Babopik, one of the new posters on Basketball Forum, pulled together the draft history of the #17 pick over the past 15 years...as well as what notable players were available but chosen later in the draft or picked up as free agents once the draft was concluded.
In several of the drafts, the deep ones like the 2001 and 2003 drafts, there was a wealth of talent available. With this year's draft considered one of the deepest ever, there could be quite a few sleepers out there when it's the Nets turn to pick.
Here is Babopik's analysis:
The best #17 draft pick was Jermaine O'Neal. Here are the picks, plus some other notable players available below that.
2006: Shawne Williams (G/F)
(#22 Marcus Williams, #23 Josh Boone)
2005: Danny Granger (F)
(#24 Luther Head, #30 David Lee, #40 Monta Ellis, #56 Amir Johnson)
2004: Josh Smith (SF)
(#20 Jameer Nelson, #26 Kevin Martin, Andres Nocioni UFA)
2003: Zarko Cabarkapa (SF)
(#18 David West; #21 Boris Diaw, #28 Leandro Barbosa, #29 Josh Howard, Udonis Haslem UFA, Marquis Daniels UFA)
2002: Juan Dixon (G)
(#23 Tayshaun Prince, #24 Nenad Kristic, #35 Carlos Boozer, Reggie Evans UFA)
2001: Michael Bradley (PF)
(#18 Jason Collins, #19 Zach Randolph, #25 Gerald Wallace, #26 Samuel Dalembert, #28 Tony Parker, #31 Gilbert Arenas, #38 Mehmet Okur)
2000: Desmond Mason (SF/SG)
(#18 Quentin Richardson, #19 Jamaal Magloire, #20 Speedy Claxton, #21 Morris Peterson, #37 Eddie House, #43 Michael Redd)
1999: Cal Bowdler (PF)
(#18 James Posey, #21 Jeff Foster, #22 Kenny Thomas, #23 Devean George, #24 Andrei Kirilenko, #40 Gordan Giricek, #57 Manu Ginobili, Raja Bell UFA)
1998: Radoslav Nesterovic
(#21 Ricky Davis, #22 Brian Skinner, #23 Tyronn Lue, #25 Al Harrington, #31 Ruben Patterson, #32 Rashard Lewis, #41 Cuttino Mobley, Brad Miller UFA, Earl Boykins UFA, Mike James UFA)
1997: Johnny Taylor (F)
(#19 Scot Pollard, #21 Anthony Parker, #23 Bobby Jackson, #38 Marc Jackson, #43 Stephen Jackson, #55 Mark Blount, Bruce Bowen UFA, Troy Hudson UFA, Damon Jones UFA, Mikki Moore UFA )
1996: Jermaine O'Neal (F/C)
(#20 Zydrunas Ilgauskas, #44 Malik Rose, Chucky Atkins UFA, Ben Wallace UFA )
1995: Bob Sura (SG)
(#18 Theo Ratliff, #21 Michael Finley, #28 Greg Ostertag)
1994: Aaron McKie (SG)
(#23 Wesley Person, #32 Jim McIlvaine, #46 Voshon Lenard, #54 Zeljko Rebraca)
1993: Greg Graham (SG)
(#24 Sam Cassell, #28 Lucious Harris, Aaron Williams UFA, Bo Outlaw UFA)
1992: Doug Christie (SG)
(#20 Hubert Davis, #21 Jon Barry, #29 P. J. Brown, David Wesley UFA)
1991: Victor Alexander (C)
(#24 Rick Fox, Darrell Armstrong UFA, Robert Pack UFA)