Six Reasons for Optimism

Corey Brewer School: Florida Ht: 6-9 Wt: 185 Class: Junior Age: 21 Bio

Mike Conley, Jr. School: Ohio State Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180 Class: Freshman Age: 19 Bio

Al Horford School: Florida Ht: 6-10 Wt: 245 Class: Junior Age: 21 Bio

Joakim Noah School: Florida Ht: 6-10 Wt: 220 Class: Junior Age: 22 Bio

Brandan Wright School: North Carolina Ht: 6-9 Wt: 205 Class: Freshman Age: 19 Bio

Julian Wright School: Kansas Ht: 6-8 Wt: 225 Class: Freshman Age: 20 Bio

Just in case those six weren't enough, here are six more:

Larry Bird was a #6 pick.

2. Only one of the last seven top overall picks won Rookie of the Year (LeBron James).

3. In the last seven seasons, only two first/second overall picks have won Rookie of the Year (James and Emeka Okafor, who was a second overall pick).

4. In that same span, the Rookie of the Year has been won by a sixth pick (Brandon Roy), a fourth pick (Chris Paul), a third pick (Pau Gasol), a ninth pick (Amare Stoudemire) and a fifth pick (Mike Miller).

5. The top overall pick is not a guarantee immediate success (Kwame Brown, Michael Olowokandi).

6. Consider the talent level at the sixth pick in past years: Brandon Roy (2006), Wally Szczerbiak (1999), Antoine Walker (1996), Hersey Hawkins (1988), Kenny Smith (1987), Larry Bird (1978), Adrian Dantley (1976), Lenny Wilkins (1960).