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Draft Teams Season Simulation Playoffs Simulation Poll: Best of the Best

Ultimate Basketball Draft

Imagine you and nine rival general managers are putting together basketball teams from scratch. Every current or former NBA or ABA player is available to draft, each in the prime of his career.

How would you construct a 12-man roster? Would Michael Jordan be the surefire No. 1 player on your draft board? If you had a full list of centers from which to choose, how would you decide among Wilt, Russell, Shaq, Kareem and Hakeem? Where would you slot Kobe and LeBron? Magic and Larry? How would you balance stars and role players, or pioneers versus today's greats?

These were just some of the questions facing the 10 writers -- Chris Ballard, Richard Deitsch, Paul Forrester, Lee Jenkins, Chris Mannix, Jack McCallum, Joe Posnanski, Phil Taylor, Ian Thomsen and Alex Wolff -- who participated in SI.com's Ultimate Basketball Draft.

Below you can see the pick-by-pick results of the draft, which was conducted before the Mavericks won the championship and Derrick Rose emerged as the clear front-runner in the 2010-11 MVP race. You can view a complete analysis of each team by clicking on the writers' pictures or on "TEAMS" above. Disagree with the picks? Weigh in with your thoughts on the draft's hottest debates.

Who drafted the best team? For one answer to that question, SI.com asked Strat-O-Matic, which has been creating the best-selling statistical-based simulations for more than 50 years, to design a realistic representation of what might occur if these 120 players all played at the same time in this 10-team league. We present the standings, league leaders and player-by-player stats from the balanced, 72-game regular season, as well as the outcome of the four-team postseason, which includes box scores for every game and a summary of each series. (The winner takes a victory lap here.)

Each player's best season was the foundation for creating the data for the simulation, but Strat-O-Matic director of development Bob Winberry and his team then had to adjust those numbers to all-time norms; make further modifications based on average league height and the integration of basketball over time; and factor in the company's own rating of players in specific categories on offense and defense. James Williams, the top basketball researcher at Strat-O-Matic, also had to fill in the gaps for stats that were not officially tabulated in the early days of pro basketball.

Players are geared toward a certain number of minutes based on the writers' preferences, but playing time and number of starts are handled by the automated computer coach in the simulation. (The writers also picked real coaches for their clubs -- see the individual team pages for results -- but those coaches had no bearing on the simulation.) Injuries come into play like in real life, as does the possibility that some players will have off years or exceed their usual productivity.

Now, on to the draft ...

                         
PICK TEAM PLAYER
1 Alex Wolff G Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan

Six rings, five MVPs, 10 scoring titles; record 30.1 ppg
Alex Wolff: It was a huge privilege to get to pick first, and with it came just as great an obligation to take Jordan, who set the tone for every subsequent choice I made.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
2 Joe Posnanski C Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain

50.4 ppg, 25.7 rpg in '61-62; 100-point game; four MVPs
Joe Posnanski: What can you say? The greatest offensive force in NBA history.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
3 Chris Ballard C Bill Russell

Bill Russell

Five MVPs, record 11 titles in 13 years; No. 2 in rpg (22.5)
Chris Ballard: The ideal building block: best defensive big man in history, unparalleled winner, incredibly smart and the consummate teammate.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
4 Lee Jenkins C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Six titles, record six MVPs; all-time scoring/minutes leader
Lee Jenkins: The leading scorer in NBA history, the third-leading rebounder, and takes care of the position that general managers often say is the hardest to fill.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
5 Jack McCallum G Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson

Only player to average triple-double for a season
Jack McCallum: Bird and Magic, two guys I covered and admired, were on the board, but I couldn't pass up the second-greatest all-around player (behind Michael Jordan) who will get his triple-double-for-the-season on my team.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
6 Paul Forrester C Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal

Four titles, three straight Finals MVPs; 23.7 ppg, 58.1 FG
Paul Forrester: Quick, powerful and a deft passer, Shaq is one of the few players who force opponents to alter game plans to account for him.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
7 Ian Thomsen F Larry Bird

Larry Bird

Three titles & MVPs; 24.3 ppg, 10 rpg, 6.3 apg, 49.6% FG

Ian Thomsen: Having wasted too much of my life watching selfish one-on-one basketball, I decided to put my team in the mangled fingers of the most charismatic scorer/passer of the modern age.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
8 Phil Taylor G Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson

Five titles, three MVPs; 19.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 11.2 apg
Phil Taylor: Thrilled that the most versatile player ever is still there at No. 8.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
9 Chris Mannix G Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant

