PLAYERS DRAFTED AT PICK 35
Data appear in this order Year Player School/Country – Team that selected the pick.
Assessment comes last and is in bold. There are four assessments: bust, bench player (some characterized as
solid, if they had a noteworthy career), steals, and hard to classify (esp. applied to recently drafted players).
2010ssix players drafted: two busts (one with reservations); one bench player, one steal; two hard to classify 2015 Willy Hernangomez, Baloncesta – Philadelphia 76ers
stashed in Spain, HARD TO CLASSIFY 
2014 Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee – Memphis Grizzlies
26 NBA games in two seasons for MEM and MIA; 22 yo HARD TO CLASSIFY 2013 Glen Rice Jr., NBDL – Philadelphia 76ers
Has played a total of 16 games in two seasons for WAS; he is 25 yo looks like a BUST 
2012 Draymond Green, Michigan St. – Golden State Warriors
STEAL 
2011 Tyler Honeycutt, University of California, Los Angeles – Sacramento Kings
BUST two seasons; now plays in Europe 2010 Nemanja Bjelica, Serbia – Washington Wizards
started playing this season in Minny; looks like unimpressive BENCH PLAYER
2000’s
ten players drafted: five busts; two hard to classify; two steals; one bench player2009 DaJuan Summers, Georgetown University – Detroit Pistons
HARD TO CLASSIFY, but looks like an unimpressive bench player 2008 DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M University – L.A. Clippers
STEAL 2007 Glen Davis, Louisiana State University – Seattle Supersonics
BENCH PLAYER MPG 21.12006 P.J. Tucker, University of Texas at Austin – Toronto Raptors
HARD TO CLASSIFY- resurrected his career at the age of 27 at Phoenix 2005 Ricky Sanchez, IMG Academy (FL) – Portland Trail Blazers
BUST zero seasons 2004 Andre Emmett, Texas Tech University – Seattle Supersonics
BUST two seasons2003 Szymon Szewczyk, Poland – Milwaukee Bucks
BUST zero seasons2002 Carlos Boozer, Duke University – Cleveland Cavaliers
STEAL 2001 Jeff Trepagnier, University of Southern California – Cleveland Cavaliers
BUST three seasons2000 Mike Smith, University of Louisiana at Monroe – Washington Wizards
BUST one season1990’s
ten players drafted: seven busts; three bench players of which one solid
1999 Calvin Booth, Pennsylvania State University – Washington Wizards
BENCH PLAYER MPG 12.2; PPG 3.3 1998 Bruno Sundov, Croatia – Dallas Mavericks
BUST 5.1 mins in nine seasons1997 Kebu Stewart, California State University, Bakersfield – Philadelphia 76ers
BUST played one season1996 Joseph Blair, University of Arizona – Seattle Supersonics
BUST played in Europe1995 Jimmy King, University of Michigan – Toronto Raptors
BUST played two seasons
1994 Michael Smith, Providence College – Sacramento Kings
SOLID BENCH PLAYER, MPG 23.5; RPG 7.11993 Ed Stokes, University of Arizona – Miami HEAT
BUST one season1992 Tony Bennett, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay – Charlotte Hornets
BUST played only three seasons1991 Mike Iuzzolino, Saint Francis University – Dallas Mavericks
BUST played only two seasons1990 Greg Foster, University of Texas at El Paso – Washington Bullets
BENCH PLAYER: MPG 12.21980’s
ten players drafted: six busts; four bench players of which two solid 1989 Pat Durham, Colorado State University – Dallas Mavericks
BUST two seasons1988 Sylvester Gray, University of Memphis – Miami HEAT
BUST one season1987 Doug Lee, Purdue University – Houston Rockets
BUST three seasons1986 Milt Wagner, University of Louisville – Dallas Mavericks
BUST two seasons1985 Tyrone Corbin, DePaul University – San Antonio Spurs
SOLID BENCH PLAYER MPG 26;MPG 9.2 1984 Othell Wilson, University of Virginia – Golden State Warriors
BUST two seasons1983 Darrell Lockhart, Auburn University – San Antonio Spurs
BUST one season1982 Derek Smith, University of Louisville – Golden State Warriors
SOLID BENCH PLAYER MPG 24.1; PPG 12.81981 Charles Davis, Vanderbilt University – Washington Bullets
BENCH PLAYER MPG 12.21980 Rick Mahorn, Hampton University – Washington Bullets
BENCH PLAYER MPG 23.1; RPG 6.2; PPG 6.9 1970’s
seven players drafted: five busts and two bench players1979 James Bradley, University of Memphis – Atlanta Hawks
BUST three seasons ABA 1978 Tommie Green, Southern University and A&M College – New Orleans Jazz
BUST one season 1977 Mark Landsberger, Arizona State University – Chicago Bulls
BENCH PLAYER MPG 16.7; PPG 5.6 1976 None
1975 Allen Murphy, University of Louisville – Phoenix Suns
BUST two seasons 1974 Kevin Stacom, Providence College – Boston Celtics
BENCH PLAYER MPG 13.1; PPG 5.1 1973 Phil Hankinson, University of Pennsylvania – Boston Celtics
BUST two seasons 1972 None
1971 Willie Long, University of New Mexico – Cleveland Cavaliers
BUST three seasons in ABA Observations
-The sample size is too small (as usual with NBA players): we have a total of forty three players
-This could be remedied by broadening the range (say make an analysis of picks 33 to 37); might do it when I have the time
-Another interesting thing to do is to compare with a higher range of picks, say 23-28 to find out if there are meaningful differences.
Now, the motivation behind collecting these data. First, early second rounder are seen as almost equal to late first rounders and wanted to see if they actually have much value, esp. given that Danny has turned to collecting them big time the last few years.
tl;drAs expected, the 1970s was not a good time for second rounders. Rotations were smaller and the pool of players was smaller too (much fewer international prospects were even considered for the draft). As we approach to the modern era though things look better, and the importance GMs attribute to early second rounders seems at least partially justified. Among the last 16 players drafted at 35 we have three confirmed steals and only seven busts (of which one is debatable).
I'll probably get back to this to add more data, in the meantime, I'd be delighted to have some comments and thoughts.
PS if anyone knows why in some drafts of the 1970s there was no pick 35, it would help get a better picture of what happened in that decade (ie if it was because the players left were seen as unworthy of a contract, then they should probably be counted as busts.)
Topic: Assessing pick 35 historically (Read 2896 times)