Post by aar on Jul 14, 2011 10:31:52 GMT -5
This article will look back at every single draft and find the best player selected at certain spots. Early on, it will be easy to determine who the best pick was at select spots, but as the article comes to a conclusion, there will be some very tough calls to make.
This will be a three part series that begins with the 20th through 29th overall pick.
29th Overall
Vince King PG 6'0'' 185 22 C C+ C+ B- D+ C selected in 2023 by the Detroit Pistons
It's rare to get a good player with the last pick in the 1st round because few will take risks on a player that get a four year contract.
King was selected fairly recently and has been with the Pistons for his entire career.
Right now, his stats per 36 minutes are a staggering 30.9 ppg, 6.6 apg and 1.5 topg.
Honorable mention: Jason Guo PG 5'11'' 177 21 C- B+ A- C C- B selected in 2018 by the New Orleans Hornets. Guo has been an efficient point guard and a stellar backup.
28th Overall:
Allan Avery SG 6'2'' 202 21 B B C- C+ C B selected in 2016 by the New Orleans Hornets
This may be one of the easiest picks in this series of articles. Avery is the run-away pick here and an all-time draft steal.
Avery has been selected to the All-League First, Second and Third team during his career and despite a mediocre defensive rating, an All-League Defensive Second Team and two All-Star Game appearances.
Only blemish on Avery's resume is the lack of a championship, but then again, those are tough to win.
Honorable mention: Jarvis Varnado PF 6'9'' 210 23 C D D A- C C selected in 2010 by the Utah Jazz - Varnado was a prolific shot blocker, one of the best in the league in that regard.
27th Overall:
Dick Groat PG 5'11'' 180 24 C B- B- B- D C selected in 2025 by the Orlando Magic
Another recent selection, Dick Groat has had two very good TCs in a row and when all is said and done, I believe that he will be the best pick at 27th overall.
Right now, Groat is stuck behind K.C. Jones and will be for as long as he's on the Magic. But I expect the Magic to get some sort of value for him in the near future. Since being drafted, he has improved in every category aside for rebounding.
Honorable Mention: Martell Webster SG 6'7'' 210 18 C+ A- C- C C- B selected in 2005 by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Webster had a solid career.
26th Overall:
Christian Gola PF 6'11'' 289 22 B C+ C- B- C B selected in 2021 by the Washington Wizards
Gola is currently averaging 30 ppg, 9.7 rpg and 2.5 bpg on 53% from the field and 95% from the stripe. Ummm, yeah, he's the best 26th overall pick of all-time by a margin.
However, the 26th overall pick has had several other gems.
Honorable Mentions:
Jesse Arnelle SF 6'5'' 220 22 B C C- C+ B+ C selected in 2025 by the Milwaukee Bucks
Andrew Larson C 6'11'' 262 23 C+ C D+ B+ C+ B selected in 2020 by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Sefa Faafeu PF 6'6'' 260 25 B+ C C B- B+ C selected in 2018 by the Washington Wizards
25th Overall Pick:
Riley Corbin PF 6'10'' 255 23 C C C+ B- A- B selected 25th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Contrary to 26th overall, 25th overall is a terrible spot. The only decent player every selected at this spot is Riley Corbin, who is a borderline starting center in today's league.
Unless I'm overlooking someone, there's not even a relevant honorable mention here.
24th Overall:
Shawn Hill C 7'1'' 225 20 B- D+ C- B B- B selected in 2020 by the Boston Celtics
24th overall is another historically awful spot in draft history. Shawn Hill, who is a mediocre starter, gets the nod here.
Hill is an asset because of his size and average shot blocking ability.
The 24th spot may actually be worse than the 25th spot in terms of draft history.
Honorable Mention:
Hakeem Talib SF 6'6'' 215 23 C+ C+ C- A B- C selected in 2016 by the New York Knicks
23rd Overall:
Renato Amare PG 6'4'' 176 21 C+ C C B- C A selected in 2021 by the Charlotte Bobcats
The 23rd spot is another solid draft position, with some very nice players being selected.
Amare gets the nod here. He's had some absolutely stellar TCs and is now a dynamic starter at a valuable position.
The others selected at 23rd overall have all been on the cusp of becoming All-Stars and one of the players below (Terrico White) became a dynamic scorer late in his career.
