If You Think This Draft Is Bad...

by Jeff Clark on Jun 25, 2009 2:08 PM EDT in Boston Celtics Articles

Before KG and Gerald Green, there was another #5

...just look back at the 2000 draft. That's what I did last night while flipping through my copy of Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac (free plug).

In it, Free Darko details each pick looking back several years later. Sadly there's no content online but I can tell you that the best guys from that draft are actually coming back up in the news these days.

Hedo Turkoglu is the creme of the crop and he took years to develop to what he is now (one of the top free agents on the market). He lasted until pick 16 and there wasn't much ahead of him. Another decent guy out of that draft, Mike Miller, just got traded (he was pick 5). Other than that, you've got Jamal Crawford, Quinten Richardson, and Etan Thomas (all traded or soon to be moved) plus Joel Przybilla and that's about it.

There were phenomenal busts like Stromile Swift and Marcus Fizer. Flameout careers like Kenyon Martin and Darius Miles. And of course who could forget Jerome Moiso?

I tell you what. If this year is anywhere as bad as that year, it is a very good year indeed to have no picks in the first round.

For fun, here's another look back at 2000.

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Comments

I really thought that number 5 would be figure it out and be good.

by moiso on Jun 25, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

THIS DRAFT ISN'T BAD!

I actually think there are alot of good players… just no superstars.

by rickyfan3.0... on Jun 25, 2009 2:15 PM EDT reply actions

I think there are alot of good guards, but only one or two good big people.

by Brickowski on Jun 25, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions

K-Mart is a flameout?

Last I checked he was a pretty consistent contributor on the 2nd best team out West. Also a decent defender, despite not being the nicest fellow on the team.

by funkstarrdeluxe on Jun 25, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

maybe a bit harsh

but he seemed to peak early, then got hurt and has never been the same since – def. not first pick overall value

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Jun 25, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks like the pick of the litter was actually taken #14 in the second round. Michael Redd. I can’t see a better player ahead of him — including Turk (though it’s very debatable). Imagine getting the top player in the draft at #43.

by Neurotic Guy on Jun 25, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

yeah

sorry, the Free Darko list just broke down the first round

another story I forgot to mention, one guy in that draft has actually died since then (Collier I think)

just a snakebit draft top to bottom

2nd round also produced Eddie House, Najera, and Marko Jaric

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Jun 25, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: the Macrophenomenal book

Any opinions on this book – always been tempted…..

by TremendousUpsidePotential on Jun 25, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

buy it

it isn’t a cover-to-cover read – it really is like an almanac
but it is the funniest almanac I’ve ever come across

I would read it soon though, because some of the data is starting to become dated at this point

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Jun 25, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Subjectively or Objectively 2000 was a terrible draft...

When draft classes have been quantified, 2000 always comes out at or near the bottom. They were terrible in their rookie production and bad 5 years out as well. Since 1980 clearly one of the worst 3-4 drafts at best. One such study where the graphics show the low output of that class.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Will-the-Draft-Class-of-2006-Please-Stand-Up-1855/

by hankfinkel on Jun 25, 2009 2:53 PM EDT reply actions

I thought...

I thought we’d take Etan Thomas that year instead of Jerome Moiso. I guess it would have made some difference. Thomas has been injured a lot and we did get a 1st round pick for Moiso.

by liamail on Jun 25, 2009 3:57 PM EDT reply actions