Post by nova on Aug 19, 2010 16:20:05 GMT -5
Initially thought of as a weak draft, the 2001 draft has actually turned out to be one of the strongest in BBS history. It's been four years, and the players drafted in the 2001 draft have just finished their rookie contracts. Let's take a look back at the draft, and see how things would shape up if we re-did the draft today.
#1 Then - Pau Gasol PF 7'0'' 227 21 B C C B- C+ A
#1 Now - Gerald Wallace SF 22 6'7'' 221 A- C+ C A- B B
This is a tough choice, and really, a two man race for #1, between Wallace and Eddy Curry. The nod goes to Wallace because of his superior defense. While Gasol was hardly a bad selection and is himself a very good player, Wallace has developed into a star and franchise player. He is the heart and soul of the Thunder and helped lead them to the playoffs this season, averaging 27.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 1.8 BPG. He's the definition of a complete player. He can play three positions, and he always leaves his mark on games. The Thunder have him locked up long term now, which is huge, and he will be their building block for the future. They've got some nice pieces around him, but Wallace is definitely the centerpiece, and a deserving #1 pick.
#2 Then - Gilbert Arenas PG 6'3'' 191 19 B B C+ C C- A
#2 Now - Eddy Curry C 21 6'11'' 288 B+ C- D+ B+ A B
Arenas has been a bit of a disappointment. He's developed into a quality player, but he's not the star most expected when he first entered the league. Curry on the other hand has been a surprise. Initially taken 4th overall, he came into the 2001 draft with tremendous upside, but a very raw set of skills. From the get-go though, he was a surprise, and he's been an impact player since his first game. Through his first four seasons, Curry's averaged 24.9 PPG, 10.5RPG, and 1.9 BPG. He's a dominant post player and the fact that he's turned into a solid defender is huge, because most scouts did not think it was possible. The Lakers are desperate for talent, but Curry is a solid start.
#3 Then - Joe Johnson SG 6'8'' 225 20 B- B C+ C C A
#3 Now - Pau Gasol C 24 7'0'' 230 A- C C A- A- C
Much like Arenas, Johnson's development has been disappointing. He's a very solid player, and is coming off a stellar season with the Spurs, but he is nowhere near the top 3 at this point. Rounding out the top 3 is Pau Gasol, who was initially taken #1 overall. He's not quite the star that many were expecting, but he's turned into a very reliable big man and a solid second option. His stats aren't mind-blowing, but they're impressive, and keep in mind that unlike some of his peers on this list, he's doing it on a 50+ win team. He's a quality scorer, and finished 4th in RPG in the league. What really raises his value, however, are his passing skills. He's got great floor vision for a 7 footer, and his passing skills are a huge asset. He's got a bright future ahead of him, and looks to be one of the better post players in the league for the next decade.
#4 Then - Eddy Curry C 6'11'' 285 18 B C- D C+ C+ A
#4 Now - Zach Randolph PF 23 6'9'' 253 A- C+ D- C A- A
This may be a controversial pick, as based on stats alone, Randolph could go #1. He's the most dominant offensive post player in the league and is virtually unstoppable. He's also a great rebounder. However, the reason he only comes in at 4 is his defense. He's a huge defensive liability and that cannot be ignored. Whereas Randolph averages 10 more PPG then Gasol, he's also a far worse defender, which hurts his value. It really depends on who you ask about Randolph, because many GM's probably would take him higher than 4, but on this list, he comes in at 4. He's an outstanding player who might be the biggest steal in BBS history, as he was initially drafted 12th and has turned into a beast. The Celtics' future will rely heavily on Randolph, as well as the next player on this list.
#5 Then - Gerald Wallace SF 6'7'' 215 19 B C C- B C+ A
#5 Now - Jason Richardson SG 23 6'6'' 223 B+ A- B B C B
With Wallace jumping up to 1, the #5 slot becomes open, and yet again, another player jumps. JRich was initially taken 7th overall, and while his career began slowly, over the last two seasons, he's developed into a very good swingman. He's essentially become what Joe Johnson was expected to be. Along with Randolph and Boris Diaw, he's 1/3 of the Celts super-talented young trio. He's helped lead them to the playoffs this season, averaging 19.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 5.0 APG. He's not a star, but he's turned into a very good shooting guard and he could make a couple all-league teams if he continues to improve.
