Even before Cleveland landed the first pick in the 2003 NBA draft, former Hornets coach Paul Silas was interested in leading the Cavaliers. But Silas became even more interested after Cleveland won the top lottery pick -- also known as the right to select Ohio high school legend LeBron James.

But Silas, who signed a five-year deal reportedly worth $20 million, said he hadn't fully grasped that he'd be getting a player many consider to be the best ever to go directly from high school to the NBA.

"I was just happy we had the first pick," said Silas, whom the Hornets did not retain when his contract ended at the end of this season. "I was busy coaching my team and really didn't know that much about the kid. I'd never seen him play."

For those who have, seeing is believing. And they brush aside talk that James, who stands 6-feet-8 with a point guard's skills and a physique that appears NBA-ready, is the latest overrated high school player who isn't really ready for professional basketball.

"The kid is the real deal," said Denver Nuggets assistant general manager Dave Fredman. "The thing I look for in a player are hands and eyes, and he has them. He handles the ball extremely well, and he sees things on the court that a lot of other players just don't see."