NEW YORK (KRT) – Even though it was the Orlando Magic who celebrated having the first overall pick in the NBA draft, the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, who chose second, also were viewed as one of the winners of the event.

The Magic drafted for potential in selecting Atlanta high school star Dwight Howard with the first overall pick, leaving the University of Connecticut’s Emeka Okafor for the Bobcats. A crowd of about 10,000, watching the draft in Charlotte, cheered when Orlando chose Howard since it meant Okafor would drop to the Bobcats.

In opting for Howard, the Magic was gambling that he would prosper in the league quicker than other high-schoolers – Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry – who have gone high in the draft. Okafor, with three years of college under his belt, was viewed as the more mature and NBA-ready of the pair – at the ripe old age of 21.

“I’ve got a couple years of playing time in me left,” joked Okafor. “I know I haven’t reached anywhere near where I believe I can go. I think my upside is as big as anybody else’s in this draft. I think I have a lot to offer now and even more in the future.”

The Chicago Bulls, embarking on their umpteenth rebuilding program, fared well, landing Connecticut guard Ben Gordon at No. 3 and Duke’s Luol Deng through a trade with Phoenix.

The Utah Jazz also did well, selecting Minnesota forward Kris Humphries at No. 14, Nevada guard Kirk Snyder at No. 16 and 7-foot-5 Russian center Pavel Podkolzine at No. 21. Podkolzine was sent to Dallas for a first-round draft choice.

The Milwaukee Bucks – along with Detroit, Houston, Memphis, New York and Minnesota – had no first-round picks. Minnesota was still being penalized for the Joe Smith contract fiasco of several years ago. Smith now wears a Bucks’ uniform.

One of the first things Okafor did after being drafted was try to reassure the fans in Charlotte about two concerns that may have contributed to him being bypassed at No. 1 – that his back was fine and that, yes, he could score. After averaging 7.9 points as a freshman, he averaged 15.9 points as a junior and 17.6 points as a senior.

“I don’t know where people get their information,” said Okafor with a laugh. “Up until I started having my back spasms, I was leading my team in scoring, and you don’t haphazardly do that without having some type of notion of how to put a ball in a basket.

“Besides, if you take away the couple of games that I was injured that I played in, I’m averaging 20 points a game. I guess you could call it beginner’s luck 25 times over.

“For the Final Four, I averaged 21 points and you don’t do that by mistake. So when I hear that and think about what I have accomplished, I question them and say, “Are you guys looking at the same game that I’m looking at?’ Are they still remembering the freshman Okafor? I don’t know, so I kind of block those out of my mind and keep on working. I’ve come a long way by knowing how to let it go.”

Regarding his back, Okafor said, “I checked with the doctor and he said I was fine. I went to the NBA combine, checked with numerous doctors, and there were no questions raised.

“I checked with spine doctors chosen by the NBA; they said I was fine. I went to Charlotte and Orlando spine doctors; they said I was fine. I went to my private spine doctor; he said I was fine.

“So I don’t know what else I can do.”

Chicago, which selected Gordon at No. 3, obtained the rights to Deng by sending the rights to the 31st pick (Jackson Vroman of Iowa State), a future first-round pick and cash to the Suns, who had drafted Deng at No. 7. In the weeks before the draft, Deng was being projected as Chicago’s pick at No. 3, but Gordon’s stock soared as the draft drew nearer. As it turned out, the Bulls got both and it sounds as if they are looking forward to playing together.

“It’s exciting,” Deng said. “My brother went to UConn, so I was close with the guys there. I kind of know Ben Gordon through a lot of people. Our relationship is good. And, in terms of basketball, he’s a great player and I’m excited to get the opportunity to play on the same team.”

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AP-NY-06-25-04 2013EDT