1998 Draft revisited

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

The 1998 NBA draft produced some solid NBA talent. Five current or former All-Stars (Jamison, Carter, Nowitzki, Pierce, Lewis), at least four borderline All-Stars (Bibby, Hughes, Harpring [2003-04], Mobley), several career starters/very good role players (LaFrentz, Williams, Wells, Nesterovic, Davis, Skinner, Lue, Harrington, Alston), and several other solid "will-always-have-a-job"-type role players (Traylor, Doleac, Garrity, Mohammed, James, Patterson).

So what, right? Well, the thing that caught my attention was the sudden realization that, if you recognize that Nowitzki was technically drafted by Milwaukee, there are only two players from that entire draft that are still playing for the team that drafted them: Paul Pierce and Rashard Lewis. Every other player from that draft has either left the team that drafted them as a free agent, or been traded at least once.

As someone who would prefer to see players spend their entire career with one franchise, this troubles me. And I don't see it getting better...

 

[iheartBrad]

yup

it is really crazy to think about

 

[LPKingsFan]

I think that draft and the 2003 draft will be remembered as being some of the better drafts in recent years. You're right though, it's interesting to see so much player movement. I really don't know what can be made to change it. Maybe the 20 year rule will have an effect, as players will be more seasoned and ready to log major minutes from the start, allowing teams to build around draft picks easier. We all know that GP has build and retooled the Kings primarily through free agency. Has this seemed to have been the trend throughout the league?

 

[Gargamel]

There's only 4 guys on their original teams from 1999 (original team being the first they played for). Only 4 from 2000. Then a big surge with 16 from 2001.

 

[BobbyJ_for3!]

am i going crazy? Wasnt T-Mac also drafted in 98? and traded for Vince Carter?

i prolly am...maybe it was 99 he was drafted..... please help me by enlightening me... i prolly only need it cuz its late and my brain is off

 

[BBallGrl15]

I don't remember what year T-Mac was drafted but I know he wasn't traded for Vince because they played together in Toronto.

 

[VF21]

am i going crazy? Wasnt T-Mac also drafted in 98? and traded for Vince Carter?

i prolly am...maybe it was 99 he was drafted..... please help me by enlightening me... i prolly only need it cuz its late and my brain is off

You need to bookmark these sites:

www.basketballreference.com

www.82games.com

www.nba.com

You can find tons of information at each of them.

 

[Mad D]

am i going crazy?

yes

Wasnt T-Mac also drafted in 98? and traded for Vince Carter?

never, how could they play together in Toronto.

i prolly am...maybe it was 99 he was drafted..... please help me by enlightening me... i prolly only need it cuz its late and my brain is off

TMac was drafted before Vince

 

[Superman]

McGrady came out in '97, I believe. Bet you the Raptors are fuming over letting him walk.

 

[Gargamel]

McGrady came out in '97, I believe. Bet you the Raptors are fuming over letting him walk.

They did fume, but because they couldn't stop him from walkin. Kind of hard for Toronto to compete with sunny Florida.

 

[Superman]

Same difference, you LAKER fan!!!

 

[LPKingsFan]

Jamison and Carter were teammates in North Carolina, and were swapped for each other on draft night.

 

[AleksandarN]

Well if you look at the 1996 draft (btw the most talented draft ever) 5 current or former allstars are playing for the team that orginally drafted them. So it is not that bad.

 

[KKSloga]

Well if you look at the 1996 draft (btw the most talented draft ever) 5 current or former allstars are playing for the team that orginally drafted them. So it is not that bad.

Sorry but 84 draft was way better. Hakeem, Jordan, Perkins, Barkley, Stockton, Otis Thorpe, Kevin Willis, Alvin Robertson, Jerome Kersey. Thats 3 members on the original dream team. Holla!!

 

[Gargamel]

Sorry but 84 draft was way better. Hakeem, Jordan, Perkins, Barkley, Stockton, Otis Thorpe, Kevin Willis, Alvin Robertson, Jerome Kersey. Thats 3 members on the original dream team. Holla!!

Four members. Akeem.

 

[bojan_pecanac]

The 1996 draft was the best. Just look at the players.

 

[PT Cruiser 9ROC]

Jamison and Carter were teammates in North Carolina, and were swapped for each other on draft night.

The women they are marrying are also sisters, which is incredibly weird. So they were teammates, draft night trade buddies, and now brothers-in-law. It's a small-world....

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Four members. Akeem.

First things first:

THERE WAS ONLY ONE DREAM TEAM!!!

Secondly, Olajuwon played for the 1996 Olympic Team, not the Dream Team.

 

[Gargamel]

Disagree. The 96 squad got the job done like Bacardi and Cola.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Doesn't matter; it still wasn't a "Dream Team."

 

[Gargamel]

Doesn't matter; it still wasn't a "Dream Team."

Yeah it was. Just wasn't as good as the first.

 

[BobbyJ_for3!]

Jamison and Carter were teammates in North Carolina, and were swapped for each other on draft night.

ok, that's what happened.... thank you for clearing it up...i feel stupid

btw, Go CAL!!!

 

[GoGoGadget]

Speaking of the 1998 draft...

man, I bet the Clippers wish they could do it all over again.

Especially right now.

 

[Mad D]

Speaking of the 1998 draft...

man, I bet the Clippers wish they could do it all over again.

Especially right now.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1998/draft/ ''How sweet it is! Clippers select Olowokandi with No. 1 pick.''

 

[AleksandarN]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1998/draft/ ''How sweet it is! Clippers select Olowokandi with No. 1 pick.''

It would not have mattered because the Clippers would still let go anyone they would have drafted

 

[Mad D]

It would not have mattered because the Clippers would still let go anyone they would have drafted

thats true, but I think the caption was hilarious

 

[Superman]

Doesn't matter; it still wasn't a "Dream Team."

Word.

There has only been - and will only be - ONE DREAM TEAM. It's hard to imagine any other team measuring up, and even if one does, it won't be "The Dream Team". Sorry.