Draft Is Now Like Continental Divide

A lot has happened since the NBA draft just allocated well-known college stars. So many left early, freshmen and sophomores began outnumbering juniors and seniors. High school players began jumping straight to the draft. International players arrived.

Now it’s harder to follow and presents teams with new choices: Do the Lakers take a player who’s relatively ready such as Fran Vazquez over a high school player such as Andrew Bynum, who will take three more years but could be twice as good?

If this has discomfited general managers, scouts and fans, one thing has not changed: The lifeblood of the league still comes in this way.

In the last four drafts, 10 high school players, seven foreign players and six college freshmen composed almost half of the lottery picks.

Those four drafts also produced All-Stars Yao Ming, Amare Stoudemire, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, along with fast risers such as Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol, Jason Richardson, Dwight Howard, Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, Chris Bosh, Shaun Livingston, J.R. Smith, Kirk Hinrich, Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer, Andre Igoudala, Al Jefferson and Josh Howard.

Almost the entire Chicago Bulls’ rotation has arrived in that time: Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry in 2001, Hinrich in 2003, Ben Gordon and Chris Duhon in 2004.

This draft was thought to be even more developmental, but, as usual, the closer it came, the more teams began warming to the candidates. This resulted in big jumps on the pre-draft circuit. Danny Granger, Channing Frye and high school players Gerald Green and Martell Webster vaulted into the lottery. Players such as Chris Taft and Martynas Andriuskevicius, projected as top 10 picks, fell out.

Portland at No. 3 is thought to be focused on Green and would be happy to take something in return for moving down to No. 5 or 6 if they thought they could still get him. The following mock draft is going on a source who says the Trail Blazers have agreed to swap picks with Utah, getting the No. 6. Charlotte at No. 5 would like to trade up to get one of the Atlantic Coast Conference stars, Marvin Williams or Chris Paul, but has refused to give up its No. 13 pick.

Utah at No. 6 wanted to trade up for Deron Williams, who is now expected to be the first point guard taken, ahead of Paul.

The Lakers have reportedly asked about trading up with Portland at No. 3 for Green. Since Phil Jackson became part of the process, they’re trying to trade up with Toronto at No. 7 for Frye. This mock draft will assume it won’t happen.

Measurements are from the Chicago pre-draft camp, one of the few places players are ever measured in bare feet. As soon as they go to their new teams, everyone goes back to giving out their exaggerated height in sneakers.

In the case of Vazquez, Bynum, Yaroslav Korolev, Johan Petro, Roko Ukic, Milie Ilic and Mickael Gelabale, who didn’t attend the camp, an inch has been taken off their listed height.

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1. Milwaukee -- Andrew Bogut, 6-11, 250, So., Utah: Underwent the usual deconstruction effort that top picks get, but he’s very skilled and legitimately center size. Raised in gung-ho Australian ball; think of a bulkier, more physical, just-as-skilled Vlade Divac.

2. Atlanta -- Marvin Williams, 6-7, 228, Fr., North Carolina: Athletic and skilled, has the biggest upside in the draft. Only question is how hungry he is; the Hawks may wonder the same thing, because there was talk in the last week that he’d drop.

3. Utah -- Deron Williams, 6-1 3/4 , 202, Jr., Illinois: Trading up from No. 6, the Jazz takes the point guard it needs. He chunky but a terrific floor player and a good defender. Marginal shooter (36% on threes, down from 39% as a sophomore); if he gets better, he can be a star.

4. New Orleans -- Chris Paul, 5-11 3/4 , 178, So., Wake Forest: Precocious point guard who has swagger, understands game, makes good decisions and can shoot (47% on threes last season). Only question is his slight frame.

5. Charlotte -- Raymond Felton, 5-11 1/2 , 199, Jr., North Carolina: In a late switch, the Bobcats take a local favorite. Great athlete and improving shooter but not the playmaker Deron Williams and Paul are.

6. Portland -- Gerald Green, 6-6, 192, Houston (Texas) Gulf Shores Academy: Major athlete who can shoot. Admirers, who included Lakers, see the next Tracy McGrady.

7. Toronto -- Danny Granger, 6-7 1/2 , 225, Sr., New Mexico: Late bloomer who popped onto the radar screen this season at age 22, then jumped into the top 10. Good all-around offensive player.

8. New York -- Channing Frye, 6-9 1/2 , 243, Sr., Arizona: After four years of steady development, he was still under the radar until playing well in the NCAA tournament. Not huge or physical but polished and ready.

