HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

THE PLAYOFF PICTURE

EAST

#8 Bucks [32-33] at #1 Pistons [41-23]

#5 Celtics [37-28] at #4 Pacers [39-27]

#6 Hornets [38-29] at #3 76ers [38-26]

#7 Magic [33-33] at #2 Nets [40-25]

WEST

#8 Rockets [34-30] at #1 Mavericks [49-16]

#5 Timberwolves [42-26] at #4 Trail Blazers [42-23]

#6 Jazz [37-28] at #3 Spurs [46-18]

#7 Lakers [36-28] at #2 Kings [46-20]

NOT OUT OF THE RACE:
Wizards [31-34] - The Wizards are the closest to a playoff seat, but unless things get more cohesive they are on the outside looking in.

Knicks [28-37] - At the start of the season the Knicks were a joke, now they are roughly 3 games out of the dance. Picking up three games while the bottom teams struggle may not be a reach.
Suns [34-30] – The Suns like the Wizards are right there, they share the bubble with Houston, so one of those two are likely in the dance.

Warriors [31-34] – The upstart warriors are not a basement team anymore, an injury to any of the 6,7 or 8 seeds and Golden State could slide in, they currently sit four games out.

2003 NBA DRAFT

With the season roughly some 30 plus days from completion and the Madness of March approaching, lets look at who would draft where, statistically, and some thoughts on where certain players or teams may go:

• Atlanta receives Indiana’s 2003 first-round pick (top 15 protected) (2004-2006 top 13 protected, 2007 unprotected) (Jamaal Tinsley trade
  06/27/01) 
• Boston receives a 2003 Philadelphia first-round pick (lottery protected thru 2007) (Jerome Moiso trade
  08/03/01) 
• Cleveland receives a 2003 Toronto first round pick (lottery protected thru 2008). (Lamond Murray trade
  09/25/02) 
• Detroit receives Memphis’ first-round pick in 2003 (top 1 protected), or 2004 (no protection). (Thorpe trade
  08/07/97) 
• Detroit receives a Milwaukee’s 2003 first-round pick via Denver (2003 top 18 protected, 2004 top 15 protected, 2005-indefinite top 13 protected. (Rodney White trade
  10/01/02) via (Alek Rakocevic trade 10/22/01) 
• Detroit receives a future Sacramento first-round pick (2005-2008) (Cleaves trade
  09/07/01) 
• Denver receives a future (conditional) Philadelphia first-round pick (Posey trade
  12/18/02) 
• Denver receives a future LA Clippers first-round pick (2003 top 21 protected, 2004 top 15 protected, 2005 top 14 protected, 2006 unprotected) (Maggette 062800) via Orlando (Reid
  08/01/02) 
• Memphis receives Houston’s 2003 first-round pick (Francis trade
  08/22/99) 
• Memphis receives an Orlando 2003 first-round pick (Gooden/Miller trade
  02/19/03) 
• Milwaukee receives a 2003 first-round pick from Atlanta. (top 3 protected thru 2006) Milwaukee receives the higher of Atlanta’s two first-round picks in 2003 (Atlanta’s own and possibly Indiana’s). (Glenn Robinson Trade
  08/02/02) 
• Minnesota loses it’s first-round selections in the 2004 season (Joe Smith, illegal contract dealings) (2003 and 2005 picks reinstated) 
• Orlando receives a 2003 Sacramento first-round pick, lottery protected indefinitely. (Nick Anderson
  08/03/99) 
• Phoenix receives Cleveland’s 2003 first-round pick (lottery protected) ( Wesley Person trade
  10/01/97) 
• Sacramento receives Detroit’s first round pick via Atlanta (2003 or 2004, Detroit’s option) (Dickau
  06/26/02) (Turkcan) via Houston (Terence Morris trade 06/27/01) 
• Seattle receives Milwaukee’s first round pick (conditional) or
  two 2003 second rounders. (Gary Payton trade 02/20/03) 

