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2004 NBA Mock Draft
By Blazers.com Analyst Brendan Burke
It's time again to line up and choose teams. Who'll be picked, and who'll be sent home without a rose?
- Orlando Magic - Emeka Okafor, 6-9 PF, Connecticut
(Photo right)
Plays like: Ben Wallace, Alonzo Mourning
- With the mighty "Oh"-kafor, Orlando may actually win some games next season.
- Los Angeles Clippers - Dwight Howard, 6-10 PF, Southwest Atlanta Christian HS, GA
Plays like: Tim Duncan, Kwame Brown
- Dominant both inside and outside the paint. What more could the Clippers want? How about an honor student.
- Chicago Bulls - Luol Deng, 6-8 SF, Duke
Plays like: Grant Hill
- David Beckam, Lennox Lewis, Austin Powers ... here comes another British sensation.
- Charlotte Bobcats - Ben Gordon, 6-2 PG, Connecticut
Plays like: Joe Dumars, Gilbert Arenas
- His stature is small, but his ability to find the basket isn't.
- Washington Wizards - Shaun Livingston, 6-7 PG, Peoria Central HS, IL
Plays like: Anfernee Hardaway
- Fatten him up a bit, and you've got a Blue Ribbon guard.
- Atlanta Hawks - Josh Smith, 6-8 SF, Oak Hill Academy HS, GA
Plays like: Al Harrington
- Think of Vince Carter, with heart.
- Phoenix Suns - Martynas Andriuskevicius, 7-2 C, Lithuania
Plays like: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
- Like his sensei, Sabonis, he's got a soft touch, passing skills, and a funny name.
- Toronto Raptors - Josh Childress, 6-7 SF, Stanford
(Photo right)
Plays like: Reggie Miller, George Gervin
- More versatile than your old Swiss Army knife.
- Philadelphia 76ers - Devon Harris, 6-3 PG, Wisconsin
Plays like: Gilbert Arenas
- Makes Speedy Gonzales look like Regular Gonzales.
- Clevland Cavaliers - Andris Biedrins, 6-11 PF, Latvia
Plays like: Chris Bosh, Darco Milicic
- Cavs get defense to match LeBron's offense.
- Golden State Warriors - Andre Iguodala, 6-6 SG, Arizona
Plays like: Desmond Mason, Paul Pierce
- Add malt and yeast to his hops, and you've got some strong brew.
- Seattle Sonics - Pavel Podkolzine, 7-4 C, Russia
Plays like: Gheorghe Muresan
- Coming soon to theatres: "My Giant 2"
- Portland Trail Blazers - Sebastian Telfair, 5-11 PG, Lincoln HS, NY
(Photo right)
Plays like: Kevin Johnson
- Will he live up to cousin, Marbury? The Magic 8-Ball says, "Ask Again Later."
- Utah Jazz - Rafael Araujo, 6-11 C, BYU
Play like: Brad Miller, Bill Laimbeer
- Just like Ostertag, only he can play. Plus, the locals already love him.
- Boston Celtics - Jameer Nelson, 6-0 PG, Saint Joseph's
Plays like: Damon Stoudamire, Tim Hardaway
- Big on skills, not on height.
- Utah Jazz (from New York) - Sergei Monya, 6-7 SG/SF, Russia
Plays like: N/A
- A friend for Kirilenko.
- Atlanta Hawks (from Milwaukee) - Kris Humphfries, 6-9 PF, Minnesota
Plays like: Tom Gugliotta
- Just like Windex: cleans the boards on both sides of the floor.
- New Orleans Hornets - Tiago Splitter, 6-10 PF, Spain
Plays like: Pau Gasol
- After years on the radar, the NBA finally targeted him.
- Miami Heat - J.R. Smith, 6-5 SG, Clarksburg HS, NJ
Plays like: Vince Carter
- Explosive with great range, but is he ready for the transition to guard?
- Denver Nuggets - Luke Jackson, 6-7 SG/SF, Oregon
(Photo right)
Plays like: Brent Barry
- Rising stock: After workouts with several teams and his play in Chicago, the NBA is realizing that Jackson is a wise investment.
- Utah Jazz (from Houston) - Dorell Wright, 6-7 SG, South Kent Prep, Los Angeles
Plays like: Corey Maggette
- This raw talent needs seasoning.
- New Jersey Nets - Robert Swift, 7-0 C, Bakersfield HS, CA
Plays like: N/A
- Great hands, great feet ... it's just the rest of his body that needs conditioning.
- Portland Trail Blazers (from Memphis) - Peja Samardziski, 7-1 C, Partizan Belgrade
Plays like: Mehmet Okur
- Unlike most centers, he can hit from outside 15.
- Boston Celtics (from Dallas) - Anderson Varejao, 6-10 F/C, Spain
Plays like: Drew Gooden
- Break out the Samba drums, this Brazilian import is a mobile shot blocker.
- Boston Celtics (from Detroit) - Sasha Vujacic, 6-7 PG/SG, Italy
Plays like: Zoran Planinic
- This combo guard comes with fries, a coke, and steaming hot ballhandling.
- Sacramento Kings - Kirk Synder, 6-6 SG, Nevada
(Photo right)
Plays like: N/A
- Led Nevada (yes, Nevada) to the third round of the NCAA tourney.
Need we say more?
- Los Angeles Lakers - Al Jefferson, 6-9 PF, Prentiss HS, MS
Plays like: Kendrick Perkins
- Malone has to retire someday.
- San Antonio Spurs - David Harrison, 7-0 C, Colorado
Plays like: Benoit Benjamin, Michael Olowokandi
- Comes fully equipped with everything but a good attitude.
- Minnesota Timberwolves - Forfeited pick
- Indiana Pacers - Peter John Ramos, 7-4 C, Puerto Rico
Plays like: Rik Smits
- Turn off the alarm. This draft sleeper just woke up.
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