Recently I was watching an NBA playoff game and heard that the Indiana Pacers have drafted quite well in recent years. Apparently they have not had many high picks but the players they've selected are mostly pretty solid, giving them a nice young core for the future.

It got me wondering about how the Blazers' 1st round draft-day acquisitions have done over the past ten years or so, and especially how their NBA careers have turned out versus other players chosen in the same draft class. Have they overachieved (i.e. 'Better than', below) compared to any players taken earlier, or underachieved ('Worse than') compared to players taken later?

Of course, most of this analysis is very subjective. I also realize that the jury is still out on some players listed here who have yet to come over from overseas to play in the NBA. Anyway, I thought I'd share my findings/opinions with you. Have a nice day.

2002 Qyntel Woods (#21):

Better NBA career than?: Curtis Borchardt (18); Ryan Humphrey (19)

Worse NBA career than?: Tayshaun Prince (23); Nenad Krystic (24); John Salmons (26); Roger Mason, Jr. (31); Dan Gadzuric (34); Carlos Boozer (35); Juan Carlos Navarro (40); Rasual Butler (53); Luis Scola (56)

2003 Travis Outlaw (#23):

Better than: Michael Sweetney (9); Jarvis Hayes (10); Marcus Banks (13); Reece Gaines (15); Troy Bell (16); Zarko Cabarkapa (17); Sasha Pavlovic (19); Zoran Planinic (22)

Worse than: Kendrick Perkins (27); Leandro Barbosa (28); Josh Howard (29); Mo Williams (47); Kyle Korver (51)

2004 Sebastian Telfair (#13):

Better than: Rafael Araujo (8); Luke Jackson (10); Robert Swift (12)

Worse than: Kris Humphries (14); Al Jefferson (15); Josh Smith (17); J.R. Smith (18); Delonte West (24); Tony Allen (25); Kevin Martin (26); Beno Udrih (28); Anderson Varejo (31); Trevor Ariza (44)

Sergei Monia (#23):

Better than: - nobody -

Worse than: Delonte West (24); Tony Allen (25); Kevin Martin (26); Beno Udrih (28); Anderson Varejo (31); Trevor Ariza (44)

2005 Martell Webster (#6):

Better than: - nobody -

Worse than: Charlie Villanueva (7); Channing Frye (8); Andrew Bynum (10); Danny Granger (17); Jarrett Jack (22); David Lee (30); Monta Ellis (40)

Jarrett Jack (#22):

Better than: Ike Diogu (9); Fran Vazquez (11); Yaroslav Korolev (12); Sean May (13); Rashad McCants (14); Antoine Wright (15); Joey Graham (16); Gerald Green (18); Julius Hodge (20)

Worse than: David Lee (30); Monta Ellis (40)

2006 LaMarcus Aldridge (#2):

Better than: Andrea Bargnani (1)

Worse than: - nobody -

Brandon Roy (#6):

Better than: Andrea Bargnani (1); Adam Morrison (3); Tyrus Thomas (4); Shelden Williams (5)

Worse than: - nobody -

Sergio Rodriguez (#27):

Better than: Patrick O'Bryant (9); Mouhamed Sene (10); Cedrick Simmons (15); Oleksiy Pecherov (18)

Worse than: Craig Smith (36); Daniel Gibson (42); Paul Millsap (47)

Joel Freeland (#30):

Better than: - nobody -

Worse than: Craig Smith (36); Daniel Gibson (42); Paul Millsap (47); Ryan Hollins (50)

2007 Greg Oden (#1):

Better than: - nobody -

Worse than: Kevin Durant (2); Al Horford (3); Mike Conley (4); Joakim Noah (9); Spencer Hawes (10); Thaddeus Young (12); Al Thornton (14); Marco Belinelli (18); Jared Dudley (22); Wilson Chandler (23); Aaron Brooks (26); Arron Affalo (27); Carl Landry (31); Glen Davis (35); Marc Gasol (48); Ramon Sessions (56)

Rudy Fernandez (#24)

Better than: Acie Law (11); Julian Wright (13); Sean Williams (17); Javaris Crittenton (19);

Worse than: Aaron Brooks (26); Arron Affalo (27); Carl Landry (31); Glen Davis (35); Marc Gasol (48); Ramon Sessions (56)

Petteri Koponen (#30)

Better than: - nobody -

Worse than: Carl Landry (31); Glen Davis (35); Josh McRoberts (37); Kyrylo Fesenko (38); Marc Gasol (48); Aaron Gray (49); Ramon Sessions (56)

2008 Jerryd Bayless (#11):

Better than: Joe Alexander (8);

Worse than: Jason Thompson (12); Brandon Rush (13); Roy Hibbert (17); JaVale McGee (18); J.J. Hickson (19); Ryan Anderson (21); Courtney Lee (22); Serge Ibaka (24); Nicolas Batum (25); George Hill (26); Mario Chalmers (34); Luc Mbah a Moute (37)

Nicolas Batum (#25):

Better than: Joe Alexander (8); Jerryd Bayless (11); Anthony Randolph (14); Robin Lopez (15); Mareesse Speights (16); Alexis Ajinca (20); Kosta Koufos (23)

Worse than:: - nobody -

2009 Victor Claver (#22):

Better than: - nobody -

Worse than: Omri Casspi (23); Byron Mullens (24); Rodrigue Beaubois (25); Taj Gibson (26); Wayne Ellington (28); Toney Douglas (29); Jermaine Taylor (32); Dante Cunningham (33); Sam Young (36); DeJuan Blair (37); Jonas Jerebko (39); Derrick Brown (40); Jodie Meeks (41); Marcus Thornton (43); Chase Budinger (44); Danny Green (46); A.J. Price (52); Patty Mills (55); Wesley Matthews (undrafted)

2010 Luke Babbitt (#16):

Better than: - nobody -

Worse than: Eric Bledsoe (18); Avery Bradley (19); Jordan Crawford (27); Greivis Vasquez (28); Landry Fields (39)

Elliot Williams (#22):

Better than: - nobody -

Worse than: Jordan Crawford (27); Greivis Vasquez (28); Landry Fields (39)

2011 Nolan Smith (#21):

Better than: Jonas Valanciunas (5); Donatas Motiejunas (20)

Worse than: Kenneth Faried (22); MarShon Brooks (25); Norris Cole (28); Isaiah Thomas (60)