ambchang
05-20-2015, 02:29 PM
Generally sucked. Don't know why that is, but it probably has something to do with:
1) You don't land the #2 pick unless you really suck, so your management team, by extension, suck too
2) You don't get to pick the obvious no brainer like a Lebron, Duncan or Shaq, but given the management team sucked, they can't pick right.
Now let's look at all the #2 picks in the last 40 years
2014 - Jabari Parker - Jury's still out. He was putting up decent numbers before he got hurt, but if you are counting on him to lead you to the promised land, you will be picking high in the lottery for a while.
2013 - Victor Oladipo - Stat padding on bad teams. The entire draft class is horrible though.
2012 - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - Finally coming into his own after a few years. Solid defensive player, and developing as an offensive player. One of those supercharged role players, but no where close to a franchise player
2011 - Derrick Williams - What happened to him? Total bust in a draft full of busts
2010 - Evan Turner - See Derrick Williams
2009 - Hasheem Thabeet - Just an overall embarrassment. He'd be a stretch as the 2nd pick of any typical 2nd round.
2008 - Michael Beasley - Who said pot is harmless?
2007 - Kevin Durant - Probably the best 2nd pick of all time along with Isiah Thomas. But the reason he was picked 2nd was because Portland picked first. Speaking of the draft, what happened to Yi Jianlian?
2006 - LaMarcus Aldridge - Overrated soft shooting PF. I'd be saying the same even if the Spurs signed him. Sadly though, he was by far the best player in that draft
2005 - Marvin Williams - CP3 and Deron Williams lard were drafted after him.
2004 - Emeka Okafor - Decent player, Theo Ratliff type of player. But I'd say he's better defensively, and less injury prone.
2003 - Darko Milicic - One of the most LOADED draft since 1984, with two franchise player, two perennial all-stars, and bunch of way above average starters, and the Pistons picked Darko
2002 - Jay Williams - He could have been at least decent, but didn't think he needed a license or a helmet to ride a motorcycle
2001 - Tyson Chandler - One of my favourite players due to his hustle, passing and defense, but if you are drafted in front of MVPau, you are a bust.
2000 - Stromile Swift - Runs like a deer, jumps like a deer, thinks like a deer.
1999 - Steve Francis - Great athletic abilities, but attitude problems meant that he led his team nowhere. He was one of the many decent players in that year's draft, but none of them were really franchise changers.
1998 - Mike Bibby - Decent player, led his team to one ring, but as a 2nd or 3rd banana. Nowitzki, Pierce and Carter came after him but all three were obviously better.
1997 - Keith Van Horne - Drafted the same year as El Busto, and wasn't really that much better off. Croshere, who came a few picks after him, managed to outplay Kobe in the Finals so we know Croshere was at least capable of winning 3 rings as a 2nd banana, but we will never know if KVH can do the same.
1996 - Camby - Stats version of Chandler, but no where close to as good a leader or passer.
1995 - Antonio McDyess - Solid player, just not a franchise player. He was actually one of my favourite players, but his injuries really kept him from greatness. Could have been as good as Webber, but never really got there. He was like a 2000 version of Larry Nance to me.
1994 - Jason Kidd - Phenomenal player, clearly the best player in that draft (thanks to Hill's injuries)
1993 - Shawn Bradley - Best known as McGrady's horse. Really, that was his career highlight
1992 - Alonzo Mourning - Borderline franchise player, but he's more a defensive anchor, and the reason his teams struggled offensively was because the offense went through him
1991 - Kenny Anderson - very talented player who had attitude problems. Kind of like a mellower version of Marbury
1990 - Gary Payton - Again, the best player in his draft class. the only player who really gave Jordan any problems during his reign in the 90s.
1989 - Danny Ferry - Did a better job as a GM than as a player, and that is AFTER including his African comments
1988 - Rik Smits - Solid 2nd banana on a playoff team.
