NBA Draft Lottery: Five Worst Lottery Picks from Each Draft Class Since 2001
Now that the order for the 2011 NBA Draft is set, fans are sure to start predicting which player will be picked when, who will be an immediate success, etc. This year's draft class is strong, so the event itself should be interesting to watch, particularly the lottery.
Yet, while every draft lottery class has its superstars and sleepers, it also has a small group of players who would rather not carry this label: draft busts! While fans talk a lot about the best players of a certain year's draft, the busts also get their fair share of conversation. One of the more notable lottery busts in recent years is Adam Morrison (pictured), who had a very forgettable pro career after being a superstar in college.
That being said, let's give the superstar talk a break and focus on the busts. Here are the five worst lottery picks from each NBA draft since 2001.
Click here for my other slideshow: NBA Draft Lottery, 5 Best Lottery Picks from Each Draft Class Since 2001
2001, No. 5: Kwame Brown
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When the Washington Wizards took him with the first overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, Kwame Brown was expected to become a top NBA center. Instead, he turned out to be one of the biggest busts/underachievers in the history of the draft, along with first overall picks. His first season was marred by immaturity and underperformance, as he only averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 57 games, averaging 14.3 minutes. Overall, pretty disappointing, considering how Brown is 6'11" and weighs 270 pounds.
He showed signs of potential in his third season when he averaged 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds, but his poor attitude ran him out of Washington, and the team traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005.
Brown has since played in Memphis, Detroit and most recently Charlotte, but he has sadly peaked at age 29. His career averages are a less-than average 6.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, yet he still manages to play a decent amount of minutes (26 per game in 2010-2011) and has become a fairly average player. On top of that, I'm impressed that he's still even in the league.
Thus, he kicks off 2001.
2001, No. 4: Rodney White
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In one year at UNC-Charlotte, Rodney White was basically incredible. He averaged 18.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game with a field goal percentage of 48. He declared himself eligible for the 2001 draft and was taken ninth overall by the Detroit Pistons.
To say the least, White's tenure in the Motor City was less than memorable. His lack of effort on defense irked then-Pistons coach Rick Carlisle, and he averaged just 3.5 points and 1.1 rebounds per game his rookie season. He only played in 16 games and was traded to the Denver Nuggets that offseason.
His play never improved with the Nuggets, nor during a brief stint with the Golden State Warriors. In his four-year NBA career, White averaged 7.1 points and 2.2 rebounds. He currently plays for the Zhejiang Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.
2001, No. 3: Kedrick Brown
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Having been a devoted NBA Draft watcher for nearly 10 years, I'm always skeptical when a team picks a community college player in the first round. The Boston Celtics did this in 2001 with the 11th overall pick, taking guard Kedrick Brown out of Okaloosa-Walton Community College in Florida. Brown had good size for a guard at 6'7" and 222 pounds, and team management hoped he would provide more offense alongside Paul Pierce.
Instead, Brown's lack of exposure to competitive basketball on the higher level was exposed. He only appeared in 29 games his rookie season and averaged 8.4 minutes a game to go with 2.2 points. He only shot 32 percent from the field.
Brown was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers two seasons later and appeared in eight games for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2004. His NBA career totals are as follows: 3.6 points per game on 40 percent shooting, but only 27 percent from three-point range. He currently plays in Turkey.
2001, No. 2: Eddy Curry
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Going into the 2001 NBA Draft, Eddy Curry was one of many highly-touted high school prospects in that year's draft class. He had great size at 7'0" and 295 pounds and had even earned the nickname "Baby Shaq." This impressed the Chicago Bulls enough to draft him fourth overall.
Curry had a less-than average rookie year, averaging just 6.7 points and 3.7 rebounds, but that was due to limited playing time. He gradually improved over the next few seasons, but struggles with his weight and a heart condition led the Bulls to trade him to the New York Knicks in 2005. He had a career year with the team in 2006, averaging 19.5 point and seven rebounds.
Still, Curry can be considered one of the worst lottery picks because despite flashes of potential, he never truly developed into the dominant center scouts thought he would be. He has only appeared in 10 games over the past three seasons and is currently a free agent. Since he will turn 29 in December, I am sad to say that his career is probably over.
2001, No. 1: Eddie Griffin
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Eddie Griffin is a classic example of a player who left college too early. In one season at Seton Hall, Griffin averaged 17.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. The New Jersey Nets took him seventh overall in 2001 and immediately traded him to the Houston Rockets.
