Woulda Shoulda Coulda

I decided to look back at the last 15 years of the NBA draft lottery and relist the top ten players by the order I believe consensus NBA executives would likely have chosen with perfect hindsight. Note the earlier drafts include players who have since retired so for them I factored in how they eventually did in their careers as well as longevity. The major observation I made with these lists is how much better some draft years are than others and how rare actual NBA stars and superstars are. (actual draft selection in parentheticals).


1990

1. Gary Payton (2)
2. Antonio Davis (45)
3. Derrick Coleman (1)
4. Dee Brown (19)
5. Toni Kukoc (29)
6. Dennis Scott (4)
7. Jayson Williams (21)
8. Cedric Ceballos (48)
9. Elden Campbell (27)
10. Tyrone Hill (11)


1991

1. Dikembe Mutombo (4)
2. Larry Johnson (1)
3. Kenny Anderson (2)
4. Greg Anthony (12)
5. Dale Davis (13)
6. Steve Smith (5)
7. Rick Fox (24)
8. Luc Longley (7)
9. Terrell Brandon (11)
10. Stacey Augmon (9)


1992

1. Shaquille O'Neal (1)
2. Alonzo Mourning (2)
3. Latrell Sprewell (24)
4. Jim Jackson (4)
5. P.J. Brown (29)
6. Robert Horry (11)
7. Clarence Weatherspoon (9)
8. Tom Gugliotta (6)
9. Doug Christie (17)
10. Christian Laettner (3)


1993

1. Chris Webber (1)
2. Sam Cassell (24)
3. Allan Houston (11)
4. Jamal Mashburn (4)
5. Penny Hardaway (3)
6. Vin Baker (8)
7. Isiah Rider (5)
8. Bryon Russell (45)
9. Shawn Bradley (2)
10. Lindsey Hunter (10)


1994

1. Jason Kidd (2)
2. Grant Hill (3)
3. Glenn Robinson (1)
4. Eddie Jones (10)
5. Jalen Rose (13)
6. Juwan Howard (5)
7. Charlie Ward (26)
8. Donyell Marshall (4)
9. Brian Grant (8)
10 Aaron McKie (17)


1995

1. Kevin Garnett (5)
2. Rasheed Wallace (4)
3. Antonio McDyess (2)
4. Michael Finley (21)
5. Jerry Stackhouse (3)
6. Damon Stoudamire (7)
7. Joe Smith (1)
8. Kurt Thomas (10)
9. Theo Ratliff (18)
10. Eric Snow (43)


1996

1. Kobe Bryant (13)
2. Allen Iverson (2)
3. Steve Nash (15)
4. Jermaine O'Neal (17)
5. Ray Allen (5)
6. Stephon Marbury (4)
7. Peja Stojakovic (14)
8. Zydrunas Illgauskas (20)
9. Marcus Camby (2)
10. Antoine Walker (6)


1997

1. Tim Duncan (2)
2. Tracy McGrady (9)
3. Chauncy Billups (3)
4. Stephen Jackson (43)
5. Brevin Knight (16)
6. Tony Battie (5)
7. Tim Thomas (7)
8. Bobby Jackson (23)
9. Adonal Foyle (8)
10. Antonio Daniels (4)


1998

1. Dirk Nowitzki (9)
2. Paul Pierce (10)
3. Vince Carter (5)
4. Mike Bibby (2)
5. Rashard Lewis (32)
6. Antawn Jamison (4)
7. Cuttino Mobley (41)
8. Al Harrington (25)
9. Jason Williams (7)
10. Bonzi Wells (11)


1999

1. Elton Brand (1)
2. Shawn Marion (9)
3. Baron Davis (3)
4. Andrei Kirilenko (24)
5. Ron Artest (16)
6. Manu Ginobili (57)
7. Steve Francis (2)
8. Lamar Odom (4)
9. Richard Hamilton (7)
10. Jason Terry (10)


2000

1. Michael Redd (43)
2. Kenyon Martin (1)
3. Jamal Crawford (8)
4. Joel Przybilla (9)
5. DeShawn Stevenson (23)
6. Mike Miller (5)
7. Darius Miles (3)
8. Jamaal Magloire (19)
9. Quentin Richardson (18)
10. Morris Peterson (21)


2001

1. Gilbert Arenas (31)
2. Pau Gasol (3)
3. Tony Parker (28)
4. Jason Richardson (5)
5. Samuel Dalembert (26)
6. Joe Johnson (10)
7. Zach Randolph (19)
8. Gerald Wallace (25)
9. Richard Jefferson (13)
10. Mehmet Okur (38)/ Bobby Simmons (42)


2002

1. Yao Ming (1)
2. Amare Stoudemire (2)
3. Carlos Boozer (35)
4. Tayshaun Prince (23)
5. Drew Gooden (4)
6. Caron Butler (10)
7. Nenad Krstic (24)
8. Ronald Murray (42)
9. Mike Dunleavy (3)
10. Nene Hilario (7)


2003

1. Lebron James (1)
2. Dwyane Wade (5)
3. Chris Bosh (4)
4. Carmelo Anthony (3)
5. Chris Kaman (6)
6. David West (18)
7. Luke Ridnour (14)
8. T.J. Ford (8)
9. Josh Howard (29)
10. Kyle Korver (51)


2004

1. Dwight Howard (1)
2. Emeka Okafor (2)
3. Ben Gordon (3)
4. Josh Smith (17)
5. Jameer Nelson (20)
6. Delonte West (24)
7. Andre Iguodala (9)
8. Kevin Martin (26)
9. Josh Childress (6)
10. Shaun Livingston (4)


2005

1. Chris Paul (4)
2. Andrew Bogut (1)
3. Charlie Villanueva (3)
4. Channing Frye (8)
5. Raymond Felton (5)
6. Danny Granger (17)
7. Ryan Gomes (50)
8. Francisco Garcia (23)
9. Salim Stoudamire (31)
10. Deron Williams (3)