Five titles; fastest to 25K points; No. 6 all time in scoring
Chris Mannix: Only a handful of players in NBA history a) want the ball with the game on the line and b) can convert when they get it. Kobe is one of them.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
10 Richard Deitsch F Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan

Four titles; All-NBA/All-Defensive team in first 13 years
Richard Deitsch: Nabbing the best power forward in history at No. 10? Fools.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
11 Richard Deitsch C Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem Olajuwon

MVP, Finals MVP, DPY in '93-94; quadruple-double in '90
Deitsch: Only a handful of franchise-building centers exist, and I now own one of them.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
12 Chris Mannix G John Stockton

John Stockton

All-time assists/steals leader; playoffs in all 19 seasons

Mannix: On a team loaded with stars, it helps to have one of the most unselfish -- and savviest -- players in the game dishing them the rock.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
13 Phil Taylor C Moses Malone

Moses Malone

Three MVPs, '83 title; all-time leader in offensive boards
Taylor: Relentless rebounder who will get extra possessions for all of the shooters.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
14 Ian Thomsen C Bill Walton

Bill Walton

Only player to win MVP, Finals MVP, Sixth Man Award
Thomsen: If I were a GM, someone like me would be calling for myself to be fired for picking Walton this high. My response: "What do you writers know? The healthy Walton could do everything at the highest level, and he was the greatest passing center of them all."
PICK TEAM PLAYER
15 Paul Forrester G Jerry West

Jerry West

Nine Finals teams (one title); All-Star all 14 seasons
Forrester: What better way to space the floor than with Mr. Clutch, who married outstanding marksmanship with gritty defense and uncompromising toughness.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
16 Jack McCallum F Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor

10-time All-NBA first team; 38.3 ppg, 18.6 rpg in '62

McCallum: The league's first great small forward and one of the game's most underrated stars averaged 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds in 14 seasons.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
17 Lee Jenkins F Karl Malone

Karl Malone

Two MVPs, 11 All-NBA first team; No. 2 all-time scorer
Jenkins: Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (my first pick), the NBA's top two scorers, form a front line that will be virtually impossible to contain in half-court sets.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
18 Chris Ballard F LeBron James

LeBron James

Back-to-back MVPs from '08-10; 27.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 7 apg
Ballard: The most physically gifted player in league history will be a towering point guard on offense and a lockdown defender.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
19 Joe Posnanski F Julius Erving

Julius Erving

Four MVPs (three ABA), three championships (two ABA)

Posnanski: Chris Ballard stole LeBron from me by one pick, but the Doctor will do nicely at small forward.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
20 Alex Wolff C David Robinson

David Robinson

Two titles, '95 MVP; NBA's most recent quad-double ('94)
Wolff: Having chosen Michael Jordan at No. 1, I had to take a big man with my second pick -- and in the Admiral I've got one mobile enough to keep up with the all-court players I'll draft.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
21 Alex Wolff G Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade

'06 Finals MVP; three All-NBA first team; 25.4 ppg
Wolff: Watching Wade as "one of the guys" in the 2008 Olympics, I loved him as an open-court defender, finisher and all-around MJ knockoff. He proved in Beijing that he can excel as a role player among greats.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
22 Joe Posnanski G Isiah Thomas

Isiah Thomas

Two titles; '90 Finals MVP; No. 5 all time in APG (9.3)
Posnanski: He will have no say-so whatsoever when it comes to coaching or player acquisitions, but, man, could he play the point.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
23 Chris Ballard F Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley

1993 MVP; top 21 all time in points, rebounds and FG%

Ballard: The young, springy Philadelphia version who once averaged 5.7 offensive boards per game, he'll wreak havoc in the paint and run the floor.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
24 Lee Jenkins G Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd

No. 2 all time in assists; No. 3 in triple-doubles, threes
Jenkins: Someone has to feed Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the post and Kidd is the ideal pass-first point guard with more than nine assists per game.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
25 Jack McCallum F Scottie Pippen

Scottie Pippen

Six titles, 10 All-Defensive teams, seven All-NBA teams

McCallum: No great player has been better at finding a way to excel in the shadow of greater ones. Pippen will flourish alongside the Big O and Elgin Baylor.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
26 Paul Forrester G Walt Frazier