Unfortunately, Griffin never fully adjusted to the professional level. He averaged just 8.8 points and 5.7 rebounds his rookie season, below average for someone 6'10" and 232 pounds. In five seasons spent with the Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves, he averaged 7.2 points and 5.7 rebounds.
On top of that, Griffin struggled with alcoholism throughout his entire career and even entered rehab for the entire 2003-2004 season. Tragically, he was killed in a car accident on August 17, 2007 when his SUV collided with a moving train. According to the autopsy, he was intoxicated at the time of his death.
Given not only the underachievement, but final result of Griffin's NBA career, he is the worst lottery pick of 2001.
2002, No. 5: Jared Jeffries
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In two seasons at Indiana, Jared Jeffries was a decent forward. He averaged 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in two seasons as a Hoosier. The Washington Wizards picked him 11th overall in 2002, and the underachievement began.
Jeffries only appeared in 20 games his rookie year and averaged four points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Today, not much has changed. He has never averaged more than 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds throughout his NBA career. That's unacceptable for someone who's 6'10".
Still, Jeffries has managed to stay in the NBA and have a career with the Wizards, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. He might not be a good lottery pick, but at least he can say he's still in the NBA.
2002, No. 4: Melvin Ely
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At 6'10" and 261 pounds, you would think Melvin Ely was a dominant center in the NBA. Based on his college stats, that assumption would be correct. In his senior year at Fresno State, Ely averaged 23.3 points and 9.1 rebounds while shooting 56 percent from the field. This impressed the Los Angeles Clippers enough to draft him 12th overall.
Yet, Ely's inexperience was exposed early. He only played 52 games his rookie season, averaging 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds. He spent two years with the Clippers and has since played for the Charlotte Bobcats, San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Hornets and most recently the Denver Nuggets.
Now 33 years old, it's safe to say that Ely never reached his full potential in the NBA. His career averages of 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds prove that. Plus, he's only ever played a full season once, for the Bobcats in 2004.
2002, No. 3: Marcus Haislip
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Marcus Haislip was a 6'10", 230 pound forward who had one good season at Tennessee. As a junior, he averaged 16.7 points and 6.7 rebounds before entering the draft. The Milwaukee Bucks drafted him 13th in 2002.
Needless to say, Haislip's NBA career was forgettable. He averaged 4.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in 39 games his rookie season and only lasted one more season in Milwaukee before being waived and signing with the Indiana Pacers. After a forgettable tenure there, he played in Turkey and Spain for a few seasons before appearing in 10 games for the San Antonio Spurs in 2009-2010.
He has since returned to Europe and is currently playing in Turkey, known in the U.S. only as another college player who just couldn't cut it as a pro.
2002, No. 2: DaJuan Wagner
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DaJuan Wagner turned scouts' heads before he even began his lone season at Memphis. The 6'2", 200 pound guard scored 100 points in a high school game. At Memphis, he averaged 21.2 points per game in his only season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers took him sixth overall and he had a decent rookie campaign, averaging 13.4 points. Yet, he only shot 36 percent from the field, and injuries limited him to 47 games. He barely played over the next two seasons before being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and missing the entire 2005-2006 season.
He attempted a comeback with the Golden State Warriors the following year, but only appeared in one game before having his contract bought out. He finished with a career average of 9.4 points per game and last played for a Polish team in 2007-2008.
2002, No. 1: Nikoloz Tskitishvili
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When the Denver Nuggets drafted Georgian center Nikoloz Tskitishvili with the fifth pick in 2002, they were expecting to improve their inside scoring. Instead, the 7'0", 255 pounder proved to be a major bust.
In his rookie season, Tskitishvili appeared in 81 games, but only averaged 16.3 minutes and 3.9 points to go with 2.2 rebounds. He only lasted three more seasons with the Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves before leaving the NBA with career averages of 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
Most recently, he was playing for a team in San Sebastian, Basque Country.
2003, No. 5: Luke Ridnour
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Luke Ridnour was a star at Oregon for three years. In his junior season with the Ducks, he averaged 19.7 points and 6.6 assists. Looking for a point guard to replace Gary Payton, the Seattle SuperSonics drafted him 14th overall in 2003.
