Backdraft

It's amusing how, after a pro sports draft, experts are so eager to evaluate every team's picks. It's amusing because it's absurd. While we might have an idea, we never really know how these guys are going to turn out as professionals.

That's why it's fun to look back after some time, and a season, has passed.

When Tyreke Evans was named the NBA Rookie of the Year on Thursday, my initial reaction was disappointment that Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings didn't win the honor. Then again, I didn't really think he would, even though he's in the playoffs while Evans and runner-up Stephen Curry are done for the year.

I suppose I can just be happy that the Bucks seem to have made a quality pick at No. 10 in the 2009 NBA draft. Some questioned Jennings at that pick, since he'd only played sparingly in one season for a pro team in Europe. But there are a few teams who probably wish they'd taken a closer look at Jennings.

To refresh everyone's memory, the top pick was forward Blake Griffin, who spent most of the season hurt instead of helping the Clippers become relevant. One year does not a bust make, but Hasheem Thabeet is well on his way. The Grizzlies actually demoted the former UConn center to the D-League this season.

The Thunder got a solid bench player in James Harden, but maybe not the kind of value they'd hoped for at No. 3 overall. Evans went fourth to the Kings and Curry seventh to the Warriors.

The rest of the top 10 was kind of a mess.

The Timberwolves picked about a dozen point guards, including one (Ricky Rubio) who decided not to play for them, choosing instead to stay in Spain. There are rumors he'll play for Minnesota in 2011, but don't believe it until he's in uniform. Jonny Flynn, the other lottery point guard pick for the T-Wolves, was decent this year, averaging 13.5 points and 4.4 assists a game.

Jordan Hill, the No. 8 pick, scored 4 points a game for the Knicks, before they sent him to Houston, where he averaged 6.4. DeMar DeRozan scored 8.6 points a game for Toronto after the Raptors took him at No. 9.

Obviously, with some more experience, any of these guys could turn out to be stars in the league. But teams that pick in the top 10 almost always are looking for immediate results. Only a few teams found those results.