Hoops Rumors Polls

Scouting players and predicting how their skills will translate to the NBA is one of the more difficult tasks front offices have on their plates. Looking back over past drafts and how many lottery picks never evolved into stars, or even made a significant impact in the league, illustrates just how often stats, combine numbers and pure gut instinct often come up short.

Of course, we get the opportunity to critique these moves with the benefit of hindsight — a luxury that GMs don’t have on draft night. Having said that, it’s still fun to go back in time and take a theoretical look at how these drafts should have/could have gone.

We recently finished revisiting the lottery portion of the 2005 NBA Draft, which was one of the weakest in recent memory. In drafts light on impact talent, the GM who can find a diamond in the rough is king. But drafts that have a number of star-potential players can also be difficult and many an executive has made what turned out to be the wrong call. Greg Oden over Kevin Durant immediately springs to mind (sorry Blazers fans), likewise taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan…ouch!

The 2008 draft, which is the one we’re tackling now, had a number of players who have gone on to post big numbers in the league. This was the year of Derrick Rose (No. 1 overall), Russell Westbrook (No. 4), Kevin Love (No. 5), Brook Lopez (No. 10) and Nicolas Batum (No. 25). Over the next few weeks, we’ll be posting a series of polls asking readers to vote on whom teams should have selected in each spot.

We’ll continue with the Clippers, who held the No. 7 overall pick that year. In the “real world” draft, the Clippers selected Eric Gordon. When healthy, Gordon has been a productive player. He’s averaged 16.6 points and 3.3 assists during his career while shooting 38.3% on 3-point tries.

The problem has been his inability to get through the 82-game grind. Knee injuries, in particular, have often forced Gordon out of action. The 6’4” shooting guard has not played more than 64 games in any season since his rookie campaign. That didn’t deter the Rockets from handing Gordon a four-year, $53MM contract during free agency this summer.

So cast your vote for who the Clippers should have selected and check back on Friday to see the results, as well as to vote on who the Bucks should have taken with the No. 8 pick.

Also, don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. If we fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and we’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

1. Bulls — Russell Westbrook [Actual Pick — Derrick Rose]
2. Heat — Kevin Love [Actual Pick — Michael Beasley]
3. Wolves — Derrick Rose [Actual Pick — O.J. Mayo]
4. Sonics/Thunder — DeAndre Jordan [Actual Pick — Russell Westbrook]
5. Grizzlies — Brook Lopez [Actual Pick — Kevin Love]
6. Knicks — Serge Ibaka  [Actual Pick — Danilo Gallinari]

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here to vote.

Scouting players and predicting how their skills will translate to the NBA is one of the more difficult tasks front offices have on their plates. Looking back over past drafts and how many lottery picks never evolved into stars, or even made a significant impact in the league, illustrates just how often stats, combine numbers and pure gut instinct often come up short.

Of course, we get the opportunity to critique these moves with the benefit of hindsight — a luxury that GMs don’t have on draft night. Having said that, it’s still fun to go back in time and take a theoretical look at how these drafts should have/could have gone.

We recently finished revisiting the lottery portion of the 2005 NBA Draft, which was one of the weakest in recent memory. In drafts light on impact talent, the GM who can find a diamond in the rough is king. But drafts that have a number of star-potential players can also be difficult and many an executive has made what turned out to be the wrong call. Greg Oden over Kevin Durant immediately springs to mind (sorry Blazers fans), likewise taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan…ouch!

The 2008 draft, which is the one we’re tackling now, had a number of players who have gone on to post big numbers in the league. This was the year of Derrick Rose (No. 1 overall), Russell Westbrook (No. 4), Kevin Love (No. 5), Brook Lopez (No. 10) and Nicolas Batum (No. 25). Over the next few weeks, we’ll be posting a series of polls asking readers to vote on whom teams should have selected in each spot.

We’ll continue with the Grizzlies, who held the No. 5 overall pick that year. In the “real world” draft, Memphis had acquired the No. 3 overall pick in a swap with Minnesota. The actual swap went like this: The Grizzlies acquired the draft rights to O.J. Mayo, along with Marko Jarić, Antoine Walker, and Greg Buckner, from Minnesota in exchange for the draft rights to No. 5 overall pick Kevin Love, plus, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins. To avoid muddying the waters too much, we’ll assume the trade wasn’t completed (since Love was nabbed by the Heat with pick No. 2), so whomever is selected here will end up in Memphis.

