NBA Draft 2011: Manu Ginobili and Each Team's Greatest Draft Steal
The NBA Draft is all about evaluating talent, a process which is not exactly foolproof. In fact, more often than not, the players teams choose end up not living up to expectations.ย
Despite that fact, the draft is not a time for pessimism. Rather, it's a time where hope springs eternal. New faces usher in the prospects of a better season down the road.ย
Occasionally, a future star slips through the cracks and falls down draft boards until a team finally gobbles up the opportunity to draft him. Those rare gems are what we like to call draft steals. Each team has some, although some are far better than others.ย
So read on to see the biggest draft steal in each team's history.ย
Atlanta Hawks: Doc Rivers
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After he graduated from Marquette, Doc Rivers moved on to the NBA when the Atlanta Hawks selected him to play point guard for their squad with the 31st pick of the 1983 NBA draft.ย
Rivers would prove to be far better than a second-round pick during his eight-year tenure with the Hawks. He even averaged a double-double in the 1986-1987 season when he put up 12.8 points and 10 assists per game.ย
Now the coach of the Boston Celtics and the proud father of top Duke recruit Austin Rivers, the man who was taken in the second round is the biggest steal in the Hawks rather paltry draft history.ย
Boston Celtics: Larry Bird
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Even though the Boston Celtics selected him with the No. 6 pick in the 1978 NBA draft, Larry Bird still has to be considered the biggest steal in the proud franchise's history.ย
Bird played for the Celtics throughout his entire career and proved that he was not only deserving of the first overall pick in that draft but also that he was one of the greatest players to ever put on a basketball jersey.ย
Larry Legend was a three-time MVP, a 12-time All-Star, a three-time NBA Champion and so much more. The amount of accolades he received throughout his career is simply staggering.ย
Charlotte Bobcats: D.J. Augustin
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Since the Charlotte Bobcats have only been a franchise since 2004, they don't exactly have an extensive draft history to choose from. Even worse, most of the prospects they've deemed worthy of spending a pick on have not been high quality players, or at least have not been high quality players in a Charlotte jersey.ย
One of the few successful picks has been point guard D.J. Augustin, the Bobcats No. 9 pick in the 2008 NBA draft.ย
Augustin made the All-Rookie Second Team after his first year in the league but then suffered through a brutal sophomore season before blossoming this year. After the 2010-2011 regular season drew to a close, Augustin's per game averages were 14.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.ย
Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan
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Whenever you can draft the greatest basketball player of all time with the third overall pick, as the Chicago Bulls did when they selected Michael Jordan in 1984, it has to be considered a steal.ย
Remember, even the top lottery picks of every draft are still gambles. More players turn out to be busts than superstars.ย
When the Bulls picked MJ, they hoped that he would develop into a long-time player who made a couple All-Star teams and maybe helped win a championship. Even they had to be surprised when he left the team after winning six titles, making 14 All-Star teams and winning five MVPs.ย
Cleveland Cavaliers: Mark Price
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When Mark Price's tenure as the point guard of the Cleveland Cavaliers ended, he had made four All-Star teams and been selected to the All-NBA First Team once.ย
A very consistent shooter, especially from the free-throw line, Mark Price surpassed any and all expectations that were levied upon him when he was selected in the second round of the 1986 NBA draft by the Cavs.ย
Over the course of his career, which included three seasons split between the Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors and Orlando Magic, Price averaged 15.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists.ย
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki (Kind Of)
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Sure, Dirk Nowitzki was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 9 pick of the 1998 NBA draft, but he was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a three-way deal that also included the Phoenix Suns, Robert Traylor, Pat Garrity and Steve Nash.ย
So in the end, Nowitzki might as well have been drafted by the Mavericks, with whom he's spent his entire career. For the purposes of this slideshow, let's just say he was.ย
The winner of the 2007 MVP, Nowitzki has become one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He's a 10-time All-Star and has made the team every single year since 2002. In fact, the only thing keeping him from being considered legendary is a lack of postseason success.ย
Denver Nuggets: None
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Now I'm probably exaggerating a little bit here, but the Denver Nuggets have never legitimately had a draft-day steal. In fact, they have one of the most putrid records around when it comes to evaluating college, high school and international talent.ย
If you really wanted to push it, you could argue that either Dikembe Mutombo or Carmelo Anthony was a steal. The former was picked No. 4 in the 1991 NBA draft while the latter was selected at No. 3 in the 2003 NBA Draft.ย
But to prove the point, we're going to go ahead and say that the Nuggets have no draft steals to speak of.ย
Detroit Pistons: Dennis Rodman
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Winning two of his five NBA Championships as a member of the Detroit Pistons, Dennis Rodman was just as good (if not better) during his time spent with his first team, even if many people remember him for his tenure as Michael Jordan's sidekick on the Chicago Bulls.ย
