|*| 2003 NBA Draft |*|

[telekinesis]

First Round Picks of the 2003 NBA Draft:
1. Cleveland -- LeBron James, g-f, St. Vincent-St. Mary HS (Ohio)

2. Detroit (from Memphis) -- Darko Milicic, f, Hemofarm Vrsac (Serbia)

3. Denver -- Carmelo Anthony, f, Syracuse

4. Toronto -- Chris Bosh, f, Georgia Tech

5. Miami -- Dwyane Wade, g, Marquette

6. LA Clippers -- Chris Kaman, c, Central Michigan

7. Chicago -- Kirk Hinrich, g, Kansas

8. Milwaukee (from Atlanta) -- T.J. Ford, g, Texas

9. New York -- Mike Sweetney, f, Georgetown

10. Washington -- Jarvis Hayes, f, Georgia

11. Golden State -- Mickael Pietrus, g-f, Pau Orthez (France)

12. Seattle -- Nick Collison, f, Kansas

13. Memphis (from Houston) -- Marcus Banks, g, UNLV

14. Seattle (from Milwaukee) -- Luke Ridnour, g, Oregon

15. Orlando -- Reece Gaines, g, Louisville

16. Boston -- Troy Bell, g, Boston College

17. Phoenix -- Zarko Cabarkapa, f, Buducnost (Serbia)

18. New Orleans -- David West, f, Xavier

19. Utah -- Aleksandar Pavlovic, f, Buducnost (Serbia)

20. Boston (from Philadelphia) -- Dahntay Jones, f, Duke

21. Atlanta (from Indiana) -- Boris Diaw, f, Pau Orthez (France)

22. New Jersey -- Zoran Planinic, g, Cibona Zagreb (Croatia)

23. Portland -- Travis Outlaw, f, Starkville HS (MS)

24. LA Lakers -- Brian Cook, f, Illinois

25. Detroit -- Carlos Delfino, f, Skipper Bologna (Italy)

26. Minnesota -- Ndudi Ebi, f, Westbury Christian HS (TX)

27. Memphis (through Orlando via Sacramento) -- Kendrick Perkins, c, Ozen HS (TX)

28. San Antonio -- Leandro Barbosa, g, Bauru Tilibra (Brazil)

29. Dallas -- Josh Howard, f, Wake Forest

[turkey]

Kirk went before TJ! That just made my day :)
How many lottery picks are there?

[replode]

The next NBA season looks promising. I'd like to see Lebron and Kobe face off, that'd be cool. im also glad Kirk Hinrich made it, he's probably going to become one of the best white guys in the league. (not foreign)

[thoriphes]

I can't wait to see Lebron play this season.

i can't believe my washington wizards got 10th overall pick. they shouldn't even be able to, they're probably going to lose most of their games anyway.

I've lost all hope on all my home teams. none of them ever make it through playoffs :(

[mdipi]

Yeah i cant wait to see if LeBron will be anygood, seriously, i have my doubts, this is the NBA not HS anymore.

[thoriphes]

that's another thing i was concerned about with him. he's used to playing with high school students. what made him stand out was that he was better than other high school students. who's to say he's up to par with NBA players? how do we know Ohio simply didn't have any good high school basketball teams?

we'll all find out come NBA season.

[replode]

it will probably take him a few years to develop into one of the better NBA players, but i think he's going to be really good once he matures to the NBA level.

[thoriphes]

if anything, the NBA will train him to be a better player.

[mdipi]

i was watching somethign and they were saying how its better for them to get college players cause they teach them on a higher level better and more mature fundamentals, oens that you cant get in HS and the NBA doesnt have tiem to teach you

[replode]

He should have gone to college for at least 1 maybe 2 years like Carmello Anthony. then he'd be alot more prepared for the nba than he is now.

[thoriphes]

i'm sure Lebron's mindset is like "I have nothing to worry about, i have a career now, therefore why go to college?" not knowing him right off the bat, i can't verify.

the NBA should set regulations on the players they sign, like a minimum number of years of college education. i wonder if he does go to college if he'll play for that school's team. it would make one hell of an NCAA tourney.

[mdipi]

seriously thouhg, the just signed for 90 mill with nike, and now he has an NBA contract, you think he is gonna go to college?

[thoriphes]

i sure as hell wouldn't :P

[mdipi]

Originally posted by thoriphes
i sure as hell wouldn't :P

not after that i wouldnt either, but i would have before the NBA. Just for a "Fall back" job, sports are rough, and if you are a damaged package and new to the sport, you better have something to fall back on :trout:

[teet]

haha...i don't think lebron will ever have to worry about a "Fall Back" job...with the 90 million dollar deal

in fact, i don't think many nba players will have to worry about a "Fall Back" job...the minimum is like .5 million for normal players and 1 million for veterans...that's a lot of money!

-teet

[turkey]

the NBA should set regulations on the players they sign, like a minimum number of years of college education.

They are thinking of implementing a 20 year age minimum for next year's draft.

[kirupa]

I didn't feel like creating a free agent thread, but the Lakers are going to have an excellent team next year: http://g.msn.com/0US!s8.559_6217/44.b43/1??cm=ESPNSports I just can't wait till the new NBA season starts =)

Cheers!
Kirupa :egg:

[telekinesis]

Karl "Mailman" Malone is old enough to be a 'mailman' :P

[SureShot]

You heard it here first...

Lakers go Undefeated next season.

I guess they figured "hey, we didnt make it to the finals last season - how about we just dont get beat next year"

I now hate the lakers - I like Kobe and I like Shaq and I really like Payton, but I hate them as a team. It's just not fair!

[Digitalosophy]

i dont think age shoudl matter, if your nice, your nice no matter how old you are. and as far as education, i think the only point in an nba start having a degree is for a rolemodel. i mean come on these guys make more money in one season than most people do in a lifetime.

[replode]

Karl Malone and Gary Payton, along with the Big Man and Kobe. I think the lakers are headed to their 4th championship in 5 years. i really want to see what Jason Kidd decides to do though.

[telekinesis]

Jason Kidd is my favourite, screw the rest, he will kill them all and if he won't, then I will. (just kidding) :P