Chat Transcript
CBS SportsLine.com
June 27, 2001

Kwame Brown become the first high schooler drafted No.1. (Allsport)

CBS SportsLine.com college hoops writer Dan Wetzel stopped by to chat about the 2001 NBA Draft.

Dan Wetzel: Welcome everyone to our NBA Draft chat. I'll be with for the next half hour as we watch the draft unwind.

Question: What abilities does Kwame Brown have that would warrant him being the first high schooler ever taken with the #1 pick?

Dan Wetzel: If the system of the draft and the Salary structure hadn't changed this wouldn't happen. Kwame's ability to handle the ball and face the basket as a big guy and his demeanor and worth ethic will probably put him over the top in the next few minutes.

Question: If the Clippers stay at two, will they take local boy Chandler or Curry, best friend of Miles and Q?

Dan Wetzel: I think they have been back and forth all day. All week it was Chandler. But today I hear Curry. I think their best bet would be Curry. He is the safer pick and has the potential to be a dominating big man. Where Chandler is a phenomenal athlete, he has not shown the work ethic capacity to spend a #2 on.

Question: Any last minute deals you know about?

Dan Wetzel: The Wizards just took Kwame Brown. I think it will be interesting to see what Chicago does at the 4 spot. I think right now there are a number of potential moves on the table. Everybody's talking. This is a draft where moving down is a good move. That is probably how the moves will go but I don't know any imminent right now.

Question: How do you think the young big men will effect the point guards in this draft..such as Cook and Tinsely??

Dan Wetzel: There are so many good big men that the point guards have been pushed to the back of the draft. And it is not a great group of points anyway! We could easily be looking at no point guard taken until the 20s. When Boston probably takes Parker from France. Next year with Frank Williams, Wagner, Maddox and so on, it will be a draft of point guards. This year, not so.

Question: If Jason Williams had come out would we be discussing a high schooler at #1?

Dan Wetzel: I don't think so. The Wizards need a point guard and that would have been their pick. He will probably be the 2nd pick next year after the Chinese big man Yao Ming.

Question: What were the factors for Battier for dropping down in the draft?

Dan Wetzel: He hasn't dropped yet! So until it happens we can't say he has. But the deal that Atlanta made to get Pau Gasol makes him the 7th pick to New Jersey. The main factor is what teams want and are willing to gamble on. The Clippers took Chandler with the 2nd pick.

Question: This is a record setting draft - will it be remembered more for the the high schoolers being taken or for how well they played?

Dan Wetzel: It will be remembered for the High Schoolers being taken. This is the year the floodgates truly opened. This is just the beginning. There will be more next year and the year after. With the financial structure that is in place there is little reason (financially) for them to stay in school once they know they are a 1st rounder. This is a year the talent pool bottomed out and it won't rebound until that salary structure is changed.

Question: Mr. Wetzel with the high schoolers figuring so prominently in this draft..how will it change college basketball??

Dan Wetzel: It is eliminating the great big man from college basketball because the NBA covets height even if the player is raw. So the game will get smaller. And I think it changes the urgency of teams. You can't build for a 3 or 4 year period. Teams with a lot of talent must produce right away because so many players will come out early.

Question: Mr. Wetzel what can you tell us about the European players who figure prominently in this draft particularly Gasol and Radovicic??

Dan Wetzel: I have never seen Gasol play. But what I have seen on tape is a 7 footer who can shoot from the outside. I attended a workout for Radmanovic and he had a great touch from the outside with a good work ethic. But Gasol has the potential to be a great player while Radmanovic can be a good player.

Question: Who is the best non-HS, non-Euro player available?

Dan Wetzel: With the 3rd pick Atlanta makes it official and takes Pau Gasol who will soon become property of the Vancouver/Memphis team. I think the most talented player is Eddie Griffin from Seton Hall. Although his history of acting up with teammates and lack of intensity and teamwork really cost him. But in terms if talent I like Griffin. I also really like Battier, Richardson and White. Those three have exceptional work ethic.

Question: Who from this draft do you think is the best player in 2005?

Dan Wetzel: I will go with Eddie Curry. I think with the work ethic he has, he has the potential to be a dominating inside player. In 4 years he could be a very good player. He could also not make it! But I am going to gamble on him. In terms of sure bets, I like Battier and Richardson. I don't see how any of them won't be major contributors in four years.

Question: Will the Nets trade either Marbury or Van Horn? Will they trade both? If not, who is more likely to get traded?

Dan Wetzel: I think Marbury is the most likely to be traded, although it may not happen tonight. I think the experiment of Marbury in Jersey has not worked out. There is interest in the league and the team is interested in making a move so I think he will be the one to get shipped.

Question: We keep hearing all kinds of rumors, what ARE the Rockets going to do?

Dan Wetzel: I think they will keep their picks and take Radmanovic if he is available at 13. And a big guy at 18, Heywood or Collins perhaps. At this point anything is possible with a package or a trade.

Question: Who needs the most help through the draft?

Dan Wetzel: Atlanta, Golden State, Chicago, Jersey.. there are no lack of teams needing complete overhauls. The problem with the draft now is that no immediate help is available. As recent as 4 years ago the #1 was Tim Duncan. There is no one like that now. That is a problem with the draft, rebuilding through it is difficult and takes a lot of time.

Question: Do you think we'll see any surprises in the draft... players who everyone generally thinks are too slow, too small, etc? Or is the talent pool too deep to take that kind of a chance in the draft?

Dan Wetzel: I don't think there will be too many surprise picks. Although there are some great 2nd round players who won't be picked to picked late. I like Calvary of Gonzaga, A strong guy like Kaspars Kambala of UNLV.. guys who may not go until late 2nd round but really have skills for the NBA and know how to play! These days they draft so much on potential and hope that the guys who are simply good players get overlooked and make teams in the long run. Najera, Porter went late in the 2nd last year because they are good players, they just don't have flash. So that is where I think the surprises will be. Golden State selects Richardson with the 5th pick.

Dan Wetzel: Thanks everyone for coming and for following college basketball and the NBA draft on SportsLine. Bye!