1995 Draft in Review

[Skyhooker]

Hindsight is 20-20 they say. If you knew then what you know now, I’m betting the drafts that finished years ago would be much different. This is the 1st in a series of articles that I’ll write that will recap past drafts. We start with 1995 since this group of draftees just finished out their first rookie contracts and we have a pretty solid feeling for the player these guys will be. After closer analysis, I’m guessing that 1995 was a year that most GM;s wish didn’t happen as the draft doesn’t appear to have provided many stars.
The criteria for my list is simple, if given the choice, what order you would want them to have played for your team.

1. New Jersey Nets
Actual Pick: Steve Nash.
Who it Should have been: Steve Nash
Who else? Depending on whom you talked to amongst NBA scouts, Steve Nash was either considered to be one of the more sure-fire NBA PG prospects to emerge from the NCAA over the last several years, or a flash in the pan surfer dude whose flair for the dramatic wouldn’t carry over to the rough and tumble NBA. Well, lets just say the later group of those scouts might be looking for new employment at this time of their career.
Steve’s personality (or lack thereof) and simple yet effective style of play (read: boring) have been just what teams are looking for from the PG position in today’s game. With low turnovers and a scoring game that rivals the best in the league, Steve earned himself a max contract to follow up on his rookie deal. Don’t be surprised to see MVP awards, all-star game appearances, and championships in his trophy case before he’s retired.

2. Portland Trailblazers
Actual Pick: Rasheed Wallace.
Who it Should have Been: Michael Finley
In defense of the Trailblazers, Wallace has not been what a GM would consider a miss. In fact, this might be a personal preference just for me. He has a career high 50 point game under his belt. However, given the wealth of physical tools that Wallace has at his disposal, most anticipated a higher level scorer at this level. There’s still time for improvement as he’s only 25 years old, but Rasheed’s overall demeanor on the court turns off some teams that may see him as a future superstar. Fans too seem to have a hard time warming up to him. He did manage to sign a 6 year extension this off-season, so his current team must see a bright and possible improved future there.

3. Charlotte Hornets
Actual Pick: Michael Finley
Who it should have been: Rasheed Wallace
Since day 1, Michael Finley has been the epitomy of the word consistent. A double-figure scorer in all 4 years in the league, Finley still has the potential to become a better player. Finley just signed a 7 year extension in Charlotte and at the age of 26, you just might see him play his entire career in one city. He’s only missed 3 games in 4 years which endears him to his teammates and fans alike. Finley was a member of the all-rookie team in 1995 and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him make a few all-star games before his career is over. With one championship ring already, Michael is proving he was worth a high draft pick in 1995.

4. Vancouver Grizzlies
Actual Pick: Jerry Stackhouse
Who it Should have been: Shawn Bradley
Jerry’s pre-draft analysis said, “If his attitude matches his game, he could be very very good.” He was placed into a difficult situation in Vancouver where he never really got a chance to shine. Despite repeated trade demands and even offers from other teams, Vancouver kept him at the end of their bench. He saw a young Steven Jackson, playing out of position, take minutes from him and he never recovered. Did that damage any potential future he has through a stunted growth, or was his potential really never that great coming out of North Carolina? Did his attitude become negative through years of sitting on the bench? We’ll find out soon as Jerry has found a new home in Dallas. He won’t be given the starting job here either as he’s competing with JR Rider for minutes. Knowing what we know now, would he be 4th overall. I don’t think so – late lottery probably.

I’m moving Shawn Bradley up from the number 8 spot, which is a credit to Bradley’s impressive play during his rookie contract, but also a good indication of how much this draft falls off after the first three picks. I don’t want to say Bradley’s offensive game needs work, but….Bradley’s offensive game needs work. It’s hard to place a specialist at #4 in the draft unless he’s so good at it then I have no choice. Bradley has been just what scouts thought he would be from day 1. Bradley’s toughness inside with double digit rebounds and more than 3 blocks per game over the course of his short career are what earn him my #4 pick for the 1995 draft.

5. Los Angeles Lakers
Actual Pick: Joe Smith
Who it should have been: Greg Ostertag (14th, Houston Rockets)
Yikes! Even though this draft didn’t have the most depth, there still has to be a bust named. Congratulations Joe Smith. Pre-draft analysis said this about Smith, “The man who bested Wallace for the Naismith Award this season. The Forward out of Maryland played all over the court. While he played most of his time at center, there were jumbo packages where he shifted all the way down to the Small Forward position. He had a very well developed low-post game and showed great fight getting around screens on defense and he has astounding quickness when moving out to guard the perimeter. He is very long and lanky and, when at the forward positions, racked up a fair number of rejections. While he doesn't have the top potential in this class, scouts think it isn't a worry and should find himself in a post or forward rotation for some time.” He’s still in the league, but barely. And again as a testament to the draft, even with an underwhelming career to date, he’s still a 1st rounder, but no where near #5.
Ostertag, who I’ve moved up 9 spots in my draft, is a defensive specialist much like Bradley at #4. Greg has had a couple minor injuries and perhaps had to earn his spot a little more than Bradley, so that is why I have him one spot lower. But now that he’s earned his way into a starting spot on any roster he’s a part of, his numbers are equal to Bradley, even if it’s a little more under the radar.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves
Actual Pick: Damon Stoudamire.
Who it Should have been: Fred Hoiberg (20th, Sacramento Kings)
This is a tough one. Stoudamire at 26 and 4 years in the league still looks like he should be more than he’s demonstrated so far. A recent change of scenery to NY may just give him the chance to prove he was worthy of a #6 pick. But it hasn’t been proven on the court yet, so until that happens I need to stick with another name here.