Honorable Mentions:
Toronto Raptors - Terrico White SG 6'5'' 211 21 B B C C D+ C selected in 2011 by the Toronto Raptors
Lorenzo Bunn PF 6'9'' 237 22 B+ C C C+ C B selected in 2017 by the Houston Rockets
Calvin Fewell SG 6'7'' 215 22 B- B+ C B- C B selected in 2019 by the New Orleans Hornets
22nd Overall:
Rickey Francis PG 5'6'' 151 22 C B+ C C C A selected in 2019 by the Orlando Magic
Another no-brainer selection here. The 22nd overall spot is historically weak with the exception of the most unique player in BBS history. A 5'6" player who will likely consistently lead the league in scoring for years to come. Francis is a machine when it comes to scoring efficiently and led the Knicks to the BBS Finals last year.
Strangely, Francis has only one a single Player of the Week award (this past sim) and that is his sole career accolade.
Honorable Mention: Grant Nelson SF 6'7'' 222 22 C+ C C- A C+ B selected in 2016 by the Orlando Magic
21st Overall
Kent Caldwell C 7'8'' 274 20 C- D- C+ B B A selected by the Toronto Raptors in 2018
You know what you get with Kent Caldwell, good defense and rebounding, but horrible offense.
However, his 2.8 bpg career average puts him at the top of the list of players selected at 21st overall.
Caldwell has been a Raptor for his entire career.
Honorable Mentions:
James McAdoo PF 6'8'' 220 22 B+ C C C B B selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2015 - a tremendous sixth man
Marquez Lynch SF 6'5'' 232 22 B C+ C A- C B selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2019 - great ratings, not-so-great output
Kody Griffin C 6'9'' 262 21 B C+ C- C B+ B selected by the Boston Celtics in 2020 - versatile big man who has had multiple 10+ rpg seasons
20th Overall:
Alan Trobow SF 6'9'' 236 22 B B C- C+ B B selected 20th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2019
With those kind of starting ratings, it's a shock that Trobow lasted until 20th overall, but he did and went on to become a solid player.
Trobow averaged 25 points and 9 rebounds per game last season at SF, which is quite impressive.
He's the perfect complimentary star and has been really good since he entered the league.
Trobow, surprisingly, has no accolades under his belt - not a single Player of the Week award, no All-Rookie team selections despite good numbers and not a single All-Star appearance. This is in spite of averaging 17 and 9 over his career.
Honorable Mention:
Darian McCutchan PG 6'2'' 203 20 C B C+ A C B selected 20th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016 - a very solid defensive point guard who has always competed for a starting role.
Picks 10-19 coming soon!
This will be a three part series that begins with the 20th through 29th overall pick.
29th Overall
Vince King PG 6'0'' 185 22 C C+ C+ B- D+ C selected in 2023 by the Detroit Pistons
It's rare to get a good player with the last pick in the 1st round because few will take risks on a player that get a four year contract.
King was selected fairly recently and has been with the Pistons for his entire career.
Right now, his stats per 36 minutes are a staggering 30.9 ppg, 6.6 apg and 1.5 topg.
Honorable mention: Jason Guo PG 5'11'' 177 21 C- B+ A- C C- B selected in 2018 by the New Orleans Hornets. Guo has been an efficient point guard and a stellar backup.
28th Overall:
Allan Avery SG 6'2'' 202 21 B B C- C+ C B selected in 2016 by the New Orleans Hornets
This may be one of the easiest picks in this series of articles. Avery is the run-away pick here and an all-time draft steal.
Avery has been selected to the All-League First, Second and Third team during his career and despite a mediocre defensive rating, an All-League Defensive Second Team and two All-Star Game appearances.
Only blemish on Avery's resume is the lack of a championship, but then again, those are tough to win.
Honorable mention: Jarvis Varnado PF 6'9'' 210 23 C D D A- C C selected in 2010 by the Utah Jazz - Varnado was a prolific shot blocker, one of the best in the league in that regard.
27th Overall:
Dick Groat PG 5'11'' 180 24 C B- B- B- D C selected in 2025 by the Orlando Magic
Another recent selection, Dick Groat has had two very good TCs in a row and when all is said and done, I believe that he will be the best pick at 27th overall.
Right now, Groat is stuck behind K.C. Jones and will be for as long as he's on the Magic. But I expect the Magic to get some sort of value for him in the near future. Since being drafted, he has improved in every category aside for rebounding.
Honorable Mention: Martell Webster SG 6'7'' 210 18 C+ A- C- C C- B selected in 2005 by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Webster had a solid career.
26th Overall:
Christian Gola PF 6'11'' 289 22 B C+ C- B- C B selected in 2021 by the Washington Wizards
Gola is currently averaging 30 ppg, 9.7 rpg and 2.5 bpg on 53% from the field and 95% from the stripe. Ummm, yeah, he's the best 26th overall pick of all-time by a margin.
