2005 NBA re-draft: The way it should have been
The 2005 NBA draft will not be remembered all that fondly, as it features just one surefire Hall-of-Famer, a few other low-level All-Stars, a whole lot of role players and many more busts.
The only thing preventing the 2005 class from being thought of even more poorly is the fact that many second-round picks that year wound up enjoying solid careers for many years, including some winners of impressive accolades. Still, it’s not a draft class you’ll be blown away by.
Below, check out our re-draft of the 2005 class in the order players should have gone, in our opinion.
No. 1 pick: Chris Paul
By far the best player from this draft class – and it’s really not even close – Chris Paul will go down as a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer even if he never wins that ever-elusive ring. Paul is one of the greatest floor generals in league history, capable of setting teammates up at a high level as well as scoring at a deadly clip from the midrange. It would have been a bit of a tough sell to take Paul first overall back in 2005 considering his lack of size but, clearly, he should have been the top pick.
Actual position: 4
Career earnings: $330,977,38
Career stats: 17.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 9.5 apg, 47.2 FG%, 36.9 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 2 pick: Deron Williams
There was a long-time debate, even before both entered the NBA, about who was better: Paul or Deron Williams. We obviously know the answer to that now but into the late 2000s, it was truly a matter of preference, as both were elite point guards. Of course, we now know Williams’ would see a steep, somewhat rapid decline in his play as he aged, but he was still an excellent lead ball-handler with a mean crossover in his prime.
Actual position: 3
Career earnings: $152,027,631
Career stats: 16.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 8.1 apg, 44.5 FG%, 35.7 3P%
Deron Williams Rumors
No. 3 pick: Lou Williams
One of the best Sixth Men in league history, Lou Williams was a huge success story from the 2005 draft class, coming straight out of high school to go 45th overall and last a long time in the NBA as one of the best bench scorers in the league, capable of getting hot quickly and scoring from deep beyond the arc.
Actual position: 45
Career earnings: $87,208,319
Career stats: 13.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 41.9 FG%, 35.1 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 4 pick: Monta Ellis
A player similar to Williams, Monta Ellis likewise came straight out of high school and wound up having a solid career in the NBA. Ellis was a high-level scorer for years in the NBA, peaking at 25.5 points per game in the late ’00s back when averaging 20-plus points was a much tougher accomplishment than it is today.
Actual position: 40
Career earnings: $104,008,681
Career stats: 17.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.6 apg, 45.1 FG%, 31.4 3P%
Monta Ellis Rumors
No. 5 pick: David Lee
A two-time All-Star and one-time 3rd Team All-NBAer, David Lee was a southpaw big man with good quickness and a solid face-up game, who really thrived in the up-tempo systems he suited up for, providing loads of scoring but little defense in his heyday. Injuries caused his play to really taper off quickly following his age-30 season but he did hit an All-Star level prior to that.
Actual position: 30
Career earnings: $94,282,468
Career stats: 13.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 53.5 FG%, 77.2 FT%
David Lee Rumors
No. 6 pick: Andrew Bogut
The actual No. 1 pick from the 2005 draft falls to No. 6 in our re-draft, although injuries did play a part in that. Andrew Bogut was probably never going to be a high-level scorer but he was a smooth center, with decent passing skills and finishing ability around the rim. He was also a solid rebounder but truly excelled as a shot-blocker, even leading the league in nightly rejections in 2010-11 with 2.6 per night.
Actual position: 1
Career earnings: $118,591,363
Career stats: 9.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.2 apg, 53.5 FG%, 12.0 3P%
Andrew Bogut Rumors
No. 7 pick: Danny Granger
Another player who had an impressive peak cut short by injuries, Danny Granger blossomed into being of the top two-way swingmen in the league at his peak, averaging 23.3 points, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks for a three-year stretch with the Indiana Pacers. Granger was one of the steal of his draft class, going from being taken outside of the lottery to performing at an All-Star level for a decent spell of time.