Ridnour had a forgettable rookie campaign, only averaging 5.5 points and 2.4 assists per game. Yet, from his second year and on, he has become a solid contributor in an eight year career with Seattle, Milwaukee and most recently Minnesota. For his career, he has averaged 9.7 points and 4.9 assists and has become reliable from three-point range.
Still, compared to the men drafted ahead of him, Ridnour is a worse enough lottery pick to kick 2003 off.
2003, No. 4: Darko Milicic
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Well, where do I begin with this guy? He was a highly-touted European prospect going into the draft and was taken second overall by the Detroit Pistons. Unfortunately, Larry Brown was his head coach and as a result, he spent a lot of time on the bench. He only appeared in 34 games his rookie season and averaged 4.7 minutes, posting averages of 1.4 points and 1.2 rebounds.
Since then, Darko Milicic has struggled to find minutes in stints with the Pistons, Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks and most recently, the Minnesota Timberwolves. When with the Pistons, he addressed his slow development and said, "I've said it 10,000 times. The best way for me to improve is to play. All the work in practice and individual workouts can only help me so much."
Milicic finally became a full-time starter in Minnesota this year and only averaged 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds, but also averaged two blocks per game. He has great size at 7'0" and 275 pounds and will turn 26 this summer, so fingers crossed he can improve upon last season and become the star scouts said he would be.
2002, No. 3: Marcus Banks
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In two years at UNLV, Marcus Banks averaged 18 points and 4.2 assists. The Memphis Grizzlies drafted him 13th overall and immediately traded him to the Boston Celtics with Kendrick Perkins. He played solid defense while with the team, but struggled to find playing time, as head coach Doc Rivers preferred Delonte West. He was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2005 and averaged 12 points a game for them.
Since then, Banks has spent time with the Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors. Toronto traded him to New Orleans this season, but he never played a game for them. Thus far, he has averaged 5.9 points and 2.1 assists over the course of his uneventful career.
2003, No. 2: Jarvis Hayes
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Based on Jarvis Hayes's college stats, it's no wonder that the Washington Wizards took him with the 10th pick in 2003. In two seasons at Georgia, he averaged 18.4 points and 4.8 rebounds. Combine those numbers with his 6'8" 228 pound frame, and Hayes had the potential to become an effective offensive forward in the NBA.
Hayes appeared in 70 games his rookie year, but only averaged 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds. He slightly improved the following season with averages of 10.2 points and 4.2 rebounds, but only played in 54 games. In seven seasons with the Wizards, Pistons and Nets, Hayes has struggled to be consistent on the professional level.
He last played for the Nets in 2009-2010 and averaged 7.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 45 games. For his career, he has averaged 8.3 points and 3.1 rebounds. All in all, another case of a college player who just couldn't make it as a pro.
2003, No. 1: Mike Sweetney
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Mike Sweetney was a star forward/big man for Craig Esherick at Georgetown for two seasons. At 6'8" and 275 pounds, truly fitting the definition of a big man, he averaged 20.9 points and 10.2 rebounds his two years as a Hoya. Needing help with rebounding and inside scoring, the New York Knicks drafted him ninth overall. It was the last draft pick of the Scott Layden Era.
Unfortunately, Sweetney never panned out. He only appeared in 42 games his rookie season and averaged 11.1 minutes with with 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. On top of that, he constantly struggled with his weight and was ultimately traded to the Chicago Bulls in 2005 as part of the Eddy Curry deal.
Sweetney only lasted two seasons in Chicago and most recently played for a Puerto Rican team in 2010. He finished his NBA career with disappointing career averages of 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds. However, his career field goal percentage was an impressive 48 percent.
2004, No. 5: Sebastian Telfair
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Growing up in New York City, I knew who Sebastian Telfair was long before the Portland Trail Blazers took him 13th overall in 2004. He was a star at Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, but many believed then as they do now that he made the wrong decision in skipping college.
He appeared in 68 games his rookie season, but only averaged 19.6 minutes and 6.8 points to go with a meager 3.3 assists per game. Seven seasons later, Telfair has yet to become a full-time starter.
In stints with the Blazers, Celtics, Clippers, Cavaliers and two separate stints with the Timberwolves, Telfair has only managed to average 7.8 points and 3.8 assists per game. One can only wonder if those numbers would be different had he spent a year or two playing college ball.
