NBA Draft: 5 Worst Picks by the Atlanta Hawks Since 1980

The Atlanta Hawks haven't exactly been the model franchise when it comes to drafting talent in recent years. 

Sure, there have been successes like the ones you can read about here (NBA Draft: 5 Best Picks by the Atlanta Hawks Since 1980), but the list of flops, busts and failures is much longer. 

As you'll soon see, there are a few picks though that stand out above the rest though in terms of their ability to demonstrate the Atlanta management's occasional ineptitude. 

5. Cal Bowdler

In 1999, a 6'10" power forward from Old Dominion named Cal Bowdler was eligible to be drafted and was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 17th pick of the draft. 

Bowdler was only in the league for three years before he crossed the pond and played professionally in Italy. 

His time in the NBA was notable for the fact that he became the first player in the shot clock era to record seven fouls in a game after the the scorekeeper failed to mark down his sixth foul. 

Bowdler never started a game for the Hawks and retired from the NBA with career averages of 3.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. 

4. DerMarr Johnson

After a standout collegiate career with the Cincinnati Bearcats, DerMarr Johnson was deemed worthy of the sixth overall selection of the 2000 NBA draft. 

That draft pick would soon go down as a major bust for the Atlanta Hawks as Johnson got off to a very slow start. After a poor rookie season, Johnson improved in his sophomore year to the tune of 8.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, numbers that would all go down as NBA career-highs. 

Unfortunately, no one got to see if Johnson would improve in his third season after he crashed his Mercedes-Benz S600 into a tree, breaking his neck and nearly paralyzing himself in the process. Most thought that Johnson would never play in the NBA again, but he miraculously recovered and has since bounced between various NBA and European teams. 

3. Keith Edmonson

Keith Edmonson enjoyed a fantastic career at Purdue, culminating in a 1980 Final Four appearance, but his NBA career was rather nondescript. 

The 6'5" guard that could supposedly score at will was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 10 pick of the 1982 NBA draft but he would only stay in the league for two years. Only one of those two was spent with the Hawks. 

During his rookie year, Edmonson started just two games and finished way out of the conversation for league's top rookie after averaging just 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. 

Edmonson's next year, which was split between the San Antonio Spurs and the Denver Nuggets, was only marginally more successful. 

2. Shelden Williams

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LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 8: Sheldon Williams #33 of the Atlanta Hawks walks upcourt during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 8, 2006 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,

Shelden Williams had an absolutely fantastic career as a Duke Blue Devil, thereby fooling the Atlanta Hawks into thinking that he was worthy of the fifth overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft. 

Known as the Landlord because of his shot-blocking ability inside the paint, Williams lasted just a season and a half with the Hawks before the franchise realized its mistake and traded the seemingly useless forward to the Sacramento Kings. 

While he called Atlanta home, Williams managed to average only 5.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game despite starting 31 games throughout the season. In the 36 games he played during the following year, he declined to just 3.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. 

The best thing that Williams ever did for the Hawks was get used as a trading chip to land Mike Bibby for the next few seasons. 

1. Marvin Williams

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ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 01: Marvin Williams #24 of the Atlanta Hawks against the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena on April 1, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, us

With Shelden Williams at No. 2 on this list and Marvin Williams taking the top spot, I think it's safe to say that the Atlanta Hawks should attempt to avoid drafting anyone with that last name. I'd be a little nervous if the Hawks used Josh Smith as trade bait in an attempt to move up and select either Arizona's Derrick Williams or Maryland's Jordan Williams on June 23. 

Marvin Williams is by far the most successful player on this list. He was drafted with the No. 2 pick of the 2005 NBA draft and has been a member of the Hawks ever since. 

The forward even made the All-Rookie Second Team after putting up 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game during his first year in the league. He's scored double figures ever since on his way to career averages thus far of 11.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. 

So why, you may ask, is this Williams at No. 1? Well here, it's all about who the Hawks passed up on. 

Atlanta's point guards for the 2005-2006 season were Royal Ivey, Salim Stoudamire and Tyronn Lue, who I will admit I always liked. From that point forward, the Hawks always seemed to have a hole at the position that typically runs the show. 

Just take a look at the players that have been listed on the roster at point guard since then. Besides the aforementioned three, Atlanta has seen: Speedy Claxton, Anthony Johnson, Mike Bibby, Acie Law, Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Teague.

With the possible exception of Teague, not one of those players ever was worthy of being called the solution to Atlanta's point guard problem.

Which brings us back to that 2005 draft. 

Anyone remember the next two players drafted? They were Deron Williams and Chris Paul, two point guards who have since combined for six all-star selections. 

Enough said.