Countdown to the 2009 NBA Draft: Revisiting the 2004 NBA Draft

[mfbmike]

The 2004 NBA Draft marked the biggest influx of high school entries in league history, which resulted in a series of busts, unexpected gems and troublesome stories. Five years ago, the Orlando Magic agonized over the No. 1 pick with high school product Dwight Howard competing with UConn's Emeka Okafor. Howard was a rather unknown entity with an amazing body while Okafor just led the Huskies to the NCAA title and had established himself as the most dominant force in college basketball.

So many teams made mistakes in this draft while others landed standout players. What the 2004 NBA Draft taught general managers is that they needed to improve in their scouting of high school players because they would become a major factor in the next few years.

The Magic obviously made the right choice in Dwight Howard, he's made the All-Star team 3 times and led the Magic to the NBA Finals.

The way it was:

1) Dwight Howard – Orlando
2) Emeka Okafor – Charlotte
3) Ben Gordon – Chicago
4) Shaun Livingston – Los Angeles Clippers
5) Devin Harris – Washington
6) Josh Childress– Atlanta
7) Luol Deng – Phoenix
8) Rafael Araujo – Toronto
9) Andre Iguodala – Philadelphia
10) Luke Jackson – Cleveland
11) Andris Biedrins – Golden State
12) Robert Swift – Seattle
13) Sebastian Telfair – Portland
14) Kris Humphries – Utah

The way it should have been:

1) Dwight Howard – Orlando
2) Emeka Okafor – Charlotte
3) Al Jefferson – Chicago
4) Andre Iguodala – Los Angeles Clippers
5) Kevin Martin – Washington
6) Ben Gordon – Atlanta
7) Luol Deng – Phoenix
8) Devin Harris – Toronto
9) Josh Smith – Philadelphia
10) Jameer Nelson – Cleveland
11) Andris Biedrins – Golden State
12) Josh Childress – Seattle
13) Trevor Ariza – Portland
14) Delonte West – Utah

 

[Archer]

Once again .... Nicely done Mike

You would have Childress over Ariza?

 

[mfbmike]

Ariza's good in the Lakers system. It's hard to say if he can play the same way anywhere else.

Childress was a standout defensive player. Unfortunately, he went to greece. Horribly dumb move by Hawks GM to let him go.

Ariza and Childress are pretty close as far as talent goes at this point imo.

/flame suit on

 

[mfbmike]

J.R's off the court troubles keep him out of the lottery.

Okafor still needs to develop but is still a standout defensive center. Yeah, Big Al can drop 20/10 a night but his defense isn't exactly on par with Emeka's.

 

[SuperNova854]

I bet you a million dollars the Clippers would have taken Harris over Iggy. They needed a pg thats why they took Livingston.

 

[SuperNova854]

Cassell didnt come until the next season. They probably woudlnt have traded for Cassell if they got Harris

 

[SuperNova854]

Yeah then Sam Cassell came over and did wonders. Who was the SG at the time.

There SG was Kerry Kittles who would have been great if he wasn't injured the whole season.

 

[CB4]

Rafael Araujo :doh:

 

[FirstTimer]

not feeling the Al Jefferson to chicago pick only because no one knew that he would become the type of player he is now at the time

That's the point.................

 

[A Tasty Burgerr]

I think Harris would slip to 4th or 5th if teams knew how he was today, but its close.

 

[mfbmike]

Luke Jackson tried to make the Blazers 15 man roster last offseason but got beat out by Shavlik Randolph. Luke played with the Heat as well a couple years back.

passing on brook lopez last year was absolutely moronic.

Wow, I didn't even think of that until now. Jesus christ. uke:

 

[A Tasty Burgerr]

I wanted to punch a baby after the Bucks passed on Lopez and picked Potsie instead.

 

[Rudi]

Word has it the Kings are considering Flynn at 4. Crazy.