Look back at the 1987 1st round

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1987 Draft Look Back
The 1987 draft class is in the final year of their rookie deals, time to look back and see how it went (note I rounded stats because we want the general idea not the detail:

1. Indiana Pacers- David Robinson
Still on the Pacers, Robinson was the 1987 ROY, and made the 1989 All-Defense team. Last season he put up a 16/11/2 line with 4.3 BPG. This season he’s off to a hot start averaging
This is a solid return on the #1 pick, he’ll likely get maxed unless he offers to re-sign for less.


2. Los Angeles Clippers- Reggie Miller
Still on the Clippers, was 2nd team all rookie, but no other accolades, last year he put up 13/4/2.5
A decent enough player, but not the return you’d really like out of a 2nd overall pick.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves- Scottie Pippen
Traded to the Bucks for Charles Smith. No accolades, 12/7/3 last year under 2 SPG as well.
The disappointments continue, Wolves cut bait early and it looks justified, numbers are fine for a rotational SF, but you don’t go into the #3 pick hoping you get a rotational SF.

4. Milwaukee Bucks- Armen Gilliam
Still on the Bucks, All-Rookie 2nd team, put up 13/9/1 with under a BPG last year.
Decent player, 4th you don’t always get a star, good rebounder, solid scorer, but wish he brought something else to the table… either shot blocking or maybe passing.

5. San Antonio Spurs- Kevin Johnson
Still on the Spurs. Made back to back All-Star games in 1988 and 1989. 19/4/10 with 2 SPG are good numbers and his shooting is good. In a redraft have to think he’d go higher, significantly outperformed 2-4.

6. Phoenix Suns- Kenny Smith
Still on the Suns, and a star. 20/5/8 with 2.7 SPG, made 3rd team All-League in 88 and 1st team All-League in 1989, in the conversation for best player in the draft. Excellent return on the #6 pick.

7. Muggsy Bogues- Washington Bullets
Still on the Bullets, no accolades, put up 4/2/5 with 1.5 STL in over 20 MPG last year. Bullets are hoping for a year 4 breakout, but so far this is the most disappointing pick of the lottery by a wide margin, everyone else was at least a solid 4th/5th starter, Bogues was a bench guard who can’t score.

8. Charlotte Hornet- Reggie Lewis
Still on the Hornets, 12/4/3 2 STL last year, add him to the list of guys who give you fringe starter minutes. Not great for 8, but also that’s around what you hope for at #8, a solid guy.
9. New Jersey Nets- Horace Grant
Traded to the Rockets in a package for Tom Chambers. 15/9/1 last year (rounding really helps) decent return on 9 doesn’t look like a star, but solid production and a clear starting quality player.

10. New Jersey Nets- Olden Polynice
Traded to the Rockets in the package with Grant. 8/9/1 and less than a block per game last year, not terrible at 10, but you’d hope for a more clear starter here, lack of rim protection hurts.

11. Orlando Magic- Derick McKey
Still on the Magic, made the 1987 All-Rookie team but no accolades since. 5/3/1 last year in only 13 MPG, as he got passed on the depth chart by more recent lotto picks on one of the worst rosters in the league. Might not get a 2nd contract in ORL as they look to clear cap space.

12. Atlanta Hawks- Jose Ortiz
Still on the Hawks- stats are irrelevant as he played only 27 minutes all year in 1989. This guy is a bust and given his C potential, good chance he’s out of the league sooner than later.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves- Sarunas Marciulionis
Still on the Wolves, All Rookie team and no further accolades. 18/5/2 last year, guy can get buckets, any time you get a scorer like this outside the top 10 you have to feel good about it. Next contract is gonna be interesting, will Wolves pony up, or will he hit the market?

14. Sacramento Kings- Christian Welp
Still on the Kings, no accolades but 16/9/2 last year. Scoring was a big jump and may not be sustainable, but even if it isn’t he’s a solid C you can count on, good value at 14.

15. Indiana Pacers- Mark Jackson
Still on the Pacers, 2nd team All Rookie. 8/4/7 last year, 2 SPG, looks like a fringe starting PG, nice value at 15, question will be the contract and what Pacers are willing to spend to keep a non-scoring PG.

16. Atlanta Hawks- Joe Wolf
Still on the Hawks, no accolades, 4/4/1 off the bench last year. Probably not getting a 2nd contract given he’s 26, but B potential might get him a minimum offer.

