Ranking Pat Riley's best draft picks

[contract]

OK. #1 is clearly DWade ... but since Pat arrived in 1995, who are the #2 - #5 best picks? For the purposes of this ranking, I'm including players that we drafted and kept at least 1 season, and rookies that we acquired in draft day trades.

The most notable picks that I can remember: Caron Butler, Kurt Thomas, Rasual Butler, Dorell Wright, Daequan Cook, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, Norris Cole, James Ennis, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson

As of today, if you held a gun to my head, I'd have to go with ...

1. Dwyane Wade
2. Caron Butler
3. Kurt Thomas
4. Mario Chalmers
5. Rasual Butler

Does that sound right to everyone?

[Mos_Heat]

I get what you're saying, contract. Drafting is not his best skill

[contract]

I get what you're saying, contract. Drafting is not his best skill

It's not, nor is it a top interest of his. But that's not what I was going for. I think the tendency of some fans is to convince themselves that whoever we pick is going to somehow transform into an all star, when the reality is that most draft picks are very forgettable. And not just for our team either. Even the best drafting teams probably average an all star pick a decade ... although I guess Golden State is blowing that out of the water right now.

Also I'm legitimately curious if other fans have the same top 5 as I do.

This is what you do between draft day and free agency.

[BenoUdrihFTL]

I get what you're saying, contract. Drafting is not his best skill

I don't think that's fair. Riley has had a top 5 pick exactly twice in his 22 years in Miami. With those picks he drafted a HOFer in what people thought was a reach at the time at #5 and then the consensus #2 who simply flaked out. Only two other times he's had a top 10 pick: drafted multiple time all-star Caron Butler at #10 and then _ustise whose grade is yet to be determined

So he's pretty much had 2 opportunities to draft a superstar-tier player and he's 1 for 2, had 2 opportunities to draft an all-star level player and he's 1 for 1 with the 2nd still a work in process. Then looking at his record with late picks and 2nd rounders it's pretty good. At that point in the draft all you can really hope for is a serviceable rotation player and over the years Riley has landed:

Josh Richardson #40
Bojan Bogdanovic #31
Marcus Thornton #43
Mario Chalmers #34 (MIN drafted for MIA)
Jason Smith #20
Dorrell Wright #19
Rasual Butler #52
Eddie House #37
Corey Brewer #51

This doesn't even include undrafted guys like Voshon Lenard and Tyler Johnson (EDIT: and Udonis Haslem) that Riley plucked and developed

EDIT: I forgot about Kurt Thomas at #10 in Riley's first Heat draft. Never developed into an all-star but still a solid NBA starter. Hardly a bust

[HIF]

What do you mean by best picks?

Compared to others in the draft retrospectively?
Compared to each other?
Compared to the position they were taken?

...

[RexBoyWonder]

Agreed on these points :

1. Pat isn't great on draft nights.

2. Last few years, our scouting department has been killing it (mostly undrafted/second round guys).

[contract]

With those picks he drafted a HOFer in what people thought was a reach at the time at #5...

I don't know where that came from, but that's just wrong. I think fans didn't know Wade, but scouts sure did.

[contract]

What do you mean by best picks?

Compared to others in the draft retrospectively?
Compared to each other?
Compared to the position they were taken?

...

Compared to each other.

[HIF]

What do you mean by best picks?

Compared to others in the draft retrospectively?
Compared to each other?
Compared to the position they were taken?

...

Compared to each other.

Then your mate Beasley deserves 3rd

Wade
Butler
Beasley (michael not the other one)
Chalmers
Leonard (maybe Winslow)

[contract]

What do you mean by best picks?

Compared to others in the draft retrospectively?
Compared to each other?
Compared to the position they were taken?

...

Compared to each other.

Then your mate Beasley deserves 3rd

Wade
Butler
Beasley (michael not the other one)
Chalmers
Leonard (maybe Winslow)

How can you put Beasley at #3 when he's been in and out of the league and struggling to find a role?

[HIF]

Compared to each other.

Then your mate Beasley deserves 3rd

Wade
Butler
Beasley (michael not the other one)
Chalmers
Leonard (maybe Winslow)

How can you put Beasley at #3 when he's been in and out of the league and struggling to find a role?

because he's a great player. Far better than Chalmers, but chalmers fit at the time.

