20 years, 20 drafts, and from 1995 all the way through 2014, hindsight is a virtue. I am re-drafting the lottery picks from every draft since the '95 season all the way through 2014, making it a full 20 years of perfect hindsight. Some things to remember is the lottery didn't go to 14 teams until 2005, and that for the years closer to the present, I am only basing this off of current events, and not on projections. I also don't care which team selected who when, this is just a ranking of the best players.
1) PF Pau Gasol, Spain
Accomplishments: 2x NBA Champion, 6x All-Star, 2x All-NBA 2nd, 2x All-NBA 3rd, All-Rookie 1st
Pau Gasol went from never making the playoffs to making three Finals in a row, and the trade that sent him from Memphis to the LA Lakers essentially changed the landscape of the Western Conference for three seasons. He will be remembered best for his time in Memphis and LA, and he currently plays in San Antonio.
2) PG Tony Parker, France
Accomplishments: 4x NBA Champion, Finals MVP, 6x All-Star, 3x All-NBA 2nd, All-NBA 3rd, All-Rookie 1st
I debated between Parker and Gasol pretty heavily, but Gasol's influence on the Western Conference landscape made me choose Gasol. However, Tony Parker has been an elite point guard since he came into the league, and is still a force for the San Antonio Spurs. If he plays elsewhere I would be surprised.
3) SG Joe Johnson, Arkansas
Accomplishments: 7x All-Star, All-NBA 3rd, All-Rookie 2nd
Joe Johnson was one of the best scorers in the NBA during his prime, and I think he is a Hall of Famer. However, his lack of deep postseason runs is going to hurt his stock, and he will best be remembered for his prime years in Atlanta.
4) PF Zach Randolph, Michigan State
Accomplishments: 2x All-Star, MIP, All-NBA 3rd
When Zach Randolph came to Memphis, that was the start of a seven season postseason run that they are still doing. Randolph is the face of their grit and grind mentality, and his double-double abilities are what he is best at. He will also be remembered for his time in Portland and New York.
5) PG Gilbert Arenas, Arizona
Accomplishments: 3x All-Star, MIP, All-NBA 2nd, 2x All-NBA 3rd
Had Gilbert Arenas not been a crazy person, he might have been the best player from this class. He will most likely be remembered for bringing weapons into the locker room, but he was also a guy capable of putting up 30 every night. He was an elite point guard for a few years, and it's a shame he didn't last.
6) C Tyson Chandler, Dominguez (HS)
Accomplishments: NBA Champion, Gold Medal, DPOY, All-Star, All-NBA 3rd, All-Defensive 1st, 2x All-Defensive 2nd
Tyson Chandler is referred to as the difference-maker in the 2011 Finals that led to Dallas winning, and Chandler is still in the league. He is playing at a semi-high level, and is a mentor to the young player on the Phoenix Suns. He will probably be remembered best for his one year in Dallas, however.
7) SF Richard Jefferson, Arizona
Accomplishments: NBA Champion, All-Rookie 2nd
Richard Jefferson finally got a ring last season in Cleveland, and he was on the Spurs for a few seasons so it's surprising that it took this long. Jefferson went from an explosive player to a three and D guy, and he belongs in the D-League Hall of Fame. He will best be remembered for his time in New Jersey.
8) SG Jason Richardson, Michigan State
Accomplishments: All-Rookie 1st, 2x Dunk Champ
Richardson underachieved in my opinion, since he was a guy who could shoot and dunk with the best, and put up 20 a game on numerous occasions. I think his play took a toll on his body, and he spent his last three seasons injured on the Philadelphia 76ers.
9) SF Shane Battier, Duke
Accomplishments: 2x NBA Champion, 2x All-Defensive 2nd, All-Rookie 1st
Shane Battier is one of those guys from Duke who annoyed everybody, but he was also one of the best role players of all time in the NBA. He won his rings in Miami, which led to his retirement.
10) SF Gerald Wallace, Alabama
Accomplishments: All-Star, All-Defensive 1st
Wallace was a good defender, and a decent scorer. He was a solid player, but nothing special.
11) C Samuel Dalembert, Seton Hall
Dalembert was a decent scorer, but he was more known for his defense. He was a capable starter, but played on not the greatest teams. Overall, he was solid.
12) PG Jamaal Tinsley, Iowa State
Accomplishments: All-Rookie 2nd
Tinsley was the starting point guard for the Jermaine O'Neal led Indiana Pacers. He put up decent numbers, but didn't last long enough to have a huge impact on the NBA.
13) C Brendan Haywood, North Carolina
Accomplishments: NBA Champion
Haywood was another big body in the NBA, and that was his main use. For a secondary threat, he put up pretty good numbers, and will be remembered for his time in Washington and Dallas.
OTHERS: Kwame Brown, Vladimir Radmanovic, Jason Collins,
