Post by A2J on Mar 22, 2008 16:00:45 GMT -5
With three training camps under their belts and half of their third seasons completed, it’s fair to say that we have a general idea of where the players from the 2001 draft class are heading in their careers. This article will look back at that draft day and show one man’s opinion of where these players would go now, if the GMs involved could do it all over again.
Original Lottery Order
1. Tony Parker PG...Toronto
2. Jason Richardson SG...Indiana
3. Joe Johnson SG...Golden State
4. Pau Gasol PF...Miami
5. Tyson Chandler C...New York
6.Richard Jefferson SF...Phoenix
7.Gerald Wallace SF...Utah
8.Zach Randolph PF...LA Lakers
9.Mehmet Okur PF...Memphis
10.DaSagana Diop C...Seattle
11.Kwame Brown PF...New Orleans
12.Samuel Dalembert C...New Jersey
13.Jamaal Tinsley PG...Atlanta
#1 - Toronto Raptors Select: Tony Parker PG 21 6'2'' 180 B+ C+ B+ A C- A
Here’s a number one pick who certainly couldn’t be labeled as a disappointment. TP is only 21 and has earned himself some absolutely lethal ratings at the PG position. An All Star this year and the second reason why the Raptors are playing so well this season, Parker is averaging 22.2 PPG, 7.8 APG and 4.6 RPG to go along with an excellent 2.7 SPG. With more improvement certain to come, Parker should be an elite PG for the rest of his career.
#2 - Indiana Pacers Select: Tyson Chandler C 21 7'1'' 238 B- D+ D+ A B B
Big men at this age, with those ratings and that kind of shotblocking ability are extremely rare. Chandler already has the ratings and production to be a defensive force; his 2.5 BPG, 1.1 SPG and 9.4 RPG are excellent considering his low minutes and injury plagued season. And he couldn’t pick a better team to be on, with Krup raking in enough RCs to go around every year, Chandler will likely find himself becoming more well rounded by the minute, and adding offense to his already valuable defensive game.
#3 – Golden State Warriors Select: Joe Johnson SF 22 6'8'' 225 B B+ B- B C A
Another pick that would stay the same, JJ has developed the versatile and high scoring game the Warriors must have envisioned when the took him third overall in 2001. His 2.1 SPG are a bonus on top of 19.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG and 3.7 APG, making Joe one of the best young producers across the board. With an increase in his positional defense and a little more scoring, he’ll be among the league’s top swingmen.
#4 – Miami Heat Select: Richard Jefferson SF 23 6'7'' 225 B- B+ C A C B
RJ has some incredible ratings, there is no doubt about that, but his overall production this season has been very lacking. Only putting up a paltry 14.5 PPG and 6.3 RPG on the league’s worst roster, it is fair for critics to worry Jefferson will never be able to produce up to his pretty set of ratings. Despite this, his incredible development in TC and status as an A defender make him the clear cut choice after the big three of the 2001 draft.
#5 – New York Knicks Select: DeSagana Diop C 21 7'0'' 300 C+ D D+ A- B A
The first big leaper from the draft, Diop has been better than anyone could have imagined back when he was first selected. One of the premier defensive bigs in the league, Sagna is averaged 3.3 BPG to go along with 1.2 SPG, 9.9 RPG and an efficient 46.2 FG%. While players like J-Rich and Gasol still have more star potential than Diop, he’s carved himself out an important role on one of the league’s best teams, something few others in this draft can claim.
#6 – Phoenix Suns Select: Jason Richardson SG 22 6'7'' 223 B+ C+ C+ B- C B
While the former #2 pick is having a rough start to his career with some lackluster TCs, his young age and very solid ratings set gives him the possibility to still become the superstar he was envisioned as during the draft. A very strong inside scorer, likely due to his insane athleticism, Richardson is averaging 17.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 3.8 APG for the Bucks this season, showing the ability to produce. With some luck in TC and a few more RC’s, J-Rich becoming one of the league’s better scorers is not out of the question.
#7 – Utah Jazz Select: Pau Gasol C 23 7'0'' 230 B C C B+ B- B
Another slightly disappointing player, Gasol has shown good strides with the Spurs this season and is currently averaging 16.2 PPG and 9.0 RPG. However, a few more good TCs are in order if Pau is going to be the stud center GMs expected him to be in 2001, and his shotblocking in particular will have to greatly improve.
