Sim League Nirvana

Ever wondered how everyone actually did at drafting? During the 2011 draft, I spent a lot of time going back through to see how many good players went after 10-15 and came up with the idea to do some re-drafts of old drafts. In particular, I did 2006–08 because those were the first seasons after I joined the league and are the drafts I’m most familiar with. I avoided the most recent ones because it feels a bit early in SLN to make a re-draft before all camps/supercamps have been used. None of these will go past pick 20 because it’s hard enough to find 20 worthwhile players from these drafts as it is. All in all, this is probably less exciting than it sounds after doing the work, but feel free to yell at me in the comments. Discussion encouraged as always (we need 4K posts!)

2006 SLN Draft
1. Utah Jazz (Actual Pick: Brandon Roy) - NEW PICK LaMarcus Aldridge [went 4th]
2. Portland Trail Blazers (Actual Pick: Rudy Gay) - NEW PICK Brandon Roy [went 1st]
3. Detroit Pistons (Actual Pick: Kyle Lowry) - NEW PICK JJ Redick [went 19th]
4. Milwaukee Bucks (Actual Pick: LaMarcus Aldridge) - NEW PICK Rudy Gay [went 2nd]
5. Portland Trail Blazers (Actual Pick: Marc Gasol) - New Pick Paul Millsap [went 6th]
6. Washington Bullets (Actual Pick: Paul Millsap) - New Pick Marc Gasol [went 5th]
7. Golden State Warriors (Actual Pick: Rajon Rondo) - New Pick Kyle Lowry [went 3rd]
8. Orlando Magic (Actual Pick: Andrea Bargnani) - New Pick Adam Morrison [went 9th]
9. Orlando Magic (Actual Pick: Adam Morrison) - New Pick Renaldo Balkman [went 10th]
10. Houston Rockets (Actual Pick: Renaldo Balkman) - New Pick Lou Amundson [went 25th]
11. Milwaukee Bucks (Actual Pick: Rodney Carney) - New Pick Leon Powe [went 23rd]
12. Toronto Raptors (Actual Pick: PJ Tucker) - New Pick Pops Mensah-Bonsu [Went 20th]
13. Milwaukee Bucks (Actual Pick: Randy Foye) - New Pick PJ Tucker [went 12th]
14. Detroit Pistons (Actual Pick: Jordan Farmar) - New Pick Randy Foye [went 13th]
15. Detroit Pistons (Actual Pick: Shawne Williams) - New Pick Thabo Sefolosha [went 17th]
16. Detroit Pistons (Actual Pick: Tyus Thomas) - New Pick Andrea Bargnani [went 8th]
17. Washington Bullets (Actual Pick: Thabo Sefolosha) - New Pick Rajon Rondo [went 7th]
18. Sacramento Kings (Actual Pick: JJ Barea) - New Pick Ronnie Brewer [went 26th]
19. Golden State Warriors (Actual Pick: JJ Redick) - New Pick Solomon Jones [went 30th]
20. Philadelphia 76ers (Actual Pick: Pops Mensah-Bonsu) - New Pick Saer Sene [went 34th]
Tremendous draft from the Milwaukee Bucks snagging new #1 LaMarcus Aldridge at 4 and Randy Foye at 13. This draft is particularly disappointing with Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol and co. generally having meh careers thus far. Rondo is probably the biggest disappointment as he’s been relegated to pure tank commander status.

