Best Value Picks Of The 2000s NBA Drafts – The Sports Quotient
After the “surefire” players are chosen at the top of most NBA Drafts, there is a whole lot of uncertainty once the playoff teams begin to pick. Most of the time, those teams are simply looking for a role player, not someone who will necessarily alter the direction of the franchise. Rather, they are looking for someone who will make contributions, as even a first round pick in the NBA is no sure thing in a lot of cases.
With that being said, I’ve decided to break down which teams were not only able to find a contributor later in the draft, but rather a franchise cornerstone. I count down the top-10 “value” picks of the decade here. I’ve listed the qualifications for the list below, and I have placed more “value” on players taken later in the draft.
Qualifications: The player must be drafted from the years 2000-2009 and must have been selected outside of the lottery. The player must have been drafted, as undrafted players don’t count. Year drafted and pick selection are found in parentheses.
10. Marcin Gortat (2005: Second round, 57th overall)
The Polish Hammer squeaks onto this list just as he squeezed into the drafted pool of 60 players back in 2005. The fourth-to-last selection back in 2005, Gortat has proved to be much more than a flyer. Stuck behind superstar Dwight Howard early in his career, Gortat immediately became a formidable starter once given an opportunity in Phoenix. And while he made strides in Phoenix, he has immensely impacted the Wizards since his acquisition. For a team that hadn’t been to the postseason for five seasons before his arrival, the Wizards have been to back-to-back conference semifinals in his first two years in Washington. As the team’s third option behind the star-studded backcourt, Gortat will continue to be a key factor if Washington hopes to make it over the hump.
9. Gilbert Arenas (2001: Second round, 31st overall)
Agent Zero began the 21st century with a bang, immediately becoming one of the league’s most prolific scorers. Arenas was fearless attacking the rim with his 6‘4”, 215 pound frame. He may be known for his prolific ball handling and scoring ability, but it was his toughness in traffic that allowed Hibachi to fill up the stat line every night. His scoring prowess peaked at 29.3 PPG, and while his shoot-first mentality wasn’t ideal for team success, he managed to push the Wizards to the postseason twice virtually by himself, and even earned a second round appearance. Even though his prime was cut short due to a multitude of injuries and legal troubles, fans will most certainly remember his name as a dynamic playmaker and entertainer.
8. Goran Dragic (2008: Second round, 45th overall)
Dragic finally broke out in his second stint with the Phoenix Suns beginning in 2012. He was relegated to the bench by Steve Nash in his first years with the team and when he was sent to Houston, he was stuck behind Kyle Lowry as well. But an injury to Lowry allowed Dragic to showcase his ability, which was good enough to earn him a second chance with the Suns. Phoenix then signed him as an unrestricted free agent to replace the departed Nash, and he seized the opportunity. He kept Phoenix competitive in the loaded Western Conference despite extremely low expectations, and became one of the deadliest pick and roll point guards in the league. His play just merited him a $90 million contract in Miami. Not bad for a mid-second round pick.
7. Rajon Rondo (2006: First round, 21st overall)
Despite his relatively high selection in the draft for this list, Rondo’s championship pedigree lands him on here. At just 22 years old, the supposedly raw Kentucky product managed the egos of the big three on the biggest stage, and led Boston to its first championship since the days of Larry Legend. From there, Rondo continued to blossom as the keys to the franchise were slowly handed over to the next generation. He became a passing wizard, averaging at least 9.8 assists per game in five consecutive seasons, and defending at an All-Pro level (first team all defense 2009 and 2011; second team all defense 2010 and 2012). An ACL injury early in the 2013-14 seemed to linger into last season, destroying the image of the once physical, pass-first, prototype point guard. But, sometimes such an injury takes a couple of years to bounce back from. Something tells me Rondo will do just that, and at just 29 years of age, he will show that he still has some gas in the tank.
