NBA Draft History - Without the Lottery Rule

The NBA Draft Lottery has created controversy amongst fans since it was first used in 1985. Since that time, only four times has the team with the worst record picked first in the draft. In this draft remix, the team with the worst record during the season picks first and the "lottery" rules are thrown out. This will only show the No. 1 overall picks during the given seasons. Knowing that most of us don't have a crystal ball in front of us to see who would be great and who would be busts, I'm going to provide picks based on what we all know now.

1985 NBA Draft
Worst record: Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors
NBA Draft Lottery winner: New York Knicks
No. 1 pick: Patrick Ewing of Georgetown
If Indiana had the first pick:
Indiana picks forward Karl Malone out of Louisiana Tech. Forward Wayman Tisdale was a good player in the NBA and was the actual No. 2 overall pick by Indiana in this draft. However, this position was the obvious need, and Malone is their guy at the No. 1 spot as he went on to become quite possibly the greatest power forward ever. Malone went No. 13 to Utah in that draft.
If Golden State had the first pick:
Golden State picks Patrick Ewing of Georgetown. Golden State didn't pick until No. 7 overall in this draft, and they did land a solid player in Chris Mullin at that spot. However, Ewing was the clear No. 1 pick by most teams prior to this draft, so Golden State would take him here.

1986 NBA Draft
Worst record: New York Knicks
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Cleveland Cavaliers
No. 1 pick: Brad Daugherty of North Carolina
If New York had the first pick:
New York picks Mark Price of Georgia Tech. It's a good thing New York actually didn't have the first pick because this was one of the worst overall drafts ever. That said, and from what we know now, though he wasn't drafted until the second round, New York takes a much needed guard in Price after they already have a center in Patrick Ewing. If they actually would have had it that day, I think the obvious pick would have been Len Bias of Maryland. But sadly, his talent was never seen in the NBA by anyone.

1987 NBA Draft:
Worst record: Los Angeles Clippers
NBA Draft Lottery winner: San Antonio Spurs
No. 1 pick: David Robinson of Navy
If the Clippers had the first pick:
The Clippers pick David Robinson of Navy. The Clippers had needs in the front court, and Robinson was the clear No. 1 pick on all team's draft boards. The Clippers did draft a small forward in Reggie Williams at No. 4, but could have had Scottie Pippen who went at the next spot. The team drafted center Joe Wolf at No. 13, so that showed the need for a center. Then again, the team would have likely struggled for another year being Robinson wouldn't have been eligible to play until 1989-90 because of military commitments. If there ever was a time for San Antonio to have a down year and luck on their side, this was it. Well, on second thought, lightning struck twice for them ten years later.

1988 NBA Draft:
Worst record: Los Angeles Clippers
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Los Angeles Clippers
No. 1 pick: Danny Manning of Kansas
For the first time in the "Lottery" era, the team with the worst record gets the first pick. Manning turned out to be a good player, but the Clippers luck of landing the first overall pick was a year too late. This draft didn't produce many stars at all. Manning would still be the pick today.

1989 NBA Draft:
Worst record: Miami Heat
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Sacramento Kings
No. 1 pick: Pervis Ellison of Louisville
If the Miami Heat had the first pick:
The Heat pick Sean Elliott of Arizona. This was a bad overall draft in the "Lottery" era, but Elliott was an All-Star in the league. The Heat could have taken Glenn Rice out of Michigan, and he was their actual pick at the No. 4 spot. However, Elliott was the Player of the Year in college basketball in 1989, and the Heat would have taken him at No. 1. Elliott went at No. 3 to San Antonio. Ellison was one of the biggest busts at the No. 1 spot in NBA Draft history.

1990 NBA Draft:
Worst record: New Jersey Nets
NBA Draft Lottery winner: New Jersey Nets
No. 1 pick: Derrick Coleman of Syracuse
This is the second time in the "Lottery" era where the worst team in the league picked first overall. Strangely enough, this draft wasn't any better than the one that took place in 1988 when the worst team picked first. Gary Payton, who went No. 2 overall to Seattle, was the only player to make multiple All-Star Game appearances out of this draft.

