http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1087458161314410.xml DEFENSE FIRST Dedication to the defensive game could make Arizona's Iguodala the first guard taken in NBA draft Thursday, June 17, 2004 By Benjamin Hochman Staff writer What's wrong with Andre Iguodala? Ask the guard what will make him a sure-fire lottery pick in next Thursday's NBA draft, what makes him stand out among the standouts, and just listen to what he says: "I think I set myself apart from a lot of players defensively, being able to go out there and stop players." Defense? Who says that? Definitely none of the top guards in this year's mix, who assembled last weekend in Chicago's Wyndham Hotel. Bombarded with questions about their talents, every guard brought up his ball-handling, shooting or passing. Iguodala was the only one whose answer was distinctive, and it's his passion for defense that makes him distinctive in the minds of those who make the picks. "I think he's a versatile player," said Rob Babcock, general manager of the Toronto Raptors, who pick eighth. "He'll defend. He's a good athlete." The 6-foot-6 Iguodala, who played collegiately at Arizona, has the physical ability to play the 1, 2 and 3 positions, although he is most comfortable at shooting guard. He likens comparisons to Scottie Pippen. He's a passionate but humble player. He was third in the Pacific-10 in assists (4.9). But he's hardly the offensive juggernaut one would assume the possible top guard in the draft would be -- he averaged 12.9 points in his sophomore season for Lute Olsen's Wildcats, while making 23 of 73 3-point attempts (31.5 percent). But he can defend. "A lot of guys have a couple years of getting better defensively, and that's keeping them off the court because they can't defend -- I think that's what's going to put me on the court," said Iguodala, who is expected to be a top-10 pick and could be the first guard selected in the draft, depending on what happens with high school player Shaun Livingston. "I think you have to take pride in playing defense; that's the base of winning. A lot of teams struggle because they can't stop teams from putting the ball in the hole. Detroit is a good example of defense right now." Last year's NBA draft was heavy on guards, with four going in the top eight, including LeBron James (Rookie of the Year), T.J. Ford and Dwyane Wade. This year's class of guards features more intangibles, be it Iguodala, who doesn't dominate offensively; Livingston, who is a 6-7 point guard; or Ben Gordon, who is a sharpshooter from national champion Connecticut who demands to play the point. A guard could go as high as the second pick next Thursday, assuming the Los Angeles Clippers don't trade down. Los Angeles could snag Livingston (although Dwight Howard also is enticing) and some mock drafts have Chicago at No. 3 drafting Iguodala. Look for point guards such as Gordon and Devin Harris of Wisconsin to go a little later in the lottery, perhaps to the guard-needy Atlanta Hawks at No. 6 or Phoenix Suns at No. 7. "First of all, very few point guards are going to come in and do very well," Denver Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. "It's just a position that takes a while, whether they've been to two years of college or no college. They're still very, very young." That might be tough for a player like Gordon to stomach, who in his words is, "ready right now to come in and contribute to a team. "I think I'm versatile. I possess size, strength, speed and experience. I'm a good scorer and I have passing ability." "I've talked to him a lot," said Cleveland Cavaliers coach Paul Silas, whose team drafts at No. 10. "He has a good way about him. He understands, he speaks well and he certainly plays well. The shooting part was great -- the worry was can he play the point? That's something that whoever gets him will have to see." Harris, like Gordon, just finished his junior year, and he, like Gordon, flirts with being 6-3. "(Harris) comes from a good program that moves the ball, which allows you to do more things," Sacramento Kings scout Jack Mai said. "He's 6-3 with good speed and can shoot it." The oft-smiling Harris has the ability to make a splash in the NBA because of his knack to score consistently from long range (75 3-pointers made as a junior), as well as use his long arms and quickness to play defense. HORNETS CLAIM GUARD: The Hornets have claimed guard Alex Garcia off waivers from the San Antonio Spurs, the team announced Wednesday. Garcia, 6-3 from Brazil, played in two games for the Spurs last season, averaging 1.5 points and one steal in a total of 6 ½ minutes. He missed the first 33 games of the season while on the disabled list with a broken foot, an injury he sustained against the Hornets in an Oct. 22 preseason game. Garcia went back on the disabled list with a knee contusion Jan. 9 after San Antonio obtained guard Charlie Ward. In Brazil's Paulista League in 2002-03, Garcia earned first-team all-league honors by averaging 17.9 points, four rebounds and four assists for Ribeirao Presto. . . . . . . . Staff writer Jimmy Smith contributed to this report. Benjamin Hochman can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405. --

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