Walt Frazier

Two titles, four All-NBA first, seven All-Defensive first

Forrester: His man-about-town style belied the relentless work he put in on defense but not the calm demeanor he used to lead the Knicks to titles in 1970 and '73.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
27 Ian Thomsen G Clyde Drexler

Clyde Drexler

'95 title; 10-time All-Star; 20.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.6 apg

Thomsen: As a slashing scorer, this Phi Slamma Jamma Dream Teamer was second only to Michael Jordan. Imagine the driving lanes and backdoor cuts generated for him by these teammates.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
28 Phil Taylor F Rick Barry

Rick Barry

'75 Finals MVP; led ABA and NBA in scoring; 89.3% FT

Taylor: The three-point line, which he didn't have most of his career, makes him even more lethal.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
29 Chris Mannix C Willis Reed

Willis Reed

Finals MVP in both N.Y. titles; '70 MVP; 12.9 rpg (No. 11)

Mannix: Rugged, prolific, fearless -- Reed is the embodiment of a winner.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
30 Richard Deitsch G Bob Cousy

Bob Cousy

Six championships in '50s/'60s; 10-time All-NBA first team
Deitsch: If you believe that great players can play in any era -- and I do -- I just landed arguably the greatest playmaker in NBA history.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
31 Richard Deitsch F Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett

One each: title, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year
Deitsch: Think of the all-court force who toiled in Minnesota for all those seasons. He'll defend multiple positions, score in a variety of ways and be a leader among greats.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
32 Chris Mannix C Patrick Ewing

Patrick Ewing

11-time All-Star; 20+ points per game 13 straight years
Mannix: Knicks bias (given my earlier pick of Willis Reed)? Maybe, but Ewing could knock down the 15-footer with the best of them and play a nasty game in the paint.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
33 Phil Taylor F Bob McAdoo

Bob McAdoo

'73 Rookie of the Year; '75 MVP; three straight ppg titles
Taylor: Great shooter, underrated rebounder who can play center if team wants to go small.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
34 Ian Thomsen G Steve Nash

Steve Nash

Back-to-back MVPs ('04-06); five assist titles; 90.4.% FT

Thomsen: So now I am creating an orgy of passers who can also score with the best of them, which is the way I like it.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
35 Paul Forrester F Bob Pettit

Bob Pettit

Two MVPs in '50s; first to 20K points; 26.4 ppg, 16.2 rpg

Forrester: Though his 6-9 frame carried only 215 pounds, the game's third-leading per-game rebounder prompted Bill Russell to say, "He kept coming at you more than any man in the game."
PICK TEAM PLAYER
36 Jack McCallum F Kevin McHale

Kevin McHale

Three titles, two Sixth Man Awards; 26.1 ppg in '86-87
McCallum: Oscar Robertson will say, "Go down to the low post and score," then McHale will giggle and make fun of Oscar behind his back, then he'll go down to the low post and score.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
37 Lee Jenkins G George Gervin

George Gervin

Five-time All-NBA first team, four scoring titles in '70s/'80s
Jenkins: We need perimeter scoring, if only to take attention off Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone, and Iceman provides it with more than 26 points per game.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
38 Chris Ballard G Reggie Miller

Reggie Miller

No. 2 all time with 2,560 threes; 18.2 ppg, 88.8% FT

Ballard: Ultimate floor-spreader for LeBron James, he's a big-game shooter -- and willing role player -- with unlimited range and immense cojones.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
39 Joe Posnanski G John Havlicek

John Havlicek

Eight titles in '60s/'70s; Celtics' all-time scoring leader

Posnanski: Great offense and defense from my shooting guard, Hondo is the heart and soul of this team.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
40 Alex Wolff C Dave Cowens

Dave Cowens

Won two titles, MVP and Rookie of the Year award in '70s
Wolff: Part of my strategy is to assemble a bunch of guys Michael Jordan will never have to glare at for not playing hard, and in Cowens I've got someone who would stare down MJ if he ever dogged it.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
41 Alex Wolff G Joe Dumars

Joe Dumars

Two titles; '89 Finals MVP; four All-Defensive first teams
Wolff: Ever since I stood next to freshly chosen Dallas Maverick Detlef Schrempf at the 1985 draft, and listened to him ever-more-desperately mutter "Pick Dumars!" as the Mavs wasted subsequent first-round choices on Uwe Blab and Bill Wennington, I've vowed that, if ever given the opportunity, I would channel my inner Schrempf.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
42 Joe Posnanski F Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki

'07 MVP; '11 Finals MVP; four-time All-NBA first team

Posnanski: Getting Dirk's scoring, rebounding and dominance in the fifth round was a steal.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
43 Chris Ballard F Dennis Rodman

Dennis Rodman

Five rings, seven board titles in a row, two DPY awards
Ballard: Guards most any opponent while irritating all of them, embraces his role, wins wherever he goes (five rings) and is relentless on the glass.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
44 Lee Jenkins F James Worthy

James Worthy

Won third title with triple-double in Game 7 of '88 Finals
Jenkins: Jason Kidd wants to push the ball and someone has to run with him in transition; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar suggests Worthy, an expert finisher on the break.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
45 Jack McCallum C Wes Unseld

Wes Unseld

'69 MVP and Rookie of the Year; '78 Finals MVP; 14 rpg
McCallum: He'll get you 10 points without ever needing the ball, he'll get you 15 rebounds, he'll start a couple of dozen fast breaks with outlet passes and he'll be the on-court sheriff even Oscar Robertson won't challenge.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
46 Paul Forrester F Dominique Wilkins

Dominique Wilkins

'86 scoring champ; seven-time All-NBA; No. 11 in scoring
Forrester: The Hall of Fame was slow to embrace the Human Highlight Film, but we're not. His athleticism was a dynamic element few opponents could stop.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
47 Ian Thomsen C Alonzo Mourning

Alonzo Mourning

Back-to-back Defensive Player of Year; 17.1 ppg, 2.8 bpg
Thomsen: I needed toughness and an anchoring defender to protect the rim, and Mourning -- who will revert to power forward in this lineup alongside Bill Walton -- provides the same kind of leadership for the team defense that Larry Bird provides for the offense.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
48 Phil Taylor G Sidney Moncrief

Sidney Moncrief

Back-to-back Defensive Player of Year; five-time All-Star
Taylor: The defensive demon can handle little point guards who might trouble by No. 1 pick, Magic Johnson.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
49 Chris Mannix F Bernard King

Bernard King

'85 leader with 32.9 ppg; two-time All-NBA first team
Mannix: Pre-knee injury, King was as explosive as they get, filling it up from anywhere on the floor.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
50 Richard Deitsch G Gary Payton

Gary Payton

No. 8 in assists; All-Defensive first team nine years in row
Deitsch: Fearless and clutch, Payton gives me another lockdown defender and a 6-4 matchup nightmare.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
51 Richard Deitsch G Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson

'01 MVP; four scoring titles; No. 6 all time with 26.7 ppg
Deitsch: The most unstoppable little man in history, he won't be a character problem with the team-first guys on this roster.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
52 Chris Mannix F Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce

'08 Finals MVP; nine-time All-Star; No. 7 active scorer
Mannix: Pierce can score 30 on a given night and he won't be afraid of the big moment.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
53 Phil Taylor C George Mikan

George Mikan

Centerpiece of NBA's first dynasty (Minneapolis Lakers)
Taylor: Mikan wins out in a close call with Nate Thurmond in my search for a shot-blocker.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
54 Ian Thomsen G Manu Ginobili

Manu Ginobili

Three titles; Olympic gold medalist; '08 Sixth Man Award
Thomsen: He exemplifies what I'm trying to build here -- a tough, selfless champion who comes off the bench to make winning plays in every phase of the game.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
55 Paul Forrester F Elvin Hayes

Elvin Hayes

All-Star his first 12 seasons; '78 title with Bullets; 21 ppg
Forrester: Hayes' prickly personality rubbed some coaches the wrong way, but that didn't stop him from missing only nine games in 16 seasons or from delivering with his famed turnaround jumper time and again.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
56 Jack McCallum G Ray Allen

Ray Allen

All-time leader with 2,612 threes; nine-time All-Star
McCallum: Via e-mail, I ran the pick by my No. 3 choice, Scottie Pippen, who said, "We're only finding out how good Ray Allen is now that he's on a really good team." So Allen has Scottie's blessing to get the green light from three-point land.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
57 Lee Jenkins G Pete Maravich

Pete Maravich

'77 scoring leader (31.1 ppg); two-time All-NBA first team

Jenkins: Instant energy off the bench, he will love going up and down with Jason Kidd and can spell him at point guard for short stretches.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
58 Chris Ballard F Chris Mullin

Chris Mullin

Five-time All-Star; 25+ ppg five times; Dream Teamer

Ballard: Effortless scorer (he shot better than 50 percent from the field for his career even though he was a perimeter shooter), underrated passer and savvy as they come, he'll camp out on the opposite wing from Reggie Miller to provide a ridiculous pair of three-point threats.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
59 Joe Posnanski C Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard

Record three straight Defensive Player of Year awards
Posnanski: How about being able to take out Wilt Chamberlain and put in one of the best defensive centers in the history of basketball?
PICK TEAM PLAYER
60 Alex Wolff C Nate Thurmond

Nate Thurmond

Five-time All-Defensive team; No. 5 all time with 15 rpg
Wolff: David Robinson (my second pick) is a fine, skilled post player, but in Thurmond I have an even more intimidating rebounder and shot-blocker. He can pass, too, having turned in the NBA's first recorded quadruple-double (incidentally, Robinson has the fourth and most recent).
PICK TEAM PLAYER
61 Alex Wolff G Chris Paul

Chris Paul

Active leader at 9.9 apg; '08 All-NBA first team; '06 ROY
Wolff: Couldn't believe he was still out there this late, when I hadn't yet picked a pure point. He can score and stop people.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
62 Joe Posnanski F Dolph Schayes

Dolph Schayes

Six-time All-NBA first team in '50s; 12 consecutive ASGs
Posnanski: You never know how a player will transcend his time, but Schayes, in addition to being one heck of a nice man, was a brilliant scorer and rebounder in his day.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
63 Chris Ballard C Arvydas Sabonis

Arvydas Sabonis

Euro legend; NBA rookie at 31; 16 ppg, 10 rpg in '97-98
Ballard: People forget how good he was in his prime in the Soviet League. A 7-3, 295-pound big man with deft touch and great court vision, he'll either pair with Bill Russell or we'll run the offense through him on the second unit.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
64 Lee Jenkins C Robert Parish

Robert Parish

Four titles in 21 years; all-time leader in games played
Jenkins: Backing up Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, his shooting ability will draw opposing centers out of the paint, creating room for Karl Malone to drive.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
65 Jack McCallum F Dave DeBusschere

Dave DeBusschere

Two titles for NY in '70s; six-time All-Defensive first team

McCallum: He and my fifth-round pick, Wes Unseld, constitute a dirty-work duo that no one in any league, fantasy or otherwise, wants to tangle with.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
66 Paul Forrester G Kevin Johnson

Kevin Johnson

Five-time All-NBA; No. 8 all time with 9.1 apg; 17.9 ppg

Forrester: KJ offers change-of-pace quickness and the ability to make plays for himself (five 20-point-per-game seasons) and others (four consecutive 10-plus-assist seasons in his prime).
PICK TEAM PLAYER
67 Ian Thomsen F Chris Webber

Chris Webber

Five-time All-NBA; 20.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.2 apg; '94 ROY

Thomsen: Think of him in a Kings uniform before his knee surgery, when he was the NBA's most skilled big man while also rebounding and blocking shots in large numbers.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
68 Phil Taylor G Penny Hardaway

Penny Hardaway

Back-to-back All-NBA first team with Magic in mid-'90s
Taylor: The 6-9 Magic Johnson and 6-7 Penny in the backcourt will cause matchup nightmares.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
69 Chris Mannix F Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh

Six All-Star Games in a row; 20 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 49.3% FG

Mannix: A fluid scorer on the inside and out, Bosh has proved he is willing to put his ego -- and numbers -- aside to pursue championships.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
70 Richard Deitsch G Sam Jones

Sam Jones

Second to former teammate Bill Russell with 10 titles
Deitsch: Mr. Clutch averaged 17.7 points over 12 seasons with Boston and was the consummate team player.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
71 Richard Deitsch F Connie Hawkins

Connie Hawkins

ABA/NBA All-Star; Hall of Famer despite short career
Deitsch: Some swear the Hawk -- a 6-8, jump-out-of-the-gym unstoppable force -- was the most talented player ever to lace them up.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
72 Chris Mannix F Amar'e Stoudemire

Amar'e Stoudemire

Five-time All-NBA; '05 playoffs: 29.9 ppg, 10.7 rpg

Mannix: Stoudemire may not get his on this club, but if a shooter goes cold, there aren't many guys I'd rather dump the ball into and let go to work.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
73 Phil Taylor F Spencer Haywood

Spencer Haywood

Led ABA in points/rebounds as rookie in '70; NBA All-Star
Taylor: Connie Hawkins, scooped up two picks earlier, was my first choice, but Haywood provides bulk and low-post scoring at power forward.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
74 Ian Thomsen G Micheal Ray Richardson

