Chris Tomasson of the Akron Beacon-Journal reports: It looks as though Michael Doleac and Brian Skinner will become unrestricted free agents. ``Right now, the plan is that we probably don't bring either one of them back,'' Cavs GM Jim Paxson said. ``Brian did a nice job for us, but we have Tyrone Hill and we drafted Carlos Boozer, plus Coach (John Lucas) likes Jermaine Jones at the 4 spot as an athletic guy. In Doleac's case, we have three centers on the roster and even with Z (Zydrunas Ilgauskas), who could get hurt, we just feel that (Chris) Mihm and DeSagana (Diop), are where we are in building a young core.''

University of Memphis star DaJuan Wagner's stock in the draft had been falling, but Cleveland selected him with the sixth pick.

Mark Heisler of the LA Times reports on the activities in the Clippers war room on draft night. In what reads like a comedy of errors, he describes how the Clippers and Cavaliers just couldn?t get together to finalize a blockbuster trade.

Under the proposed deal with Cleveland, the Clippers would have gotten point guard Andre Miller for their No. 8 and 12 picks plus a player, but they couldn't agree on the player. The Clippers offered Corey Maggette, then made Lamar Odom available late in the process. The Cavaliers demanded Darius Miles. The Clippers refused, according to a source, on orders from Sterling.

Then the Cavaliers drafted a point guard, DeJuan Wagner, with the #6 pick. Minutes later, the Cavaliers called the Clippers and wanted to accept the Odom deal? but only if the Clippers drafted Caron Butler for them with the 8th pick. The problem was that the Clippers had already called in their pick, Chris Wilcox, to the league.

The Clippers then called the Suns (9th pick) and the Heat (10th pick) trying desperately to trade Wilcox for either pick so they could select Butler and complete the Cleveland trade. Phoenix had already called in their pick, Amare Stoudamire. The Heat decided that
Butler was too good to pass up and picked him for themselves.

The Cavs continued to call the Clippers during the draft, so all is not lost yet.

Kyle Ringo of the Rocky Mountain News speculates that the Denver Nuggets could try to enter the battle for Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Andre Miller.

After acquiring the #17 pick from the Hornets, the Wizards offered the pick to the Nuggets for James Posey. If the Nuggets were to make that trade, they could use the pick in a package to make a run at Cleveland point guard Andre Miller.

Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe would not confirm the trade proposal, but he did say teams often ask about Posey. "There's the draft (today), there is free agency, there are possible trades," Vandeweghe said. "So we'll explore all our options."

Denver needs a point guard even more after paying Tim Hardaway a $1 million buyout and releasing him Tuesday. The Nuggets' only current options at point guard are Kenny Satterfield and Carlos Arroyo. The #17 pick could also be used to pick up a point guard like Gonzaga?s Dan Dickau.

Joe Stevens of the Daily News reports that the Clippers are pondering a big deal. Even though Clippers GM Elgin Baylor is tight-lipped about trade rumors, multiple sources say he and the Cavaliers are working on a trade to send Darius Miles the eighth pick and possibly the 12th pick to the Cavs for point guard Andre Miller and the sixth pick.

Baylor confirmed he has talked with the Cavs but wouldn't offer any details. "We've talked to every team," he said.

The Cavs might not be able to re-sign Miller when he becomes a free agent after this season, so they would be willing to deal him. But such a trade might give Cleveland more losses this season and endanger the jobs of general manager Jim Paxson and coach John Lucas. As a result, the pair might block Cavs management from making any deal.

As for the Clippers, they need to be certain that they can afford to give Miller a maximum contract extension. It's unclear whether such a commitment will come from Clippers management.

The Clippers are looking to upgrade their point guard situation. Jeff McInnis, the Clippers' starting point guard this season, is an unrestricted free agent and the team likely won't re-sign him. The Clippers want to upgrade their point-guard position with someone who can create shots, defend better and be quicker on the fast break, or with someone who has that potential.

Chris Broussard writes that the Knicks yesterday continued to initiate discussions with Cleveland, which drafts sixth, and were attempting to pry Andre Miller away from the Cavaliers for their seventh pick and a Knicks veteran.