#6 Then - Tyson Chandler C 7'1'' 235 18 C+ D+ D+ B- B A
#6 Now - Bobby Simmons SF 24 6'7'' 213 B B C A C+ C
In a very strong class of big men, Chandler has been a bit of a disappointment. He's solid, but absolutely doesn't belong in the top 10. Bobby Simmons on the other hand, wasn't even taken in the top 15 initially. He was taken 17th overall, and since then, has worked very hard to prove that he deserved to be taken significantly higher. He's developed into an absolutely phenomenal complimentary player. Simmons is a very capable scorer, as he averaged 22.0 PPG this season, and he's also a solid rebounder, but what really raises his value is his outstanding defense. He's a terrific man-to-man defender. He also rarely turns it over, averaging less than 1 a game. The Bulls are supremely talented and are one of the favorites to win the championship, and Simmons is a big reason why.
#7 Then - Jason Richardson SG 6'6'' 220 20 B C+ C C+ C A
#7 Now - Gilbert Arenas PG 22 6'3'' 197 B A- B- B+ C- C
Arenas finally clocks in at #7. You can't classify him as a bust, because he is a solid player and hell, at 22, he could still improve. Heck, he's actually quite good, and is coming off a very good season for the Nuggets. However, when you have Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade on your team and you don't live up to your billing, criticism is inevitable. The most impressive thing about Arenas is the fact that he's really cut down on turnovers since his rookie season. He's not among the league's best PG's, but he's still quite good and thus belongs at #7. Furthermore, the fact that he offered to resign with the Nuggets for 3 years and essentially $15 million total increases his value a lot. Another coup for Denver.
#8 Then - Kwame Brown PF 6'11'' 270 19 C+ D+ D+ B- B- A
#8 Now - Troy Murphy C 24 6'11'' 248 C+ A- C- B+ A- C
Oh Kwame Brown. The absolute biggest disappointment of the top 8 players in this draft. He rides the bench for the Timberwolves and barring an absolute shocker, he'll never see a starting line-up in the BBS. Murphy on the other hand has really been one of the more intriguing players from this draft. He was taken 14th overall and he has really worked hard in his career to improve upon his weaknesses. And he has. He's no longer a defensive liability, and he's got a few post moves now as well. However, he still earns his money because of his shooting. His ability to shoot is very rare for a big man and can create a huge match-up problem, and add to that that he's a very good rebounder, and you have a quality post player. He's not nearly as good as Randolph, Curry, or Gasol, but he's still quite good, and very deserving of the #8 pick.
#9 Then - Richard Jefferson SF 6'7'' 222 21 C+ B- C B C A
#9 Now - Joe Johnson SG 23 6'8'' 225 B A- B- C+ C B
Jefferson, much like Kwame, has been a bust. He's a back-up on the lowly Clippers, and will be lucky to even land on a better team. Johnson, meanwhile, finally appears at #9, falling 6 spots from his original draft position. It may be harsh to call him a disappointment, I mean, he did just average 21.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 4.5 APG on phenomenal %'s for the Spurs, but defensively, he's very flawed, and that hurts his value. Johnson will likely start for many years, but the fact is, he hasn't developed into the player most expected. His ideal role is probably as a super-sub 6th man, coming off the bench and averaging around 30MPG. Either way, he's a good player, but hardly anything special.
#10 Then - Mehmet Okur C 6'11'' 249 22 B- B C C+ C+ B
#10 Now - Mehmet Okur PF 25 6'11'' 249 B- B C B+ B C
Huzzah! Okur is the only player in this list to retain his original draft position. Okur hasn't improved much offensively, which has been disappointing, but his defensive and rebounding improvements have been solid. He's better defensively at Center, but even at PF, he's solid. He's a solid 15/10 type player whose also got solid passing skills for a post player. He isn't a max-worthy player, but he should still command a big contract in Free Agency, whether it be from the Knicks or another team. He's not all that different from Troy Murphy really, he's just not as good a pure shooter.
#11 Then - Samuel Dalembert C 6'11'' 250 20 C+ C- D+ B+ B- B
#11 Now - Shane Battier SF 26 6'8'' 225 C A- C A C+ C
Dalembert, while a solid big man for the Hornets, hasn't become as impactful as many were expecting. Battier, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the best defensive SF's in the league. Initially taken 15th overall in the 2001 draft, Battier climbs four spots. He's certainly not a star, or even a great player, but he does make an impact. He's a decent offensive player, but where he really earns his keep is on the defensive end of the court. He's a great man-on-man defender, and he also averages over a one block and one steal a game. He's a very efficient player, and while it's hard to truly gauge his impact, he definitely has one. If the Jazz make a deep run in the playoffs, there's no doubt that the acquisition of Battier earlier this season will have been a big reason why.
