"There's no doubt it was better for me not to be drafted," said Graham, a 6-7 swingman from Benjamin Franklin High School and Ohio University. "Now I have the opportunity to pick the place where I can fit in best."
Graham's first stop will be an 11-day camp with the Minnesota Timberwolves that starts July 18. If Graham doesn't receive an offer then, it's on to the two-week-long pro summer league in Los Angeles, where he would play for the Lakers' team.
"Snoop is probably one of the most sought-after non-drafted players out there," said Steve Kauffman, his agent. "He's had 11 or 12 teams call, and there are five teams who aren't even having camps. It's almost like a recruiting thing, with people calling me to convince me why he should go to their camp. It's the same with a lot of these guys.
"The Lakers are a real interesting team for (Graham)," Kauffman said. ''They run, they like to use guys his size, and I heard through the grapevine that Tony Campbell, who is an unrestricted free agent and plays the same position, might not sign. Also, the Lakers had no second-round pick in the draft, so there are several spots there."
Washington, a 6-6 shooting guard who went to both Ben Franklin and Frankford High Schools, Gloucester County College and Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, will start his rounds with the Washington Bullets on Sunday. If they do not make him a guaranteed offer, he still can take advantage of
invitations from Orlando, New Jersey, Boston, the Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.
"I feel, basically, that being taken on the second round is just like not being drafted, because only the first-rounders are going to get guaranteed contracts," Washington said. "Everybody else is going to have to prove themselves."
Washington scored 22 points yesterday, shooting 10 for 16 from the field, and Graham added 16 points, but their college all-star team lost to the Baker League Pros, 158-132. The only NBA draftee to play - forward Brian Quinnett, the New York Knicks' second-round choice - also scored 22.
Willie Glass, a former St. John's forward who played last season in France, registered 22 points to lead the pros. The Sixers' Ron Anderson added 21, and the Sixers' Hersey Hawkins scored 16.
Kauffman, who also represents Payne, said it was dangerous to let first- round picks play in all-star games before they signed contracts.
"It's not that Kenny doesn't want to play," Kauffman said. "He'd love to. But we have to protect his only value right now - his talent. Some people suggested we take out disability insurance on him, but that only pays if he is permanently disabled. It's just too risky."
