Only 1 team never drafted/traded for on draft night a future All-Star in the last 20 years

[JoseRizal]

This is a typical boring off-season topic, but in the last 20 years, only the Houston Rockets weren't able to draft or traded for on draft night a future All-Star. They last did it with the number 1 overall pick in 2002, Yao Ming.

This is based on players who were either drafted or traded for on draft night who became future All-Stars regardless if they're already playing for a different team. I've also included undrafted pick-ups.

What does this mean to you? Is this a reflection of the FO's competence in drafting? It's amazing that the Bucks only had 1, but is considered as the best player in the league right now.

6 All-Stars
PHI - Korver, Iguodala, Holiday, Vucevic, Embiid, Simmons
UTA - MoWIlliams, DWIlliams, Millsap, Hayward, Gobert, Mitchell

5 All-Stars
LAL - Bynum, Gasol, Randle, Russell, Ingram

4 All-Stars
CHI - Rose, Noah, Deng, Butler
CLE - James, Irving, Wiggins, Garland
NOP - West, Paul, Davis, WIlliamson
OKC - Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Sabonis
TOR - Bosh, DeRozan, Siakam, VanVleet

3 All-Stars
ATL - Teague, Horford, Young
BOS - Rondo, Brown Tatum
DAL - Howard, Harris, Doncic
GSW - Thompson, Green, Curry
IND - Hibbert, Granger, George
LAC - Kaman, Jordan Griffin
MEM - Lowry, Conley, Morant
MIN - Love, LaVine, Towns
ORL - Howard, Nelson, Oladipo
POR - Aldridge, Roy, Lillard

2 All-Stars
BKN - Lopez, Allen
CHA - Walker. Ball
DEN - Anthony, Jokic
DET. Drummond, Middleton
MIA - Wade, Adebayo
NYK - Lee, Porzingis
PHX - Dragic, Booker
SAC - Cousins, Thomas
SAS - Leonard, Murray
WAS - Wall, Beal

1 All-Star
MIL - Antetokounmpo

[BallerTalk]

The only thing it really indicates is their dearth of high lottery picks over that time:

2006 - 8th pick Rudy Gay (traded for Battier)
2010 - 14th pick Patrick Patterson
2011 - 14th pick Marcus Morris

It's well known that ownership and management placed a priority on competitiveness over positioning for high draft picks during the Morey/Alexander era. This (and their record over that period) bears that out.

[Kiss of Death]

So, the Rockets didn’t tank for 20 years basically.

[jazzed77]

I believe 3 of the jazz players listed were late draft picks, maybe even 2 second rounders. I know gobert was a 27th pick, Millsap was a 2nd round pick but I don't recall where Mo was picked.

[maverick_41]

So, the Rockets didn’t tank for 20 years basically.

Neither did the Jazz.

[Mavrelous]

So, the Rockets didn’t tank for 20 years basically.

Neither did the Jazz.

Nor the Spurs, Leonad was a traded pick (also mid 1st, not very high) and Murray was very late 1st.

[JoseRizal]

I believe 3 of the jazz players listed were late draft picks, maybe even 2 second rounders. I know gobert was a 27th pick, Millsap was a 2nd round pick but I don't recall where Mo was picked.

You're correct, they're late picks. MoWill was drafted 47th overall last 2003. Millsap was also 47th in 2006.

[JoseRizal]

So, the Rockets didn’t tank for 20 years basically.

A lot of teams actually. In fact, the Spurs were a playoff team since they drafted Duncan until that streak ended last 2019-20 season. Yet, they had 2.

[jk31]

The only thing it really indicates is their dearth of high lottery picks over that time:

2006 - 8th pick Rudy Gay (traded for Battier)
2010 - 14th pick Patrick Patterson
2011 - 14th pick Marcus Morris

It's well known that ownership and management placed a priority on competitiveness over positioning for high draft picks during the Morey/Alexander era. This (and their record over that period) bears that out.

I mean the Pacers didn't draft inside single digits since 1989 and they got 3 all-stars out of it. Granger and Hibbert were drafted #17, George was #10.

So, the Rockets didn’t tank for 20 years basically.

Neither did the Jazz.

Nor the Spurs, Leonad was a traded pick (also mid 1st, not very high) and Murray was very late 1st.

Nor the Pacers.

[BenoUdrihFTL]

It's almost impressive that Sacramento has had 13 top 10 picks from 2007-2021 with only one of them becoming an allstar

[Sofia]

Odd list. The teams that suck and by default get high draft picks are lumped in with the good teams who identify and acquire talent.

