For the first time in over 50 years, the Detroit Pistons will select before any other team in the draft, proudly boasting the first overall pick in 2021. They'll likely select Cade Cunningham out of Oklahoma State, a true all-around player with an All-NBA ceiling and all of the qualities that you want to build around. And they should be excited. Really, really excited.
But as history shows, the best picks don't always happen at No. 1. In 2007, Kevin Durant went second, following the Blazers' selection of Greg Oden. The best picks aren't always at No. 2. In 1984, Michael Jordan went third after the Blazers took Sam Bowie... come on, Blazers! And the best picks aren't always at No. 3. In 1996, Kobe Bryant went 13th. In 1998, Dirk Nowitzki went ninth. In 2014, Nikola Jokic went 41st. Etc., etc.
So, no matter what draft selection your favorite team has, you can't count out the possibility that a franchise superstar will be available, be it at first overall or 60th overall. But how has each team done historically when they've picked in their 2021 draft positions? All but two teams — the Orlando Magic at No. 8, and the San Antonio Spurs at No. 12 — have held their 2021 spot in another draft, and we'll look at the most recent selections for all 30 slots on the board for the teams in those positions.
All information and stats retrieved from Basketball Reference.
Picks No. 1 through 5
Chris Bosh was a longtime face of the Toronto Raptors.(Claus Andersen/Getty Images)1. Detroit Pistons: Bob Lanier (1970)
20.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 8x All-Star, Hall of Fame
It was a while ago, but it still holds up as one of the best picks in Detroit Pistons history. Even if some of the names that went soon after — Pete Maravich and Dave Cowens among them — were great players, Lanier is perhaps the greatest big man the franchise has ever had.
2. Houston Rockets: Rudy Tomjanovich (1970)
17.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 5x All-Star, Hall of Fame (as coach)
Coincidentally, the only time the Rockets have drafted at No. 2 was in the same year that the Pistons drafted at No. 1. Then the San Diego Rockets, the team's decision to draft Tomjanovich provided them with a perennial All-Star and some successful seasons, including the 1976-77 Eastern Conference Finals run.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Dwight Davis (1972)
8.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.6 APG
The Cavs have been at or near the top of the board a bunch in recent years, but the only time they've picked at No. 3 was in 1972. Davis was a middling forward who was traded after three seasons in Cleveland.
4. Toronto Raptors: Chris Bosh (2003)
19.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 11x All-Star, Hall of Fame
Part of perhaps the most famous draft class in history, Bosh landed north of the border at No. 4 after LeBron, Darko Milicic, and Carmelo Anthony were off the board. Though you can nitpick and say that Dwyane Wade was the more impactful player at No. 5, it's hard to actually argue that Toronto didn't hit a home run here. They had success at the No. 4 slot earlier on, too, when they selected Antawn Jamison in 1998 — and then traded him for the No. 5 pick, Vince Carter.
5. Orlando Magic: Mario Hezonja (2015)
6.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.3 APG
In the middle of a fairly weak group of lottery picks — one that was salvaged by the No. 13 selection of Devin Booker by Ryan McDonough — the Magic went international star Mario Hezonja. It's safe to say that it didn't pan out, as the 26-year-old has still failed to find his NBA footing. A better pick was when Mike Miller went to Orlando with the No. 5 pick in 2000 and turned out to be the second most valuable selection, in terms of win shares, in an underwhelming class.
Picks No. 6 through 10
The Warriors are trying to strike similar magic at No. 7 as they have in the past.(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)6. Oklahoma City Thunder: James Bailey (1979 - Seattle)
8.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 0.8 APG
This pick didn't pan out, though when the Sonics had the No. 6 selection eight years earlier, they made the most of it with Fred Brown. Brown was an All-Star and was on the 1978-79 championship roster.
7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes (2012)
13.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.8 APG
Barnes is a fine player and was a nice pick in 2012. But rewind two years and you'll see that the Warriors selected some dude named Stephen Curry in the same slot and... yeah. Must I go on? Okay, fine. They also had the No. 7 pick in 1985, and used it on Hall of Famer Chris Mullin. There's reason to be excited about this pick in the Bay Area.
