CHICAGO — Carmelo Anthony knows the Cleveland Cavaliers have said they will take LeBron James with the first pick in the NBA draft. He has another opinion on who the top pick should be.
"I think I should go one, but things happen," Anthony said at a pre-draft camp for scouts and team officials at the Moody Bible Institute that ended Saturday.
"I'm just happy to be in the NBA draft," said Anthony, who opted to make the leap to the pros after leading Syracuse to the national championship in April as a freshman. "I'm happy that Denver is going to pick me."
The Nuggets finished with just 17 wins last season, tied for worst in the NBA, and have the third pick in the June 26 draft.
Detroit is expected to take European teenager Darko Milicic with the second pick.
"All indications show that right now," said Milicic's agent, Marc Cornstein.
The 6-foot-11, 250-pound 17-year-old played for Hemofarm Vrsac in Serbia & Montenegro last season, and is only working out for Denver and Detroit.
Anthony and Milicic were among nine players who met with the media Saturday after getting their official measurements from the NBA.
None of the players appeared to distinguish themselves enough to boost their draft position, like Jamal Crawford did in 2001 when he moved into lottery pick status.
Troy Bell, who set the Big East's career scoring record at Boston College, led the camp with 18 points per game. He also played well at point guard, where most NBA scouts predict he will play.
Arizona's Luke Walton, Kentucky's Keith Bogans and Saint Joseph's Jameer Nelson also played well.
Walton averaged 7.7 points, six assists and five rebounds, and was considered by many to be the best all-around player at the camp.
Bogans shot 51 percent from the field and averaged 13 points. Nelson, a 5-11 point guard who could still return for his junior year, led the camp with 19 assists.