In Retrospect... | The 2006 NBA Draft

People say that you can determine whether a player is legit or a bust after three years in the league. This season is the third year for the 2006 NBA Draft Class.

How It Went

1. Toronto Raptors

Andrea Bargnani: I questioned this when it happened. Now my thoughts are confirmed.

2. Chicago Bulls

Tyrus Thomas: Spectacular playmaker in one year at LSU.

3. Charlotte Bobcats

Adam Morrison: The infamous stache.

4. Portland Trail Blazers

LaMarcus Aldridge

5. Atlanta Hawks

Shelden Williams

6. Minnesota Timberwolves

Brandon Roy

7. Boston Celtics

Randy Foye

8. Houston Rockets

Rudy Gay

9. Golden State Warriors

Patrick O'Bryant

10. Seattle Supersonics

Saer Sene: Who?

11. Orlando Magic

J.J. Redick: Why?

12. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets

Hilton Armstrong

13. Philadelphia 76ers

Thabo Sefolosha

14. Utah Jazz

Ronnie Brewer: Steal.

15. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets

Cedric Simmons

16. Chicago Bulls

Rodney Carney

17. Indiana Pacers

Shawne Williams

18. Washington Wizards

Oleksiy Pecherov

19. Sacremento Kings

Quincy Douby

20. New York Knicks

Renaldo Balkman

21. Phoenix Suns

Rajon Rondo

22. New Jersey Nets

Marcus Williams

23. New Jersey Nets

Josh Boone

24. Memphis Grizzlies

Kyle Lowry

25. Cleveland Cavaliers

Shannon Brown

26. LA Lakers

Jordan Farmar

27. Phoenix Suns

Sergio Rodriguez

28. Dallas Mavericks

Maurice Ager

29. New York Knicks

Mardy Collins

30. Portland Trail Blazers

Joel Freeland

Notable Second Rounders

36. Minnesota Timberwolves

Craig Smith

42. Cleveland Cavaliers

Daniel Gibson

47. Utah Jazz

Paul Millsap

49. Denver Nuggets

Leon Powe

After a Three-Year Trial Period, How It Should've Went...

1. Brandon Roy

Already an All-Star. Centerpiece star for up and coming Blazers.

2. Rudy Gay

Potential to be an All-Star. High-flying swingman.

3. Rajon Rondo

Already owns an NBA title as a starting point guard. Not too shabby.

4. LaMarcus Aldridge

Another great piece to the Blazers puzzle.

5. Ronnie Brewer

Has emerged as a quality starting shooting guard.

6. Randy Foye

Injury troubles, but skill is there. Foye is a solid starter in the league.

7. Paul Millsap

Great second round find. Could do decent job replacing Carlos Boozer.

8. Jordan Farmar

I see an Andre Miller type player in Farmar.

9. Craig Smith

Not a starter but a tenacious player.

10. Daniel Gibson

"Booooooooobie"

11. Andrea Bargnani

A seven footer who averages four boards a game for his career. Really?

12. Leon Powe

For some reason, I love his game. Another contributor to the World Champs.

13. Kyle Lowry

In a tough situation in Memphis. Could excel elsewhere.

14. Tyrus Thomas

Flashes of brilliance. More flashes of bust.

15. Josh Boone

A decent backup big man.

(Here is where it starts getting ugly...)

16. Hilton Armstrong

Good as fourth big.

17. Sergio Rodriguez

Perennial trade bait.

18. Shelden Williams

Note to GM's: Don't draft Duke boys too high.

19. Adam Morrison

Elite shooter in college only shooting 38 percent in pros.

20. Renaldo Balkman

Pesky player. Nice complementary guy on a good team.

21. Rodney Carney

One of the most athletic players in the NBA. Besides that, he has no game.

22. Thabo Sefolosha

An NBA player from Switzerland? Come on.

23. Marcus Williams

Marcus Williams is the guy whom I thought could be great, but has not played well in the league. Already traded, not much going on in Golden State.

24. J.J. Redick

Most memorable play in the NBA...airballing a layup. Don't draft Duke boys.

25. Mardy Collins

Initiated Nuggets-Knicks brawl. That's about it.

26. Quincy Douby

End-of-rotation-type guy.

27. Cedric Simmons

Barely plays anymore.

28. Shawne Williams

Off-court troubles has staggered on-court success.

29. Maurice Ager

Limited playing time, developmental player.

30. Patrick O'Bryant

NCAA Tournament star never quite panned out.

The Trail Blazers and Jazz are definitely very satisfied with their draft class of 2006. Portland was able to get a perennial All-Star in Brandon Roy and another guy who could take his game to that level in LaMarcus Aldridge. Utah solidified the guard and forward positions by drafting steals in Ronnie Brewer and Paul Millsap.

Rajon Rondo is my steal of the class, though. The kid was criticized immensely after leaving college. He was too weak, a poor shooter, couldn't run an offense, etc. Now look. An NBA Finals victory and the kid is off and running, posting his first career triple-double last week. Having Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen does help things a bit.

Overall, this class is definitely not one of the stronger ones in history. Andrea Bargnani as the No. 1 pick? You get my point.