting Chandler on the top of the list might be controversial, but hear me out. The Bulls need to trade Chandler first because, in certain situations, he may have more value. Chandler has the size and the work ethic GMs want. Skill-wise, he's behind Curry considerably, but many GMs and coaches believe those things can still be taught as long as the attitude is right.
There are several places that would be good homes for Chandler.


The Nuggets have to be at the top of the list. Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe has a thing for Chandler and he's proven over the years (just ask Dirk Nowitzki) that he knows how to help big men hone their skills. Though Vandeweghe denies he's had in trade talks with the Bulls concerning Chandler, that doesn't mean it won't happen in the near future.

How will Paxson, left, shake the Bulls' out of their latest season-opening slumber?
Swapping Chandler for Nene Hilario and Voshon Lenard (whose contract expires at the end of the season) makes sense for both teams. It gives the Bulls a tough, blue-collar big man who has huge upside and gives the Nuggets a bigger, longer center who can run the floor and crash the boards. Nene, for all of his upside, is a little undersized to play the five in the West. Chandler, especially if he continues to add pounds, isn't. Chandler also seems more willing than Nene to come off the bench at this point in his career.


The Clippers are willing to part with Chris Wilcox. Put him in a trade with Zeljko Rebraca for Chandler (or Curry for that matter) and the Bulls walk out of this with an athletic big man who was averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds a game before Chris Kaman came back.

The Sixers have buried Samuel Dalembert on the bench because he doesn't fit new head coach Jim O'Brien's defensive schemes. A Dalembert-and-Kenny Thomas (whom O'Brien is also not fond of) for Chandler-and-Othella Harrington deal works under the cap.

STEP 2: Trade Eddy Curry
By now you know the drill. Why trade a 6-foot-11 center with upside when his trade value has never been lower? Here's why: The folks who are making that argument have made it for two straight seasons. Curry can lose weight and attend practice all he wants. He can't change who he is. The draft report on Curry was dead on. He's a talented low-post scorer with highly questionable motivation. Those are the two constants that have never changed and won't change as long as he's in Chicago.
He's a big man who doesn't rebound because he doesn't try. He doesn't defend because of effort, not a lack of talent. Curry hasn't gotten the message these last four years. If he can't get it in a contract year – when exactly is it going to happen?

Waiting around for Curry to increase his trade value isn't how Paxson needs to approach rebuilding his team. The Bulls can't wait that long. Besides, someone desperate for a big man will offer Curry too much money next summer. The Bulls rightfully will balk at matching it – but then they would lose him with nothing to show for it..

Curry might have more upside than Chandler, but his trade value is lower because teams worry that a change of scenery won't be enough. So don't expect them to land a dominant big man in return.

Almost all the trade scenarios that we suggest for Chandler could also apply to Curry, but there are a few others that bear mentioning.


The Warriors could use some low-post scoring. Adonal Foyle is only good for rebounding and shot blocking and Troy Murphy scores most of his buckets 10 or more feet away from the basket. Now that the Warriors have committed to Jason Richardson, they could offer Mickael Pietrus (whom the Bulls almost selected instead of Kirk Hinrich) and rookie Andris Biedrins to the Bulls in a deal I'm pretty sure the Bulls would jump at. Pietrus is the type of aggressive backcourt defender head coach Scott Skiles is pining for. Biedrins is an intriguing young big man from Latvia who shows toughness and rebounding in the paint.

The Sonics have needed a big guy who could draw a double team in the post for a while. As good as the Sonics shooters are, they usually have to take shots with hands in their faces. Would a combo of Jerome James, Vladimir Radmanovic, Nick Collison and Ronald Murray for Curry, Eric Piatkowski and Othella Harrington be enough to persuade Paxson? That's a lot for the Sonics to give up, but until they find a legit center, it's tough to imagine how this team continues to be a contender in the West. Nate McMillan would be the perfect type of coach for Curry. Plus, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis would handle the burden of carrying the team, not Curry.