  DRAFT TRANSACTIONS WERE SOURCED FROM http://www.nbadraft.net

DAYS ARE NUMBERED

While the playoffs are still a dream for the 31-34 Washington Wizards (a full game out of the playoff picture), some may see that dream coming to end sooner than later and after the crash – a lot of things will change. ***image4:right*** Michael Jordan has made it clear this is it for him and this summer he’ll return to his role as Head of Basketball operations for the Wizards. If the Wizards fail to make the post season it’s also likely Doug Collins is fired this summer, and more importantly promising stud Kwame Brown is expected to demand a trade. This week Kwame got candid with Steve Wyche of the Washington Post, offering that his lack of a role was related to lost confidence from his coach saying “I know I could help us get to the playoffs. I just think that I’m getting limited opportunities to do a lot of things that I’m able to do. I guess the coach has lost confidence in me. Nobody can do anything in eight or nine minutes a night. If I don’t come in and do something immediately, I’m coming out. I feel like I’m to blame for everything… I felt like nothing I did was going to get my job back. There would be games where Christian — and I’m not knocking him because I love him to death and he’s always supported me — would make some of the same mistakes I made but he was allowed to stay in. I make those mistakes and I’m out. I just knew that if I came to them to get my job back, they would say prove it in practice. So I practiced hard and there would be days in practice where I would do well and not see the court that much in games. ***image3:left*** I felt they just wanted to go with the older guys… I’m at the point now where, mentally, I don’t let things get to me anymore. Things might make me mad at the moment, like me not being in the game or not playing. I’m not going to get bent out of shape anymore. Last year I’d get mad all day. I’m not going to let it linger. I’m going to bust my butt this summer to get stronger, faster and improve my game. I plan on getting out of the gate strong again.” Brown who was rumored to be available in trade at the NBA trade deadline, has heard the talk of his team’s dissatisfaction with his progression to the pro game, and Brown admits that the coaches have doubts about him, although he said he’s never been approached by them, and he’s never gone to them. Wizards’ sources tell media that there is doubt about Kwame’s commitment and a “lack of ambition”. Brown was heralded as one of the hardest workers in his draft class, which is why he rose to the top of the class but since becoming a pro, he has not impressed his team. Several teams have been impressed enough to barter for Kwame’s services, and League sources say this summer it’s likely he’ll get swapped for a high draft choice as the Wiz try and build for a future without MJ.

SOME SHOTS

Here are some of the random stories from the week…

• NO MORE TB?: Wolves owner Glen Taylor in speaking with media about the status of ***image2:right*** Terrell Brandon was clear it doesn’t look promising for a return, or a trade saying “It doesn’t look good. We haven’t had a doctor come in yet who has said he will play again. They just keep saying to give it a little more time. We want to know by the summer what his status is, so that we can decide about other changes to the team… A trade is fun to talk about, but it’s hard to do. But this thing has just dragged on so long, we’ll want to make a decision soon so we can think about the future. I haven’t talked to Terrell the last few weeks, but I would think he wants to make a decision soon, too.” In order to receive full compensation for his remaining $23.2 million, an independent doctor would have to rule that Terrell could not play again because of his knee issues. If Brandon retires, the team would not see any cap relief until February of 2004.
• “It’s Enough”: Indiana Pacers signed president Donnie Walsh to a multiyear contract extension of Friday. ***image1:left*** When media asked about the terms Walsh joked and said “It’s enough… I love Indianapolis and Indiana and look forward to continued success here. I appreciate the opportunity because I really love this team and even though we’re going through difficult times, I want to stay and see them through it because I believe in them.” Considered one of the best in the business, the Pacers owners Mel and Herb Simon moved the process of extending Walsh along quickly, and have again proved to be one of the most consistent and professional franchises in sports never shying away from paying players or personnel despite being in one of smaller media markets. Congrats to the Pacers for getting it done, and congrats to Donnie for a whopper of a deal.