2004, No. 4: Shaun Livingston
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Like Telfair, Shaun Livingston opted to skip college and go straight to the NBA. The Los Angeles Clippers selected him with the fourth pick and the uneventful career began. Livingston only appeared in 30 games his rookie season and averaged just 7.4 points and five assists. Fairly disappointing considering how he is 6'7" and was drafted as a point guard.
It all went downhill from there. Livingston suffered a serious knee injury that forced him to miss the entire 2007-2008 season and the Clippers did not renew his contract. He has since had stints with the Heat, Thunder, Wizards and most recently the Bobcats.
He has yet to live up to his draft hype and sports meager career averages of 7.1 points and 3.8 assists. He has only played in more than 60 games in a season once, this past season with the Bobcats when he appeared in 73 games.
2004, No. 3: Robert Swift
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At 7'1" and 270 pounds, Robert Swift was expected to be a dominating presence in the frontcourt when the Seattle SuperSonics took him out of high school with the 12th pick in 2004. Instead, he became a horrendous draft bust.
Swift only appeared in 16 games his rookie year and averaged a pitiful 0.9 points and 0.4 rebounds. A torn ACL caused him to miss all of the 2006-2007 season and after averaging 4.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in four NBA seasons, Swift now plays in Japan.
2004, No. 2: Luke Jackson
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After a phenomenal senior season at Oregon during which he averaged 21.2 points and 7.2 rebounds, Luke Jackson was drafted 10th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Unfortunately, his college success didn't follow him to the NBA.
Over four seasons with the Cavs, Clippers, Raptors and Heat, Jackson only appeared in a total of 73 games and averaged 3.5 points and 1.2 rebounds. He has since played multiple seasons in the D-League and one in Italy, but has not been in the NBA since the Heat released him in 2008.
One can only wonder where Jackson's luster got lost on the transition from college to the pros.
2004, No. 1: Rafael Araujo
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Given how Rafael Araujo averaged 18.4 points and 10.1 rebounds his sophomore season at BYU, the Toronto Raptors thought they were getting an All-Star when they used the eighth pick to draft the 6'11", 275 pound center. Instead, they got one of the worst draft busts in NBA history.
Araujo only averaged 3.3 points and 3.1 rebounds his rookie season, only appearing in 59 games. He didn't improve the following season and was traded to the Utah Jazz in 2006, where he lasted one season before leaving the NBA to play in Europe.
Currently, he plays for the Brazilian club Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro. He finished his NBA career with averages of 2.8 points and 2.8 rebounds.
2005, No. 5: Martell Webster
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Martell Webster is another example of a high school player who should have gone to college. He turned down an opportunity to play for the University of Washington and instead declared for the draft, where the Portland Trail Blazers took him sixth overall. Naturally, he struggled his first season.
Webster appeared in 61 games as a rookie, but only managed 17.5 minutes per game and averaged just 6.6 points. His high point came during his third year in the league, when he averaged 10.7 points. Yet, Webster still has not had a breakout year.
He currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves and appeared in 46 games last season, averaging 9.8 points. He holds career averages of 8.6 points and 3.1 rebounds, though he doesn't play much defense. Yet, he's only 24, so there's still hope for him.
2005, No. 4: Ike Diogu
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At 6'9" and 250 pounds, Ike Diogu was a star big man on the college level. In three seasons at Arizona State, he averaged 21.4 points and 8.8 rebounds before being selected ninth overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2005. Like so many college stars before him, his success did not follow him to the pros.
Diogu played in 69 games for the Warriors his rookie year, but only averaged 14.9 minutes per game to go with seven points and 3.3 rebounds. You want to know the sad part? That minutes average is his career high.
To add insult to injury, Diogu has never played in more than 42 games since his rookie year and has spent time with numerous teams including the Pacers, Blazers, Kings and currently the Los Angeles Clippers. His career averages are an unremarkable six points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Barring a miracle, Diogu has definitely peaked.
2005, No. 3: Sean May
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As a junior at UNC, Sean May averaged 17.5 points and 10.7 rebounds as he helped the Tar Heels win a national championship that year. He entered the draft and was taken 13th overall by the Charlotte Bobcats. He never succeeded on the NBA level as weight issues and injuries held him back. He only appeared in 23 games his rookie year and averaged 8.2 points and 4.7 rebounds.