1987 - Armen Gilliam - The Hammer was a rugged PF in the mold of Buck Williams, not a franchise player by the furthest stretch of imagination
1986 - Len Bias - Died before he played a single game. One of the greatest what-ifs in NBA history
1985 - Wayman Tisdale - Solid player, all-star caliber even. But typical best player on a horrible team type of player
1984 - Sam Bowie - Oden, Bradley and Sampson all rolled into one. He was actually a solid player, but will forever be known as the biggest bust of all time thanks to Jordan.
1983 - Steve Spinanovich - The only reason he was ever drafted this high was because he was white, and Indiana drafted 2nd. That was it. He accidentally discharged a firearm and shot himself, and he was about as coordinated on the court. Nice guy though.
1982 - Terry Cummings - Again, in the same line as Tisdale and Gilliam, but Cummings was obviously better. Just a rugged PF and low post scorer. Would have reduced most of today's players to tears just by his mean glance. But again, not really a franchise player.
1981 - Isiah Thomas - Clearly the best player of the draft, and the best 2nd pick of all time, along Durant
1980 - Darrell Griffith - Decent player, liked him as a player, very athletic. Borderline allstar talent
1979 - Dave Greenwood - He sucked, typical BWS
1978 - Phil Ford - He was OK for a few years, and then the wheels fell off.
1977 - Otis Birdsong - Great scorer, somewhat of a chucker, doesn't really do anything else that well. A poor man's Dumars or Richmond type player, if you will.
1976 - Scott May - You know the players were coking up in the 70s and messing the game up? Apparently, the owners were too. Pretty much the only reason why May was drafted 2nd.
1975 - Dave Meyers - the last player Lakers drafted #2. He stunk.
So in summary, in 40 years, we saw 2 unquestionable franchise players (Isiah, Durant) three borderline franchise players (Kidd, Payton and Mourning), 9 all-stars, 8 solid starters/solid role player types, 6 disappointments and 12 busts.
In other words, whoever counting on the #2 pick to lead them to the promised land will likely be disappointed.
1) You don't land the #2 pick unless you really suck, so your management team, by extension, suck too
2) You don't get to pick the obvious no brainer like a Lebron, Duncan or Shaq, but given the management team sucked, they can't pick right.
Now let's look at all the #2 picks in the last 40 years
2014 - Jabari Parker - Jury's still out. He was putting up decent numbers before he got hurt, but if you are counting on him to lead you to the promised land, you will be picking high in the lottery for a while.
2013 - Victor Oladipo - Stat padding on bad teams. The entire draft class is horrible though.
2012 - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - Finally coming into his own after a few years. Solid defensive player, and developing as an offensive player. One of those supercharged role players, but no where close to a franchise player
2011 - Derrick Williams - What happened to him? Total bust in a draft full of busts
2010 - Evan Turner - See Derrick Williams
2009 - Hasheem Thabeet - Just an overall embarrassment. He'd be a stretch as the 2nd pick of any typical 2nd round.
2008 - Michael Beasley - Who said pot is harmless?
2007 - Kevin Durant - Probably the best 2nd pick of all time along with Isiah Thomas. But the reason he was picked 2nd was because Portland picked first. Speaking of the draft, what happened to Yi Jianlian?
2006 - LaMarcus Aldridge - Overrated soft shooting PF. I'd be saying the same even if the Spurs signed him. Sadly though, he was by far the best player in that draft
2005 - Marvin Williams - CP3 and Deron Williams lard were drafted after him.
2004 - Emeka Okafor - Decent player, Theo Ratliff type of player. But I'd say he's better defensively, and less injury prone.
2003 - Darko Milicic - One of the most LOADED draft since 1984, with two franchise player, two perennial all-stars, and bunch of way above average starters, and the Pistons picked Darko
2002 - Jay Williams - He could have been at least decent, but didn't think he needed a license or a helmet to ride a motorcycle
2001 - Tyson Chandler - One of my favourite players due to his hustle, passing and defense, but if you are drafted in front of MVPau, you are a bust.
