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Free-agent wishlist filled with youthThe Jazz's hopes of reaching the top of the NBA standings may depend upon how well they mine the bottom. Clippers, Warriors and Hawks -- those are the teams the Jazz wouldn't mind raiding for free agents next month, a seemingly contradictory strategy given that none have reached the playoffs in this century. But that's where the young talent lies in the 2003 free-agent class. Gilbert Arenas of Golden State, who averaged 22.5 points and 5.8 assists in four games against the Jazz last season, would add a scoring boost in John Stockton's vacated point-guard spot. Jason Terry of Atlanta, who averaged 26 points and 8.5 assists in two matchups with Utah, isn't a bad option, either. Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets New Griz mature, athleticTroy Bell spent his NBA draft day Thursday at his family's home in Minnesota, helping arrange tables and chairs for his draft party. "I wasn't nervous at all," he said. Dahntay Jones, on the other hand, spent part of the day getting in one last workout for the Atlanta Hawks before rushing back to his family in New York City. "It was crazy day," Jones said. Both the 6-1 Bell from Boston College and the 6-6 Jones from Duke seemed a little dazed and fatigued when the Grizzlies' first-round draft choices met with the media on Friday at The Pyramid. After Grizzlies president of basketball operations Jerry West introduced combo guard Bell and swingman Jones, Grizzlies coach Hubie Brown said trading with Boston to get the Celtics' No. 16 (Bell) and No. 20 (Jones) picks was "a win-win situation." "Once we couldn't move up in the draft to get who we wanted, we had to go with Plan 'B'," Brown said. "We had to trade because Dahntay Jones wouldn't have been there at our 27th pick. Atlanta was going to take him at 21. Anytime you trade down, you're taking a gamble, but we're thrilled with the guys we got." Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, NBA Draft Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Hawks go foreignKeeping with a desire to acquire long and athletic players, Hawks director of basketball operations Billy Knight drafted 6-foot-8 French swingman Boris Diaw with the 21st pick in the NBA draft Thursday. Making the first selection in the post-Pete Babcock era, Knight was pleased to acquire the unselfish guard with the large wingspan and quick feet. The Hawks made a qualifying offer to restricted free agent point guard Jason Terry, and Knight said he expects Diaw to come in and take over some of the ball-handling responsibilities. "He has size, versatility," Knight said. "We feel he adds a different dimension to the team. We're not going to put the ball in his hands and expect him to be Magic Johnson, but we think he will help us out." The Hawks had hoped to bring Diaw, who will wear No. 32, in for a workout before the draft, but his French team, Pau Orthez, is in the French championships. Knight will head to France this morning to watch Diaw play in the third and final game Saturday. Diaw began his professional career at the age of 16 in 1998. He averaged 7.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists last season. ESPN college analyst Jay Bilas called Diaw "a poor man's Scottie Pippen." "I like the comparison," Diaw said in a telephone interview from France. "[Pippen] can do everything on the court. He has the defense. He's like a role player, but he does every role. Somebody said [I'm] like a point forward." Via Atlanta Journal-Constitution Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Hawks Jun 2003 Archive
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