#12 Then - Zach Randolph PF 6'9'' 253 20 B+ C+ D+ C B+ B
#12 Now - Omar Cook PG 22 6'1'' 190 C A- A- B- D+ B
Cook jumps up twenty spots, by far the biggest jump on this list, as he was initially taken in the 2nd round, 32nd overall. He always had a good deal of upside, scouts and GM's just questioned his ethic. He's proved them wrong. After three solid TC's with the Warriors, he parlayed that into a 3 year $27 million contract with the Thunder last offseason and had a solid season for them this year, helping lead them to the playoffs. Cook still has some flaws in his game, as he can be very inconsistent and he's not the best defender, but he's developed into a much better player then most expected, and could be a quality starting PG soon if he can improve a bit more.
#13 Then - Brendan Haywood C 7'0'' 268 21 B- C- D+ B- B- B
#13 Now - Tyson Chandler C 21 7'1'' 241 B- C- C- A- B+ B
Haywood was the 8th big man taken in the lottery, which is an anomaly, and really, he's done about as well as can be expected. He's a decent back-up for the Warriors, but nothing more. Chandler, on the other hand, was initially taken 6th overall, and while he has been something of a disappointment, he's still a starting-caliber big man because of his size and defense. He has very little offensive game to speak of, but he's a solid rebounder and shot-blocker. Interestingly enough, these two basically split the minutes at C for the Warriors, but logically, Chandler starts and receives more of them. He rounds out the lottery, though it was a close call.
Just Missed The Cut:
Brian Scalabrine SF 26 6'9'' 244 B- A- C- B+ C C
Some may argue that he should be in the top 13, but really, someone has to score the points on the Nets, so his production is very likely inflated and at best, he's a borderline-starter on most teams.
Samuel Dalembert C 23 6'11'' 250 B- C- D+ A- B C
A similar player to Chandler, but Chandler gets the slight edge. Dally could play a big role in the Hornets CY though, as he is a valuable player to have.
#1 Then - Pau Gasol PF 7'0'' 227 21 B C C B- C+ A
#1 Now - Gerald Wallace SF 22 6'7'' 221 A- C+ C A- B B
This is a tough choice, and really, a two man race for #1, between Wallace and Eddy Curry. The nod goes to Wallace because of his superior defense. While Gasol was hardly a bad selection and is himself a very good player, Wallace has developed into a star and franchise player. He is the heart and soul of the Thunder and helped lead them to the playoffs this season, averaging 27.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 1.8 BPG. He's the definition of a complete player. He can play three positions, and he always leaves his mark on games. The Thunder have him locked up long term now, which is huge, and he will be their building block for the future. They've got some nice pieces around him, but Wallace is definitely the centerpiece, and a deserving #1 pick.
#2 Then - Gilbert Arenas PG 6'3'' 191 19 B B C+ C C- A
#2 Now - Eddy Curry C 21 6'11'' 288 B+ C- D+ B+ A B
Arenas has been a bit of a disappointment. He's developed into a quality player, but he's not the star most expected when he first entered the league. Curry on the other hand has been a surprise. Initially taken 4th overall, he came into the 2001 draft with tremendous upside, but a very raw set of skills. From the get-go though, he was a surprise, and he's been an impact player since his first game. Through his first four seasons, Curry's averaged 24.9 PPG, 10.5RPG, and 1.9 BPG. He's a dominant post player and the fact that he's turned into a solid defender is huge, because most scouts did not think it was possible. The Lakers are desperate for talent, but Curry is a solid start.
#3 Then - Joe Johnson SG 6'8'' 225 20 B- B C+ C C A
#3 Now - Pau Gasol C 24 7'0'' 230 A- C C A- A- C
Much like Arenas, Johnson's development has been disappointing. He's a very solid player, and is coming off a stellar season with the Spurs, but he is nowhere near the top 3 at this point. Rounding out the top 3 is Pau Gasol, who was initially taken #1 overall. He's not quite the star that many were expecting, but he's turned into a very reliable big man and a solid second option. His stats aren't mind-blowing, but they're impressive, and keep in mind that unlike some of his peers on this list, he's doing it on a 50+ win team. He's a quality scorer, and finished 4th in RPG in the league. What really raises his value, however, are his passing skills. He's got great floor vision for a 7 footer, and his passing skills are a huge asset. He's got a bright future ahead of him, and looks to be one of the better post players in the league for the next decade.
