Where you pick in the NBA Draft matters

The Michael Jordan Pick

Last Magic No. 3 Pick: Anfernee Hardaway (1993) — 0.125 WS/48
2014 No. 3 Pick: Joel Embiid — 0.000 WS/48
Last No. 3 Pick All Star: James Harden (2009) — 0.207 WS/48
2015 Odds for Magic: 10.68%

The third pick in the Draft is always going to be associated with Michael Jordan. Just like the Portland Trail Blazers lost the coin flip for Hakeem Olajuwon, they both got stuck with the sloppy seconds of Sam Bowie and passed over taking Jordan, the most transformative player in the league’s history.

Amazingly, since 1980 there have been more All Stars drafted third overall than second overall (17-12). So it seems like being the third pick is often better than being better than the second pick. If it is a two-player draft, it is like being the top pick all over again.

That was not the case last year, but it might be the case again this year with the third pick having their pick of the “second-tier” guys.

There are some very good players historically still available at three and so landing here is not the worst thing in the world. It, arguably with the history of the pick, can be better than landing second — Darko Milicic anyone?

Next: Fifth as Expected