6. Serge Ibaka (2008: First round, 24th overall)
For a GM that drafted Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and James Harden, Ibaka may be the best value Sam Presti has found in the draft. At the 24th spot in the 2008 draft, Serge Ibaka has fulfilled his potential tremendously. He has become one of the league’s most prolific defenders in the paint, and has a great knack for blocking shots. In all five years as a starter, Ibaka has never failed to average less than 2.4 blocks a game, ranking him in the top-three each season from 2009-2014. His offensive game has also taken remarkable strides, especially with his improvement shooting the jumper. Ibaka at 6-foot-10 has extended his range out to the three-point line, shooting an impressive 37.2% from distance for his career. Despite six years of experience in the league, Ibaka is still just 26, and should only continue to trend upward.
5. Michael Redd (2000: Second round, 43rd overall)
As Ray Allen departed Milwaukee for Seattle, Michael Redd immediately stepped in to fill the void. In 2003, Redd became a full time starter for the first time, and averaged a career high 21.7 PPG, substantially above his previous high of 15.4. From there he reeled off six consecutive seasons of at least 20 PPG, including a career high of 26.7 in 2006-2007. Not bad for a guy replacing Allen, who, by the way, failed to reach 26.7 PPG in his entire career. Redd became a pure shooter along the lines of Allen, averaging 19 PPG over his career, including a 38% mark from downtown and 44.7% from the floor. Allen’s numbers reign supreme, averaging 18.9 PPG and shooting 45.2% from the field and 40% from downtown. And although Allen was a premiere defender and a model of consistency, the fact that Redd’s numbers compare to arguably the greatest shooter ever shows you that the Bucks didn’t lose too much with Allen in a Supersonics jersey.
4. Paul Millsap (2006: Second round, 47th overall)
Originally noted for his lack of size, Millsap has erased all his questions marks by excelling in nearly all facets of the game. Now entering his 10th season, he has become an extremely versatile and consistent stretch four in Atlanta. He makes up for his lack of size with his effort on the glass, and lateral quickness to defend multiple positions, especially in the pick & roll. He’s the ideal role player for a contender with the ability to space the floor from the perimeter, and take over games when needed in crunch time. Averaging over 17 PPG and eight RPG since landing in Atlanta, Millsap is now locked up for another three seasons.
3. DeAndre Jordan (2008: Second round, 35th overall)
For a guy who went in the second round in the draft, Jordan sure had plenty of money on the table for him in the offseason. He has become an elite defensive presence on the inside, and with 15 RPG in 2014-15, he’s the league’s most prolific rebounder. He doesn’t offer much on offense but does just enough around the rim to be a walking double double each and every night. Coming out of Texas A&M, Jordan always had the size, but he was a big project. After five seasons of questions about his consistency, Jordan has finally found himself under the guidance of Doc Rivers.
2. Marc Gasol (2007: Second round, 48th overall)
The younger of the Gasol brothers, Marc didn’t receive the same hype as Pau, who went third overall in 2001. But his impact has been just as grand, as he has evolved into arguably the NBA’s premier center. Gasol is about as complete as they come with a 7‘1” frame complemented by a soft touch and great vision. A first team All-NBA player in 2015, Gasol is 30 years old, and has plenty more to accomplish. He has already merited a defensive player of the year award in 2013 as well as two All-Star appearances. If he continues at this pace, there most certainly will be a debate between who is the better brother in the family. Being that Pau is arguably the greatest Spanish player ever, I’d say he’s in good company.
1. Tony Parker (2001: First round, 28th overall)
A six-time All-Star, a four-time champion, as well as the 2007 Finals MVP, Parker has surely lived up to his draft slot. From the very start, Parker paid dividends; he earned the starting gig in his rookie season, and was the second leading scorer on a championship team by his second season. If that wasn’t enough, Parker added another two championships to his resume by the time he was a six-year vet, including his Finals MVP over LeBron James and the Cavaliers in 2007. Not a bad start to his career.
The Spurs may have had a brief hiatus before Parker got ring No. 4 seven years later in 2014, but Parker continued to excel. He slowly took the reins from the aging Tim Duncan over the years, leading the team to the playoffs each and every season. In fact, since joining the team, Parker has yet to miss the postseason in his NBA career. With LaMarcus Aldridge now in town, Parker might just catalyze his team to a fifth championship under his watch.
Honorable Mention: Kyle Lowry, Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Danny Green, Zach Randolph
Edited by Emily Berman, Coleman Gray.
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