Cleveland, however, appears to have better options. According to several league executives, the Los Angeles Clippers are willing to send Corey Maggette and their two first-round picks (Nos. 8 and 12) to Cleveland for Miller. The Cavaliers are pushing the Clippers to replace Maggette with either Darius Miles or Quentin Richardson. The Cavaliers could also decide to trade picks with Phoenix, which is currently in the ninth spot, in order to recoup their first-round selection next season from Phoenix.

Phoenix is one of several teams attempting to move up to the No. 5 or 6 spot. The targeted players for those clubs are power forwards Maybyner (Nen?) Hil?rio of Brazil, Chris Wilcox of Maryland, and Nikoloz Tskitishvili of the Italian League.

Most of the trade activity will start after the draft begins, and the Knicks may not know which way they will go until the clubs in front of them begin trading or selecting players. That being the case, the Knicks, who also own the 36th pick, will enter the draft with the intention of choosing a player with the seventh pick. There is a strong feeling within the organization that the club needs to maximize this pick, most likely via a trade, because it is one of the few valuable assets it has. So there is a possibility that the Knicks could draft a player and trade him.

"We'll certainly go into the draft being prepared to select at seven," Layden said. "You have to be ready. We think there'll be a player there we'll be very happy with. Having said that, if a deal comes along we'll certainly look at that."

The Knicks remain high on Wilcox, the 6-11, 225-pound sophomore, but Hil?rio may be just as high on their list. Both are incredibly athletic with great upside, but at 6-11 and 260 pounds, Hil?rio can play center as well as power forward. The Knicks also like Jared Jeffries of Indiana, a 6-11, 230-pound forward. Jeffries has been sensational in workouts, impressing teams with his varied offensive skills, athleticism and work ethic. A week after Indiana lost in the Final Four, Jeffries went to Sarasota, Fla., to bulk up his then-thin 215-pound body at the IMG Academy . Eating five meals a day, working out twice daily and taking nutritional supplements, he added 15 pounds of muscle. Jeffries, who hopes to reach 240 pounds before next season, put himself in impressive company when saying the Knicks will not be disappointed if they select him.

"I think I'll be kind of like a Dirk Nowitzki-, Lamar Odom-, Kevin Garnett-type player," Jeffries said.

He added: "I want to be somewhere where I can come in and have a chance to play right away with other great players. Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell are two of the best guards in the league. If I can add a little frontcourt help and be able to come in and contribute right away, it's great."

Jeffries was not the only player to eschew modesty. Tskitishvili boldly declared that he is sure he can be as good as Nowitzki, the Dallas Mavericks all-star, and Pau Gasol, the Memphis Grizzlies' rookie of the year who is from Spain.

"Gasol is from Europe, I'm from Europe, and I can do big things like him," Tskitishvili said.

Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times reports that the Bucks are busy in these last hours before the draft. According to several NBA sources, the Bucks could make a major explosion on the trading scene by Wednesday night's NBA Draft. The Bucks, sources said, are in discussions with several teams about trades, including some minor ones and a major one.

The Bucks have been inquiring around, trying to gauge Glen Robinson?s trade value, and may have found a deal they can live with. "They're working on a Robinson trade as we speak,'' a source close to the Bucks said. "I'd say the chances are good he's going to be traded, but you never know. It's at a touchy stage right now.''

Robinson's name has popped up on trade talks in the last two years, especially after the Bucks re-signed free-agent Tim Thomas. But the Robinson rumors have never been as rampant as they are now. Said one NBA general manager, "His name is out there. He can be had.'' A player personnel director, when asked who would probably be the biggest "name'' player dealt this summer, said, "Probably Robinson.''

Last week, published reports surfaced that the Bucks and Knicks had recently discussed a trade involving Robinson and Knicks star guard Latrell Sprewell. Sprewell played high school basketball at Milwaukee Washington, and currently has a home near Grunfeld's. A friend of Sprewell's said the guard would "very much'' like to play for the Bucks next season. A source close to the Bucks, however, said the Knicks initiated talks and that the Bucks have only lukewarm interest in Sprewell. Marcus Camby or Kurt Thomas may be more to the Bucks? liking.

