2. Horace Grant, Power Forward/Center
Here’s where it really starts to get good for Krause’s rather spotty record in the NBA Draft. In the 1987 NBA Draft (with the 10th overall pick in the first round) Krause and the Bulls picked up the former Clemson Tigers 6-foot-10 and 215 pound big man Horace Grant. The Augusta, GA, native was one of the very brightest stars picked in the first round of the 1987 draft.
Grant would go on to become a four-time NBA Champion, four-time All-Defensive Team selection, and one-time All-Star selection. There were a few snubs in there for Grant with the Eastern Conference All-Star Team. But that’s just how it goes sometimes. He was still the third star piece of that Bulls trio that also encompassed Pippen, and Jordan that won the first set of back-to-back-to-back titles in the early 1990’s.
Moreover, Grant spent seven seasons with the Bulls and Orlando Magic each way. He seemed to be happier with the Magic in the latter stages of his prime years in the NBA. But he would get a second title in his second stint under Jackson’s wing as head coach alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001.
During his accomplished run with the Bulls, Grant registered a 1.9 box plus/minus rating, 18.1 value over replacement player rating, 55.9 true shooting percentage, more than 62 total win shares, .164 win shares per 48 minutes, and a very low turnover rate around 10 percent.
Grant might’ve hard a difficult parting with the Bulls, but he definitely contributed a ton to the first three titles for the franchise in the early 1990’s.