The Worm was drafted in the second round of the 1986 NBA draft by the Pistons and would go on to make two All-Star teams as a contributing member of that team before he bolted for San Antonio.ย
In fact, Rodman's best statistical season came during the 1991-1992 season, when he posted seasonal averages of 9.8 points and 18.7 rebounds per game.ย
Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis
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One of the best scorers and quickest players in the NBA, Monta Ellis had to wait all the way until the 40th pick of the 2005 NBA draft to hear his name called by the Golden State Warriors.ย
Coming directly from Lanier High School that year, Ellis was rather unheralded compared to many of the other players selected, but he's put many of them to shame.ย
He's shown consistent improvement during his six seasons in the NBA, averaging 6.8, 16.5, 20.2, 19.0, 25.5 and 24.1 points per game as his career has progressed.ย
Houston Rockets: Calvin Murphy
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At just 5'9", Calvin Murphy is the shortest player ever to be selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame, but he made every single inch of his body count during his 13-year career with the San Diego Rockets, who would become the Houston Rockets during his time there.ย
Murphy was drafted 18th overall in 1970, making him the first pick of the second round that year. With his quickness, great shooting from the foul line and defensive ability, Murphy managed to make just one All-Star team, but he was good enough to have his No. 23 jersey retired by the Rockets.ย
The guard averaged 17.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game during his career. Not too bad for a second-round pick.ย
Indiana Pacers: Reggie Miller
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The greatest player in the history of the Indiana Pacers, Reggie Miller was not drafted until the 11th pick of the 1987 NBA draft rolled around. He would remain on the team that selected him until he retired at the end of the 2004-2005 season.ย
At that point, Miller was the NBA's all-time leader in made three-pointers, a record that would later be surpassed by the Boston Celtics' Ray Allen with the long-time Pacer in attendance.ย
Miller, a five-time All-Star, averaged 18.2 points, three rebounds and three assists per game over the course of his career.ย
Los Angeles Clippers: Randy Smith
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Most famous for holding the consecutive games played streak at 906 until A.C. Green broke it, Randy Smith played for the Buffalo Braves, a team that would later become the Los Angeles Clippers, for the majority of his career.ย
After barely making the roster, Smith managed to put up 13.4 points per game during his rookie season and then kept improving until he had his finest season during the 1975-1976 campaign. That year, Smith averaged 21.8 points per game and was named to the All-NBA Second Team.ย
Sure, the Clippers have had better players drafted over the course of their length history, but it's tough to beat the value they got from this seventh-round selection.ย
Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant (Kind Of)
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Just like with Dirk Nowitzki earlier, Kobe Bryant was technically drafted by a different team, but he may as well have been selected by the one he plays for now. This time, it was Charlotte that did the original drafting with the No. 13 pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, but the Hornets later revealed that they had agreed to trade Bryant to the Lakers before the pick was even made.
Since that unfortunate decision, at least in the minds of Lakers haters, Bryant has dominated for the purple and gold. At this point in his career, Bryant is averaging 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game while still in the hunt for a sixth NBA Championship.ย
Bryant is unquestionably a first ballot Hall of Famer and will be in the discussion for the greatest player of all time. He's an NBA MVP and a 13-time All-Star among other things.ย
Memphis Grizzlies: Bryant Reeves
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Only around since 1995, the Grizzlies, both the Vancouver and Memphis versions, have not had too much success in the draft. In fact, the first pick they ever made may very well be their best value pick, even if it wasn't a huge steal.ย
Bryant Reeves, a huge center from Oklahoma State, was the franchise's first pick, taken with the No. 6 pick of the 1995 NBA Draft. He played for the team until he retired midway through the 2001 season.ย
Weight problems and injuries hampered Big Country throughout the last three seasons of his career, bringing his numbers down to the still respectable career averages of 12.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.ย
Miami Heat: Grant Long
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Another relatively new franchise, the Miami Heat have only been around since 1988, and the management hasn't selected too many players that have stuck around long enough with consistent success to be considered draft day steals.ย
In fact, the biggest steal came in the first draft in which the Heat participated when Miami took Eastern Michigan forward Grant Long with the 33rd pick of the draft. The second-rounder would go on to play at South Beach for the first six seasons of his career.ย
His best season came in 1991-1992 when he averaged 14.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Milwaukee Bucks: Michael Redd
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A Milwaukee Buck since he was drafted in 2000, Michael Redd became the biggest steal of that draft, the biggest steal in Milwaukee's history and the best player from the 2000 draft class. That's pretty impressive for a player who wasn't selected until the 43rd pick, right in between Olumide Oyedeji and Brian Cardinal.ย
