NBA Draft: One Mulligan Each Team Would Like to Have for a Recent 1st-Round Pick
The NBA Draft is exciting, it's an influx of new, young talent that will one day dominate the league.
Or, as in Blake Griffin's case, dominate right away.
The Draft is an effective way of improving your team's talent and it shapes their future depending on the talent evaluation and moves the front office makes.
Some teams seemingly always draft well (San Antonio) while others either draft poorly perpetually (Minnesota) or perennially trade away picks (Denver).
For further proof the Draft is important, look at the LA Clippers, who have historically drafted down-right dumbly, have picked with purpose lately and now fans see their team brimming with a boon of talented basketballers.
Obviously, the Draft is an imperfect science due to gambling millions of dollars on teenage players that have yet to prove themselves and this list is on the biggest draft-day blunder that each NBA team has made in recent years.
Atlanta Hawks: Acie Law
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The Hawks took Acie Law in 2007 with the 11th pick overall and he didn't work out in Atlanta.
Law missed 20 games in his rookie season, scoring only 4.2 PPG and 2.0 APG, and his production dropped in his second season with the Hawks (2.9 PPG, 1.2 APG) so Atlanta traded him with Speedy Claxton to the Bulls for Jamal Crawford in the summer of 2009.
Could have drafted instead: Thaddeus Young, Al Thornton, Rodney Stuckey
Boston Celtics: JR Giddens
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The Celtics are one of the best drafting teams in the NBA, but even they have some blunders, including selecting JR Giddens in 2008 with the 30th pick.
Yes, it was a late first-round pick, but Giddens has amounted to nearly nothing in the NBA. Giddens has played only 38 total games in the NBA, 27 for the Cs, scoring less than two points per game during his time in Boston.
Could have drafted instead: DeAndre Jordan, Mario Chalmers
Charlotte Bobcats: Alexis Ajinca
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After looking at their draft history, the Bobcats have actually selected quite well despite their poor play.
But their biggest draft day blunder has to be Alexis Ajinca, the 20th pick of the 2008 draft.
Ajinca has the body (7'2" 250 pounds) to be a true center in the NBA but he never panned out for the Bobcats. In his two seasons with them, Ajinca averaged only two points and under one rebound per game, while playing in only 37 contests with Charlotte.
Could have drafted instead: Courtney Lee, Serge Ibaka, Nicolas Batum
Chicago Bulls: Jay Williams
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The Bulls have forever fixed the future of their team by drafting Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose in 2007 and 2008 respectively, and one has to go back to 2002 to find a recent misstep in the drafting process by the Bulls.
Chicago took Jay Williams from Duke in 2002 as the second overall pick after Yao Ming and Williams proved he couldn't handle the spotlight.
Williams enjoyed a solid rookie season with the Bulls in 2002-03, but in the summer of 2003, the young guard tragically crashed his motorcycle and almost ended his life. Williams wasn't wearing a helmet at the time and tore major ligaments in his leg including his ACL, which basically ended his professional playing career.
He was eventually let go by the Bulls and bought out of his contract for $3 million and sadly, Williams was never again able to play for Chicago.
Could have drafted instead: Amar'e Stoudemire, Drew Gooden
Cleveland Cavaliers: Luke Jackson
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The Cavs took Luke Jackson at the No. 10 spot of the 2004 Draft and are still asking themselves why.
Jackson's only played 37 total games in four NBA seasons, 16 of which were with Cleveland. Jackson was placed on the IR mid-way through his rookie season, and enjoyed his best basketball success in his second year (7.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG) but the Cavaliers realized he wasn't NBA-caliber and let him go in 2006.
Could have drafted instead: Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, J.R. Smith
Dallas Mavericks: Maurice Ager
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Quick question NBA fans; Who is Maurice Ager?
Answer; Someone the Mavericks drafted 28th overall in 2006.
Ager scored a pathetic 1.9 points per in 44 games with Dallas in 2006-08 and is somehow still in the league with the Timberwolves. Although, if Ager falls in Minnesota and no one's at the arena, does he make a sound?
Could have drafted instead: Paul Millsap, Leon Powe
Denver Nuggets: Julius Hodge
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The Nuggets have been one of the worst drafting NBA teams for years, either taking big-time gambles on players few have heard of (Nikoloz Tskitishvili) or trading away future picks for expensive veterans in the present.
There were many blunders to choose from for Denver (Jarrett Jack, trading away Jameer Nelson etc.) but when the Nuggets took Julius Hodge at No. 20 in the 2005 Draft, it was depressing.
Hodge failed to impress in his two years in the Mile High City, scoring little more than one per contest, with every other stat category being even less productive than his points per game.
