sook
02-02-2009, 04:53 PM
1. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio
Drafted: 57th overall in 1999 by San Antonio
The buzz: Taken with the second to last pick in '99, Ginobili has gone onto an All-Star appearance, a Sixth Man award and three rings with the Spurs.
2. Luis Scola, Houston
Drafted: 55th overall in 2002 by San Antonio
The buzz: It took Scola five years to play in the league, but he was worth the wait, coming in third in the Rookie of the Year voting last season.
3. Ryan Gomes, Minnesota
Drafted: 50th overall in 2005 by Boston
The buzz: As underrated as they come, Gomes is averaging 13.5 points per game in 2009 for the resurgent Timberwolves.
4. Marc Gasol, Memphis
Drafted: 48th overall in 2007 by L.A. Lakers
The buzz: Gasol is second among all rookies with nine double-doubles this season.
5. Matt Barnes, Phoenix
Drafted: 46th overall in 2002 by Memphis
The buzz: After playing for five different teams in his first five seasons, Barnes and his 9.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game are fitting in nicely in Phoenix.
6. Trevor Ariza, L.A. Lakers
Drafted: 43rd overall in 2004 by New York
The buzz: Ariza's impact on the West-leading Lakers has been invaluable. He causes chaos on the floor with 1.6 steals per game and knows how to finish when he runs the floor.
7. Stephen Jackson, Golden State
Drafted: 43rd overall in 1997 by Phoenix
The buzz: Jackson has gone from second-round casualty to captain of the Warriors, averaging 19.4 points, 5.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds this season.
8. Rafer Alston, Houston
Drafted: 39th overall in 1998 by Milwaukee
The buzz: Alston slipped in the draft because of his Skip To My Lou streetball reputation but has been solid in four seasons as the starting point guard for the Rockets, averaging 10-plus points and five-plus assists each year.
9. Mehmet Okur, Utah
Drafted: 38th overall in 2001 by Detroit
The buzz: Okur is averaging 17.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and the 6-foot-11 center is shooting 41.3 percent from downtown.
10. Carlos Boozer, Utah
Drafted: 34th overall in 2002 by Cleveland
The buzz: Boozer has blossomed into a two-time All-Star. With Millsap, Okur and Boozer, Utah's Jerry Sloan has three hungry former second-rounders to lean heavily on. They are Sloan's kind of players.
The Next 10
Rasual Butler, Hornets (52nd overall in 2002 by Miami)
Kyle Korver, Jazz (51st overall in 2003 by New Jersey)
Matt Bonner, Spurs (45th overall in 2003 by Chicago)
Von Wafer, Rockets (39th overall in 2005 by L.A. Lakers)
Ronny Turiaf, Warriors (37th overall in 2005 by Lakers)
Steve Blake, Trail Blazers (38th overall in 2003 by Washington)
Craig Smith, Timberwolves (36th overall in 2006 by Minnesota)
Brandon Bass, Mavericks (33rd overall in 2005 by New Orleans)
Carl Landry, Rockets (31st overall in 2007 by Seattle)
Roger Mason, Spurs (31st overall in 2002 by Chicago)
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/dave_mcmenamin/02/02/western.insider.20090202/index.html
Drafted: 57th overall in 1999 by San Antonio
The buzz: Taken with the second to last pick in '99, Ginobili has gone onto an All-Star appearance, a Sixth Man award and three rings with the Spurs.
2. Luis Scola, Houston
Drafted: 55th overall in 2002 by San Antonio
The buzz: It took Scola five years to play in the league, but he was worth the wait, coming in third in the Rookie of the Year voting last season.
3. Ryan Gomes, Minnesota
Drafted: 50th overall in 2005 by Boston
The buzz: As underrated as they come, Gomes is averaging 13.5 points per game in 2009 for the resurgent Timberwolves.
4. Marc Gasol, Memphis
Drafted: 48th overall in 2007 by L.A. Lakers
The buzz: Gasol is second among all rookies with nine double-doubles this season.
5. Matt Barnes, Phoenix
Drafted: 46th overall in 2002 by Memphis
The buzz: After playing for five different teams in his first five seasons, Barnes and his 9.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game are fitting in nicely in Phoenix.
6. Trevor Ariza, L.A. Lakers
Drafted: 43rd overall in 2004 by New York
The buzz: Ariza's impact on the West-leading Lakers has been invaluable. He causes chaos on the floor with 1.6 steals per game and knows how to finish when he runs the floor.
7. Stephen Jackson, Golden State
Drafted: 43rd overall in 1997 by Phoenix
The buzz: Jackson has gone from second-round casualty to captain of the Warriors, averaging 19.4 points, 5.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds this season.
8. Rafer Alston, Houston
Drafted: 39th overall in 1998 by Milwaukee
The buzz: Alston slipped in the draft because of his Skip To My Lou streetball reputation but has been solid in four seasons as the starting point guard for the Rockets, averaging 10-plus points and five-plus assists each year.
9. Mehmet Okur, Utah
Drafted: 38th overall in 2001 by Detroit
The buzz: Okur is averaging 17.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and the 6-foot-11 center is shooting 41.3 percent from downtown.
10. Carlos Boozer, Utah
Drafted: 34th overall in 2002 by Cleveland
The buzz: Boozer has blossomed into a two-time All-Star. With Millsap, Okur and Boozer, Utah's Jerry Sloan has three hungry former second-rounders to lean heavily on. They are Sloan's kind of players.
The Next 10
Rasual Butler, Hornets (52nd overall in 2002 by Miami)
Kyle Korver, Jazz (51st overall in 2003 by New Jersey)
Matt Bonner, Spurs (45th overall in 2003 by Chicago)
Von Wafer, Rockets (39th overall in 2005 by L.A. Lakers)
Ronny Turiaf, Warriors (37th overall in 2005 by Lakers)
Steve Blake, Trail Blazers (38th overall in 2003 by Washington)
Craig Smith, Timberwolves (36th overall in 2006 by Minnesota)
Brandon Bass, Mavericks (33rd overall in 2005 by New Orleans)
Carl Landry, Rockets (31st overall in 2007 by Seattle)
Roger Mason, Spurs (31st overall in 2002 by Chicago)
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/dave_mcmenamin/02/02/western.insider.20090202/index.html