By Dave Zarum — Sportsnet Magazine
1. San Antonio Spurs — Tim Duncan, PF (1)
Career averages: 20.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists
Original selection: Tim Duncan
The greatest power forward of all time stepped onto an NBA court as a rookie and averaged 21.1 points and 11.9 rebounds while starting all 82 games. He went on to cement his legacy with four titles, three Finals MVPs, 2 regular season MVPs, 13 all-star appearances, nine All-NBA First Team nods, and eight All-Defensive First Team honours. So yeah, I’d say the Spurs nailed it.
2. Philadelphia 76ers — Tracy McGrady, SF/SG (9)
Career averages: 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists
Original selection: Keith Van Horn
Keith Van Horn was a fairly valuable role player for Philly but this is the 2nd overall pick. A T-Mac/Allen Iverson (the Sixers top pick in ’96) backcourt would have been awesome, if this were a video game. Still, for the knocks on McGrady’s inability to get past the second round, he was one of the greatest talents of his generation. He also led the league with 32.1 ppg in 2002-03 (which is great) while shooting 24 percent from the field (which is abysmal).
3. Boston Celtics — Chauncey Billups, SG (3)
Career averages: 15.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists
Original selection: Chauncey Billups
Billups didn’t prove his worth as the third pick for years, long after he’d left the Celtics, but in retrospect this is where the former Finals MVP belongs.
4. Vancouver Grizzlies — Stephen Jackson, SF (43)
Career averages: 15.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists
Original selection: Antonio Daniels
After the top three, this draft really falls off quickly. Jackson’s NBA debut was delayed, but he managed to play a nice role on the 2003 champion Spurs in his third season. He’s averaged 15.9 points over his career, with six playoff appearances. Which is more than Antonio Daniels can say for himself (What? Daniels was in the playoffs 10 times? Okay, disregard that last part).
5. Denver Nuggets — Antonio Daniels, PG (43)
Career averages: 7.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.7 steals
Original selection: Tony Battie
Hey man, 10 playoff appearances is nothing to laugh at
6. Boston Celtics — Bobby Jackson, PG (23)
Career averages: 9.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Original selection: Ron Mercer
Former Sixth Man of the Year played a major role on the Sacremento Kings back when they were a perennial ‘contender’. The Celtics, meanwhile, had two top-six picks and walked away with Billups (traded to the Raptors for Kenny Anderson in his rookie year) and Ron Mercer.
7. Boston Celtics — Keith Van Horn, F (2)
Career averages: 16.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Original selection: Tim Thomas
He never lived up to expectations of a 2nd overall pick, but it’s easy to forget that KVH averaged 19.7 points as a rookie, and 16 ppg in 13 NBA seasons. Not too shabby.
8. Golden State Warriors — Derek Anderson, G/F (13)
Career averages: 12 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists
Original selection: Adonal Foyle
Derek Anderson (who had a few decent seasons in the early 2000s) tells you everything you need to know about this draft’s “depth”.
9. Toronto Raptors — Alvin Williams, PG (48)
Career averages: 9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists
Original selection: Tracy McGrady
Is this pick biased? You’re damn right it is. Boogie Williams was a solid-if-unspectacular point guard for the Raptors during their ‘glory years’. Good enough for me.
10. Milwaukee Bucks — Tim Thomas, F (7)
Career averages: 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Original selection: Danny Fortson
The versatile Thomas spent much of his career fluctuating between “instant offence/sparkplug” to “dead weight”. Let’s remember the former, for the sake of the redraft.
11. Sacramento Kings — Tony Battie, F (5)
Career averages: 6.1 points, 5.1 rebounds
Original selection: Tariq Abdul-Wahad
Bonus points for longevity, I guess (16 seasons and counting), but this is getting sad fast.
12. Indiana Pacers — Anthony Parker, SG (21)
Career averages: 9.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Original selection: Austin Croshere
His NBA exodus (where he became the “Michael Jordan of the Euroleague” while starring for Macabbi Tel-Aviv) was salvaged with a decent comeback with the Raptors and Cavaliers.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers — Adonal Foyle, C (8)
Career averages: 4.1 points, 4.4 rebounds
Original selection: Austin Croshere
See: Battie, Tony.
14. Los Angeles Clippers — God Shamgod, PG (8)
Career averages: 3.1 points
Original selection: Maurice Taylor
The YouTube legend cracks the lottery based on name alone.
