Best 1-10 Picks of the last 10 years

[ibby]

Out of sheer boredom I came up with a list of the top draft picks at 1-10 for the last 10 years.  Yes I know too soon for last year but some made it.

-The pick with the most All-Stars is #1 (not including Andrew Bogut who made the All-NBA Third Team this year) 50% of the past 10 #1 picks have been All-Stars.

-The pick with the second most All-Stars is #3 at 40%.

-The pick with the biggest busts was actually #2.  I consider a bust to be someone who was taken as a potential star/superstar who didn't make it. After the fifth pick, I think most teams are lucky to get stars, and are mostly looking for above average role players.  Other than Kevin Durant, and LaMarcus Aldridge (jury's still out on Beasely) 70% (80% if Beasely is included) look like they will never be superstars.

-Best top 10 draft is 2003 (no surprise), worst top 10 is 2000 (again no surprise)

1. LeBron James, 2003
Two time MVP, multiple All-Star, multiple All-NBA.  Sure he hasn't won a championship but he is the best @ #1

2. Kevin Durant, 2007
All-Star, All-NBA, will only improve and he is one of the top 5 players in the league already.

3. Deron Williams, 2005
One of the best 3 PG in the league.  It was a toss up between him and Carmelo, but I think Deron is more important to his team, and the league.

4. Chris Paul, 2005
Same as Williams.

5. Dwayne Wade, 2003
Who else would it be?  Devin Harris?

6. Brandon Roy, 2006
Who else would it be? Chris Kaman?

7. Stephen Curry, 2009
Due to a lack of great players at #7, this was the toughest call, but I think Curry has more upside than Loul Deng.  Hinrich is a great role player, as is Battier.  Charlie Villanueva is highly overrated, which says something.

8. Jamal Crawford, 2000
The only player from 2000 that had a chance though some may say that Rudy Gay is better.

9. Amar'e Stoudemire, 2002
I really think that Joakim Noah will eventually be better (because he has at least heard the term "defense"), but right now none of the other picks come close.

10. Brook Lopez, 2008
This pick was actually pretty hard.  Brandon Jennings, Andrew Bynum, Caron Butler, Joe Johnson. I even think that Spencer Hawes was a great pickup at 10.  I went with Lopez because he looks like he may be the only Center outside of Howard and Bogut that matters.  A potential 20-10 machine.

[moiso]

Not very good luck with the number 7 pick.  I'd take Gay over Crawford.

[ibby]

I have Crawford over Gay because he has won Sixth Man, and is consistently good (if not great).  I think maybe in 2 or 3 years it will be Gay, but not today.

The number 7 pick has had a lot of good role players, but no one great player like the others.

[Moranis]

No mention of Iggy at #9.  He is very good, I'd still probably have Amare ahead of him, but Iggy at least deserved mention.

[ibby]

You're right, I should have had Iggy on there.  I think if the Cavs had been able to trade for him at the deadline it would have been good for the Cavaliers and Iguldala (sp?).  He could easily have been LeBron's best teammate ever.

I just think that Amare, while maybe not a better player, is currently a more important player.