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NBA Draft Analyses

41 years of contextual re-drafts

About NBA Re-Drafts

NBA development is a long game. Unlike the NFL, players often need 3-4 years to reach their ceiling. Our analyses examine organizational patience, player development systems, star partnerships, and market pressure — factors that determine whether a prospect becomes an All-Star or a "what could have been."

Key Development Factors

Guards

  • • Ball-handling freedom
  • • Spacing for drives
  • • Coach's system fit
  • • Star partnership dynamics

Wings

  • • Shot creation opportunity
  • • Defensive role clarity
  • • Two-way development
  • • Playmaking responsibility

Bigs

  • • Modern skill development
  • • Pick-and-roll usage
  • • Defensive anchor role
  • • Frontcourt partner fit

Elite Development Orgs

Some franchises consistently maximize draft picks:

🏀
Spurs

Robinson → Duncan → Kawhi → Wemby

☘️
Celtics

Brown + Tatum = Champions

🔥
Heat

Heat Culture creates value

Thunder

Presti's patience pays off

All NBA Draft Analyses

2024

The French Connection Draft

+26 (Reed Sheppard)

Risacher, Sarr, and a Draft Full of Questions

#1: Zaccharie Risacher (ATL)Read Analysis →
2023

The Wemby Draft

+37 (Victor Wembanyama)

Wemby's Historic Landing and the Spurs' Perfect Setup

#1: Victor Wembanyama (SAS)Read Analysis →
2022

The Paolo Draft

+30 (Paolo Banchero)

Paolo, Chet, Jabari, and the New Big Three Debate

#1: Paolo Banchero (ORL)Read Analysis →
2021

The Cade Draft

+33 (Evan Mobley)

Cade, Mobley, and the Covid Draft Uncertainty

#1: Cade Cunningham (DET)Read Analysis →
2020

The Edwards Draft

+30 (Anthony Edwards)

Minnesota finally gets it right

#1: Anthony Edwards (MIN)Read Analysis →
2019

The Zion Draft

+34 (Ja Morant)

Generational talent vs. perfect fit

#1: Zion Williamson (NOP)Read Analysis →
2018

The Doncic Draft

+36 (Luka Doncic)

The trade that changed everything

#1: DeAndre Ayton (PHX)Read Analysis →
2017

The Tatum Draft

+46 (Jayson Tatum)

Fultz, Ball, Tatum, and the Tale of Three Paths

#1: Markelle Fultz (PHI)Read Analysis →
2016

The Simmons Draft

+44 (Jaylen Brown)

Simmons, Ingram, and the Process of Building

#1: Ben Simmons (PHI)Read Analysis →
2015

The Devin Booker Heist

+12 (Devin Booker)

How 12 Teams Passed on a Superstar

#1: Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)Read Analysis →
2014

The Jokic Draft

+53 (Nikola Jokic)

Two MVPs outside the top 10

#1: Andrew Wiggins (CLE)Read Analysis →
2013

The Giannis Draft

+74 (Giannis)

Greek Freak goes 15th

#1: Anthony Bennett (CLE)Read Analysis →
2012

The AD/Dame Draft

+50 (Damian Lillard)

Small-school star goes 6th

#1: Anthony Davis (NOP)Read Analysis →
2011

The Kawhi Draft

+59 (Kawhi Leonard)

Kawhi at 15, Klay at 11

#1: Kyrie Irving (CLE)Read Analysis →
2010

The Paul George Heist

+9 (Paul George)

Paul George at #10: The Heist That Defined a Decade

#1: John Wall (WAS)Read Analysis →
2009

The Curry Draft

+50 (Stephen Curry)

Greatest draft ever

#1: Blake Griffin (LAC)Read Analysis →
2008

The Rose Draft

+40 (Russell Westbrook)

Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, and the Point Guard Revolution

#1: Derrick Rose (CHI)Read Analysis →
2007

The Durant Draft

+16 (Kevin Durant)

Portland chose Oden

#1: Greg Oden (POR)Read Analysis →
2006

The Bargnani Bust

+23 (Kyle Lowry)

When Bargnani Went First: The Draft That Ignored Aldridge, Roy, and a Second-Round Legend

#1: Andrea Bargnani (TOR)Read Analysis →
2005

The CP3 Slide

+3 (Chris Paul)

The Draft Where Chris Paul Slid to #4 — The Most Obvious Mistake of the Decade

#1: Andrew Bogut (MIL)Read Analysis →
2004

The Dwight Draft

+14 (Al Jefferson)

The Last High School Class: Dwight, Iguodala, and the Draft That Got Better with Age

#1: Dwight Howard (ORL)Read Analysis →
2003

The LeBron Draft

+23 (LeBron James)

What if LeBron landed in Detroit?

