The number three worked for Babe Ruth, Harold Baines and Harmon Killebrew. Allen Iverson and Dwyane Wade have had some very good days wearing it.
It was lucky for the Bulls when they drafted Michael Jordan third overall in 1984.
But the NBA team that gets the third pick in June’s NBA draft is going to be very unhappy.
Oh, it will get a good player, someone such as Florida’s Al Horford or Joakim Noah or North Carolina’s Brandan Wright, perhaps one day an NBA All-Star. But this year’s draft, assuming freshmen Greg Oden of Ohio State and Kevin Durant of Texas come to the NBA, features two players around whom you can build a champion.
Oden likely will be the No. 1 pick even if some general managers are saying privately they would take Durant.
Durant has been the story of the college season and is on the verge of being one of the most anticipated players to come to the NBA. He has a rare scoring ability and size that has teams and fans waiting in expectation.
Oden is not nearly as spectacular, but rarely do classic post men come along who are defenders first and are comfortable trying to score around the basket.
Based on discussions with NBA scouts, personnel directors and general managers, here’s an early look–assuming all of these college and international players are in the draft–of what June’s first round might look like:
1. Greg Oden, fr., Ohio State, 7-0, 245 pounds. He won’t be Rookie of the Year, but he could be a franchise center for the next decade, so you can’t pass him up. A defensive force immediately.
2. Kevin Durant, fr., Texas, 6-10, 190. He might be what Len Bias could have been. He’s an effortless scorer who will be one of the top young stars coming in. The Mavs reached the Finals built around Dirk Nowitzki. Durant could be better.
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3. Al Horford, Florida, jr., 6-10, 245. A classic power forward, a tough rebounder who can play inside and out. Should plug right in.
4. Brandan Wright, fr., North Carolina, 6-9, 205. A versatile player who is a project with a high ceiling. He will need to bulk up and shoot better.
5. Joakim Noah, Florida, jr., 6-11, 232. He stayed long enough for pros to pick apart his game and lack of offense. But he’s a rare big man who passes, runs and rebounds, and will be all hustle.
6. Yi Jianlian, China, 19, 7-0, 230. He’s not like Yao Ming; he’s more like Nowitzki or Andrea Bargnani, who play a face-up game. He’s why half the NBA–including the Bulls’ John Paxson–is in China this weekend despite the NCAA tournament.
7. Brook Lopez, Stanford, fr., 7-0, 245. Another face-up player, he’s skilled and coming fast because of his size and knowledge. Still a bit of a project.
8. Spencer Hawes, Washington, fr., 7-0, 250. He’s more of a classic NBA big man, playing inside with know-how. But he’s coming off injury and an average athlete. Maybe a better version of Brad Miller.
9. Julian Wright, Kansas, so., 6-8, 225. Some say great versatility; others say utility player. Wright is unselfish (sometimes to his detriment), defends and has skills. Not a great shooter.
10. Jeff Green, Georgetown, jr., 6-9, 235. An excellent ballhandler who probably passes better than he shoots, he’s more of a comple-mentary player. But he’s a good team guy who can play defense and both forward positions.
11. Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina, so., 6-9, 245. He doesn’t jump much, but scouts like his nasty disposition and competi-tiveness; a better version of Mark Madsen.
12. Chase Budinger, Arizona, fr., 6-7, 205. Tended to defer on a team of selfish players who overshad-owed him, but he can shoot and has a smooth feel for the game.
13. Thaddeus Young, Georgia Tech, fr., 6-8, 217. Can be a spectacular small forward, but he’s inconsist-ent and a little weak. Still, he’s a hard worker and a big-time prospect with Josh Smith comparisons.
14. Roy Hibbert, Georgetown, jr., 7-2, 278. A hard worker whose desire may overcome lack of speed and pace. Labors changing ends but will guard and block a shot.
15. Al Thornton, Florida State, sr., 6-8, 220. Clearly an athlete, but the pros wonder if he can adjust to small forward, even though some small power forwards have had success. An improving shooter from the Shawn Marion mold.
16. Tiago Splitter, 22, Brazil, 6-11, 240. Seems like he has been in last five drafts. Finally, it’s his time. A physical, active player with some similarities to Tyson Chandler, he’s awkward with the ball.
17. Rudy Fernandez, 21, Spain, 6-6, 172. The best of Europe’s pros-pects, Fernandez shoots well and has good size for a shooting guard.
18. Michael Conley Jr., fr., Ohio State, 6-1, 180. A guard who can make smart plays and run a team, he’s T.J. Ford with a better shot. Thin draft for point guards.
19. Acie Law IV, Texas A&M, sr., 6-3, 195. A Sam Cassell-type point guard who will make a play for himself. He’s a good defender, tough with good size. Not considered a great athlete.
20. Josh McRoberts, Duke, so., 6-10, 240. Once thought to be a top-five pick, pros are uncertain about his toughness and commitment. But he is skilled and can handle the ball.
21. Corey Brewer, Florida, jr., 6-9, 185. The more pro scouts study him, the more confused they become. He’s a good defender who some have compared to the Pistons’ Tayshaun Prince.
22. Mario Chalmers, Kansas, so., 6-1, 195. His beauty is in the eye of the beholder because he is more of a scorer than a defender.
23. Javaris Crittenton, fr., Georgia Tech, 6-5, 198. Not great at running a team, which doesn’t seem as important as it used to be for point guards. He’s a Leandro Barbosa-like combo guard.
24. Glen Davis, LSU, jr., 6-9, 295. Another player who has slipped with more scrutiny. Good hands and footwork draw comparisons to Danny Fortson or Robert Traylor. He’s a position player but has flair that could interest teams.
25. Darren Collison, UCLA, so., 6-1, 165. Considered to have a good feel for the point and the NBA game, he’s more highly regarded than his better-known teammate Arron Afflalo.
26. Alando Tucker, sr., Wisconsin, 6-6, 205. Scouts have a problem seeing his game at his size at the next level. He will struggle to score, so he could be a role player who competes.
27. Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh, sr., 7-0, 270. Can you say Greg Dreiling? Gray is a slow big man someone will take a look at. Connecticut’s Hasheen Thabeet and Nevada’s Nick Fazekas also are in this category of future D-leaguers.
28. Ty Lawson, North Carolina, fr., 5-11, 193. Along with Texas’ D.J. Augustin, he is a bowling-ball version of the Magic’s Jameer Nelson, who is not quite the prototypical NBA point guard.
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29. Nicolas Batum, France, 18, 6-8, 190. Perhaps he’s the next Thabo Sefolosha. He’s an effortless swingman who looks smooth passing and ballhandling. This is where teams begin taking chances on international players.
30. Marc Gasol, Spain, 22, 7-0, 265. Pau’s brother, who is coming on as a good prospect. He’s a good passer and decent offensive player.
Some players will return to college or stay overseas, which means there will be changes before June.
And because it’s early in the NCAA tournament, well before teams begin working out players and giving physicals, several could work their way into the first round.
Among these hopefuls are Darrell Arthur and Brandon Rush of Kansas; Mario Belinelli of Italy; Nick Young of Southern California; Daequan Cook of Ohio State; and Taurean Green of Florida.