So the Kings fell to the 5th pick. The common refrain has been "In Petrie We Trust." So I went throughout each and everyone of the drafts where Petrie has been a GM (including the Portland era) to see how he has done, and if he could have done better. I also thought to myself that in most drafts, there's a least one or sometimes two busts in the top 5, and that there's always at least a couple or sometimes more players that aren't in the top 5 that end up being one of the top 5 best players from that draft (These "Top 5s" are listed in the order in which they were drafted to avoid some of the "You think so-and-so is better than whats-his-face?!?" arguments).
So without further ado, a full Geoff Petrie draft history, as well as some analysis. (Undrafted players were not included when mentioning notable prospects missed, as every team missed out on these players. To view the full draft board, simply click the link I provide for each draft).
Petrie's Draft History:
#25: Alaa Abdelnaby PF, Duke, Sr. – Petrie really didn't miss out on much with his first ever pick in the NBA draft. It was a very weak draft (one that saw the Kings have 4 first round picks and come away with Simmons, Mays, Causewell, and Bonner). Notable players that Petrie (and pretty much everybody) missed on include Toni Kukoc (29th), Cedric Ceballos (48th), Elden Campell (27th), and Antonio Davis (45th).
Portland did not have a 2nd round pick this year.
Top 5 players from this draft (in order they were drafted):
Notable Busts in Top 5:
Portland owned the #27 pick (last in the first round) and traded it with Byron Irvin and a 1992 2nd round pick (Brett Roberts) to the Sacramento Kings for Danny Ainge. Pick #27 ended up being Pete Chilcutt. Ainge was on the downside of his career, but Chilcutt never amounted to much of anything.
Portland also had the last pick in the draft at 54 and took Marcus Kennedy. He never played in the NBA. But there really aren't any notable players taken in this 2nd round other than Bobby Phills at 45.
Top 5 players from this draft (in order they were drafted):
Notable Busts in Top 5:
#26: Dave Johnson, SF, Syracuse, Sr. – Again, not really a big deal to miss out on the draft when you're going this late and your team is in contention. I'm guessing Petrie went with Seniors to try to have as little a learning curve as possible. He didn't really miss out on any notable players though.
Portland also took Reggie Smith at 31, with again, nobody really of note after.
Top 5 players from this draft (in order they were drafted):
Notable Busts in Top 5:
None really. You could say LaPhonso Ellis was a bust, but he did have some stellar years.
#21 James Robinson, SG, Alabama, Jr. – This time Petrie did miss out on a few guys (although Robinson was a nice role player for a couple years). Notable misses include Chris Mills (22nd), Ervin (Not Magic) Johnson (23rd), Sam Cassell (24th), Evers Burns! Evers Burns! (just for you Section), Nick Van Exel (37th), and Bryon Russell (45th).
Portland also picked Kevin Thompson at 48, with nobody notable after.
Top 5 players from this draft (in order they were drafted):
Notable Busts in Top 5:
1994 NBA Draft (start of Kings-era)
Now we're talking. 1994 is when Petrie first becomes GM of your Sacramento Kings and given control over a team trying to make it over the hump. Portland had been in contention for much of the time Petrie was in charge. This also marks the first time Petrie drafted in the Lottery.
#8 Brian Grant, PF, Xavier, Sr. – This was a pretty damn good pick. Only real notables taken after him were Eddie Jones (11th), Jalen Rose (13th), and perhaps Wesley Person (23rd).
#35 Michael "The Animal" Smith – This was the original Mancakes and fan favorite. And there really was only one player the Kings could have picked that might have been better and that was Voshon Lenard (46th).
#51 Lawrence Funderburke – Funderburke was another great selection considering where he was picked. He played some key minutes for the glory day Kings (as well as sop up Shaq fouls).
Top 5 players from this draft (in order they were drafted):
Notable Busts in Top 5:
Donyell Marshall was drafted 4th but he had a very solid career, even if it might not have been 4th pick worthy.
#13 Corliss Williamson, PF, Arkansas, Jr. – Another lottery pick for Petrie and another good pick. Corliss was a tenacious player, and eventually played a key role on the Detroit Championship team. Only notables picked after him were Brent Barry (15th), Theo Ratliff (18th), Michael Finley (21), Greg Ostertag (28) and Eric Snow (43). Of those players I think the only one that really ended up better than Corliss was Finley, maybe Ratliff.
#47 Tyus Edney – Petrie really hit it off well to start in the 2nd round for the Kings. Edney had a very productive couple of years with the Kings before leaving for Europe. Only notable player after Edney was Hoiberg, and he likely wasn't better at the time.
#51 Dejan Bodiroga – Petrie's first Euro pick never decided to come play in the NBA, but he has been considered the best European player to never have played in the NBA. Good pick considering absolutely nobody of note came after it. It's a shame Bodiroga never came over.
Top 5 players from this draft (in order they were drafted):
Notable Busts in Top 5:
#14 Peja Stojakovic, SF, Yugoslavia – This is the year Kings fans were clamoring for John Wallace (taken 18th). Instead he opted for little known Stojakovic, who would not play in the NBA for two more years. This draft was absolutely bonkers early on, but after Peja, there's only one player who has had a better career: Steve Nash (15th). You could make a case for Jermaine O'Neal (17th), but Peja was absolutely phenomenal prior to the back injuries that plague him now. Big Z was notable at 20, but he shouldn't be in the conversation with Peja, Nash or O'Neal.
#41 – Jason Sasser – Yeah I don't know who this is either. Petrie missed out on Malik Rose (44th), and Shandon Anderson (54th), not really big losses.
Top 5 players from this draft (in order they were drafted):
Notable Busts in Top 5:
#11 – Tariq Abdul-Wahad, SF, San Jose St., Sr. – First off, what a crappy draft after Duncan, Billups and McGrady (only All-Stars to come out). Abdul-Wahad was probably Petrie's worst lottery pick, but who did he have left to choose from? Austin Croshere (12th)? Derek Anderson (13th)? These guys were better, but they're really not making me curse the Abdul-Wahad pick. Stephen Jackson was likely the 4th best player in this draft and he was taken at 43.
#40 – Anthony Johnson – A good, solid 2nd round pick. Johnson has always been a perennial backup, but its a testament to his talent that he is still in the league now (and actually in the playoffs with the Magic). Other than Jackson, there really isn't anybody else after him I would've rather had. Maybe God Shammgod (46th), because that has to be the best name ever.
Top 5 players from this draft (in order they were drafted):
Notable Busts in Top 5:
#7 – Jason Williams, PG, Florida, Jr. – My favorite Kings draft pick of all time. Yes, the Kings could have had Pierce (10th), Nowitzki (9th), or Rashard Lewis (32nd), but Williams brought excitement back to Sacramento, and eventually netted us the guy picked #2 in this draft, Mike Bibby. I'm pretty sure the Kings don't regret taking Jason Williams one bit.
#36 – Jerome James – One of the few players in this 2nd round to make an impact (mainly AGAINST the Sacramento Kings when he was with the Sonics), but there were a couple better players picked after him: Rafer Alston (39th) and Cuttino Mobley (41st). Still, not a bad draft pick.
Top 5 players from this draft (in order they were drafted):
#45 – Ryan Robertson. Only player that would've been better is Manu Ginobili at 57, and pretty much every single team in the league passed on him (including San Antonio the first time, as they took Leon Smith with the 29th pick).
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