He never played in more than 37 games on the NBA level and after spending 2009-2010 with the Sacramento Kings, he went to play in Turkey. He left the NBA with career averages of 6.9 points and four rebounds, very disappointing for a 6'9" 266 pound big man.
2005, No. 2: Fran Vazquez
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It's kind of hard to call Fran Vazquez one of the worst lottery picks of 2005 considering how he hasn't played one game in the NBA! The Orlando Magic drafted him with the 11th pick, but he opted to remain in Spain. He currently plays for Barcelona.
Yet, looking at his career stats in Europe, I'm going to say the Magic dodged a bullet with him. According to his Euroleague page, he has only averaged 6.8 points and 3.4 rebounds for his career. That's unacceptable given how he's 6'10" and weighs 240 pounds.
2005, No. 1: Yaroslav Korolev
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Once again, another bad draft pick by the Clippers, who took Korolev 12th overall. In two seasons with the team, Korolev only appeared in 34 games and averaged 4.9 minutes. In that time, he was able to post career averages of 1.1 points and 0.5 rebounds.
He then returned to his native Russia and played for Dynamo Moscow. Currently, he plays in Granada, Spain.
2006, No. 5: Hilton Armstrong
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In four years at Connecticut, Hilton Armstrong was only a starter during his senior year. That season, he averaged just 9.7 points and 6.6 rebounds, but also an astounding 3.1 blocks. Thus, the New Orleans Hornets drafted the 6'11", 235 pound center with the 12th pick.
Unfortunately, Armstrong did not become the shot blocker the Hornets thought they were getting. He has never played more than 15.6 minutes per game and over the past two seasons, has spent time with the Hornets, Kings, Wizards, Rockets and now the Hawks. For his career, he has averaged 3.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.5 blocks.
2006, No. 4: Mouhamed Sene
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At 6'11" and 230 pounds, one would think that Mouhamed Sene would be a great NBA center. The Seattle SuperSonics took him 10th overall, and he became a bust. In three seasons with the Sonics/Thunder and Knicks, Sene only played in 47 games and averaged 5.5 minutes per game. His career averages are 2.2 points and 1.6 rebounds.
Today, Sene plays for a French team. One can only wonder what went wrong on the NBA level.
2006, No. 3: Patrick O'Bryant
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After impressing scouts with his performance in that year's NCAA tournament, seven-footer Patrick O'Bryant was selected ninth overall by the Golden State Warriors. Five years later, with a stint in China in between, he is in the D-League trying to re-establish himself.
In four years with the Warriors, Celtics and Raptors, O'Bryant only played in 90 games and averaged 5.8 minutes. Even worse, he averaged 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds. He's only 25 so there's still some hope, but not if he keeps spending time in the D-League.
2006, No. 2: Shelden Williams
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In his senior season at Duke, 6'9" 250 pound Shelden Williams established himself as one of the nation's top big men. He averaged 18.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.8 blocks. Thus, the Atlanta Hawks took him with the fifth pick.
Unfortunately, Williams never blossomed on the professional level. To this day, his rookie season has been the only one in which he has played in over 60 games. For his career, he has averaged 14.2 minutes per game.
On top of that, he has become a journeyman. He was traded from Atlanta to the Sacramento Kings during his second season and has since spent time in Minnesota, Boston, Denver and New York. For his career, he has averaged 4.5 points, four rebounds and 0.4 blocks.
2006, No. 1: Adam Morrison
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Simply put, Adam Morrison was a rock star at Gonzaga. In three years there, he averaged 19.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. In his junior season, he averaged 28.1 points while shooting 50 percent from the field and an incredible 43 percent from three-point range. Given his impressive stats, the Charlotte Bobcats took him third overall.
Yet, the NBA proved to be a wake-up call for Morrison. He appeared in 78 games (23 starts) and averaged 29.8 minutes as a rookie, but only averaged 11.8 points and shot 37 percent from the field. He then missed all of the following season with a serious knee injury.
Morrison struggled to come back in 2008 and was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he barely played despite winning back to back championships with them. He is currently a free agent.
Thus far, his career averages are 7.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
2007, No. 5: Yi Jianlian
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Yi Jianlian caused a bit of a stir after the Milwaukee Bucks drafted him sixth overall in 2007. The seven-footer made it pretty clear that he would prefer not to play in Milwaukee due to the city's lack of a prominent Asian-American population. Still, he spent one season with the Bucks and averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds.