2000 - Stromile Swift - Runs like a deer, jumps like a deer, thinks like a deer.
1999 - Steve Francis - Great athletic abilities, but attitude problems meant that he led his team nowhere. He was one of the many decent players in that year's draft, but none of them were really franchise changers.
1998 - Mike Bibby - Decent player, led his team to one ring, but as a 2nd or 3rd banana. Nowitzki, Pierce and Carter came after him but all three were obviously better.
1997 - Keith Van Horne - Drafted the same year as El Busto, and wasn't really that much better off. Croshere, who came a few picks after him, managed to outplay Kobe in the Finals so we know Croshere was at least capable of winning 3 rings as a 2nd banana, but we will never know if KVH can do the same.
1996 - Camby - Stats version of Chandler, but no where close to as good a leader or passer.
1995 - Antonio McDyess - Solid player, just not a franchise player. He was actually one of my favourite players, but his injuries really kept him from greatness. Could have been as good as Webber, but never really got there. He was like a 2000 version of Larry Nance to me.
1994 - Jason Kidd - Phenomenal player, clearly the best player in that draft (thanks to Hill's injuries)
1993 - Shawn Bradley - Best known as McGrady's horse. Really, that was his career highlight
1992 - Alonzo Mourning - Borderline franchise player, but he's more a defensive anchor, and the reason his teams struggled offensively was because the offense went through him
1991 - Kenny Anderson - very talented player who had attitude problems. Kind of like a mellower version of Marbury
1990 - Gary Payton - Again, the best player in his draft class. the only player who really gave Jordan any problems during his reign in the 90s.
1989 - Danny Ferry - Did a better job as a GM than as a player, and that is AFTER including his African comments
1988 - Rik Smits - Solid 2nd banana on a playoff team.
1987 - Armen Gilliam - The Hammer was a rugged PF in the mold of Buck Williams, not a franchise player by the furthest stretch of imagination
1986 - Len Bias - Died before he played a single game. One of the greatest what-ifs in NBA history
1985 - Wayman Tisdale - Solid player, all-star caliber even. But typical best player on a horrible team type of player
1984 - Sam Bowie - Oden, Bradley and Sampson all rolled into one. He was actually a solid player, but will forever be known as the biggest bust of all time thanks to Jordan.
1983 - Steve Spinanovich - The only reason he was ever drafted this high was because he was white, and Indiana drafted 2nd. That was it. He accidentally discharged a firearm and shot himself, and he was about as coordinated on the court. Nice guy though.
1982 - Terry Cummings - Again, in the same line as Tisdale and Gilliam, but Cummings was obviously better. Just a rugged PF and low post scorer. Would have reduced most of today's players to tears just by his mean glance. But again, not really a franchise player.
1981 - Isiah Thomas - Clearly the best player of the draft, and the best 2nd pick of all time, along Durant
1980 - Darrell Griffith - Decent player, liked him as a player, very athletic. Borderline allstar talent
1979 - Dave Greenwood - He sucked, typical BWS
1978 - Phil Ford - He was OK for a few years, and then the wheels fell off.
1977 - Otis Birdsong - Great scorer, somewhat of a chucker, doesn't really do anything else that well. A poor man's Dumars or Richmond type player, if you will.
1976 - Scott May - You know the players were coking up in the 70s and messing the game up? Apparently, the owners were too. Pretty much the only reason why May was drafted 2nd.
1975 - Dave Meyers - the last player Lakers drafted #2. He stunk.
So in summary, in 40 years, we saw 2 unquestionable franchise players (Isiah, Durant) three borderline franchise players (Kidd, Payton and Mourning), 9 all-stars, 8 solid starters/solid role player types, 6 disappointments and 12 busts.
In other words, whoever counting on the #2 pick to lead them to the promised land will likely be disappointed.