CHICAGO -- The grades for the 1999 season are in.
The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks got to the NBA Finals. Everyone else was figuring out what to do.The grades for the 1999 NBA draft probably won't start coming in for almost a year, perhaps more. But after the first few days of class, it looks as though the Chicago Bulls, the Minnesota Timberwolves and perhaps the Vancouver Grizzlies have helped themselves.
Here's a look at team needs and results from the draft:
Atlantic Division
NEW YORK KNICKS: Needed size with Patrick Ewing slipping, but Frenchman Frederic Weis at No. 15? At least it should give the media something to do as coach Jeff Van Gundy clashes with team President Dave Checketts over Weis' playing time. Knicks made a good second-round pick with Iowa's J.R. Koch. Grade: C.
MIAMI HEAT: Made a run at Lamar Odom. Came up with local favorite Tim James from Miami University and second-rounder Rodney Buford. Another year without Pat Riley in the Finals. Grade: C.
ORLANDO MAGIC: The rebuilding has begun. Traded Horace Grant. Figure Penny Hardaway soon to follow in a sign-and-trade deal with Portland or Phoenix. Toronto may make a free-agent run. But Corey Maggette is a very good gamble for the future for a team without a No. 1 pick. Laron Profit gives them about 10 guards, including second-rounder Louis Bullock from Michigan, who's tough and a good shooter. Grade: B.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: Got another player with potential by trading with Atlanta to get the sliding Jumaine Jones, a good athlete, to replace Tim Thomas. Center Todd MacCulloch is a good pick at No. 47 and could help eventually. Grade: B.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS: Richard Hamilton fills the need for a shooter and may enable them to trade Mitch Richmond. Center Calvin Booth from Penn State is a nice second-round pickup. Grade: B.
BOSTON CELTICS: No pick until No. 55, which was Kris Clack, a guard from Texas who impressed in the predraft camps and surprisingly fell so low. Must get help through trades. Grade: B.
NEW JERSEY NETS: With No. 34 in the second round, they get Evan Eschmeyer. They have a need for a backup center, and Eschmeyer can score some. Now they have to re-sign Keith Van Horn to keep David Falk from delivering him to the Bulls as a free agent next year in payment for drafting Falk client Elton Brand No. 1. Grade: A.
Central Division
CHICAGO BULLS: Less-discussed Michael Ruffin, a tough forward from Tulsa, and Lari Ketner, another power forward, were solid second-round picks to support No. 1 Elton Brand and No. 16 Ron Artest. Two and perhaps three should be with the team for years, providing something to build upon. Grade: A.
INDIANA PACERS: It was too soon to begin the rebuilding. Jonathan Bender, by all accounts, will be the real deal. But Antonio Davis may have been their second-best player, an inspiration and a valuable contributor, especially with Rik Smits' future uncertain. They may have overreacted to the quirks of a 50-game season. Core group should have had another year together, and Wally Szczerbiak would have looked good if they wanted to trade Davis. Jeff Foster also was a pick for the future at No. 21. Grade: C.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS: Got an explosive talent at No. 3 with UCLA's Baron Davis, who could provide a great backcourt with Eddie Jones. Scorer Lee Nailon was worth the risk at No. 43. Grade: A.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: Tried and tried but couldn't get Szczerbiak. So what's with all the guards? Andre Miller is solid but can't shoot, and the Cavs already have Brevin Knight. Trajan Langdon can shoot, but so can Wesley Person. Is Langdon that much better? Doubtful. Maggette would have been worth the risk. Grade: C.
DETROIT PISTONS: Melvin Levett at No. 54 is a tough guy who could make it, rare for a player taken so low. But they'll need to do more to get in the playoffs again. Grade: B.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS: The Bucks did well with swingman Galen Young (No. 48), whose stock seemed to be rising. But they have to keep Michael Curry and Haywoode Workman and add some post play. Grade: B.
TORONTO RAPTORS: They remain serious about giving their fans a contender. Antonio Davis could provide more overall than Charles Oakley, who may leave. And Aleksandar Radojevic should help in a year or two at center, where they are weak. They got a man and perhaps a future steal. But who is going to play point guard? Grade: B.
ATLANTA HAWKS: What the heck are they up to? They trade Mookie Blaylock and go for Jason Terry with the pick, then add Dion Glover, a late first-round risk after surgery, and Calvin Bowlder, a big man with potential. But how do they fit with a veteran team? Or is this the beginning of a housecleaning? Grade: C.
Midwest Division
SAN ANTONIO SPURS: Leon Smith almost got a chance to watch the championship ring ceremony before being dealt to Dallas. They got two players who should be overseas. Grade: C.
DALLAS MAVERICKS: The Nellie hodgepodge continues. Smith and China's Wang Zhi-Zhi are projects, but GM Don Nelson only gave up second-rounders for Smith. Phoenix got Shawn Marion from the deal for Steve Nash Grade: D.
HOUSTON ROCKETS: Kenny Thomas is not a bad gamble at No. 22, a 6-6 1/2 power forward whose stock declined his last two years. Second-rounders Tyrone Washington and Venson Hamilton are worth a look. Grade: B.
UTAH JAZZ: Quietly efficient personnel department produced Quincy Lewis at No. 19, who could help right away as a swingman, and Scott Padgett, who will fit the system. Russian Andre Kirilenko would be a top-10 pick in two years but will stay overseas. Grade: A.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: Szczerbiak may turn out better than Tom Gugliotta, and William Avery is good insurance at the point. Grade: A.
DENVER NUGGETS: Tried for Horace Grant by offering Bryant Stith and Danny Fortson but did well with tough forward James Posey and point guard Chris Herren to support erratic Nick Van Exel. Grade: B.
Pacific Division
LOS ANGELES LAKERS: Division III Devean George at No. 23? No way Phil Jackson plays him, or second-rounder John Celestand. And goodbye Tyron Lue as well. Grade: D.
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS: Picked Maggette and traded him in a package for Horace Grant. They don't appear to be serious contenders, and Maggette could one day be a star. Big risk. Grade: D.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: No picks.
SACRAMENTO KINGS: Ryan Robertson at No. 45. Bright, disciplined player. A good risk. Grade: B.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: Lamar Odom slipped to No. 4. An immature kid in Los Angeles could slip down the Clippers' black hole. But he has talent, and what do the Clippers have to lose? Also added Rico Hill, who played overseas. Grade: B.
PHOENIX SUNS: Shawn Marion, with No. 9 pick from Dallas, is talented, but it doesn't seem he'll help immediately. Probably needed a shooter, or size, more. Grade: C.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: Should have known something when they got Mookie Blaylock and Atlanta wanted to draft a point guard at No. 10. Then they traded for rights to point guard Vontego Cummings at No. 26. Net gain of limited talent. Grade: D.