Blazers compose wish list 06/26/03 JIM BESEDA Trail Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks hopes Portland is able to select an outside-shooting threat in today's NBA draft. With the Blazers scheduled to pick 23rd in the first round, even major surprises among the choices that make the headlines -- perhaps the first half-dozen -- probably won't affect Portland's chances of getting a competent shooter. Alternatives? Cheeks would be happy to get a point guard plus a player who can rebound. And if both are solid citizens who won't add to the Blazers' off-court travails, that's even better. "Our most pressing need is for a shooter," Cheeks said. "There aren't a lot of them around. There aren't even a lot of them in the NBA. So we'll try to get that first, and then if that's not there, we'll go in another direction." Cheeks doesn't expect the Blazers' first-round choice to play significant minutes as a rookie. "But that doesn't rule out the possibility of him getting a chance to play," Cheeks said. "You just never know. There could be a trade, an injury, anything can happen, so you have to have that person ready to play. "I just want to improve my team, whichever way I can do that." The Blazers might consider trading up in the first round, but Cheeks said a decision on that probably would have to wait until after the draft starts at about 4:30 p.m. "It depends on what's there to move up to get," Cheeks said. "I don't think you want to move up just to get any kind of player. I think you move up to get a particular type of player that you need and who is going to help your team." Possibilities for the Blazers' choice include Xavier's David West or Wake Forest's Josh Howard, both among the top college seniors in the draft. Portland also could take an international player such as Zaur Pachulia from the Republic of Georgia, Leandro Barbosa of Brazil, or Sofoklis Schortsanitis of Greece. They also might dip into the high school ranks for Travis Outlaw from Starkville, Miss. "From the fourth pick on, I can't tell you exactly how it's going to go," outgoing president and general manager Bob Whitsitt said. "But there are probably 15 to 20 guys who we feel will be good NBA players in time. If we are picking 23rd, there's a good chance we can get one of those guys. "It could be a little pins and needles if only one or two of those guys are left and there are still four teams picking ahead of you, but . . . I would expect one of those guys to fall to us." The Blazers also have a second-round pick, No. 54 overall. "Obviously, there aren't any franchise players that are going to be available, but there will be some players," Cheeks said. "You never know when you might find a diamond in the rough. I was taken in the second round, the 36th player selected overall, and I ended up playing a long time. You never know what is going to be there." Notes: The contract of Blazers assistant coach Herb Brown will not be renewed for next season. Brown is expected to join the staff of his younger brother Larry as an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons. "Herb has a great basketball mind and he did a great job for us," Cheeks said. "I want a guy on the floor who can work out with the players and do those types of things, and hopefully we won't suffer in game situations, because Herb gave me a lot of input during games." Cheeks also said assistant coach Gary Grant is leaving the staff. "I don't think there's any urgency to fill either spot, but I'm looking around," Cheeks said. --

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