2017 draft actually looks pretty weak in hindsight with Tatum about the only Top 4 pick looking good about now.
If you frame it that way and hope like hell no one digs deeper, then sure.
I’ll frame it this way:
-The 2017 draft rookie 1st team had 4 players over 15 points (Tatum at 13.9). That’s the first time that’s happened since 1997, for the famed 1996 class with AI, Kobe, Toine, Marbury, Camby.
Looking at the rookie 1st team from 2018 vs the Lebron/Wade/Bosh/Carmelo rookie team of 2004:
-2018 scored 81.5 ppg vs 81.6 ppg for 2004, so basically the exact same.
-2018 grabbed 30.6 reb vs 26.4 for 2004.
-2018 dished 16.5 assists vs 20.5 for 2004 (no Lonzo to balance 5th man Hinrich’s 6.8 APG)
So, considering the best rookies from last year are statistically holding their ground to a top 3 all time draft class at similar corresponding ages tells me more than bad GMs picking people wrong at #1-2 last year.
Also, considering the 2017 draft set a record for 18 and 19 year old freshman being drafted in the lottery, I’d say looking back on these guys one year later at ages 19 and 20 is a tad early.