NBA Expansion Draft -- Point Guards Are Top Priority For Young Raptors, Grizzlies

NEW YORK - Point guards B.J. Armstrong and Greg Anthony were the first picks of the NBA expansion draft as the Vancouver Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors began building their teams yesterday.

Toronto used the first pick to take the Chicago Bulls' Armstrong, and Vancouver followed by taking Anthony from the New York Knicks.

The dilemma for the Raptors is whether to keep Armstrong, a solid veteran with championship experience and a sparkling image, or swap him. The Washington Bullets and Charlotte Hornets are interested in Armstrong, and the Bullets own the fourth pick in Wednesday's draft.

The Raptors have the seventh pick in the draft, immediately after Vancouver's.

In Anthony, the Grizzlies got a player with potential who has spent his career as a reserve. Last season, he averaged more than 15 minutes and 6.1 points a game.

Among the better-known players selected by Vancouver were Indiana guard Byron Scott, Cleveland guard Gerald Wilkins, and New Jersey center Benoit Benjamin. The Grizzlies also took Rodney Dent after Orlando packaged him with a 1996 second-round draft pick so Vancouver would not pick any of the Magic's other unprotected players.

Benjamin not only will make $3.5 million next season, but has a reputation as a loafer prone to nagging injuries.

Stu Jackson, the Grizzlies' general manager, went into the draft wanting to avoid high-priced veterans and thought he largely succeeded.

"We feel very comfortable with the contracts, which is obviously a factor in the expansion draft selection," he said.

In addition to taking some young players such as forwards Tony Massenburg of the Los Angeles Clippers and Dontonio Wingfield of Seattle, the Raptors selected veterans Willie Anderson of San Antonio, Jerome Kersey of Portland and John Salley of Miami.

Isiah Thomas, Toronto general manager, made Kersey, 33, the seventh player selected by the Raptors despite his age and big contract. Kersey will earn $4.4 million in 1995-96. That's the highest salary of any player selected. Cleveland's Danny Ferry, the only other potential draftee with a bigger contract, was not selected. Portland may pay part of Kersey's salary.

One of the projects the Raptors took on was Detroit's Oliver Miller, whose chronic weight problems have overshadowed his considerable basketball skills. Several attempts at counseling and special diets haven't helped him slim down.

Both teams avoided other problem players in the expansion pool, like Houston's Vernon Maxwell and Washington's Kevin Duckworth.

Several players, such as Phoenix's Trevor Ruffin, selected by Vancouver, were restricted free agents who immediately become unrestricted free agents.

EXPANSION DRAFT PICKS ------------------------------------- TORONTO RAPTORS PLAYER POS. FROM .

B.J. Armstrong G Chicago . Tony Massenburg F L.A. Clippers . Andres Guibert F-C Minnesota . Keith Jennings G Golden State . Dontonio Wingfield F Seattle . Doug Smith F Dallas . Jerome Kersey F Portland . Zan Tabak C Houston . Willie Anderson G-F San Antonio . Ed Pinckney F Milwaukee . Acie Earl F-C Boston . B.J. Tyler G Philadelphia . John Salley F-C Miami . Oliver Miller C Detroit .

. VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES . PLAYER POS. FROM .

Greg Anthony G New York . Rodney Dent F Orlando . Antonio Harvey F-C L.A. Lakers . Reggie Slater F Denver . Trevor Ruffin G Phoenix . Derrick Phelps G Sacramento . Larry Stewart F Washington . Kenny Gattison F Charlotte . Byron Scott G Indiana . Gerald Wilkins G Cleveland . Benoit Benjamin C New Jersey . Doug Edwards F Atlanta . Blue Edwards G-F Utah .