June 24, 2011 – R.S. De France

In this year’s draft, like all others, there will be winners and losers. While we wait to see how this year’s draft picks will work out, let’s look back at some of the great draft steals from the last ten years.

10. Michael Redd, 43rd pick, 2000

PPG RPG SPG 3-pt % Awards 20.0 4.0 1.0 38.3% ‘03-‘04 All-Star

Despite his nagging injuries, Redd makes this spot just over Glen Davis and Leandro Barbosa due to his body of work, the six or seven solid years before his injuries. Going from the 43rd pick to a 20 ppg All-Star sure fits the definition of a draft steal in my book. Besides, Redd was passed over for the likes of Darius Miles and Marcus Fizer.

9. Carl Landry, 31st pick, 2007

PPG RPG FG% 12.1 5.1 54%

8. Kevin Martin, 26th pick, 2004

PPG RPG SPG 3-pt % 18.5 3.5 1.0 38.1%

Along with maybe Ben Gordon (3rd) and J.R. Smith (18th), Martin was perhaps the best shooter in this draft class.

7. Luis Scola, 56th pick, 2002

PPG RPG FG% 14.3 8.0 51.5%

Scola’s solid performance, with or without Yao Ming in the lineup, has made the San Antonio Spurs regret letting him go (in exchange for Vassilis Spanoulis).

6. Paul Millsap, 47th pick, 2006

PPG RPG BPG SPG FG% 11.3 6.7 1.0 1.0 52.8%

Like David Lee and Marc Gasol, Millsap’s career ppg is a bit deceiving; he put up a solid 17.3 ppg last season.

5. David Lee, 30th pick, 2005

PPG RPG FG% Awards 13.6 9.6 54.6% 2010 All-Star

4. Marc Gasol, 48th pick, 2007

PPG RPG APG BPG FG% 12.6 7.8 2.2 1.4 54.5%

In a draft with only one other quality big man, Joakim Noah (other than the oft-injured Greg Oden), its surprising Gasol fell so far. All the talk about how he was not the shooter his brother Pau is and that he was out of shape lowered his value so much that the Los Angeles Lakers selected Javaris Crittenton and Sun Yue before finally nabbing Gasol.

3. Carlos Boozer, 35th pick, 2005

PPG RPG SPG FG% 17.3 10.1 1.0 53.7%

2. Tony Parker, 28th pick, 2001

PPG APG SPG Awards 16.7 5.7 1.0 Finals MVP, 3x All-Star

The Spurs’ organization has probably the best international scouts in the NBA, which has allowed them to come up with steals like getting this three-time champion, Parker, at the 28th pick and fellow champion and teammate Manu Ginobili at the 57th pick (in 1999).

1. Monta Ellis, 40th pick, 2005

PPG APG SPG Awards 19.4 4.2 1.7 ’06-’07 Most Improved Player

Coming directly out of high school, Ellis still had so many accolades (All-American and Player of the Year) and currently demonstrates so much ability and quickness that he has become an All-Star-level player.

Also Considered: Landry Fields, Sam Young, Taj Gibson, DeAndre Jordan, Mario Chalmers, Glen Davis, and Leandro Barbosa, among others.

Rob S. De France is a College and University instructor of English Composition living in Los Angeles. He has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Writing. De France has played, coached, and officiated competitive high school basketball in California for many years. Recently, De France, his wife, and another colleague started an internationally read magazine at Shwibly.com.