Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
OK, what happened to Jerry Krause?
The Chicago Bulls GM Michael Jordan nicknamed "Crumbs" because of his affinity for doughnuts is starting to act halfway intelligent.
Krause and his Bulls were winners at the NBA draft, as were the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers.
Previously the chubby Krause always wanted to look smarter and superior to other GMs by drafting guys named Dragan Tarlac. To defend himself, the names Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant were always brought up. Pippen was not heralded coming out of college, but Krause landed him, making him a genius and all other GMs idiots.
And Krause never minded fueling the Michael Jordan myth. Krause didn't draft Jordan; current Nets president Rod Thorn, then the Bulls GM, drafted Jordan.
But the last two years indicate we're seeing a new Krause. Instead of trying to impress with little-known names, he's gone for the best available player - talented athletes we've heard of - when the Bulls pick.
Prognosticators had the Bulls wanting high school baller Darius Miles, but the Clips drafted Miles at No. 3. So when the Bulls picked at No. 4, they went with future star Marcus Fizer.
Miles might have a higher upside, but Fizer is a can't-miss star.
Fizer, who averaged 22.8 points per game at Iowa State, may be the best scorer in this year's draft. Some out there may be wondering why the Bulls needed the 6-foot-8 Fizer when they already have 6-9 Elton Brand. Look at it this way: What team wouldn't love to have players as talented as Fizer and Brand starting in their lineup? Besides, Brand is a rebounder, and Fizer isn't. It's not like they're clones.
Then at No. 7 the Bulls drafted 7-0 center Chris Mihm. Mihm averaged 18.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game at Texas, but he grew up a rich kid, so many question his mental toughness, physical toughness and his desire. When it's said and done, 7-0 Minnesota center Joel Przybilla will be a better NBA player than Mihm. Guaranteed.
Crafty Krause had something else up his sleeve. He dealt Mihm, who could turn out to be another Jon Koncak/Randy Breuer, to Cleveland for 6-6 Michigan guard Jamal Crawford, who the Cavs chose at No. 8.
The talk entering drafts is always of whose stock is falling and whose is rising, and Crawford was a riser. As a freshman he led Michigan with 16.6 points and 4.5 assists per game, but his performances at the pre-draft camps and team workouts had teams salivating. He could play point guard or shooting guard.
So with Ron Artest, Elton Brand, Fizer, Crawford and even Michael Ruffin, the Bulls are developing a solid core of athletic, talented players. They have $18 million to lure two free agents, and one guy they're chasing is Tracy McGrady. Vince Carter is everyone's darling now, but McGrady is Vince Carter with an outside shot. Let's see who has better stats when their careers have ended.
Supposedly McGrady will end up in either Chicago or Orlando, another team way under the salary cap. If it's Chicago, the Bulls are on their way, especially if they land Tim Thomas. Thomas is a free agent the Bucks say they'll re-sign, but he's best friends with McGrady.
So much for the Bulls turning into the Clippers.
Then again, shelve your Clipper jokes. They had the best draft of any team. Darius Miles. Quentin Richardson. Keyon Dooling. Corey Maggette. When the draft had ended, the Clippers had acquired these four gifted players.
Utah coach Rick Majerus, who was on TNT's broadcast last night, said he would have picked Miles, who averaged 22.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per game at East St. Louis High School, No. 1. Richardson did not live up to his hype at DePaul coming out of the Chicago's public league, but he has a high ceiling. Like Crawford, Dooling's value sky-rocketed as draft day drew closer. Maggette, already in the NBA, came over in a trade with the Orlando Magic.
The Clippers already had Lamar Odom, so the future looks bright - if they make the commitment to keep their players. This year Maurice Taylor and Derek Anderson appear ready to bolt. With the Clippers, it's always someone leaving.
Like the Clippers, the Mavs are stockpiling talent. Dallas drafted Syracuse forward Etan Thomas and later acquired Fresno St. guard Courtney Alexander from Orlando. Thomas averaged 13.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game, while Alexander averaged 24.8 points per game. Add them to Michael Finley, the most underrated player in the league.
Overall, the draft went off without a hitch. Announcers Kenny Smith, John Thompson, Hubie Brown and Majerus could have offered more predictions before teams made their picks, but with only five minutes between picks, time is limited.
Charles Barkley, who wasn't on the set but hooked up via satellite, stole the show. As always, Charles was candid. He ripped on the Clippers, calling them a terrible organization that only wants to make money and doesn't care about winning. Then he later said this about the players in the draft, "I notice two things. Number one, they dress a lot better than when I came out, and number two, a lot these colleges don't have weight rooms."
Of the commentators on the set, Majerus was the best. While Thompson relied on "I love this guy" to talk about picks, Majerus offered thorough analysis, and it wasn't always glowing.
Of Mihm, he said, "He needs a more physical presence to his game." When Cleveland drafted Crawford, he said, "He's not accustomed to playing without the ball in his hands. A surprise pick to me." Of Boston using its 11th pick on UCLA forward Jerome Moiso, Majerus said, "He needs to do a better job of bringing defensive intensity to the floor."
Draft winners were the Bulls, Clippers and Mavericks.
Now we wait to see how those teams are performing in three years.
