Five Years Later - The Top Ten Picks of the 2002 Draft
Aug 25, 2016 15:48:11 GMT
Brooklyn, Vancouver, and 2 more like this
Post by Portland on Aug 25, 2016 15:48:11 GMT
The 2002 draft was a good year for bigs and produced a lot of players who are still starters in the ABCA. I thought a recap might be fun, so here 'tis:
1. Shaquille O’Neal – Milan Olimpia: Five seasons into his career Shaq has turned into the volume scorer he was expected to be. With all due respect to Anthony Davis, there probably isn’t a center in the league that’s asked to carry the weight Mr. O’Neal bears night-after-night. This season he leads all centers in minutes, points (on 170 more shots taken than any other center) and rebounds. Only Greg Oden gets to the line more than Shaq; even with his well-known problems at the charity stripe O’Neil is still fourth in points there among centers. He’s never elevated himself to elite status as a shot-blocker and he turns the ball over a lot even for a big, but there’s no doubt he was a fine #1 selection by Milan – where he still plays.
2. Kevin McHale – Barcelona Regal FC: McHale based on his five-year performance might have been #1 himself. He’s averaged 31 points per game over his career and his 2,198 points this season is second only to O’Neal. Kevin is not an especially well-rounded performer and is something of a black hole on offense – he’s 28th in assists among power forwards – but he rebounds, blocks shots, and gets to the foul line well enough that he’s not regarded as only a bulk scorer. He’s found a home in Piraeus and will have to be given serious MVP consideration.
3. Anthony Davis – Rio de Janeiro Flamengo: The Brow was much ballyhooed upon arrival on the ABCA doorstep and he’s lived up to the hype. He doesn’t play nearly the minutes that Shaq, Oden, Mikan etc. play so some of his numbers appear suppressed, but make no mistake – this is a high-impact player who’s been all-league 1st team three times. Still with Rio, Davis has averaged 29 points per game in his career. Defensively he’s clearly better than Shaq – he’s elite – although he’s been beaten out for DPOTY by the likes of Ben Wallace, Bill Russell, and Patrick Ewing. This season he’s 3rd in blocks behind Mutombo (in 300 less minutes) and Russell (130 less minutes.) Definitely a difference-maker in the post and as well-rounded as it gets for a big.
4. Alonzo Mourning – Boston Celtics: Here’s where the drop-off begins. Five seasons in ‘Zo has moved on from Boston to Bamberg where he played PF until Mikan was off-loaded in March. He’s a 20 points-per-game guy and a ferocious rebounder, a well-above average defender down low. He’s not known to give the ball up once it’s in his hands and he shoots too many threes, but he’s effective, high-level ABCA center overall. Since making All Rookie First Team he’s never made another appearance on any of the All-League boards.
5. Andre Drummond – New Orleans Jazz: Drummond is a good complimentary player whose high usage has made him a bigger scorer in the ABCA than he’s been in real life, but his TS% and PPS suggest that better scoring options might have been found for the Jazz these past five years. Then there’s the horrible foul shooting. But to Drummond’s credit he does many things very well: he seldom fouls; has never taken a three-pointer; he’s elite on the offensive glass and really a top all-around rebounder; he’s a decent shot-blocker; and his durability is off the charts. He was a solid top-10 pick in 2002, perhaps not the guy you’d expect to go fifth.
6. Damian Lillard – Los Angeles Lakers: Lillard has had a disappointing ABCA career after being an all-star his first season (23ppg as a rookie guard!) and posting very good numbers through 2004. At that point looking back at the draft I’d have rated him better than Mourning or Drummond. That’s when he suffered a gruesome training camp. Now the Weber State product is living on 18 minutes a game off the Generals bench with two seasons left on his contract. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ASPCA.
7. Draymond Green – Teipei Fubon Braves: Draymond has had the perfect career arc for Teipei, just what you’d hope for a guy picked seventh. He’s improved a little each season, made two all-star teams, and is regarded among the top small forwards in the ABCA. This season he’s reached 20 points per game for the first time and racked up a lot of rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks – pretty good all-around contributions for a 6’7” guy who’s not especially quick. Last sim against the Generals he got 30 points, 13 assists, 7 rebounds, and five steals... a typical Green performance. He takes a lot of 3-pointers and he’s 33rd among SF in 3P%, so it’s one of the few areas he’s less-than-stellar in, but he’s certainly not terrible from out there. Bottom line: he’s outplaying his draft slot.
8. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Moscow CSKA: An elite defender who at times in his ABCA career was expected to be more, probably unfairly, since his shooting has been pedestrian since day one. To his credit, MKG has his TS% up to .524 and PPS up to 1.14 this season – probably more a result of his getting occasional games at power forward versus actually improving as a shooter. He’ll have posted his career-best EWA at year’s end. He’s started every game of his career so far and he’s still only 24. No reason he can’t get a little better and become more of a two-way player.
9. Latrell Sprewell – Washington Generals: Spree was dramatically overplayed as a rookie and managed a career-best 18.6 ppg that season as a bad shooter. Fair enough; that Generals team wasn’t going anywhere anyway so why not run the kid out there 39 minutes a night and see what he could do? Over time his minutes have been dialed back and some legitimate talent has emerged, especially as a ball-handler and long-range shooter. Spree is in year-one of a big five-year contract and I expect he’s going to justify it. A good #9 in my opinion.
10. Harrison Barnes – Real Madrid: Quite frankly, a disappointment. For a 6’8” wing player he doesn’t rebound, doesn’t steal the ball or block shots, and seems over-exposed when starting. All of his shooting metrics have improved this year and he’s getting more minutes as a result, but his five years with a flat +/- and puny career EWA tells me his impact hasn’t nearly justified the #10 pick.