[Mos_Heat]

Spoiler:

I get what you're saying, contract. Drafting is not his best skill

I don't think that's fair. Riley has had a top 5 pick exactly twice in his 22 years in Miami. With those picks he drafted a HOFer in what people thought was a reach at the time at #5 and then the consensus #2 who simply flaked out. Only two other times he's had a top 10 pick: drafted multiple time all-star Caron Butler at #10 and then _ustise whose grade is yet to be determined

So he's pretty much had 2 opportunities to draft a superstar-tier player and he's 1 for 2, had 2 opportunities to draft an all-star level player and he's 1 for 1 with the 2nd still a work in process. Then looking at his record with late picks and 2nd rounders it's pretty good. At that point in the draft all you can really hope for is a serviceable rotation player and over the years Riley has landed:

Josh Richardson #40
Bojan Bogdanovic #31
Marcus Thornton #43
Jason Smith #20
Dorrell Wright #19
Rasual Butler #52
Eddie House #37
Corey Brewer #51

This doesn't even include undrafted guys like Voshon Lenard and Tyler Johnson that Riley plucked and developed

EDIT: I forgot about Kurt Thomas at #10 in Riley's first Heat draft. Never developed into an all-star but still a solid NBA starter. Hardly a bust

Some of you guys think, that Riley is a God among people. I just said that Pat has better recruiting and trading skills, and drafting is not his biggest strength. That's all.

[BenoUdrihFTL]

Spoiler:

I get what you're saying, contract. Drafting is not his best skill

I don't think that's fair. Riley has had a top 5 pick exactly twice in his 22 years in Miami. With those picks he drafted a HOFer in what people thought was a reach at the time at #5 and then the consensus #2 who simply flaked out. Only two other times he's had a top 10 pick: drafted multiple time all-star Caron Butler at #10 and then _ustise whose grade is yet to be determined

So he's pretty much had 2 opportunities to draft a superstar-tier player and he's 1 for 2, had 2 opportunities to draft an all-star level player and he's 1 for 1 with the 2nd still a work in process. Then looking at his record with late picks and 2nd rounders it's pretty good. At that point in the draft all you can really hope for is a serviceable rotation player and over the years Riley has landed:

Josh Richardson #40
Bojan Bogdanovic #31
Marcus Thornton #43
Jason Smith #20
Dorrell Wright #19
Rasual Butler #52
Eddie House #37
Corey Brewer #51

This doesn't even include undrafted guys like Voshon Lenard and Tyler Johnson that Riley plucked and developed

EDIT: I forgot about Kurt Thomas at #10 in Riley's first Heat draft. Never developed into an all-star but still a solid NBA starter. Hardly a bust

Some of you guys think, that Riley is a God among people. I just said that Pat has better recruiting and trading skills, and drafting is not his biggest strength. That's all.

I actually thought of that after I sent my post and that's fair. Bit of an overreaction on my part lol

[BenoUdrihFTL]

With those picks he drafted a HOFer in what people thought was a reach at the time at #5...

I don't know where that came from, but that's just wrong. I think fans didn't know Wade, but scouts sure did.

He was on everyone's board as a lottery pick but there were definitely a lot of questions that had many thinking it was a risky pick at #5. He was considered a bit of a tweener guard without an outside shot who only had one meniscus. People even held him playing two years instead of one at Marquette against him

Here you go:

LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Mid-to-late lottery. Chicago (7) and Milwaukee (8) have ties to Wade, as he grew up in the Windy City and spent his college days in Wisconsin. Memphis (13) is the most interested club, while Washington (10), Golden State (11) and Seattle (12) could gamble on Wade if the teams feel he can be converted into a point guard.

COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Gilbert Arenas COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Keyon Dooling, Ed Gray

ROLE PROJECTION: Future starter.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "He's a great player, but you have to question that 6-4 size Marquette listed him at. Schools lie about a players size all the time. Without shoes, it would surprise me if he is even 6-3." — Anonymous Eastern Conference scout

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/draft/2003-shooting-guards.htm#waded

*Keeping in mind this was 2003 so his comparative upside Arenas was just coming off a season of 18.3 ppg on 43% shooting

Calling taking him at 11 or 12 a "gamble" and Riley took him at 5

[contract]

With those picks he drafted a HOFer in what people thought was a reach at the time at #5...

I don't know where that came from, but that's just wrong. I think fans didn't know Wade, but scouts sure did.