#4 Then - Eddy Curry C 6'11'' 285 18 B C- D C+ C+ A
#4 Now - Zach Randolph PF 23 6'9'' 253 A- C+ D- C A- A
This may be a controversial pick, as based on stats alone, Randolph could go #1. He's the most dominant offensive post player in the league and is virtually unstoppable. He's also a great rebounder. However, the reason he only comes in at 4 is his defense. He's a huge defensive liability and that cannot be ignored. Whereas Randolph averages 10 more PPG then Gasol, he's also a far worse defender, which hurts his value. It really depends on who you ask about Randolph, because many GM's probably would take him higher than 4, but on this list, he comes in at 4. He's an outstanding player who might be the biggest steal in BBS history, as he was initially drafted 12th and has turned into a beast. The Celtics' future will rely heavily on Randolph, as well as the next player on this list.
#5 Then - Gerald Wallace SF 6'7'' 215 19 B C C- B C+ A
#5 Now - Jason Richardson SG 23 6'6'' 223 B+ A- B B C B
With Wallace jumping up to 1, the #5 slot becomes open, and yet again, another player jumps. JRich was initially taken 7th overall, and while his career began slowly, over the last two seasons, he's developed into a very good swingman. He's essentially become what Joe Johnson was expected to be. Along with Randolph and Boris Diaw, he's 1/3 of the Celts super-talented young trio. He's helped lead them to the playoffs this season, averaging 19.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 5.0 APG. He's not a star, but he's turned into a very good shooting guard and he could make a couple all-league teams if he continues to improve.
#6 Then - Tyson Chandler C 7'1'' 235 18 C+ D+ D+ B- B A
#6 Now - Bobby Simmons SF 24 6'7'' 213 B B C A C+ C
In a very strong class of big men, Chandler has been a bit of a disappointment. He's solid, but absolutely doesn't belong in the top 10. Bobby Simmons on the other hand, wasn't even taken in the top 15 initially. He was taken 17th overall, and since then, has worked very hard to prove that he deserved to be taken significantly higher. He's developed into an absolutely phenomenal complimentary player. Simmons is a very capable scorer, as he averaged 22.0 PPG this season, and he's also a solid rebounder, but what really raises his value is his outstanding defense. He's a terrific man-to-man defender. He also rarely turns it over, averaging less than 1 a game. The Bulls are supremely talented and are one of the favorites to win the championship, and Simmons is a big reason why.
#7 Then - Jason Richardson SG 6'6'' 220 20 B C+ C C+ C A
#7 Now - Gilbert Arenas PG 22 6'3'' 197 B A- B- B+ C- C
Arenas finally clocks in at #7. You can't classify him as a bust, because he is a solid player and hell, at 22, he could still improve. Heck, he's actually quite good, and is coming off a very good season for the Nuggets. However, when you have Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade on your team and you don't live up to your billing, criticism is inevitable. The most impressive thing about Arenas is the fact that he's really cut down on turnovers since his rookie season. He's not among the league's best PG's, but he's still quite good and thus belongs at #7. Furthermore, the fact that he offered to resign with the Nuggets for 3 years and essentially $15 million total increases his value a lot. Another coup for Denver.
#8 Then - Kwame Brown PF 6'11'' 270 19 C+ D+ D+ B- B- A
#8 Now - Troy Murphy C 24 6'11'' 248 C+ A- C- B+ A- C
Oh Kwame Brown. The absolute biggest disappointment of the top 8 players in this draft. He rides the bench for the Timberwolves and barring an absolute shocker, he'll never see a starting line-up in the BBS. Murphy on the other hand has really been one of the more intriguing players from this draft. He was taken 14th overall and he has really worked hard in his career to improve upon his weaknesses. And he has. He's no longer a defensive liability, and he's got a few post moves now as well. However, he still earns his money because of his shooting. His ability to shoot is very rare for a big man and can create a huge match-up problem, and add to that that he's a very good rebounder, and you have a quality post player. He's not nearly as good as Randolph, Curry, or Gasol, but he's still quite good, and very deserving of the #8 pick.
