Post by getbeard on May 19, 2014 6:13:32 GMT
Ahh, the 1st overall pick. While some GMs are fighting for a trophy, others with realizations of their inability to make a serious run in a given year are in a fight of their own. Turnovers, poor shooting, lackluster defense, and damn poor coaching are what'll get ya there if that's where your setting your season goals. Along with all that poor basketball, a lot of luck is needed. With such a coveted asset comes great responsibility. Their are no "OK" number 1 picks.. you either hit or miss, boom or bust, so when you get the number 1 pick, who are you gonna take?
Lets look at the first 5 drafts this league had seen, and analyze who got it right, and who got it wrong:
With the first overall pick in the 2004 NBADSL Draft, The Chicago Bulls Select Dwight Howard
Dwight was really a can't miss prospect and he turned out as advertised. Dwight has averaged a double-double every season of his career, except for his rookie year where he narrowly missed it by just over a rebound per game. The guy has over 2 blocks per game EVERY YEAR OF CAREER THUS FAR. He has the accolades, Rookie teams, defensive teams, DPOY in 2006, somehow only has been selected to 2 all-star games, but most importantly, has a title. Not only does he have a title, but a title with the team whom drafted him. BOOM.
With the first overall pick in the 2005 NBADSL Draft, The Miami Heat select Deron Williams
Paired in a draft with another absolutely elite caliber PG in Chris Paul, unlike Howard this was a tough pick to make. BUT, following the rules of the chuck, Miami may have had an easier time making the decision than most teams. Deron was clearly a chucker right out of Illinois, and ready to kill in the outside offense. The honors Williams was able to pile up early in his career are really unbelievably impressive, starting with averaging 19ppg as a rookie, though only to make 2nd rookie team behind Paul. That there is about where Paul's advantage over Williams ends. Williams would come back the next season with the mindset that Paul would never be considered the better of the 2 again, making the all star team first, and then all NBA first team in just his 2nd season. With career averages of 19-8 and a steal and a half, he has also been a rare lifer on the team he was drafted to, unlike Howard. This past season, despite being injured for a portion of the season, he lead the Heat to a title, like Howard getting the team who faithfully drafted him a Trophy. BOOM.
With the first overall pick in the 2006 NBADSL DRAFT, THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS SELECT RAJON RONDO
Rondo was a highly questioned pick instantly, with other studs such as Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, and LMA all headlining the class. Rondo's ratings did look promising off the bat, and a good PG is definitely a necessity to win. Rondo has really struggled to find a groove at any point in his career. His offensive game never developed much, and depite having good ratings for handling and defense, he has never topped 8 assists per game in a season and never reached 2 steals a game on defense. For someone who scores as little as him and shoots the ball so poorly (career: 11ppg on 42.5% shooting and a miserable 10.9% clip from 3) those assist and steal numbers leave a TON to be desired out of the #1 overall pick. BUST.
With the first overall pick in the 2007 NBADSL Draft, the Seattle Supersonics select Kevin Durant
Though only a short career thus far, Durant has evolved into a lethal scorer. A less obvious #1 pick than you'd think, as Greg Oden can't hurt both his knees and back and just be an all around bum in a sim league(or can he?). Durant's rookie year left a bit to be desired with only 15.2ppg but shot good percentages. From there he only grew, and has evolved into a regular 20+ ppg scorer each season since. Whats more impressive is the clip he has been able to shoot at even with being a "bulk scorer". For his career he is shooting 46% from the floor and 41.9% from deep, very solid for a guy who is often relied on to have the ball in his hands and to shoot a bunch. His rebounding has steadily gone up every year of his career as well. Still only being 24, a slight more development in his defensive game will put him in elite territory, if hes not already there. BOOM.
