Updated: June 26, 8:55 PM ET
Pick-by-pick analysis
By Chad Ford
ESPN.com
Follow along as ESPN Insider Chad Ford provides analysis of each team's draft selections in the first and second rounds.
| 1. Cavaliers | SELECTION |
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LeBron James | SF | 6-8, 240 | St. Mary/St. Vincent (Ohio) H.S. Ford's Take: The party actually started in Cleveland weeks ago. Will he be the Cavs savior? It depends upon who GM Jim Paxson gives him to play with. As good as Lebron is, he can't play one on five. Are Ricky Davis, Darius Miles and Dajuan Wagner the right running mates? Can LeBron handle the pressure of turning around the franchise? The interviews? The hype? The large target placed squarely on his chest? No one in recent history has come into the league with more talent and more expectations. If he actually lives up to it all, then we actually had him underrated as a human being. |
| 2. Pistons | SELECTION |
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Darko Milicic | PF | 7-0 | Serbia Ford's Take: Darko is really one of a kind. He runs the floor, handles the ball, shoots the NBA 3 and plays with his back to the basket, so you can slot him in at the 3, 4 or 5 positions. OK, a few other guys can do that too; what sets Darko apart is his toughness in the post. You have to love a guy who has the footwork to spin by an opponent but still prefers to lower a shoulder and bang. Fact is, Milicic plays in attack-mode at both ends of the floor. The more you push, the more he pushes back. While he won't be asked to carry the Pistons, he's capable earlier than you think. |
| 3. Nuggets | SELECTION |
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Carmelo Anthony | SF | 6-8 | Syracuse Ford's Take: Of the top three, Carmelo is the most accomplished. He will be a dominant NBA scorer. Every time scouts begin talking about him, the names of Antoine Walker and Glenn Robinson are evoked. That's not bad company. But is he the guy to turn the Nuggets around. Combine him with Nene Hilario and you have a start. But the Nuggets need a lot of help. Carmelo can score 20 points a night, but the team won't win unless guys like Gilbert Arenas and Corey Maggette decide to join him in free agency this summer. |
| 4. Raptors | SELECTION |
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Chris Bosh | PF | 6-11 | Georgia Tech Ford's Take: The Raptors tried to trade this pick, but couldn't find any takers. Bosh was the next best player on the board. At his size and with his skill set, his upside is Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett. The Raptors have to be patient, but he'll be worth it. He exceeded expectations during his freshman year and several NBA GMs think he'll do it again. He's already gained 15 pounds of muscle since he left his school. Once he gets stronger physically, I think the Big Three of the draft will be the Big Four. |
| 5. Heat | SELECTION |
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Dwyane Wade | SG | 6-5 | Marquette Ford's Take: The first big shocker of the draft. Pat Riley really wanted a player who could contribute right away. Wade can play in the backcourt with Eddie Jones. He's got a good handle and can play point at times. He's got a great first step and is a solid defender. He's one of the most mature players in the draft. The biggest issue? The Heat desperately need a good shooter in the backcourt. For all of Wade's strengths, he isn't a good long range shooter. Interesting pick. Obviously, by passing on Chris Kaman and Maciej Lampe, Riley doesn't like projects. |
| 6. Clippers | SELECTION |
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Chris Kaman | C | 7-0 | Central Michigan Ford's Take: Not a surprise. The Clips know Michael Olowokandi is leaving, no free agents are coming in and Kaman was the only guy who could play center on the board. Great. But what will they do with him? Kaman didn't really want to play there and his style of game doesn't really fit the players they have there. I understand the pick, but I don't agree with it. |
| 7. Bulls | SELECTION |
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Kirk Hinrich | PG | 6-5 | Kansas Ford's Take: Interesting. Did the Bulls make this pick because they're convinced Jay Williams is done. Or did they make this pick for someone else. There's no other real explanation. Hinrich has the ability to play alongside Jamal Crawford, but is he better than Mickael Pietrus? Pietrus is a better defender, a better athlete and has more upside. Hinrich could be a great player. But the fit is weird especially if Williams comes back. |
| 8. Bucks | SELECTION |