He was then traded to the New Jersey Nets and spent two average seasons there before being traded to the Washington Wizards. Overall, his performance in the NBA has been disappointing. He has never played a full season due to injury and has only averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds over his four years in the league.
Still, he showed flashes of potential when he averaged 17.5 points and 8.1 rebounds in last year's World Games.
2007, No. 4: Acie Law
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As a senior at Texas A&M, Acie Law averaged 18.1 points and five assists while shooting 50 percent from the field and 45 percent from beyond the arc. In need of a point guard, the Atlanta Hawks drafted him 11th overall. Needless to say, things didn't work out.
In four years in the NBA, Law has only played in 188 games and has had stints with the Hawks, Bulls, Grizzlies, Bobcats and two separate stints with his current team, the Golden State Warriors. He has only averaged 12.7 minutes per game and has a scoring average of 3.9 points. His career three-point percentage is a ghastly 23.
Long story short, he is not the electrifying point guard he was in college.
2007, No. 3: Julian Wright
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In his sophomore year playing for Bill Self at Kansas, Julian Wright established himself as an efficient defensive forward, averaging 12.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Despite being undersized at 6'8" and 225 pounds, the New Orleans Hornets drafted him 13th overall. Now with the Toronto Raptors, Wright's NBA career has been very disappointing, probably because he left school too soon.
Over four seasons, he has only averaged 13.2 minutes per game to go with 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds. It's truly a shame given his great athleticism. Hopefully, now that Chris Bosh is out of Toronto, Wright can get some more minutes next season.
2007, No. 2: Brandan Wright
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After one year at North Carolina during which he averaged 14.7 points and 6.2 rebounds, Brandan Wright entered the draft. The Charlotte Bobcats took him eighth overall and immediately traded him to Golden State. Four seasons later (he missed 2009-2010 with a shoulder injury), Wright has only played in 114 games and averaged 12.7 minutes in times spent with the Warriors and Nets.
He has only averaged 5.4 points and three rebounds. This can be attributed to a couple of things. First, he left school way too early. Second, he's just way too skinny at 6'10" and 210 pounds to play center or power forward in the NBA. If he can put on 20 pounds of muscle, then perhaps he can finally become a factor.
2007, No. 1: Greg Oden
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At 7'0" and 285 pounds, Greg Oden has the build of a top NBA center. In his lone season at Ohio State, he averaged 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks. In a move that many call one of the biggest mistakes in draft history, the Portland Trail Blazers took Oden with the first overall pick instead of Texas's Kevin Durant. The rest, as they say, is history.
Oden missed all of 2007-2008 because of microfracture surgery on his knee. He came back the following season and played in 61 games, but averaged 8.9 points and seven rebounds. He began 2009-2010 with marked improvement in his game, but only played in 21 games due to a fractured kneecap. At the time of his injury, he was averaging 11.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
Yet, Oden missed all of last season with another microfracture surgery. It's a bit early to call him a bust but given who the Blazers passed on to draft Oden, he is the worst lottery pick of 2007
2008, No. 5: Michael Beasley
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Many of you are probably now scratching your heads and wondering, "Michael Beasley is a good player. Why is he on this list??"
Well, to answer your question, Beasley is on here for his attitude. Despite improving each of his first three seasons since being drafted second overall by the Miami Heat and currently being a regular starter for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Michael Beasley's lackadaisical efforts on defense and off-court issues make him very frustrating to coach.
On top of that, he has already been to rehab because of marijuana use. He may be good, but his skills come with quite the catch.
2008, No. 4: O.J. Mayo
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After one season at USC, O.J. Mayo entered the NBA draft and was taken third overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was immediately traded to the Memphis Grizzlies and established himself as a top shooter and their starting shooting guard his first two years.
Yet, Mayo's ego has always been a bit of a problem. He was taken out of the starting lineup this past season and was not happy about it at all. Thus, he was at odds with Memphis coach Lionel Hollins all season long.
Combine that with the report and confirmation that he received improper benefits while at USC, and he becomes a bad lottery pick not because of his skills, but because of his being a head case.
2008, No. 3: Brandon Rush
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Brandon Rush was the starting guard on the Kansas team that won the 2008 NCAA tournament. That season, he averaged 13.3 points and shot 41 percent from three-point range. The Portland Trail Blazers drafted him 13th overall and then traded him to the Indiana Pacers.
