THE NBA / MARK HEISLER : They’re Cool on Draft, but Trade Rumors Are Hot

How thin will Wednesday’s NBA draft be?

“I think you can get the same player at No. 15 you could get at 40,” Atlanta Hawk General Manager Pete Babcock said. “Frankly, I don’t like this draft. I think it’s awful.”

On the other hand, it’s the only draft they have.

The Clippers have the usual lottery pick among their two No. 1s. Eager to break from tradition, they are trying to trade for a veteran point guard. Isiah Thomas and Derek Harper have been pulled off the market, but bidding continues on Doc Rivers, Jay Humphries and Brian Shaw.

The Lakers traded their No. 1 choice for Terry Teagle but want to find a point guard to back up Magic Johnson.

Funny they should mention it. New Knick Coach Pat Riley wants A.C. Green.

The Knicks are pushing a three-way deal with the Lakers and the Suns: Charles Oakley and Maurice Cheeks from New York to Phoenix for Xavier McDaniel, Kurt Rambis and Negele Knight; Knight to the Lakers for Green.

However, one general manager says that Phoenix’s Cotton Fitzsimmons is aware of the Green-Knight possibility and hasn’t gone so soft in the head that he will let the Lakers fill a need off his roster.

Another general manager thinks Jerry West wants Boston’s Shaw.

However, Dave Gavitt is turning down offers for Shaw left and right, including one from the Clippers.

Celtic officials say privately they are not as interested in moving him as the Boston media are.

Only three more shopping days remain.

Imagine the possibilities.

Translation, please: Pre-draft week is an odd time, composed of optimism, skepticism and disinformation.

“Lying time,” Clipper Coach Mike Schuler calls it.

Everyone is billed as the next someone. Accept this as a form of mental shorthand and take it for what it’s worth.

Thus if Larry Johnson, who might or might not be an NBA star, is compared to Charles Barkley, a Hall of Fame candidate, it simply means Johnson has a body like Barkley’s.

If Oregon’s Terrell Brandon has suddenly become a “Tim Hardaway type,” it means only that Brandon’s swagger, build and one-on-one ability remind a long-suffering scout whose optimism has endured the long trek to Eugene, Ore., of Hardaway.

Stanley Steamer: When 7-foot Stanley Roberts left Louisiana State after one season to play in Spain, everyone was ready to chalk it up to impetuous youth.

He is back and making a deep impression.

At the Chicago pre-draft camp, he was found to have only 12% body fat.

However, the interview process isn’t bringing out the best in Roberts, although it is definitely bringing out something.

He left Spain weighing 277 pounds.

In Chicago two weeks ago, he weighed 293.

He was 304 last week when he appeared in Orlando, Fla., for a workout.

By the time he hit Oakland to see the Warriors, he was at 309.

Someone draft this player before he explodes.

Or as a personnel director said: “When he hits 320, sell!”

Roberts’ interviews weren’t going so well either. He told officials in Orlando he wants to play on the perimeter. He also said he wanted to play on the West Coast.

On the West Coast, he told the Warriors that if things didn’t work out in the NBA, he could always go back to Europe.

Right you are, Stan.

Loughery mockery: The Heat has an admirable record in player personnel but more trouble picking coaches.

First choice Ron Rothstein was uptight, overmatched and resigned before he could be fired.

After a long interview process, during which General Manager Lew Schaffel was alleged to have floated ridiculous names to set up newsmen he doesn’t like, including USA Today’s Pete Vecsey, the Heat chose popular warhorse Kevin Loughery.

Passed-over Heat assistant Dave Wohl immediately resigned.

Miami fans, noting Loughery’s .400 career percentage, blasted the choice all over talk radio.

Loughery, finishing up as an Atlanta assistant, wasn’t allowed by the Hawks to attend his introductory news conference in Miami.

Said Heat President Billy Cunningham: “They (the Hawks) wouldn’t even agree to let Kevin fly to Miami. . . . We said we’d pay for it.”

Back in Atlanta, Loughery said he wasn’t even aware of the news conference.

Loughery said that despite the Heat announcement, “We haven’t discussed dime one.”

Aside from that, it’s been an uneventful debut.

NBA Notes

Spectator Sport: Also without No. 1 picks are the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers, three teams that could use reinforcements. . . . Surprise! No one was interested in trading for Mark Aguirre. The Pistons also have to make a deal with restricted free agent John Salley. . . . Trade-happy Harold Katz’s 76ers haven’t drafted in the first round since 1989, when Katz passed up Vlade Divac and threw the pick away on Kenny Payne. The 76ers traded their ’90 pick for Rick Mahorn, their ’91 for Manute Bol and their ’93 for Jayson Williams.

Fire Sale: Atlanta offered Dominique Wilkins to the Indiana Pacers for Reggie Miller. Also being shopped are Doc Rivers and Kevin Willis. Moses Malone will be cut loose so the Hawks can reclaim his $2.4-million salary under the cap. John Battle is an unrestricted free agent. . . . The Hawks and the Denver Nuggets are thought to have already made a deal, sending Blair Rasmussen to Atlanta.

The Warriors’ Don Nelson tried to get Malone at the trade deadline and may go after him again. . . . Charlotte, ready to dump J.R. Reid, may have a taker in San Antonio, where Larry Brown has a weakness for prodigals. The Hornets and the Spurs are discussing a Reid-Rex Chapman-for-Willie Anderson deal.

NBA Mock Draft

Staff writer Mark Heisler takes a look at the first round. The draft will be conducted Wednesday in New York.

