Reviewing the Draft - 1993

1993 was a great draft for role players but didn't offer up a great deal of depth. This class featured 7 All Stars but only a couple of perennial All Stars.

1. Golden State - Chris Webber (1): Webber was one of the more complete players in the league for several years. A great scorer, rebounder, and passer, he could also dominate inside or shoot from beyond the arc. He tended to shrink in the biggest games, however. (Original pick: Chris Webber)
2. Philly - Sam Cassell (24): Cassell won titles with the Rockets during his first two years and another last season with the Celtics. A bit of an enigma throughout the majority of his career, at times he was a great leader, others a headache, but always a tremendous contender. (Shawn Bradley)
3. Orlando - Anfernee Hardaway (3): At 6-7, 200 lbs with great scoring ability and court vision, Penny could have redefined the point guard position. Injuries ruined the final 7 years of his career. (Anfrenee Hardaway)
4. Dallas - Nick Van Exel (37): In many ways similar to Cassell, Van Exel was at times a tremendous discipline problem but always left everything he had on the court. (Jamal Mashburn)
5. Minnesota - Jamal Mashburn (4): Another player who wasn't always a disciplined player, when he was healthy and in shape, Mash could score with the best of them. (JR Rider)
6. Washington - Allan Houston (11): The consummate professional, Houston was one of the more feared shooters in the NBA for many years, including once in Miami. (Calbert Chaeney)
7. Sacramento - Vin Baker (8): Baker was an excellent post player in his early years but weight and alcohol issues plagued him and left him unusable despite an enormous amount of talent. (Bobby Hurley)
8. Milwaukee - Lindsey Hunter (10): Certainly not the most talented player in this draft class but an excellent leader who won titles with the Lakers and the Pistons and still serves as a pseudo player-coach in Chicago. (Vin Baker)
9. Denver - Bryon Russell (45): A defensive minded player who played a significant role on many some great Jazz teams. Possibly more famous for being the guy that was defending Michael Jordan on his final shot with the Bulls. (Rodney Rogers)
10. Detroit - Calbert Chaeney (6): One of the greatest college players in NBA history, Chaeney was a fantastic scorer who found work for many years, though usually on bad teams. (Allan Houston)
11. Detroit - George Lynch (12): Similar to Hunter and Russell, Lynch was an excellent role player who did a little bit of everything on some very good teams. (Lindsey Hunter)

Honorable Mention

Isaiah Rider (5): Should have been one of the best scorers in the league but instead blew a dozen chances and is currently in jail.
Chris Mills (22): A fine role player for many years, but usually on bad teams.
Ervin Johnson (23): Servicable big men were already becoming scarse by 1993 and Johnson played in the league, almost always as a backup, for many years.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
I'm not sure you can really call Shawn Bradley a disappointment considering that almost everyone was sure he was going to be a bust. Still, he was the number 2 pick and had some of the physical attributes that you'd want in a center (namely his 7'6 frame). His skill set, however, was underdeveloped and his desire to become a good player was nonexistent. His enduring legacy will forever be the dunk Tracy McGrady threw down on him in the 2004 playoffs (shown to the left). Giddyup pardner. This draft was stinking full of busts, though. Penny Hardaway and Bobby Hurley because of injury, Vin Baker because of substance abuse problems, JR Rider because of idiocy, etc. But Bradley still stands out for me.

-BG