Actual position: 17
Career earnings: $71,140,777
Career stats: 16.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 43.4 FG%, 38.0 3P%
Danny Granger Rumors
No. 8 pick: Andrew Bynum
Another player drafted out of high school in 2005, Andrew Bynum helped form a wall of a frontcourt along with Pau Gasol during the Los Angeles Lakers’ championships runs of the late 2000s. Injuries also cut his prime – and career – short but for some time, he was a solid scorer and rebounder who could really protect the paint, reaching a borderline All-Star level in his prime.
Actual position: 10
Career earnings: $73,460,260
Career stats: 11.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 55.6 FG%, 69.0 FT%
Andrew Bynum Rumors
No. 9 pick: Raymond Felton
His career may not have been worthy of a Top 5 pick but Raymond Felton was a solid starting-level point guard for many years, one who could hit threes and used his quickness and strength to put a lot of pressure on the rim. Though he was never a star, Felton was a steady presence in various backcourts throughout the years.
Actual position: 5
Career earnings: $57,246,750
Career stats: 11.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.2 apg, 41.2 FG%, 32.9 3P%
Raymond Felton Rumors
No. 10 pick: Marvin Williams
The No. 2 pick from 2005 falls to No. 10 in our re-draft, and he likely would have gone even lower if this draft class wasn’t so weak overall. Marvin Williams was a decent 3-and-D swingman who could slide one position up and perform small-ball 4 duties but he was never much more than just an impactful role player.
Actual position: 2
Career earnings: $109,771,071
Career stats: 10.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 44.3 FG%, 36.1 3P%
Marvin Williams Rumors
No. 11 pick: Marcin Gortat
Another second-round success story from 2005, Marcin Gortat was one of the most effective pick-and-roll big men in his prime, earning the nickname The Polish Hammer for his prowess in finishing plays with huge dunks.
Actual position: 57
Career earnings: $95,091,880
Career stats: 9.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 55.1 FG%, 68.0 FT%
Marcin Gortat Rumors
No. 12 pick: Ersan Ilyasova
If it weren’t for so many solid role players coming out of the second round in 2005, this draft class would be looked back at even more poorly. Another big man fitting that bill is Ersan Ilyasova, a solid stretch-4 for many seasons in the NBA who could really shoot it from the outside.
Actual position: 36
Career earnings: $69,885,122
Career stats: 10.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.1 apg, 44.3 FG%, 36.7 3P%
Ersan Ilyasova Rumors
No. 13 pick: Channing Frye
Similar to Ilyasova, Channing Frye was a pick-and-pop specialist with a very pretty shooting stroke from beyond the arc and a difficult-to-contest jumper thanks to his size and length. He was important in helping the Cleveland Cavaliers win the 2016 title with LeBron James setting him up for so many open looks from three.
Actual position: 8
Career earnings: $69,732,776
Career stats: 8.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.0 apg, 44.0 FG%, 38.8 3P%
Channing Frye Rumors
No. 14 pick: Jarrett Jack
A solid floor general at his peak, Jarrett Jack could run an offense and do some scoring, both from the midrange and from beyond the arc. He also had a decent floater game that helped him finish looks around the rim over much taller and more athletic players.
Actual position: 22
Career earnings: $47,896,98
Career stats: 10.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.6 apg, 44.0 FG%, 34.3 3P%
Jarrett Jack Rumors
No. 15 pick: Charlie Villanueva
A promising prospect coming out of UConn, Charlie Villanueva became a solid slashing swingman in the NBA who could get points in bunches thanks to good quickness and decent ball-handling, but who was inconsistent as a scorer and provided little on the defensive end.
Actual position: 7
Career earnings: $51,577,806
Career stats: 10.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.5 bpg, 43.5 FG%, 34.1 3P%
Charlies Villanueva Rumors
No. 16 pick: Gerald Green
He never reached the heights of some of the players ahead of him on this list but Gerald Green might be remembered more fondly for a longer time, as he was one of the most explosive dunkers in the NBA in his prime with an ability to get fiery hot from beyond the arc at a moment’s notice.
