Devin Harris on 2004 NBA Draft: I acted like the Wizards picked me

Former Dallas Maverick Devin Harris says that he had an eventful draft night back in 2004 (selected 5th overall by the Washington Wizards and eventually traded to the Mavs along with Jerry Stackhouse & Christian Laettner for Antawn Jamison).

(via Path To the Pick | Mavs Draft Preview | EP 4 Flavor of the Draft | 6/2/26):

“Most lottery picks have a sense of where they’re going to go slot-wise. I knew it was going to be anywhere from 4-10, but going into the draft, I had no idea who was going to pick me. I was kinda leaning towards Phoenix, but they traded out of the First Round the night before the draft. So, I really had no idea. But when I got that phone call right before the 5th pick was in, I know it said Washington; but it was actually Mark Cuban on the phone saying, ‘Welcome to Dallas. We’re excited to have you.’

“And it was interesting because it was a trade that was involved that was later announced probably mid-draft that happened. I had to go through those first round of interviews pretending like I was going to Washington, even though I knew that I was eventually headed to Dallas. So it was a long interview process, but obviously, well worth it. Got to where I wanted to go.”