Redd's best season, at least awards-wise, came in 2004 when he made the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team. Throughout his productive career, Redd is averaging 20 points, four rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.ย
A member of the U.S. National Team, Redd hasn't been a superstar, but he's been a very good player throughout his career.ย
Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Garnett
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Now that we're so used to seeing Kevin Garnett wear Celtic-green and help his team advance in the playoffs, it's hard to remember that he struggled away in vain in Minnesota for the first 12 years of his career.ย
Garnett was taken directly out of high school when he was drafted by the Timberwolves with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NBA Draft. Since then, he made Minnesota very happy they picked him while proving that he could easily have been justifiably taken first overall.ย
The power forward was the NBA's MVP in 2004 and is now a 14-time All-Star. He is undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer who is averaging 19.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists throughout his career.ย
New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez
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Still just 23 years old, Brook Lopez has blossomed before our eyes these last two years and is now one of the better centers in the NBA.ย
After putting up respectable numbers during his rookie season, posting 13 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, Lopez exploded for 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during his sophomore year in the NBA. This season, he maintained the high level of production with 20.4 points and six rebounds per game.ย
Lopez, whose twin brother Robin also plays in the league, was drafted with the No. 10 pick of the 2008 NBA draft after a productive career at Stanford.ย
New Orleans Hornets: David West
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Ever since he was drafted out of Xavier with the No. 18 pick of the 2003 NBA draft, David West has been an outstanding member of the New Orleans Hornets in every way.ย
West is a two-time All-Star after making the team in both 2008 and 2009, but he is deserving of a few more berths in my opinion. After all, the power forward is averaging 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game during his ongoing career ,and the numbers are all trending upwards.ย
The former Musketeer is one of the more underrated players in the league right now, so it's only fitting that he was underrated by general managers trying to decide who to draft back in 2003.ย
New York Knicks: Willis Reed
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A Hall of Famer and member of the 1997 "50 Greatest Players in NBA History," Willis Reed spent all 10 seasons of his illustrious career with the New York Knicks.ย
During his time in the city that never sleeps, Reed won two championships, was selected as an All-Star seven times, won the league MVP award and played well enough to have his No. 19 jersey retired by the team.
Reed was selected in the second round of the 1964 NBA draft, making him quite the steal. ย
Oklahoma City Thunder: Rashard Lewis
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Remember that before the team was whisked away to Oklahoma City, the franchise was located in Seattle and known as the SuperSonics.ย
Back during that time, which seems forever ago now, the Sonics made one great draft steal when they selected current Washington Wizard member Rashard Lewis. Drafted 32nd overall in the second round, the guard spent nine stellar seasons in Seattle before departing for the opposite end of the country.ย
He made one All-Star team while wearing the green jerseys of the Sonics and had his best statistical season in 2006-2007 when he averaged 22.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.ย
Orlando Magic: Nick Anderson
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From one former Magic member to another we go.ย
Nick Anderson was drafted by Orlando with the 11th pick of the 1989 NBA draft after doing all he could in college at Illinois. He would go on to spend 10 seasons in Orlando before moving on to the Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies.ย
Anderson may be best remembered for choking, missing four consecutive free throws at the end of an NBA Finals game against the Houston Rockets, but he was a much better player than that. For two straight seasons he averaged 19.9 points per game, even scoring 50 points off the bench in one contest.ย
When he retired in 2002, he did so with career averages of 14.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.ย
Philadelphia 76ers: Chet Walker
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The Philadelphia 76ers have historically been very successful with the draft, but the biggest steal of all was finding the hidden gem known as Chet Walker with the second-round pick of the 1962 NBA draft. Well, more accurately, the Syracuse Nationals found the gem but would later become the Philadelphia 76ers.ย
Chet the Jet spent the majority of his career playing for the team that drafted him but also spent a good bit of time with the Chicago Bulls. Before he switched teams, Walker helped the 76ers to an NBA title and made three of the seven All-Star Teams he was eventually selected to.ย
Over the course of his career, the speedy guard and forward averaged 18.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
Phoneix Suns: Steve Nash
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Little did they know when they selected Steve Nash with the 15th pick of the 1996 NBA draft, but the Phoenix Suns would be getting one of the best point guards to ever dribble a basketball and look for open men to pass to.ย
One of the most cerebral players in the game, the Canadian guard from Santa Clara spent just two years in Phoenix before moving to the Dallas Mavericks. He would spend six seasons playing in the Lone Star State before returning to the Suns, where he quickly became one of the best players in the game.ย
