Teams search globe for foreign gems

NEW YORK -- Maybyner "Nene" Hilario could become the "Next Nowitzki" -- the term used by NBA draftniks to describe a relatively unknown overseas player who can be turned into an All-Star.

The 6-foot-11 Brazilian power forward's stock has been rising in the days leading up to Wednesday night's NBA draft, and his agent said Monday that he does not expect Hilario to remain on the board past the seventh pick.

"Miami called today and asked what they can do to get him. I told them to make a deal with Cleveland (for the sixth overall pick) so they can get him before New York does," agent Michael Coyne said.

Much of the intrigue surrounding this year's draft begins with the fourth pick.

Houston is expected to select 7-foot-5 center Yao Ming of China with the first choice, with Duke guard Jay Williams going to Chicago with the second pick and Duke forward Mike Dunleavy being selected No. 3 by Golden State.

The Memphis Grizzlies and new team president Jerry West will choose fourth, and they could surprise everyone by taking a chance on the 19-year-old who has played professionally the past two seasons for Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro.

Under contract

Hilario remains under contract to his Brazilian team through the fall of 2003, but his representatives claim the team breached it by failing to pay Hilario part of his $20,000 salary last season. An arbitration hearing has been tentatively scheduled for later this summer in London to resolve the matter, Coyne said.

"The case is overwhelmingly in his favor," the agent said.

Coyne also revealed that the Knicks and their attorneys have gone over the details of Hilario's Brazilian contract, going so far as to consult with Jeffrey Mishkin, the former chief attorney for the NBA.

Coyne said the Knicks, after being impressed by his speed and strength in workouts, put Hilario up in a Manhattan hotel over the past weekend.

"Our approach is to pick a player that can come in and continue to work and improve on their game, players that are self-starters and want to get better," said Knicks general manager Scott Layden, who has tried unsuccessfully to move up in the draft for a pick higher than seventh.

Among the players projected to be selected with picks 4-10 are Kansas forward Drew Gooden, Connecticut forward Caron Butler, Memphis guard Dajuan Wagner, JUCO forward Qyntel Woods, Maryland forward Chris Wilcox and center Nikoloz Tskitishvili, a 7-footer from the republic of Georgia who played professionally with Benetton Treviso (Italy) last season.

Other foreign players expected to be mid-to-low first-round picks are Jiri Welsch of Olympija-Ljubljana (Slovenia) and forward Bostjan Nachbar of Benetton Treviso.

Coyne said the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns were among the teams trying to move up to have a shot at selecting Hilario.