So cast your vote for who the Grizzlies select and check back on Wednesday to see the results and to vote on who the Knicks will nab sixth overall. Also, don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

1. Bulls — Russell Westbrook [Actual Pick — Derrick Rose]
2. Heat — Kevin Love [Actual Pick — Michael Beasley]
3. Wolves — Derrick Rose [Actual Pick — O.J. Mayo]
4. Sonics/Thunder — DeAndre Jordan [Actual Pick — Russell Westbrook]
5. Grizzlies — ?? [Actual Pick — Kevin Love]

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here to vote.

Scouting players and predicting how their skills will translate to the NBA is one of the more difficult tasks front offices have on their plates. Looking back over past drafts and how many lottery picks never evolved into stars, or even made a significant impact in the league, illustrates just how often stats, combine numbers and pure gut instinct often come up short.

Of course, we get the opportunity to critique these moves with the benefit of hindsight — a luxury that GMs don’t have on draft night. Having said that, it’s still fun to go back in time and take a theoretical look at how these drafts should have/could have gone.

We recently finished revisiting the lottery portion of the 2005 NBA Draft, which was one of the weakest in recent memory. In drafts light on impact talent, the GM who can find a diamond in the rough is king. But drafts that have a number of star-potential players can also be difficult and many an executive has made what turned out to be the wrong call. Greg Oden over Kevin Durant immediately springs to mind (sorry Blazers fans), likewise taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan…ouch!

The 2008 draft, which is the one we’re tackling now, had a number of players who have gone on to post big numbers in the league. This was the year of Derrick Rose (No. 1 overall), Russell Westbrook (No. 4), Kevin Love (No. 5), Brook Lopez (No. 10) and Nicolas Batum (No. 25). Over the next few weeks, we’ll be posting a series of polls asking readers to vote on whom teams should have selected in each spot.

We’ll continue with the Sonics/Thunder, who held the No. 4 overall pick that year. With Westbrook already off the board, having gone No. 1 overall to the Bulls, OKC will have to find a different running mate for Kevin Durant, who the franchise nabbed the previous year. So cast your vote for who the Sonics/Thunder select and check back on Tuesday to see the results and to vote on who the Grizzlies will nab fifth overall. Also, don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

1. Bulls — Russell Westbrook [Actual Pick — Derrick Rose]
2. Heat — Kevin Love [Actual Pick — Michael Beasley]
3. Wolves — Derrick Rose [Actual Pick — O.J. Mayo]
4. Sonics/Thunder — ?? [Actual Pick — Russell Westbrook]

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here to vote.

Scouting players and predicting how their skills will translate to the NBA is one of the more difficult tasks front offices have on their plates. Looking back over past drafts and how many lottery picks never evolved into stars, or even made a significant impact in the league, illustrates just how often stats, combine numbers and pure gut instinct often come up short.

Of course, we get the opportunity to critique these moves with the benefit of hindsight — a luxury that GMs don’t have on draft night. Having said that, it’s still fun to go back in time and take a theoretical look at how these drafts should have/could have gone.

We recently finished revisiting the lottery portion of the 2005 NBA Draft, which was one of the weakest in recent memory. In drafts light on impact talent, the GM who can find a diamond in the rough is king. But drafts that have a number of star-potential players can also be difficult and many an executive has made what turned out to be the wrong call. Greg Oden over Kevin Durant immediately springs to mind (sorry Blazers fans), likewise taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan…ouch!

The 2008 draft, which is the one we’re tackling now, had a number of players who have gone on to post big numbers in the league. This was the year of Derrick Rose (No. 1 overall), Russell Westbrook (No. 4), Kevin Love (No. 5), Brook Lopez (No. 10) and Nicolas Batum (No. 25). Over the next few weeks, we’ll be posting a series of polls asking readers to vote on whom teams should have selected in each spot.

We’ll continue with the Wolves, who dealt away the No. 3 overall pick in a swap with Memphis. The actual swap went like this: The Grizzlies acquired the draft rights to O.J. Mayo, along with Marko Jarić, Antoine Walker, and Greg Buckner, from Minnesota in exchange for the draft rights to No. 5 overall pick Kevin Love, plus, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins. To avoid muddying the waters too much, we’ll assume the trade wasn’t completed (since Love is already off the board), so whomever is selected here will end up in Minnesota.

