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NBA Draft: All-Decade team of guys who were drafted too low (2010-19)

By Daniel Priest

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: (L-R) NBA Draft prospects Kevin Porter Jr., Nicolas Claxton, Sekou Doumbouya, Goga Bitazde, Keldon Johnson, Nassir Little, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Rui Hachimuri, Jarrett Culver, Cam Reddish, Coby White, Zion Williamson, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Ja Morant, De'Andre Hunter, Darius Garland, Brandon Clarke, Romeo Langford, Jaxson Hayes, Tyler Herro, Bol Bol, PJ Washington, Matisse Thybulle and Mfiondu Kabengele stand on stage with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: (L-R) NBA Draft prospects Kevin Porter Jr., Nicolas Claxton, Sekou Doumbouya, Goga Bitazde, Keldon Johnson, Nassir Little, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Rui Hachimuri, Jarrett Culver, Cam Reddish, Coby White, Zion Williamson, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Ja Morant, De'Andre Hunter, Darius Garland, Brandon Clarke, Romeo Langford, Jaxson Hayes, Tyler Herro, Bol Bol, PJ Washington, Matisse Thybulle and Mfiondu Kabengele stand on stage with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 06: Tim Hardaway Jr. #10 of the Michigan Wolverines (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 06: Tim Hardaway Jr. #10 of the Michigan Wolverines (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Guys who went too low, but didn’t quite make the cut for All-Decade team

With only 15 players to choose from for the All-Decade team, it was inevitable that some players were going to be on the bubble and not quite make the cut. Here are 10 guys who were drafted too low and have turned into good players, but ultimately didn’t make the All-Decade team:

Will Barton was selected with the 40th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers out of Memphis. Barton was the Conference USA Player of the Year in his final season with the Tigers but still slipped to the second round. He’s carved out a nice role for himself as an energy guy and a solid scorer for a solid Nuggets team after spending the early part of his career as a reserve in Portland.

Jae Crowder was also a part of that 2012 draft and he was taken 34th overall by the Cavaliers and traded to Dallas on draft night. Crowder’s road to the NBA was not easy. He initially began his college career at South Georgia Tech, he then transferred to Howard as a sophomore, and eventually Marquette as a junior. As a senior at Marquette, Crowder averaged 17.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and was the Big East Player of the Year. He’s gone on to have a solid NBA career thus far across stops in Dallas, Boston, Cleveland, Utah, and Memphis.

Joe Harris was a member of the Virginia Cavaliers for four seasons before entering the NBA Draft in 2014 where he was selected with the 33rd pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his 4 years at Virginia, Harris averaged at least 10 points per game every season and shot over 40 percent from three in all but one season (38 percent as a sophomore). Harris has found a home as a starter with the Brooklyn Nets and is one of the top three-point shooters in the NBA.

Tim Hardway Jr. was a part of some epic games during his time with the Michigan Wolverines. Hardaway, alongside future pros Nik Stauskas, Mitch McGary, and Trey Burke took the Wolverines to the National Championship game in 2013 where they fell to Louisville. Following his junior season at Michigan, Hardaway was named to the All Big-Ten first team. Despite his accolades and successful college career, Hardaway still fell to No. 24 in the draft where he was selected by the Knicks. Hardaway has forged his role as a 3 & D wing and is one of the top catch and shoot guys in the league playing alongside Luke Doncic in Dallas.

Caris Levert was another Michigan product who ended up falling late in his draft day. After a successful stint with the Wolverines which saw Levert average 16.5 points per game and shoot 44.6 percent from deep as a senior, he fell to No. 20 in the 2016 draft where he was selected by the Indiana Pacers. Levert was eventually traded to Brooklyn where he has stuck as a key contributor to the Nets ever since.

Dejounte Murray played his college ball at the University of Washington where he was a standout one and done player. He was named to the second-team All Pac-12 and the Pac-12 All-Freshman team following his lone season. Despite averaging over 16 points and nearly two steals a game, Murray still fell all the way to No. 29 in 2016 where he was selected by the Spurs and has been ever since.

Kyle Kuzma is one of the more notable “draft day slip guys” in recent memory. Kuz, who played his college ball at Utah, broke out as a junior and averaged 16 points and nine boards per game while being named to the first-team Pac-12. Despite the consistent improvement and accolades, Kuzma fell all the way to No. 27 in the 2017 draft where he was selected by the Lakers.

Derrick White was another college guard who despite good college production, slipped in the draft and was nabbed late at No. 29 by the Spurs in 2017. White played at Colorado and averaged 18 points, four boards, and four assists while garnering recognition to first-team All-Pac-12 and still nearly fell out of the first round.

While the jury is still out on a majority of players from the past two drafts in 2018 and 2019 as they are still so young, there are some early candidates of guys who it appears slipped further than they should have. DeVonte’ Graham (No. 34 overall pick in 2018) slipped to the second round after a decorated four years at Kansas and is now a front-runner for this year’s most improved player award in the NBA. Eric Pashcall (No. 41 in 2019) was one of the best players on a couple of very successful Villanova teams, and yet he still fell to the Warriors in the second round of this most recent draft where he is now making his case as the potential Rookie of the Year.

There are numerous other players across the NBA who could have been put on this list, but those are 10 of the most prominent names who fell on their draft days in the past decade.

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