1991 NBA Draft:
Worst record: Denver Nuggets
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Charlotte Hornets
No. 1 pick: Larry Johnson of UNLV
If Denver had the first pick:
Denver picks Dikembe Mutombo of Georgetown. Denver actually picked Mutombo at No. 4, but the center position truly was lacking in this draft so he goes No. 1 overall, too. Mutombo is still active in the league, but his role is completely different than it was in his younger days in Denver. Larry Johnson had a good career in the NBA, but would wind up in New York years later.

1992 NBA Draft:
Worst record: Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Orlando Magic
No. 1 pick: Shaquille O'Neal of LSU
If Minnesota had the first pick:
Minnesota picks Shaquille O'Neal of LSU. This wasn't as clear of a choice as most may think or remember at the time, but from what we know now, this is a no-brainer. Prior to the draft, three players(O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, and Christian Laettner) were considered can't-miss prospects. Looking back at it, I think O'Neal had that dominance in his game even at the college level, and he instantly transferred it to the pro level. To be fair, Mourning is likely a Hall of Fame player that Charlotte took at the No. 2 spot. Laettner had a good pro career, but not like most predicted that he would.

1993 NBA Draft
Worst record: Dallas Mavericks
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Orlando Magic
No. 1 pick: Chris Webber of Michigan
If Dallas had the first pick:
Dallas picks Chris Webber of Michigan. Dallas could have gone with Penny Hardaway of Memphis State at this spot because they needed a point guard, and it showed as they actually took one with their first pick the following year. However, Webber would be the pick at No. 1 for Dallas, too. Webber was actually traded to Golden State for Hardaway and three future first round picks. Dallas does land future All-Star Jamal Mashburn of Kentucky at No. 4.

1994 NBA Draft
Worst record: Dallas Mavericks
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Milwaukee Bucks
No. 1 pick: Glenn Robinson of Purdue
If Dallas had the first pick:
Dallas picks Jason Kidd of California. Once again, Dallas has the worst record in the league. But, they drafted Kidd at No. 2 overall, so they take him here after not being able to possibly nab Hardaway the year before. Dallas drafted a small forward the year before, so Kidd would have been the choice in either spot in this draft. Robinson had a good career in the NBA averaging over 20 points per game in 12 seasons.

1995 NBA Draft
Worst record: Los Angeles Clippers
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Golden State Warriors
No. 1 pick: Joe Smith of Maryland
If the Clippers had the first pick:
The Clippers select Kevin Garnett of Farragut Academy High School. The Clippers' need for a power forward was obvious, so Garnett is taken here. However, the Clippers traded their actual first pick in Antonio McDyess of Alabama at No. 2 overall to Denver. Garnett could of been the first high schooler selected with the first pick ever if we go by what we know now. Joe Smith is still playing in the league, but his career is considered a bust. The team could have taken Rasheed Wallace out of North Carolina and that wouldn't have been so bad either.

1996 NBA Draft
Worst record: Vancouver Grizzlies
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Philadelphia 76ers
No. 1 pick: Allen Iverson of Georgetown
If Vancouver had the first pick:
Vancouver picks Allen Iverson of Georgetown. Or Kobe Bryant of Lower Merion High School. Or Steve Nash of Santa Clara. The Grizzlies took Shareef Abdur-Rahim at No. 4, and he's had a solid career in the league. In what is quite possibly the most talented and deep draft ever, the thought of them taking a Hall of Fame guard would of changed the course of their early history. Charlotte took Bryant at No. 13 overall and traded him to the Lakers after he indicated he would not play for anyone else but Los Angeles. Nash was taken by Phoenix and has been a multiple time MVP well on his way to a Hall of Fame career.

1997 NBA Draft
Worst record: Vancouver Grizzlies
NBA Draft Lottery winner: San Antonio Spurs
No. 1 pick: Tim Duncan of Wake Forest
If Vancouver had the first pick:
Vancouver picks Tim Duncan of Wake Forest. This was an easy pick for anyone as Duncan was the clear No. 1 choice on all team's draft boards. Vancouver picks Antonio Daniels at No. 4, and he would later be traded to San Antonio as he was on the same team that helped the Spurs win their first NBA Championship in 1999. The Boston Celtics, who finished with the second worst record, not only misses a chance of drafting Duncan, but drafts two guys with their No. 3 and No. 6 picks in Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer that didn't last more than two years there. Because of David Robinson's early season injury in the 1996-97 season, the Spurs fell to the league's third worst record as a result. Robinson altered his game to help Duncan, and the Spurs struck gold again ten years later by winning the Lottery and forever changed their fortunes as a franchise.

