2008 Derick Rose Beasley Mayo Westbrook Love 2006 Andrea Bargnani LaMarcus Aldridge Adam Morrison Tyrus Thomas SheldenWilliams 2005 Andrew Bogut Marvin Williams Deron Williams Chris Paul Raymond Felton 2004 Dwight Howard Emeka Okafor Ben Gordon Shaun Livingston Devin Harris 2003 LeBron James Darko Milicic Carmelo Anthony Chris Bosh Dwyane Wade 2002 Yao Ming Jay Williams Mike Dunleavy Drew Gooden Nikoloz Tskitishvili 2001 Kwame Brown Tyson Chandler Pau Gasol Eddy Curry Jason Richardson 2000 Kenyon Martin Stromile Swift Darius Miles Marcus Fizer Mike Miller Other than 2003 which might the greatest draft class ever, there have been a ton of mediocre players selected.
That's the wrong way to look at it. How many of the great players were drafted outside of the top 5? Almost every single superstar was a top 5 pick. Getting a top 5 pick doesn't guarantee a superstar, but it's basically the only place you have a realistic chance at getting one.
Looking at that list, even though not everyone turns out to be All Star/Franchise Players. But more than half has gone on to become key and productive player for their teams. I would say getting a top 5 pick is pretty great.
You're just saying that because it's the year Brian Cook was drafted. You can't account for that kind of talent... it skews everything. Seriously though, you can't compete with 1984, which gave you all-time greats at 4 of the 5 positions plus a number of really good players.
its not where you pick, it's who picks it. Whenever a good team drafts or trades for a top 5 pick you get good players (LMA, Duncan, Durant, Hakeem, Jordan etc.). However when lousy teams pick at the top spot (which is often the case) you end up with lousy players due to a number of factors (bad choice, poor development etc.). The catch is that if you're a good team, its really rare that you end up with a high lottery pick. That's probably why top 5 picks don't seem that impressive to you, because gems tend to get passed over for the likes of Olowakandi and Shelden Williams.
im sure if the rockets got a top 5 pick morey would make the best of it... so yes...it is "really great to get a top 5 pick"
After very in depth, careful observations in the computer office of Mr. Morey, I would like to come to the conclusion of the answer you are looking for. Yes That is all.
As already mentioned by other posters ... Key word is CHANCE. Given a choice, you'd rather have the chance to draft a good to great player than not. Obviously, having early picks makes it less likely that opposing teams take the player that you may like. Granted, how they may or may not turn out depends on how the franchise evaluates, develops them as well as the talent in that particular draft class too. Even if the franchise doesn't feel like it needs more "young talent" - other teams may, and can always be flipped for other "valuable assets" too. So yeah, it does matter.
If you don't draft in the top 5, you screw yourself out of many stars players. Guys that can save a franchise like LeBron, Durant, Carmelo, Wade, Howard were not available after 5. These guys are no-brainers. The further down you go, the less options you have. Durant, Howard and LeBron would have never been available outside the lottery.
Uh I hope you realize almost every person on that list would make a large impact on our team. Those are all above average players and almost better than anyone on our roster.
Of course you need a top 5 pick to get a superstar, but there is a 50-50 shot you end with a sub MLE caliber player.
1) Most of the guys on all NBA teams came from top 5 picks. And you can make a case that the few who aren't (Kobe, Dirk) were drafted low because of their pioneer status, in other words, they would be drafted in the top 5 today if they entered. 2) The rate of busting in the top 5 is much much lower than the rate of busting outside the top 5.
Look at what DM can do in the 2nd round of drafts, wasn't Aaron Brooks like the twenties range of picks? Point is if Dm has a good opportunity, say a 1-10 pick he'd do great. We have a great scouting team and gm.