Fred Hoiberg, The Mayor, has had the offensive game for NBA from the beginning. Fred averaged double figures each of his first 3 years with the Bullets, but found himself playing fewer minutes last year. Why that is, no one knows, not even Fred. But he took it like the politician he surely will become later in life. Fred re-signed with the Bullets this year and given the opportunity surely will shine again and prove his scoring ability.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves
Actual Pick: Antonio McDyess
Who it Should have been: Eric Snow (26th, Atlanta Hawks)
McDyess seems like a guy that should be more dominant than he actually shows. Through four years in the league, McDyess has averaged in double figures only 2 years and just barely at that. His shooting percentages from the field and stripe are adequate but no better. McDyess should stick in the league for many more years but may never be a star. It looks like he may see a career high in minutes played this year in Seattle. So if there’s a chance for stardom, now is it.

Eric Snow got off to a slow start, but has shown steady increases every year in the league. He’s finally earned a steady starting job in Boston after a string of very good training camps. Snow shows some promise as an outside shooter to complement what he can do to set up his teammates. And defensively he can shut down other pg’s. He’s a little free with the ball and might lead to a poor assist-to-turnover ratio, but he’s improved in so many places to this point there’s no reason to believe he can’t improve this ratio either.

8. Denver Nuggets
Actual Pick: Shawn Bradley
Who it Should have been: Shawn Respert
I’ve already touched on Bradley. A good pick here at 8 that could’ve been higher.

Respert drew the short straw and was drafted to a Grizzlies team that didn’t want to give him a chance and he didn’t see any minutes during his 1st 2 years in the league. After that he was signed by a team with an all-star incumbent at his position in Tim Hardaway. However, Hardaway has had a slough of injuries that has given Respert a chance to show what kind of game he has. Respert averaged more than 15 points in only 26 minutes of action during the season in which he has had the most opportunity. Respert is a career 40+% shooter from 3 pt range and despite his reputation as an average defender, he has averaged more than 1 steal per game.

9. Washington Bullets
Actual Pick: Brent Barry
Who it Should have been: Brent Barry
In what’s becoming a theme for the 1995 draft, Barry was a slick-shooting swingman in college whose game hasn’t exactly grown by leaps and bounds in the league.
Barry has had his best years during his 1st two years in the league. Perhaps it was his lack of defense or lack of ability to build an all-around game, but Barry has seen his minutes decrease each year. Even in limited time Barry can still shoot the 3 pt shot and can provide instant offense off the bench. However, that seems to be the ceiling for Barry. He’ll stay in the league for a while, but never be a star by any means.

10. Orlando Magic
Actual Pick: Theo Ratliff
Who it Should have been: Antonio McDyess
Mr. Ratliff probably based on his defense alone belongs as a lottery pick, but somewhere just below 10. Ratliff has been given an opportunity during each of his 4 years in the league to be a contributor for the Magic and the Bulls. He’s only accumulated 11 double-doubles over 4 years which tells you all you need to know for a 6’10” PF that is athletic as Ratliff is. Scouts definitely did their work when they evaluated Ratliff coming out of college as everything they thought has come true to date. Ratliff defensively is a stopper and will continue to be a backup in the post for several years, but McDyess’ all-around game gives him a slight edge at this pick.


Draft Overview.
1995 will be remembered as a draft that provided a probably hall of famer in Steve Nash and 2 very good players in Rasheed Wallace and Michael Finley, a couple defensive studs in Shawn Bradley and Greg Ostertag, and possibly a whole bunch of role players after that.

Biggest Steal
Lawrence Moten #52
Shawn Respert #31

Biggest Bust
Joe Smith #5

[Brophdog88]

Respert is better than you gave him credit for, I just cant bench Timmy while I have him. Respert did 20+ ppg with solid turnover numbers when he started for me. (but so does Timmy)

[Brophdog88]

3 by the way

[lukeyrid13]

Good article

Finley could produce more each year but I play around with my DC a lot. No arguments with Nash at 1 though

[duckyoubeavers]

Eric Snow got off to a slow start, but has shown steady increases every year in the league. He’s finally earned a steady starting job in Boston after a string of very good training camps.

looks like he already lost his steady starting job

[Skyhooker]

lol - Poor Eric Snow

[UOducksTK1]

Awesome stuff, good article.

BTW, it would have been helpful to have ratings of the players now.

[Zyme]

Awesome stuff, good article.

BTW, it would have been helpful to have ratings of the players now.

+! good write up but the rating then and now really helps.