There have been many mistakes made in past NBA Drafts. The 2001 Draft in particular featured a lot of mistakes, especially at the top of the draft. For instance, Big Forward, Kwame Brown, was said to be a superstar in the making. Yet, he never was able to live up to the hype, despite having the frame and athleticism to do so. Tyson Chandler, who was picked second overall by the LA Clippers, has had a decent career, but never became great enough for the Chicago Bulls to trade star Forward, Elton Brand, for the rookie Center.
If teams could re-draft knowing what they know now about players, here is how the 2001 NBA Draft might have looked.
1st pick: Washington Wizards selects F Pau Gasol
Gasol was the Rookie of the Year in 2001 and has had a stellar career with career stats of 18.7 ppg, 8.6 rbpg and 1.8 bspg, while shooting 52% from the field. Gasol also led the Spanish national team to a FIBA World Games Championship.
2nd pick: LA Clippers selects G Gilbert Arenas
Arenas showed a lot of skill at the University of Arizona, but his stock slipped because he was labeled a "tweener," or a player who doesn't really fit in one position at the NBA level. He ended up being taken with the second pick of the second round by the Golden State Warriors and made teams pay for passing on him with career averages of 22.8 ppg, 4.2 rbpg, 5.5 apg and 1.8 spg.
3rd pick: Memphis Grizzlies selects PG Tony Parker
One could certainly make a case for Tony Parker being selected above Arenas on this list. Regardless, Parker slid all the way to the late first-round, where he was selected by the San Antonio Spurs. He's helped the Spurs win multiple NBA Championships in his career. Parker has career averages of 16.3 ppg, 5.6 apg, while shooting 49% from the field.
4th pick: Chicago Bulls selects G Joe Johnson
The Bulls ended up taking high school Center, Eddy Curry, with this pick, and while Curry had all the tools to be something special, he didn't have the work ethic to be great. Joe Johnson, on the other hand, has been the leader for the Atlanta Hawks for some time now, with career averages of 16.9 ppg, 4.2 rbpg, 4.4 apg.
5th pick: Golden State Warriors selects G Jason Richardson
Richardson was actually taken with the fifth pick by the Warriors, and played much of his earlier career with Golden State. Known for his high-flying, acrobatic dunks, and even winning two consecutive Slam Dunk titles, Richardson became a fairly decent three-point threat, too. His career averages are 18.7 ppg, 5.3 rbpg, 1.8 treys per game.
6th pick: Memphis Grizzlies selects F Gerald Wallace
Wallace is an intense player, who really didn't come into his own until being drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats in an expansion draft. Since then, he's dealt with injuries here and there, but is mostly known for his athleticism. His career averages are 12.0 ppg, 5.2 rbpg, 1.5 spg.
7th pick: New Jersey Nets selects C Mehmet Okur
Not many knew about Okur, so it was no surprise to see him slip to the second round. Okur made a believer out of everbody after posting career averages of 13.7 ppg, 7.2 rbpg, while hitting nearly one trey per game.
8th pick: Cleveland Cavaliers selects C Tyson Chandler
Chandler has had a nice career thus far when he's been healthy. Like many big men, however, health has been an issue. Still he's posted solid numbers, especially since joining the New Orleans Hornets. His career averages are 8.2 ppg, 9.0 rbpg, 1.4 bspg, while shooting 56% from the field.
9th pick: Detroit Pistons selects F Zach Randolph
Randolph is an offensive machine on the low block, and he has a solid jumper, too. The biggest criticism of Randolph has been his decision-making and lack of defense. He's known for committing more turnovers than a power forward ought to, while not being very good at passing out of a double team. Also, while he's an excellent rebounder, he's slow on his feet and isn't always the best low block defender. That being said, he's posted nice career number offensively, 16.6 ppg, 8.2 rbpg, while shooting 47% from the field.
10th pick: Boston Celtics selects FG Richard Jefferson
Jefferson is an athletic, fairly versatile slasher, who never really crossed into stardom, but has still had a nice career. His career averages are 17.4 ppg, 5.3 rbpg.
11th pick: Boston Celtics selects FC Troy Murphy
The Celtics took Kedrick Brown with this pick, even though many other excellent players were still on the table. Oops. Hindsight is 20/20, of course. Murphy has proven to be a solid rebounder with a great shot for a big, with career averages of 11.4 ppg, 8.2 rbpg, and 1.8 treys per game.
12th pick: Seattle Supersonics selects F Shane Battier
While Battier hasn't dazzled at the offensive end, he's solid enough to make him a threat. Where Battier really shines is at the defensive end and intangibles of the game. Battier has posted career averages of 10.1 ppg, 4.8 rbpg, 1.2 spg, 1.0 bspg.
13th pick: Houston Rockets selects C Samuel Dalembert
While Dalembert hasn't been a star, he's been extremely solid at the defensive end. Remember, centers come at a premium in the NBA. Dalembert's career averages are 8.2 ppg, 8.1 rbpg, 2.0 bspg, while shooting 53% from the field.
