Fansided

Late draft picks thriving in the 2017 NBA Playoffs

By Andrew Tobolowsky

Apr 10, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after being called for a technical during the third quarter against Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena. The Jazz won 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after being called for a technical during the third quarter against Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena. The Jazz won 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

When it comes to team building, fans of the game everywhere agree you want those sweet low draft picks. And you do, you absolutely do. Any list of the top four or five players in the 2017 playoffs, one now gon’ fishin’, would include Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Durant and LeBron James, all of whom were top four picks. So was John Wall, Bradley Beal and even Otto Porter. You can’t spell Washington BwizardsFT without NBA Draft.

On the other hand, if these playoffs have shown us anything, it’s, first, that drafting still isn’t nearly the science it sometimes seems to be these days, and, second, that even really late picks can play a big role in turning your team around. This year has been, for late picks, an absolute coming out party and for my money that’s one of the most underappreciated stories of these playoffs.

Read More: Isaiah Thomas and the strange second round of the NBA Playoffs

Let’s say that, acknowledging time is an illusion caused by gravity, the NBA decided to have a draft tomorrow for every player in the playoffs but you could only draft guys as high as they went the first time. You would be amazed at the kind of teams you could build.

And let’s get to it:

Mid-lottery picks

For a team who’s been bad, but not terrible, it’s easy to think you should have been worse to up your odds of a Russ Westbrook type fella. But if you were drafting players from this particular playoffs, you might be surprised to find Stephen Curry still on the board at No. 7. If you were just a little better than that, you could still have DeMar DeRozan or Gordon Hayward at No. 9, CJ McCollum or Paul George at No. 10, not to mention Klay Thompson at No. 11. How’s that for consolation prizes?

Late-lottery picks

How many of the best players in the playoffs this year were late lottery picks? That depends on where you have Giannis and Kawhi, both No. 15 picks, on your personal rankings. I’m betting Kawhi’s in most people’s top four, and Giannis tops the list of who will be there soon. Just miss the playoffs and get one of these two guys? Yes, please.

Late first round picks

The Utah Jazz, after Hayward, pretty much built through the late first round, and so did the Raptors. How does Gobert at No. 27, George Hill at No. 26 and Rodney Hood at No. 23 sound? How about Kyle Lowry or Serge Ibaka at No. 24? What about Tony Parker at No. 28? Jimmy Butler, for my money is the best player in this very impressive group and he was pick No. 30. That’s ridiculous. You’re ridiculous. Don’t forget Avery Bradley at No. 19, or Clint Capela at No. 25.

Early-to-mid second rounder

Hoo boy. Draymond Green at No. 35? Jae Crowder at No. 34? You’re getting D’d up by these guys, guaranteed. Also, maybe wear a cup.

In the mid-forties, you could have Danny Green (46), Trevor Ariza (43) or Pat Beverley (42). You’re uh… also getting D’d up. Maybe just… I don’t know, pray or something.

Late second round picks

If you were so good, you only had late picks, you could still add to your impressive haul in the late first round with an extraordinary group of players here. The Spurs, as everybody knows, have benefited for a long time from the services of Manu Ginobili — pick No. 57 overall in his draft — but did you know that Patty Mills, “younger, worse Tony Parker,” went No. 55?

Next: The Clippers have been great but never great enough

And that’s just the start! Marc Gasol, the hero of a certain very strange section of NBA twitter, went No. 48 overall. The great Paul Millsap, bulwark of the Falcons, went No. 47. Joe Ingles, who played the third most minutes for the Jazz this year wasn’t even drafted. And if there’s a breakout star of this year’s playoffs, it’s Isaiah Thomas, who went No. 60 overall. He’s been underappreciated his whole career until, you know, basically yesterday, but it’s always been because of how he looks (short), not how he plays.

So, if you’re out there, and you’re not a Warriors or Cavaliers fan, I’m sorry to tell you your team isn’t going to win. But don’t despair. You never know where you might find the next great NBA star.

Home/NBA