Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 24, 1990 TAG: 9006240042
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Is he a high first-round pick? Low first-round? Early second-round? Can he play point guard? Shooting guard? Will he pass off? What about his shot selection?
Several NBA scouts and executives, in the middle of preparing for Wednesday's two-round draft in New York, voiced those questions last week. But they agree on one thing: Coles' athletic ability makes him a safe choice.
"He's really an attractive player," said Sam Schuler, Golden State director of player personnel, who stressed the Warriors are not planning to take a point guard with their No. 10 pick. "He's shown in the postseason [all-star games] that he can compete with any of these kids coming out this year."
Opinions vary as to how high Coles will be picked, and rumors have at least four teams - Boston, New York, Denver and Indiana - seriously interested in the former Virginia Tech star. Coles, the all-time leading scorer for Tech and the Metro Conference, is eager for the draft but typically low-key about it.
"I don't care [who picks me]. I just want to get my chance to play," said Coles, who has been attending summer school at Tech so he can graduate in August.
Most of the scouts and executives said they think Coles is a certain first-round pick and will not go higher than the middle of the first round. But Allan Bristow, a former Hokie who is the Charlotte Hornets' general manager, said he thinks Coles is a second-round choice.
"He's got to focus on being a little more consistent. His inconsistency is what worries a lot of people," Bristow said.
Bristow ranks Coles no higher than the sixth-best point guard in the draft, in a group below standouts such as Oregon State's Gary Payton, Michigan State's Rumeal Robinson, Louisiana State's Chris Jackson and johnny-come-lately Dee Brown of Jacksonville.
But interest shown by several other teams indicates Coles may go higher. Coles said he was flown to Boston on June 19 for a meeting with Celtics president Red Auerbach, basketball operations director Dave Gavitt and coach Chris Ford. Coles also flew to Los Angeles on Thursday to meet with Lakers GM Jerry West and coach Mike Dunleavy. The Celtics pick 19th and may be looking for a point guard because Dennis Johnson is aging and former Celtic Brian Shaw, a rookie in 1988-89, may opt to play another year in Italy. The Lakers may be searching for a backup for Magic Johnson, who just finished his 11th year in the league.
Rick Weitzmann, who scouted Coles for the Celtics, said Coles was one of a dozen collegians invited to meet with the Boston brass. Weitzmann said it is "highly unlikely" that Coles will drop into the second round.
Denver scouting coordinator Rob Babcock said the Nuggets, in search of a backup for point guard Michael Adams, were considering taking Coles with their first-round pick (15th overall). But the Nuggets now are picking third after dealing their two first-round picks (ninth and 15th) to Miami on Friday.
Babcock rates Coles in a group with Brown and Connecticut's Tate George, just behind the Payton-Robinson-Jackson trio.
"The biggest fault I had with him [in the postseason Orlando tournament] was that he dominated the ball too much," Babcock said. "But his skills are excellent, he can do a variety of things, he plays hard, he's a capable defender. He has a chance to be a good player in the league."
Babcock said he has heard that two non-lottery teams picking ahead of the Nuggets are interested in Coles, but wouldn't name the teams. Houston assistant coach John Killilea said the Rockets aren't considering Coles with their No. 12 pick. That leaves the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas. Representatives from those teams could not be reached for comment.
Indiana Pacers president Donnie Walsh said he thinks Coles will be picked somewhere between the 17th and 25th position, and said if the Pacers get one of those picks through a trade, they would give Coles serious consideration. Indiana has no first-round pick, but needs a point guard.
Sources close to Coles said the Knicks, who pick 17th, may try to trade point guard Mark Jackson and pick Coles as his replacement. Atlanta, which has the 11th pick in the first round and the first in the second round (No. 28 overall), may also be interested in Coles. Representatives from those teams could not be reached for comment.
One development that may have hurt Coles' draft status is the early entry of such stars as Louisiana State's Chris Jackson and Georgia Tech's Dennis Scott, both of whom are probable lottery picks.
"I've probably been knocked down a couple of notches," Coles said. "Chris Jackson might be [picked ahead of me]. . . . Then again, some people said I'll be picked in front of him because they think I will be a better defensive player than him."
Wherever he goes, Coles is likely to be groomed as a point guard. He ran the Hokies' offense for the better part of four years, but because of the teams' makeup, he was a score-first, pass-later point guard. That will have to change in the NBA.
"It's very, very difficult to think that change can be made overnight," Killilea said. "It's a mental change, not a physical change."
Bristow and Schuler said Coles' scoring ability is a plus for a point guard. But Coles said he knows he'll have to pass more often in the pros.
"I guess a lot of people wonder if I would be willing to give the ball up to other scorers on the team," he said. "On up through college, I had to score. I'm in that mode. But if I have to give the ball up to Larry Bird and let him shoot 30 times a game, that's fine."
After taking some time off once Tech's season ended in March, the 6-foot-1 1/2 Coles has been lifting weights daily and said he weighs 183 pounds and is increasing his strength. Some NBA scouts have questioned Coles' size and strength, but at least one observer has no doubt about Coles' NBA future.
"Size doesn't mean anything," said Marty Blake, the NBA's scouting director. "How big do you think Isiah Thomas is? I think [Coles] is a heck of a basketball player. He should be drafted in the first round."
by CNB