Micheal Ray Richardson

First player to lead league in assists and steals ('80)
Thomsen: When free of his demons, "Sugar" was a big, athletic guard as talented as anyone in the NBA. Bringing him off the bench makes this an attacking team that shares the ball relentlessly.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
75 Paul Forrester G Tracy McGrady

Tracy McGrady

Seven-time All-NBA; back-to-back scoring titles ('02-04)

Forrester: It's hard to remember but T-Mac had all the talent of Kobe Bryant, if not the drive. Assuming we can tap into the store of skills that once single-handedly lifted Orlando into the playoffs, we'll take this jack-of-all-trades.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
76 Jack McCallum G Earl Monroe

Earl Monroe

'68 Rookie of the Year; 15.5 ppg in NY's '73 title season

McCallum: Another Scottie Pippen choice, Pearl could get 25 anytime he wanted, but he also found a way to get it done within the team concept of the '70s Knicks.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
77 Lee Jenkins F David Thompson

David Thompson

Only player named MVP of ABA and NBA All-Star Games
Jenkins: A relentless scorer who can sub for George Gervin and catch the lob passes that Jason Kidd likes to throw. My coach, John Wooden, will help keep him clean.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
78 Chris Ballard G Deron Williams

Deron Williams

Two-time All-NBA second team; 10+ apg last four years

Ballard: Because of my selecting LeBron in the second round, I could wait on a true PG. Williams is ideal for this squad: pass-first, steady, good size defensively and can play as a spot-up shooter.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
79 Joe Posnanski G Mark Price

Mark Price

No. 1 all time in FT shooting (90.4%); '93 All-NBA first team
Posnanski: One of my three favorite players of all time, Price is one of best shooters in NBA history, and extremely underrated as a playmaker.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
80 Alex Wolff G Dennis Johnson

Dennis Johnson

'79 Finals MVP with Sonics; Nine-time All-Defensive team
Wolff: Lockdown defender and multiple champion joins Chris Paul at the point guard position and can also play some shooting guard.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
81 Alex Wolff F Robert Horry

Robert Horry

Championships with three different teams (seven total)
Wolff: Put him in the role of John Paxson. And he actually has won more rings than MJ. Plus, a 6-10 three-point shooter will create ridiculous matchup problems for the other bench (as if Jordan and Dwyane Wade won't be problems enough).
PICK TEAM PLAYER
82 Joe Posnanski F Grant Hill

Grant Hill

All-NBA first- or second-team pick from 1995-2000
Posnanski: Man, I love my bench. The young Hill did a whole lot of everything as one of the league's best passers and strongest defenders.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
83 Chris Ballard G Tiny Archibald

Tiny Archibald

Tops with 34 ppg, 11.4 apg in '72-73; five-time All-NBA

Ballard: Leader of our second unit, he's one of the quickest, gutsiest little men ever (and first player to lead the league in both points and assists), providing instant offense and playmaking off the bench.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
84 Lee Jenkins F Larry Nance

Larry Nance

Three-time All-Star and All-Defensive team; 17 ppg, 8 rpg

Jenkins: One of the most underrated players ever, he spells Karl Malone and provides peerless shot-blocking and post defense.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
85 Jack McCallum F Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol

Two titles; four-time All-Star; '02 Rookie of the Year
McCallum: Don't think of the versatile Laker as the second-best player on a team; think of him coming into a game as the 10th, 11th or 12th man and exposing a weak interior defender.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
86 Paul Forrester C Artis Gilmore

Artis Gilmore

'72 ABA MVP as rookie; NBA all-time leader in FG% (59.9)

Forrester: Gilmore intimidated opponents in the ABA and NBA with his strength and prodigious shot-blocking, while scoring over them with a repertoire of dunks, finger rolls and hook shots.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
87 Ian Thomsen C Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo

Four-time Defensive Player of the Year; No. 2 in blocks
Thomsen: Because I'm emphasizing offensive skills, I need rim protectors to organize the defense. Between Alonzo Mourning and Mutombo -- former Georgetown teammates -- I have two of the best in this department.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
88 Phil Taylor F Billy Cunningham

Billy Cunningham

'73 ABA MVP; 26.1 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 4.3 apg for '70 Sixers

Taylor: The Kangaroo Kid can fill the lane on a Magic-led fast break and also serve as a coach on the floor.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
89 Chris Mannix G Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo

Two-time All-Star and All-Defensive first team; '08 title
Mannix: Say he can't shoot? Who cares. I want a point guard who creates and defends and Rondo does both as well as anyone.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
90 Richard Deitsch C Bob Lanier

Bob Lanier

Eight-time All-Star in '70s/'80s; 20.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg

Deitsch: When Hakeem Olajuwon needs a breather, Lanier will come in and dominate everyone else's backup center, and some of the first-team guys, too (see Thomsen, Ian).
PICK TEAM PLAYER
91 Richard Deitsch G Hal Greer

Hal Greer

10 straight All-Star Games ('61-70); 20+ ppg eight times

Deitsch: As the epitome of consistency and professionalism, he'll keep fellow Philly guy Allen Iverson in check, as well as light it up from the outside (19.2 points for his 15-year career).
PICK TEAM PLAYER
92 Chris Mannix C Brad Daugherty

Brad Daugherty

Five-time All-Star; 19 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.7 apg, 53.2% FG

Mannix: Daugherty could score and rebound, but it's his passing and ability to run the floor that make him an asset on this team.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
93 Phil Taylor G Mitch Richmond

Mitch Richmond

10 21+ ppg years in row; six straight '90s All-Star Games
Taylor: The physical shooting guard brings size, strength and three-point shooting off the bench.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
94 Ian Thomsen F Andrei Kirilenko

Andrei Kirilenko

Three-time All-Defensive team; '06 leader in blocks/bpg
Thomsen: A versatile weakside shot-blocker who can play without the ball, score in transition and enforce lockdown defense against a variety of opponents.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
95 Paul Forrester F Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant

Back-to-back scoring king by age 22; '10 MVP runner-up

Forrester: It's a little early, but how can we not buy into the potential of someone with so much shooting range and a willingness to get inside and clean the boards? The MVPs are coming ... soon.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
96 Jack McCallum G Bill Sharman

Bill Sharman

Four titles with Celtics in '50s/'60s; seven-time All-NBA

McCallum: In the late stages of both their careers, Sharman, an eight-time All-Star, outscored his more heralded backcourt mate, Bob Cousy, and he was always a hard-nosed defender.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
97 Lee Jenkins G Lenny Wilkens

Lenny Wilkens

No. 11 all time in assists; nine-time All-Star in '60s/'70s

Jenkins: A backup for Jason Kidd who will distribute the ball just as evenly and serve as an assistant coach in the locker room for John Wooden.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
98 Chris Ballard F Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony

Four-time All-NBA and All-Star; 24.8 ppg; Redeem Teamer
Ballard: He proved at the '08 Olympics that he can excel as a complementary player. Anthony gives my second unit a devastating wing scorer who can take over the game.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
99 Joe Posnanski G Vince Carter

Vince Carter

Eight straight '00s All-Star Games; '99 Rookie of the Year

Posnanski: When I need instant offense, I'll go to Carter. He didn't quite become Michael Jordan as some predicted, but at his young best he was an impossible matchup for anybody.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
100 Alex Wolff G Terry Porter

Terry Porter

Two-time All-Star in early '90s; POR leader in assists, 3s

Wolff: A money outside shooter who can also throttle the opposition's top scorer and run your offense.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
101 Alex Wolff C Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace

Four-time Defensive Player of the Year; '04 title with DET
Wolff: He'll produce substantial boards and blocks off the bench and be content to do the dirty work without needing touches on offense.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
102 Joe Posnanski C Jerry Lucas

Jerry Lucas

Five-time All-NBA; No. 4 all time in rpg; '64 leader in FG%

Posnanski: I can't believe that Lucas lasted to the 11th round -- total lack of respect (by me, too) for the Hall of Famer who averaged 17 points and 16 boards in the NBA and even as an aging man was a key player on those great early-'70s Knicks teams.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
103 Chris Ballard F Shawn Marion

Shawn Marion

Four-time All-Star with Suns; two-time All-NBA third team
Ballard: In his prime he combined surreal athleticism with excellent length/instincts and doesn't need plays run for him to score. He'll be deployed here as a defensive specialist and alley-oop completer.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
104 Lee Jenkins F Alex English

Alex English

NBA's leading scorer in '80s; No. 13 all time in points

Jenkins: Playing with Jason Kidd will remind him of his days in Denver, and he can produce almost a point a minute off the bench.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
105 Jack McCallum C Jack Sikma