#8 – LA Lakers Select: Shane Battier SF 25 6'8'' 223 C+ B C A C+ B
Being hidden slightly on the Sonics roster, Battier has great ratings and could is one of the league’s premier roleplayers. He gets a ton of steals for his minutes, shoots excellent percentages, rebounds the ball and rarely turns it over. He brings a ton of things to the table without taking anything off, and looks like he’ll continue to improve and add to his already well rounded game.
#9 – Memphis Grizzlies Select: Samuel Dalembert C 22 6'11'' 250 B- D+ C- A- B- C
I give Daly the nod over Randolph because of his more refined defensive game and his ability to block shots which Randolph will likely never acquire in his career. Sam is a roleplayer for a talented Nets squad, but he serves his purpose well, and any more improvements to his game are just an added bonus at this point.
#10 – Seattle Sonics Select: Zach Randolph PF 22 6'10'' 272 B C- D+ B- B A
Zach needs to do more in TC to become the lethal offensive player he has the size and ability to be. Only averaging 13.4 PPG on 41.1 FG% this season is quite an underperformance, and slightly worrisome for a guy with Randolph’s superior size. Still, he has the potential to be a great scorer one day which will easily overcome the flaws in his game.
#11 – New Orleans Hornets Select: Troy Murphy PF 23 6'11'' 248 B- B- D+ C+ B C
Putting up similar numbers to Randolph this year, with better steals and better percentages, but certainly far less upside. Murphy is going to be a valuable roleplayer throughout his career though, a big guy who can play multiple positions, shoot the three ball and rebound like crazy is something any team can use.
#12 – New Jersey Nets Select: Gerald Wallace SF 21 6'8'' 220 B+ C- D A- C B
Too small to be a PF, but too raw to be effective as an SF, Wallace has struggled to produce despite freakish athleticism and solid inside and defense ratings. Still a guy who can get you blocks and steals while igniting the virtual crowd with a few jaw dropping dunks each game, Wallace is a useful player but not more than that.
#13 – Atlanta Hawks Select: Jamaal Tinsley PG 25 6'3'' 198 C+ B- B B C- C
One of the older draftees, Tinsley hasn’t really panned out into anything more than a backup PG, but he is quite proficient at that job. He averages great assist numbers in limited minutes and has shown that if given time, he will make a solid distributor.
Original Lottery Order
1. Tony Parker PG...Toronto
2. Jason Richardson SG...Indiana
3. Joe Johnson SG...Golden State
4. Pau Gasol PF...Miami
5. Tyson Chandler C...New York
6.Richard Jefferson SF...Phoenix
7.Gerald Wallace SF...Utah
8.Zach Randolph PF...LA Lakers
9.Mehmet Okur PF...Memphis
10.DaSagana Diop C...Seattle
11.Kwame Brown PF...New Orleans
12.Samuel Dalembert C...New Jersey
13.Jamaal Tinsley PG...Atlanta
#1 - Toronto Raptors Select: Tony Parker PG 21 6'2'' 180 B+ C+ B+ A C- A
Here’s a number one pick who certainly couldn’t be labeled as a disappointment. TP is only 21 and has earned himself some absolutely lethal ratings at the PG position. An All Star this year and the second reason why the Raptors are playing so well this season, Parker is averaging 22.2 PPG, 7.8 APG and 4.6 RPG to go along with an excellent 2.7 SPG. With more improvement certain to come, Parker should be an elite PG for the rest of his career.
#2 - Indiana Pacers Select: Tyson Chandler C 21 7'1'' 238 B- D+ D+ A B B
Big men at this age, with those ratings and that kind of shotblocking ability are extremely rare. Chandler already has the ratings and production to be a defensive force; his 2.5 BPG, 1.1 SPG and 9.4 RPG are excellent considering his low minutes and injury plagued season. And he couldn’t pick a better team to be on, with Krup raking in enough RCs to go around every year, Chandler will likely find himself becoming more well rounded by the minute, and adding offense to his already valuable defensive game.
#3 – Golden State Warriors Select: Joe Johnson SF 22 6'8'' 225 B B+ B- B C A
Another pick that would stay the same, JJ has developed the versatile and high scoring game the Warriors must have envisioned when the took him third overall in 2001. His 2.1 SPG are a bonus on top of 19.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG and 3.7 APG, making Joe one of the best young producers across the board. With an increase in his positional defense and a little more scoring, he’ll be among the league’s top swingmen.