With the first overall pick in the 2008 NBADSL Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select Derrick Rose
Career is only 3 years deep, but D Rose is looking like the best young PG in the league, which is saying a lot with the amount of good young guards right now. With D Rose, its not just the stats, its the amount of growth he has shown so rapidly. He has improved across the board each year in major statistical categories. Here are his 3 year averaged in some of those categories: PPG: 13.4, 14.8, 16.4 APG: 5.8, 7.0, 7.9 RPG: 4.5, 5.0, 6.4. Yes in his 3rd season (age 22) he averaged 16.4-7.9-6.4, and yes, that is beast. still in the final year of his rookie deal, this year and the future still hold likely huge growth for D Rose, lets see if he can lead the Wolves to a title, since they've been so close for a few years now. BOOM
*of course their are more recent #1 picks, but more time is needed on those guys before a BOOM or BUST label can be handed out. Safe to assume Harden will be a BOOM as well, but we'll save that for the next edition of BOOM or BUST
Lets look at the first 5 drafts this league had seen, and analyze who got it right, and who got it wrong:
With the first overall pick in the 2004 NBADSL Draft, The Chicago Bulls Select Dwight Howard
Dwight was really a can't miss prospect and he turned out as advertised. Dwight has averaged a double-double every season of his career, except for his rookie year where he narrowly missed it by just over a rebound per game. The guy has over 2 blocks per game EVERY YEAR OF CAREER THUS FAR. He has the accolades, Rookie teams, defensive teams, DPOY in 2006, somehow only has been selected to 2 all-star games, but most importantly, has a title. Not only does he have a title, but a title with the team whom drafted him. BOOM.
With the first overall pick in the 2005 NBADSL Draft, The Miami Heat select Deron Williams
Paired in a draft with another absolutely elite caliber PG in Chris Paul, unlike Howard this was a tough pick to make. BUT, following the rules of the chuck, Miami may have had an easier time making the decision than most teams. Deron was clearly a chucker right out of Illinois, and ready to kill in the outside offense. The honors Williams was able to pile up early in his career are really unbelievably impressive, starting with averaging 19ppg as a rookie, though only to make 2nd rookie team behind Paul. That there is about where Paul's advantage over Williams ends. Williams would come back the next season with the mindset that Paul would never be considered the better of the 2 again, making the all star team first, and then all NBA first team in just his 2nd season. With career averages of 19-8 and a steal and a half, he has also been a rare lifer on the team he was drafted to, unlike Howard. This past season, despite being injured for a portion of the season, he lead the Heat to a title, like Howard getting the team who faithfully drafted him a Trophy. BOOM.
With the first overall pick in the 2006 NBADSL DRAFT, THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS SELECT RAJON RONDO
Rondo was a highly questioned pick instantly, with other studs such as Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, and LMA all headlining the class. Rondo's ratings did look promising off the bat, and a good PG is definitely a necessity to win. Rondo has really struggled to find a groove at any point in his career. His offensive game never developed much, and depite having good ratings for handling and defense, he has never topped 8 assists per game in a season and never reached 2 steals a game on defense. For someone who scores as little as him and shoots the ball so poorly (career: 11ppg on 42.5% shooting and a miserable 10.9% clip from 3) those assist and steal numbers leave a TON to be desired out of the #1 overall pick. BUST.
With the first overall pick in the 2007 NBADSL Draft, the Seattle Supersonics select Kevin Durant
Though only a short career thus far, Durant has evolved into a lethal scorer. A less obvious #1 pick than you'd think, as Greg Oden can't hurt both his knees and back and just be an all around bum in a sim league(or can he?). Durant's rookie year left a bit to be desired with only 15.2ppg but shot good percentages. From there he only grew, and has evolved into a regular 20+ ppg scorer each season since. Whats more impressive is the clip he has been able to shoot at even with being a "bulk scorer". For his career he is shooting 46% from the floor and 41.9% from deep, very solid for a guy who is often relied on to have the ball in his hands and to shoot a bunch. His rebounding has steadily gone up every year of his career as well. Still only being 24, a slight more development in his defensive game will put him in elite territory, if hes not already there. BOOM.
With the first overall pick in the 2008 NBADSL Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select Derrick Rose
Career is only 3 years deep, but D Rose is looking like the best young PG in the league, which is saying a lot with the amount of good young guards right now. With D Rose, its not just the stats, its the amount of growth he has shown so rapidly. He has improved across the board each year in major statistical categories. Here are his 3 year averaged in some of those categories: PPG: 13.4, 14.8, 16.4 APG: 5.8, 7.0, 7.9 RPG: 4.5, 5.0, 6.4. Yes in his 3rd season (age 22) he averaged 16.4-7.9-6.4, and yes, that is beast. still in the final year of his rookie deal, this year and the future still hold likely huge growth for D Rose, lets see if he can lead the Wolves to a title, since they've been so close for a few years now. BOOM
*of course their are more recent #1 picks, but more time is needed on those guys before a BOOM or BUST label can be handed out. Safe to assume Harden will be a BOOM as well, but we'll save that for the next edition of BOOM or BUST