Hodge only got 18 games in Denver before he was let go, and he was one of the last mistakes then-GM Kiki Vandeweghe was afforded before being fired in 2006.
Could have drafted instead: Nate Robinson, Francisco Garcia, David Lee
Detroit Pistons: Darko Milicic
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This is an historic draft-day blunder, one of epic proportions that almost doesn't even need to be mentioned.
In 2003, two young players were thought of as the cream of the crop--LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony--one was hailed as the next Michael Jordan while the other had just won the NCAA Tournament in his freshman year.
The Cavaliers announced weeks before the draft that they'd be taking James, leaving Nuggets fans to cry in their beers since the Pistons would obviously take Anthony, right?
Well, then the Pistons (Joe Dumars) pulled a rabbit out of the hat when they decided instead to take Darko Milicic, who was then hailed as the next Dirk Nowitzki, but has panned out as a major bust.
Despite Milicic playing his best basketball in Minnesota now, he couldn't get over two points or one rebound per game for the Pistons and it's likely that Detroit despises Darko (and maybe Dumars too!)
Could have drafted instead: Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, David West
Golden State Warriors: Patrick O'Bryant
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The Warriors took O'Bryant with the ninth pick in the 2006 draft, but O'Bryant never rewarded their gamble with good play.
O'Bryant played 40 games with Golden State, and his production was pathetic (1.7 PPG, 1.1 RPG). He was definitely not a Warrior and the team had to cut ties with him in the 2008 offseason.
Could have drafted instead: JJ Redick, Thabo Sefolosha, Rajon Rondo
Houston Rockets: 2008 Draft
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In 2008, the Rockets found a good player in Nicolas Batum, but they quickly traded him away and never got to see his abilities in Houston.
So, Houston traded Batum for the rights of Darrell Arthur (who's becoming a solid player) and Joey Dorsey.
Then the Rockets turned around a traded Arthur for Donte Green and a future second-round pick.
Dorsey didn't amount to much for Houston (1.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG) in two seasons and Green never even suited up for the Rockets.
And now Batum is impressing in Portland and Arthur is blossoming in Memphis.
Luckily the rockets have done well in many other drafts recently, but Batum would be a major boon for Houston if they had him now too.
Could have drafted instead: George Hill, DeAndre Jordan, Mario Chalmers
Indiana Pacers: Shawne Williams
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In 2006, Indiana took Shawne Williams 17th overall, and he actually played pretty well for the Pacers.
In his rookie season, Williams played in 46 games (3.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG) and learned what it took to play in the NBA. His second year, Williams showed much improvement in his 65 games played (6.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG), although the Pacers traded him for an old Eddie Jones, who didn't pan out for the Pacers.
Could have drafted instead: Rajon Rondo, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar
LA Clippers: Yaroslav Korolev
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As was stated in the introduction slide of this piece, the Clippers have drafted extremely well in the new millenium--their picks include Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin and Al Thonton--but they also took this Korolev character in 2005 12th overall.
Korolev, a baller from Russia, couldn't play with the big boys of the NBA and he scored only 1.1 points per game in 34 games with the Clippers in two seasons.
He was then released and played in Moscow, and recently was drafted in the NBDL by the Albequerque Thunderbirds in 2009. And in 2010 he signed with Spanish club CB Granada.
Could have drafted instead: Danny Granger, Hakim Warrick, David Lee
LA Lakers: Javaris Crittenton
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The Lakers are one of the model franchises of the NBA, and they've gotten to their esteemed position of power by drafting and trading well for years.
It was a bit of work to find a draft-day blunder LA, and in 2007 they took Crittenton with their No. 19 pick.
Crittenton, of course, is mostly known for his incident with Gilbert Arenas when both pulled guns on one another in the Wizards' locker room in 2010. He's known for it not only because it's shocking, but also because Crittenton hasn't done much in the NBA.
He lasted one year with the Lakers, and played his best ball in his rookie season (5.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG) before being one of four players in the epic trade with the Grizzlies that landed LA Marc Gasol in 2008.
Could have drafted instead: Wilson Chandler, Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry
Memphis Grizzlies: Hasheem Thabeet
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Thabeet enjoyed a decent rookie season in 2009-10 (3.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG), but has faded from existence this season in Memphis (1.2 PPG, 1.7 RPG).
He was regarded as a hot commodity in 2009, a giant center that was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and took his Huskies to the Final Four for the first time in five years. But it looks as if Thabeet is too slow and sluggish to play in the NBA.
Thabeet is still young, so he still has time to turn around this sophomore slump, and there's no doubt the Grizzlies hope he does after using that extremely high pick (No. 2) on him in '09.