8. Orlando Magic: N/A
The Magic have never selected at pick No. 8, but since their 2021 selection here came via the trade with the Bulls, we can look at the most recent No. 8 selection in Chicago. That was Olden Polynice in 1987, who was promptly traded to Seattle on draft night for a fellow rookie named Scottie Pippen.
9. Sacramento Kings: Otis Thorpe (1984)
14.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1x All-Star
It's hard to stand out when you're in the same draft class as Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and John Stockton. But Thorpe was a perfectly acceptable pick here for the Kings, ranking fifth in the class in win shares behind those four giants of the game.
10. New Orleans Pelicans: Austin Rivers (2010)
9.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 2.3 APG
The only time prior to 2021 that New Orleans selected at No. 10 was when they landed Rivers. Considering no one of any real significance was taken in the next ten picks, it wasn't a horrible selection, but it also didn't do much for the franchise's future. He was traded in 2015.
Picks No. 11 through 15
"Psycho T" didn't deliver for the Pacers are getting selected 13th overall.(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)11. Charlotte Hornets: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2018)
16.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.8 APG
Though Miles Bridges has become a fan favorite — if only because of his emphatic slam dunks — the Hornets probably wish they hadn't traded SGA away right after drafting him. He's bound to be an All-Star soon, especially after the 2020-21 season saw him post 23.7 points per game. Charlotte also had the No. 11 pick the year prior, using it on explosive scorer Malik Monk.
12. San Antonio Spurs: N/A
San Antonio has never selected at No. 12, but they do have a former No. 12 pick on their roster in Trey Lyles. The Jazz picked him there back in 2015, and he's a solid bench presence who can contribute in a number of ways.
13. Indiana Pacers: Tyler Hansbrough (2009)
6.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 0.4 APG
The Pacers are hoping for a better turnout this time around, seeing as Psycho T's unforgettable career at UNC turned into a completely forgettable NBA stint. One-time All-Star Dale Davis was also a No. 13 pick for Indiana, back in 1991, though why he was an All-Star remains something of a mystery.
14. Golden State Warriors: Anthony Randolph (2008)
7.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.7 APG
More reason to be excited for the Warriors' prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft, but it's not because of Randolph. It's because in 1999, five-time All-Star Tim Hardaway fell to the Warriors at No. 14, making him one of the best value picks of that year.
15. Washington Wizards: Troy Brown Jr. (2018)
7.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.9 APG
After a mini bubble breakout at the end of his sophomore 2019-20 season (15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists per game in eight contests), Brown came back down to earth in his third year and is not on the Chicago Bulls.
Picks No. 16 through 20
The last time the Hawks picked at No. 20, they used it on Dion Glover.(Jeff Gross/Getty Images)16. Oklahoma City Thunder: Dana Barros (1989 - Seattle)
10.5 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1x All-Star
With back-to-back picks in 1989, Seattle selected Barros and Shawn Kemp, meaning the order in which they were taken didn't really matter. Kemp was the better player, though Barros was still a very competent guard with sharp-shooting capabilities throughout his career. Kemp, on the other hand, became a face of the franchise and was named to six All-Star teams.
17. Memphis Grizzlies: Wade Baldwin (2016)
3.1 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.4 APG
Who? A G-League stud who has now taken his career overseas, playing for Bayern Munich and doing quite well.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder: Eric Bledsoe (2010)
14.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.7 APG, 2x All-Defensive
A fine player, Bledsoe has been a key member on a handful of good playoff rosters. None of those belonged to the Thunder, though, who traded Bledsoe to the Clippers on draft night for a future first.
19. New York Knicks: Walter McCarty (1996)
5.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.1 APG
This pick was sent to New York as settlement for the Pat Riley ordeal with the Heat. Playing in only 35 games as a Knick, McCarty was traded to the Celtics before his second season and never quite reached first-round production. The more memorable No. 19 pick in New York was far-too-underappreciated guard Rod Strickland, taken in the 1988 Draft.