Jack Sikma

Seven straight All-Star Games ('79-85); '88 FT% leader

McCallum: The perfect pivot complement to Wes Unseld, this 7-footer can take you outside to score and work passing magic from the high post.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
106 Paul Forrester G Chauncey Billups

Chauncey Billups

'04 Finals MVP; No. 5 all time in three-pointers; 89.4% FT
Forrester: Having already drafted a good supply of size, and given earlier PG pick Kevin Johnson's penchant for injury, it wouldn't hurt to add another ball-handler. Especially one with as much range and confidence as Billups possesses.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
107 Ian Thomsen G Fred Brown

Fred Brown

21+ ppg twice; 14 ppg for '79 SuperSonics title team

Thomsen: I need a deep-shooting guard to come off the bench and no one was gutsier than Mr. Downtown.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
108 Phil Taylor F Charles Oakley

Charles Oakley

NBA leader in total rebounds back-to-back years ('86-88)

Taylor: The rugged power forward has the muscle and dirty-work mind-set needed to help balance out his more offensive-minded teammates.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
109 Chris Mannix F Adrian Dantley

Adrian Dantley

Four straight years of 30+ ppg in '80s; 54% FG, 81.8% FT

Mannix: Dantley's ability to get to the free-throw line (he led the NBA in attempts three times and ranks 11th all time in that category) should preclude any slumps.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
110 Richard Deitsch G Dave Bing

Dave Bing

'67 Rookie of the Year; '68 scoring king; '76 All-Star MVP

Deitsch: Another high-character guy -- he's now the Detroit mayor -- and deadly scorer (20.3 points in 12 seasons).
PICK TEAM PLAYER
111 Richard Deitsch F Bobby Jones

Bobby Jones

11-time All-Defensive (two in ABA); '83 Sixth Man Award

Deitsch: A tenacious defender and the NBA's first Sixth Man Award winner, Jones provides a serious jolt of energy off my bench.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
112 Chris Mannix F Kevin Love

Kevin Love

'10-11: 53 straight double-doubles, 20.2 ppg, 15.2 rpg
Mannix: No, he won't be a defensive stopper. But he'll be relentless on the glass and can help space the floor and pull big men out of the lane with his three-point shooting.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
113 Phil Taylor G Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose

Youngest MVP in NBA history at 22, his third season
Taylor: As good as he is, his three-point shooting and defense will probably get better, which would make him a monster.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
114 Ian Thomsen F Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin

Unanimous Rookie of the Year; All-Star in first season
Thomsen: He helps fill out my power forward rotation as another good passer and an aggressive finisher. Perfect developmental player in the last round.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
115 Paul Forrester G Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson

Five consecutive All-Star appearances; 25 ppg in '06-07

Forrester: He can get hot on a given night and provide some scoring punch off the bench with his jump shooting and isolation ability.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
116 Jack McCallum G Gail Goodrich

Gail Goodrich

Leading scorer (25.9 ppg) on title-winning '72 Lakers
McCallum: Another draft adviser, Doug Collins, told me I couldn't pass up Goodrich this late because Goodrich was "an amazingly productive player [at least 22 ppg four years in a row with Lakers] who knew a good shot from a bad shot, got to the line and made his free throws [80.1 percent for career]."
PICK TEAM PLAYER
117 Lee Jenkins C Dan Issel

Dan Issel

ABA/NBA All-Star in '70s; NBA: 20.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 50% FG

Jenkins: Not only is he another big body down low, but he also can play sniper and stretch defenses near the three-point line.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
118 Chris Ballard F Bill Laimbeer

Bill Laimbeer

Two titles with Pistons ('89-90); '86 rebounding champ
Ballard: The guy every other team is going to hate to see in there (especially paired with my fifth-round pick, Dennis Rodman), he provides an excellent pick-and-pop option with LeBron as well as the usual rebounding, hustle and orneriness.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
119 Joe Posnanski G Michael Cooper

Michael Cooper

Five titles with '80s Lakers; '87 Defensive Player of Year
Posnanski: Finally, I needed a shutdown defender at guard and small forward, and they didn't come any better than Cooper, who was All-Defensive first team five times and was so versatile that he could play the point when Magic rested.
PICK TEAM PLAYER
120 Alex Wolff G Maurice Cheeks

Maurice Cheeks

Four-time All-Defensive first team; No. 5 all time in steals
Wolff: Greatest double-down defensive guard in league history -- plus I had to choose someone from my favorite team of all time, the '82-83 Fo-Fi-Fo Sixers.
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