Rush has been effective both as a starter and bench player in Indiana and has shot 40 percent from three-point range for his career, but has only averaged 8.9 points in three seasons. On top of that, his defense is very shoddy.
It's still a bit early to judge him as a bust at this point in his career but if his overall numbers don't improve, Rush is going to become just another shooter.
2008, No. 2: Jerryd Bayless
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It's no secret that the University of Arizona basketball program is one known for producing amazing guards, and Jerryd Bayless was on exception. In his one season as a Wildcat, he averaged 19.7 points and four assists while shooting 40 percent from downtown. He declared for the draft and was taken 11th overall by Indiana before being sent to Portland for Brandon Rush.
Sadly, Bayless has yet to reach his full potential in the NBA. In three seasons, he is only averaging 7.6 points and 2.6 assists. Even worse, he is only shooting 32 percent from three-point range.
He split last season between the Hornets and Raptors. While he did show signs of potential towards the end of the season, it is still too early to take the label of bad lottery pick off of Bayless.
2008, No. 1: Joe Alexander
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During his junior season at West Virginia, Joe Alexander was the kind of forward coaches dreamed of. He averaged 16.9 points on 46 percent shooting and pulled down 6.4 rebounds per game. The Milwaukee Bucks drafted him eighth overall that year.
The transition to the pros proved to be tough for Alexander, as he only played in 59 games and averaged 4.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 12.1 minutes of play. He spent some time in the D-League and attempted to be an effective contributor for the Chicago Bulls in 2009-2010, but only appeared in eight games and averaged 0.5 points.
Today, Alexander is still in the D-League in the Hornets' organization as he attempts to make it back to the professional level.
2009, No. 5: Earl Clark
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During his junior year at Louisville, Earl Clark was one of the better big men in the nation. He averaged 14.2 points and 8.7 rebounds for the Cardinals and was drafted 14th overall by the Phoenix Suns.
Unfortunately, Clark did not mesh well with the run-and-gun offense his rookie season. He averaged just 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 51 games. In terms of playing time, he only averaged 7.5 minutes.
This past season, he was sent to the Orlando Magic in the Vince Carter trade and rode the bench their too despite averaging 4.1 points. For his career thus far, Clark is averaging 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.1 minutes of playing time. If Dwight Howard ends up leaving the Magic, perhaps he will get his chance.
2009, No. 4: Terrence Williams
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Terrence Williams was an average forward during his time at Louisville. He didn't put up amazing numbers (12.5 points, 8.6 rebounds as a senior), but played hard. The New Jersey Nets picked him 11th overall, and it all went downhill from there.
Williams's ego got in the way of him being coached and learning how to play on the NBA level and in his rookie year, he only averaged 8.4 points and 4.5 rebounds. The attitude carried over into this past season and he was eventually traded to the Rockets, who sent him to the D-League. Overall, he appeared in 21 games this season and averaged 3.1 points and 2.5 rebounds.
Unless his attitude improves, look for the bust label to be applied to him sooner rather than later.
2009, No. 3: Jordan Hill
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As I mentioned before, Arizona's basketball program is known for producing top guards. Forwards and centers are usually hit or miss, but Jordan Hill had a great junior season with the Wildcats as their starting power forward. He averaged 18.3 points and and 11 rebounds before being taken eighth overall by the Knicks.
Ultimately, he only played in 24 games for the team, averaging four points and 2.5 rebounds before being traded to Houston for Tracy McGrady. This past season, he was a non-factor and only played 15.6 minutes per game while averaging 5.6 points and 4.3 rebounds.
It's still early to label Hill as a bust. He's 6'10", 235 pounds and has the ability to become a top big man in the NBA. Yet, until he starts contributing regularly, I'm calling him a bad lottery pick.
2009, No. 2: Hasheem Thabeet
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The Memphis Grizzlies took Thabeet second overall despite his struggles against top defenses and centers on the collegiate level. This past season, he was traded to Houston for Shane Battier and the front office is probably kicking themselves for taking him so high.
Let me put it this way. In 115 career games, Thabeet has only averaged 10.9 minutes. In that time, he has averaged 2.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks.
Some of you are probably thinking, "That's a bit harsh. He's only been in the league for two years. Give him time and he'll be great!"
