Getting Worked up about the Draft.

funkatron101 · Post #1 » by **funkatron101** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:35 pm

A lot of us are saying things like "No way Player A goes that high in the draft" and "You honestly think Player B is better than Player A?" The truth is anyone in the draft at any position could shine. For example, this is how the 1995 draft went. How many of you agree with how it went in hindsight?

1 Joe Smith (PF/C)
2 Antonio McDyess (PF)
3 Jerry Stackhouse (SG)
4 Rasheed Wallace (PF)
5 Kevin Garnett (PF)
6 Bryant Reeves (C)
7 Damon Stoudamire (PG)
8 Shawn Respert (SG)
9 Ed O'Bannon (SF)
10 Kurt Thomas (PF/C)
11 Gary Trent (PF)
12 Cherokee Parks (C)
13 Corliss Williamson (PF)
14 Eric Williams (SF)
15 Brent Barry (SG)
16 Alan Henderson (PF)
17 Bob Sura (SG)
18 Theo Ratliff (PF)
19 Randolph Childress (PG)
20 Jason Caffey (PF)
21 Michael Finley (SF)
22 George Zidek (C)
23 Travis Best (PG)
24 Loren Meyer (PF)
25 David Vaughn (PF/C)
26 Sherell Ford (PF)
27 Mario Bennett (PF)
28 Greg Ostertag (C)
29 Cory Alexander (PG)

Bryant Reeves went 6th! Theo went 18th! Finley at 21! It's all a guessing game. in 5-6 years we could all be laughing that Brook Lopez got picked so early, while Thabeet went so late.

MN Die Hard · Post #2 » by **MN Die Hard** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:30 pm

Very true, very true.

Just for fun, how do you think the top ten would play out today, if at the time of the draft you'd know everything you know today (attitude, skill level, injuries, etc)? KG is the clear cut #1 but even now the rest is all a matter of opinion.

1. KG
2. Finley
3. Stackhouse
4. Rasheed
5. Smith
6. McDyess
7. Thomas
8. Damon
9. Theo
10. Barry

Also, its very interesting to note where these guys are today. Assuming Barry resigns with SA...

4 are with the Spurs
3 with Detroit
1 each with Cleveland, Dallas, and Boston

Somehow they all seem to find their way on to contenders. It would be interesting to see if the same thing happens with other older drafts.

funkatron101 · Post #3 » by **funkatron101** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:40 pm

MN Die Hard wrote:Very true, very true.

Just for fun, how do you think the top ten would play out today, if at the time of the draft you'd know everything you know today (attitude, skill level, injuries, etc)? KG is the clear cut #1 but even now the rest is all a matter of opinion.

1. KG
2. Finley
3. Stackhouse
4. Rasheed
5. Smith
6. McDyess
7. Thomas
8. Damon
9. Theo
10. Barry

I think that is pretty darn close, given injuries and such. I'm tempted to put Joe Smith lower, but his attitude and work ethic makes some points up.

MN Die Hard wrote:Also, its very interesting to note where these guys are today. Assuming Barry resigns with SA...

4 are with the Spurs
3 with Detroit
1 each with Cleveland, Dallas, and Boston

Somehow they all seem to find their way on to contenders. It would be interesting to see if the same thing happens with other older drafts.

Wow, didn't even think of that. Kind of disheartening.

MN Die Hard · Post #4 » by **MN Die Hard** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:44 pm

funkatron101 wrote:I think that is pretty darn close, given injuries and such. I'm tempted to put Joe Smith lower, but his attitude and work ethic makes some points up.

Funny, I considered bumping Smith ahead of Sheed. Damn near identical production without all the headaches.

funkatron101 · Post #5 » by **funkatron101** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:02 pm

MN Die Hard wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Funny, I considered bumping Smith ahead of Sheed. Damn near identical production without all the headaches.

Yup, the attitude is an issue, but to me Joe's career has been a bit of a roller coaster production wise, while Wallace hit his stride later and has since kind of gone on a gradual decline. Had McDyess not gotten injured in 2001, who knows where he would be at in our eyes.

I guess we would have to not only look at the longevity of the player, but how productive they were at their prime, and how long they were at their prime.

Post #6 » by **C.lupus** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:34 pm

funkatron101 wrote: Wow, didn't even think of that. Kind of disheartening.

It's only disheartening in the short term. When we become contenders, then we will be able to sign the studs so they can get their chance at a ring.

Dateline 2014:
30 year-old LeBron James signed a 3-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have one the past 2 NBA championships. Said LeBron: "I just want to win a couple rings and playing next to a couple perennial allstars like Big Al and Beasley, I felt this was my best chance."

chrbal · Post #7 » by **chrbal** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:21 pm

MN Die Hard wrote:
4 are with the Spurs
3 with Detroit
1 each with Cleveland, Dallas, and Boston

The Pistons at one point or another have had 8 of those players on their roster, 9 if you count preseason. (1-4, 13, and 17-19. Respert was a camp invite (i'm pretty positive) one year.