1998 NBA Draft
Worst record: Denver Nuggets
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Los Angeles Clippers
No. 1 pick: Michael Olowokandi of Pacific
If Denver had the first pick:
Denver picks Dirk Nowitzki of DJK Wurzburg in Germany. Vince Carter of North Carolina or Paul Pierce of Kansas could have went here, too. Denver's need for big man in this draft was evident because they took forward/center Raef LaFrentz of Kansas at No. 3 overall. Then again, Antawn Jamison would have been a better pick going by what we know now as he's become a solid front court player. As with their draft history, the Clippers blew their pick on quite possibly the biggest bust of a No. 1 pick ever in Olowokandi.

1999 NBA Draft
Worst record: Vancouver Grizzlies
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Chicago Bulls
No. 1 pick: Elton Brand of Duke
If Vancouver had the first pick:
Vancouver picks Baron Davis of UCLA. Steve Francis wouldn't be the pick today because he went on record saying he wouldn't play for Vancouver when they actually did draft him at No. 2 overall. Francis was promptly traded to Houston not long after. Davis would have given the Grizzlies a prolific scorer to team with Abdur-Rahim. Brand has been a solid player in the league as Chicago took him with their first pick, but traded him two years later to the Clippers. Davis was picked by Charlotte at No. 3 overall, and was traded to Golden State later on as he returned to California where he continues to be one of the better all-around guards in the game when healthy.

2000 NBA Draft
Worst record: Los Angeles Clippers
NBA Draft Lottery winner: New Jersey Nets
No. 1 pick: Kenyon Martin of Cincinnati
If the Clippers had the first pick:
The Clippers pick Kenyon Martin of Cincinnati. This was probably the worst draft in NBA history, and Martin is only one of three players to make an All-Star team to date from this class. If the Clippers had the first pick and this scenario would have taken place, it's argued that they would have pulled the trigger to acquire the previous year's No. 1 overall pick in Elton Brand the following season because the power forward position would have been addressed here. Once again, the Clippers blew another pick by taking Darius Miles of East St. Louis High School at No. 3 overall, who wouldn't last two years with the team and not even coming close to fulfilling his expectations as a player.

2001 NBA Draft
Worst record: Chicago Bulls
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Washington Wizards
No. 1 pick: Kwame Brown of Glynn Academy High School
If the Chicago Bulls had the first pick:
Chicago picks Pau Gasol of FC Barcelona Spain. The Bulls traded Elton Brand to the Clippers and picked up the rights to the No. 2 overall pick in center Tyson Chandler. The Bulls picked Eddy Curry of Thornwood High School at No. 4 overall, and was teamed with Chandler as a result. Gasol was taken No. 3 overall by Atlanta, but was promptly traded to Vancouver for Abdur-Rahim. By what we know now, Gasol would be great fit for the Bulls today as they've consistently had trouble with front-scoring the last several years.

2002 NBA Draft
Worst record: Chicago Bulls & Golden State Warriors
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Houston Rockets
No. 1 pick: Yao Ming of Shanghai Sharks in China
If the Chicago Bulls had the first pick:
Chicago picks Amare Stoudemire of Cypress Creek High School in Florida. With this pick, the Bulls fill their immediate need of a front court scorer. Or they could have taken Ming, but it would have changed the tempo of the team with that pick. Chicago took point guard Jay Williams of Duke, and it looked like a very good pick at first until a motorcycle accident two years later caused him to miss his entire rest of his career at this point. Stoudemire was picked No. 9 overall by Phoenix as he has helped the Suns become contenders for the NBA Championship.
If Golden State had the first pick:
Golden State picks Amare Stoudemire of Cypress Creek High School in Florida. Golden State would love to have him now teaming up with Baron Davis to form a great duo. Golden State picked Michael Dunleavy of Duke at No. 3, and he would be traded to Indiana five years later because of not making much of an impact as a Warrior.