The Grizzlies have been the team most openly courting Curry. The Bulls could get Bonzi Wells for him, but that kind of defeats the point. Because of contract issues Mike Miller and Shane Battier are much more difficult to include in any deal and Stromile Swift is untradeable this year since he's on a one-year tender contract.

Gordon, a scorer at UConn, is finding it hard to create his own shot in the NBA.

STEP 3: Trade Ben Gordon
This is a really tough call. After a miserable preseason, Gordon finally is coming around. He had back-to-back 20-point games last week and was big in the fourth quarter Wednesday night against the Lakers. In other words, Gordon is showing signs that he'll be as good as the Bulls thought he would be when they drafted him with the No. 3 overall pick last summer.
The issue with Gordon is this: He's not a great fit in the Bulls backcourt with Hinrich. He needs to be on the floor with a big point guard or he needs to make the transition from a 'two' to a 'one'. Neither is likely to happen as long as Hinrich is around.

Rookies can't be traded until Dec. 15th, but after that they're fair game.

If the Bulls take the first option in Step One (Chandler to Denver for Nene) and the first option of Step Two (Curry to Golden State for Pietrus and Biedrins), they're left pretty thin in the frontcourt and pretty stacked in the backcourt.

The Clippers were very interested in Gordon during the draft and are still looking for a long-term replacement for Quentin Richardson, who fled to the Suns in free agency. Gordon would be a perfect fit. The Clippers' pair of point guards, Marko Jaric and Shaun Livingston, are both big enough to guard 'twos' on the other end making, Gordon less of a liability. The Clippers could use Gordon's scoring and shooting in the backcourt.

As we mentioned in the Chandler part of the piece, the Clippers' Wilcox is available and would be a great fit on the Bulls front line. A trade of Gordon and Frank Williams for Wilcox, Rebraca and the Clippers' No. 1 next year works under the cap. Again, this isn't as crucial as trading Curry and Chandler, but it would help balance out the team.


STEP 4: Bring back Toni Kukoc
One of the most critical mistakes former GM Jerry Krause made during his tenure was trading away all of his veterans and leaving the rookies to fend for themselves. The 1999 Bulls had seven rookies on the team. This year's version has six.

Would Kukoc's (with the ball) return to the Bulls be another key to the puzzle of rebuilding the team?
Paxson has done his best to bring in veterans like Antonio Davis and Scottie Pippen. However, Pippen retired prematurely this summer and Davis can't do it alone. This year, the Bulls aren't in much better shape. They are the third-youngest team in the league and in desperate need of a veteran voice or two in the huddle.

Seasoned veterans are in high demand these days, but there is one voice from the past that could work out – the Bucks' Kukoc. Kukoc is on a team going nowhere. Kukoc is injured at the moment with a right hip strain, but the injury isn't considered serious.

Kukoc is one of the few remaining voices from the Bulls' invincible years. Although he doesn't have much left to add on the court, he could still be a valuable mentor to the rest of the team. The Bucks might jump on a swap that gave them a live body like Othella Harrington.

If the Bulls made the moves we suggested here, they could end up with a roster that looks like this.


Point Guard: Kirk Hinrich, Chris Duhon

Shooting Guard: Mickael Pietrus, Eric Piatkowski

Small Forward: Luol Deng, Andres Nocioni, Adrian Griffin

Power Forward: Chris Wilcox, Toni Kukoc

Center: Nene, Antonio Davis, Andris Biedrins


STEP 5: Stick with a plan
If Paxson could pull off those moves, the Bulls would still be very young, but at least they'd have all the elements you look for in a team on the rise. All of their players would be good defenders with athleticism and excellent work ethics. Most of them come from winning situations.
They'd have a legit point guard in Hinrich. One of the better on the ball defenders in the league in Pietrus. Backcourt depth with Duhon and Piatkowski (and Deng who can play the two in a pinch). And perimeter shooting from both Hinrich and Piatkowski.

