With the Orlando Magic on its way to the NBA finals and Dwight Howard taking his place as the game's newest superstar, it's a good time to look back at draft night 2004. If you're a Warriors fan, it's an especially good time, considering sort-of-G.M. Larry Riley's statement that he would prefer "a player at (No. 7) with four years of college experience."
David Stern has done away with this debate by ruining the college game with his mandatory one-year rule. But there was always an undercurrent against early leapers, and the debate crested when Orlando selected Howard, the high school kid, over Emeka Okafor, the college player of the year. Sam Smith, Chicago Tribune, draft review:
1. Orlando, Dwight Howard. "Big mistake. ... Is he Kwame Brown? One thing's for sure, he's no Kevin Garnett."
2. Charlotte, Emeka Okafor. "This isn't fair. 15 minutes in league and they already have better player than anyone on Bulls. ... Could be one of best defensive players to come into NBA in years."
Postscript: Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008-09 NBA defensive player of the year ... Dwight Howard!
Jeff Jacobs, Hartford Courant:
The fact Okafor is a man and Howard is still a boy is not the reason the Magic will regret this night in 10 years. The NBA draft has become a futures market of high schoolers and unknown foreigners and, by that 21st-century yardstick, the Magic's great mistake is their failure to realize how much Okafor will still improve. Their failure is they have underestimated Okafor's unparalleled will to improve.
Postscript: Okafor was the NBA's rookie of the year after averaging 15.1 points and 10.9 rebounds. He hasn't reached those averages in any season since, save for one year with 11.3 rebounds.
Jenna Fryer, Associated Press:
A crowd of 10,000 fans at the Charlotte Coliseum erupted in cheers when Orlando selected Howard and it was clear Okafor would wear orange next season and represent the NBA's newest team.
Postscript: And that's the last time anyone has seen 10,000 people gathered to watch the NBA in Charlotte.
Jerry Brewer, Orlando Sentinel:
Howard is worthy of our intrigue. LeBron James should be considered the most amazing prospect ever to hop from high school to the pros. Kevin Garnett should be a close second. After those two, Howard merits consideration for third, even ahead of Kobe Bryant and McGrady.
This guy will not fail. With him, it's a when-question, not an if-question. Disregard all the unoriginal blabber people use whenever any talented prep dares go to the NBA . Howard will not fail.
Postscript: That's a home run. Maybe the Warriors can hire Jerry Brewer to run their scouting department.