17. Charlotte Hornets- Dennis Hopson
Still on the Hornets, 7/4/1 off the bench last year as he was passed by younger players. Might get a 2nd deal though as teams may bet on his defense and his Attributes showing a balanced scorer, that just hasn’t shown up on the court yet.

18. Vancouver Grizzlies- Reggie Williams
Traded to the Suns in a package for Michael Ray Richardson, then traded to the Kings in a package for Benoit Benjamin, then traded to the Magic in a salary dump. 3/2/0 in 9MPG last year, Magic appear to be trying to revive him with starting minutes (or maybe they’re just tanking) looked like a bust, but maybe Magic can turn him into a role player, not much potential left but B INS and A- DEF might turn into a bench scorer?

19. Toronto Raptors- Rickie Winslow
Traded to Sonics for Longley and filler, then to the Lakers as part of the massive Griffith trade, the Lakers then used a 1st to salary dump him on the Wolves. 8/5/2 for the Lakers after 2 years of barely playing, Wolves look to not have him in the rotation this year despite a surprise strong TC. 26 w/ B potential, feels like a guy who maybe gets the min for 1 more year?

20. Chicago Bulls- Greg Cadillac Anderson
Still on the Bulls. All-Rookie and ALL LEAGUE 3rd team as a rookie, no accolades since. 20/8/2 last year. Not much on defense, but a consistent 20 PPG scorer with good rebounding? Absolute STEAL at 20, question now is will he get a max offer after this year.

21. Miami Heat- Ken Norman
Still on the Heat. Played under 4 MPG last year, C potential, no standout attributes, likely out of the league next year. About par for 21, sometimes you get a bench player, sometimes you get nothing.

22. New York Knicks- Kevin Gamble
Still on the Knicks. A man of mystery as he debuted a new potential rating in notes. No accolades, and no minutes his full first 2 years, 4/2/1 off the bench last year. 25 with B potential so he’ll probably get a cheap deal next year and stay in the league, but no breakout for him yet. He’s got 1 more TC likely and if he doesn’t break out he’ll be out of the league.

23. Toronto Raptors- Tellis Frank
Traded as filler in a tradeback. Was one of the players who had his final year cut right after the draft, he was not signed as a FA this year and is out of the league. A bust but not unexpected at 23.

24. Denver Nuggets- Ronnie Murphy
Traded to the Grizz for Bratz and flotsam, then to the Sonics with a 2nd for Steve Kerr, trade a 3rd time Back to the Grizz with picks for Eaton and 1sts, traded a 4th time, now WITH Kerr for Sunvold and a 1st, traded AGAIN with Lampley and a 1st for Rodman. WOW my man has logged some miles. What he has not logged is many minutes, 3/2/1 in 10MPG but only 22 games last year. C potential and 26, probably done after this season.

25. Phoenix Suns- Jim Farmer
Still on the Suns, no accolades. Played 12 total minutes last year, seems like he’s gonna be done after this year given his C potential. (A- defense but plenty of wings with good defense out there).


26. Utah Jazz- Steve Alford
Traded to Wolves for Kenny Williams and Tanner Olajuwan. No accolades, 8/1/3 off the bench last year, he can shoot and is a solid passer, probably gets more minutes with Wolves this year and will get another contract. Good value for 26 where most guys around him are on their way out.

27. New Jersey Nets- Kannard Johnson
Traded to Hornets with a 1st for Mark Bryant, then the same package went for Danny Ainge, then he got cut. Out of the league. Another swing and a miss late 1st.

28. Atlanta Hawks- Winston Garland
Still on the Hawks, no accolades. 6/4/7 as a starter for the Hawks last year. Looks like the starter this year as well. Good value at 28, even if he probably should be a bench guard not a starter, any playable guy at 28 is good, he’ll get a new deal.

29. Phoenix Suns- Andre Moore
Traded with Mychal Thompson for Rex Chapman and Jim Lampley, then the same package was traded to DEN for Sly Williams and Keith Lee, 4/6/1 last year in 20 MPG (but only 30 games) looks like he’s out of the rotation now and at 26 with D potential soon to be out of the league.

Takeaways- The lottery had few outright busts with most players drafted there turning into at least role players. Best lottery values were the back to back PGs at 5 and 6, while the best value of the draft as a whole was Cadillac Williams at 20. Second half of the draft seems even uglier than usual outside of Cadillac, with a lot of true busts who contributed nothing.

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