Pondering About The NBA Lottery

I have a real love/hate relationship with the NBA Draft Lottery.  I like that they do not use the traditional worst team picks first, but I hate how people make such a big deal out of it.  Especially since there is a good shot, the NBA will be heading to a lockout (love that word, pysch.).  Add also to the fact, this could be one of the least memorable draft classes in a long time.  The Milwaukee Bucks only have a 1.1 percent chance so it would be their luck that they get a high draft pick in what appears to be an irrelevant draft. But these are all assumptions, so until we watch these guys play, how are we certain they are all destined to be Stromile and Robert Swift?  Not related, I know shocking.  

Now, I am not NBA historian, but I decided to look at past drafts starting in 1997 to see if this really has the potential to be uglier than The Terminator's divorce.  Sometimes I think draft insiders look too much into things, and freak out when in reality, some of these guys are winners and it translates into good things at the next level.  I decide to look at guys who have all made key contributions to playoff teams, or been solid starters for teams. I end in 2009 because last year remains unclear.  


1997: Tim Duncan, Chauncey Billups, and Tracey McGrady
1998: Antwan Jamison, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, and Paul Pierce
1999: Elton Brand, Steve Francis, Baron Davis, Lamar Odom, Richard Hamilton, Andre Miller, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry

2000: Kenyon Martin and Jamal Crawford (reaching a bit there) 
2001:  Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, Jason Richardson, Joe Johnson, and Richard Jefferson
2002:  Nene, Amar'e Stoudamire and Caron Butler
2003: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Kirk Heinrich, and Nick Collison
2004: Dwight Howard, Devin Harris, Luol Deng, and Andre Iguodala
2005: Andrew Bogut, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Raymond Felton, and Andrew Bynum
2006: LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, and Rudy Gay
2007: Kevin Durant, Al Hortford, Mike Conley, and Joakim Noah
2008: Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, and Eric Gordon
2009: Blake Griffin, James Harden (we think), and Brandon Jennings

If i peer into my crystal ball, I think the 2010 class has a chance to be similar with John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins for sure, and plenty of guys I wouldn't sleep on like Gordon Hayward or Paul George.  Basically, people believe this will be as worst as 2000 or 2002. I think 02' is more realistic because a lot of the busts in that draft were college-experienced players rather than high schoolers and foreign-born players. The likes of DaJuan Wagner and Chris Wilcox to name a few. 

For whatever it's worth, I love the way Derrick Williams plays and said in March, he would be an awesome piece to have for any team in the lottery.  I also think Kemba Walker and Brandon Knight could be pretty solid point guards in the league plus Jimmer Fredette will be great off the bench for a team who is on the cusp of making the playoffs. So if your team gets the first pick tonight carry a glass-half full approach and tell yourself it adds to your team plus he can contribute in the future.

-Charlie.