The “What If” Draft – Part Two

Here is part 2 of my “What If” Draft that I know you have all been dying to read. Enjoy!

1995

The Blazers Pick (#11): Gary Trent PF, Ohio

Best Available Player: Michael Finley SF, Wisconsin (#21)

Effect-O-Meter: -3, The Trailblazers initially had the 8^th pick which ended up being Shawn Respert, but they swapped with Milwaukee for pick #11 which was Gary Trent. I wanted to give this a -4 because I was a huge Michael Finley fan, but -4 is pushing into that franchise altering stage, and I don’t think he was quite that player.

Honorable Mention: Theo Ratliff, Greg Ostertag, Kevin Ollie, Brent Barry (a great role player draft if I ever saw one)

1996

The Blazers Pick (#17): Jermaine O’Neal C, Eau Claire HS

Best Available Player: Ben Wallace C, Virginia Union (Undrafted)

Effect-O-Meter: 0, This is a tough one. Jermaine O’Neal went on to have a great career, probably better than anyone picked after him, but his time with the Blazers was quite rocky. Ben Wallace was undrafted and blew all expectations away, not sure if he would have been a better choice overall, but thought I could point him out.

Honorable Mention: Derek Fisher (I can’t give it to a career 8 PPG and 3 APG guy), “BIG Z” Ilgauskas

1997

The Blazers Pick (#47): Alvin Williams G, Villanova

Best Available Player: N/A

Effect-O-Meter: 0, Alvin Williams did basically nothing for Portland. I would say this hurt them because it was somewhat like a wasted pick, but in the long run, it probably didn’t effect them much at all due to the fact that there was no one else on the board that produced much after Mr. Williams.

1998

The Blazers did not have a pick in this draft, therefore we have nothing to discuss here.

1999

The Blazers Pick (#52): Roberto Bergersen G, Boise State

Best Available Player: Manu Ginobili SG, Argentina (#57)

Effect-O-Meter: -3.5, Manu Ginobili, although my most hated player, is one of the better players in the last 15 years in the NBA. He has been a huge spark off the San Antonio bench, and missing out on him has got to make Portland fans wonder WHAT IF. The one thing I will say here is that he was the second to last pick in the draft, so you can’t necessarily fault Portland for passing on him because it took the Spurs love for international players to finally get someone to pick him up.

Honorable Mention: Raja Bell (What the hell, he clothes-lined Kobe, doesn’t that earn him something?)

2000

The Blazers Pick (#28): Erik Barkley PG, St. Johns

Best Available Player: Michael Redd SG, Ohio State (#43)

Effect-O-Meter: -2, I only say this because Michael Redd had some HUGE scoring numbers (27 PPG) for a while, before his knees decided to call it quits (unless you play 2k because in that game he could still shoot 10/10 from the 3 PT even if he didn’t have legs).

2001

The Blazers Pick (#19): Zach Randolph PF, Michigan State

Best Available Player: Tony Parker PG, France (#28)

Effect-O-Meter: -2, This might not deserve such a low rating because Randolph posted 20 and 10 numbers for a couple years with Portland, but he was such an off the court issue, and Tony Parker has turned out to be so damn good at basketball and cheating on his hot wife that I just think you have to look at it as a downgrade.

Honorable Mention:  Gerald Wallace, Gilbert Arenas AKA “I could have been so much better if I didn’t bring a gun into my locker room for no apparent reason”

2002

The Blazers Pick (#21): Qyntel Woods SF, Northeast Mississippi Community College

Best Available Player: Carlos Boozer PF, Duke (#35)

Effect-O-Meter: -1, I hate giving Carlos “No D” Boozer any love, even though he is from my home state of AK, but the guy did have some crazy good years with D-Will in Utah, and he is a big upgrade over Qyntel “ Who?” Woods.

Honorable Mention: Tayshaun Prince, Luis Scola

2003

The Blazers Pick (#23): Travis Outlaw SF, Starkville HS

Best Available Player: Mo Williams PG, Alabama (#47)

Effect-O-Meter: 0, Travis Outlaw was no where near the player that Portland fans had hoped for but he wasn’t terrible; and Mo Williams was good but nothing to cry about not getting.

Honorable Mention: Kendrick Perkins, Josh Howard

2004

The Blazers Pick (#13): Sebastian Telfair PG, Lincoln HS

Best Available Player: Al Jefferson C, Prentiss HS (#15)

Effect-O-Meter: -3, I have always been extremely high on Al Jefferson. This guy was always overlooked in Utah; but was finally able to show just how good he was by carrying a lowly Charlotte team to the playoffs last season. His upgrade over Sebastian Telfair was substantial. I would have given this to Josh Smith, but his jump shot is so awful that I couldn’t put him above Big Al.

Honorable Mention: Josh Smith, JR Smith, Dorell Wright, Jameer Nelson