1978
I left Larry Bird for the next year because he belonged to that draft class. The Blazers got great help in Michael Ray Richardson to continue their search to get back to a championship level. The championship teams of Philly and LA got a big hit as two of their main players (Maurice Cheeks and Michael Cooper respectively) got drafted by different teams.
Championship Builders: Blazers, Knicks and Warriors
Biggest Jump: Michael Cooper from 60 to 3
1. Blazers -- Michal Ray Richardson (G, 4)
2. Kings -- Mychal Thompson (C, 1)
3. Pacers -- Michael Cooper (G, 60)
4. Knicks -- Maurice Cheeks (G, 36)
5. Warriors -- Reggie Theus (G, 9)
6. Celtics -- Purvis Short (F, 5)
7. Blazers -- Dave Corzine (C, 18)
8. Celtics -- Mike Mitchell (F, 15)
9. Bulls -- John Long (C, 29)
10. Hawks -- Freeman Williams (F,8)
11. Jazz -- Phil Ford (G,2)
1979
History in the making here as the Chicago Bulls drafted Larry Bird pretty much scratching the 80’s matchup between the Lakers and the Celtics. The Pistons franchise also got a big hit to their future championship run as, Seattle Sonics, took two of their main guns with the 6th and 7th pick although they got Sydney Moncrief and Mark Eaton with their picks.
Championship Builders: Lakers, Bulls, Sonics
Biggest Jump: Mark Eaton from 107 to 10th
Pick Order. Picking Team Player Selected ( Position, Original position drafted)
2. Bulls -- Larry Bird (F, 6 (1978))
3. Knicks -- Bill Cartwright (C, 3)
4. Pistons -- Syndey Moncrief (G, 5)
5. Bucks -- Calvin Natt (F, 8)
6. Sonics -- Bill Laimbeer (C, 65)
7. Sonics -- Vinnie Johnson (G, 7)
8. Nets -- Clifford Robinson (F, 11)
9. Knicks -- Dave Greenwood (F, 2)
10. Pistons -- Mark Eaton (C, 107)
11. Nets -- Jim Paxson (G, 12)
12. Blazers -- James Donaldson (C, 73)
1980
A very weak draft, pretty much a 2 player draft as the Warriors got a great power forward to pair with their center Robert Parish (weird eh?) and the Jazz and the Bulls got quality players.
Championship Builders: Warriors, Jazz
Biggest Jump: Kurt Rambis from 58 to 8.
Pick Order. Picking Team Player Selected ( Position, Original position drafted)
2. Jazz -- Kiki Vandeweghe (F, 11)
3. Celtics -- Joe Barry Carroll (C, 1)
4. Bulls -- Andrew Toney (G, 8)
5. Nuggets -- Jeff Ruland (C, 25)
6. Nets -- Darrell Griffith (G, 4)
7. Nets -- Rick Mahorn (F, 35)
8. Sixers -- Kurt Rambis (F, 58)
1981
The expansion team Dallas Mavericks got a hell of a building stone with Isiah Thomas but the winner of the draft must be the Nets who got two quality big guys. Again the great drafting by the Boston Celtics in this era is shown as another piece of their championships is stolen from them as Danny Ainge is selected in the 7th spot instead of landing in Red Auerbach lap until the 31th pick.
Championship Builders: Nets, Hawks
Biggest Jump: Danny Ainge from 31 to 7.
Pick Order. Picking Team Player Selected ( Position, Original position drafted)
2. Pistons -- Mark Aguirre (G, 1)
3. Nets -- Tom Chambers (C, 8)
4. Hawks -- Rolando Blackman (G, 9)
5. Sonics -- Larry Nance (F, 20)
6. Bulls -- Buck Williams (F, 3)
7. Kings -- Danny Ainge (G , 31)
8. Clippers -- Orlando Woolridge (G, 6)
9. Mavs -- Eddie Johnson (F, 29)
10. Nets -- Steve Johnson (C, 7)
11. Bullets -- Alton Lister (C, 21)
1982
Another weak draft basically a 4 player draft where the 57 win newly crowned Lakers team got the man they originally selected and the Mavs show the poor drafting they did as a young franchise first passing on Isiah Thomas a year ago and now taking a guy named Bill Garnett instead of Rickiee Pierce or Fat Lever.
Championship Builders: Lakers
Biggest Jump: Derek Smith from 35 to 7.
Pick Order. Picking Team Player Selected ( Position, Original position drafted)
2. Clippers -- Dominique Wilkins 3
3. Jazz -- Terry Cummings 2
4. Mavs -- Ricky Pierce 18
5. Kings -- Fat Laver 11
6. Knicks -- Sleepy Floyd 13
7. Bulls -- Derek Smith 35
8. Pacers -- LaSalle Thompson 5
1983
One of the strongest draft until that date gave us one great big guy and a bunch of quality shooting guards but one guy was head and shoulders above all those guards and that was Clyde Drexler. His drafting by his hometowne Rockets gave them a hell of a stepping stone for years to come and takes out the Blazers from contention in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The Rockets walk away with the scoring prowess of Jeff Malone. Meanwhile the Pacers don´t do to shabby as they select Ralph Sampson to pair with Herb Williams
Championship Builders: Rockets, Pacers
Biggest Jump: Doc Rivers from 31th to 9
Pick Order. Picking Team Player Selected ( Position, Original position drafted)
1. Rockets -- Clyde Drexler (G,14)
2. Pacers -- Ralp Sampson (C,1)
3. Rockets -- Jeff Malone (F. 10 )
4. Clippers -- Byron Scott (G, 4)
5. Bulls -- Dale Ellis (G. 9)
6. Warriors -- John Paxson (G, 19)
7. Jazz -- Thurl Bailey (F, 7)
8. Pistons -- Derek Harper (G, 11)
9. Mavs -- Doc Rivers (G, 31)
10. Bullets -- Antoine Carr (F, 8)
