Eight of the newest eighth draft picks reveal an unflattering pattern

Drafting eighth looks as if a excessive decide yielding a budding star or famous person on the rise. However that isn’t all the time the case. As a rule, the eighth seed is a crapshoot.

For the Spurs, who’ve spent a lot of the final three a long time with picks within the 20s, an eighth decide appears like a serious alternative. However the actuality is, the eighth seed doesn’t assure a robust roster participant.

Going again a decade (and ignoring the final two draft courses for lack of understanding), there’s a lot to be gleaned from the eight picks going again ten years.

Right here is the checklist of the eighth picks from 2014-2021.

Nik Stauskas

Capturing guard Nik Stauskas was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2014. He performed 343 NBA video games with 7 completely different groups averaging 6.7 PTS, 1.5 AST, and a couple of.0 RBD.

Stanley Johnson

In 2015, Stanley Johnson was drafted by the Detroit Pistons. His final NBA season was with the San Antonio Spurs the place he performed 30 video games averaging 5.8 PTS, 3.2 RBD, and a couple of.2 AST.

Marquese Chriss

Marquese Chriss was drafted by Sacramento Kings in 2016 however traded to the Phoenix Suns on draft evening for the rights to Bogdan Bogdanović, Georgios Papagiannis, and Skal Labissière. The Silver & Black had a shot at suiting him up when he was traded together with money issues on March 25, 2021 to the San Antonio Spurs in change for the draft rights to Cady Lalanne. As a substitute, Chriss was waived by the Spurs three days after the commerce.

Frank Ntilikina

Truthfully, I used to be excited once I noticed Frank Ntilikina, who went to New York in 2017. His rookie season in New York was thought of underwhelming, going as far as to be labeled a draft bust. Accidents restricted his play. After his third season with the Knicks, his stats throughout the board went into decline. He’s presently taking part in abroad.

Collin Sexton

One of the crucial profitable eighth draft picks in latest reminiscence is Collin Sexton, who was drafted in 2018 by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He ranked fifth in Rookie of the 12 months voting averaging 16.7 PTS, 3 AST, and a couple of.9 RBD. He improved every of the subsequent seasons in Cleveland, however noticed his fourth season shortened by a torn left meniscus. That June, the Cavaliers prolonged a qualifying supply to Sexton, making him a restricted free agent. On September 3, 2022, Sexton was signed-and-traded, alongside Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three future first-round picks, and two future decide swaps, to the Utah Jazz in change for Donovan Mitchell. His recreation is coming again and his final two season in Utah have yielded 17 PTS, 4.1 AST, and a couple of.5 RBD.

Jaxson Hayes

Jaxson Hayes was taken by the Atlanta Hawks with the eighth decide in 2019, however had his draft rights traded, together with the draft rights to Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Didi Louzada, and a protected 2020 first-round decide, to the New Orleans Pelicans in change for the draft rights to De’Andre Hunter and Solomon Hill. Like so might on this checklist, Hayes has struggled to shine is a stacked NBA.

Obi Toppin

2020’s eighth decide Obi Toppin, made his mark in New York as 2022’s Slam Dunk Champion, averaging 7 PTS and three RBD. On July 7, 2023, Toppin was traded to the Indiana Pacers for 2 future second-round decide, the place he has picked up extra minutes and introduced his averages up.

Franz Wagner

Like Collin Sexton, 2021’s Franz Wagner additionally got here in fifth in ROTY votes behind a robust first season. He has continued to enhance and was an instigator for Orlando throughout their first spherical of the playoffs. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see what milestones await the German small ahead.

There’s not loads of ensures on the eighth spot, and judging from these picks, there’s loads of coulda, woulda, shoulda, with hindsight being what it all the time is.

Will the Spurs commerce their 4th and or eighth picks for a better decide of an all-star caliber participant whose had some NBA expertise?

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