The Mock Draft

NBA writer Mark Heisler takes a shot at projecting the order of today’s first-round selections:

NO.:1.

TEAM: Philadelphia 76ers

PLAYER: Allen Iverson

SIZE: 6-0, 167

POS: G

SCHOOL: Georgetown

COMMENT: Dear Derrick, don’t be counting on getting the ball. Here comes the bombs-away backcourt of the ages. Last year: Jerry Stackhouse (G-F, North Carolina)--A bumpy rookie year but should be a star.

NO.: 2.

TEAM: Toronto Raptors

PLAYER: Marcus Camby

SIZE: 6-11, 223

POS: C

SCHOOL: Massachusetts

COMMENT: Imagine that, Isiah Thomas was sincere. Last year: Damon Stoudamire (G, Arizona)--Dark horse who hit big for Thomas in executive debut.

NO.: 3.

TEAM: Vancouver Grizzlies

PLAYER: Shareef Abdur-Rahim

SIZE: 6-9, 220

POS: F

SCHOOL: California

COMMENT: Only the preps have less experience, but he’s polished beyond his 19 years. Scout: “A little Joe Smith.” Last year: Bryant Reeves (C, Oklahoma State)--Will be among top 10 centers.

NO.: 4.

TEAM: Milwaukee Bucks

PLAYER: Stephon Marbury

SIZE:6-1, 182

POS: G

SCHOOL: Georgia Tech

COMMENT: Has a chance to be great. Last year: Shawn Respert (G, Michigan State)--Acquired from Portland, did nothing.

NO.: 5.

TEAM: Minnesota Timberwolves

PLAYER: Antoine Walker

SIZE: 6-9, 234

POS: F

SCHOOL: Kentucky

COMMENT: Young and growing, may be gifted power forward rather than small forward with modest range. Last year: Kevin Garnett (F, Farragut Academy HS)--Mother lode. Only problem is keeping him.

NO.: 6.

TEAM: Boston Celtics

PLAYER: Ray Allen

SIZE: 6-5, 198

POS: G

SCHOOL: Connecticut

COMMENT: M.L. Carr, going extremely small, trades a 7-foot center for a promising guard. Last year: Eric Williams (F, Providence)--Did OK.

NO.: 7.

TEAM: Clippers

PLAYER: Vitaly Potapenko

SIZE: 6-10, 277

POS: F

SCHOOL: Wright State

COMMENT: Very big bopper with touch and agility, not a project. Last year: Antonio McDyess (F, Alabama)--Budding star in Denver.

NO.: 8.

TEAM: New Jersey Nets

PLAYER: Kerry Kittles

SIZE: 6-5, 177

POS: G

SCHOOL: Villanova

COMMENT: How did they lead the league in rebounding? Chasing their misses. John Calipari wants a shooter. Last year: Ed O’Bannon (F, UCLA)--Biggest disappointment of the class of ’95.

NO.: 9.

TEAM: Dallas Mavericks

PLAYER: Lorenzen Wright

SIZE: 6-10, 230

POS: C

SCHOOL: Memphis State

COMMENT: With Montross, good start in rebuilding front line. Last year: Cherokee Parks (C, Duke)--Got knocked around like a bowling pin.

NO.: 10.

TEAM: Indiana Pacers

PLAYER: John Wallace

SIZE: 6-8, 240

POS: F

SCHOOL: Syracuse

COMMENT: Tumbled on attitude in tryouts. Could fall farther. Last year: Travis Best (G, Georgia Tech)--Slated to start at point.

NO.: 11.

TEAM: Golden State Warriors

PLAYER: Efthimis Retzias

SIZE: 6-11, 240

POS: C

SCHOOL: PAOK (Greece)

COMMENT: Big, young, supposedly ready to play. Last year: Joe Smith (F, Maryland)--Bull’s-eye.

NO.: 12.

TEAM: Cleveland Cavaliers

PLAYER: Erick Dampier

SIZE: 6-11, 268

POS: C

SCHOOL: Mississippi State

COMMENT: They got by with Michael Cage at center. Last year: Bobby Sura (G, Florida State)--Disappointment.

NO.: 13.

TEAM: Charlotte Hornets

PLAYER: Samaki Walker

SIZE: 6-9, 247

POS: F

SCHOOL: Louisville

COMMENT: Lets Larry Johnson move to small forward (finally). Last year: George Zidek (C, UCLA)--Modest expectations but lived up to them.

NO.: 14.

TEAM: Sacramento Kings

PLAYER: Predrag Stojakovic

SIZE: 6-8, 200

POS: F

SCHOOL: PAOK (Greece)

COMMENT: They need another scorer. This precocious 18-year-old could be him. Last year: Corliss Williamson (F, Arkansas)--Didn’t show much; second-rounder Tyus Edney (G, UCLA) did.