9. Golden State -- Hakim Warrick, 6-7 1/4 , 215, Sr., Syracuse: Power forward who’ll have to learn to play on the perimeter, but he’s an uber-athlete with long arms and great explosion. If he learns to shoot, think Shawn Marion.

10. Lakers -- Fran Vazquez, 6-9, 238, Unicaga Malaga: Nice, young prospect but not a huge or an exciting one. At 20, he has played against top competition in Spain and isn’t a long-term project. Jackson has always valued power forwards.

11. Orlando -- Martell Webster, 6-6, 229, Seattle Prep: Not as spectacular as Green, but even if comparisons to Paul Pierce are a bit much, he has star potential.

12. Clippers -- Yaroslav Korolev, 6-8, 203, CSKA Moscow: They need a shooting guard but were dazzled when they saw this big, young small forward in Moscow this spring.

13. Charlotte -- Charlie Villanueva 6-9, 236, So., Connecticut: Great package of size and athleticism but still has to show he’s not an airhead.

14. Minnesota -- Sean May, 6-7, 258, Jr., North Carolina: They’re desperate for size. He’s talented and a good athlete for someone his size but undersized. His 8-9 vertical reach is 4 1/2 inches less than Ike Diogu, two less than Wayne Simien.

15. New Jersey -- Rashad McCants, 6-2 3/4 , 201, Jr., North Carolina: On ability, he’d have been in the top 10. On reputation, he’ll be lucky to go this high.

16. Toronto -- Roko Ukic, 6-4, 183 KK Split: Big point guard from Croatia whom some scouts liked more than Felton.

17. Indiana -- Antoine Wright, 6-5 1/4 , 202, Jr., Texas A&M;: Fast-coming shooting guard who went from 30% on threes as a sophomore to 45%. They’re looking for a replacement for Reggie Miller, not to mention Stephen Jackson.

18. Boston -- Andrew Bynum, 6-11, 285, Metuchen (N.J.) St. Joseph’s High: GM Danny Ainge plays for the future, a la Red Auerbach. Lakers were intrigued by Bynum, but Phil Jackson isn’t into high school players. Great body, decent athleticism, but he’s raw and years away.

19. Memphis -- Johan Petro 6-11, 247, Pau Orthez: Another team desperate for size. This is the French Bynum.

20. Denver -- Joey Graham, 6-5 1/4 , 216, Sr., Oklahoma State: George Karl wanted to trade up for McCants but settles for this terrific athlete. Has to go from forward to shooting guard but was 47% on threes the last two seasons.

21. Phoenix -- Milie Ilic 7-0, 230, BC Reflex: Talented but years away. They’re looking for an upgrade over Steven Hunter.

22. Denver -- Wayne Simien, 6-7 1/4 , 255, Jr., Kansas: Of all the short power forwards, he’s the most physical and skilled, but a career full of injuries has teams wary. If his knees hold up, he could be the next Carlos Boozer.

23. Sacramento -- C.J. Miles, Dallas Skyline High: Next-generation shooting guard to replace Doug Christie.

24. Houston -- Ike Diogu, 6-6 1/2 , 255, Jr., Arizona State: Jeff Van Gundy loved Clarence Weatherspoon’s heart. This is Weatherspoon as a young man.

25. Seattle -- Jarrett Jack, 6-2 1/2 , 197, Jr., Georgia Tech: Point guard who made a big move this season. They expect to lose free agent Antonio Davis.

26. Detroit -- Francisco Garcia, 6-5 3/4 , 189, Jr., Louisville: As the Finals showed, their bench needs help. Great workouts made up for his lame NCAA tournament.

27. Utah -- Martynas Andriuskevicius, 7-1 1/4 , 227, Kaunus Zalgiris: This is a long way down to get a 7-footer who might happen one day. One scout says this 19-year-old Lithuanian’s height and athleticism make him “a freak of nature.”

28. San Antonio -- Mickael Gelabale, 6-6, 215, Real Madrid: At this point if they said a European mule could fly, everyone would agree.

29. Miami -- Chris Taft, 6-8 1/2 , 261, So., Pittsburgh: Big and athletic, but disappointing season was followed by disappointing workouts. Too tempting to pass here for Pat Riley, who excels at motivating players.

30. New York -- Julius Hodge, 6-6, 202, Sr., North Carolina State: With Allan Houston about to be dumped, here’s a young shooting guard.