Best Draft Picks of the Modern Era

[BigKAT]

Let's say... last twenty years? twenty five years?

*The place in which the player was drafted is criticial, Anthony Davis in #1 is nice, but it's nowhere near as impressive as Jimmy Butler at #30
*Try not to go for top picks, make this interesting
*Ricky Rubio at 5 is nice, but if curry goes 7, it's far less impressive.
*Remember, we are not judging players. We are judging the value of a draft pick.

Okay, so off the top of my mind I've got a few good ones, in no particular order:

Kobe Bryant at 13#. Say what you will about the guy, getting a top 15 all time (Arguebly top 10 according to some) at 13? That's amazing.

AK47 at 24#, Great pick. Great player, injuries screwed his trajectory somewhat, but he was a very nice gem to unearth late first round.

David Lee #30. I know it seems like lightyears ago, but this guy was pretty damn good for the Knicks for a time. And at 30? Yes please.

Isiah Thomas at 60th. All star point guard, 20 PPG, great floor leader and fearless. last possible pick. Sacramento picked right? Madness.

[SouBeachTalents]

Nash at 15
Manu at 57
Parker at 28
Arenas at 31
Boozer at 35
Lowry at 24
M. Gasol at 48
Deandre at 35
Kawhi at 15
Draymond at 35

[BigKAT]

Nash at 15
Manu at 57
Parker at 28
Arenas at 31
Boozer at 35
Lowry at 24
M. Gasol at 48
Deandre at 35
Kawhi at 15
Draymond at 35


Oh, Arenas and Gasol are some great picks mate.
Also Ginobli at 57, damn I forgot about that guy.

[Milbuck]

Recent ones that'll be more obvious in the coming years

Booker at 13 in 2015
Jokic at 41 in 2014
Giannis at 15 in 2013
Gobert at 27 in 2013
Middleton at 39 in 2012

[ClipperRevival]

I don't understand how any scout that worked out DeAndre wasn't blown away by his freakish athleticism. You can always teach skills but not athleticism. I mean athleticism is not hard to measure with the eye test.

[Kool Boy]

Last 30 Years in no particular order:

Rashard Lewis
Cliff Robinson
Michael Redd
Dennis Rodman
Monta Ellis
Nick Van Exel
Paul Millsap
Jeff Hornacek
Mark Price
Toni Kukoc
Stephen Jackson

[kamil]

Ben Wallace

[Suckafree]

Ben Wallace

Right, and what number was he picked in the draft?

[bigkingsfan]

Isaiah Thomas

Round: 2 / Pick: 60

[GimmeThat]

I don't understand how any scout that worked out DeAndre wasn't blown away by his freakish athleticism. You can always teach skills but not athleticism. I mean athleticism is not hard to measure with the eye test.

sounds like what a QB would say about a WR.

the real question is still, how much money are you willing to pay just for someone to sit on the bench and or sit out plays. let alone how many games they help determine your season to be.

the, an enemy of my enemy is a friend of mine line works
but keep your enemy rich, and your friend richer, and find out which is which

[BigKAT]

I don't understand how any scout that worked out DeAndre wasn't blown away by his freakish athleticism. You can always teach skills but not athleticism. I mean athleticism is not hard to measure with the eye test.

I'm also confused by that.

I mean, hindsight is easy ,but look at the big men that were picked before him.


Mcgee,
Hickson,
Kofus,
Pekovich

[egokiller]

Manu at 57... this just goes to show that most GM's are blind as **** and wouldn't know how to scout talent if their lives depended on it.

[jbryan1984]

Its funny now looking back at the 2011 draft, it was pretty damn good. We had the 1 pick so I remember well what everyone said. Pick Derrick Williams! People said Kyrie would always be hurt. They said pick DW or Jonas. But man, so many talented players. Kyrie, TT, Leonard, Butler, Klay, Thomas getting the last pick.

[Cali Syndicate]

I don't understand how any scout that worked out DeAndre wasn't blown away by his freakish athleticism. You can always teach skills but not athleticism. I mean athleticism is not hard to measure with the eye test.

Because he has a gumby looking face. lol jk. Someone of this board used to call him that, I forget who but this insult always stuck with me lol.

[SuperCereal]

Drazen Petrovic at 60
Luis Scola at 55
Kyle Korver at 51
Marc Gasol at 48

[Wally450]

Isaiah Thomas

Round: 2 / Pick: 60


All Star.


How many 60th picks have been All Stars?

[swagga]

considering talent, overall stats, absolutely legendary scoring duels, entertainment value, franchise tag, impact on young player (swaggy p :oldlol: ) and sheer all around fun/chaos this has to be arenas ... that niggga was GOLD :lol

https://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_1484w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/12/18/Sports/Images/PHO-10Dec28-2793611418946971.jpg

http://ronmexicocity.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55008808688330120a7e5319d970b-pi

http://www.basketwallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Agent-Zero-With-Gun-Wallpaper.jpg

[BigKAT]

considering talent, overall stats, absolutely legendary scoring duels, entertainment value, franchise tag, impact on young player (swaggy p :oldlol: ) and sheer all around fun/chaos this has to be arenas ... that niggga was GOLD :lol

https://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_1484w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/12/18/Sports/Images/PHO-10Dec28-2793611418946971.jpg

http://ronmexicocity.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55008808688330120a7e5319d970b-pi

http://www.basketwallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Agent-Zero-With-Gun-Wallpaper.jpg

:roll:

I'm dying

[ClipperRevival]

Manu at 57... this just goes to show that most GM's are blind as **** and wouldn't know how to scout talent if their lives depended on it.

It's the exact opposite. Manu is the type of guy that gets overlooked because it's harder to measure innate feel for the game, bball iq and in-game skills. It's the freakishly athletic guys getting overlooked (like DeAndre) that are unforgivable because athleticism is the easiest thing to measure.

[swagga]

It's the exact opposite. Manu is the type of guy that gets overlooked because it's harder to measure innate feel for the game, bball iq and in-game skills. It's the freakishly athletic guys getting overlooked (like DeAndre) that are unforgivable because athleticism is the easiest thing to measure.

before he was drafted manu was only a euroleague mvp, league mvp, fiba americas mvp, fiba americas champ and finished 2nd at the world cup ... easy to overlook :facepalm .... niggga do you even think when you post ?:biggums:

[RRR3]

Wasn't young Manu athletic? :kobe:

[BigKAT]

Wasn't young Manu athletic? :kobe:

I've seen some of his dunks.
The guy wasn't a scrub athletically.

Not sure he's a vince carter, lol, but he had some nice hops.

Plus he was always really quick and agile.

[swagga]

Wasn't young Manu athletic? :kobe:

he wasn't an american, that was his problem .. real talk, there was (still is) a serious negative bias against international players.

[ClipperRevival]

before he was drafted manu was only a euroleague mvp, league mvp, fiba americas mvp, fiba americas champ and finished 2nd at the world cup ... easy to overlook :facepalm .... niggga do you even think when you post ?:biggums:

My point still stands. It's harder to measure subtle things like feel for the game, bball iq and in-game skills compared to raw, athleticism. Also, like you said in another post, Euro players tend to get overlooked.

[I<3NBA]

Michael Jordan. picked at 3. incredible value!

[BigKAT]

Michael Jordan. picked at 3. incredible value!

While he is without a doubt the best 3# pick of all time, try going for non lottery picks my friend.

[Smoke117]

Wasn't young Manu athletic? :kobe:

Manu is about a Ray Allen level athlete...so pretty good when younger, but nothing out of this world.