1. Shaquille O’Neal – Milan Olimpia: Five seasons into his career Shaq has turned into the volume scorer he was expected to be. With all due respect to Anthony Davis, there probably isn’t a center in the league that’s asked to carry the weight Mr. O’Neal bears night-after-night. This season he leads all centers in minutes, points (on 170 more shots taken than any other center) and rebounds. Only Greg Oden gets to the line more than Shaq; even with his well-known problems at the charity stripe O’Neil is still fourth in points there among centers. He’s never elevated himself to elite status as a shot-blocker and he turns the ball over a lot even for a big, but there’s no doubt he was a fine #1 selection by Milan – where he still plays.
2. Kevin McHale – Barcelona Regal FC: McHale based on his five-year performance might have been #1 himself. He’s averaged 31 points per game over his career and his 2,198 points this season is second only to O’Neal. Kevin is not an especially well-rounded performer and is something of a black hole on offense – he’s 28th in assists among power forwards – but he rebounds, blocks shots, and gets to the foul line well enough that he’s not regarded as only a bulk scorer. He’s found a home in Piraeus and will have to be given serious MVP consideration.
3. Anthony Davis – Rio de Janeiro Flamengo: The Brow was much ballyhooed upon arrival on the ABCA doorstep and he’s lived up to the hype. He doesn’t play nearly the minutes that Shaq, Oden, Mikan etc. play so some of his numbers appear suppressed, but make no mistake – this is a high-impact player who’s been all-league 1st team three times. Still with Rio, Davis has averaged 29 points per game in his career. Defensively he’s clearly better than Shaq – he’s elite – although he’s been beaten out for DPOTY by the likes of Ben Wallace, Bill Russell, and Patrick Ewing. This season he’s 3rd in blocks behind Mutombo (in 300 less minutes) and Russell (130 less minutes.) Definitely a difference-maker in the post and as well-rounded as it gets for a big.
4. Alonzo Mourning – Boston Celtics: Here’s where the drop-off begins. Five seasons in ‘Zo has moved on from Boston to Bamberg where he played PF until Mikan was off-loaded in March. He’s a 20 points-per-game guy and a ferocious rebounder, a well-above average defender down low. He’s not known to give the ball up once it’s in his hands and he shoots too many threes, but he’s effective, high-level ABCA center overall. Since making All Rookie First Team he’s never made another appearance on any of the All-League boards.
5. Andre Drummond – New Orleans Jazz: Drummond is a good complimentary player whose high usage has made him a bigger scorer in the ABCA than he’s been in real life, but his TS% and PPS suggest that better scoring options might have been found for the Jazz these past five years. Then there’s the horrible foul shooting. But to Drummond’s credit he does many things very well: he seldom fouls; has never taken a three-pointer; he’s elite on the offensive glass and really a top all-around rebounder; he’s a decent shot-blocker; and his durability is off the charts. He was a solid top-10 pick in 2002, perhaps not the guy you’d expect to go fifth.
6. Damian Lillard – Los Angeles Lakers: Lillard has had a disappointing ABCA career after being an all-star his first season (23ppg as a rookie guard!) and posting very good numbers through 2004. At that point looking back at the draft I’d have rated him better than Mourning or Drummond. That’s when he suffered a gruesome training camp. Now the Weber State product is living on 18 minutes a game off the Generals bench with two seasons left on his contract. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ASPCA.
7. Draymond Green – Teipei Fubon Braves: Draymond has had the perfect career arc for Teipei, just what you’d hope for a guy picked seventh. He’s improved a little each season, made two all-star teams, and is regarded among the top small forwards in the ABCA. This season he’s reached 20 points per game for the first time and racked up a lot of rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks – pretty good all-around contributions for a 6’7” guy who’s not especially quick. Last sim against the Generals he got 30 points, 13 assists, 7 rebounds, and five steals... a typical Green performance. He takes a lot of 3-pointers and he’s 33rd among SF in 3P%, so it’s one of the few areas he’s less-than-stellar in, but he’s certainly not terrible from out there. Bottom line: he’s outplaying his draft slot.
8. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Moscow CSKA: An elite defender who at times in his ABCA career was expected to be more, probably unfairly, since his shooting has been pedestrian since day one. To his credit, MKG has his TS% up to .524 and PPS up to 1.14 this season – probably more a result of his getting occasional games at power forward versus actually improving as a shooter. He’ll have posted his career-best EWA at year’s end. He’s started every game of his career so far and he’s still only 24. No reason he can’t get a little better and become more of a two-way player.
9. Latrell Sprewell – Washington Generals: Spree was dramatically overplayed as a rookie and managed a career-best 18.6 ppg that season as a bad shooter. Fair enough; that Generals team wasn’t going anywhere anyway so why not run the kid out there 39 minutes a night and see what he could do? Over time his minutes have been dialed back and some legitimate talent has emerged, especially as a ball-handler and long-range shooter. Spree is in year-one of a big five-year contract and I expect he’s going to justify it. A good #9 in my opinion.
10. Harrison Barnes – Real Madrid: Quite frankly, a disappointment. For a 6’8” wing player he doesn’t rebound, doesn’t steal the ball or block shots, and seems over-exposed when starting. All of his shooting metrics have improved this year and he’s getting more minutes as a result, but his five years with a flat +/- and puny career EWA tells me his impact hasn’t nearly justified the #10 pick.
Makes me proud