20. Atlanta Hawks: Dion Glover (1999)
8.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.5 APG
Both John Collins and Kevin Huerter with taken with the No. 19 overall pick in their respective drafts, but the No. 20 selection isn't as meaningful in Hawks history. Glover was waived after a handful of seasons in Atlanta, and he now works as an assistant coach in the G League.
Picks No. 21 through 25
The Rockets selected Nikola Mirotic at No. 23, but they weren't the team that reaped the benefits of that draft value.(Elsa/Getty Images)21. New York Knicks: Dontae' Jones (1996)
2.9 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 0.3 APG
Jones was traded to Boston before he could ever make an appearance for the Knicks, and 15 games later, he had played in the NBA for the last time. He turned out to be another unforgettable pick, along with the aforementioned McCarty and No. 18 selection John Wallace, in that 1996 Draft.
22. Los Angeles Lakers: Norm Nixon (1977)
15.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 8.3 APG, 2x All-Star
Nixon was a great, perhaps somewhat forgotten point guard from the Showtime Lakers who could score and assist as well as any other floor generals in the league. As the last pick of the first round — there were only 22 picks per round back then — he gave the Lakers tremendous value.
23. Houston Rockets: Nikola Mirotic
12.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.3 APG
Mirotic was traded on draft night to the Chicago Bulls, who unlocked him as a great perimeter weapon for a few years before trading him once more. He decided to take his career overseas and recently won the championship in the top league of Spanish basketball alongside Pau Gasol.
24. Houston Rockets: Luther Head (2005)
8.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.1 APG
A member of the All-Rookie Second Team, Head's career wasn't as productive as that promising start might have indicated. Instead, we can focus on Sam Cassell, who far outplayed his No. 24 draft value in 1993 and went on to win three titles.
25. Los Angeles Clippers: Brice Johnson (2016)
2.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.1 APG
A star at UNC, Johnson has barely played 100 minutes in his NBA career and most recently played for Budivelnyk in the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague. Three years earlier, the Clippers used the same slot on Reggie Bullock, who had an unexpectedly productive season with the Knicks this past season.
Picks No. 26 through 30
Josh Hart was a steal at No. 30, and the Jazz are hoping they can strike gold again — without trading it away.(Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)26. Denver Nuggets: Mamadou N'Diaye (2000)
3.8 PPG, 3.3 APG, 0.1 APG
There's something about being named Mamadou N'Diaye and being really tall. This N'Diaye stood at 7-foot-0 and was traded to the Raptors before he made an appearance for the Nuggets. The other N'Diaye stood at 7-foot-6 and never made it to the NBA after a memorable career at UC Irvine in the mid-2010s.
27. Brooklyn Nets: Mfiondu Kabengele (2019)
2.7 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 0.4 APG
There's a trend here. In 2019, the Nets had the 27th pick and ultimately traded their pick, Kabengele, to the Clippers the next day. In 2017, the Nets drafted Kyle Kuzma with the 27th pick and traded him that night in a deal involving D'Angelo Russell. In 2011, the Nets drafted JaJuan James with the 27th pick and traded him for MarShon Brooks that night. In 2010, the Nets drafted Jordan Crawford with the 27th pick and trade him for Damion James that night. So who's getting drafted, and then traded, this time around?
28. Philadelphia 76ers: Willie Taylor (1969)
N/A
I can't even pretend to know who this guy is. According to Wikipedia, Taylor signed a one-year deal with the 76ers after they drafted him in 1969, but he never played in a game.
29. Phoenix Suns: Alando Tucker (2007)
4.1 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.3 APG
Tucker had an insignificant role for the Suns for a few seasons before he was traded to the Timberwolves for Jason Hart. He was then waived and never played another NBA game.
30. Utah Jazz: Josh Hart (2017)
8.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.6 APG
A terrific value at 30th overall, Hart unfortunately never provided his all-around play for the Jazz. They opted to trade him to the Lakers on draft night, along with Thomas Bryant, for Tony Bradley. As it turns out, Bradley is the worst player of the three, and Hart now finds himself an impending restricted free agent after playing a meaningful role in New Orleans.
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