[新聞] Magic go for youth movement
From Orlando Sentinel
http://tinyurl.com/229ll
附帶一提，目前Orlando Sentinel上面有投票，目前多數網友對於我
們狀元的人選都是持正面看法的(62.4%)
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Magic go for youth movement
Orlando gambles on a high schooler's potential rather than
taking UConn star center Emeka Okafor.
By Tim Povtak | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted June 25, 2004
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Dwight Howard wore a dark blue suit, blue shirt and a tie
speckled in shades of blue.
Magic colors.
Howard was trying to will his way to Orlando. "I was," he
said.
Howard was taken by the Magic with the first pick in the NBA
draft Thursday night, but he had no clue if he'd end up in
Orlando or Charlotte until Commissioner David Stern announced
his name.
"I had no indication," Howard said. "I was surprised."
The Magic had kept it a secret after finally deciding to pick
Howard over Emeka Okafor around 1 a.m. Thursday, ending a
drawn-out debate with a unanimous vote, gambling that the
Atlanta high school player will become a superstar power forward.
He'll lead a major rebuilding plan that also features College
Player of the year Jameer Nelson, whom the Magic acquired in
a trade with the Denver Nuggets by giving up a future first-
round pick.
Only 5-11, Nelson didn't get selected until the 20th pick and
says he has something to prove. "I have a little chip on my
shoulder -- make that a big chip," he said.
The Magic called Aaron Goodwin, Howard's agent, around 4 p.m.
to tell him the good news.
But Goodwin wanted the first of many surprises in Howard's
NBA career to feel natural, to be unforgettable.
Goodwin kept it himself.
"I couldn't sleep. I couldn't think. I couldn't eat," Howard
said. "I think the only thing I ate all day was two pieces
of pineapple.
"[Goodwin] was telling me it was 50-50. I don't know Dwight,
I don't know.' I said, 'Oh, man.' He was like, 'Let's just
wait for tonight.' "
Then Stern said Howard's name, and Goodwin got the desired
effect: Howard stood, raised his arms and was overcome with
emotion. The Georgia kid who decided in ninth grade he wanted
to be an NBA player and later the top draft pick, got his
night in the sun.
Howard, 6-foot-10 1/4 and 240 pounds, won out over Okafor,
6-10, 257. Okafor had more experience, playing three years
at Connecticut. He was named the defensive player of the year
in college basketball as a junior last season, and seemed to
answer Orlando's largest need.
"I'm not in their shoes," Okafor said. "They were looking for
certain things."
But Magic General Weisbrod said when you have the No. 1 pick,
"It's your responsibility to take the best player. Our guys
had the conviction to take the best player. We didn't want to
be short-sighted."
Okafor was bothered by a stress fracture in his back, and also
had a knee problem last season. Weisbrod admitted that Okafor's
health was an issue, adding, "Obviously the medical situation
had to factor into it in some degree. But it was more about
Dwight's skill."
Howard starred at Atlanta Southwest Christian Academy, a school
with just 300 students. He knows the eyes are on him, but he
says, "I don't feel any pressure. I'm willing to take the hits.
I'll overcome it.
"I'm glad to be in the league. I was just waiting for that
magical moment."
A magical surprise.
Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com.
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