NBA draft, team by team

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 29, 2006 | by Roscoe Nance USA Today

A look at how teams filled needs with first-round picks in Wednesday night's NBA Draft:

ATLANTA -- F Shelden Williams fits the bill for the Hawks, who stand to lose Al Harrington through free agency and need inside help whether Harrington stays or goes.

BOSTON -- Ended search for a point guard by trading No. 7 pick Randy Foye's rights to Portland for Sebastian Telfair and saved money in the deal by exchanging C Raef LaFrentz for C Theo Ratliff.

CHARLOTTE -- Got a go-to scorer they so sorely need in F Adam Morrison.

CHICAGO -- Made post scoring a priority by trading rights to No. 2 pick F-C LaMarcus Aldridge to Portland for No. 4 pick F Tyrus Thomas and addressed backcourt size by trading rights to swingman Rodney Carney, the 16th pick, to Philadelphia for PG Thabo Sefolosha.

CLEVELAND -- The Cavaliers get an energetic and athletic backcourt man in G Shannon Brown, the 25th pick, who can make shots and should be able to play off LeBron James.

DALLAS -- G Maurice Ager, the 28th pick, is a hardnosed backcourt player who fits coach Avery Johnson's style.

GOLDEN STATE -- Defensive help satisfied with C Patrick O'Bryant, who will bring shot-blocking and rebounding, which are major needs.

HOUSTON -- F Rudy Gay gives the Rockets an insurance policy in case Tracy McGrady's back problems return.

INDIANA -- F Shawne Williams gives the Pacers more athleticism and versatility in the frontcourt.

L.A. LAKERS -- Looked in their backyard and upgraded their backcourt with PG Jordan Farmar from UCLA. He'll push Smush Parker.

MEMPHIS -- Upgraded backcourt toughness with PG Kyle Lowry, a nice backup for Damon Stoudamire.

MINNESOTA -- Added backcourt versatility by acquiring G Randy Foye from Portland for the rights to G Brandon Roy and cover for the loss of G Rashad McCants, who had microfracture surgery on his right knee.

NEW JERSEY -- The Nets strengthen their bench, thanks to the University of Connecticut, by picking PG Marcus Williams, who dropped out the top 10 to No. 22, to back up Jason Kidd and F Josh Boone at No. 23.

NEW ORLEANS/OKLAHOMA CITY -- C Hilton Armstrong and F Cedric Simmons upgrade the frontcourt.

NEW YORK -- Embattled GM-coach Isiah Thomas rolled the dice by picking unheralded F Renaldo Balkman at No. 20 in the night's biggest surprise and G Mardy Collins at 29.

ORLANDO -- G J.J. Redick, a pure shooter, can space the court and open up the inside for C Dwight Howard and F Darko Milicic.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Sixers become more versatile and add backcourt size by trading draft rights to Thabo Sefolosha for swingman Rodney Carney.

PHOENIX -- Selected point guard Rajon Rondo but later traded him to Boston.

PORTLAND -- The Blazers became big and athletic through trades that landed F-C LaMarcus Aldridge, G Brandon Roy and PG Sergio Rodriguez and selecting F Joel Freeland.

SACRAMENTO -- Bench strengthened by PG Quincy Douby to back up Mike Bibby.

SEATTLE -- The Sonics are becoming serial collectors of big men, surprisingly picking C Mouhamed Saer Sene 10th to go along with 7- footers Johan Petro and Robert Swift.

TORONTO -- F Andrea Bargnani, the top pick, gives the Raptors a frontcourt player who can stretch the defense and complement forwards Chris Bosh and Charlie Villanueva.

UTAH -- G-F Ronnie Brewer, the 14th pick, will fit in nicely with PG Deron Williams and give the Jazz the kind of athleticism and versatility they are unaccustomed to.

WASHINGTON -- C Oleksiy Pecherov gives the Wizards a big man who can rebound and shoot with range but may be a year away from helping.