New Jersey Nets: 15 Players the Nets Could Have Drafted

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Every year, the NBA draft is filled with busts and surprises. Sometimes there are players that do not live up to their expectations. Sometimes players come out of nowhere and become stars in the league.

It is not easy to draft a player that surprisingly turns out to be a star. 

Here is a look at players that the Nets passed up on in the draft that turned out to become star players.

Reggie Miller

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Draft Year: 1987

Nets Selection: Dennis Hopson, Pick 3

Reggie Miller, Pick 11

Reggie Miller was one of the best trash talkers in NBA history. He was able to get in his opponents heads and back it up with his play. He averaged at least 15 points per game in 14 of his 18 seasons.

Miller's battles with the Knicks in the 90's could have been even more intense had he spent his career playing on the Nets.

Scottie Pippen

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Draft Year: 1987

Nets Selection: Dennis Hopson, Pick 3

Scottie Pippen, Pick 5

Although Pippen will most likely be remembered as Michael Jordan's sidekick, he was a very talented player.

In 17 seasons, Pippen averaged 16.1 points per game, 5.2 assists per game and 6.4 rebounds per game. He would have been a solid player for the New Jersey Nets.

In the 1993-94 season, with Michael Jordan retired for the season, Scottie Pippen recorded his highest season averages for points and rebounds per game.

Shawn Kemp

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Draft Year: 1989

Nets Selection: Mookie Blaylock, Pick 12

Shawn Kemp, Pick 17

Shawn Kemp found early success in his career on the SuperSonics alongside Gary Payton, but contract and weight issues hindered his career from reaching its full potential.

Kemp averaged at least 15 points per game in each season from 1990 to 2000. He averaged a double-double in six seasons.

Tim Hardaway

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Draft Year: 1989

Nets Selection: Mookie Blaylock, Pick 12

Tim Hardaway, Pick 14

Hardaway was one of the league's best point guards for many seasons. He averaged at least 20 points per game in five NBA seasons and at least eight assists per game in eight seasons.

Hardaway was a five-time NBA All-Star and in 1997 was honored by being selected to the All-NBA first team.

Steve Nash

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Draft Year: 1996

Nets Selection: Kerry Kittles, Pick 8

Steve Nash, Pick 15

Nash has been one of the most consistent players in the NBA throughout his entire career. He is still a solid point guard at 37 years of age.

Nash averaged a double-double in six seasons and is averaging 14.3 points per game and 9.9 assists per game this season.

Kobe Bryant

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Draft Year: 1996

Nets Selection: Kerry Kittles, Pick 8

Kobe Bryant, Pick 13

This is the biggest disappointments on this list for the Nets. Kobe Bryant is arguably the top 10 greatest players of all-time.

Many teams were hesitant on Bryant because he was only 17-years-old with no college experience. Bryant has averaged more than 20 points per game in 12 seasons, including at least 30 points per game in three of those seasons. 

Combine his personal accomplishments with his team's success and Kobe Bryant will go down as one of the greatest.

This season Bryant is averaging 30 points per game and is still arguably the best players in the NBA.

Tracy McGrady

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Draft Year: 1997

Nets Selection: Tim Thomas, Pick 7

Tracy McGrady, Pick 9

Tracy McGrady was as big of a star as any other NBA player in the early 2000's.

He led the league in scoring in back-to-back seasons (2002-03 season, 2003-04 season). Also, from 2000 to 2007 McGrady averaged 26.3 points per game.

The sky was the limit for McGrady, but injuries continued to plague him. If the Nets could go back in time, they would have to draft McGrady in 1997.

Manu Ginobili

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Draft Year: 1999

Nets Selection: Evan Eschmeyer, Pick 34

Manu Ginobili, Pick 57

Ginobili has to be seen as one of the biggest surprises to come out of any draft because he was almost picked last in the 1999 draft.

He has helped the Spurs win three NBA Championships and was the "Sixth Man of the Year" in 2008.

Ginobili is one of two players to win a Euroleague title, an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal.

Gilbert Arenas

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Draft Year: 2001

Nets Selection: Eddie Griffin, Pick 7

Gilbert Arenas, Pick 30

Gilbert has had his legal issues, but he has had a couple of strong NBA seasons. From 2005 to 2007, Arenas averaged 27.7 points per game and almost six assists.

Arenas may have avoided the legal issues if he was drafted by the Nets in 2001. 

Tony Parker

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Draft Year: 2001

Nets Selection: Eddie Griffin, Pick 7

Tony Parker, Pick 28

Another Spur that the Nets passed up on was Tony Parker. Parker is in his 11th NBA season and is still not even 30 years old.

Parker has won three NBA Finals and was the NBA Finals MVP in 2007. He may not be the best player that the Nets passed up on in the draft, but he has consistently put up very respectable numbers throughout his career.

Joe Johnson

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Draft Year: 2001

Nets Selection: Eddie Griffin, Pick 7

Joe Johnson, Pick 10

Joe Johnson has helped make the Hawks a contender. 

Since joining the Hawks in 2005, Johnson has averaged 21.2 points per game as well as more than four rebounds per game and five assists per game.

The Nets could use a consistent scorer like Joe Johnson right now.

Carlos Boozer

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Draft Year: 2002

Nets Selection: Nenad Krstic, Pick 24

Carlos Boozer, Pick 34

Carlos Boozer has been a solid and consistent power forward throughout his career.

He has averaged a double-double in his career as he has averaged 17.2 points per game and 10 rebounds per game.

Danny Granger

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Draft Year: 2005

Nets Selection: Antoine Wright, Pick 15

Danny Granger, Pick 17

The Nets are in need of a legitimate scoring small forward right now. Danny Granger would fit in nicely and make the current Nets a playoff team.

Although he has struggled a little to start this season, he has averaged more than 20 points per game in the last three seasons.

David Lee

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Draft Year: 2005

Nets Selection: Antoine Wright, Pick 15

David Lee, Pick 30

The former New York Knick has been a consistent double-double machine. 

He has averaged 13.8 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game so far in his career.

Monta Ellis

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Draft Year: 2005

Nets Selection: Antoine Wright, Pick 15

Monta Ellis, Pick 40

Monta Ellis has emerged as one of the top scorers in the NBA the past few seasons. In his six year career he has averaged 19.4 points per game and including this season, has averaged at least 20 points per game for three straight seasons.