The lonely NBA Draft vigil continues for Jazz player personnel director Scott Layden and the rest. Coach Jerry Sloan, assistant coaches Phil
Johnson and David Fredman join him every day in the Salt Palace locker room; president Frank Layden, guru/consultant Jack Gardner and video coordinator Richard Smith make frequent appearances.They watch film, talk about players, leaf through scouting reports, send out for lunch, wait for the phone to ring and do occasional interviews. Mostly, they wait.
One more day.
Finally, Tuesday night, they'll actually draft somebody. Just who that will be depends largely on the thinking of 20 other NBA teams, choosing ahead of them. The best possibilities:
Point guards
Everybody's favorites in the draft are Iowa's B.J. Armstrong, Oklahoma's Mookie Blaylock, UTEP's Tim Hardaway and UCLA's Pooh Richardson. They should all go somewhere between Nos. 10 and 17.
That could leave Seton Hall's John Morton, Syracuse's Sherman Douglas and Boston College's Dana Barros available to the Jazz. The 6-foot-3 Morton is probably the only two-position guard projected in the first round. "For that reason, his stock has gone way up," says Layden. Douglas is a good floor leader, while Barros is one of the best shooters in the draft, although he's not a traditional passing point guard.
Outside shots - Richardson, if he slides; South Alabama's Junie Lewis.
Big guards
Florida State's George McCloud will go high and Stanford's Todd Lichti will follow, but the rest are hard to figure. Illinois' Nick Anderson is sliding, possibly because he measured only 6-4 at the Chicago pre-draft camp. Iowa's Roy Marble should go in the middle of the first round; he's a rugged player the Jazz would love to have slide to them.
Villanova's Doug West is considered a nice player as a swingman, but not a consensus first-rounder. Missouri's Byron Irvin is an excellent shooter, although not as athletic as Marble. "I don't see him going outside the first round," says Layden.
Way outside shots - East Carolina's Blue Edwards, McNeese State's Michael Cutwright.
Small forwards
After the big names will come BYU's Michael Smith, followed by several players on the border between the first and second rounds. Arizona's Anthony Cook could go just ahead of the Jazz; Connecticut's Cliff Robinson could be on either side of them.
One of the more intriguing players in the draft, Illinois' Kenny Battle, could be the most recognizable name to miss the first round. Described by Layden as "probably the hardest-working guy in the whole draft," Battle is only 6-5 1/2 and is not a shooter. Georgia Southern's Jeff Sanders is the kind of small-school player the Jazz just might dig up.
Outside shots - Alabama's Michael Ansley, DePaul's Stanley Brundy.
The Jazz will likely also stay with these three positions for their second choice in the two-round draft. Besides Smith and Hardaway, draftable WAC players include Colorado State's Pat Durham, Hawaii's Reggie Cross and San Diego State's Mitch McMullen.
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(Additional information)
Draft facts
Day: Tuesday
Time: 5:30 p.m. MDT
Site: New York
Jazz HQ: Salt Palace
Duration: Two rounds
Jazz picks: Nos. 21, 48.
Trade deadline: Noon MDT Tuesday
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(Additional information)
Kragthorpe's predictions
No. Team Player School Pos.
1 Sacramento Danny Ferry Duke F
2 Clippers Glen Rice Michigan F
3 San Antonio Pervis Ellison Louisville F
4 Miami Stacey King Oklahoma F
5 Charlotte J.R. Reid N. Carolina F
6 Chicago Randy White Louisiana Tech F
7 Indiana George McCloud Florida St. G
8 Dallas Sean Elliott Arizona F
9 Washington Tom Hammonds Georgia Tech F
10 Minnesota Mookie Blaylock Oklahoma G
11 Orlando Todd Lichti Stanford G
12 New Jersey B.J. Armstrong Iowa G
13 Boston Michael Smith BYU F
14 G. State Tim Hardaway UTEP G
15 Denver Roy Marble Iowa G
16 G. State Vlade Divac Yugoslavia C
17 Seattle Penn Richardson UCLA G
18 Seattle Nick Anderson Illinois F
19 Philly Anthony Cook Arizona F
20 Chicago Sherman Douglas Syracuse G
21 Jazz Dana Barros Boston College G
22 Portland Cliff Robinson Connecticut F
23 Atlanta John Morton Seton Hall G
24 Phoenix Gary Leonard Missouri C
25 Cleveland Byron Irvin Missouri G
26 Lakers Shawn Kemp Trinity CC C
27 Detroit Ed Horton Iowa F