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Daily draft dose: All the latest dirt
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Here are the latest rumors and happenings surrounding the 2000 NBA draft (through June 28):
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Dallas Mavericks have acquired Orlando's 13th pick in the 2000 NBA draft in exchange for cash and a possible first-round choice in 2001, sources within the NBA have confirmed to ESPN.com. The estimated price is $3 million for the pick. Dallas would then have the 12th and 13th pick, where the Mavericks are expected to choose a point guard and a forward.
The move comes after the Magic and Los Angeles Clippers couldn't finalize a blockbuster trade late Tuesday night to get high school senior Darius Miles, top league sources confirmed.
The Magic were talking about shipping their No. 5 and 10 picks, Derek Strong and Corey Maggette to the Clippers for the No. 3 pick. They would then take Miles with the third choice.
League sources said the talks went until 2 a.m. ET before they broke down, mainly over Strong.
Trades cannot occur between 2 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, but can resume during the two-round draft. Teams can talk about trades, but can't complete them during the moratorium.
If the trade is dead, the Clippers will likely keep the No. 3 pick and could still pick Miles over Iowa State's Marcus Fizer. The Clippers are apparently deciding between the two, with the draft just hours away.
Meanwhile, sources said the Magic have talked about trading their 13th pick to Dallas. But the Magic covet Miles and if they can't get higher in the draft, then they will face a tough situation at No. 5. If the Clippers take Miles at No. 3 and the Bulls take Chris Mihm of Texas at No. 4, then the Magic would have to decide between Fizer and/or Florida's Mike Miller.
The Magic are confident they can land top free agents like Grant Hill and/or Eddie Jones or Tim Duncan while also possible working a
sign-and-trade deal by giving Ron Mercer to Toronto for Tracy McGrady.
Detroit has approached Boston about trading up to No. 11 to get one of the top two point guards -- either Michigan's Jamal Crawford or Missouri's Keyon Dooling.
Other last-minute developments
Blazers still talking trade: Sources have confirmed that Portland is once again pursuing a trade up to No. 7 with Chicago. The Blazers are still dangling Jermaine O'Neal as trade bait. If the Blazers can get to No. 7, their options are either to go big with Mihm or Minnesota's Joel Przybilla or go with a point guard in Crawford.
If Crawford is available at No. 10, the Magic might steal him away from either the Celtics and Mavericks. Orlando also could take Crawford at 13 and grab him away from the Pistons (who have the No. 14 pick).
Cavaliers not on guard: The biggest gamble in ESPN.com's final mock draft might have been letting Przybilla drop to Boston at No. 11. Sources close to the Cavaliers said they are deciding between Przybilla and Fresno State guard Courtney Alexander. Tuesday's trade of Bob Sura indicated Cleveland might be shifting toward picking a guard. However, if Przybilla is still on the board, the Cavs might have to rethink their plans.
Houston is also high on Przybilla and might not let him slip past them at No. 9. Orlando could take him at No. 10, too. The Rockets are also looking at Cincinnati's DerMarr Johnson if he's available but are still high on UCLA's Jerome Moiso.
Boston would take Moiso if he's on the board over Fresno, Calif., high school senior DeShawn Stevenson, Dooling and DePaul's Quentin Richardson.
Who's dropping? There's still a chance Moiso and Alexander could be available late in the lottery from picks 11-13. But neither one would fall out
of the lottery. The Mavericks could face an interesting scenario if Alexander is available.
Seattle will grab Syracuse's Etan Thomas if he's on the board at No. 17. The Bucks are down to Oklahoma State's Desmond Mason, Richardson, Michigan State's Morris Peterson and any of the remaining top three point guards -- Crawford, Dooling and Michigan State's Mateen Cleaves -- at No. 15. Turkish forward Hidayet Turkoglu is becoming a possibility for the Clippers at No. 18.
Carrawell opts for a workout: Duke's Chris Carrawell skipped out at being at the draft and instead went to Charlotte for a workout Tuesday. The Hornets are deciding between Carrawell and Kentucky center Jamaal Magloire.
Late rush for Indian Hills pair: The word Wednesday was Indiana brought back Indian Hills (Iowa) CC center Ernest Brown for a second workout and could take him at No. 27 instead of Georgia Tech's Jason Collier. Meanwhile, the Lakers were considering Brown's teammate, guard Cory Hightower, instead of Stanford's Mark Madsen at No. 29.
Richardson wanting Boston? Richardson said the best situation for him would be in Boston, Orlando or Sacramento. But he liked the Celtics
because they're not settled on a two guard.
Alexander's pick is Chicago: Alexander said he thinks he's going anywhere from No. 3 to No. 8. But the Bulls would be his best spot.
"That's the most ideal place for me," Alexander said. "The opportunities on and off the court are there. They're an up-and-coming team,
and they'll be much stronger through free agency and the draft."
Mihm not pleased with rumors: Mihm was criticized for his workouts, and he's not buying it.
"Rumors were flying around on the internet and in newspapers but I worked out hard for New Jersey, Chicago and Orlando," Mihm said.
"Negativity sells at times and everyone looks for a story. I'm used to it. I put myself in a good position. I don't see myself falling as far as seven. I
put myself in a good position to go high."
Martin says his leg is OK: Despite reports that he needed more surgery, Martin said he'll be ready to go in the fall.
"I'm ready by October. I'll be fine. I don't care what everybody else says," Martin said. "(New Jersey) could put me down on the low block and
score. They're lacking a low-post presence. I can get out and run with Steph (Marbury)."
Martin still can't believe that he could be the No. 1 pick.
"I don't know too many people that got hurt who have the chance to be the No. 1 pick," Martin said. "They must be looking at my year."
Why DerMarr? Johnson believes his slashing and driving to the basket has made a difference in his stock rising in the draft.
"At Cincinnati, the only thing they saw me was as a shooter," Johnson said. "In the workouts, I showed I could handle the ball."
ESPN.com's Andy Katz will be checking in with the latest draft news leading up to the event tonight at 7:30 ET.
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