Goal for 2014 Monster Draft? (more about roster than Draft)

top 7 easily, if all the players that are eligible enter the draft

 

Honest question, when pundits proclaim that this draft could be the "best ever," what does that actually mean?

I understand that you have some awesome top flight candidates at the first 6-7 picks, but does that mean the rest of the draft class has more potential than you would typically find?

Looking back at the 2003 Draft

Spoiler

4 franchise players, 5 quality 2nd/3rd option guys (Hinrich, TJ Ford, West, Kaman, Mo Williams), 10 solid contributors (Pietrus, Collison, Ridnour, Barbosa, Perkins, Blake, Zaza, Korver, Outlaw, Josh Howard) and 8 sporadic but valuable contributors (Darko, Delfino, Kapono, Walton, Bonner, Bogans, James Jones, Cook).

Of those guys listed, the lottery contained all 4 franchise players, 3 of the 2nd/3rd option guys, 3 solid guys and 1 sporadic guy. I think it's fair to call that a pretty good haul for the lottery.

However, I'm wondering if we make too much of a team trading/acquiring a lottery protected 1st rd pick in one of these "loaded" classes. In the 2003 class, you would only be able to draft two 2nd/3rd option guys, at best, with a slew of unspectacular contributors.

Considering all that, why wouldn't we flip a lottery or top-20 protected pick in a package for someone like Afflalo, Turner or Waiters?

Can someone more familiar with the 2014 class enlighten me?

 

wasnt that loser Josh Howard in 03' draft too... maybe it was 04

 

You are correct, I edited my post.