Three years ago, Mateen Cleaves was in an expensive New York hotel room wearing a suit and shoes that probably could have been a down payment for a house.

He was as nervous as a young girl on her first date. And it was Cleaves' first date in a way -- his official entry into the NBA. That night, the Pistons took him with the 14th overall pick in the draft and billed him as their point guard of the future. Now Cleaves is looking for a job.

Some of the 29 players who will be drafted in the first round Thursday night could use Cleaves as a lesson. The NBA might never look as promising as it does on draft night.

Since that night, Cleaves' life has taken a series of twists and turns. After his rookie season, the Pistons traded him to the Sacramento Kings for Jon Barry and a first-round draft pick. At Sacramento, Cleaves played little, stuck behind top guards Mike Bibby and Bobby Jackson.

In the past two seasons, he has averaged fewer than five minutes a game. Next week, Cleaves, 25, will become a free agent. He's hoping to land with another team. But Cleaves, who led Michigan State to the 2000 national championship, knows his lack of playing time will work against him.

"You don't want to get too forgotten," Cleaves said. "It's been two years since people have seen me play. I've been doing a good job in Sacramento, playing and practicing and doing what I'm supposed to do and working hard and all that, but I'm facing it. I'm taking this summer as my back is against the wall. That's the attitude I'm having."