However, the 26th overall pick has had several other gems.
Honorable Mentions:
Jesse Arnelle SF 6'5'' 220 22 B C C- C+ B+ C selected in 2025 by the Milwaukee Bucks
Andrew Larson C 6'11'' 262 23 C+ C D+ B+ C+ B selected in 2020 by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Sefa Faafeu PF 6'6'' 260 25 B+ C C B- B+ C selected in 2018 by the Washington Wizards
25th Overall Pick:
Riley Corbin PF 6'10'' 255 23 C C C+ B- A- B selected 25th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Contrary to 26th overall, 25th overall is a terrible spot. The only decent player every selected at this spot is Riley Corbin, who is a borderline starting center in today's league.
Unless I'm overlooking someone, there's not even a relevant honorable mention here.
24th Overall:
Shawn Hill C 7'1'' 225 20 B- D+ C- B B- B selected in 2020 by the Boston Celtics
24th overall is another historically awful spot in draft history. Shawn Hill, who is a mediocre starter, gets the nod here.
Hill is an asset because of his size and average shot blocking ability.
The 24th spot may actually be worse than the 25th spot in terms of draft history.
Honorable Mention:
Hakeem Talib SF 6'6'' 215 23 C+ C+ C- A B- C selected in 2016 by the New York Knicks
23rd Overall:
Renato Amare PG 6'4'' 176 21 C+ C C B- C A selected in 2021 by the Charlotte Bobcats
The 23rd spot is another solid draft position, with some very nice players being selected.
Amare gets the nod here. He's had some absolutely stellar TCs and is now a dynamic starter at a valuable position.
The others selected at 23rd overall have all been on the cusp of becoming All-Stars and one of the players below (Terrico White) became a dynamic scorer late in his career.
Honorable Mentions:
Toronto Raptors - Terrico White SG 6'5'' 211 21 B B C C D+ C selected in 2011 by the Toronto Raptors
Lorenzo Bunn PF 6'9'' 237 22 B+ C C C+ C B selected in 2017 by the Houston Rockets
Calvin Fewell SG 6'7'' 215 22 B- B+ C B- C B selected in 2019 by the New Orleans Hornets
22nd Overall:
Rickey Francis PG 5'6'' 151 22 C B+ C C C A selected in 2019 by the Orlando Magic
Another no-brainer selection here. The 22nd overall spot is historically weak with the exception of the most unique player in BBS history. A 5'6" player who will likely consistently lead the league in scoring for years to come. Francis is a machine when it comes to scoring efficiently and led the Knicks to the BBS Finals last year.
Strangely, Francis has only one a single Player of the Week award (this past sim) and that is his sole career accolade.
Honorable Mention: Grant Nelson SF 6'7'' 222 22 C+ C C- A C+ B selected in 2016 by the Orlando Magic
21st Overall
Kent Caldwell C 7'8'' 274 20 C- D- C+ B B A selected by the Toronto Raptors in 2018
You know what you get with Kent Caldwell, good defense and rebounding, but horrible offense.
However, his 2.8 bpg career average puts him at the top of the list of players selected at 21st overall.
Caldwell has been a Raptor for his entire career.
Honorable Mentions:
James McAdoo PF 6'8'' 220 22 B+ C C C B B selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2015 - a tremendous sixth man
Marquez Lynch SF 6'5'' 232 22 B C+ C A- C B selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2019 - great ratings, not-so-great output
Kody Griffin C 6'9'' 262 21 B C+ C- C B+ B selected by the Boston Celtics in 2020 - versatile big man who has had multiple 10+ rpg seasons
20th Overall:
Alan Trobow SF 6'9'' 236 22 B B C- C+ B B selected 20th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2019
With those kind of starting ratings, it's a shock that Trobow lasted until 20th overall, but he did and went on to become a solid player.
Trobow averaged 25 points and 9 rebounds per game last season at SF, which is quite impressive.
He's the perfect complimentary star and has been really good since he entered the league.
Trobow, surprisingly, has no accolades under his belt - not a single Player of the Week award, no All-Rookie team selections despite good numbers and not a single All-Star appearance. This is in spite of averaging 17 and 9 over his career.
Honorable Mention:
Darian McCutchan PG 6'2'' 203 20 C B C+ A C B selected 20th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016 - a very solid defensive point guard who has always competed for a starting role.
Picks 10-19 coming soon!