Could have drafted instead: Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Brendon Jennings
Miami Heat: Wayne Simien
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Another name from the depths of the NBA Draft charts that makes one wonder what the Heat were thinking in 2005 and they took him 29th.
Simien played only two seasons in the NBA, both with Miami, scoring a dreadful 3.3 points and grabbing only 1.9 boards per contest.
Simien was then traded to Minnesota with Michael Doleac and Antoine Walker for Mark Blount and Ricky Davis.
Could have drafted instead: David Lee, Brendan Bass, Monta Ellis
Milwaukee Bucks: Marcus Haislip
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The Bucks haven't had too many picks in the last 10 years, and when they do they take quality players (Andrew Bogut, Brandon Jennings).
But back in 2002, with the 13th overall pick, the Milwaukee took Marcus Haislip, a power forward from Tennessee.
Haislip played 70 games in two years with the Bucks, and even though all his numbers besides scoring improved in his second season, he was dropped.
Still, Haislip landed on the Pacers and most recently with the Spurs in 2009-10, although he's out of the league currently.
Could have drafted instead: Teyshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer, Roger Mason
Minnesota Timberwolves: Ricky Rubio
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The Timberwolves have had multiple blunders in the NBA Draft over the last few years, but most recently and notably is Ricky Rubio.
Rubio was thought of as the next big foreign player to invade America and show the NBA players that Europeans can play too.
But it turned out that taking Rubio fifth overall in 2009 was more of a headache than anyone thought it would be.
Rubio decided to stay in Spain, where the 19-year old had been playing professionally for years, and he played with DKV Juventut through the 2009 season even though the Timberwolves were ready to pay an expensive ($6.6-8.2 million) buyout for his services. Rubio then signed a six-year deal with FC Barcelona, although there is a buyout clause set in place for the Timberwolves at the end of the 2010-11 season for a mere $500,000.
Still, NBA teams aren't used to going through this and even though many of the players on this list didn't do much in their first two years, it's better than nothing like with Rubio for Minnesota.
Could have drafted instead: Stephen Curry, Brendon Jennings
New Jersey Nets: Sean Williams
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The Nets are currently one of the worst teams in the NBA, even though they've most recently taken Derrick Favors and Brook Lopez high in the draft.
It's partly because of the bad picks earlier in the decade, including Sean Williams in 2007.
The 6'10" forward-center played OK in his rookie year (5.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG) but he got less playing time in his next two years, his numbers plummeted, and the Nets moved on without him.
Could have drafted instead: Wilson Chandler, Rudy Fernandez, Aaron Brooks
New Orleans Hornets: Hilton Armstrong
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The Hornets took Hilton Armstrong, a 6'11" forward-center, 12th in 2006 out of Connecticut.
Despite low numbers in his first two seasons, Armstong was given time to grow and became the part-time starter in his third year, starting 29 of the 70 games he played in 2008-09.
But the Hornets decided his 4.8 points and 2.8 boards per game weren't getting it done, so they let him go and Armstrong is still in the league, making little noise with the Wizards.
Could have drafted instead: Ronnie Brewer, Rajon Rondo, Shannon Brown
New York Knicks: Mardy Collins
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The Knicks have had multiple questionable draft picks over the years, but Mardy Collins has to take the cake.
Collins was drafted 29th in 2006 and played only 107 games with the Knicks before the two headed different directions.
Like many players on this list, Collins started his career well, enjoying his best production (4.5 PPG) in his rookie season and declining each year thereafter.
Could have drafted instead: Daniel Gibson, Paul Millsap
Oklahoma City Thunder: Mouhamed Sene
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Another reoccurring theme throughout this list is the amount of foreign players, due to the fact that it's difficult for NBA teams to scout them effectively because of a lack of footage in many cases.
Sene was drafted by the Sonics in 2006 and his lowly numbers in his rookie campaign (1.9 PPG, 1.6 RPG) made the team send him down to the NBDL. But Sene couldn't adapt to the NBA game and was let go by Seattle after only two years.
Could have drafted instead: JJ Redick, Thabo Sefalosha, Ronnie Brewer
Orlando Magic: Reece Gaines
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The Magic have been, well, magical on draft day for the most part, but in 2003 they took Reece Gaines 15th and it was a dumb decision.
Gaines amounted no almost nothing for the Magic in 38 games (1.8 PPG, 1.0 RPG) before he was traded with Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard and Tyronn Lue) in exchange for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato.
Could have drafted instead: David West, Travis Outlaw, Steve Blake
Philadelphia 76ers: Marreese Speights
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The Sixers took Speights 16th overall in the 2008 draft and he disappointed.
Speights actually played relatively well in his first two seasons (8.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG) but in his second season he tore his MCL and as Elton Brand played better, there was no need for Speights.
