[draft] Hornets looking to cash in again at No. 18
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Hornets looking to cash in again at No. 18
West, Magloire mined from that area of draft
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
By Jimmy Smith
Staff writer
In the three decades since expansion has forced growth of
the NBA draft, never has one team picked in the 18th
position in the first round in successive seasons.
Until now.
Barring a move in Thursday night's draft, the Hornets will
become the first team to make back-to-back selections in
the 18th spot.
"Does that mean that we get a bonus pick?" Hornets general
manager Allan Bristow wondered this week.
Not likely.
What it does mean, however, is that the Hornets could be
attempting to hit the jackpot for the second consecutive year
by picking a player such as last year's first-round pick David
West.
It isn't that easy, of course.
Historically, when a team chooses that low in the first round
of a two-round draft, landing a player who can make a lasting
contribution is the exception rather than the rule.
The Hornets have gotten lucky twice recently.
In 2000, the team chose center Jamaal Magloire with the 19th
pick of the draft.
Magloire has blossomed into one of the NBA's elite centers, and
made his All-Star debut this past season.
In his rookie season, it was evident West is a keeper. He averaged
3.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in the regular season. In the
playoffs, West averaged 5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds.
"You look at what has happened in the past, and you've got to make
sure you've done your homework," said Bristow. "Look at David West.
We feel very fortunate to have drafted him at 18 last year. Then
you look at Big Cat (Magloire), and we've had two really good
players who we've drafted right there in that range."
Not everyone who has drafted in the 18th spot, though, has been as
fortunate. Or as well-prepared.
The roster of those selected at 18 in the first round isn't exactly
a list of the NBA's greatest players.
In the past 20 NBA drafts, the player chosen in that spot who has
made the greatest impact was Joe Dumars.
Dumars was selected by the Detroit Pistons 18th in 1985 and enjoyed
a 14-year NBA career in which he averaged 16 points and helped the
Pistons to championships in 1989 and 1990 before moving into the
front office. This season, he built Detroit into a champion again.
Several other notable players in the past two decades have been
chosen 18th: Chicago's B.J. Armstrong (1989), Mark Jackson (Knicks,
1987) and Theo Ratliff (Detroit, 1995), who has become of the NBA's
best shot-blockers.
Yet, for every one of those rare success stories, there are two or
three others who were forgettable choices: Tracy Murray, Luther
Wright, LaBradford Smith, Rick Berry, Mark Alarie.
"You've got to have luck," Bristow said, "but you've got to do your
preparation work, too. It's rare to have 18 or 19 players in a draft
make an impact. So someone in front of you has to make a mistake.
"Without mistakes in front of you, it's difficult to succeed at the
18th or 19th spot. And I'm talking about a player the caliber of a
David West or a Jamaal Magloire. There are always guys who fall
through the cracks. But as a rule, it's not a high percentage. So
there's got to be some mistakes in front of you."
Bristow said the Hornets have identified about seven players they
might be interested in at the 18th spot.
"We've got a half dozen or so scenarios," Bristow said, "and they
range in all different shapes and sizes, all with different
birthdays.
"We've got two high-schoolers, two international players, an
underclassman and a couple of seniors."
And for the second consecutive year, one chance to succeed in the
same spot.
. . . . . . .
Jimmy Smith can be reached at jsmith@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3814.
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