The frontcourt also has promise. Deng not only can score, but he can rebound and defend at the small forward position. He's also got great size. Nocioni can play three positions and is probably a better fit coming off the bench to spell Deng and Wilcox. He's so tough around the basket that he'll be able to make up for some of his size issues.

Wilcox has shown signs that he could turn into a big time power forward this year. He's got good size, great athleticism and plays with tremendous energy.

Nene has the length, athleticism and toughness to be a star. He might be a little undersized to play center, but in the East it shouldn't matter much. He's so long and explosive that he plays much bigger than he really is.

Davis doesn't have a lot left in his tank &but he's still good for 20 minutes a night. Ditto for Kukoc. Biedrins will take time to develop, but he eventually would allow Nene to move to the 'four' and give the Bulls a more formidable front line.

None of these moves will be easy to consummate. The Nuggets might decide they can't take the risk on Chandler. The Warriors, who are trying to instill the proper attitude and work ethic on their young team, might feel that they can't gamble on Curry. The Clippers, who are always trying to save a buck or two are more likely to bite, in part, because it will be three more years before Gordon asks for another contract.

Making all of these moves won't solve all the Bulls' problems. The team is still young and will go through growing pains. But at least Paxson has the chance to set the proper foundation for the first time in years. The team we're proposing has toughness, character and balance – something the Bulls just haven't had the last six years.

It might take a year or two for them to realize their potential … but when the do, the days of laughing at the Bulls will be over for a long, long time.

Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

Suns sport great balance inside, outside

By Brian James
ESPN Insider

For the second straight week, a member of the Phoenix Suns has been selected as the Western Conference Player of the Week. This time, forward Shawn Marion is honored; last week, it was center Amare Stoudemire.

Entering play Wednesday against LeBron James and the Cavaliers, the Suns are off to a rousing 12-2 start under second-year coach Mike D'Antoni. After he was promoted from assistant coach to replace Frank Johnson in December last season, D'Antoni guided the Suns to a 29-53 finish. They were the league's youngest team that had to endure a coaching change and an overhaul after the eight-player blockbuster that sent Stephon Marbury to the Knicks on Jan. 5.

Much of the turnaround in the Suns' fortunes this season can be attributed to better chemistry and a lot more confidence. But the primary reason is the get-up-and-go playmaking ability of free-agent acquisition Steve Nash.

The Suns lead the NBA in scoring at 106.4 points per game, almost four points higher than any other team in scoring. This team runs better than any other. They get the ball to Nash and the wings sprint down the floor like it's a track meet.

The Suns also leads the league in point differential at 11.7, which coaches view as a huge statistic in separating the good teams from the bad. They shoot well as a team (47-percent from the field).

Another key is the way the Suns have been able to be effective inside and outside. They have converted 43 more 3-pointers than opponents (104-61) and yet have 61 more free-throw attempts than foes (343-282).

This proves how aggressive offensively this team is. The Suns also have the best "spurt ability" of any team.


Stoudemire excels at getting the 'easy' basket.
An example of this occurred in a recent game against the Clippers. In less than six minutes, the Suns erased a nine-point deficit to take a 16-point lead.

At the end of close games they put five players on the floor who can score. They have big guards who can post. A key for the guards is that they are also very good rebounders.

Quentin Richardson averages 6.0 rpg and Joe Johnson chips in with 4.6 rpg. This reminds me of the great Piston teams of 1989 and 1990 with Joe Dumars and Vinnie Johnson getting all the long rebounds.

Nash, Johnson, Richardson, Marion, and Stoudemire have developed into a very good starting and finishing unit.

The bench of Leandro Barbosa, Casey Jacobsen, Maciej Lampe, Jackson Vroman, Jake Voskuhl, Steven Hunter, and recently re-acquired fan favorite Bo Outlaw understand their roles and have all played well.

Their big men are serviceable, enthusiastic and play with high energy. Barbosa is lightning quick as the back-up point guard.