[Wolveswin]

Spot checking you forgot Marbury for the Wolves. Traded for on draft day and 2 time all star.

Edit: NM, missed last 20 years in OP.

[SeattleJazzFan]

Odd list. The teams that suck and by default get high draft picks are lumped in with the good teams who identify and acquire talent.

jazz have rarely sucked in that 20 year time frame however. 3 of the all-stars they drafted, were drafted 27, 47 and 47. and even mitchell was drafted at #13.

[libertyYYZ]

This is a typical boring off-season topic, but in the last 20 years, only the Houston Rockets weren't able to draft or traded for on draft night a future All-Star. They last did it with the number 1 overall pick in 2002, Yao Ming.
...
4 All-Stars
TOR - Bosh, DeRozan, Siakam, VanVleet

Van Vleet was undrafted. Not sure how he gets on this list.
https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/raptors-fred-vanvleet-full-list-undrafted-all-star/lwtairsphee99b4zstbzwq7u

When Raptors guard Fred VanVleet was selected by the NBA's head coaches as one of the reserves for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, he made history.

Following four successful seasons at Wichita State, VanVleet failed to hear his name called in the 2016 NBA Draft. He spent most of his rookie season in the D-League but proved himself to be one of the NBA's best reserves in his sophomore season. He's improved each and every season since, to the point where he's now an All-Star.
...
VanVleet enters an exclusive club with his selection, becoming only the fifth undrafted player in NBA history to be named an All-Star. He joins Connie Hawkins, John Starks, Brad Miller and Ben Wallace.

Watch on YouTube

[JoseRizal]

This is a typical boring off-season topic, but in the last 20 years, only the Houston Rockets weren't able to draft or traded for on draft night a future All-Star. They last did it with the number 1 overall pick in 2002, Yao Ming.
...
4 All-Stars
TOR - Bosh, DeRozan, Siakam, VanVleet

Van Vleet was undrafted. Not sure how he gets on this list.
https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/raptors-fred-vanvleet-full-list-undrafted-all-star/lwtairsphee99b4zstbzwq7u

When Raptors guard Fred VanVleet was selected by the NBA's head coaches as one of the reserves for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, he made history.

Following four successful seasons at Wichita State, VanVleet failed to hear his name called in the 2016 NBA Draft. He spent most of his rookie season in the D-League but proved himself to be one of the NBA's best reserves in his sophomore season. He's improved each and every season since, to the point where he's now an All-Star.
...
VanVleet enters an exclusive club with his selection, becoming only the fifth undrafted player in NBA history to be named an All-Star. He joins Connie Hawkins, John Starks, Brad Miller and Ben Wallace.

Watch on YouTube

I'm aware of that. That's why I said "I've also included undrafted pick-ups." in my post above.

[Joao Saraiva]

Odd list. The teams that suck and by default get high draft picks are lumped in with the good teams who identify and acquire talent.

jazz have rarely sucked in that 20 year time frame however. 3 of the all-stars they drafted, were drafted 27, 47 and 47. and even mitchell was drafted at #13.

One of our strenghts. Even with low picks we really get talent trough the draft.

Even after Stockton and Malone we had like one bad season. Then we fastly came back with the AK47, D-Will and Okur.

[libertyYYZ]

I'm aware of that. That's why I said "I've also included undrafted pick-ups." in my post above.

Well you buried that pretty good in the fine print. There it is buried in the middle of all that TL/DR text.

[xBulletproof]

My first reaction to this thread was this ........

Kyle Korver was an All Star?

[Pointgod]

This shows me a couple of things. Tanking doesn’t always mean success. Small market teams can absolutely compete if they have competent management and ownership willing to spend. Probably a good amount of these guys weren’t allstars on the team that drafted them. Just shows the unpredictable nature of solely building through the draft.

[Colbinii]

This shows me a couple of things. Tanking doesn’t always mean success. Small market teams can absolutely compete if they have competent management and ownership willing to spend. Probably a good amount of these guys weren’t allstars on the team that drafted them. Just shows the unpredictable nature of solely building through the draft.

Of course tanking doesn't always mean success. If their was a strategy which was 100% successful then every team would follow it.

The advantage of tanking is allowing for teams, typically of markets that aren't huge or destinations that aren't as desirable, to acquire talent they otherwise wouldn't be able to via Free Agency or trades.

You don't need to tank but its a proven strategy that has a high chance of success.