Even the Top Pick Isn’t Set in Stone

Let’s start with what we know: The Philadelphia 76ers, drafting first, will take Allen Iverson.

Oops, this just in! The 76ers thinking about swapping picks with the Vancouver Grizzlies?!

Everything in today’s youngest NBA draft ever is up for grabs as teams worry about not getting the kids they want, not being able to keep the ones they get and cheating each other.

Take Vancouver. It doesn’t exactly resemble Cleveland, though it has taken some of the young players time to realize it.

Stephon Marbury, a New Yorker who wants to stay close to home, reportedly said he didn’t want to go there because it was “too close to Russia.” Someone apparently assured him there was a whole ocean in between.

Most trade proposals swirling around the draft don’t happen, but this is a new era.

This year the intrigue is blinding.

No. 1--The 76ers are being courted by Vancouver, which wants Shareef Abdur-Rahim but thinks Toronto, picking second, will take him. The Grizzlies have reportedly offered their Nos. 3 and 22 picks for Philadelphia’s No. 1.

2--Toronto General Manager Isiah “Two Faces Have I” Thomas raved about Camby on national TV but could drop him like a hot rock, now that his first choice, Abdur-Rahim, is back in.

Or maybe he really likes Camby and is trying to get the Grizzlies to give him a player to swap picks so they can take Abdur-Rahim?

With Isiah, you find out on draft day.

3--The Grizzlies prefer Abdur-Rahim but will happily settle for Marbury, who finally told them he’d play there.

4--The Milwaukee Bucks were entertaining offers for Marbury, but might wind up with Camby.

5--The Minnesota Timberwolves yearn to trade up for Marbury, giving his pal, Kevin Garnett, a reason to stay. However, nobody wants problem child Isaiah Rider.

Bottom line: They take Antoine Walker or trade down for Steve Nash.

6--The Boston Celtics, who traded Eric Montross to get here, say they’ll take Walker or Ray Allen. “They’re doing that or they’re blowing smoke at everyone,” says Clipper Coach Bill Fitch.

M.L. Carr, perhaps heading for his last roundup, wants to trade farther up for Camby but has run out of centers.

7--The Clippers, determined to reach 41-41 next season, would trade for a starter, especially a point guard. They are reportedly talking to Portland about Rod Strickland.

8--The New Jersey Nets want to trade up for Camby, who played for Coach John Calipari, or Walker. They’re even reportedly thinking about Kobe Bryant, the high school kid.

9--The Dallas Mavericks reportedly want Lorenzen Wright, but Jason Kidd just demanded they trade Jim Jackson (again). Despite indignant denials--”We don’t respond well to threats,” one of their new owners said--they realize Jackson has slipped, have already been shopping him and could take Kerry Kittles.

At mid-round, Bryant jumps onto all the radar screens. General managers first pooh-poohed his entry, but impressive workouts with the Lakers, Clippers and Celtics warmed them up. If he’s there, the Knicks are expected to take him with one of their their picks at 18 and 19, but someone may trade into the 14-17 range to nab him.

Then there are the Lakers.

No one is sure what they’re doing, but various reports--all denied by Executive Vice President Jerry West--had them trading Vlade Divac, Cedric Ceballos, Anthony Peeler and/or Nick Van Exel, or, in other words, four of their seven players under contract.

Their draft pick is down the line at No. 24.

“We’ve had nine players in, and we’re going to see five more,” West said last week. “So nobody can tell you they know what we’re going to do. Flip a coin.”

You could put them down for Leonard Armato’s son. He’s in grade school, but Leonard is Shaquille O’Neal’s agent. This year, it’s as good a bet as any.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Today’s Draft

* Site: East Rutherford, N.J.

* Time: 4:30 p.m.

* TV: TNT

* First pick: Philadelphia 76ers

* LAKERS

Trade Divac? Move up? Wait for O’Neal? West says nothing has been decided. C5

* CLIPPERS

With the No. 7 pick, almost anything is possible. They might even choose another another guard. C5

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

No. 1 Selections *--*

YEAR PLAYER TEAM POS. SCHOOL 1966 Cazzie Russell New York F Michigan 1967 Jimmy Walker Detroit G Providence 1968 Elvin Hayes Houston C Houston 1969 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Milwaukee C UCLA 1970 Bob Lanier Detroit C St. Bonaventure 1971 Austin Carr Cleveland G Notre Dame 1972 LaRue Martin Portland C Loyola-Chicago 1973 Doug Collins Philadelphia G Illinois St. 1974 Bill Walton Portland C UCLA 1975 David Thompson Atlanta G North Carolina St. 1976 John Lucas Houston G Maryland 1977 Kent Benson Milwaukee C Indiana 1978 Mychal Thompson Portland C Minnesota 1979 Earvin Johnson Lakers G Michigan St. 1980 Joe Barry Carroll Golden State C Purdue 1981 Mark Aguirre Dallas F DePaul 1982 James Worthy Lakers F North Carolina 1983 Ralph Sampson Houston C Virginia 1984 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston C Houston 1985 Patrick Ewing New York C Georgetown 1986 Brad Daugherty Cleveland C North Carolina 1987 David Robinson San Antonio C Navy 1988 Danny Manning Clippers F Kansas 1989 Pervis Ellison Sacramento C Louisville 1990 Derrick Coleman New Jersey F Syracuse 1991 Larry Johnson Charlotte F UNLV 1992 Shaquille O’Neal Orlando C Louisiana State 1993 Chris Webber Orlando F Michigan 1994 Glenn Robinson Milwaukee F Purdue 1995 Joe Smith Golden State C Maryland

*--*