Post#137 » by drsd » Thu May 17, 2018 1:00 pm
When looking at the #6, there has historically either been a quality starter or a bad pick where one of the next players is a quality starter. The scouting clearly matters at this pick so that instead of going for height in a Robert Traylor, the team selects for talent and gets a Dirk Nowitzki or Paul Pierce. As an extreme example.
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Here's how the 6 turned out:
2017-Jonathan Isaac
Showed defensive promise. Only Donovan Mitchell would arguebly go higher.
2016-Buddy Hield
Continues to show promise and is a mature player. No obvious better player that draft.
2015-Willie Cauley-Stein
Getting better every year. No obvious better player that draft.
2014-Marcus Smart
Undersized and poor stat PG. The only thing he brings is that he does is win games. Zach LaVine is probably the only paper to go higher.
2013-Nerlens Noel
Looking more and more like a journey man player. The Sixers were not going to draft Gobert at #6, but Antetokounmpo would not have been insane.
2012-Damian Lillard
All star player. No obvious better player that draft.
2011-Jan Veselý
Journey man player already out of the NBA. CoUld have had Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, and Kawhi Leonard as stars. Actually most of the next 20 players after Veselý were wiser choices than him, even Biyombo at #8.
2010-Ekpe Udoh
Bench player. COUld have had Greg Monroe, Gordon Hayward, or Paul George. Even Al-Farouq Aminu or Ed Ed Davis would have been wiser choices
2009-Jonny Flynn
The Wolves draft two consecutive PGs at 4 and 5, and Stephen Curry ends up #6. What can you do? Flynn was panned when selected, and looking at the wonderful players below him, there were five PGs selected after hum that become long-term NBA starers, this was an awful selection.
2008-Danilo Gallinari
Nice player and not obvious anyone else can obviously be tarted.
2007-Yi Jianlian
Current teammate of Andrew Nicholson. Might be the highlight comment to make. Joakim Noah made more sense here.
2006-Brandon Roy
All star who's career was cut short by injury. No obvious better player that draft.
2005-Martell Webster
Classic tweeter but has had a good NBA career. Could have drafted Fran Vázquez and saved the Magic the embarrassment! More seriously, there is no one player that obviously changes this draft pick.
2004-Josh Childress
Career faded fast. CoUld have easily have been Luol Deng or Andre Iguodala.
2003-Chris Kaman
In one of the best drafts every, the Clippers miss out on one of the four future All stars (and Miličić). No obvious better player that draft.
2002-Dajuan Wagner
Strong rookie year and the flamed out. Awful pick given that most of the next players are important NBA contributors: Nenê, Chris Wilcox, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Caron Butler were the next four, for example.
2001-Shane Battier
A good, not great player. No obvious better player that draft.
2000-DerMarr Johnson
Backup player with short career. Awful pick given that most of the next players are important NBA contributors: Chris Mihm, Jamal Crawford, Joel Przybilla, and Keyon Dooling were the next four, for example.
1999-Wally Szczerbiak
Excellent NBA player. The pick stands.
1998-Robert Traylor
Well, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce were options. So ...
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