Ranking SLN Drafts!

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nolan
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Ranking SLN Drafts!

Post by nolan »

Friends, I have taken it upon myself to answer some of the leagues greatest questions when it comes to SLNs draft history. What are the greatest drafts in league history and who was the biggest bust that tarnished the reputations of the weaker classes? Join me on my deep dive.

A few things first. This was entirely subjective and has no underlying statistics backing up the rankings. I am also tremendously biased, so please let me know how wrong I am in the thread. I decided to cut off the rankings after the 2008 draft cause it didn’t feel right to label guys on rookie deals as busts. The considerations for labeling someone a bust; SLN productivity vs real life productivity, draft position, general league expectations, and pedigree / hype. Alrighty, let’s get into it!


#12 Draft Class: 2006 viewtopic.php?t=172

To my surprise, 2006 takes the cake, or rather, the pile of poo for being the worst draft in SLN history. Lacking top end talent, depth, and littered with players that have not matched their real life counterparts, 2006 will live in infamy.

Draft Highlights: Brandon Roy (1), Rudy Gay (2), LaMarcus Aldridge (4), Marc Gasol (5), JJ Reddick (19)

Biggest Bust: Kyle Lowry (3). There are quite a few guys that fit the bill in this draft, but I will happily award the gold medal (one he actually deserves) to Kyle Lowry. It feels so right that this guy sucks, no offense RB.


#11 Draft Class: 2000 viewtopic.php?t=87

One of the worst drafts in the history of the NBA meets a similar fate in SLN. Ashes did a great job adding in some fun players in this class but there was always a going to be a lack of star power. Headlined by a fraudster and a flamethrower with the first two picks, the real gem was found at the top of round two!

Draft Highlights: Jamario Moon (1), Jamal Crawford (2), Michael Redd (3), Kenyon Martin (6), Hedo Turkoglu (11), Primoz Bresec (30), Malik Allen (31)

Biggest Bust: Darius Miles (5), I guess? Not that he had high expectations coming into the league but being a top 5 pick and never playing significant minutes is pretty disappointing.


#10 Draft Class: 2002 viewtopic.php?t=130

Carried heavily on the back of one very large Chinese man, ’02 didn’t have much to offer after the first few picks. Almost nobody after pick 7 played meaningful minutes in their career. Cool to see Jay and Caron become important pieces on championship teams but neither were the premier option. I heard mahjong has become immensely popular in Charolette over the past 16 months tho.

Draft Highlights: Yao Ming (1), Caron Butler (3), Jay Williams (4), Tayshaun Prince (5), Carlos Boozer (7)

Biggest Bust: Amare Stoudemire (2). I wanted him to be good so bad. A borderline HOFer in the NBA who turned in an underwhelming SLN career. Never quite efficient enough on offense and didn’t have the blocks to make up for it on the other end.


#9 Draft Class: 2008 viewtopic.php?t=137

On paper what should have been a top draft in SLN has been lackluster through five seasons. Three NBA HOFers going at the top and they’ve all been somewhat disappointing in their own ways. In 5 more seasons this could be way too low a placement, but I couldn’t justify ’08 any higher given the productivity thus far from the top dogs.

Draft Highlights: D Rose (1), Russell Westbrook (2), Michael Beasley (4), Deandre Jordan (7), OJ Mayo (9), Goran Dragic (10), Eric Gordon (11)

Biggest Bust: Kevin Love (3). Calling 24 year old Kevin Love a bust feels really harsh, but I’m gonna do it. He definitely does some things really well, i.e. never turning the ball over, but will be interesting to see if his efficiency ever reaches elite levels. He has not ascended to the elite rebounder that was prominently alluded to in his draft notes and is an archetype that FBB does not jive with.


#8 Draft Class: 2007 viewtopic.php?t=160

Not much to talk about with this one. KD is insane, Greg Oden looks like he will be really good and Mike Conley is a very good PG. Could argue this is too high for a class that lacks a high quantity of starters in the league but….
kd.jpg
kd.jpg (376.14 KiB) Viewed 474 times

Draft Highlights: Kevin Durant (1), Greg Oden (2), Al Horford (3), Mike Conley (4), Yi Jianlian (8)

Biggest Bust: Wlson Chandler (5). He’s just bad, at everything. Good upside was not found.


#7 Draft Class: 2005 viewtopic.php?t=217

This is where the drafts start to get spicy. Great job everyone drafting good players at the top! Picks 1-7 have all turned into studs! Despite the numerous stars ’07 produced, there just isn’t that one superstar that drafts ranked ahead of this one all possess.

Draft Highlights: CP3 (1), Deron Williams (2), Andrew Bogut (3), Monta Ellis (4), Marvin Williams (5), Lou Williams (6), Danny Granger (7), Marcin Gortat (15), Rashad McCants (21)

Biggest Bust: Martell Webster (8). This guy was so bad I literally cannot find his player page anywhere, please help.


#6 Draft Class: 1998 viewtopic.php?t=56

Legendary class lead by one of the greatest players in SLN history. The three time champ carriers a ton of weight in this class. Similar to classed that ’98 outranks, the depth just wasn’t there. Cat Mobley going in the late teens was an absolute snipe. Poopy pants and Tawn were both key contributors to championship teams too! I like.

Draft Highlights: Dirk (1), Paul Pierce (2), Antawn Jamison (6), Ruben Patterson (15), Cuttino Mobley (17), Tractor Traylor (30)

Biggest Bust: Vince Carter (3). Another high flying legend that got shafted by FBB. He just never got it going on offense and was a negative rebounder at the three his entire career. Peaking as a stocky but inefficient backup wing, VC will not be fondly remembered in the annals of SLN. Fun fact, in 1999 I offered Mashburn + 3 shitty firsts for VC and filler. Disaster averted!


