The 1986 NBA Draft: A Sea of Waste

Wizards Bullets 16-51

Before I get down to brass tacks, I’d like to introduce you to a brave new effort regarding the mustache of meat — bacon. Indeed, bacon is delicious, nutritious, sumptuous and scrumptious. But it’s historically been on the third rail of meat. Now, however, there is a brave, brave organization looking to create a community dedicated to the magic meat called The Bacon Institute, and you can join this community as a member and are invited to visit here.

Now on to hoops.

I was reading this week that former NBA player Roy Tarpley had settled a federal lawsuit against the NBA for discriminating against him. In a pill, the immensely talented Tarpley who wasted his career on drugs and booze, sued the NBA saying the league violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by refusing to reinstate him after a ban for drug use.

I actually once tried something similar claiming a former employer fired me due to my delicious mustache and that it was the mustache, and not my hands, that had brushed across my intern’s backside. It didn’t really sit too with the Third District Court of Appeals of Newark. But so it goes.

Anyhow, the Tarpley incident got me thinking about other guys who blew once-promising NBA careers. And specifically I thought back to Tarpley’s draft class — the sea of waste that was the infamous 1986 NBA Draft.  It included players worth remembering like:

• Len Bias: The summer after my freshman year of high school, I was attending a basketball camp. I arrived, and as I  walked in the door and my friend Dave Menser asked me, “Did you hear about Lenny Bias? Dude died of a coke overdose.” I was in shock, and so was the entire Washington, D.C.-area. He had just finished one of the more decorated college hoops careers ever. And then was selected by the defending NBA champion Celtics as the second overall pick.  He was meant to replace the Larry Bird era in Boston, and it turned into one of the saddest chapters in modern day hoops history and put the Celtics into a spiral that they’ve really just come out of in the past two seasons.  Check out this video of Bias for more. ###MORE###
• Chris Washburn: Dude was Shaq before Shaq. Just a beast. A ridiculously stuipd beast but a beast none the less. He was selected by Golden State with the third overall pick. Sadly, however, the highlight of Washburn’s pro career was an exhibition game in his rookie season against the Knicks (16 points in a 23-point loss). On January 28, 1987, Washburn checked into a drug rehab clinic, admitting he had a cocaine problem. In total, he played 72 games over two seasons, averaging 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds and was banned from the NBA for life in June 1989 after failing three drug tests, in three years. Not only is he considered one of the biggest busts in NBA draft history, but his orthodontia leaves something to be desired.
• William Bedford: He was a stud center at Memphis State (now Univ. of Memphis) and was drafted sixth overall by the Phoenix Suns. He bounced around the NBA over six seasons averaging 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds, and like Bias and Washburn, was big with the pipe and powder.  We’ll have to assume he didn’t learn his lesson, because as of 2008, Bedford was serving time in a Texas prison on drug charges and is not scheduled for release until 2013.
• John Williams: This Bullets draftee was known as “Hot Plate.” Taken 12th overall, he started off well after a nice career at LSU. At 6′9, he was an excellent ball handler, passer, and had a nice mid-range shot. Imagine Ron Artest without the idiocy and better ball handling. But unlike Bias, Bedford and Washburn — whose vices were drug related - my man “Hot Plate” essentially ate himself out of the league. Go Bullets!
• Dwayne Washington: Pearl Washington was a New York playground legend who had a decorated career at Syracuse and was drafted 13th by New Jersey.  In two forgettable seasons with the Nets he averaged nine points per game, and in 1988, the Miami Heat selected him in their expansion draft. He played 54 games for the Heat before being released. No one could ever quite figure what went wrong with Pearl, but he was always a bit chunky with questionable practice habits.

Yes, some solid pros came out of the 1986 draft like Brad Daugherty, Chuck Person, Ron Harper, and John Salley. But guys like Bias, Washburn and Tarpley had Hall-of-Fame talent. And Bedford and Williams could have been a very good pros.  So my question to you is, besides Bill Simmons, do you have any NBA flameouts who you can recall?

Must Reads

I’ve been wanting to write about the Charlotte Bobcats for awhile now, as I’m a Larry Brown believer, and ever since they traded their best player - Jason Richardson - they’ve been a new team. However, after reading this piece by Mark Heisler from HoopsHype.com, there’s no need. An interesting look at the freakshow that is the well-dressed Larry Brown.

You Said It

A couple of interesting comments after last week’s NBA post on the league salaries.

• Dave said, “Brian Cardinal will never actually retire. Years from now we will be watching him match up against Evan Eschmeyer’s children. In a perfect world anyway.” Funny thing is Cardinal’s off-season job is actually babysitting the love-child of Chuck Nevitt and Jack Sikma.
• Lou L. Sindar wrote, “Wow. These are extremely great reasons to completely ignore the NBA. Well, that and the fact that the next month of NCCA ball will be better than anything the pros could ever come up with!” It’s a valid point Lou. There is nothing quite like the NCAA Tournament, and as you may recall I’ve questioned David Stern’s “marketing genius” prior as the college game has widely eclipsed the pros in popularity. Hell, I’m not even wearing pants right now in anticipation of this week’s tourney kickoff. If college football were to follow suit, me thinks NCAA football would quickly catch up to the pros in popularity.

If you’d like to beg Dr. Aaron to shave his mustache, write to him at [e-mail]