The Best Draft Spots of the Last 10 Years

In the past decade, we've had some unconventional top players. The rookie of the year has been selected in the following order from 2009-1999:
4th, 1st, 2nd, 6th, 4th, 2nd, 1st, 9th, 3rd, and 1st.

So even though teams haven't landed John Wall, they can still get excited about the players they got.

And this article will show you the top picks to land in the last 10 years.

10. The 8th Overall Pick

Top 8th overall picks: Andre Miller (1999), Rudy Gay (2006), Jamal Crawford (2000)
Bottom 8th overall picks: Rafael Araújo (2004), Joe Alexander (2008), DeSagana Diop (2001)

When you're at the 8th overall pick, you're looking for some role players anyway, so the advice is really to not swing for the fence. There have been a few gems at 8, but there's never really been anyone to get over excited about at #8. Miller and Crawford have developed well, but most 8th picks have been unproven, and ineffective.

2010 8th Overall Pick: Al-Farouq Aminu, Los Angeles Clippers

9. The 9th Overall Pick

Top 9th overall picks: Amare Stoudemire (2002), Shawn Marion (1999), Andre Iguodala (2004)
Bottom 9th overall picks: Patrick O'Bryant (2006), Rodney White (2001), Michael Sweetney (2003)

2010 9th overall pick: Gordon Hayward

8. The 6th Overall Pick

Top 6th overall picks: Brandon Roy (2006), Chris Kaman (2003), Jonny Flynn (2009)
Bottom 6th overall picks: Dajuan Wagner (2002), DeMarr Johnson (2000), Martell Webster (2005)

By pick 6, you're looking for a bit of a role player. Especially considering the kind of talent picked with 6 over the last few years. Dajuan and DeMarr went no where fast, and the only All-Stars were Chris and Brandon.

A lot of role players are taken here, though. Players like Jonny Flynn, Shane Battier, Josh Childress, and Ekpe Udoh, who will be the defensive presence needed to counter the All-Offensive squad of David Lee, Monta Ellis, and Stephen Curry.

2010 6th overall pick: Ekpe Udoh, Golden State Warriors

7. The 5th Overall Pick

Top 5th overall picks: Dwyane Wade (2003), Jason Richardson (2001), Raymond Felton (2005)
Bottom 5th overall picks: Ricky Rubio (2009), Nikoloz Tskitishvili (2002), Jonathan Bender (1999)

Mainly a swing and a miss pick. Dwyane was obviously a great choice, but after that, it's really just Jason and Raymond. They're joined by players like Jeff Green, Mike Miller, and Devin Harris.

At 5, you can get some great talent. But in the past decade, that just isn't what has happened.

NOTE: The reason Ricky is on this list is because the top and bottom 3 were selected based on their ESPN statistic rating, which for Ricky is currently 0.

2010 5th overall pick: DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings

6. The 10th Overall Pick

Top 10th overall picks: Joe Johnson (2001), Brook Lopez (2008), Caron Butler (2002)
Bottom 10th overall picks: Luke Jackson (2004), Mouhamed Sene (2006), Keyon Dooling (2000)

This is a pretty shocking list. At 10, you'd expect a role player like Dooling selected every year, but he's actually in the bottom 3. In recent years the #10 pick has produced some solid ball players, like Caron Butler, Andrew Bynum, Spencer Hawes, Brandon Jennings, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez, and Jason Terry.

Don't be disappointed if you're favorite team falls to 10. It can and has produced some really exciting players.

2010 10th overall pick: Paul George, Indiana Pacers

5. The 2nd Overall Pick

Top 2nd overall picks: Kevin Durant (2007), LaMarcus Aldridge (2006), Emeka Okafor (2004)
Bottom 2nd overall picks: Jay Williams (2002), Hasheem Thabeet (2009), Darko Miličić (2003)

Now I would never say that you should be disappointed if you're team lands the #2 overall pick, but if it happened at all in the past decade, it wouldn't be something to jump for joy about. There have only been two All-Stars picked at #2, and those are Kevin Durant, and Steve Francis.

Michael Beasley, Stromile Swift, and Marvin Williams are a couple more examples of some players who never really flourished as expected.

2010 2nd overall pick: Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers

4. The 7th Overall Pick

Top 7th overall picks: Stephen Curry (2009), Luol Deng (2004), Richard Hamilton (1999)
Bottom 7th overall picks: Eddie Griffin (2001), Chris Mihm (2000), Corey Brewer (2007)

I would actually watch out for players drafted at #7, because there is quite a list here. None of them are superstars, really, but there are some players who can really play. Corey Brewer, Stephen Curry, Luol Deng, Randy Foye, Richard Hamilton, Kirk Hinrich, Nenê, and Charlie Villanueva fill out the list of players taken at #7.

Despite the short career of the late Eddie Griffin, and the lost cause of Chris Mihm, the #7 overall pick doesn't always over satisfy, but it's never really "gone wrong."

2010 7th overall pick: Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons

3. The 4th Overall Pick

Top 4th overall picks: Chris Paul (2005), Chris Bosh (2003), Tyreke Evans (2009)
Bottom 4th overall picks: Marcus Fizer (2000), Shaun Livingston (2004), Tyrus Thomas (2006)

If you're in the top 3-4 picks in the NBA, you should be excited. But seeing how the #2 picks are going lately, the #4 pick really is the 3rd best pick of the decade. Throw Drew Gooden, Lamar Odom, and Russell Westbrook into the mix of the top players above, and there's a pretty solid list here.

2010 4th overall pick: Wesley Johnson, Minnesota Timberwolves

2. The 3rd Overall Pick

Top 3rd overall picks: Carmelo Anthony (2003), Pau Gasol (2001), Deron Williams (2005)
Bottom 3rd overall picks: Adam Morrison (2006), Darius Miles (2000), James Harden (2009)

In the last few years, there have been a number of drafts where the 1st and 2nd overall picks are the two top prospects, and then there's "everyone else." 1999, 2004, 2007, 2008, and even 2010 were like that. And in most of those years, the team with the #1 pick got it right, and the #2 got it wrong.

But after that's all said and done, the #3 pick is usually a toss up. It usually fills a team need, or the team with the pick finds the next best available player. With a lot of prospects to choose from after the hype of 1 and 2, the choice is usually carefully selected, ensuring the best available option. Those options have included Carmelo Anthony, Baron Davis, Pau Gasol, Ben Gordon, Al Horford, OJ Mayo, and Deron Williams.

Even though James Harden is in the bottom 3, he's still got the potential to prove people wrong after one year of playing.

2010 3rd overall pick: Derrick Favors, New Jersey Nets

1. The 1st Overall Pick

Top 1st overall picks: LeBron James (2003), Elton Brand (1999), Dwight Howard (2004)
Bottom 1st overall picks: Kwame Brown (2001), Andrea Bargnani (2006), Greg Oden (2007)

Well, the #1 pick is still the #1 pick. The past decade hasn't produced the biggest talent (Andrea Bargnani, Kwame Brown, Greg Oden), but players like Andrew Bogut, Elton Brand, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, and LeBron still make it worth the hype. Of course, Blake Griffin is also still untested at the #1 pick, but if he and Wall live up to their expectations, then it'll redeem the teams that have picked people like Brown with #1.

2010 1st overall pick: John Wall, Washington Wizards