By Craig Neslage

Ahhh, 2004-05 – what a season in the NBA. A NEW champion, another all-star snub, and a group of three-year vets looking at new contracts. But are these 2002 draftees getting wooed or booed? Here is a pick-by-pick breakdown of who the league’s most coveted players will be and who will be the Shawn Respert’s in the first half of the 2002 NBA Draft class.

1: Yao Ming – After three seasons of high expectations, Ming has been steady. Not a fiend on the glass (he’s a cupcake), Houston has been unable to penetrate deep into the playoffs. However, Ming’s presence has gotten them into said playoffs, with more than a slight contribution from Steve Francis. Just a note: Mo Taylor is still worthless. 11.5 pts., 7.4 rebs., 3.1 asts.

2: Jay Williams – A young Chicago franchise has been getting older by the game behind this star guard. Their young high schoolers from the 2001 draft are not Kevin Garnetts, but they are good, and the Bulls were back in the playoffs in 2004-05. 17.4 pts., 7.1 asts., 1.6 rebs.

3: Mike Dunleavy Jr. – Even with daddy by his side, it was who was missing that had the biggest effect: Jay Williams. Dunleavy looked OK in his first year, but followed that up with two seasons that would make Terry Dehere cringe. Dunleavy said, "Find me a Duke player who has been consistently good for three years other than Grant Hill (see: guy who was an all-star until going to Orlando and never playing again) and I’ll play better." How about Jay Williams? Dunleavy has since changed his name to Danny Ferry Jr. 8.3 pts., 3.9 asts., 3.5 rebs.

4: Drew Gooden – The twenty-rebound games ended three years ago for Drew, who for a while was trade bait for Memphis’ logo-in-chief. However, J-Dub is rarely wrong and he wasn’t with this one. Gooden is a solid player. 13.8 pts., 6.2 rebs., 2.1 asts.

5: Nickoloz Tskitishvili – A seven footer that can shoot three’s? Dirk Jr.? That comparison ended quite quickly as Nick has struggled in his first three seasons. He is still developing and will stick because of the chance his unique abilities will actually manifest. I guess jumping on the bandwagon of a guy who played 14 minutes per in the Italian league was a stretch. 4.4 pts., 2.2 rebs., 1.7 asts.

6: Dajuan Wagner – Baby Iverson? After three seasons he’s got people calling AI Baby Wagner. OK, that is pushing it. However, Juanny’s first few years have been a showcase of what Iverson could do with a little more weight. He does not have Iverson’s quickness on either side of the ball, but scores 20-plus and continues to improve on D. 20.4 pts., 4.8 asts., 2.0 rebs.

7: Maybyner "Nene" Hilario – The other half of Denver foreign legion was not much better. His aggressive style got him fouls early. He settled down this past season and is developing into a player. P.S.: He REALLY needs an offensive game. 2.4 pts., 6.1 rebs., 1.2 blks.

8: Chris Wilcox – Wilcox’s improvement made him go from an OK pick after one year to a 6’10", jump out the building ‘Booya!’ machine after three years. He is not quite Batman, but he is certainly Robin. 11.8 pts., 9.1 rebs., 2.2 asts.

9: Amare Stoudemire – Amare got a crash course in "This ain’t high school 101" in his first year, but with tenacious rebounding coupled with Marbury’s drive-and-dish ability getting him the extent of his offensive game- dunks- he has made himself a keeper for a Phoenix franchise that has been looking for a power big man since Sir Charles. 6.8 pts., 7.1 rebs., 1.1 blks.

10: Caron Butler – Pat Riley is a great coach but the credit for reviving a seemingly sinking Miami club goes to the nine GM’s who passed on Butler. The 2002-03 Rookie of the Year tore up the league starting Game 1. His rebounding ability has made the Heat demons on the offensive glass and put them back on the map of powerhouse teams in the east. 19.7 pts., 6.1 rebs., 4.9 asts.

11: Jared Jefferies – JJ was the product of picking for immediate impact. Sorry MJ, will you settle for next to nothing for three seasons? Jared needed more time in college. Like John Wallace, he took his underdog team to the final game of the NCAA Tournament, lost, and never recovered. He showed some flashes, but so did Halle Berry, but that did last either. 5.4 pts., 3.1 rebs., 1.9 asts.

12: Melvin Ely – DEFENSE! If you are wondering Melvin’s contribution, wonder no more. Ely found that aggressiveness he lacked and put a serious hurting on his opponents. Not a Kenyon Martin hurting though. Ely's formula was Blocks+boards+intimidation-flagrants=nasty D. Give this kid a better jumper and he’ll be a real player. 9.0 pts., 8.7 rebs., 2.1 blks.

13: Marcus Haislip – A good example of how to deal with the fact that the NBA is a lot different than college. Marcus can no longer jump over everybody (it’s now almost everybody.) At 6’10", he’s not the tallest. However, he adjusted and will be getting better. 8.4 pts., 5.1 rebs., 3.1 asts.

14: Freddie Jones – The pre-draft reports called Freddie a second round steal. Indiana figured: Why steal a great second rounder when he can just a decent 1st rounder. They took him, and he’s been just that. 10.6 pts., 2.9 asts., 1.4 rebs.

So, what if the 2002 Draft were held again. Regardless of team needs, who would be taken and when? Look no further:

1: Caron Butler

2: Jay Williams

3: Dajuan Wagner

4: Drew Gooden

5: Yao Ming

6: Chris Wilcox

7: Melvin Ely

8: Amare Stoudemire

9: Freddie Jones

10: Mike Dunleavy Jr.

11: Marcus Haislip

12: Maybyner "Nene" Hilario

13: Nickoloz Tskitishvili

14: Jared Jefferies