The 2018 NBA Draft took place yesterday. Media outlets around the world are grading what happened 24 hours ago despite the fact that none of the players has played a minute of NBA action. To quote Eddie Murphy, "It's just so ridiculous."
We have made a habit of grading NBA Drafts five years after they happen. So let's review the 2013 NBA Draft...
One thing that is immediately noticeable is that the majority of teams and their panel of experts were wrong with their assessments. The best player in the draft, Giannis Antetokounmpo was picked 15th. Only two of the 60 players drafted have become NBA All-Stars, and a whopping nine of the 60 drafted have never played a minute in the NBA. Furthermore, the were 22 undrafted players that have played in at least one-game in the NBA.
Giannis Antetokounmpo should have been the first pick
So without further ado... Here is our highly subjective Hoop Obsession reboot of the 2013 NBA Draft.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo - The "Greek Freak" clearly should have been selected first. He went 15th. Give the Milwaukee Bucks credit for, with ONE PICK, changing their franchise trajectory. The Bucks went 15-67 in 2013-14 and last season they were 44-38 and in the Playoffs for three of the last four seasons. Antetokounmpo is a two-time NBA All-Star, and he has been All-NBA second team member for the last two seasons. ...The first pick in reality was Anthony Bennett. Yikers!
2. Victor Oladipo - Oladipo had a resurgent season in Indiana after a detour through Oklahoma City. He was picked second in 2013 so Orlando was right on the money. Unfortunately for the Magic, they traded Oladipo, the pick that was Domantas Sabonis, and Ersan Iyasova to Oklahoma City for Serge Ibaka. ...Oladipo didn't mesh well in OKC and they traded him (and Sabonis) to Indiana for Paul George. Oladipo had his best season by far in 2017-18, making All-NBA third team, and leading the NBA in steals. He was on the NBA All-Defensive first team.
3. Rudy Gobert - Gobert should have been third but he was not selected until the 27th pick. Gobert is a two-time member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team. From a value standpoint, Gobert was a GREAT pick by the Utah Jazz. He is a franchise anchor on defense for one of the league's best defensive squads. ...Otto Porter was the third pick in 2013.
4. Steven Adams - He climbed up the draft board in 2013 and wound up being taken 12th. In hindsight, that was eight picks too late. Adams has played in the Playoffs four of his five years in the NBA, bringing toughness to the paint in Oklahoma City. ...Cody Zeller went fourth in 2013.
5. C.J. McCollum - McCollum went tenth in the 2013 NBA Draft. The former Lehigh star had some injury concerns that may have scared off some teams. It turns out McCollum was the 2016 Most Improved Player and he is a part of one of the best backcourts in the NBA. ...Alex Len was the fifth pick in 2013.
McCollum was a nice pick from a non-power conference.
6. Otto Porter Jr. - Porter signed a four-year, $106.5 million dollar contract in the summer of 2017. He is a starter on a Playoffs team. ...The sixth pick in 2013 was Nerlens Noel.
7. Mason Plumlee - He made the All-Rookie Team in 2013-14, and has since bounced around a bit (Brooklyn, Portland), but Mason Plumlee is presently a rotation player for the Denver Nuggets. He fell to 21st in 2013. ...The seventh pick was Ben McLemore.
8. Gorgui Dieng - Dieng lost time last season to Taj Gibson but prior to that he was a starter for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dieng went 22nd in 2013, but he should have been picked higher. ...The eighth pick in 2013 was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
9. Dennis Schroder - Schroder was the 17th pick in the 2013 Draft. He has turned out to be one of the better guards taken. Trey Burke was selected ninth.
10. Robert Covington - One of the biggest misses by NBA front offices was Robert Covington. He was not drafted but has returned top-ten draft value as a pick up by the Philadelphia 76'ers.
11. Kelly Olynk - After being drafted 13th by Boston and playing four seasons, Olynk played his first season in Miami in 2017-18. He signed a four-year $50 million contract last July. ...The eleventh pick in 2013 was Michael Carter-Williams.
12. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - KCP received a bunch of minutes in Detroit that he probably did not deserve. He played four seasons in the Motor City before signing a one year deal with the Lakers.
13. Alex Len - Len went fifth, as the second Center selected. In hindsight, Len was, at best, the fifth pivot that should have been taken.
14. Michael Carter-Williams - "MCW" started his career with a bang. He was the 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year. His career has not aged well. He is now on his fourth team in five seasons (Philly, Milwaukee, Chicago and Charlotte). ...Shabazz Muhammad was the 14th pick in 2013.
15. Cody Zeller - The Hornets were the Bobcats when they took Cody Zeller fourth in the 2013 NBA Draft. Five years later, Zeller is still in Charlotte, playing as a reserve.
Selections beyond the top-15 in our reboot would be: 16 - Tim Hardaway Jr, 17 - Nerlens Noel, 18. Trey Burke, 19. Dewayne Dedmon, 20. Allan Crabbe, 21. Ben McLemore, 22. Matthew Dellavedova, 23. Tony Snell, 24. Andre Roberson, 25. Shabazz Muhammad, 26. Solomon Hill, 27. Shane Larkin, 28. Mike Muscala, 29. James Ennis III, 30. Joffrey Lauvergne
In case you are wondering, Anthony Bennett, the first pick in 2013 would have been no better than the 36th player taken. His selection will go down in NBA history as one of the worst picks ever made.