Actual position: 18
Career earnings: $21,580,455
Career stats: 9.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.9 apg, 41.7 FG%, 36.1 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 17 pick: Nate Robinson
Back-to-back dunk champions go in our re-draft as Nate Robinson follows Green at No. 17. Like Green, Robinson probably wasn’t the same level of player as a lot of the players who went ahead of him in our re-draft, but he will be remembered fondly for his otherworldly athleticism at his size. Lest we forget, the generously listed 5-foot-9 guard once blocked Yao Ming in a game, which is probably the most memorable thing 95 percent of the players in this draft class ever did.
Actual position: 21
Career earnings: $24,555,319
Career stats: 11.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 42.3 FG%, 36.0 3P%
Nate Robinson Rumors
No. 18 pick: CJ Miles
CJ Miles didn’t win a bunch of accolades in his NBA career but he did enough to earn $50 million-plus worth of salary, especially impressive for a second-round pick, and that was thanks to his solid off-ball swingman abilities. A capable outside shooter and slasher, Miles was highly thought of as a role player for many years.
Actual position: 34
Career earnings: $50,687,919
Career stats: 9.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.1 apg, 41.1 FG%, 35.8 3P%
CJ Miles Rumors
No. 19 pick: Amir Johnson
Amir Johnson may not have been a star, but he did do enough to earn a whole lot of money during his playing career thanks to his screen-setting abilities as a backup big man. He was also an efficient finisher around the basket.
Actual position: 56
Career earnings: $79,456,857
Career stats: 7.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 57.0 FG%, 33.2 3P%
Amir Johnson Rumors
No. 20 pick: Brandon Bass
A face-up big man, Brandon Bass‘ range didn’t quite extend to the three-point line but he was pretty accurate from the midrange, often able to finish over smaller foes. Bass will be remembered most for his time on the Boston Celtics when he was a solid backup to Kevin Garnett.
Actual position: 33
Career earnings: $39,661,509
Career stats: 8.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 49.9 FG%, 20.7 3P%
Brandon Bass Rumors
No. 21 pick: Andray Blatche
Andray Blatche was a nice big man who could really handle the ball and score off of the dribble thanks to his smooth jumper, but he wasn’t very efficient, nor was he much of a rebounder or a defender.
Actual position: 49
Career earnings: $38,758,139
Career stats: 10.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, 46.7 FG%, 23.7 3P%
Andray Blatche Rumors
No. 22 pick: Ian Mahinmi
Like some of the other players on this list, Ian Mahinmi was fortunate to be a free agent in the summer of 2016, as he parlayed a decent playoff run with the Pacers into a huge deal with the Washington Wizards, one that immediately became an albatross. Mahinmi was a decent third-string center but he lacked the consistency, hands or scoring to be anything but a deep reserve.
Actual position: 28
Career earnings: $84,155,699
Career stats: 5.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.6 apg, 53.3 FG%, 61.2 FT%
Scouting Report
No. 23 pick: Chuck Hayes
Despite his lack of size, Chuck Hayes was a decent low-block scorer for a few years in the NBA, a capable piece off the bench who could make an impact with his scoring. That time didn’t last all that long, however, and as soon as he lost a step from his already-limited athleticism, Hayes’ time in the NBA was done.
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $30,754,508
Career stats: 3.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.2 apg, 49.8 FG%, 62.0 FT%
Chuck Hayes Rumors
No. 24 pick: Jason Maxiell
Best remembered for his time as a backup to Ben Wallace with the Detroit Pistons, where he helped the team on a couple of deep playoff runs, Jason Maxiell was a serviceable reserve who knew his role and didn’t try to do too much.
Actual position: 26
Career earnings: $28,614,821
Career stats: 5.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.4 apg, 49.5 FG%, 56.4 3P%
Jason Maxiell Rumors
No. 25 pick: Ryan Gomes
A scrappy forward, Ryan Gomes could shoot the basketball but perhaps not all that consistently. Still, Gomes was a good scorer off the bench thanks to his slashing.