So cast your vote for who the Wolves select and check back on Sunday to see the results and to vote on who the Sonics/Thunder will nab fourth overall. Also, don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

1. Bulls — Russell Westbrook [Actual Pick — Derrick Rose]
2. Heat — Kevin Love [Actual Pick — Michael Beasley]
3. Wolves — ?? [Actual Pick — O.J. Mayo]

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here to vote.

Scouting players and predicting how their skills will translate to the NBA is one of the more difficult tasks front offices have on their plates. Looking back over past drafts and how many lottery picks never evolved into stars, or even made a significant impact in the league, illustrates just how often stats, combine numbers and pure gut instinct often come up short.

Of course, we get the opportunity to critique these moves with the benefit of hindsight — a luxury that GMs don’t have on draft night. Having said that, it’s still fun to go back in time and take a theoretical look at how these drafts should have/could have gone.

We just finished revisiting the lottery portion of the 2005 NBA Draft, which was one of the weakest in recent memory. In drafts light on impact talent, the GM who can find a diamond in the rough is king. But drafts that have a number of star-potential players can also be difficult and many an executive has made what turned out to be the wrong call. Greg Oden over Kevin Durant immediately springs to mind (sorry Blazers fans), likewise taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan…ouch!

The 2008 draft, which is the next one we’ll be tackling, had a number of players who have gone on to post big numbers in the league. This was the year of Derrick Rose (No. 1 overall), Russell Westbrook (No. 4), Kevin Love (No. 5), Brook Lopez (No. 10) and Nicolas Batum (No. 25). Over the next few weeks, we’ll be posting a series of polls asking readers to vote on whom teams should have selected in each spot.

In our first round of voting, our fans selected Westbrook as the player the Bulls should have taken with the first overall pick. Of course, Chicago took Rose, who posted MVP numbers prior to injuries taking hold. Westbrook received just over 79% of the votes, with Rose a distant second at 14.5%.

Let’s move on to the next pick. The Heat made a choice they soon came to regret — forward Michael Beasley. Beasley lasted just two seasons with the Heat before he was moved to the Timberwolves. Beasley had a second stint with the Heat and appeared in 20 games with the Rockets last season, but obviously never developed into a franchise-type player.

Who should the Heat have taken with the second overall pick? Please check back on Saturday for results.

Also, don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

Selections

1. Bulls — Russell Westbrook [Actual Pick — Derrick Rose]
2. Heat — ??? [Actual Pick — Michael Beasley]

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here to vote.

Scouting players and predicting how their skills will translate to the NBA is one of the more difficult tasks front offices have on their plates. Looking back over past drafts and how many lottery picks never evolved into stars or even made a significant impact in the league illustrates just how often stats, combine numbers and pure gut instinct often come up short. Of course, we get the opportunity to critique these moves with the benefit of hindsight — a luxury that GMs don’t have on draft night. having said that, it’s still fun to go back in time and take a theoretical look at how these drafts should have/could have gone.

We just finished revisiting the lottery portion of the 2005 NBA Draft, which was one of the weakest in recent memory. In drafts light on impact talent, the GM who can find a diamond in the rough is king. But drafts that have a number of star-potential players can also be difficult and many an executive has made what turned out to be the wrong call. Greg Oden over Kevin Durant immediately springs to mind (sorry Blazers fans), likewise taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan…ouch!

The 2008 draft, which is the next one we’ll be tackling, had a number of players who have gone on to post big numbers in the league. This was the year of Derrick Rose (No. 1 overall), Russell Westbrook (No. 4), Kevin Love (No. 5), Brook Lopez (No. 10) and Nicolas Batum (No. 25). Over the next few weeks we’ll be posting a series of polls asking readers to vote on whom teams should have selected in each spot.

We’ll kick this thing off with the Bulls, who held the No. 1 overall pick that year. Should Chicago take Rose, who posted MVP numbers prior to injuries taking hold, or go in a different direction? Well readers, it’s up to you to answer that on by casting your votes below. Check back on Friday to see the results and to vote on who the Heat should have nabbed second overall. Also, don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

Selections

1. Bulls — ?? [Actual Pick — Derrick Rose]

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here to vote.

