What a horrible way to kick off the new millennium.
Anxiety levels continued to rise as the calendar inched closer and closer to January 1, 2000. The dawning of the new millennium would surely bring about The Apocalypse and certain destruction of the human race, many thought. Turns out they were only partially correct — the Earth ended up alright, the NBA draft that year, however, turned into a barren wasteland.
The 2000 NBA Draft was historically bad — definitely the worst of the bunch Draft 365 has remixed so far. It is so bad it makes writing this story painful — we’d much rather just pretend this year didn’t happen and skip right on to 1999. But, since some of you like horror stories, we waded through the wreckage and came up with a 2000 NBA Draft remix. You better appreciate it.
2000 NBA Draft
Grade: D
All-Stars: 3 (Kenyon Martin, Jamaal Magloire, Michael Redd)
Biggest Bust: Marcus Fizer, Chicago, pick No. 4
Second Round Steal: Michael Redd, Milwaukee, pick No. 43
Winning Team (in the long run): Milwaukee (Michael Redd)
Career Scoring Leader: Michael Redd
Career Rebounding Leader: Jamaal Magloire
Career Assist Leader: Jamal Crawford
Pick No. 1 | New Jersey Nets
Actual Selection: Kenyon Martin
Draft 365 Remix: Michael Redd (43)
There aren’t too many draft years where Michael Redd will find his name at the top of a remix. In 2000, however, Redd’s resume of one All-Star and All-NBA appearance is good enough for the first slot. If you need scoring and outside shooting, Redd brings plenty to the table (unfortunately he doesn’t bring much else).
Pick No. 2 | Vancouver Grizzlies
Actual Selection: Stromile Swift
Draft 365 Remix: Kenyon Martin (1)
Kenyon Martin wasn’t a bad pick for the Nets at No. 1, as he provided scoring, rebounding and toughness to their back-to-back Eastern Conference championship teams ear
ly in the decade. Stromile Swift, however, was pretty much a bust at pick No. 2, but at least he is still in the League, unlike many of his contemporaries.
Pick No. 3 | Los Angeles Clippers
Actual Selection: Darius Miles
Draft 365 Remix: Hedo Turkoglu (16)
Orlando rode Hedo Turkoglu’s versatility to within three wins of the NBA championship last year — they will surely miss him this season. He might be the best player currently in the League to have never been named an All-Star. The actual No. 3 pick, Darius Miles, helped give prep-to-pro players a bad name.
Pick No. 4 | Chicago Bulls
Actual Selection: Marcus Fizer
Draft 365 Remix: Jamal Crawford (8)
The Bulls ended up with Jamal Crawford via a trade with Cleveland, but they would have been better off just drafting him themselves at pick No. 4. Despite not being a very accurate shooter and lacking a true position on the floor, Crawford’s numbers have consistently improved each year in the NBA. The Bulls original pick, Marcus Fizer, hasn’t appeared in a NBA game since the ’05-06 season.
Pick No. 5 | Orlando Magic
Actual Selection: Mike Miller
Draft 365 Remix: Mike Miller (5)
The Magic got it right, picking Florida sharpshooter Mike Miller at pick No. 5. Miller is closing in on 1200 three-pointers 
made in his career, and no one has better pet monkey stories than he does. He should fit in nicely with the Wizards.
Pick No. 6 | Atlanta Hawks
Actual Selection: DerMarr Johnson
Draft 365 Remix: Desmond Mason (17)
This is the point in the remix where it gets tough ranking players because of all the mediocrity. Former slam dunk champ Desmond Mason had some solid years in Seattle and Milwaukee, but at age 32 the good times are in his rear-view mirror. Original pick DerMarr Johnson never came close to fulfilling his potential.
Pick No. 7 | Chicago Bulls
Actual Selection: Chris Mihm
Draft 365 Remix: Quentin Richardson (18)
The NBA treated Quentin Richardson like a hot potato this offseason, but apparently Miami plans on keeping him (we’ll believe it when we see it). His glory years with the Clippers and the Suns seem like decades ago as he has spent the past four seasons imprisoned in a Knicks uniform. And, yes, Chris Mihm is still in the League, and has earned over $25 million for his career.
Pick No. 8 | Cleveland Cavaliers
Actual Selection: Jamal Crawford
Draft 365 Remix: Morris Peterson (21)
Mo Pete had some real good years in Toronto, playing Robin to Vince Carter’s Batman. His career has been in steady decline since leaving T.O. though.
Pick No. 9 | Houston Rockets
Actual Selection: Joel Przybilla
Draft 365 Remix: Joel Przybilla (9)
Laugh all you want about Joel Przybilla, but the dude starts over Greg Oden. He supplies rebounding, toughness and shot blocking, and is still employed in the League, which in this horrendous draft class in good enough for slot No. 9.
Pick No. 10 | Orlando Magic
Actual Selection: Keyon Dooling
Draft 365 Remix: Jamaal Magloire (19)
Jamaal Magloire had a couple of decent seasons, one of them good enough to get him an All-Star game invite. Guess that is also good enough for pick No. 10.
Barely missed the Top 10 Remix: DeShawn Stevenson, Stromile Swift, Darius Miles, Speedy Claxton.
Next on the Remix: We try to our best to quickly forget 2000 and remix the much stronger 1999 Draft.
Read more of Jeff Fox at The Hoops Manifesto.
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