From Orlando Sentinel http://tinyurl.com/22hoa 我们的总管和教练认为Howard的成熟度超过一般的年青人，也认为他 展现出来的不只是身体素质的优异，还包括篮球的智慧、心理层面的 成熟、还有良好的工作态度。 比较值得担忧的是，魔术队参与决定中的一员Dave Twardzik ，他是 魔术队人事部门的经理，之前曾担任过金州勇士队的GM，是一个曾在 选秀会上跳过KG和Kobe不选的GM......(按：希望这次别看走眼了) ------------------------------------------------------------ Mature(成熟) beyond his years The character of 18-year-old Dwight Howard sells Magic executives on drafting him No. 1. By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted June 26, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------ In the race to become the Orlando Magic's No. 1 draft choice, Emeka Okafor broke to a big lead. Then Dwight Howard left the gate, riding hard and closing fast. Howard passed Okafor and comfortably pulled ahead down the homestretch to Commissioner David Stern's podium. The only way Okafor could have won is if Howard, the young colt(新手), threw a shoe or a fit and acted like a 3-year-old. So say the Magic. "The question was not knowing how mature this kid was. You're just not sure," said Dave Twardzik, Magic director of player personnel. "Is he an 18-year-old, or is he mature beyond those years? "Once you saw he was mature beyond those years. . . . Oh, yeah, was he ever." Twardzik smiles and whistles. An NBA lifer, he lived the league's teenage phenomenon before it became a phenomenon. As general manager of the Golden State Warriors, Twardzik passed up the chance to draft Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant in consecutive years. He and many execs doubted that teens were ready to handle the NBA's seductive glare and perks. Howard might have taken himself out of the running if he had exhibited typical teenage traits(特徵) -- disrespect(无礼), laziness, ludeness, rowdiness(吵闹), a messy room, etc. Instead, he dazzled the Magic to the point during a visit last week that Twardzik wondered if Howard was lying about his age. Surely, he was older than 18, pulling a reverse Danny Almonte. "He's not a normal high school kid," General Manager John Weisbrod said. The Magic want to rebuild with character, not characters. Howard's Eagle Scout resume, his solid family background, his unbending faith(坚定的信念) and uncommon work ethic clinched the deal. "Character has been in me, the way I am," said Howard, who arrived in town Friday. "I'm not going to change because I have money." The Magic had determined Howard would develop into a better player than Okafor. But would he develop the intangibles the club intimated it had not seen in Tracy McGrady? Their perceived indecision between Howard and Okafor was largely marinated to drive up 11th-hour trade offers for the pick. Weisbrod said several teams called up to an hour before the draft -- one called 13 times -- to try to make a deal to take Howard, presumably(据推测). Weisbrod said that teams also were making bids for point guard Jameer Nelson, the No. 20 pick in the draft whom Orlando obtained in a trade with the Denver Nuggets. He said one team offered two future first-round picks and a second-rounder. In the end, no one was going to wrest(强夺) Howard from the Magic. He could be their starting power forward next season, considering Juwan Howard and Drew Gooden are on the trading block. Weisbrod made it clear that Dwight Howard would be thrown into the grown-up's game, and is "not a eight-to-10-minutes guy, sitting out games." While Okafor's back problems figured into the Magic's decision, Howard had what Coach Johnny Davis called "the whole package of skills -- athleticism, basketball IQ, foundation. That's hard to turn away from." It came down to the Magic believing Howard also could be a defensive force, while rating his offensive game already ahead of Okafor's. "Dwight's a very attractive package," Twardzik said. "This kid does all that, and his offense is a lot better." Weisbrod salutes(向...致敬) what he calls "the integrity(正直) of Dwight's game," meaning he practices as hard as he plays. Weisbrod said that selecting a high schooler over a decorated, defensive-minded college star such as Okafor was "not popular," and admitted he heard the critics. The Magic were not going to be swept away by prevailing(主流的) opinion or ESPN basketball analyst Dick Vitale or the exposure Okafor received as a member of Connecticut's national championship run, however. "I don't want to get into any discrepancies(不一致) about who the Magic should have picked," Howard said. "I think they picked the best person for the job, and I'm just happy to be here." Brian Schmitz can be reached at [email protected]. --

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