2007 SLN Draft
1. Milwaukee Bucks (Actual Pick: Kevin Durant) - New Pick Kevin Durant [went 1st]
2. Detroit Pistons (Actual Pick: Greg Oden) - New Pick Greg Oden [went 2nd]
3. Portland Trail Blazers (Actual Pick: Al Horford) - New Pick Mike Conley [went 4th]
4. Houston Rockets (Actual Pick: Mike Conley) - New Pick Yi Jianlian [went 8th]
5. Atlanta Hawks (Actual Pick: Wilson Chandler) - New Pick Joakim Noah [went 6th]
6. Golden State Warriors (Actual Pick: Joakim Noah) - New Pick Al Horford [went 3rd]
7. Utah Jazz (Actual Pick: Spencer Hawes) - New Pick Rudy Fernandez [went 15th]
8. Orlando Magic (Actual Pick: Yi Jianlian) - New Pick Spencer Hawes [went 7th]
9. Washington Bullets (Actual Pick: Jeff Green) - New Pick Wilson Chandler [went 5th]
10. Washington Bullets (Actual Pick: Rodney Stuckey) - New Pick Julian Wright [went 16th]
11. LA Clippers (Actual Pick: Brandan Wright - New Pick Still Brandan Wright
12. Cleveland Cavaliers (Actual Pick: Aaron Afflalo) - New Pick Al Thornton [went 17th]
13. Cleveland Cavaliers (Actual Pick: Tiago Splitter) - New Pick Sean Williams [went 24th]
14. Sacramento Kings (Actual Pick: Mirza Teletovic) - New Pick Jeff Green [went 9th]
15. Portland Trail Blazers (Actual Pick: Rudy Fernandez) - New Pick Mirza Teletovic [went 14th]
16. Houston Rockets (Actual Pick: Julian Wright) - New Pick Thaddeus Young [went 19th]
17. Denver Nuggets (Actual Pick: Al Thornton) - New Pick Corey Brewer [went 18th]
18. Indiana Pacers (Actual Pick: Corey Brewer) - New Pick Jermareo Davidson [went 37th]
19. Toronto Raptors (Actual Pick: Thaddeus Young) - New Pick Tiago Splitter [went 13th]
20. Detroit Pistons (Actual Pick: Nick Young) - New Pick Ramon Sessions [went 23rd]
Pretty chalk draft if we’re being honest. Some guys like Jeff Green have nice ratings but little tangible production. Seeing Rudy Fernandez makes me wish Marco Belinelli got a chance to get camped and shine in the NDL.

2008 SLN Draft
1. LA Clippers (Actual Pick: Derrick Rose) - New Pick Russell Westbrook [went 2nd]
2. Atlanta Hawks (Actual Pick: Russell Westbrook) - New Pick Michael Beasley [went 4th]
3. Portland Trail Blazers (Actual Pick: Kevin Love) - New Pick Derrick Rose [went 1st]
4. Houston Rockets (Actual Pick: Michael Beasley) - New Pick OJ Mayo [went 9th]
5. Detroit Pistons (Actual Pick: Serge Ibaka) - New Pick Kevin Love [went 3rd]
6. Golden State Warriors (Actual Pick: Brook Lopez) - New Pick Goran Dragic [went 10th]
7. Washington Bullets (Actual Pick: DeAndre Jordan) - New Pick DeAndre Jordan [went 7th]
8. Miami Heat (Actual Pick: Nicolas Batum) - New Pick Brook Lopez [went 6th]
9. Washington Bullets (Actual Pick: OJ Mayo) - New Pick Roy Hibbert [went 12th]
10. Charlotte Hornets (Actual Pick: Goran Dragic) - New Pick Ryan Anderson [went 19th]
11. Utah Jazz (Actual Pick: Eric Gordon) - New Pick Robin Lopez [went 20th]
12. Dallas Mavericks (Actual Pick: Roy Hibbert) - New Pick Eric Gordon [went 11th]
13. Golden State Warriors (Actual Pick: Danilo Gallinari) - New Pick Jason Thompson [went 22nd]
14. Minnesota Timberwolves (Actual Pick: DJ Augustin) - New Pick Serge Ibaka [went 5th]
15. Boston Celtics (Actual Pick: Jerryd Bayless) - New Pick George Hill [went 17th]
16. Orlando Magic (Actual Pick: JaVale McGee) - New Pick Jerryd Bayless [went 15th]
17. Washington Bullets (Actual Pick: George Hill) - New Pick DJ Augustin [went 14th]
18. Indiana Pacers (Actual Pick: Anthony Randolph) - New Pick Luc Mbah a Moute [went 23rd]
19. Milwaukee Bucks (Actual Pick: Ryan Anderson) - New Pick JaVale McGee [went 16th]
20. New Jersey Nets (Actual Pick: Robin Lopez) - New Pick Nicolas Batum [went 8th]

Another relatively chalk draft. OJ Mayo has catapulted himself near the top of this class. There were some nice rotation-level butts to be found in Jason Thompson, Robin Lopez, Luc Mbah a Moute, and JaVale McGee.

I'd still take Al at 3 in 07 I think. It's pretty nice to get a free full camp on him every year

D rose is pissed

But I agree up until now. Late bloomer I’m hoping

I think I’d rather have any of the next 5 guys you’ve got listed after Lowry than Lowry

Grade 300 RP