No. 9 pick never a sure thing

NBA Draft: A look at a decade of No. 9 picks in the NBA draft, with career stats:

2015, Frank Kaminsky, Charlotte 7.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 81 games, 21.1 mpg.

Hornets owner Michael Jordan wanted him so badly he reportedly turned down a handful of picks from Boston, who wanted to take Justise Winslow. Jury still out.

2014, Noah Vonleh, Charlotte 3.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 103 games, 13.9 mpg.

Still very much a work in progress, the young big man never got a chance to blossom with the Hornets, who moved him on to Portland a year ago.

2013, Trey Burke, Minnesota (traded to Utah) 12.1 ppg, 4.2 apg, 210 games, 28.2 mpg.

The point guard went from lottery pick to forgotten man with alarming quickness. He ended season buried behind Shelvin Mack and Raul Neto with the rapidly-improving Jazz.

2012, Andre Drummond, Detroit 13.2 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 304 games, 29.7 mpg.

About to strike it rich as a free agent, the 2015-16 all-star is a ferocious rebounder who is among the worst free throw shooters in the NBA, limiting his late-game availability.

2011, Kemba Walker, Charlotte 17.3 ppg, 5.3 apg, 364 games, 33.7 mpg.

Raptors fans know well what he can do because he regularly torments them. A study in the patience needed to let some players develop.

2010, Gordon Hayward, Utah 14.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 443 games, 30.8 mpg.

Now the centrepiece of an emerging Jazz team, he’s shown steady improvement since being drafted, turning into a solid defender after a reputation of being just a scorer.

2009, DeMar DeRozan, Toronto 18.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 521 games, 33.9 mpg.

A two-time all-star whose game has evolved and grown each summer, he’s likely to strike it rich as a free agent. Mid-range ace is among the best players to ever wear a Raptors jersey.

2008, D. J. Augustin, Charlotte 9.8 ppg, 4.0 apg, 573 games, 24.2 mpg

Look up “journeyman” in the dictionary of NBA terms and the one- time Raptor might be the prime example. He could score but there were/are too many holes in his game to make him stand out.

2007, Joakim Noah, Chicago 9.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 572 games, 29.5 mpg

It took him a little while to figure it all out but he blossomed into one of the key players on a very good Bulls team by thriving in his role. Might have a couple of high-level years left.

2006, Patrick O’Bryant, Golden State 2.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 90 games, 5.8 mpg

Sometimes you make the ninth pick and you miss terribly, as the Warriors did a decade ago. Journeyman would have been an over-statement to describe the career of the one-time Raptor. Doug Smith