Try to look at it this way: the Clippers are locked in

Sporting News, The, July 10, 1995 by Shaun Powell

A work stoppage has come to the NBA. Owners, angry that the union membership won't ratify a deal their leadership accepted, decided to lock out the players.

But look at the silver lining: The Clippers are protected from further self-inflicted damage. Their maneuvering on draft day was amazing. Not many teams can screw up the second selection. It takes a special skill to blow such an easy opportunity.

As the league plunges into a summer of uncertainty, some teams are in better shape than the messy labor situation or the Clippers' roster. Here is a post-draft snapshot of all 29:

Warriors: They played it safe and drafted Joe Smith. The only way this will haunt the Warriors is if Jerry Stackhouse plays like the No. 3 pick in 1984 (Michael Jordan) or if Smith has a falling out with Coach Rick Adelman and demands a trade to the Bullets. Now the Warriors need a commitment from Latrell Sprewell.

Clippers: They bypassed Stackhouse, then dumped Antonio McDyess. Obviously, the Clippers were upset over being stuck with the second pick and are positioning themselves for next year's No. 1. Incoming forwards Brian Williams -- he is a part of the deal that has yet to be announced -- and Rodney Rogers don't always punch in every night.

Sixers: Stackhouse is a jump shot away from being something special. He gives this team some spark and some hope. Re-signing free agent Dana Barros is now the 76ers' priority.

Bullets: The Bullets padded their promising front line with 6-foot-11 Rasheed Wallace; now they must hope that he matures emotionally into a pro and physically into a center. Sending Rex Chapman to the Heat creates a salary slot for a cheaper point guard than Rod Strickland; probably free agent Elliot Perry.

Timberwolves: There are few mixtures more lethal than blending a teen-ager (Kevin Garnett) with an unstable locker room. The Wolves are desperate to unload Isaiah Rider, but there aren't many suckers out there. They may have to sweeten the Rider package with a future No. 1. Christian Laettner is still available, too.

Grizzlies: As he stumbles through the learning process, first-round pick Bryant Reeves should do himself a favor and disregard any tips from Benoit Benjamin.

Raptors: G.M. Isiah Thomas knows something about short, quick point guards, so maybe drafting Damon Stoudamire with the seventh pick wasn't a reach. Stoudamire will be handed the keys to the Raptors right away, since B.J. Armstrong wants to be paid in American dollars and is headed to the Warriors.

Trail Blazers: In the draft, they made a lot of nice moves but couldn't finish. Instead of moving up high enough for Garnett, they have Gary Trent and Randolph Childress, both undersized for their positions. Otis Thorpe will go to the Pistons in the Childress deal and Strickland will be off the roster by the time the leaves turn brown.

Nets: On his first day as a Net, Ed O'Bannon was christened the team's "choir boy" by Kenny Anderson. Hopefully, this means the on-time practice percentage among Nets players will increase dramatically.

Heat: Dave Wohl will end up coaching this team, but if it's any consolation to him, even Pat Riley wouldn't be able to turn around the Heat in one year.

Bucks: Mike Dunleavy's goal is to add a piece each year. This time, it's shooter Shawn Respert, who eases the burden from forwards Glenn Robinson and Vin Baker and makes Todd Day obsolete.

Mavericks: The Mavs would love to merge firstround picks Cherokee Parks and Loren Meyer. Parks is too soft and Meyer too raw. Individually, neither will solve the Mavericks' need for a rugged center, although they're better than the alternative, Roy Tarpley.

Kings: What do the Kings do a year after landing a pair of physical front-liners in Brian Grant and Michael Smith? They draft a clone in Corliss Williamson. Confusing. The Kings dumped starting point guard Spud Webb to give Bobby Hurley a chance.

Celtics: Eric Williams may help the Celtics' aging front line but he won't address the team's most critical need -- savvy front-office decision-making.

Nuggets: G. M. Bernie Bickerstaff pulled off the coup of the draft by conning the Clippers into giving up McDyess, a shot-blocker and rebounder who can develop next to Mt. Mutombo. Bickerstaff needs a point guard.

Hawks: Given the Hawks' lack of stars, the best team Lenny Wilkens will coach next season won't be his own, but the one at the Atlanta Olympics.

Cavaliers: Bob Sura and Harold Miner add scoring to the backcourt. But the Cavs would love to know something soon about the condition of center Brad Daugherty's lower back.

Pistons: Doug Collins wanted someone tough and physical who has character, too. So he ruled out trading for Derrick Coleman. Instead, Collins made a deal for Thorpe and drafted his potential replacement, shot-blocker Theo Ratliff.

Bulls: What do Jeff Sanders, Mark Randall, Corie Blount and Dickey Simpkins have in common? All were late first-round picks by the Bulls. All power forwards. None was good enough to make Horace Grant sweat, or replace him when he left. Now it's Jason Caffey's turn.