Hoop It Up

Full disclosure: last summer, as the 2004 NBA Draft approached, I was terribly concerned about the Magic's position as keeper of the top pick. Given the paucity of talent available in that draft - remember, that was the summer when Pavel Podkolzine was the most intriguing name on the board - I opined more than once on Sports Talk Live that the Magic should seriously consider trading the pick. Coming off a 61-loss season, my reasoning was sound: unless they could get a franchise-changing player with that number one overall pick, they should deal it for sheer numbers. Lose one top pick, get three guys who could actually play. Rock-solid, right?

More disclosure: I watched Dwight Howard's private workout with the Magic. I also saw Emeka Okafor go through the paces at the RDV Sportsplex. Don't ask me how I came to witness the workouts - I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you. Point being, it wasn't even close.

Howard blew the roof off the gym. He was a monster then, and he's a monster now. Couple his breathtaking physical skills with a well-grounded support system behind him, a humble but confident demeanor, and a body still growing at age 20, and you have a player that the Magic can build around for the next decade. Watching him play through the first two months of his second NBA season has only reaffirmed that stance. He will record a 30 point-30 rebound game sometime in the near future. Write it down.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is this: thank God the Magic didn't trade that pick.

Second point on the Magic - I'm sure as hell not backing off my statement from a column after that same 2004 Draft in which I argued that "five years from now, 'Jameer Nelson at 20' will be regarded as the draft-day steal of the decade." As a second-year pro, Nelson has earned the confidence of a veteran head coach in Brian Hill, so much so that Nelson is now regarded as a "closer." Bring in the kid in the fourth quarter, let him fire a few fastballs, and pull the "Mariano Rivera Circa 2001" on the bad guys. Criminy, he even added a three-point shot over the summer. I'm even more mystified as to how he dropped to 20. Never underestimate the power of a short kid with a chip on his shoulder. As I recall, Doug Flutie won a Heisman Trophy that way.

Meanwhile, in Miami, Shaq is still limping, and Antoine Walker is still shooting. The Heat's early-season struggles have brought the average teams in the Southeast Division (read: Orlando and Washington) much closer to the top than they have any right to be. Dwyane Wade is doing all he can, of course, to the tune of 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game in 39 minutes a night, but at times the Heat look like those mid-90's Golden State Warrior clubs, when Mullin and Richmond had left Tim Hardaway all by himself by the bay. While I sometimes struggle to remember my kids' birthdays, I can clearly recall seeing the Warriors clear out for Hardaway at the top of the key, leaving him on an island as he attempted to bring his club back to within 17. That's the vibe I get right now from Miami. A bunch of players in cool uniforms with a great view of Wade as he goes one-on-five.

Of course, now that Shaq Is Baq, all bets are off. Miami is more than capable of ripping off a ten-game win streak with the Big Fella in the middle. Alonzo Mourning provided heroic effort in Shaquille's absence, and Lord knows Walker thinks he's helping, but this team was built for the Diesel. Jason Williams-to-James Posey ain't gonna get it done, not even in the Southeast. My advice to the rest of the division: get your licks in while you can, because this train is coming to a halt. Atlanta, you are excused from this conversation.

This week, I am heading off with the Magic on a two-game road trip to New York and Dallas, during which time I will be playing the role of Paul Kennedy as the Sun Sports pregame host and sideline reporter. Among the story lines we will follow is the return of Grant Hill to the Magic lineup, which should take place on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. I don't think you can overstate how big that will be for the men in blue. Hill's offense is a given - what does not show up on the stat sheet is his leadership and sheer presence. Grant Hill makes his teammates better, through clever passing and timely scoring, and by remaining calm when the situation is dire. He's younger than I am, but he's the sagely grandaddy on that roster. It will be interesting to see how the team responds with Hill on the floor for these two road games, followed by a season-high six-game home stand. If the Magic can emerge from December somewhere close to the top of the Southeast Division, with all hands healthy and on deck, this NBA season takes an intriguing turn for NBA fans in Central Florida.

One more reminder - keep an eye on Sunsportstv.com for the upcoming ballot for the All-Florida College Football Team, the results of which will be announced on the final Rec Warehouse College Kickoff show on January 6th. Fans can vote in a number of categories, all of which were listed here in a previous entry. Vote early and vote often. Talk to you from the road.