We’ve been revisiting the 2005 NBA Draft lottery, which is the year that the Bucks nabbed big man Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 overall pick. That year’s draft class is generally viewed as one of the weaker ones in recent memory, though, there were quite a few second-rounders that year (Ersan Ilyasova, Monta Ellis, Lou Williams, Amir Johnson and Marcin Gortat) who have gone on to have very solid NBA careers.

We’ve been posting a series of reader polls that ask you to vote on the player whom you believe should have been selected with each pick. We’ll finish off the lottery with the Timberwolves, who held the No. 14 pick that season. Readers, you are now on the clock! Cast your vote for Minnesota’s pick and check back Thursday for the results. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

After today’s pick, per reader choice, we’ll be jumping forward in time a few years and checking out the 2008 Draft. That was the year of Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Brook Lopez. But for now, let’s finish off 2005…

Selections

1. Bucks — Chris Paul [Actual Pick — Andrew Bogut]
2. Hawks — Deron Williams [Actual Pick — Marvin Williams]
3. Jazz — Monta Ellis [Actual Pick — Deron Williams]
4. Hornets/Pelicans — Andrew Bogut [Actual Pick — Chris Paul]
5. Bobcats/Hornets — Danny Granger [Actual Pick — Raymond Felton]
6. Trail Blazers  — David Lee [Actual Pick  — Martell Webster]
7. Raptors — Andrew Bynum [Actual Pick — Charlie Villanueva]
8. Knicks — Marcin Gortat [Actual Pick — Channing Frye]
9. Warriors — Lou Williams [Actual Pick — Ike Diogu]
10. Lakers — Marvin Williams [Actual Pick — Andrew Bynum]
11. Magic — Channing Frye [Actual Pick — Fran Vazquez]
12. Clippers — Amir Johnson [Actual Pick — Yaroslav Korolev]
13. Bobcats/Hornets — Ersan Ilyasova [Actual Pick — Sean May]
14. Timberwolves — ?? [Actual Pick — Rashad McCants]

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here to vote.

We’re in the process of revisiting the 2005 NBA Draft, which is the year that the Bucks nabbed big man Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 overall pick. That year’s draft class is generally viewed as one of the weaker ones in recent memory, though, there were quite a few second-rounders that year (Ersan Ilyasova, Monta Ellis, Lou Williams, Amir Johnson and Marcin Gortat) who have gone on to have very solid NBA careers.

We’ve been posting a series of reader polls that ask you to vote on the player whom you believe should have been selected with each pick. We’ll continue onward with the Bobcats/Hornets, who held the No. 13 pick that season. Readers, you are now on the clock! Cast your vote for Charlotte’s pick and check back Wednesday for the results, as well as for your chance to vote for whom the Timberwolves should have taken at No. 14. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

Note: Believe it or not, we do read your feedback and always do our best to give our readers what they ask for. I’ve had a number of messages from folks not all that excited about the remaining prospects in this draft class. So…I’m posting another poll in this post to gauge what is most preferable. Vote below on whether or not to finish the first round of this draft or switch to a different draft. If the consensus is to switch, the choices are:

• 1996 — the year of Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury and Steve Nash.
• 1984 — the year of Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and John Stockton.
• 2008 — the year of Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Brook Lopez.

Selections

1. Bucks — Chris Paul [Actual Pick — Andrew Bogut]
2. Hawks — Deron Williams [Actual Pick — Marvin Williams]
3. Jazz — Monta Ellis [Actual Pick — Deron Williams]
4. Hornets/Pelicans — Andrew Bogut [Actual Pick — Chris Paul]
5. Bobcats/Hornets — Danny Granger [Actual Pick — Raymond Felton]
6. Trail Blazers  — David Lee [Actual Pick  — Martell Webster]
7. Raptors — Andrew Bynum [Actual Pick — Charlie Villanueva]
8. Knicks — Marcin Gortat [Actual Pick — Channing Frye]
9. Warriors — Lou Williams [Actual Pick — Ike Diogu]
10. Lakers — Marvin Williams [Actual Pick — Andrew Bynum]
11. Magic — Channing Frye [Actual Pick — Fran Vazquez]
12. Clippers — Amir Johnson [Actual Pick — Yaroslav Korolev]
13. Bobcats/Hornets — ?? [Actual Pick — Sean May]

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here.

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here.