Draft 'em, trade 'em strategy

With high schoolers off limits, Raptors take Bargnani at No. 1; Magic nab Redick

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published June 28, 2006

The Toronto Raptors dialed long distance in making the top pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft.

The Orlando Magic stayed home and picked up a domestic player who prefers long-distance shots.

Italian forward Andrea Bargnani heads to Toronto, where he will be part of a formidable 1-2 punch alongside Chris Bosh. Bargnani becomes only the second foreign-based player to drafted first overall, joining Yao Ming of China in 2002.

And in nearby Orlando, the Magic opted for Duke standout J.J. Redick with the 11th pick, giving it player who likely can step into the starting lineup right away but one who comes with a bit of baggage.

The Associated Press national player of the year confirmed Wednesday he has a herniated disc in his back but shot down talk that the condition will require surgery. Also, Redick was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Durham, N.C., on June 12.

Reddick, who pulled out of a workout with the Magic this month, is ready to take on the task of helping Orlando improve.

“They have great young players,” he said in an ESPN interview Wednesday. “Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson are two that come to mind right away and I’m excited about playing with those guys.”

Regarding the arrest, Redick said, “The incident was an isolated incident and I have to be clean from here on out. I understand that.”

Still, even with Redick’s issues, this draft could bring much more encouraging results than the Magic’s 2005 effort.

Spaniard Fran Vazquez, also the No. 11 pick, chose to remain overseas rather than join the Magic immediately.

Wednesday the Magic pick up the Atlantic Coast Conference’s all-time leading scorer, putting him ahead of some of college basketball’s all-time greats. His renowned shooting ability should allow Howard to continue to improve because Redick will help keep defenders honest.

The back injury was of little concern for Magic general manager Otis Smith.

“It’s something that may cause him to have some discomfort from time to time, but as his body matures so will this area in his back,” Smith told reporters in Orlando. “He responded very well to treatment that was given a couple weeks ago, so that’s a good sign for us.”

The Magic was thought to have an eye on Redick, making his selection less of a surprise. But elsewhere, a draft that was billed as one of the most unpredictable ever lived up to expectations.

After Bargnani went No. 1, the Bulls picked up power forward LaMarcus Aldridge of Texas, the Bobcats snatched Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison at No. 3 and the Blazers grabbed LSU’s Tyrus Thomas at No. 4. But Chicago and Portland had agreed to swap picks, sending Aldridge to Portland and Thomas to Chicago.

Earlier, the Blazers also were busy piecing together a trade that sent guard Sebastian Telfair, forward Theo Ratliff and a 2008 second-round pick to the Celtics for the rights to No. 7 pick Randy Foye of Villanova, guard Dan Dickau and forward Raef LaFrentz. Then, the Blazers sent Foye’s rights to Minnesota for the rights to No. 6 pick Brandon

Roy of the University of Washington.

“We think we hit a home run,” general manager Steve Patterson said. “We think we’re in great shape.”

Time will tell whether Toronto’s picking Bargnani can one day be viewed the same. But this much is clear: that can’t be determined now.

“Everyone has strengths, weaknesses, etc.,” general manager Bryan Colangelo said in an ESPN interview. “But at the end of the day, it came down that we felt that Andrea Bargnani was really the best pick for the future of this organization going forward. It’s not about today. It’s about today and tomorrow and we think that Andrea is a player that’s not only going to help us in the short run, but we think he’s going to grow into a terrific star in this league.”

In Charlotte, the team’s first pick with Michael Jordan on board as a part owner impressed the native North Carolinian.

“What I see most is (Morrison’s) desire to win,” Jordan said in Charlotte. “He’s got an innate feeling that he’s going to work hard to make himself a better basketball player. … This kid cares about the game of basketball.”

The Hawks took another Duke product at No. 5, selecting forward Shelden Williams, a player most believe will have an immediate impact, particularly on defense. Williams was Duke’s career leader in blocked shots and a two-time ACC defensive player of the year.

The Rockets picked Connecticut forward Rudy Gay at No. 8, which was lower than most predictions, then sent him and forward Stromile Swift to Memphis for Shane Battier in one of the night’s other major trades.

Grizzlies president of basketball operations Jerry West stressed the team’s need to become more athletic, and it would appear that goal was achieved with Wednesday’s trade. They picked up the big (6-9, 230 pounds), mobile

Swift and a draft pick in Gay with big scoring potential.

In another significant trade, the 76ers drafted Italian pro guard Thabo Sefolosha at No. 13, but quickly swapped him with Chicago’s No. 16 pick, Rodney Carney of the University of Memphis.

[Last modified June 28, 2006, 23:40:09]