A retrospective re-evaluation of the player selection process from a specific year’s professional basketball entry event, the 2017 edition of the NBA’s annual player allocation is undertaken with the benefit of hindsight. Instead of assessing potential, actual on-court performance and career trajectory are used as the primary determinants in ranking and ordering players who were initially selected. For example, a player initially chosen later in the first round might be reconsidered for a higher spot based on subsequent achievements.
Such exercises offer valuable insights into the accuracy of pre-draft scouting and evaluation methods. They can illuminate the inherent unpredictability of player development at the professional level. Furthermore, the revisionist perspective provides a basis for analyzing team-building strategies and the impact of individual player performance on franchise success. Analyzing the disparities between initial projections and actual outcomes can serve as a learning tool for future player assessment efforts.