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T. J. Ford | PG | 6-0 | Texas Ford's Take: Ford is the best playmaker in the draft. The big question of the night? Does Ernie Grunfeld like him? Or is it Michael Jordan that's in love? Either way this has to signal that at least one of the Bucks guards, either Gary Payton or Sam Cassell is gone. Ford's shooting won't be an issue in Milwaukee since several other players shoot it so well. And his defense? Does anyone in Milwaukee play that? |
| 9. Knicks | SELECTION |
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Michael Sweetney | PF | 6-8 | Georgetown Ford's Take: Just what the Knicks need, another undersized center. Sweetney joins Antonio McDyess, Kurt Thomas, Clarence Weatherspoon and Othella Harrington in the crowded Knicks front court. If McDyess's injury is still a problem, this pick makes more sense. If he's healthy, why did they pass on a big kid like Maciej Lampe who could play the three, four or five. |
| 10. Wizards | SELECTION |
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Jarvis Hayes | SG | 6-7 | Georgia Ford's Take: We've heard this for the past 24 hours. The Wizards felt they needed a shooter and Hayes is one of the best shooters in the draft. He's got the NBA body and he's a great athlete, but he's a little one dimensional. Obviously this pick signals that the Wizards plan to do something with their backcourt. Jerry Stackhouse, Larry Hughes and Juan Dixon also play the same position. There isn't enough room for all four. |
| 11. Warriors | SELECTION |
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Mickael Pietrus | SG | 6-6 | France Ford's Take: Typical Warriors. Every year they draft someone who happens to play the same position of one of their best players. Last year it was Mike Dunleavy who played the same position as Antawn Jamison. Pietrus was one of the best players on the board, but where does he fit in with Jason Richardson, Jiri Welsch and Mike Dunleavy. He is a good defender and is great in the open floor, but without a trade, he's stuck in a pretty long line in Golden State. |
| 12. Sonics | SELECTION |
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Nick Collison | PF | 6-9 | Kansas Ford's Take: Ugh. We knew they loved him, but I know more than one Sonics fan hoped he was off the board. They needed a low post banger or someone with great size in the post who could also run the floor. Collison has none of that. He was one of my favorite college players, but I really wonder how he'll translate that into a good pro career. Who does he guard? Can he back down anyone? Will he command double teams in the post? The Sonics love him. I'm not sure I do. I would've preferred Illinois' Brian Cook. |
| 13. Grizzlies | SELECTION |
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Marcus Banks | PG | 6-1 | UNLV Ford's Take: O.K. What's going on? The Grizzlies need a two and a low post player and they take their fourth point guard in the lottery? Some folks love Banks because of his athleticism and his ability to get to the basket. But does he beat out Jason Williams and Earl Watson (West's favorite last year)? If he doesn't I'm not sure how you justify this pick. At this time you've got to believe that there are either a lot of trades we don't now about or everyone is playing Noah this year -- stockpiling on two of everything. |
| 14. Sonics | SELECTION |
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Luke Ridnour | PG | 6-1 | Oregon Ford's Take: They took Ridnour for his offense, but he can't guard anyone. Neither can Collison. His upside is interesting, but his lack of size, strength, and defensive ability makes you really wonder if Ridnour can handle starting duties next year. Remember, Kevin Ollie is the only other real point guard they have on the roster. |
| 15. Magic | SELECTION |
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Reece Gaines | PG | 6-6 | Louisville Ford's Take: This is the guy they wanted all along. Doc Rivers loves big point guards, especially ones that can shoot the rock. This is the first pick that has made sense since the Raptors took Bosh at No. 4. Great pick for Orlando. |
| 16. Celtics | SELECTION |
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Troy Bell | PG | 6-2 | Boston College Ford's Take: Who's taking the crazy pills? I know the Celtics need a point guard and in their system he doesn't need to be a pure type of point guard, but this is a pretty big reach here at No. 16. Bell is a good player and ranked as the top athlete in the draft. He can shoot and he'll put up numbers, but couldn't they have gotten him at No. 26? |