He was on everyone's board as a lottery pick but there were definitely a lot of questions that had many thinking it was a risky pick at #5. He was considered a bit of a tweener guard without an outside shot who only had one meniscus. People even held him playing two years instead of one at Marquette against him

Here you go:

LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Mid-to-late lottery. Chicago (7) and Milwaukee (8) have ties to Wade, as he grew up in the Windy City and spent his college days in Wisconsin. Memphis (13) is the most interested club, while Washington (10), Golden State (11) and Seattle (12) could gamble on Wade if the teams feel he can be converted into a point guard.

COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Gilbert Arenas COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Keyon Dooling, Ed Gray

ROLE PROJECTION: Future starter.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "He's a great player, but you have to question that 6-4 size Marquette listed him at. Schools lie about a players size all the time. Without shoes, it would surprise me if he is even 6-3." — Anonymous Eastern Conference scout

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/draft/2003-shooting-guards.htm#waded

Calling taking him at 11 or 12 a "gamble" and Riley took him at 5

I don't know who that guy is, but Wade was never going to get past Chicago at #7, and likely doesn't get past the Clippers at #6. I'm pretty sure every lottery team had Wade in for a workout except maybe Cleveland.

[ryanpuge]

I get what you're saying, contract. Drafting is not his best skill

I don't think that's fair. Riley has had a top 5 pick exactly twice in his 22 years in Miami. With those picks he drafted a HOFer in what people thought was a reach at the time at #5 and then the consensus #2 who simply flaked out. Only two other times he's had a top 10 pick: drafted multiple time all-star Caron Butler at #10 and then _ustise whose grade is yet to be determined

So he's pretty much had 2 opportunities to draft a superstar-tier player and he's 1 for 2, had 2 opportunities to draft an all-star level player and he's 1 for 1 with the 2nd still a work in process. Then looking at his record with late picks and 2nd rounders it's pretty good. At that point in the draft all you can really hope for is a serviceable rotation player and over the years Riley has landed:

Josh Richardson #40
Bojan Bogdanovic #31
Marcus Thornton #43
Jason Smith #20
Dorrell Wright #19
Rasual Butler #52
Eddie House #37
Corey Brewer #51

This doesn't even include undrafted guys like Voshon Lenard and Tyler Johnson that Riley plucked and developed

EDIT: I forgot about Kurt Thomas at #10 in Riley's first Heat draft. Never developed into an all-star but still a solid NBA starter. Hardly a bust

You forgot UD in the undrafted list.

[Heat3]

Pat Riley did not draft Kurt Thomas. Riley had not joined the team until months later. We were coachless at that point. If I recall it was Dave Wohl that drafted him and basically hired Riley as his replacement later that summer.

[eddieheatfan]

OK. #1 is clearly DWade ... but since Pat arrived in 1995, who are the #2 - #5 best picks? For the purposes of this ranking, I'm including players that we drafted and kept at least 1 season, and rookies that we acquired in draft day trades.

The most notable picks that I can remember: Caron Butler, Kurt Thomas, Rasual Butler, Dorell Wright, Daequan Cook, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, Norris Cole, James Ennis, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson

As of today, if you held a gun to my head, I'd have to go with ...

1. Dwyane Wade
2. Caron Butler
3. Kurt Thomas
4. Mario Chalmers
5. Rasual Butler

Does that sound right to everyone?

after caron butler the quality begin to slip away

[HIF]

OK. #1 is clearly DWade ... but since Pat arrived in 1995, who are the #2 - #5 best picks? For the purposes of this ranking, I'm including players that we drafted and kept at least 1 season, and rookies that we acquired in draft day trades.

The most notable picks that I can remember: Caron Butler, Kurt Thomas, Rasual Butler, Dorell Wright, Daequan Cook, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, Norris Cole, James Ennis, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson

As of today, if you held a gun to my head, I'd have to go with ...

1. Dwyane Wade
2. Caron Butler
3. Kurt Thomas
4. Mario Chalmers
5. Rasual Butler

Does that sound right to everyone?

after caron butler the quality begin to slip away

That's normal given we've only had 3 high picks.

Lebron and bosh and Dragic have also taken away first round picks.

[Big NBA Fan]

Pat has always valued free-agency and big trades over the draft. He's always been about getting big-name players and its worked out very well for him and the Heat.

Randy Pfund deserves credit for the Wade pick, because Pat favored Chris Kaman, but Pat was reluctant about Beasley and was talked into taking him by Randy. (Should have taken Westbrook instead)

Imagine a team of Westbrook/Wade/LeBron/Bosh.

Greatest, and most athletic team of all time, probably.