Confusion at the Top Begins With--Who Else?--the Clippers

For the first time in draftnik memory, no one went to bed the night before the event certain of a single pick, not even the Clippers who pick first.

This only compounds the uncertainty down the line, and it was already pretty uncertain. For weeks, everyone was monitoring the packages teams were offering the Grizzlies for their No. 2 pick, when they thought Michael Olowokandi would be there. Then the Clippers looked as if they were going to switch Mikes, from Bibby to Olowokandi.

Then David Falk had lunch with Clipper owner Donald T. Sterling Tuesday, to make a late pitch to keep Bibby out of a foreign country or a small market. . . .

Anyway, most of these players should go on the first round:

MOCK DRAFT

1. Clippers--Michael Olowokandi, center, Pacific.

Elgin Baylor spent two weeks agonizing over the decision between the 7-footer and the 6-footer.

2. Vancouver--Bibby, guard, Arizona.

Stu Jackson, who drafted Antonio Davis, will keep taking point guards till he gets a real one.

3. Denver--Raef LaFrentz, forward, Kansas.

They wanted a center. They wanted a point. They settle for a 6-11 1/2 forward.

4. Toronto--Paul Pierce, forward, Kansas.

If the Clippers stay off Olowokandi, the Grizzlies may take him and trade him here. Otherwise, the Raptors will be fielding a smaller lineup.

5. Golden State--Antawn Jamison, forward, North Carolina.

They don’t see him as a ‘tweener but a 6-7 3/4 guy who plays big.

6. Dallas--Larry Hughes, guard, Saint Louis.

Don Nelson says he sees “greatness” in him. Who knows, maybe he’s serious.

7. Sacramento--Vince Carter, swingman, North Carolina.

The darling of the workouts drops to them.

8. Philadelphia--Robert Traylor, forward, Michigan.

Larry Brown, who wanted a big body, gets a 288-pounder.

9. Milwaukee--Michael Doleac, forward, Utah.

Rick Majerus’ center goes to work for Majerus’ friend, Bucks owner Herb Kohl.

10. Boston--Nazr Mohammed, center, Kentucky.

Rick Pitino, trying to dump the big men he acquired last summer, needs replacements. They’re telling people they like Pat Garrity so that’s probably a safe name to cross out.

11. Detroit--Dirk Nowitzki, forward, DJK Wurzburg, Germany.

Light bulb goes off above their heads. They get a great prospect and, if he doesn’t come for a year, they keep all their cap money to pursue Tom Gugliotta.

12. Orlando--Jason Williams, guard, Florida.

The Ex-Gator wild child impressed everyone.

13. Orlando--Keon Clark, forward, Nevada Las Vagas.

One day you’re running Rony Seikaly off because he’s a head case. The next, you’re drafting a bigger head case.

14. Houston--Nasho Nesterovic, center, Kinder Bologna, Italy.

A 6-11 Slovenian who may not come for a year.

15. Orlando--Pat Garrity, forward, Notre Dame.

The Magic has shopped everyone on the roster, trying to trade up, offering Nick Anderson. If nothing materializes, they’ll take another shooter.

16. Houston--Bonzi Wells, guard, Ball State.

The next Clyde, they hope.

17. Minnesota--Casey Shaw, center, Toledo.

They need size. He’s the best of what’s left.

18. Houston--Rashard Lewis, forward, Alief (Texas) Elsik H.S.

At least, he makes them younger.

19. Milwaukee--Bryce Drew, guard, Valparaiso.

The fairy tale continues.

20. Atlanta--Matt Harpring, forward, Georgia Tech.

At least they won’t have to pay much in moving expenses.

21. Charlotte--Brian Skinner, forward, Baylor.

We’re out of centers, how about a power forward?

22. Clippers--Tyronn Lue, guard, Nebraska.

Another reason to draft a center. This point-guard prospect may be available. There aren’t any centers likely to start an NBA game in this century this far down.

23. Denver--Michael Dickerson, guard, Arizona.

Big comeback.

24. San Antonio--Corey Benjamin, guard, Oregon State.

Major opportunity; is Fontana grad ready?

25. Indiana--Ruben Patterson, forward, Cincinnati.

Raw, athletic, plays hungry.

26. Lakers--Mirsad Turksan, forward, Efes Pilsen, Turkey.

Big small-forward who can shoot. Jerry West wants a point guard in case he moves Nick Van Exel, but needs a small forward in case Rick Fox moves himself.

27. Seattle--Ricky Davis, guard, Iowa.

Young, talented meets old, fading.

28. Chicago--Vladimir Stepania, forward, Olimpija Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Another 6-11 Slovene. Jerry Krause may be losing his American dynasty, but he’s assembling a European successor.

29. Utah--Miles Simon, guard, Arizona.

The Mater Dei graduate fell off the radar screens for a while, but he’s back.