On defense, the Suns do not want to be strung out. In fact, they like to pack it in the paint and don't extend. Their goal is to keep their men in front of you and make them hit perimeter shots.

Nash is always thinking one pass ahead of the defender who rotates to the corner in penetration. He can make the unorthodox pass to wide-open shooters. Defenders can't keep him out of the lane. He is simply the best at penetration and pitching to shooters. Nash runs at high speed but, amazingly, has comparatively few turnovers.

He leads the NBA in assists (11.4 apg) and his assists-to-turnover ratio is 3.24, good for 12th in the league. He's also shooting an incredible 56-percent from the floor.


Suns coach D'Antoni has the ideal quarterback in Nash (right).
Last season the Suns could not finish games. This year they feel Nash will get the team a great shot when they need one. Now the team's confidence is extremely high. He has brought it confidence in crisis, on the road especially.

Last year, the Suns had just 16 road victories; the year before, they had 27. The playoffs-tested savvy that Nash brings helps execution down the stretch.

Marion has the NBA's most-explosive "second jump" – the ability to leap, come down and leap again faster than normal players. His 12.3 rpg average (third in the NBA) is proof enough. Sometimes I feel he is throwing the ball up on the rim so he can go get how own rebound and finish.

Last year many people felt Marion shot too many 3s and not enough free throws; he was avoiding contact. This year, he is much more aggressive with 56 3-point attempts and 45 free-throw attempts.

Stoudemire has to lead the league in dunks. His stats are off the charts with a 56.2 FG percentage, averaging 26.0 points (fourth in the NBA), and 9.1 rpg. Stoudemire has such an advantage because he is so quick at the pinch post "elbow" area. When he is making the jump shot, Stoudamire is unguardable.

Then if you play up on him, he shot fakes and drives by you. He also has huge hands, which easily enable the one-handed dunks. With his fast-break baskets, free throws, and offensive stick back scores, the coaches feel all he has to make are four or five jump shots and he can get you 30 points a night.

Either the Sacramento Kings or the Suns will win the Pacific Division. If healthy, the Suns' goal has changed.

Instead of being satisfied of just making the playoffs, they are now battling for home-court advantage. If the All-Stars were chosen by the coaches today, Nash, Marion and Stoudamire would all be on the team.


The Extremes of Big Passers

It is very rare to have forwards or centers who can step out of the paint, face the basket and make positive decisions. The following big men I feel are the best at being able to have the offense run through them. An easy statistic to compare is their assist-to-turnover ratio. Can you trust these guys to have the ball in their hands, especially in critical possessions?

1. Chris Webber, Kings: He has a 2.28 ATO ratio, 41st-best in the NBA and perhaps the best among power forwards. He averages 5.1 apg.

2. Brad Miller, Kings: Webber's teammate and center is another excellent big-man "quarterback", with a 3.00 ATO that ranks 17th in the league.

3. Vlade Divac, Lakers: The injured veteran has only 2 assists and 2 turnovers this season, but over his career has been tremendous. Divac, a former King, is one of the top passing centers ever to play the game. In his 16th season, he has a 1.43 career ATO average.

4. Marcus Camby, Nuggets: One of his biggest strengths is his passing ability. This season, he has a 1.13 ATO. He is the "swing" man at the top of the floor in the Nuggets' early offense.

5. Tim Duncan, Spurs: "Mr. Everything" would just as soon get an assist as opposed to score. His ATO is only 0.95 thus far, but in recent years he's established himself as an efficient ballhandler.

6. Shaquille O'Neal, Heat: The only true low-post center on this list. Everybody wants to talk about his physical size, offensive strength down low, or his poor accurate free-throw shooting. What people don't realize is that Shaq is an excellent passer. He's had an ATO of at least 1.0 for the past five seasons entering this one.

On the other hand, an example of a center that has room to improve would be the Bulls' Eddy Curry.

