Examples of Draft picks contributing to playoff teams

[Billz401]

Bill Russell and Tommy Heinsohn

[Future Celtics Owner]

Richard Jefferson
Tayshuan Prince
Dwayne Wade
Amare Stoudemire
James Harden
Jaylen Brown

TAYSHUAN PRINCE:
Played 4 years at Kentucky and was drafted #23 in the 2002 draft ( same draft as Amare) by the Pistons. He only averaged 10 minutes a game and 4 ppg his rookie year during the RS. Through 15 playoff games that same year he averaged 25mpg and 9.4 ppg....which was 3rd highest on the team, though they did have like 7 guys average between 9.4ppg-7ppg ( one was Ben Wallace)

AMARE:
Taken 9th overall right out of high school. He played in 6 playoff games averaging: 34mpg, 14 ppg, 7 rpg, and 1.5 bpg....against the Spurs.

RICHARD JEFFERSON:
Taken 13th overall after 3 years at Arizona. He played in 20 playoff games that year averaging: 22 mpg and 7ppg. He averaged: 19 mpg and 6 ppg....IN THE EASTERN CONFERANCE FINALS AGAINST THE CELTICS!!!

DWAYNE WADE:
Taken 5th overall after 2 years at Marquette. He played in 13 playoff games that year averaging: 39 mpg, 18 ppg, 5.6 apg, 4 rpg

JAMES HARDEN:
Taken #3 overall after 2 years at Arizona State by the Thunder. He played in 6 playoff games that season averaging: 20 mpg, 7.7 ppg.

JAYLEN BROWN:
Taken #3 overall after 1 year at Cal by the Celtics. He has played in 14 playoff games (the most by any rookie this year) and is averaging: 12.4 mpg and 5 ppg.
JAYLEN BROWNS LAST 3 GAMES: 21 mpg, 13 ppg (15-23 FG)

[Smitty77]

Let's change this up a little.  How many rookies that ONLY played ONE year of college ball or NO college ball were rotation guys on a team to make the Conference Finals??

Smitty77

[mctyson]

It will be hard to find a good comp here because there are few teams with 50+ wins who added a top-5 pick the following year.  I would look there first.

[Who]

Kawhi Leonard played an important role (starting SF) for San Antonio as a rookie. As a defensive stopper and glue guy. I think he had 2 years of College though.

Myles Turner was a rotation player for the Pacers last year as a rookie. Played just under 30mpg in the playoffs and put up 10 / 6 / 3. 

[LilRip]

I haven't checked the stats but if memory serves correctly: Carmelo Anthony. Led the terrible Nuggets to the 8th seed in his rookie year while Lebron missed the playoffs.

[Future Celtics Owner]

I haven't checked the stats but if memory serves correctly: Carmelo Anthony. Led the terrible Nuggets to the 8th seed in his rookie year while Lebron missed the playoffs.

Yea he diid. He was in the same draft as Wade and they both went to the playoffs. Caron Butler and Lamar Oodom were on MIA with Wade.

[droopdog7]

Rookie year Magic Johnson and rookie year Tim Duncan as major contributors to title teams come to mind.

Did rookie Duncan when a title?  Think that happened year two actually.  And yeah, magic rookie year is pretty much legendary.

[Beat LA]

More recently, I believe that Malcolm "I in no way resemble Barack Obama" Brogdon, Jaylen Brown, "Let me see that" Thon Maker, Stanley Johnson, Frank Kaminsky, Norman Powell, Taurean Prince, Josh Richardson, Myles Turner, and Justise Winslow meet the criteria.