NBA’s Expansion Teams Ponder Draft Selections

Randy Wittman or Scott Hastings? Bill Wennington or Steve Alford? William Bedford or Chuck Nevitt? Gerald or David Henderson?

Those are among the bricks, an apt description in some cases, that will form the foundation for NBA expansion teams Charlotte and Miami.

The Hornets and Heat will begin their building in earnest when the league’s expansion draft is held either June 20 or 23, depending upon how soon the NBA Finals end.

Each existing NBA team will yield one player, but no more. Thus, the choices between Atlanta’s Wittman and Hastings, Dallas’ Wennington and Alford, and so on.

There will be a few good players available, even though each team gets to protect eight and the 7-year veteran free agents, including the likes of all-stars Tom Chambers and Moses Malone, who won’t be eligible for either protection or selection.

There is one other catch -- comparable value. One team’s trash may be another’s treasure.

Take Tyrone Bogues, for instance. Washington’s Bullets have reportedly included the 5-foot-3 question mark on the expansion list, a fact officially known only to them, the two new teams and the NBA hierarchy.

While the Bullets may have given up, others may be interested. Say Denver, which wanted Bogues last summer. Or the Los Angeles Lakers, who might fancy Bogues as a backup to Magic Johnson and an effective intermission in their Showtime.

Wittman is another who would be worth more to an existing team as a complementary addition than to an expansion team as one of its stalwarts. He’s a good citizen, an increasingly attractive quality in the NBA, and a decent player. Atlanta would prefer to keep him and several other contenders would welcome him.

For those reasons, Miami, which has the first pick of the expansion litter, is listening to deals.

“Obviously, we are in the driver’s seat in whatever deals we may make,” said Stu Inman, Miami’s personnel chief. “Judging by the dialogue from other teams, the talk is rather hot and heavy.”

The Miami Heat could take Wittman, then send him back to Atlanta for the Hawks’ first-round pick (No. 18 overall) in the June 28 draft of college players. Or to Chicago for the 19th choice. Wittman, a five-year veteran, figures to be better for the next couple years than any players chosen at that point in this year’s draft.

Or Miami might choose Bogues, then deal him to the Lakers for the 25th pick or back to the Bullets for a second-round choice.

Charlotte, with the second pick off the expansion list, might do the same. And so on.

The expansion draft could turn into a complete farce, with Miami and Charlotte alternately choosing 23 players, all of whom are traded back to their original clubs in exchange for mostly third-round draft choices.

Then, in this year’s college draft, the Heat and Hornets would have all the third-round picks.

They might as well. Of last year’s third-round picks, only two were on rosters at season’s end. Neither Phil Zevenbergen with San Antonio nor Winston Crite with Phoenix made an impact.

Charlotte, at least, has made its mission clear. The Hornets will lose with youth.

They made that statement when they won a coin flip with Miami and elected to pick higher (8th rather 9th) in the college draft instead of leading off the expansion draft.

“We thought there was a major difference between the 8th and 9th picks,” said Carl Scheer, vice president of the Hornets. “We think that eighth pick could be a pretty darn good pick.”

Charlotte is eyeing a big player and would like to get Rony Seikaly of Syracuse or Tim Perry of Temple. One, if not both, should be available with the 8th pick.