Eddy Curry
Center
Chicago Bulls
Profile


2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
9 13.7 6.6 0.9 .459 .657



In his first nine games, Curry has an ATO ratio of 0.3; he has 31 turnovers and just eight assists. That hurts, even though he's averaging a double-double in points and rebounds.

What can he do to improve?

Entering the NBA straight out of high school, Curry did not have the training of college or European leagues to work against being doubled in the post.

You have to learn to evaluate how and where the double teams are coming from, and how and when to pass out of them. This might take multiple seasons to conquer. Some never achieve what the best big passing men have accomplished.


Marquee Matchup

The Pacers at Kings' game on Friday (ESPN, 10:30 p.m. ET) will feature a battle of fine point guards: the Pacers' Jamaal Tinsley vs. the Kings' Mike Bibby.

This season, each player is a go-to-guy hitting big shots in the fourth quarter. This is usually the dimension of a big man down low in the post.

Bibby has started off slower this season than in past years, although his assists are up over last season's (5.9 apg compared to 5.4 apg).

Mike Bibby
Guard
Sacramento Kings
Profile


2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
14 16.4 4.1 5.8 .444 .783



Bibby is one of the best in screen-roll situations. In preparing to play the Kings, coaches every day have to discuss first how to keep Bibby under control in the screen-roll.

He is also excellent in the Kings "Tug Ear" series, where Bibby, Webber, and Predrag Stojakovic play a three-man game on the strong side of the court. When Bibby plays well, the Kings usually win. When he doesn't, they lose.

Tinsley has played incredible basketball and stepped his game up since the suspension of the Pacers' top-three scorers – Jermaine O'Neal, Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson.

Jamaal Tinsley
Guard
Indiana Pacers
Profile


2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
13 13.5 4.5 8.1 .400 .698



The pressure is on him to produce at a higher level. Tinsley has even played better now that he has to score and put up huge numbers in points, assists, and steals.

He is getting to be a piranha on defense. Tinsley is definitely the motor that drives this team during this pivotal stretch for the Pacers.

One key statistic that demonstrates how he is delivering the ball to teammates in their "sweet spots: He is fourth in the NBA in assists with an 8.3 average, while the team is only 25th getting 19.1 per contest.

Everyone else on the Pacer roster only contributes 11 assists per game.

Brian James, a former assistant coach with the Pistons, Raptors and Wizards, is a regular contributor to Insider.

The Sixers have buried Samuel Dalembert on the bench because he doesn't fit new head coach Jim O'Brien's defensive schemes. A Dalembert-and-Kenny Thomas (whom O'Brien is also not fond of)

how about this?

New York trades: SF Tim Thomas (9.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.6 apg in 24.9 minutes)
C Kurt Thomas (11.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 1.5 apg in 35.3 minutes)
PF Vin Baker (0.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.0 apg in 7.0 minutes)
New York receives: Glenn Robinson (No games yet played in 2004/05)
PF Kenny Thomas (7.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 0.9 apg in 24.5 minutes)
C Samuel Dalembert (4.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.5 apg in 19.2 minutes)
Change in team outlook: -9.1 ppg, -3.7 rpg, and -0.7 apg.

Philadelphia trades: Glenn Robinson (No games yet played in 2004/05)
PF Kenny Thomas (7.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 0.9 apg in 24.5 minutes)
C Samuel Dalembert (4.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.5 apg in 19.2 minutes)
Philadelphia receives: SF Tim Thomas (9.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.6 apg in 24.9 minutes)
C Kurt Thomas (11.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 1.5 apg in 35.3 minutes)
PF Vin Baker (0.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.0 apg in 7.0 minutes)
Change in team outlook: +9.1 ppg, +3.7 rpg, and +0.7 apg.

TRADE ACCEPTED

I'd do that in a heart beat but philly is totally raped on this one.

Big dog is an expiring contract, kenny a nice guy to have and dalembert a very hot commodity at C.

we offer then a good pf, an overpaid sf and a rejuvenated "but nobody saw it yet" vin baker.

i don't see them doing that.