#5 Draft Class: 1997 viewtopic.php?t=40

Good times, our first post creation draft, draft. Ashes really outdid himself in this one. Fit with future HOFers, intriguing stips, and hidden gems (MDP going 46 is insane)! Maybe it’s just the Tmac themed goggles I’m wearing but this draft rocked!

Draft Highlights: Tracy McGrady (2), Chancey Billups (3), Big Z (5), Derek Anderson (13), Fabricico Oberto (28), Troy Hudson (36), Michael Dunkin Penberthy (46)

Biggest Bust: Tim Duncan (1). Yup, I’m calling my shot. Two time DPOY Timmy was a bust! An elite defender and rebounder whose mundane offense got him repeatedly shipped across the country.


#4 Draft Class: 2004 viewtopic.php?t=195

Solid guard to butt ratio in ’04. Great draft and a few unexpected superstars. Am I extremely hypocritical for bashing Duncan and then praising Dwight? Certainly. But Dwight has had a better time holding onto the ball and I don’t think the expectations were quite as high coming into the league. And who had Jameer becoming the perennial MVP candidate that he is?? Plus, a handful of other elite players were taken in the top half of the first round. 4 out of 5 balls.

Draft Highlights: Dwight Howard (1), Shaun Livingston (3), Al Jefferson (5), Devin Harris (6), Jameer Nelson (8), Emeka Okafor (10), Kris Humphries (13), Ben Gordon (14)

Biggest Bust: Luol Deng (4). Tight contest between Deng and Iguodala but I lean Luol. He’s just never been on a good team and feels like more of a disappointment to me. Deng’s rookie season was the best of his career while Iggy progressed into a massively overpaid but competent starter. Iggy does ratings real good and I can’t same the same for Deng.


#3 Draft Class: 2001 viewtopic.php?t=103

What was thought to be a top heavy draft turned out to have incredible depth. Checks out the ass on those teens (picks)! My personal favorite draft and loaded with superstars! Shout out Mantypas for grabbing Eddie and Eddy at 12 and 19. There are loads of quality rotation players that I didn’t mention by name below cause they were too many to pick from, even with the -son trio not panning out!

Draft Highlights: Tony Parker (1), Gilbert Arenas (2), Pau Gasol (3), Eddie Griffin (12), DeSagana Diop (14), Kwame Brown (16), Samuel Dalembert (17), Eddy Curry (19), Carlos Arroyo (33)

Biggest Bust: Jason Richardson (5). God I loved his stip and how high he could jump. Another terrible trade up for me on this list! Was a good starter for maybe three seasons but was usually relegated to rotation piece for a middle of the table squad. His below average rebounding and defense really hurt my soul.


#2 Draft Class: 2003 viewtopic.php?t=180

Ahh yes! The heralded ’03 draft! The most egregious tank race SLN has seen! Yes, the top of this draft is incredible, but I wanted to be edgy, so it gets silver. If Dmo wasn’t a coward and took Darko #1 overall ’03 woulda beat out ’99! Everyone is really good, yada yada yada.

Draft Highlights: LeBron James (1), D Wade (2), Chris Bosh (3), Darko Milicic (4), Carmelo Anthony (5), Josh Howard (7), Willie Green (39)

Biggest Bust: Kirk Hinrich (6). Not many busts in this stacked draft. ‘03 fell off hard after the top 5 picks! Kirk has carved out a role as a mediocre backup PG or elite tank commander for most of his career, so not what you’d expect out of a top 6 pick.


#1 Draft Class: 1999 viewtopic.php?t=73

The big kahuna, the cream of the crop, the bee’s knees, second to none, 1999! This draft truly had it all. The greatest player in SLN history (for now), multiple HOFers, loads of depth, cool stips, and one Clack sized gem!

Draft Highlights: Manu Ginobili (1), Shawn Marion (2), Steve Francis (3), Andrei Kirilenko (4), Elton Brand (5), Ron Artest (6), Rip Hamilton (8), Lamar Odom (9), Kris Clack (27)

Biggest Bust: Baron Davis (7). He wasn’t even that bad! Once heralded as an “A” tier PG Baron had a really solid career. Hardly a bust, but someone had to bear the title.


BONUS RANKING
12. Kevin Love
11. Baron Davis
10. Tim Duncan
9. Martell Webster
8. Darius Miles
7. Kirk Hinrich
6. Wilson Chandler
5. Luol Deng
4. Kyle Lowry
3. Jason Richardson
2. Vince Carter
1. Amare Stoudemire

Congrats Amare, you are the biggest bust in SLN history!
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mantypas/CavsCzar
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Post by mantypas/CavsCzar »

As a Baron Davis apologist, he was pretty good and continues to be a solid contributor. James Posey (#14) sucked and still sucks.
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Post by jwoo »

98 draft only had three great players, overrated
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Post by jwoo »

I also don’t think Luol is actually bad. The expectations were just weirdly high at the start
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Post by jwoo »

Overall solid list
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Post by jwoo »

It’s also really interesting how poorly 2008 has fared for whatever reason, at least relative to expectations
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Post by Josh »

Cool to see Jay and Caron and Tayshaun become important pieces on championship teams but neither were the premier option.
fixed it

great article nolan!
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Post by Clinton »

Im here to change the trajectory of Wilson Chandlers career in SLN
8-) Santa Cruz Warriors NDL Champs: 8-)
2008, 2012, 2014
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bobby
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Post by bobby »

Is d rose borderline busty if he doesn’t have more improvement in the tank considering expectations?
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Post by Joe »

Grade: 400 x 2 = 800RP
Celtics ah the balls

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