Drafts 1984-1989

1984

This is the draft that really changes the landscape of the league in the 90s. The Rockets obviously takes MJ with the first pick, the Blazers ignore Sam Bowie and wisely take Hakeem and the Bulls ended up with Charles Barkley. We can’t forget about Mr. John Stockton being headed to Dallas instead of being ignored by 15 teams until Utah grabbed him.

Championship Builders: Rockets, Blazers, Bulls, Mavs
Biggest Jump: Jerome Kersey from 46 to 9

Pick Order. Picking Team --Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Rockets -- Michael Jordan (3)
2. Blazers-- Hakeem Olajuwon (1)
3. Bulls-- Charles Barkley (5)
4. Mavs-- John Stockton (16)
5. Sixers-- Sam Perkins (4)
6. Bullets-- Alvin Robertson (7)
7. Spurs-- Kevin Willis (11)
8. Clippers-- Michael Cage (14)
9. Kings-- Jerome Kersey (46)





1985


The first ever lottery draft was fixed for the Knicks (according to some conspiracy theorists) and they walk away with one of the greatest power forwards ever , taking the Jazz from contention for the next 12 years, hence Ewing falls in the lap of the Indiana Pacers. This is a tough draft class featuring enforcers like Oakley, A.C. Green, Mario Elie. Terry Porter, Ty Corbin and the X Man.



Championship Builders: Knicks, Pacers
Biggest Jump: Mario Elie from 160 to 12th.

Pick Order. Picking Team --Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Knicks-- Karl Malone (13)
2. Pacers -- Patrick Ewing (1)
3. Clippers-- Chris Mullin (7)
4. Sonics-- Joe Dumars (18)
5. Hawks-- Detlef Schrempf (8)
6. Kings-- Terry Porter (24)
7. Warriors-- Charles Oakley (9)
8. Mavs-- Xavier McDaniel (4)
9. Cavs-- A.C. Green (23)
10. Suns-- Wayman Tisdale (2)
11. Bulls-- John Williams (45)
12. Bullets-- Mario Elie (160)


1986

I like to call this class the “What If?” class. Just putting out there the idea if Len Bias actually plays in the NBA is he named in the same class that Dr J. , Drexler and Kobe ? Maybe a notch lower with Vinsanity, Pistol Pete and Joe D? Is he the guy that was supposed to really challenge MJ as Bill Simmons once said? Another “What If?” for u: Sabonis is in this class but he didn’t go to the States until 1995. If this guy had played in the NBA a decade earlier would he had been remembered as a top 5 center of all time?
What if Drazen Petrovic doesn’t die? What if Dennis Rodman is kept away from Rick Mahorn and Bill Laimbeer? Does he learn to rebound like he did? Does he go psycho on us?....

Championship Builders: Cavs, Celtics
Biggest Jump: Drazen Petrovic from 60 to 7th.

Pick Order. Picking Team --Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Cavs-- Len Bias (2)
2. Celtics-- Brad Daugherty (1)
3. Warriors-- Chuck Person (4)
4. Pacers-- Arvydas Sabonis (24)
5. Knicks-- Mark Price (25)
6. Suns-- Ron Harper (8)
7. Mavs-- Drazen Petrovic (60)
8. Cavs-- Dennis Rodman (27)
9. Bulls-- Jeff Hornacek (46)
10. Spurs-- Scott Skiles (22)

1987


Perhaps the biggest effect in the remaking of this draft is on the Bulls. They are not getting Scottie Pippen nor Horace Grant. Instead of that they are getting Derrick McKey and Sarunas Marciulionis to team up with Michael Jordan.


Championship Builders: Spurs
Biggest Jump: Sarunas Marciulionis from 127 to 8th.

Pick Order. Picking Team --Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Spurs-- David Robinson (1)
2. Suns-- Reggie Miller (11)
3. Nets-- Scottie Pippen (5)
4. Clippers-- Reggie Lewis (22)
5. Sonics-- Mark Jackson (18)
6. Kings-- Horace Grant (10)
7. Cavs-- Kevin Johnson (7)
8. Bulls-- Derrick McKey (9)
9. Sonics-- Kenny Smith (6)
10. Bulls-- Sarunas Marciulionis (127)
11. Pacers-- Reggie Williams (4)




1988

A whole lof of role players in this year, no major effects redoing this one!

Championship Builders: None
Biggest Jump: Anthony Mason from 53 to 9th.

Pick Order. Picking Team --Player Selected ( Original position drafted)


1. Clippers-- Mitch Richmond (5)
2. Pacers-- Rik Smits (2)
3. Sixers-- Danny Manning (1)
4. Nets-- Hersey Hawkins (6)
5. Warriors-- Dan Majerle (14)
6. Clippers-- Rod Strickland (19)
7. Suns-- Rony Seikaly (9)
8. Hornets-- Charles Smith (3)
9. Heat-- Anthony Mason (53)
10. Spurs-- Rex Champman (8)





1989


This is a class hard to read, there is no clear cut number one guy - or even number 2 – but there are very good solid role players. Some of them had their moments. I’m just putting Tim Hardaway up at number one because he is a clutch point guard. You can’t find too many of those

Championship Builders: None
Biggest Jump: Shawn Kemp from 17th to 2nd.

1. Kings-- Tim Hardaway (14)
2. Clippers-- Shawn Kemp (17)
3. Spurs-- Glen Rice (4)
4. Heat-- Vlade Divac (26)
5. Hornets-- Sean Elliot (3)
6. Bulls-- Nick Anderson (11)
7. Pacers-- Mookie Blaylock (12)
8. Mavs-- George McCloud (7)
9. Bullets-- Danny Ferry (2)
10. Twolves-- B.J. Armstrong (18)
11. Magic-- Pervis Ellison (1)
12. Nets-- Dana Barros (16)