#1: LeBron James (CLE)Read Analysis →
2002

The Yao Draft

+33 (Carlos Boozer)

The Yao Ming Cultural Impact Draft: When a #1 Pick Changed Basketball Forever

#1: Yao Ming (HOU)Read Analysis →
2001

The MJ Draft Mistake

+27 (Tony Parker)

The Draft MJ Ruined: Kwame Brown, Tony Parker at 28, and Gilbert Arenas at 31

#1: Kwame Brown (WAS)Read Analysis →
2000

The Kenyon Draft

+42 (Michael Redd)

The Draft That Wasn't: When Injury Risk and Bad Situations Defined a Generation

#1: Kenyon Martin (NJ)Read Analysis →
1999

The Matrix Draft

+8 (Shawn Marion)

The Matrix in the Desert: How Phoenix Found Gold at #9 and Everyone Else Missed It

#1: Elton Brand (CHI)Read Analysis →
1998

The Dirk Draft

+57 (Dirk Nowitzki)

Dirk, Vince, and the Greatest Heist in Draft History

#1: Michael Olowokandi (LAC)Read Analysis →
1997

The Duncan Draft

+8 (Tracy McGrady)

The Perfect Pick: Duncan at #1 and T-Mac Falls to #9

#1: Tim Duncan (SAS)Read Analysis →
1996

The Kobe Draft

+51 (Kobe Bryant)

Kobe almost went to New Jersey

#1: Allen Iverson (PHI)Read Analysis →
1995

The KG Draft

+4 (Kevin Garnett)

The KG Story: When a High School Kid Should've Been #1

#1: Joe Smith (GS)Read Analysis →
1994

The Kidd Draft

+1 (Jason Kidd)

Kidd and Hill Were Generational — But Robinson Went First

#1: Glenn Robinson (MIL)Read Analysis →
1993

The Webber Draft

+23 (Sam Cassell)

The Webber-Penny Trade: How One Deal Changed Everything

#1: Chris Webber (ORL)Read Analysis →
1992

The Shaq Draft

+23 (Latrell Sprewell)

The Shaq Era Begins: One of the Most Top-Heavy Drafts in NBA History

#1: Shaquille O'Neal (ORL)Read Analysis →
1991

The Mutombo Draft

+3 (Dikembe Mutombo)

The Finger Wag Draft: When Mutombo Fell and Became a Legend Anyway

#1: Larry Johnson (CHA)Read Analysis →
1990

The Glove Draft

+1 (Gary Payton)

The Glove in Seattle: When Context and Talent Aligned Perfectly

#1: Derrick Coleman (NJ)Read Analysis →
1989

The Pervis Draft

+13 (Tim Hardaway)

Out of Service Pervis and the Mid-First-Round Legends

#1: Pervis Ellison (SAC)Read Analysis →
1988

The Manning Draft

+4 (Mitch Richmond)

The Last Three-Round Draft: Manning, Richmond, and Hidden Gems

#1: Danny Manning (LAC)Read Analysis →
1987

The Admiral Draft

+4 (Scottie Pippen)

The Admiral Waits: Robinson, Pippen, and a Draft That Defined the 90s

#1: David Robinson (SAS)Read Analysis →
1986

The Bias Draft

+26 (Dennis Rodman)

The Len Bias Tragedy: When Promise Died and Diamonds Hid in the Second Round

#1: Brad Daugherty (CLE)Read Analysis →
1985

The Lottery Draft

+12 (Karl Malone)

The Frozen Envelope Draft: Malone at 13, Dumars at 18, and the Birth of the Lottery

#1: Patrick Ewing (NYK)Read Analysis →
1984

The Jordan Draft

+27 (Michael Jordan)

Houston passed on MJ for Hakeem

#1: Hakeem Olajuwon (HOU)Read Analysis →