When DeSagana Diop, Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler get reacquainted today, they have every right to congratulate themselves. They are, after all, multi-millionaire 19-year-olds, courtesy of the 2001 NBA draft lottery.

Diop, a 7-0 center, was selected by Cleveland eighth overall. Chandler, a 7-1 forward/center, went second to the Clippers before being traded to Chicago. Curry, a 6-11 forward/center, went fourth to the Bulls.

But on a night when the Cavaliers face the Bulls for the first time this season, the trio might also feel the need to commiserate, given a common thread of inactivity.

Diop has appeared in four of the Cavs' 23 games, averaging 3.8 minutes and 0.5 points. Chandler is averaging 11.3 minutes and 3.6 points in 16 games; Curry, 11.1 minutes and 3.8 points in 18 games. Chandler owns the only start among them.

Welcome to the NBA, young fellas.

"This is a watered-down pro basketball game, but still, you can't expect high school guys to come in and make an impact," Cavs coach John Lucas said. "You've got to remember, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett didn't score much when they came in. They weren't close to doing what they do now, and DeSagana doesn't look now like he will at the end of the year."

Bryant and Garnett blossomed into the top-echelon talents expected of them. Bryant, selected 13th overall by Charlotte in 1996 before being traded to the Lakers, averaged 15.5 minutes and 7.6 points in 71 games of his rookie season. Garnett, selected fifth by the Timberwolves in 1995, averaged 28.7 minutes and 10.4 points in 80 games.

It is unrealistic to expect Diop, Chandler or Curry would match Bryant or Garnett, now or then. Regardless, Diop, Chandler and Curry, drafted as highly as they were, could not have anticipated such limited production two months into their NBA careers.

"The toughest adjustment for them is how hard you have to play at this level," Lucas said. "What they think is playing hard, isn't playing hard."

At least Diop gets a waiver. Whereas Chandler and Curry have been relatively healthy, Diop did not play in the preseason because of a stress fracture in his left foot. He also has missed 15 games of the regular season because of a sprained left knee. Diop underwent an MRI exam on the knee yesterday to determine whether it was sound enough to remove a cumbersome brace.

The setbacks cost Diop considerable time on the learning curve, as well as the fitness track. Diop said he weighs 302 and needs to whittle down to 290.

"I'm not in good shape because of my leg, but I know myself and I believe in myself," Diop said.

Lucas said: "He's behind where I thought he would be because of injury, not because of play."

Even if Diop were to achieve superior physical condition the next few months, minutes would be hard to come by now that Zydrunas Ilgauskas has returned.

"I'm not disappointed," he said. "Why would I be disappointed? I'm 19 years old, I've only been playing basketball for five years, and I'm in the NBA."

While maintaining he was mentally prepared for the transition to the NBA, Diop conceded that the rigors of professional life caught him off-guard.

"In high school, you're watching the NBA on TNT every Sunday," he said. "You watch the playoffs and see people in the stands. You think you just show up to practice, play the games and go home. It's not like that. There's so much to do each day."