Think teams have gotten smarter in the NBA draft? Think again

Milwaukee Bucks' O.J. Mayo (00) shoots over Sacramento Kings' Ben McLemore during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) In an alternate universe, where NBA draft picks more often prove prescient, Hasheem Thabeet, not James Harden, would be winning league MVP; O.J. Mayo, not Russell Westbrook, would average triple-doubles; Jonny Flynn, not Stephen Curry, would own three rings; Greg Oden, not Kevin Durant, might have joined that superteam; and Anthony Bennett, not Giannis Antetokounmpo, would be the next great superstar.

With more sophisticated data available than in decades past, teams should be getting better at drafting.…