NO.: 15.

TEAM: Phoenix Suns

PLAYER: Todd Fuller

SIZE: 6-11, 255

POS:C

SCHOOL: North Carolina St.

COMMENT: Shopping Charles Barkley, need all the size they can find. Last year: Michael Finley (F, Wisconsin)--Hit big at 21. Mario Bennett (F, Arizona State)--Bombed at 27.

NO.: 16.

TEAM: Charlotte

PLAYER: Tony Delk

SIZE: 6-1, 190

POS: G

SCHOOL: Kentucky

COMMENT: They’re expected to let Kenny Anderson go. Last year: See No. 13.

NO.: 17.

TEAM: Portland Trail Blazers

PLAYER: Steve Nash

SIZE: 6-2, 182

POS: G

SCHOOL: Santa Clara

COMMENT: Rod Strickland still feuding with Coach P.J. Carlesimo. Last year: Gary Trent (F, Ohio)--Did OK. Randolph Childress (G, Wake Forest)--Acquired from Detroit, dud.

NO.: 18.

TEAM: New York Knicks

PLAYER: Jerome Williams

SIZE: 6-8, 201

POS: F

SCHOOL: Georgetown

COMMENT: A novelty for them, someone under 30 who can play. Last year: No pick.

NO.: 19.

TEAM: New York Knicks

PLAYER: Kobe Bryant

SIZE: 6-6, 199

POS: G

SCHOOL: Lower Merion (Pa.) HS

COMMENT: Perfect for them, tricky for him. Tough town to get a break in. Last year: No pick.

NO.: 20.

TEAM: Cleveland

PLAYER: Walter McCarty

SIZE: 6-9, 217

POS: F

SCHOOL: Kentucky

COMMENT: Does a little of everything. Enough of anything? Last year: See No. 12

NO.: 21.

TEAM: New York

PLAYER: Jeff McInnis

SIZE: 6-4, 190

POS: G

SCHOOL: North Carolina

COMMENT: Derek Harper may be leaving, Charlie Ward might not be able to cut it. Last year: No pick.

NO.: 22.

TEAM: Vancouver

PLAYER: Dontae’ Jones

SIZE: 6-7, 225

POS: F

SCHOOL: Mississippi State

COMMENT: Not overly lucid but can shoot it. Last year: See No. 3

NO.: 23.

TEAM: Denver Nuggets

PLAYER: Brian Evans

SIZE: 6-9, 218

POS: F

SCHOOL: Indiana

COMMENT: With Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf gone, they need shooters. Last year: Brent Barry (G, Oregon)--A hit (for Clippers.) NO.: 24.

TEAM: Lakers

PLAYER: Roy Rogers

SIZE: 6-10, 232

POS: C

SCHOOL: Alabama

COMMENT: Backup, no offense but a shot-blocker. Last year: No No. 1. pick. No. 2 Frankie King (G, Western Carolina) bombed.

NO.: 25.

TEAM: Utah Jazz

PLAYER: Russ Millard

SIZE: 6-8, 250

POS: F

SCHOOL: Iowa

COMMENT: Dark horse but canny personnel chief Scott Layden goes his own way. Last year: Greg Ostertag (C, Kansas)--Ugly ducking who has a chance.

NO.: 26.

TEAM: Detroit Pistons

PLAYER: Moochie Norris

SIZE: 6-1, 178

POS: G

SCHOOL: West Florida

COMMENT: Will look for their big man among free agents. Last year: Theo Ratliff (F, Wyoming)--Too flighty for Doug Collins.

NO.: 27.

TEAM: Orlando Magic

PLAYER: Ryan Minor

SIZE: 6-7, 230

POS: F

SCHOOL: Oklahoma

COMMENT: Another shooter to surround Shaquille O’Neal with, assuming he’s still there. Last year: David Vaughn (F, Memphis)--A dud.

NO.: 28.

TEAM: Atlanta Hawks

PLAYER: Zydrunas Ilgauskas

SIZE: 7-2, 258

POS: C

SCHOOL: Atletas (Lithuania)

COMMENT: Project but a big one. Last year: Alan Henderson (F, Indiana)--Only fair.

NO.: 29.

TEAM: Chicago Bulls

PLAYER: Priest Lauderdale

SIZE: 7-3, 343

POS: C

SCHOOL: Peristeri Nikas, Greece

COMMENT: The future is now. They’d trade for a veteran center. Last year: Jason Caffey (F, Alabama)--Before Dennis Rodman, they were looking for a Horace Grant replacement in all the wrong places.