Actual position: 50
Career earnings: $21,876,602
Career stats: 10.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, 44.5 FG%, 34.9 3P%
Ryan Gomes Rumors
No. 26 pick: Martell Webster
One of the many disappointments from this draft class, Martell Webster did impressively last 10 seasons in the NBA thanks to his spot-up shooting and respectable defense, but he didn’t come close to living up to his potential as the No. 6 pick in 2005.
Actual position: 6
Career earnings: $47,456,743
Career stats: 8.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.0 apg, 41.8 FG%, 38.2 3P%
Martell Webster Rumors
No. 27 pick: Hakim Warrick
A legend at Syracuse who won a national title alongside Carmelo Anthony, Hakim Warrick was a decent two-way wing, though his total lack of shooting hurt his long-term prospects in the NBA and he was an end-of-rotation player by his late-20s.
Actual position: 19
Career earnings: $21,227,942
Career stats: 9.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.8 apg, 49.0 FG%, 19.1 3P%
Hakim Warrick Rumors
No. 28 pick: Francisco Garcia
Spot-up shooting made Francisco Garcia a role player in the NBA for some time, as did his defensive hustle, but he lacked the athleticism and all-around game to be anything but a low-level role player.
Actual position: 23
Career earnings: $31,044,040
Career stats: 7.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.4 apg, 42.7 FG%, 35.7 3P%
Francisco Garcia Rumors
No. 29 pick: Linas Kleiza
A slashing scorer on the wing, Linas Kleiza lacked the shooting to make a bigger impact in the NBA, even leaving the Association to play in Greece for a year in his prime before coming back to play with the Toronto Raptors through his age-28 season.
Actual position: 27
Career earnings: $23,460,573
Career stats: 8.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.8 apg, 43.5 FG%, 33.5 3P%
Linas Kleiza Rumors
No. 30 pick: Will Bynum
The second Bynum on this list, Will Bynum wasn’t the player Andrew was (no relation there anyway), but he was a scorer as an undersized guard for the Pistons, one who could get hot from time to time thanks to his quickness and pull-up shooting ability.
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $17,243,265
Career stats: 8.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 44.2 FG%, 27.2 3P%
Will Bynum Rumors
No. 31 pick: Ronny Turiaf
Actual position: 37
Career earnings: $22,781,156
Career stats: 4.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 53.3 FG%, 63.6 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 32 pick: Ronnie Price
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $17,972,472
Career stats: 3.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 37.3 FG%, 30.2 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 33 pick: Marcelo Huertas
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $2,025,093
Career stats: 3.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 40.9 FG%, 25.0 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 34 pick: Johan Petro
Actual position: 25
Career earnings: $15,845,294
Career stats: 4.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.5 bpg, 46.2 FG%, 15.4 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 35 pick: Joey Graham
Actual position: 16
Career earnings: $8,804,185
Career stats: 5.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.5 apg, 48.3 FG%, 30.0 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 36 pick: Alan Anderson
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $8,925,429
Career stats: 7.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.1 apg, 40.5 FG%, 34.4 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 37 pick: Kelenna Azubuike
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $11,313,793
Career stats: 10.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 45.9 FG%, 40.9 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 38 pick: John Lucas III
No. 39 pick: Erazem Lorbek
Actual position: 46
Euroleague career stats: 9.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.9 apg, 38.8 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 40 pick: Fran Vazquez
Actual position: 11
Euroleague career stats: 6.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 60.1 2P%
Career Salary Info
No. 41 pick: Shavlik Randolph
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $5,462,880
Career stats: 2.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.2 apg, 44.9 FG%, 16.7 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 42 pick: Mickael Gelabale
Actual position: 48
Career earnings: $2,056,323
Career stats: 4.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.8 apg, 47.0 FG%, 31.6 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 43 pick: Rashad McCants
