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Celtics
Draft Lithuanian, Won't be Easy to Make Roster
June 27, 02 |
Associated Press
The Celtics used their only pick in
Wednesday's NBA draft to take Darius Songaila, a Lithuanian who
went to high school in New Hampshire and college at Wake Forest.
Songaila, a 6-foot-9 forward, left Wake Forest after four years
ranked eighth on the all-time rebounding list and ninth in
scoring. He helped Wake Forest reach the NCAA Tournament in his
final two years, and as a senior he led the Demon Deacons with
18 points and eight rebounds a game.
"He's a unique player. He has high-level American college
experience, but he's a foreigner," Celtics general manager
Chris Wallace said. "He was one of the better players in
the ACC this year."
Songaila is expected to play on Boston's summer league team.
After that, the Celtics would like him to play abroad to develop
his skills while they decide if he's worth a roster spot.
"He would have a relatively easy time getting placed in
Europe with a Lithuanian passport," Wallace said.
"It's going to be a tight roster. It's going to make it a
tough team to make."
The Celtics traded their first-round pick in the draft to the
Suns during the season in a deal that brought Rodney Rogers and
Tony Delk to Boston. That left them with only a second-rounder
in the draft, 49th overall.
Wallace said the team didn't have high hopes for this year's
pick, who will have a hard time even making the roster. Although
he discussed trades leading up to the draft, Wallace said he
never got close to making one.
Duke teammates go 2-3: Jay Williams (Bulls) and fellow Duke
junior Mike Dunleavy (Warriors) were the second and third
players chosen in draft, but that wasn't a record for the
highest college teammates selected.
In 1969, Lew Alcindor, now known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was
taken first by the Bucks and Lucius Allen was selected third by
the SuperSonics.
Sixers deal 16th pick to Warriors: Philadelphia traded the 16th
pick, Czech guard Jiri Welsch, to Golden State for a future
first-round pick and a future first- or second-rounder, then
sent Speedy Claxton to San Antonio for the rights to No.26 pick
John Salmons, a forward from Miami, and second-round pick Randy
Holcomb, a forward from San Diego State.
Magic-Jazz swap picks: Orlando traded the rights to 18th pick
Chris Borchardt to Utah for No.19 pick Ryan Humphrey and
second-round pick Jamal Sampson. Sampson, a center from
California, was then dealt to Milwaukee for the rights to
Rashard Griffith. Orlando also acquired the rights to
second-round pick Mario Kasun, a center from Croatia, for future
considerations.
Kings trade Dickau: The Kings traded the rights to Gonzaga point
guard Dan Dickau, the last pick of the first round, to the Hawks
for a future first-rounder.
Other deals: The three-time defending champion Lakers acquired
the rights to Missouri guard Kareem Rush (the 20th pick), along
with Tracy Murray, from Toronto for Lindsey Hunter and the
rights to the 27th pick, Chris Jefferies. Also, Cleveland sent
Wesley Person to Memphis for Nick Anderson and the rights to the
46th pick, Matt Barnes of UCLA, and Philadelphia sent two future
second-round picks to Atlanta for the rights to Efthimios
Rentzias of FC Barcelona.
High school lull: Four high school players were among the first
eight selected in last year's draft, including the top two of
Kwame Brown by the Wizards and Tyson Chandler by the Clippers,
before he was dealt to the Bulls.
This year, four high school players were eligible for the draft,
and Amare Stoudemire was the only one picked in the first round,
taken ninth by the Suns.
"I was hoping to go in the top 10, and Phoenix is a great
place to start a career," said Stoudemire, who played at
Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, Fla. "I think I'm at
a point to be a nice rookie, but to be a great player I have a
lot of work to do."
The 6-foot-10, 19-year-old player said he liked Phoenix so much
he stayed an extra day when he went there to work out for the
Suns. Asked what he liked he most, he said: "The weather
got me."
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