Prime players are listed below in alphabetical order. Click on the name for profile. All underlined names below include a brief capsule of the player.

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2004 NBA DRAFT

FINAL Updated 06/24/04 - 4:08 PM Pacific time - DONATE

This is not a mock draft. This is a scouting board. The numbered list below represents the order that we feel the players should be selected. Click on player name to read a capsule. (Read more below to see how we determine this ranking)

  1. Dwight Howard - Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy - 6'11" 235 lb. SF, PF, C.
  2. Emeka Okafor - Connecticut - Junior. 6'10" 240 lb. C, PF
  3. Shaun Livingston - Peoria Central High School - 6'7" 189 lb. PG
  4. Luke Jackson - Oregon - SR. 6'7" 210 lb, SG, SF
  5. Luol Deng - Duke - 6'8" 220 lb. SG, SF
  6. Andre Iguodala - Arizona - Soph. 6'7", 200 - SG, PG
  7. J.R. Smith - St. Benedict's Prep, NJ - 6'7", 227 lb. SG
  8. Kirk Snyder - Nevada - Jr. 6'7", 225 SG
  9. Jameer Nelson - St. Josephs - SR. 5'11" 190 lb. PG
  10. Rafael Araujo - BYU - SR. 6'11" 295 lb. - PF, C
  11. Andris Biedrins - Skonto (Latvia)- 6'11" 240 lb. C.
  12. Josh Smith - Oak Hill Academy High School - 6'9", 200 lb. PF
  13. Peter John Ramos - Caguas (Puerto Rico) 7'3", 270 lb. C.
  14. Al Jefferson - Prentiss High School (MS.) - 6'10", 263 lbs. - PF
  15. Dorell Wright - 6'8", 213 lb. - South Kent High School (CT.) - SF, SG
  16. Ricky Minard - Morehead State - SR. 6'4", 198 lb. SG
  17. Josh Childress - Stanford - Jr. 6'7" 196 lb. - SF, SG
  18. Delonte West - St. Josephs - Jr. 6'3" 183 lb. - SG, PG
  19. Ben Gordon - Connecticut - Jr. 6'2", 195 lb. - SG
  20. Kris Humphries - Minnesota - Frosh. 6'10" 238 lb. PF
  21. Viktor Khryapa - CSKA Moscow - 6'9" 210 lb. - SF
  22. Robert Swift - High School, Bakersfield, CA. 7'1", 245 lb. Center.
  23. Pavel Podkolzine - Varese, Italy. 7'5", 303 lb. - C
  24. Kevin Martin - Western Carolina - 6'7", 185 lb. - SG
  25. Andre Emmett - Texas Tech - Sr. 6'5", 216 lb. - SG
  26. Sebastian Telfair - Lincoln High School (NY)- 5'11", 175 - PG
  27. Devin Harris - Wisconsin - Jr. - 6'3", 175 - PG
  28. David Harrison - Colorado - Jr. - 7'0", 250 lb. C
  29. Donta Smith - Southeastern Illinois College - Soph. 6'7", 230 lb. - SF, SG
  30. Jackie Butler - Coastal Christian Academy (Virginia) High School - 6'10", 260 lb. C, PF
  31. Nigel Dixon - Western Kentucky - SR. - 6'11", 320 lb. C
  32. Tony Allen - Oklahoma State - SR. 6'4", 214 lb. SG
  33. Ha Seung-Jin - South Korea - 7'3", 300 lb. C
  34. Sergey Monya - CSKA (Russia) - 6'7", SG
  35. Chris Garnett - Indiana Southeast - SR. 6'11", 275 lb. C
  36. Bryant Matthews - Virginia Tech - SR. - 6'7", 215 lb. SF
  37. Jackson Vroman - Iowa State - SR. - 6'10" 220 lb. PF
  38. Matt Freije - Vanderbilt - SR. - 6'10" 234 lb. SF, PF
  39. Arthur Johnson - Missouri - SR. - 6'9" 262 lb. PF, C
  40. Tim Pickett - Flordia State - SR. - 6'4", 207 lb. SG
  41. Pape Sow - Fullerton State - SR. 6'10" 233 lb. PF, SF
  42. Albert Miralles - Spain - 6'11", 240 lb. PF
  43. Cuthbert Victor - Murray State - SR. - 6'5" 190 lb. PF
  44. Sani Ibrahim - Gulf Coast Community College - 6'10" 229 lb. PF
  45. Romain Sato - Xavier - SR. - 6'5" 205 lb. SG
  46. Dylan Page - UW Milwaukee - SR. - 6'9" - 239 lb. SF, PF
  47. Erik Daniels - Kentucky - SR. - 6'8" 223 lb. - PF, SF
  48. James Thomas - Texas - SR. - 6'8", 235 lb. PF
  49. Josh Lewis - Austin Peay - SR. - 6'8" 210 lb. PF
  50. Blake Stepp - Gonzaga - SR. - 6'4", 192 lb. - PG
  51. Luke Whitehead - Louisville - 6'7", 220 lb. SF, SG, PF
  52. Antonio Burks - Memphis - SR. - 6'0", 200 lb. - PG
  53. Tony Bobbitt - Cincinnati - SR. - 6'4", 180 lb. SG
  54. Mike Williams - W. Michigan - SR. - 6'8" 190 lb. SF
  55. Spencer Ross - Queens University (Charlotte, NC.) 5'11" PG
  56. James Moore - New Mexico St. - 6'8", 198 lb. PF
  57. Aleksander Vujacic - Udine (Italy) - 6'6" PG
  58. Travon Bryant - Missouri - SR. - 6'9", 244 lb. SF
  59. Marcus Melvin - NC State - SR. 6'8", 230 lb. SF