Actual position: 14
Career earnings: $7,581,406
Career stats: 10.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, 43.1 FG%, 36.8 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 44 pick: Luther Head
Actual position: 24
Career earnings: $6,986,339
Career stats: 8.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 42.3 FG%, 38.3 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 45 pick: Ike Diogu
Actual position: 9
Career earnings: $10,882,224
Career stats: 6.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.3 apg, 50.9 FG%, 78.6 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 46 pick: Sean May
Actual position: 13
Career earnings: $8,768,068
Career stats: 6.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 45.8 FG%, 23.1 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 47 pick: Stephen Graham
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $3,782,274
Career stats: 4.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.5 apg, 44.6 FG%, 30.8 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 48 pick: Axel Hervelle
Actual position: 52
Career stats: 7.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.8 apg, 40.1 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 49 pick: Antoine Wright
Actual position: 15
Career earnings: $9,616,110
Career stats: 5.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, 41.2 FG%, 30.4 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 50 pick: Travis Diener
Actual position: 38
Career earnings: $5,922,971
Career stats: 4.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 38.8 FG%, 35.3 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 51 pick: Von Wafer
Actual position: 39
Career earnings: $3,928,473
Career stats: 5.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.7 apg, 42.0 FG%, 32.5 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 52 pick: Salim Stoudamire
Actual position: 31
Career earnings: $2,187,000
Career stats: 8.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 40.7 FG%, 36.6 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 53 pick: Orien Greene
Actual position: 53
Career earnings: $1,192,098
Career stats: 2.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.2 apg, 38.7 FG%, 21.2 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 54 pick: Dwayne Jones
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $1,880,393
Career stats: 1.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.1 apg, 50.8 FG%
Career Salary Info
No. 55 pick: Daniel Ewing
Actual position: 32
Career earnings: $1,114,209
Career stats: 3.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.4 apg, 38.9 FG%, 29.5 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 56 pick: Lawrence Roberts
Actual position: 55
Career earnings: $1,062,971
Career stats: 3.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.4 apg, 45.2 FG%, 68.8 FT%
Career Salary Info
No. 57 pick: Wayne Simien
Actual position: 29
Career earnings: $1,800,480
Career stats: 3.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.2 apg, 46.9 FG%
Career Salary Info
No. 58 pick: Julius Hodge
Actual position: 20
Career earnings: $2,383,560
Career stats: 1.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.8 apg, 44.0 FG%, 50.0 FT%
Career Salary Info
No. 59 pick: Alex Acker
Actual position: 60
Career earnings: $1,949,488
Career stats: 2.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.5 apg, 37.0 FG%, 32.0 3P%
Career Salary Info
No. 60 pick: Will Conroy
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $938,326
Career stats: 0.4 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 1.0 apg
Career Salary Info
Biggest risers
Marcin Gortat: From No. 57 to No. 11 (+46)
Lou Williams: From No. 45 to No. 3 (+42)
Amir Johnson: From No. 56 to No. 19 (+37)
Monta Ellis: From No. 40 to No. 4 (+36)
Ronnie Price: From undrafted to No. 32 (+29)
Andray Blatche: From No. 49 to No. 21 (+28)
Marcelo Huertas: From undrafted to No. 33 (+28)
David Lee: From No. 30 to No. 5 (+25)
Ryan Gomes: From No. 50 to No. 25 (+25)
Alan Anderson: From undrafted to No. 36 (+25)
Ersan Ilyasova: From No. 36 to No. 12 (+24)
Kelenna Azubuike: From undrafted to No. 37 (+24)
Biggest Slippers
Yaroslav Korolev: No. 12 to undrafted (-49)
Julius Hodge: No. 20 to No. 58 (-38)
Ike Diogu: No. 9 to No. 45 (-36)
Antoine Wright: No. 15 to No. 49 (-34)
Sean May: No. 13 to No. 46 (-33)
Fran Vazquez: No. 11 to No. 40 (-29)
Rashad McCants: No. 14 to No. 43 (-29)
Wayne Simien: No. 29 to No. 57 (-28)
Daniel Ewing: No. 32 to No. 55 (-23)
Salim Stoudamire: No. 31 to No. 52 (-21)
Luther Head: No. 24 to No. 44 (-20)
Joey Graham: No. 16 to No. 35 (-19)
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