NBA Draft History: The Five Best Drafting Franchises of the Last Decade
Selecting players in an entry draft is never perfect. A franchise would be lucky to have a player selected in the first round become a starter and remain with the team past the duration of his rookie contract. Many teams build through free agency and trades as most players are not with the original team that selected them.
However, the foundation of any franchise is built through the draft. Just look at the teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers, both of which planted the seeds of a champion with players they selected in the late 90's.
The Spurs selected Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili in 1998 and 1999 while the Los Angeles Lakers selected Kobe Bryant and Derrick Fisher in the 1996 draft.
Here is a look back at the best drafting teams of the last decade.
5. Los Angeles Clippers
1 of 5The Clippers? Yes, the Los Angeles Clippers. The fact that they are a perennial league bottom dweller puts them on this list by default because they normally select high in the draft, but that does not guarantee that a good selection will be made. But they have drafted many good players since 2000.
In 2001 they selected Tyson Chandler, though he was traded to the Chicago Bulls shortly after. The core of their team was put into place in 2003 when Chris Kamen was selected sixth overall out of the University of Central Michigan. In 2008, guard Eric Gordan was picked with the sixth overall pick, while center DeAndre Jordan was picked in the second round and has proven to be a serviceable young big man.
They managed to win the Blake Griffin sweepstakes in 2009 and selected him with the first overall pick. The 2010 draft yielded Al-Farouq Aminu with the eighth overall pick. All of these guys have the potential to raise the Clippers from NBA oblivion to notoriety.
4. New Orleans Hornets
2 of 5The New Orleans Hornets picked one of the best point guards in the league in 2005 when they made Chris Paul the cornerstone of their franchise.
He was teamed with 2003's first round pick David West who was selected 18th overall. Numerous other players have been picked by the Hornets, but their careers were short lived.
The likes of Jamal Magloire, J.R. Smith, Darren Collison, Darrell Arthur and Branden Bass each had their names called by the Hornets and have turned in good careers to date.
3. Atlanta Hawks
3 of 5The Hawks have put together a competitive team toward the latter part of the decade with their wise draft decisions.
Beginning with Josh Smith who was selected 17th overall in the first round right from high school. Following Smith were the selections of Marvin Williams, taken second overall in 2005, Al Horford, selected third overall in 2007, and Jeff Teague picked 19th overall in the 2009. Each player has played a vital role in the resurgence of the Hawks in recent years.
2. Chicago Bulls
4 of 5The third-year point guard Derrick Rose took the league by storm this season winning the 2011 MVP award. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2008 draft has lived up to all the hype.
Joakim Noah, who was picked ninth overall in 2007, has became a good big man in the league with his development, while the 26th overall selection in 2009, Taj Gibson, has the potential to hold down the forward position for years to come in the Windy City.
The Bulls will be a favorite to compete for a championship for the foreseeable future.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
5 of 5Oklahoma City has made major strides since their move from Seattle. Nick Collison has spent his whole career with the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise, and was drafted 12th overall in the 2003 draft.
The selection of the 2007 Naismith Player of the Year Kevin Durant with the second selection in the same year's draft has been the best decision the franchise could have made. Coupled with the selections of Russell Westbrook fourth overall and Serge Ibaka 24th overall in the 2008 draft.
The Thunder made another heady decision when they selected James Harden third overall in the 2009 draft. All of these players create the makings of a league juggernaut for years to come. This garners OKC as the No. 1 drafting team.