Allow me to put those stats into perspective. Hasheem Thabeet is 7'3", weighs 263 pounds and has a wingspan of 7'6". He's a bust.
2009, No. 1: Ricky Rubio
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Here we have another case of a bad lottery pick who has never played in the NBA. Spanish guard Ricky Rubio was taken fifth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and then decided he would stay in Spain. Long story short, he decided he didn't want to play for Minnesota and figured he could afford to stay in Spain for a couple more years since he was only 18 years old at the time.
Rubio currently plays for Barcelona and is averaging just 6.5 points per game. All bad stats aside, he is a bad lottery pick for his attitude. I mean, come on. What 18-year-old has the right to be that picky about who he plays for in the NBA?
I'll say this much. If it were the Knicks or Lakers who picked Rubio, you know he would have left Spain for the States.
2010, No. 5: Xavier Henry
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In his one year at Kansas, Xavier Henry was a guard whose strength was three-point shooting. He averaged 13.4 points as a freshman and shot 41 percent from long range. He opted to leave school early and enter the draft, where the Memphis Grizzlies selected him 12th overall.
Long story short, his rookie campaign was atrocious. He only played in 38 games and in 13.9 minutes, averaged 4.3 points. He shot an abysmal 11 percent from three-point land.
I don't care if it was just his first year or if he was hurt most of the season. Henry left Kansas way too early and combined with his horrendous three-point shooting, he's a bad lottery pick.
2010, No. 4: Cole Aldrich
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Going into the 2010 NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder were in need of a center. After the New Orleans Hornets drafted Kansas's Cole Aldrich with the 11th pick, the Thunder immediately traded for him. In his junior season as a Jayhawk, Aldrich averaged 11.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and an astounding 3.5 blocks.
However, the transition to the NBA was not kind to the 6'11", 245 pound center. He only played in 18 games before being sent to the D-League. In his short time on the professional level, he averaged one point, 1.9 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game.
I watched footage of Aldrich with the Thunder, and I don't think I've ever seen someone look so lost on the hardwood. Unless he exhibits a miraculous turnaround next season, I'm labeling him as a bad lottery pick.
2010, No. 3: Evan Turner
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At this point, Evan Turner is a bad lottery pick. In his rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers, who took him second overall, he averaged 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Those numbers are not what was expected of him, but I have a feeling he'll turn it around.
Why? Well, Turner was simply a rockstar his junior year at Ohio State. He averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and six assists. If I had to pick one player besides LeBron James who could average a triple-double, it would be Evan Turner. Yet, in order for that to happen, he needs to move back to his usual small-forward position and let someone else handle the shooting guard duties.
Yet, with Andre Iguodala ahead of him, Turner might have to wait a while before blossoming. Thus, he remains a bad lottery pick for now.
2010, No. 2: Derrick Favors
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At 6'10" and 246 pounds, Derrick Favors has the build of a top big man. In his lone season at Georgia Tech, he averaged 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. He even drew comparisons to former GT star, Chris Bosh.
The New Jersey Nets drafted him third overall and he immediately struggled. In 19.5 minutes, he averaged just 6.3 points and 5.4 rebounds before being sent to the Utah Jazz in the Deron Williams trade. He averaged 8.2 points with the Jazz, but his first season was a general disappointment as he only 6.8 points and 5.3 rebounds to go with 0.9 blocks per game.
The first conclusion is that Favors left school too early but like all of the 2010 bad lottery picks, it's really too soon to tell. Give him another year or two before putting a label on him. Yet, until there's great improvement, he gets a bad lottery pick label.
2010, No. 1: Ekpe Udoh
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The story of Ekpe Udoh is an interesting one. He played two years at Michigan and didn't do so well, then transferred to Baylor and became a top big man. In his one season with the Bears, the 6'10", 245 pound Udoh averaged 13.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks, numbers impressive enough that the Golden State Warriors drafted him with the sixth pick.
Unfortunately, Udoh's first year in the NBA was disappointing. He only appeared in 58 games and in 17.8 minutes, averaged just 4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds. However, he did average a respectable 1.5 blocks.
It's a bit early to tell whether or not Udoh will reach his full potential but at this point, I'm going to say no. His numbers are just so disappointing considering his size and unless he puts on about 10-15 pounds of muscle, I'm going to assume he'll be a bust and be out of the NBA in the next three years.
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