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Sporting News, The, June 26, 2000

The 2000 NBA Draft, 58 picks strong, features a mix of ready-for-prime-time players, skill-specific players and these guys who fill out a roster and make full-personnel practices in the fall possible. TSN's draft preview takes you inside, telling you which players fit which roles--plus filling you in on the best players available at each position. Oh, by the way, New Jersey, you are on the clock.

Sudden impact

TSN college basketball expert Mike DeCourcy takes a look at those players who should produce from the get-go in the NBA.

"Ready" has become less an issue as NBA teams have taken to drafting more for potential, but those looking for immediate help ought to look at the 10 guys on this list.

Kenyon Martin, PF, Cincinnati. The transition from college center to NBA power forward is a non-event; he functioned largely as a power forward as a sophomore when Bobby Brannen occupied the post, and Martin always has shot well facing the basket. Martin's progress in developing a floor game smiled alter he suffered a broken leg in March, but the fracture has healed and should not be an issue. He needs to continue working on his ability to put the ball on the floor to create space to shoot, and he'll have to develop consistency as a man-to-man defender after a year of avoiding foul trouble. His intensity, athletic ability and hunger to improve are unmatched in his draft class.

Chris Mihm, C, Texas. He will get pushed around early in his career, and he will have to get over his tendency to be intimidated by athletic big men. But Mihm enters the NBA with a big-time body and enough skills to quickly grab part-time minutes as a rookie. He has superior shot-block timing and shoots as well facing the basket as any American big man in the draft. With the physical demands and complexity of the position, it is not easy to adapt quickly. He will have some difficulty but should be ready to consume minutes on a below-average lottery team.

Erick Barkley, PG, St. John's. He advances the ball like a pro and is a consummate leader, He should become really effective when he has played more with the pick-and-roll because he keeps the ball high on his shot and releases the ball quickly. Barkley is not a fancy passer, but he gets the ball where it needs to go. He is the draft's best point prospect.

Mateen Cleaves, PG, Michigan State. The truth is, Cleaves could run an NBA team now. He has holes in Iris offensive game that will hold him back until the game is on the line, but he can command an offense as well as any point guard in memory. His jump shot will prevent him from becoming a prime player, but he can defend at an NBA level now.

Etan Thomas, PF, Syracuse. Unless he trains his body to a fitness level he has never reached and readjusts his game to include moves he has never considered, he will not become a great NBA player. He's not good enough with the ball, on the perimeter or in the post and isn't a great rebounder. But, unlike many of his peers, he is a gifted shot blocker. He needs at least two years to become a regular. For now, he can be a short-term defensive specialist.

Marcus Fizer, PF, Iowa State. Fizer was great at Iowa State. Still, I don't like him as a high pick. He could be an effective NBA scorer, but he will struggle to defend small forwards and isn't big enough or productive enough as a rebounder to play power forward. He could score in the low double digits with the right team as a rookie but may never be a factor with a winning organization.

Donnell Harvey, SF, Florida. He may be throwing away whatever chance he had at being truly great by entering the draft well before he has had the chance to develop his game. But no matter what situation he encounters, he does the same things-like at the NBA Pre-Draft Camp. He was as physically mature as any of the seniors and played with more intensity and surprised scouts by managing to make several high-arcing jump hooks. He won't make a major impact, but as a high-energy, short-term replacement, he can help a little now, a lot when he learns the pro game.

Courtney Alexander, SG, Fresno State. He is ready to help the team that drafts him. He has shooting range, an electric first step and the ability to drive a defender back with a dribble move, then pull up and stick a jumper. The issue with Alexander is whether or not he might hurt his team, as he did with a me-first meltdown in Fresno State's loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament. He wasn't taught the difference between a poor shot and a quality shot in college.

Olumide Oyedeji, PF, DJK Wurzburg, Germany. There aren't many power players in the draft with better bodies and more athletic ability. He needs to polish his game lint playing last season in Germany's pro league should serve as decent preparation for the, NBA.

Jason Collier, PF, Georgia Tech. He isn't overly impressive. But if you're talking about the ability to provide some help right away, his long-range shooting could get him minutes. He has physical limitations and never has played hard enough, but the ability to make shots as a 7-footer is a valuable part-time skill in the NBA.