If people truly see this as a weak draft I would use the 2008 draft as the predicter and equivalent for this one, and 2008 produced an MVP in Derrick Rose, a few legit All Stars in Love and Westbrook, and few solid starters in Lopez and Gordon. One was an absolute bust, and the rest have proved to be decent rotation players and a couple up-and-comers with high ceilings still. Looking at the 2008 Lottery, there are certainly similar players in comparable spots, especially the top 2 picks to tomorrow's 2011 Draft:
1. CHI -- Derrick Rose = Kyrie Irving
2. MIA -- Michael Beasley = Derrick Williams
3. MIN -- O.J. Mayo = Marshon Brooks
4. SEA -- Russell Westbrook = Brandon Knight
5. MEM -- Kevin Love = Enes Kanter
6. NYK -- Danilo Gallinari = Jan Vesely
7. LAC -- Eric Gordon = Alec Burks
8. MIL -- Joe Alexander = Kawhi Leonard
9. CHA -- D.J. Augustin = Kemba Walker
10. NJN -- Brook Lopez = Jonas Valanciunas
11. IND -- Jerryd Bayless = Jimmer Fredette
12. SAC -- Jason Thompson = Tristan Thompson
13. POR -- Brandon Rush = Klay Thomspon
14. GSW -- Anthony Randolph = Chris Singleton
In hindsight of 2008, Mayo would have been taken later in the lottery and not as the #3which is about where Marshon Brooks could go. The biggest bust of 2008 was Joe Alexander, and his equivalent Kawhi Leonard has similar skills, but ultimately Kawhi will prove to be a better player. The rest of the picks, with the exception of Brook Lopez probably moving into the Top 5 instead of OJ Mayo, in hindsight would be about the same. So, I think this 2011 draft is full of solid contributers, a few All Stars, and maybe an MVP if Irving reaches his potential as Rose did.
1. CHI -- Derrick Rose = Kyrie Irving
2. MIA -- Michael Beasley = Derrick Williams
3. MIN -- O.J. Mayo = Marshon Brooks
4. SEA -- Russell Westbrook = Brandon Knight
5. MEM -- Kevin Love = Enes Kanter
6. NYK -- Danilo Gallinari = Jan Vesely
7. LAC -- Eric Gordon = Alec Burks
8. MIL -- Joe Alexander = Kawhi Leonard
9. CHA -- D.J. Augustin = Kemba Walker
10. NJN -- Brook Lopez = Jonas Valanciunas
11. IND -- Jerryd Bayless = Jimmer Fredette
12. SAC -- Jason Thompson = Tristan Thompson
13. POR -- Brandon Rush = Klay Thomspon
14. GSW -- Anthony Randolph = Chris Singleton
In hindsight of 2008, Mayo would have been taken later in the lottery and not as the #3which is about where Marshon Brooks could go. The biggest bust of 2008 was Joe Alexander, and his equivalent Kawhi Leonard has similar skills, but ultimately Kawhi will prove to be a better player. The rest of the picks, with the exception of Brook Lopez probably moving into the Top 5 instead of OJ Mayo, in hindsight would be about the same. So, I think this 2011 draft is full of solid contributers, a few All Stars, and maybe an MVP if Irving reaches his potential as Rose did.