Could have drafted instead: Roy Hibbert, JJ Hickson, Serge Ibaka
Phoenix Suns: Alando Tucker
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After being drafted by the Suns 29th in 2007, Tucker only played in 47 games with Phoenix, scoring a mere 4.2 points per game and not making an impression in any other statistical category.
Tucker played four games in Minnesota in 2009-10, but is out of the Association now.
Could have drafted instead: Carl Landry, Marc Gasol
Portland Trailblazers: Greg Oden
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This pick may seem unfair, but as of now, taking Oden 1st overall in 2007 was a draft-day blunder for the Blazers.
Oden injured his right knee in his second summer league game and missed the entire 2007-08 season. Then, after starting off well in 2009-10, Oden fractured his left patella in early December and missed the rest of the year.
This year, Oden was again enjoying a strong preseason before injuring his left knee, forcing him to have another microfracture surgery.
Oden has shown flashes of brilliance, but he's injury prone and it seems as if his body can't take the pounding of the NBA hardwood.
Hopefully he can one day play consistently without injury, but until then he's a big-time bust.
Could have drafted instead: Kevin Durant, Al Horford, Jeff Green, Joakim Noah
Sacramento Kings: Quincy Douby
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Douby is a little-known player that only got three seasons with the Kings before being waived.
Douby scored a mere 4.1 PPG for Sacramento after being taken 19th in 2006 and he's no longer in the NBA.
Could have drafted instead: Rajon Rondo, Shannon Brown
San Antonio Spurs: Ian Mahinmi
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The Spurs are one of the best drafting teams in the NBA, not necessarily because they find the best players out there, but because they find the best players to fit their physical and fundamental system.
One such player that San Antonio selected didn't fit the mold, and Ian Mahinmi surprised many when the Spurs selected him 28th in 2005 because he wasn't part of the 128-player media guide at the draft.
Mahinmi played only two seasons with the Spurs and was nothing more than a bench role player in San Antonio.
Could have drafted instead: David Lee, Brandon Bass, Monta Ellis
Toronto Raptors: Rafael Araujo
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The Raptors took Araujo eighth overall in 2004 and his best year was his rookie season.
Araujo averaged 3.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, but that included 41 starts. After getting another 32 starts and decreasing in production, Araujo was traded to the Jazz.
Could have drafted instead: Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, Al Jefferson
Utah Jazz: Morris Almond
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After he was taken 25th in 2007, Almond played a dozen games for the Utah, averaging only 4.5 points in those games.
Could have drafted instead: Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry, Marc Gasol
Washington Wizards: Oleksiy Pecherov
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Oleksiy Pecherov is a center from Ukraine and the Wizards took him at No. 18 in 2006.
Pecherov played two years for the Wizards and scored 3.6 points per contest and didn't show much improvement so Washington let him go.
He did improve a bit for Minnesota in 2009-10, but he's out of the league this season--he didn't make the cut.
Could have drafted instead: Rajon Rondo, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar
What Other Players Are Out There?
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A couple of common themes ran through this list as well; foreign players and short careers.
Some 11 players, over a third on this list, were foreign born and couldn't make it in the NBA. Of course, there has been a stronger devotion of resources by NBA teams in the most recent of years to international scouting, which will help with the misses on foreign players, but taking non-Americans won't ever be perfect.
Selecting American-born players isn't perfect either--it's just down-right difficult to decide whether or not a young man 19-22 years of age is ready to play in the NBA, or if they ever will be effective at the highest level of competition in the world.
The other common theme is that if a player can't cut it in the Association, they will likely know by their first two seasons.
Young players must fight and strive to be seen through all the veterans in the NBA, they must make plays and force people to notice them.
Youngsters have to make the most of the mi-nute amount of minutes they receive and force coaches to give them more time on the court.
Young players need to study hard and practice with vigor as to learn from the veteran ahead of them.
And most of all, youngsters must keep in mind that they are many times only one play away from being the starter, so they have to be ready at all times.
In the end, the NBA is the most difficult league to make for a reason, but it's also the league with the best basketballers on earth because of the same strict process of player development and a desire of franchises for instant gratification.
What do you think fans?
What other players are out there in the last few seasons that were massive mistakes by NBA teams on draft day?
Rich Kurtzman is a freelance journalist actively seeking a career in journalism. Along with being the CSU Rams Examiner, Kurtzman is a Denver Nuggets, Denver Broncos and NBA Featured Columnist for bleacherreport.com, the Colorado/Utah Regional Correspondent for stadiumjourney.com and a weekly contributor to milehighhoops.com.
Rich also heads up PR for K-Biz and Beezy, a Colorado-based rap group.
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