By Ben Austin
The 2003 NBA draft was without a doubt the best draft of the last decade, and arguably one of the top three in the league’s history. So, after last night’s 2010 draft lottery (poor John Wall), and the looming post season that puts some of the top players from this draft into free agency, I’ve decided to take a second look at this draft class.
This draft had it all. From the top 10 picks alone has come a king, one ring, 5 all-stars, and two of the worst picks of all time. Not to mention the 4 high schoolers that broke into the first round and the fact that one-third of the players in this draft brought along foreign passports.
So here, in all its glory, is how the 2003 NBA draft should actually have gone down.
#1. Cleveland Cavaliers – LeBron James (28 pts, 7 ast, 7 reb) (forward)
This has to be, at this point, the most obvious pick in the last twenty years. Although he may be leaving this year without giving the Cavs a championship, the king won consecutive MVP awards while elevating his team into the playoffs five times, and his city into the national spotlight, during his reign.
#2 Detroit Pistons – Carmelo Anthony (25 pts, 3 ast, 6 reb) (forward)
(actual pick) – Darko Milicic (5.5 pts, 1 ast, 4 reb) (F-C)
I know, I know, hindsight is 20-20, but come on! Had they gone with Carmelo, rather than Darko Milicic (who you won’t even find on this list), the Pistons would STILL be one of the top teams in the league. With a duo of future all-star guards and the Wallace’s underneath, Melo would have fit in nicely as a big scorer in the small forward spot. As obvious as this pick seems now, you can’t entirely fault the Piston’s management on this one: they ended up winning the NBA championship the next year regardless.
#3 Denver Nuggets – Dwyane Wade (25 pts, 6 ast, 5 reb) (guard)
(actual pick) – Carmelo Anthony (25 pts, 3 ast, 6 reb) (F)
Wade, the only player in the top 10 picks with a ring, would have fit in well anywhere, particularly alongside Andre Miller and Nene. Rather than picking up 30-year-old Voshon Lenard to fill in the two-guard spot for a couple years, the Nuggets would have had the best combo guard in the league for seven years.
#4 Toronto Raptors – Chris Bosh (20 pts, 2 ast, 9.5 reb) (forward-center)
The Raptors have no regrets… at least in this draft. While they are still a very mediocre squad, Bosh scratched and clawed his way into the playoffs twice, dragging his team behind him. As free agency approaches, expect Bosh to jump out of Jurassic Park and start over with a new team and a big contract.
#5 Miami Heat – David West (16 pts, 2 ast, 7 reb) (forward)
(actual pick) – Dwyane Wade (25 pts, 6 ast, 5 reb) (G)
Even though he got off to a slow start, West’s stats skyrocketed in his third year, a jump that probably should have won him the Most Improved Player of the Year Award in 2006. Whether it was the inspirational survivors of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, or his new teammate Chris Paul, something lit a spark under West that sent him soaring into all-stardom.
#6 Los Angeles Clippers – Mo Williams (14 pts, 5 ast, 3 reb) (guard)
(actual pick) – Chris Kaman (11 pts, 1.5 ast, 8.5 reb) (C)
Williams, who was actually drafted 47th overall, may have come out of college a bit prematurely. However, with forwards Corey Maggette and Elton Brand leading the Clippers, and no point guard in sight, Mo would have been able to make an immediate impact in L.A. As a small, speedy guard with good court vision, he would have had a field day from the beginning, much like he has in the last two seasons with LeBron and the Cavaliers.
#7 Chicago Bulls – Kirk Hinrich (13.5 pts, 6 ast, 3.5 reb) (guard)
For a team that already had two over-size guards, bringing in Hinrich to run the point was a good move. Averaging 12 points and 7 assists as a rookie, Kirk was responsible for some much needed scoring on a team ranked dead last in offense in 2004. Those numbers only improved until the Bulls brought in phenom Derrick Rose in 2008.
#8 Milwaukee Bucks – TJ Ford (12 pts, 6 ast, 2.5 reb) (guard)
Even though some more athletic guys, who have had better stats, were still available, there is no question the Bucks made the right choice in taking Ford. On a roster that was packed to the brim with forwards, and highlighted by Michael Redd, Ford fit in perfectly, dishing out nearly 7 assists a night in his rookie season. Even a broken neck couldn’t stop Ford, as he has continued to sustain a high level of play through numerous injuries.
#9 New York Knicks – Chris Kaman (11 pts, 1.5 ast, 8.5 reb) (center)
(actual pick) – Michael Sweetney (6.5 pts, 0.5 ast, 4.5 reb) (F)
Rather than picking up a hand full of mediocre centers, including an ancient Dikembe Mutombo, or wasting their pick on the even worse Michael Sweetney, the Knicks would have loved to have Chris Kaman. Although he hasn’t gotten much national attention until this year, Kaman has put up solid numbers for the last five years, with his best season coming in 2008 when he averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks a game.
#10 Washington Wizards – Josh Howard (15 pts, 2 ast, 6 reb) (forward)
(actual pick) – Jarvis Hayes (8 pts, 1 ast, 3 reb) (F)
Although Jarvis Hayes provided them with a bit of offense in the four years after being drafted by the Wizards, Howard, who plays the same position, has put up much better numbers throughout his career. It does seem a bit odd, however, that nearly every other team overlooked him as well, allowing Howard to fall to the Mavericks with the final pick in Round 1 (29th overall), after he logged 20 points and 8 rebounds a game his senior year at Wake Forest.
11. Golden State Warriors – Leandro Barbosa (12.5 pts, 2.5 ast, 2.5 reb) (G)
12. Seattle SuperSonics – Boris Diaw (9.5 pts, 4 ast, 5 reb) (F)
13. Memphis Grizzlies – Luke Ridnour (9.5 pts, 5 ast, 2.5 reb) (G)
14. Seattle SuperSonics – Kyle Korver (10 pts, 1.5 ast, 3 reb) (F)
15. Orlando Magic – Steve Blake (7.5 pts, 4 ast, 2 reb) (G)
16. Boston Celtics – Travis Outlaw (9.5 pts, 1 ast, 3.5 reb) (F)
17. Phoenix Suns – Mickael Pietrus (9 pts, 1 ast, 3 reb) (G-F)
18. New Orleans Hornets – Nick Collison (8 pts, 1 ast, 6.5 reb) (F)
19. Utah Jazz – Jason Kapono (7.5 pts, 1 ast, 2 reb) (F)
20. Boston Celtics – Kendrick Perkins (6.5 pts, 1 ast, 6 reb) (C)
21. Atlanta Hawks – Carlos Delfino (7 pts, 1.5 ast, 3.5 reb) (G)
22. New Jersey Nets – Nick Collison (8 pts, 1 ast, 6.5 reb) (F)
23. Portland Trail Blazers – Jarvis Hayes (8 pts, 1 ast, 3 reb) (F)
24. Los Angeles Lakers – Matt Bonner (7 pts, 1 ast, 3.5 reb) (F)
25. Detroit Pistons – Marcus Banks (6 pts, 2 ast, 1.5 reb) (G)
26. Monnesota Timberwolves – Luke Walton (5.5 pts, 2.5 ast, 3 reb) (F)
27. Memphis Grizzlies – Zaza Pachulia (7 pts, 1 ast, 5 reb) (C)
28. San Antonio Spurs – Dahntay Jones (6 pts, 2 ast, 3 reb) (G)
29. Dallas Mavericks – Sasha Pavlovic (5.5 pts, 1 ast, 2 reb) (G-F)
Overtime on ETIN 