2003 NBA Draft
Worst record: Cleveland Cavaliers & Denver Nuggets
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Cleveland Cavaliers
No. 1 pick: LeBron James of Saint Vincent-St. Mary High School in Ohio
This is only the third time the team with the worst record is awarded with the No. 1 overall pick, though Denver also tied with the worst overall, too.
If Denver had the first pick:
Denver picks LeBron James of Saint Vincent-St. Mary High School in Ohio. James has been the best player in this draft, but I have zero doubt that Cleveland would have done everything they could to take the Ohio high school star. Detroit blew their draft on bust Darko Milicic of Serbia with the No. 2 pick after a trade with the Grizzlies and missing the chance to draft Anthony or Dwayne Wade of Marquette. Detroit still won the NBA Championship in 2003-04 though. Anthony goes No. 3 to Denver and Wade goes No. 5 to Miami. The fortunes of Cleveland, Denver, and Miami have improved since this period of time. This has turned out to be one of the best overall draft classes in NBA history.

2004 NBA Draft
Worst record: Orlando Magic
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Orlando Magic
No. 1 pick: Dwight Howard of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy in Georgia
For the second year in a row and only the fourth time in NBA Draft history, the team with the worst record gets the first overall pick. As of right now, Howard is the only player to play in an All-Star game from this draft class.

2005 NBA Draft
Worst record: Atlanta Hawks
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Milwaukee Bucks
No. 1 pick: Andrew Bogut of Utah
If Atlanta had the first pick:
Atlanta picks Chris Paul of Wake Forest. In case anyone has been sleeping under a rock in the NBA in recent years, then you probably haven't the slightest idea of what Paul has meant to the New Orleans Hornets. In fairness, Atlanta has made marked improvement as a franchise after falling off the map for several years and making it back to the playoffs in 2007-08. But the thought of having Paul or even Deron Williams of Illinois would be great moves here. Marvin Williams, Atlanta's actual No. 2 overall choice, has continued to improve every year, but Paul and Deron Williams have been very important reasons why New Orleans and Utah are on the verge of breaking out with an NBA Championship. Paul was taken No. 4 overall by the Hornets and Deron Williams went No. 3 to Utah. Bogut hasn't exactly been a bust as he continues to improve his game, but Paul was an immediate impact player and has looked the best of anyone in this draft class to date.

2006 NBA Draft
Worst record: Portland Trail Blazers
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Toronto Raptors
No. 1 pick: Andrea Bargnani of Benetton Treviso in Italy
If Portland had the first pick:
Portland picks Brandon Roy of Washington. It's too early to judge drafts in 3-4 years time, but Roy has been the best player so far in this draft class after becoming an All-Star player in the league. Roy actually was drafted by Minnesota, but was traded to Portland. With Roy, Portland's future has looked much better as they improved in 2007-08 and that's without the pick they would make the following year at the No. 1 spot.

2007 NBA Draft
Worst record: Memphis Grizzlies
NBA Draft Lottery winner: Portland Trail Blazers
No. 1 pick: Greg Oden of Ohio State
If Memphis had the first pick:
Memphis picks Kevin Durant of Texas. Again, it's way too early to grade players in this draft, but Memphis having the chance to draft either Oden or Durant would have been a welcome addition. Boston, who had the second worst record, would have benefited, too. Oden missed the entire 2007-08 season, but Portland still improved from the year before. If Oden returns healthy, Portland will take another step towards being an elite team in the NBA.

As you can see, the NBA Draft Lottery has impacted teams for better and worse since it's inception in 1985. Imagine if the draft was set in order by won-loss records like the NFL uses. Imagine David Robinson going to the Clippers in that scenario. Or how about Shaquille O'Neal to Minnesota? Now the mindset of teams would likely be different under these rules if it were in order of records because of the ability of teams to "tank" a season to get the No. 1 pick which is a big reason why it was created. So with that, teams wouldn't have likely finished seasons the way they did under this way of thinking like they actually did here. The San Antonio Spurs have benefited the most and in the right years more than any other team in this system while teams like the Clippers can never seem to buy a break at the right time or with the right players. If nothing else, the NBA has changed the way teams play or think on the floor with this Lottery system. As a Chicago Bulls fan, I'm hoping the fortunes of the franchise are impacted much in the same way it did for San Antonio when they pick first in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Sources: nba.com, basketball-reference.com, espn.com, wikipedia.com