NBA Draft: Re-Drafting the Lottery Picks from 2003

The 2003 NBA draft is well known due to LeBron James being the consensus first overall selection, but there are other reasons it is often discussed.

With the Detroit Pistons swinging and missing on Darko Milicic at second overall, it's incredible to think that this lottery included names like Michael Sweetney, Jarvis Hayes and Marcus Banks.

There wasn't a ton of talent throughout the selection process, as the group was a little more shallow than some other seasons, but there were certainly enough that teams within the first 14 picks had to do a double-take down the road.

14. Seattle SuperSonics (From Milwaukee): Darko Milicic, Center

Original Pick: No. 2 overall, Detroit (from Memphis)

Milicic was built up to be a can't-miss European prospect, but his career to this point should be an illustrative sign that even the most hyped-up prospects from abroad may not excel stateside.

To his credit, Milicic has shown flashes of potential, and as he's still just 26 years old, the center does have some time to develop more consistency.

He should've never gone second overall, and the fact that he makes the lottery in a re-draft should tell be a message about how poor the talent crop from this group was as a whole.

13. Memphis Grizzlies (Traded to Boston): Travis Outlaw, Guard/Forward

Original Pick: No. 23, Portland

New Jersey fans who were hoping to see an instant source of offense in the lineup were really let down during Outlaw's first season with the team, and now he's a leading candidate to be an amnesty cut.

After originally being drafted by Portland, Outlaw displayed some intriguing ability from the perimeter, but health problems have limited his ability to contribute early in his career.

He'll be looking to thwart his negative label going forward, and as another player who still has time on his side (27 years old), his stock has nowhere to go but up.

12. Seattle SuperSonics: Leandro Barbosa, Shooting Guard

Original Pick: No. 28, San Antonio (traded to Phoenix)

It's amazing how well the Spurs seem to hit the nail on the head when it comes to drafting international players, and Barbosa is just another excellent example.

While he's battled nagging wrist trouble, Barbosa has proven to be a fantastic spark in the second unit, and his ability to stretch the floor is really something to be valued.

It would have been interesting to monitor his development had he not gone to a run n' gun offense, but there's no questioning his ability to contribute on the offensive side of the ball.

11. Golden State Warriors: Boris Diaw, Guard/Forward

Original Pick: No. 21, Atlanta (from Indiana)

Diaw is one of the most versatile players in the league despite the fact that he really doesn't get credit for being so, and his ability to play multiple positions offers a myriad of lineup combinations for whatever team he is on.

While some have knocked him for looking a little on the plus side recently, Diaw is not a player who needs to be in premiere physical condition in order to get the job done.

He can score, pass and hold his own on the defensive end, and had he gone to the Warriors, Diaw almost certainly would have fared very well.

10. Washington Wizards: Josh Howard, Guard/Forward

Original Pick: No. 29, Dallas

Howard doesn't get the love that he used to due to knee problems that have hampered his recent production, but this is a guy who everyone wanted on their team during his peak in Dallas.

His innate talent is obvious, and assuming he is fully healthy, Howard could really surprise a lot of people with his ability to contribute off the bench.

He's unlikely to broach the 20-point plateau on a regular basis, but that doesn't mean that he can't be a valuable contributor down the stretch.

9. New York Knicks: Mo Williams, Point Guard

Original Pick: No. 47, Utah

There's always at least one guy who falls way further than he should in the draft, and Williams is the one to claim that honor from 2003.

Williams has really asserted himself as a very capable point guard in the league, and it didn't take him very long to do so.

He could have solved the point guard problem in New York long before it became an issue, and despite the fact that he's not a prolific passer, Williams is an asset within the right offense.

8. Milwaukee Bucks (From Atlanta): Kirk Hinrich, Point Guard

Original Pick: No. 7, Chicago

Hinrich often gets undervalued in some circles because he's been so quietly productive over the course of his career, but it's clear that he's gotten it done in every stop along the way.

