Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls - Top Team Drafts in the last Decade: NBA Featured Report (Part-1)
In this years’ NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers hit the jackpot and had the luxury of choosing two among the top five picks. After weeks of speculations, in which many combinations were fabricated by the NBA moguls, the Cavs
went for a traditional route over the number one draft pick and brought in the consensus favourite Duke Point guard Kyrie Irving.
However, much to the surprise of everybody, the Cavaliers roped in Texas power forward Tristan Thompson fourth overall. At 6 ft 9 in, Tristan is considered by many analysts as an eccentric choice for a power forward.
With most of the dominating power forwards in the league like Kevin Love, Pau Gasol, Chris Bosh and Zach Randolph standing at or near seven, the young rookie is sure to be butchered on the post. What makes it worse is that, the
paint play is already his biggest drawback, with the exception of jump shooting off course. What’s more is that, like most big men around the league (if you consider him big that is), Tristan struggles from the stripe and has been a below 50 percent shooter
in his collegiate career.
However, the Cavs and their scouts must have seen something in the Canadian big and who know that sometime down the years, the duo of Irving and Tristan might bring back the glories of the LeBron James era to the wine and gold,
or perhaps, even go a step further.
For now, we will look as some of the best team drafts of the last decade.
Orlando Magic – Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson
For the last few years, there has been a serious debate going on in the NBA circles that the young players should not be allowed to make it to NBA directly from high school so that they reach a certain maturity level, both on and
off the field.
However, if you see the number one draft picks of the year 2003-04 and 2004-05, you will be inclined to believe otherwise.
What NBA procured in those two years, were athletes, who have proven themselves to be the best players of their generation.
Yes, I am talking about LeBron James and Dwight Howard.
When it comes to the best team draft, Dwight and Jameer Nelson take the lead in the last decade.
Back in the 2004 draft, the Orlando Magic franchise was at a loss, whether to pick the war hardened Emeka Okafor, who had led Connecticut to a national title last season or the young Dwight Howard, who in his four years at the
Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy for high school had established himself as the best American high school basketball player with 16.6 points per game, 13.4 rebounds per game (rpg) and 6.3 blocks per game in 129 appearances.
Thankfully for the Magic, they went with a player, who is at present a five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA team selection and three-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
Emeka Okafor is a superb player in his own right. He is a monster on the paint and his rebounding and shot blocking skills can be compared with the best in the league. But, if anyone compares him to the Superman, quite honestly,
he will laughed out of the room.
Howard made his impact from the very first season. He racked up an average of 12 points and 10 rebounds per game, becoming the first rookie ever to have a double-double season.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
Tags: