Former Warrior Savovic giving NBA his best shot
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Predrag Savovic doesn't have time to be nervous.
The former University of Hawai'i basketball star spent yesterday — the day before the NBA Draft — in Atlanta, working out in front of coaches and officials of the Atlanta Hawks.
"I haven't really put much thought into what might happen, really," Savovic said. "I've been too busy. It's been a different city every day almost."
Today, Savovic will be in New York's Madison Square Garden, where he is expected to become one of the 57 players selected in the two rounds of the NBA Draft.
If so, the 6-foot-6, 212-pound shooting guard would become the first UH player drafted by an NBA team since Reggie Cross in 1989.
"I'm excited for him," said UH head coach Riley Wallace, who will sit near Savovic in Madison Square Garden today. "He's done all he could to get to this position. He's worked hard every year he was with us, so he deserves this."
Savovic, who is originally from Yugoslavia, has conducted private workouts for 15 of the NBA's 29 teams over the last two months. His agent, Marc Cornstein, said "any of those 15 teams could take him."
"We set forth a brutally tough schedule for Predrag and he never complained," Cornstein said. "In fact, he took advantage of it and really impressed some people."
The teams showing the most interest appear to be the Detroit Pistons, New Jersey Nets, Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies. But as Cornstein cautioned: "With all the trades that will certainly come up, it's impossible to predict what will happen."
According to Cornstein, there are approximately 15 sure-fire first-round prospects. He said Savovic is in the next group of "25 or 30" that could go anywhere from late in the first round to late in the second round.
"I would say his range is between (picks No.) 20 and 40," Cornstein said.
With a rock-hard body and cotton-soft jump shot, Savovic would appear to be an unquestionable pick. However, advanced age (he's 26) and questionable defensive quickness are concerns.
"Tomorrow is the toughest day because everything is out of our hands," Cornstein said. "All the teams know about him. We just have to wait and see who takes him."
If selected in the first round, Savovic would join Bob Nash (1972) and Tom Henderson (1974) as the only UH players to be drafted in the opening round.
"I did everything I could up to this point," Savovic said. "I'm very happy with what I did for the different teams, and now I hope one of them will give me a chance."
Wallace believes Savovic is in a favorable situation regardless of where he is selected.
"I'd be disappointed if he doesn't go in the first round because those guys are guaranteed a three-year contract," Wallace said. "But even if he goes in the second round, he's got leverage because a lot of European teams have already made him big offers."
The NBA Draft is scheduled to begin around 7:30 p.m. in New York. In keeping with his schedule, Savovic does not want to leave any time for worrying during the day.
"I'll probably go watch a movie or something," he said. "I've been relaxed up to now, and so I'll try to stay relaxed tomorrow."
