Parity has come to the National Basketball Association`s college draft.
Outside of Kansas star Danny Manning, there isn`t much that has excited NBA general managers. In fact, the perception seems to be that these are athletes of similar ability.
It has been a while since so many teams have discussed trading for a lesser pick. Word around the league has it that the Bulls, Indiana, Philadelphia, Golden State, New York, Washington, Milwaukee, Seattle, Atlanta, Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers have all talked about trading No. 1 picks in Tuesday`s draft.
The New York Knicks are an example of the way these teams are thinking. The Knicks, who draft 11th, need a scoring forward, and it appears that Oklahoma star Harvey Grant will be available when their pick comes up. But they also like St. John`s forward Shelton Jones, who figures to be around late into the first round. So why not swap picks with some team drafting 16th or 17th and also come away with other considerations?
There doesn`t seem to be a dramatic difference between a Grant and a Jones. Or Hersey Hawkins of Bradley, Mitch Richmond of Kansas State or Rex Chapman of Kentucky.
Here is a rundown on some of the deals being negotiated:
– The Knicks have also talked to Indiana about the second pick in the first round. They really covet Auburn forward Chris Morris, who will apparently be New Jersey`s choice at No. 4. Former Auburn star and 76ers All- Pro Charles Barkley said of Morris: ”He`s a whacko. He is even crazier than I am.”
– Philadelphia was supposedly all set to draft Hawkins but is now having second thoughts. Richmond and Chapman are entering the picture. The 76ers are rumored to be offering the Clippers the No. 3 pick in the draft for the Clippers` second pick in the first round (sixth overall; they`ll use the No. 1 pick on Manning) and Joe Wolf. With the sixth choice, the 76ers could still come away with Richmond or Chapman.
– The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly talking to the Pacers about that second pick. They want Indiana to draft 7-foot-4-inch Marist center Rik Smits, and then the teams would work out a deal. The Lakers envision Smits as a possible heir to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is retiring after the 1988-89 season.
The Lakers had contacted Miami before the expansion draft about a deal if the Heat drafted Dallas backup center Bill Wennington. The Lakers were offering their first-round pick (25th overall) and a player. Dallas got wind of it and quickly quashed any such maneuvering by giving Miami its first-round pick (20th overall) to leave unprotected players Wennington, Uwe Blab and Steve Alford alone.
Speaking of the Mavericks, they are listening to offers for Mark Aguirre. There aren`t any. According to one coach, ”Dallas can`t give him away.”
– Atlanta is packaging its first-rounder (18th overall) and a player to lure Reggie Theus from Sacramento.
– The Brad Sellers-to-Milwaukee rumors have cooled. According to the Bucks, Bulls coach Doug Collins was asking too much in return for the second- year, 7-foot forward.
The primary deal the Bulls are working on concerns trading their first-round pick (19th overall) and a player for a better pick and a player. If it`s done, it won`t be until just before the 11 p.m. Monday tradeing deadline. Other predraft notes:
– Indiana General Manager Donnie Walsh has come under fire for declaring he would draft William Bedford two years ago and instead opting for Chuck Person. Some NBA officials aren`t certain how sincere Walsh is in his claim that, barring a trade, he will take Smits Tuesday.
”He (Walsh) made a lot of enemies,” Golden State coach Don Nelson said about the Bedford-Person switch. ”He screwed up a lot of people (drafting)
below him.”
– Looking ahead to the next four drafts, including this one, Dallas has seven first-round picks, Seattle six and the Bulls, Clippers, Golden State and Phoenix five. Indiana only has two first-rounders. Totaling up first- and second-round picks, Phoenix has 14, Dallas 13, Seattle, San Antonio and the Bulls 10.
– Players who are on the rise as draft day approaches are 6-9 Southern Mississippi forward Randolph Keys, the 6-9 Jones of St. John`s and Georgia`s 6-8 Willie Anderson. Going in the other direction are De Paul`s Rod Strickland and Central Michigan`s 6-6 Dan Majerle.
