#13s
2009 Tyler Hanborough
2008 Brandon Rush
2007 Julian Wright
2006 Thabo Sefolosha
2005 Sean May
2004 Sebastian Telfair
2003 Marcus Banks
2002 Marcus Haslip
2001 Richard Jefferson
2000 Courtney Alexander
#9s
2009 DeMar DeRozan
2008 DJ Augistine
2007 Joakim Noah
2006 Patrik O'Bryant
2005 Ike Diogu
2004 Andre Iguadala
2003 Mike Sweetney
2002 Amare Stoudemire
2001 Rodney White
2000 Joel Przybilla
Darkwing must not have actually looked back to see what the difference between #9 and #13 is. It's "only" 4 picks but I'm seeing a pretty good difference.
There's only 1 good player in the last 10 years to have come from #13, Richard Jefferson. the others are either heading out of the league or already gone. Meanwhile, @ #9 there are two all-stars, one is one of the best PFs in the game, and several players that are quite serviceable, such as Joel Przybilla and Joakim Noah.
Just take the top 3 players from each category, 4 picks is the difference between Richard Jefferson and Amare Stoudemire. 4 picks is the difference between Andre Iguadala and Sebastian Telfair. 4 picks is the difference between Joakim Noah and Marcus Banks.
So yes, 4 picks DOES make a difference.