I want to do one of these for every NBA team. This is a look at every missed chance each team had during each year’s draft, starting from 2000 to the present. I’m not accounting for at the time roster needs, trades, or exact pick numbers. I’m strictly showing who each team picked, and who was left on the board after they made their pick. Some of these are surprising. I also know that some, if not most, of these players listed developed later in their career as an NBA player. Again, I strictly want to show who each team missed out on and how different the present day NBA could be if different choices were made. Please Enjoy.
2000: (drafted Erick Barkley)
- Michael Redd
2001: (drafted Zach Randolph, Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje) *would’ve kept Randolph
- Tony Parker
- Gilbert Arenas
2002: (drafted Qyntel Woods, Jason Jennings, Federico Kammerichs)
- Tayshaun Prince
- Carlos Boozer
- Matt Barnes
2003: (drafted Travis Outlaw, Nedzad Sinanovic)
- Josh Howard
- Mo Williams
- Kyle Korver
2004: (drafted Sebastian Telfair, received Viktor Khryapa from New Jersey, drafted Sergei Monia, Ha Seung-Jin)
- Al Jefferson
- Josh Smith
- J.R. Smith
- Jameer Nelson
- Tony Allen
- Trevor Ariza
2005: (drafted Martell Webster, drafted and traded Linas Kleiza to Denver for Jarrett Jack)
- Andrew Bynum
- Danny Granger
- David Lee
- Monta Ellis
- Amir Johnson
- Marcin Gortat
2006: (drafted and traded Tyrus Thomas to Chicago for LaMarcus Aldridge, received Brandon Roy from Minnesota, received Sergio Rodriguez from Phoenix, drafted Joel Freeland, drafted and traded James White to Indiana) *would’ve kept Aldridge/Roy
*After Freeland…
- Paul Millsap
2007: (drafted Greg Oden, received Rudy Fernandez from Phoenix, drafted Josh McRoberts, Taurean Green)
- Kevin Durant
- Al Horford
- Mike Conley
- Jeff Green
- Joakim Noah
- Thaddeus Young
- Arron Afflalo
- Marc Gasol
2008: (drafted and traded Brandon Rush to Indiana for Jerryd Bayless, received Nicolas Batum from Houston for Joey Dorsey)
2009: (drafted Victor Claver, received Jeff Pendergraph from Sacramento for Jon Brockman, drafted Dante Cunningham, drafted Patty Mills)
- Taj Gibson
- DeMarre Carroll
- Danny Green
2010: (received Luke Babbitt from Minnesota, drafted Elliot Williams, Armon Johnson)
- Hassan Whiteside
- Lance Stephenson
2011: (drafted Nolan Smith, Jon Diebler)
- Kenneth Faried
- Nikola Mirotic
- Reggie Jackson
- Jimmy Butler
- Isaiah Thomas
2012: (drafted Damian Lillard, Meyers Leonard, Will Barton, drafted and traded Tyshawn Taylor to Brooklyn) *would keep Lillard
- John Henson
- Jared Sullinger
- Jae Crowder
- Draymond Green
- Khris Middleton
2013: (drafted C.J. McCollum, received Allen Crabbe from Cleveland, Jeff Withey, drafted and traded Grant Jerrett to OKC) *would keep McCollum/Crabbe
2014: (No Draft Picks)
2015: (drafted and traded Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to Brooklyn for Pat Connaughton)
Analysis: The big highlight area in Trailblazers draft history is obviously 2007. What if they took Durant over Oden? Portland would look a lot different with that choice. Instead, they took a chance on Oden. Without knee troubles, Oden could’ve been a huge piece to building the Blazers future dynasty. Damian Lillard is their guy now. After losing Aldridge, Batum, Wesley Matthews, and others, Lillard manned the helm for the playoff berthed Blazers this season. He is the real deal. Portland might attract some big name players after Lillard’s play and Stotts signing a contract extension this week. The Blazers have some drafting woes for sure, but due to their play of late, their future shines bright in the tough Western Conference.
John Van Dam 5/17/2016
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