Basketball in the NBA has evolved from the traditional post game to the dribble drive, fluid passing and sharp outside shooting.
Now teams must have facilitators, shot creators and outside shooters.
Somehow they've taken away the post moves by the likes of Mchale.
Power forwards nowadays seldom get the ball down low but rather get the ball on top of the key. They mostly get the ball and take jump shots. (Good example is Portland's Aldrige)
Center nowadays get their shots from drive and draws by the facilitators of the team.
This is the main reason why instead of drafting a BIG man, the athletic forwards will be the wiser choice.
With the newly crowned NBA Champion Spurs showing the world how basketball should be played nowadays, I'm sure other teams will try to follow.
Floor spacing has somehow become more important than post-play in today's NBA, but rim protection is still as relevant as ever. The last team that won the championship without top 10 defense was the Lakers in 2001. Defensive minded bigs Perkins, Andersen, Splitter, Chandler were essential to the past few championship teams. Even guys like Mickell Gladness (got cut in Holland, benched in D-league) got signed by the Heat in 2011 because of his shot blocking potential. It's the big men who are neither very good floor spacers or rim protectors who have gone out of fashion in the NBA --- guys like Carlos Boozer, David Lee, Glen Davis etc.
No Yao Ming in your list? Isa pang nakakapang hinayang na bigman to. Best center in the league when he retired.
Yao was somewhat of a mystery man, most people had no idea how his play would translate to the league. Nakipagpustahan pa nga si Barkley na hindi daw makaka-20 pts si Yao sa NBA. I only listed the ones who were generally viewed as can't-miss superstars right at the time they were drafted. Kasali rin siguro si Iverson.
I wanted the Warriors to get Yao that year. They had the worst record, but somehow ended up with only pick #3.