He really produced right out of the gate for Chicago upon being drafted, and it didn't take long to see why he was considered a sought after prospect coming out of Kansas.

His basketball IQ is one of the best in the game, and there's no doubt that he's going to bring that wherever he may move next.

7. Chicago Bulls: Kendrick Perkins, Center

Original Pick: No. 27, Memphis (from Sacramento via Orlando, traded to Boston)

Big Perk has been a popular subject of scrutiny since arriving in Oklahoma City at last season's trade deadline, but that shouldn't be the measuring stick for his ability to impact a game.

While some drastically overrate his skill set, he does have a distinct ability to leave his imprint on a game and serves as the enforcer inside that Oklahoma City was definitely missing.

He fell to the end of the first round because he was coming straight out of high school, but now it's clear that a lottery team looking for size should've probably rolled the dice.

6. Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Kaman, Center

Original Pick: No. 6, Los Angeles

For once, the Clippers got it right in the draft.

Kaman's combination of size and skill is not something that can be found very often, and it's easy to see why Los Angeles made Kaman the pick originally in 2003.

Although he has struggled with some injuries over the last few years, Kaman is still really effective, but teams considering him (he has an expiring contract in 2012) will be looking to see if he can return to his 2007-08 level (15.7 points, 12.7 rebounds) before contemplating a potential pursuit.

5. Miami Heat: David West, Power Forward

Original Pick: No. 18, New Orleans

Xavier might not be a traditional powerhouse for producing standout basketball talent, but David West deserved to be drafted well ahead of his original slot.

After earning an increased role in his third season in the league, West took off immediately, and he has done nothing but produce since that time.

Now an unrestricted free agent, it will definitely be interesting to see where he lands, but he could've done some serious damage down in Miami had the Heat not been able to land Dwyane Wade.

4. Toronto Raptors: Chris Bosh, Power Forward

Original Pick: No. 4, Toronto

Toronto Raptors fans are going to hate seeing Bosh in this spot, but the team made the right call when it tabbed him the former franchise face.

Unfortunately, the club now finds itself in a tough position following his departure to Miami, but Bosh's contributions during his time in Canada were tremendous, and it's fair to say that the team got exactly what it had hoped for upon making him the pick.

There's no question that he deserved to be a top five pick, and at the time, there was clearly a case that he was going to have a larger impact than Wade.

3. Denver Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony, Small Forward

Original Pick: No. 3, Denver

Just like the Bosh selection that precedes this one, Nuggets fans are going to cringe at this sight.

There was no question that Anthony really should have been the second overall pick in 2003, but the Pistons went with Milicic ahead of him at least partially because the club already had a young Tayshaun Prince on the roster.

Well, that may have been a mistake for Detroit, but Denver was happy that the Pistons decided to pass.

Although his tenure with the team ended on the rocks, Anthony is rightfully in his No. 3 spot.

2. Detroit Pistons (From Memphis): Dwyane Wade, Shooting Guard

Original Pick: No. 5, Miami

Just imagine the Detroit Pistons with Dwyane Wade as the franchise face.

It's almost inconceivable to fathom the idea that Wade could've ended up in a Pistons uniform, but the opportunity was there for the franchise to make that scenario a reality.

Although he wasn't thought to be an iconic player coming out of Marquette, it's clear that his game is on a level that Milicic's will never even sniff.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James, Small Forward

Original Pick: No. 1, Cleveland

There was never, ever a question that Cleveland was going to entertain any other thought in the first spot outside of LeBron James.

He was so can't-miss that no matter what team wound up with the top spot it was going to be James wearing that jersey, and the Cavs hit the jackpot when the team landed him on the roster.

It's a shame that the club couldn't surround him with the necessary supporting cast to realistically contend for a title, because if he had a little bit more help than some cut and paste pieces on a year-to-year basis, who knows if James would have ever gone to Miami?

A championship changes a lot of things.