During his second stint in Phoenix, Nash won two MVP Awards and made five All-Star Teams. His stats are ridiculously good as he's one of the only players in the league to average double-digit assists on a consistent basis.ย
Portland Trailblazers: Clyde Drexler
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Clyde Drexler spent 15 years playing basketball in the NBA, 12 of which were with the Portland Trail Blazers, who drafted him with the No. 14 pick in the 1983 NBA draft.ย
Most of the teams that picked above the Trail Blazers probably look back with regret at the fact that they passed up on Drexler.ย
Clyde the Glide played in 10 All-Star Games, eight of which came during his tenure with Portland. He failed to win a championship there, but he left his mark on the game, a mark that will be preserved forever along with his selection into the Basketball Hall of Fame.ย
Over the course of his career, Drexler averaged 20.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.ย
Sacramento Kings: Nate "Tiny" Archibald
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As you may expect from a guy named Tiny, Nate Archibald was known more for his breathtaking speed than his physical build. In fact, he was only 6'1".ย
But what Archibald lacked in size, he made up for in skill. That's what the Cincinnati Royals (who would later become the Sacramento Kings) were hoping for when they selected the UTEP guard in the second round of the 1970 NBA draft.ย
During the six seasons that he spent with the franchise, Archibald managed to make three All-Star Teams and the same number of All-NBA First Teams.ย
His Hall of Fame career ended with averages of 18.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game.ย
San Antonio Spurs: Manu Ginobili
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One of the all-time biggest draft steals, Manu Ginobili was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 57th pick of the 1999 NBA Draft. Without him, the Spurs would not have put together the dynasty that they did.ย
Part of three championship-winning teams in San Antonio, Ginobili has been a very consistent player throughout his career. He has only made the All-Star Team twice, but he is perennially a vital contributor to his team.
At 33 years of age, the Argentine has a few more productive years left in the league, but for now he's averaging 15.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.ย
Toronto Raptors: Morris Peterson
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Because the Toronto Raptors have only been around since 1995, they have a rather limited selection of draft picks to choose from. With the exception of the peak of the Vince Carter years and the end of the Chris Bosh reign, the Raptors have failed to make much noise in the NBA and part of the reason has been the lack of draft day success.ย
One exception to that rule though was Morris Peterson, who was selected out of Michigan State in 2000 with the 21st pick.ย
Peterson made an immediate impact, as shown by his inclusion on the All-Rookie First Team after his inaugural season in the league. All in all, he spent seven years playing for the Canadian team before moving on to greener pastures.ย
The forward had his best season in 2005-2006 when he averaged 16.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.ย
Utah Jazz: John Stockton and Karl Malone
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The Utah Jazz have been one of the better sources of talent evaluation throughout the history of this sport that we all know and love.ย
This can be shown by the fact that I absolutely cannot chose whether their bigger steal was John Stockton or Karl Malone.ย
Stockton, a guard from Gonzaga, was the No. 16 pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. He enjoyed a 19-year career with Utah that saw him earn Hall of Fame status after putting together virtually unbreakable career assist and steal totals.ย
Arguably one of the greatest point guards of all time, Stockton made 10 All-Star Teams and retired in 2003 with career averages of 13.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 10.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game.ย
Malone, on the other hand, was a forward from Louisiana Tech and was picked with the No. 13 pick in the 1985 NBA Draft. He spent 18 years with the Jazz before finishing up his career with one year as a Los Angeles Laker.ย
One of the greatest power forwards ever, The Mailman scored more points than anyone not named Kareem Abdul-Jabaar during a career that saw him named to 13 All-Star Teams and 10 All-NBA First Teams. The two-time MVP retired in 2004 with career averages of 25.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.ย
Malone was a little bit better than Stockton, but then again, Stockton was drafted a little bit farther down.ย
Washington Wizards: Andray Blatche
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In the 2005 NBA draft, Andray Blatche, a power forward who skipped college for the NBA, slipped out of the expect first-round range and was finally selected by the Washington Wizards with the 49th pick of the draft.ย
Blatche was shot three months later and the injuries kept him out of training camp, forcing him to split time between the big league roster and the D-League affiliate, the Roanoke Dazzle. It took Blatche a few years to become accustomed to play at the NBA level, but he started to break out during his third season when he received more minutes and finally averaged double-digits in points.ย
This past year, Blatche finally started in the majority of the games he played and the gamble Washington took paid off in a big way. The big man averaged 16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks per game, all career highs.ย
Still only 24 years old, Blatche looks to be on the verge of a successful NBA future.ย
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