NBA Draft: The Worst Year-By-Year Miscues Since 1980
Although the NBA draft is still months away, trade rumors are heating up.
The hottest topic is where Carmelo Anthony will be traded to. More than half the league would love to get their hands on the superstar forward but only a select few could be seen in ‘Melo’s daydreams.
Think Detroit Pistons General Manager Joe Dumars would have liked a do-over in the 2003 draft when he selected Darko Milicic over Carmelo Anthony?
I thought it would be interesting to see which teams failed to give David Stern the right name on draft day over the past 30 years.
2010: Milwaukee Bucks Select Darrington Hobson over Landry Fields
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I won’t bash the other teams for not selecting Landry Fields, but Milwaukee selected Hobson two picks before Fields, who plays the same position. Fields is not a product of Mike D’Antoni’s system. He has a high basketball IQ and is already one of the more efficient players in the league. I’m glad my Knicks got their hands on him.
2009: New York Knicks Select Jordan Hill over Brandon Jennings
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Knicks desperately needed a point guard for the future. Despite working him out twice, the Knicks failed to see the potential in Jennings and opted to take raw forward Jordan Hill instead with the No. 7 overall pick. Hill lasted half the season before being shipped away to Houston.
2008: Milwaukee Bucks Select Joe Alexander over Brook Lopez
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Bucks went with the forward because they had injury-prone Andrew Bogut at center. Had they drafted Lopez, they would have had two young, potentially dominant cornerstones to build their team around as they could have moved Bogut to power forward. Milwaukee would have had two skyscrapers to boast.
2007: Milwaukee Bucks Select Yi Jianlian over Joakim Noah
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Milwaukee bought into the hype surrounding Jianlian, which backfired as he is no longer with the team. Meanwhile, Noah is one of the better defending young big men in the game and is also one of the best hustler players as well.
2007 Bonus: Portland Trail Blazers Select Greg Oden over Kevin Durant
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Not that I fault Portland, but hindsight is always 20/20. Oden has failed to stay healthy while Kevin Durant is one of the top five players across the globe. Looking back, this is eerily similar to 1984 when Portland selected Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan.
2006: Charlotte Bobcats Select Adam Morrison over Brandon Roy
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Charlotte bought into the hype from Morrison’s excellent college season and it blew up in their faces. Although Brandon Roy has been bit by the injury bug the past two years, he remains one of the brightest young stars in the NBA while Morrison is no longer with the Bobcats and doesn’t even receive playing time.
2005: Atlanta Hawks Select Marvin Williams over Deron Williams and Chris Paul
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Atlanta was in desperate need of a point guard but went with Marvin Williams. Williams has done very little in the NBA while Williams and Paul are two of the very best point guards in the game.
2005 Bonus: Golden State Warriors Select Ike Diogu over Danny Granger and David
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The Warriors have been looking for a quality power forward for years. Oddly enough, they just signed Lee to a huge contract during the 2010 offseason, but a freak elbow injury is causing him to be a disappointment in his first season.
Danny Granger has catapulted himself towards the top of the NBA and continues to improve each year.
: Toronto Raptors Select Rafael Araújo over Andre Iguodala and Al Jefferson
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Toronto was searching for a star to pair with Chris Bosh and completely missed the boat. Both Iguodala and Jefferson have become All-Star caliber players while you probably have never even heard of Rafael Araújo.
2003: Detroit Pistons Select Darko Milicic over Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and
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Not much needs to be said other than… Wish you could re-do, Joe?
2003 Bonus: New York Knicks Select Michael Sweetney over David West
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New York needed a power forward. West became an all-star working later in his career with Chris Paul, while Sweetney was used as a piece in the Eddy Curry deal, which blew up in New York’s face.
2002: Denver Nuggets Select Nikoloz Tskitishvili over Amar’e Stoudemire
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Stoudemire has been one of the most talented centers/forwards in the game. Although he has suffered injuries before, Stoudemire helped the Phoenix Suns reach great success and is now a front runner for the MVP award in 2010 with the Knicks.
2001: Washington Wizards Select Kwame Brown over Every Other Player
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Kwame Brown was pathetic. That’s all there is to it.
2000: Every Team (Passes on Michael Redd in The First Round
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Despite suffering several injuries over the past few years, Redd is one of the better pure shooters in the game when healthy.
1999: Toronto Raptors Select Jonathan Bender over Shawn Marion
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Jonathan Bender has done nothing in the NBA while Marion found a home in Phoenix, and was one of the more talented forwards in the game.