#4 – Miami Heat Select: Richard Jefferson SF 23 6'7'' 225 B- B+ C A C B
RJ has some incredible ratings, there is no doubt about that, but his overall production this season has been very lacking. Only putting up a paltry 14.5 PPG and 6.3 RPG on the league’s worst roster, it is fair for critics to worry Jefferson will never be able to produce up to his pretty set of ratings. Despite this, his incredible development in TC and status as an A defender make him the clear cut choice after the big three of the 2001 draft.
#5 – New York Knicks Select: DeSagana Diop C 21 7'0'' 300 C+ D D+ A- B A
The first big leaper from the draft, Diop has been better than anyone could have imagined back when he was first selected. One of the premier defensive bigs in the league, Sagna is averaged 3.3 BPG to go along with 1.2 SPG, 9.9 RPG and an efficient 46.2 FG%. While players like J-Rich and Gasol still have more star potential than Diop, he’s carved himself out an important role on one of the league’s best teams, something few others in this draft can claim.
#6 – Phoenix Suns Select: Jason Richardson SG 22 6'7'' 223 B+ C+ C+ B- C B
While the former #2 pick is having a rough start to his career with some lackluster TCs, his young age and very solid ratings set gives him the possibility to still become the superstar he was envisioned as during the draft. A very strong inside scorer, likely due to his insane athleticism, Richardson is averaging 17.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 3.8 APG for the Bucks this season, showing the ability to produce. With some luck in TC and a few more RC’s, J-Rich becoming one of the league’s better scorers is not out of the question.
#7 – Utah Jazz Select: Pau Gasol C 23 7'0'' 230 B C C B+ B- B
Another slightly disappointing player, Gasol has shown good strides with the Spurs this season and is currently averaging 16.2 PPG and 9.0 RPG. However, a few more good TCs are in order if Pau is going to be the stud center GMs expected him to be in 2001, and his shotblocking in particular will have to greatly improve.
#8 – LA Lakers Select: Shane Battier SF 25 6'8'' 223 C+ B C A C+ B
Being hidden slightly on the Sonics roster, Battier has great ratings and could is one of the league’s premier roleplayers. He gets a ton of steals for his minutes, shoots excellent percentages, rebounds the ball and rarely turns it over. He brings a ton of things to the table without taking anything off, and looks like he’ll continue to improve and add to his already well rounded game.
#9 – Memphis Grizzlies Select: Samuel Dalembert C 22 6'11'' 250 B- D+ C- A- B- C
I give Daly the nod over Randolph because of his more refined defensive game and his ability to block shots which Randolph will likely never acquire in his career. Sam is a roleplayer for a talented Nets squad, but he serves his purpose well, and any more improvements to his game are just an added bonus at this point.
#10 – Seattle Sonics Select: Zach Randolph PF 22 6'10'' 272 B C- D+ B- B A
Zach needs to do more in TC to become the lethal offensive player he has the size and ability to be. Only averaging 13.4 PPG on 41.1 FG% this season is quite an underperformance, and slightly worrisome for a guy with Randolph’s superior size. Still, he has the potential to be a great scorer one day which will easily overcome the flaws in his game.
#11 – New Orleans Hornets Select: Troy Murphy PF 23 6'11'' 248 B- B- D+ C+ B C
Putting up similar numbers to Randolph this year, with better steals and better percentages, but certainly far less upside. Murphy is going to be a valuable roleplayer throughout his career though, a big guy who can play multiple positions, shoot the three ball and rebound like crazy is something any team can use.
#12 – New Jersey Nets Select: Gerald Wallace SF 21 6'8'' 220 B+ C- D A- C B
Too small to be a PF, but too raw to be effective as an SF, Wallace has struggled to produce despite freakish athleticism and solid inside and defense ratings. Still a guy who can get you blocks and steals while igniting the virtual crowd with a few jaw dropping dunks each game, Wallace is a useful player but not more than that.
#13 – Atlanta Hawks Select: Jamaal Tinsley PG 25 6'3'' 198 C+ B- B B C- C
One of the older draftees, Tinsley hasn’t really panned out into anything more than a backup PG, but he is quite proficient at that job. He averages great assist numbers in limited minutes and has shown that if given time, he will make a solid distributor.