There are rumors that Robinson isn?t the only trade bait being discussed by the Bucks. GM Ernie Grunfeld insists he's satisfied to remain in the 13th spot for Wednesday's draft. But there are rumblings Grunfeld would like to move up.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have the sixth overall pick, but Cavaliers general manager Jim Paxson has publicly admitted he isn't opposed to moving down in the draft. The Bucks and Phoenix Suns allegedly have expressed interest in acquiring the Cavaliers pick. The Bucks presumably would move up to draft either Chris Wilcox of Maryland or Maybyner Hilario of Brazil, both power forwards, or forward Nicholz Tskitishvili from the country of Georgia.

Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune reports that power forwards will dominate the top of the draft, while point guards seem to be dominating the trade talks. Baron Davis, Andre Miller and Jamal Crawford are all the subject of talks as the draft approaches.

There were indications Cleveland's Andre Miller could be close to being dealt to the Clippers. Talks continued Monday about several possibilities, the most likely having Miller and the No. 6 pick going to the Clippers for Darius Miles and the No. 8 pick and perhaps No. 12. Cleveland would also be looking to unload some unwanted contracts in this trade.

The Grizzlies have shown interest in trading the No. 4 pick to the Clippers for their two lottery choices.

Talks heated up Monday, but the Hornets denied rumors about a deal involving Baron Davis.

Looking to move up as well to get a power forward was Phoenix, while the Wizards were said to be angling for guard DuJuan Wagner. That also produced talk in Washington that the Wizards planned to make another run at the Bulls' Jamal Crawford.

Michael Jordan practiced with Crawford last summer and has expressed that he would be interested in a big point guard like Crawford. The Bulls have said they do not intend to trade Crawford, and Washington has not made an offer yet. The Bulls could use another first-round pick this season, and the Wizards reportedly are willing to deal their No. 1 pick, which is 11th.

Overall, this draft looks like it could produce some top talent, especially at power forward. "It's not a draft of impact players, but I think it's pretty deep," Bucks general manager Ernie Grunfeld said. "It's a draft of younger players. It's strong at the top at the forward position."

Elliot Teaford of the L.A. Times reports that the Clippers have many options on draft night, but nothing is finalized. They hold the 8th and 12th pick in tomorrow?s draft, and could be looking to trade.

They are reportedly offering both picks and Corey Maggette to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Andre Miller. The trade hinges on the Cavs? willingness to shake up their whole roster.

There have been many rumors about the Clippers possibly packaging picks and players in order to gain a point guard to take the place of free agent Jeff McIinnis. Most of the rumors seemed to be centering on Lamar Odom and/or Michael Olowokandi, but General Manager Elgin Baylor has sought to quash any notions of a deal involving either.

"You can't believe everything you read," Baylor said. "There's nothing to it. We're talking to teams. We're listening to teams. None of the teams above us [in the draft order] are willing to move down.... We have not talked to any team [about Odom]. Any team that's asked about Lamar we've told, 'We're not trading Lamar.' We have not called any other team and asked about trading Lamar.... We don't want to move Michael."

With that said, Baylor added, "There are only two untouchables in the league, Shaq [O'Neal] and Tim Duncan."

To which, coach Alvin Gentry added, "No, because you could trade Shaq for Tim Duncan."

The Cavaliers may be looking to trade down in the draft. Chris Tomasson of the Beacon Journal reports that the word around the NBA is the Cavs, not enamored with players who might be available with the No. 6 pick, are looking to trade down in the draft. ``I think they're going to trade down,'' said agent Michael Coyne, who has had many talks with NBA officials about his client, Brazilian forward Nene Hilario.

It?s possible that the Cavs could pick Hilario at #6 and then trade him to one of the many teams that covet his size and athleticism. They include Phoenix, which picks No. 9, and Milwaukee, which selects No. 13. Dallas also likes Hilario, but the Mavericks don't have a first-round pick.

The Arizona Republic reported Saturday that Phoenix and the Cavs may swap picks and the Suns would forget about a first-round pick owed by the Cavs the next time they make the playoffs. In addition to Hilario, the Suns like Georgian forward Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Maryland forward Chris Wilcox.

Cavs general manager Jim Paxson said Friday that trading down is a possibility. Coach John Lucas said Saturday it's ``too early'' to say whether it will happen.