1998: Los Angeles Clippers Select Michael Olowokandi No. 1
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Olowokandi proved to be a worthless pick and is easily one of the worst No. 1 overall picks in NBA history. Must be tough for the Clippers to look back and see five All-Star caliber players, Mike Bibby, Dirk Nowitzki, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter and Paul Pierce, drafted later.
1997: Boston Celtics Select Ron Mercer over Tracy McGrady
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McGrady was an explosive player before knee injuries limited his production. He was a fantastic scorer and would have greatly helped the Celtics, perhaps preventing their slump.
1996: New Jersey Nets Select Kerry Kittles over Kobe Bryant
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Does Kobe Bryant need any introduction?
Bryant is perhaps the second most clutch player behind Michael Jordan in NBA history.
1995: Golden State Warriors Select Joe Smith over Kevin Garnett
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Garnett, one of the most versatile players of all-time, is also one of the greatest power forwards in history. He is a sure-fire Hall of Famer.
1994: Minnesota Timberwolves Select Donyell Marshall over Juwan Howard
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Not a major miscue, but Howard was indeed the better ball player. For a team like the Timberwolves who ware always searching for better players, they could have used a player like Howard.
1993: Minnesota Timberwolves Select Isaiah Rider over Allan Houston
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Rider burned out in the NBA while Houston was at least a very good scorer in his prime before injuries decimated his career.
1992: Dallas Mavericks Select Jimmy Jackson over Latrell Sprewell
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Latrell Sprewell, though somewhat volatile at times, was a great scorer throughout his career. He would help both the Knicks and Timberwolves achieve success during his tenure with the teams.
1991: Sacramento Kings Select Billy Owens over Dikembe Mutombo
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Dikembe Mutombo only became one of the greatest centers in history. Mutombo is still finger-waving the Kings for their selection.
1990: New Jersey Nets Select Derrick Coleman over Gary Payton
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Was Coleman a good player? Of course. But Gary Payton was one of the best point guards in NBA history. The Glove was also one of the best defenders. Oh, how I loved watching Payton play.
1989: Sacramento Kings Select Pervis Ellison over Glen Rice and Shawn Kemp
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Glen Rice was one of the best three-point shooters in the game. Shawn Kemp was one of the most electric dunkers and forwards of his generation during his prime. Either would have greatly helped Sacramento escape from the gutter of the NBA.
1988: Los Angeles Clippers Select Danny Manning over Mitch Ritchmond
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Although Manning was a solid pick, Ritchmond would have been the type of player the Clippers would have built their franchise around.
1987: Phoenix Suns Select Armon Gilliam over Scottie Pippen
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Scottie Pippen would prove to be one of the best players in NBA history. Phoenix shouldn’t feel too bad though, Seattle drafted Pippen and then traded him to Chicago. Still, Pippen would have been excellent for the Suns who took years to achieve great success.
1986: Every Team for Passing on Dennis Rodman in the First Round
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Although troubled in the head, Rodman was one of the league’s best defenders and is arguably the greatest rebounder in NBA history. Rodman had rebounding down to a precise science and was an instrumental part in the Bulls’ Championship run.
1985: Indiana Pacers Select Wayman Tisdale over Karl Malone
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Malone became one of the greatest power forwards of all-time. The “Mailman” always delivered. Even on Sundays.
Except against Michael Jordan.
1984: Portland Trail Blazers Select Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan
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Michael Jordan is and was the single greatest basketball player of all-time... For the Chicago Bulls.
1984 Bonus: Dallas Mavericks Select Sam Perkins over Charles Barkley
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Barkley went on to become one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history.
1984 Bonus Part Deux: Washington Bullets Select Melvin Turpin over John Stockton
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John Stockton may be the greatest point guard of all-time. Period.
1983: Indiana Pacers Select Rodney McCray over Clyde Drexler
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Drexler was an All-Star staple and NBA Champion while Rodney McCray barely helped the Pacers.
1982: San Diego Clippers Select Terry Cummings over Dominique Wilkins
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Wilkins was truly a human highlight reel. He was one of the most explosive dunkers, making him one of the more fun players in the league to watch and a centerpiece for a franchise.
1981: Dallas Mavericks Select Mark Aguirre over Isiah Thomas
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Thomas was one of the toughest point guards in NBA history. Although I may despise him as a general manager and coach, Thomas was one of the best to ever do it.
1980: Golden State Warriors Select Joe Barry Carroll over Kevin McHale
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Kevin McHale went on to become a vital piece of the Celtics dynasty. Golden State is still looking to find consistency in the NBA.
