While it serves a viable purpose, recently the NBA Draft hasn't packed the powerful punch that it used to carry.

Gone are the days when an immediate impact player such as Michael Jordan can be found with the third pick and Karl Malone with the 13th. Indeed, it's getting more difficult for teams to acquire a franchise player in the lottery, where dreams of championships are supposed to be built.

That's because fewer players enter the NBA ready for prime time, sometimes making the draft an exercise in futility. "The trends of the draft are pretty obvious," said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks' assistant coach and director of player personnel. "The draft is getting young and younger, which is a troublesome trend.