The After Party - The top free agents.

HammerDown! Basketball Column

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This marks the sixth year that we have undertaken the NBA draft as a project. We believe in heart, and love of the game. We also know that heart and a passion for basketball are only part of the equation. You also must have talent to win games. If you don't have talent it doesn't matter what your team chemistry is.

I am a firm believer that statistics may be used as a tool to 'get past' or mute certain illusions that humans develop for other humans when evaluating their talent. The fact that some players have more flair than others is hard for the human mind to look past. However, does the flashy guy convert free throws, take charges, and share the ball without turning it over? Is he a team player or a primadonna? These "winning" intangibles are too often overlooked.

This draft ranking listing is made with "all-things considered". We look at a player's efficiency, and adjust for the strength of schedule he played against. We also consider age, maturity, and the current landscape of the NBA position the player is going to play. Does he have a feel for the game? Is he a "warrior" or a "poser"? Finally, we obsessively watch basketball. We gather information from trusted sources, and we subscribe to all the hoop we can on DirecTV's basketball packages. Ultimately, we go with our own feel for the draft.

Why do this?

Because I love basketball and study the game. I am a huge believer that using a combination of data and common sense can lead to better draft day selections. Countless hours are spent researching the players listed. Besides, as I tell my wife, the more time you spend studying the game and the players, the more knowledgeable you become.

As a broadcaster I always heard fans gripe about a team's draft picks. I knew it could not be as easy as some Friday morning drafters claimed it was.

It isn't.

The draft has become an obsession with me and a way for me to annually stay sharp. The only way to do it and be credible though is to post my picks for the world to see. The good and the bad. What we are finding is that we are doing okay vs. the NBA GMs. For example in 1999 as Jonathan Bender was selected by the Raptors, we were adamant they should have picked Shawn Marion. We had Marion 3rd, he went 9th. Our recommendation for the Cavs at 11? Corey Maggette. They took Trajan Langdon. Our record pick for pick Vs NBA GM's for the 1999 draft was 35-15-8 (based on either a clear-cut win, lose, or tie from their selection vs. my recommedation).

Last year, as Josh Howard slipped to the end of te first round, we were shocked. We are on the record with Howard #7 on our list. Also, Dallas Mavs rookie point guard Marquis Daniels who was not drafted was listed at #17 in our first round. More importantly, (so far) we had Carmelo Anthony #2, not Darko Milicic.

In 2002, we really were right on about Carlos Boozer. We listed Carlos Boozer 4th and were laughed at for doing so. Now Boozer is a blossoming star in Cleveland. Tayshaun Prince was #15 on our list. He went 22nd in the NBA draft. Udonis Haslem was not drafted (meaning he was not among the top 58 prospects according to the NBA) but was touted as #18 on our list.

Bottom line; the NBA Draft isn't nearly as easy to gauge as fans think it is. I can't imagine being outworked at this by anyone who doesn't do it for a living. It is a hobby for us and we're proud of our picks.

HammerDown! Basketball Column

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