#9 Then - Richard Jefferson SF 6'7'' 222 21 C+ B- C B C A
#9 Now - Joe Johnson SG 23 6'8'' 225 B A- B- C+ C B
Jefferson, much like Kwame, has been a bust. He's a back-up on the lowly Clippers, and will be lucky to even land on a better team. Johnson, meanwhile, finally appears at #9, falling 6 spots from his original draft position. It may be harsh to call him a disappointment, I mean, he did just average 21.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 4.5 APG on phenomenal %'s for the Spurs, but defensively, he's very flawed, and that hurts his value. Johnson will likely start for many years, but the fact is, he hasn't developed into the player most expected. His ideal role is probably as a super-sub 6th man, coming off the bench and averaging around 30MPG. Either way, he's a good player, but hardly anything special.
#10 Then - Mehmet Okur C 6'11'' 249 22 B- B C C+ C+ B
#10 Now - Mehmet Okur PF 25 6'11'' 249 B- B C B+ B C
Huzzah! Okur is the only player in this list to retain his original draft position. Okur hasn't improved much offensively, which has been disappointing, but his defensive and rebounding improvements have been solid. He's better defensively at Center, but even at PF, he's solid. He's a solid 15/10 type player whose also got solid passing skills for a post player. He isn't a max-worthy player, but he should still command a big contract in Free Agency, whether it be from the Knicks or another team. He's not all that different from Troy Murphy really, he's just not as good a pure shooter.
#11 Then - Samuel Dalembert C 6'11'' 250 20 C+ C- D+ B+ B- B
#11 Now - Shane Battier SF 26 6'8'' 225 C A- C A C+ C
Dalembert, while a solid big man for the Hornets, hasn't become as impactful as many were expecting. Battier, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the best defensive SF's in the league. Initially taken 15th overall in the 2001 draft, Battier climbs four spots. He's certainly not a star, or even a great player, but he does make an impact. He's a decent offensive player, but where he really earns his keep is on the defensive end of the court. He's a great man-on-man defender, and he also averages over a one block and one steal a game. He's a very efficient player, and while it's hard to truly gauge his impact, he definitely has one. If the Jazz make a deep run in the playoffs, there's no doubt that the acquisition of Battier earlier this season will have been a big reason why.
#12 Then - Zach Randolph PF 6'9'' 253 20 B+ C+ D+ C B+ B
#12 Now - Omar Cook PG 22 6'1'' 190 C A- A- B- D+ B
Cook jumps up twenty spots, by far the biggest jump on this list, as he was initially taken in the 2nd round, 32nd overall. He always had a good deal of upside, scouts and GM's just questioned his ethic. He's proved them wrong. After three solid TC's with the Warriors, he parlayed that into a 3 year $27 million contract with the Thunder last offseason and had a solid season for them this year, helping lead them to the playoffs. Cook still has some flaws in his game, as he can be very inconsistent and he's not the best defender, but he's developed into a much better player then most expected, and could be a quality starting PG soon if he can improve a bit more.
#13 Then - Brendan Haywood C 7'0'' 268 21 B- C- D+ B- B- B
#13 Now - Tyson Chandler C 21 7'1'' 241 B- C- C- A- B+ B
Haywood was the 8th big man taken in the lottery, which is an anomaly, and really, he's done about as well as can be expected. He's a decent back-up for the Warriors, but nothing more. Chandler, on the other hand, was initially taken 6th overall, and while he has been something of a disappointment, he's still a starting-caliber big man because of his size and defense. He has very little offensive game to speak of, but he's a solid rebounder and shot-blocker. Interestingly enough, these two basically split the minutes at C for the Warriors, but logically, Chandler starts and receives more of them. He rounds out the lottery, though it was a close call.
Just Missed The Cut:
Brian Scalabrine SF 26 6'9'' 244 B- A- C- B+ C C
Some may argue that he should be in the top 13, but really, someone has to score the points on the Nets, so his production is very likely inflated and at best, he's a borderline-starter on most teams.
Samuel Dalembert C 23 6'11'' 250 B- C- D+ A- B C
A similar player to Chandler, but Chandler gets the slight edge. Dally could play a big role in the Hornets CY though, as he is a valuable player to have.