1. TEAM: Charlotte NEED: Size PLAYER: Larry Johnson, 6-foot-5 1/2, 250 pounds, UNLV COMMENT: Some wonder about his height, but he could be special.

2. TEAM: New Jersey NEED: Small forward PLAYER: Billy Owens, 6-9, 220, Syracuse COMMENT: Could be prototype small forward for the 1990s. Can do it all but had a good, not great, college career.

3. TEAM: Sacramento NEED: Point guard PLAYER: Kenny Anderson, 6-2, 175, Georgia Tech COMMENT: Latest New York legend, clearly the best collegiate point guard, but pros wonder about slight frame.

4. TEAM: Denver NEED: You name it PLAYER: Dikembe Mutombo, 7-1, 235, Georgetown COMMENT: Zaire native is undeveloped offensively but a big-time shot-blocker.

5. TEAM: Miami NEED: Power forward PLAYER: Steve Smith, 6-5, 205, Michigan St. COMMENT: Expected to take Doug Smith, they say they’ll go with Steve (no relation). No fooling?

6. TEAM: Dallas NEED: Front-line scorer PLAYER: Doug Smith, 6-9, 220, Missouri COMMENT: Last of this draft’s blue-chippers.

7. TEAM: Minnesota NEED: Power forward PLAYER: Brian Williams, 6-10, 240, Arizona COMMENT: The Timberwolves are among many leery of Williams’ demeanor, are shopping pick for veteran power forward.

8. TEAM: Denver (from Washington) NEED: Firepower PLAYER: Mark Macon, 6-5, 185, Temple COMMENT: Senior season revived his reputation. Pro body and skills.

9. TEAM: Clippers NEED: Point guard, backup center PLAYER: Greg Anthony, 6-2, UNLV COMMENT: Dying to deal for a veteran. If they can’t, they’ll heed Don Sterling’s friend, Jerry Tarkanian.

10. TEAM: Orlando NEED: Center PLAYER: Luc Longley, 7-1, 265, New Mexico COMMENT: The Aussie isn’t physical or dominating but has ability.

11. TEAM: Cleveland NEED: Speed PLAYER: Stacey Augmon, 6-6, 192, UNLV COMMENT: His stock dropped from top-fiver. Questions about shooting, ball-handling, even his defense.

12. TEAM: New York NEED: Anything but center PLAYER: Terrell Brandon, 5-11, 180, Oregon COMMENT: They want Williams, Macon or Augmon. If they can’t trade up, they settle for answer to who’s-the-point-guard debate.

TEAM: 13. Indiana NEED: Rebounder PLAYER: Rich King, 7-1, 240, Nebraska COMMENT: A nobody who made himself in postseason all-star competition.

14. TEAM: Seattle NEED: Forward PLAYER: John Turner, 6-9, 250, Phillips Univ. COMMENT: Kicked out of Georgetown for befriending convicted drug dealer. Came from nowhere to tear up all-star tourneys.

15. TEAM: Atlanta NEED: Center PLAYER: Stanley Roberts, 7-2, 309, LSU/Spain COMMENT: Genuine talent, put on 32 pounds in three months. Even in a weak draft, dropped like an anvil.

16. TEAM: Golden State (from Philadelphia) NEED: Size PLAYER: Dale Davis, 6-10, 230, Clemson COMMENT: Don Nelson trying desperately to trade up to Mutombo-land but won’t say magic word--Richmond or Mullin.

17. TEAM: Golden State NEED: More size PLAYER: Pete Chilcutt, 6-10, 247, North Carolina COMMENT: Revived flagging interest in all-star games. Well-schooled.

18. TEAM: Milwaukee NEED: Size PLAYER: Shaun Vandiver, 6-10, 240, Colorado COMMENT: Bad leg but a big guy who works hard.

19. TEAM: Washington NEED: Power forward PLAYER: Anthony Avent, 6-9, 220, Seton Hall COMMENT: Beefs up willowy front line.

20. TEAM: Houston NEED: Forward. PLAYER: Chad Gallagher, 6-9, 240, Creighton COMMENT: Low-post scorer.

21. TEAM: Utah NEED: Someone athletic PLAYER: LaBradford Smith, 6-4, 200, Louisville COMMENT: Great athlete and leaper, drafted as prep baseball pitcher.

22. TEAM: Clippers (from Seattle) NEED: Best available PLAYER: Rodney Monroe, 6-2, 185, North Carolina State COMMENT: Small for an off-guard but can score. Could be a sleeper.

23. TEAM: Orlando (from San Antonio) NEED: Big man PLAYER: Victor Alexander, 6-9, 270, Iowa State COMMENT: Magic gambles on talented fat man.

24. TEAM: Boston NEED: Front line. PLAYER: Rick Fox, 6-7, 220, North Carolina COMMENT: They want to trade up, sent a private detective to Oklahoma to check out Turner.

25. TEAM: Golden State (from Lakers) NEED: Backup point guard PLAYER: Eric Murdock, 6-2, 185, Providence COMMENT: Warriors don’t have room under cap for three rookies. Nelson says he’ll trade for a ’92 pick.

26. TEAM: Chicago NEED: Depth PLAYER: Kevin Lynch, 6-5, Minnesota COMMENT: Bulls’ bench shooters are pint-sized B.J. Armstrong and Craig Hodges.

27. TEAM: Sacramento (from Portland) NEED: Size PLAYER: Leron Ellis, 6-11, 240, Syracuse COMMENT: Well, he’s big.