Worst NBA Draft in recent years, biggest Bust

[Hababi]

Sort of on track with my other nba draft thread, but different enough that I felt it warrented another thread:

Which NBA Draft of recent memory was the worst? And, who was the biggest draft bust of recent memory?

For the biggest bust, I say Michael Olawakandi. Number one overall pick and he's never averaged 13 points per game, never 10 rebounds per game. He's been a lazy, uninspired player his whole career. Taken before Vince Carter, Mike Bibby, Antwan Jamison, Jason Williams, Larry Hughes, Dirk Norwitzki, Paul Pierce, Bonzi Wells, Rafer Alston and Cuttino Mobley, all of whom are better players.

Runner up: Joe Smith. Only notable because he ended up costing Minnesota draft picks from a crooked contract later on. Strictly mediocre player, and number one overall draft pick. Taken before Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett! and Michael Finley.

That years draft, 1995, is a runner up for worst draft year. Garnett's a superstar, and Wallace, FInley and Stackhouse are stars, but who else is there? McDyss had a few good years and then got injured, Stoudamire is a contributor with off the court issues, Brent Barry and Bob Sura have both become good contributors, but 2 guys in the top 10 were out of the nba within 3 years (Shawn Respert, Ed O'bannon).

My pick for the worst draft, though, is 2000. No superstars, one star (Michael Redd), some solid contributors (Kenyon Martin, Stromile Swift, Darius Miles, Mike Miller, Hedo Turkulu, Desmond Mason, Quention Richardson, Primoz Brezec) and some role players/underachievers. Mediocre.

[Simple Man]

Well done....Well done

Rep ++.

Couldn't agree more.

[MattSharpIsCool]

I think everyone can agree on the worst single draft pick ever.

Portland Trailblazers taking center Sam Bowie with the second pick of the draft, leaving Chicago to draft Michael Jordan with the 3rd pick. 15-ish years later, Jordan is one of (if not the) the best players ever, and Sam Bowie's legs would break everytime the wind gusts got up over 10mph.

Good call on the worst draft, probably right.

[Reaganista]

The 1991 draft was pretty lame.

[Reaganista]

1990 and 1989 were both weak, too.

Pervis Ellison was a horrible first pick, but he had at least one good year.

If you wanna go vintage Kent Benson was a bust. John Lucas was picked first in back to back ABA drafts and the NBA draft in three straight years and never amounted to anything.

But LaRue Martin, who I've actually only heard of now, trumps Olowakandi. Selected First overall in 1972 by the Portland Trailblazers, he averaged 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds over four seasons before leaving the NBA.

He was picked ahead of Bob McAdoo and Julius Erving.

If you wanna go ANCIENT history, Gene Melchiorre was the first pick in 1951, and he was barred from playing after he plead guilty to taking bribes to throw games at Bradley College.

[Hababi]

Let's see...

1990:

Superstars:
Gary Payton

Stars:
Toni Kukoc
Derrick Colemen (star, then solid contributor, then fat out of shape loser)

Solid Contributors:
Cedric Ceballos (A star briefly)
Elden Campbell
Jayson Williams
Terry Mills
Dee Brown
Tyrone Hill
Kendall Gill

Not that great...but you at least got one of the greatest defenders in the history of the NBA from this draft.


1989:
No superstars

Stars:
Glenn Rice
Sean Elliot
Shawn Kemp
Tim Hardaway
Nick Anderson

Solid Contributors:
Vlade Divac
Dana Barros
BJ Armstrong
Mookie Blaylock

The biggest thing about the 89 draft was that you had a guy who ended up being a huge disappointment due to injuries in Ellison, and a bust in Ferry.



1991:
Stars:
Larry Johnson
Dikembe Mutumbo
Kenny Anderson
Steve Smith
Terell Brandon


Solid Contributors:
Billy Owens
Dale Davis
Rick Fox
Bobby Phills

Another draft without any superstars, but with a healthy amount of stars and solid contributors.

[ThePatient]

Kwame Brown, ugh... :upset:

[Hababi]

Brown's been a big disappointment for sure, but last season he didn't play too badly and he seems more inspired in his play than Olwakandi. Still, third worst number 1 of recent years.

While we're at it, let's just rank them, for the last 15 years:

Shaquille ONeal -LeBron may overtake him in time as the best, but no one in recent memory has been as dominant as Shaq in his prime.
Tim Duncan-2 time finals MVP, 2 time league MVP and already one of the best PF's in NBA history.
LeBron James-Already one of the top 5 players in the NBA, and at this rate will dominate for the next 12 years.
Allen Iverson-Consistently one of the top scorers in the NBA and impossible to stop when he's on. I don't like his game but the stats speak for themselves.
Chris Webber-Even though he chokes big time in big games, Webber's been consistently playing very well throughout his career.
Elton Brand-Consitently a 20/10 guy, and scarcely gets noticed. Brand's one of the most underrated guys in the NBA and the Bulls were stupid for trading him.
Dwight Howard-this is very presumptive and I probably shouldn't have included him since he's only a rookie, but Howard's already a good post player and quality defender. He'll move ahead of Brand and Webber within 2 years.
Yao Ming-Still hasn't realized his potential, but plenty of time left. When he gets aggressive, he'll be the most dominant player in the league.
Derrick Coleman-DC was ROY and a high quality player for quite a while till he got old, fat and lazy.
Larry Johnson-Even though he was a tweener, LJ put up great numbers till injuries wrecked his career
Kenyon Martin-In most years, he wouldn't have been a top 5 pick. Martin is a solid defender who's too small to guard tall guys like Jermaine O'Neal and Dirk Norwitzki, a limited offensive player and a hothead.
Glenn Robinson-Great midrange shooter, not much else. Should've been nothing more than a mid round pick.
Kwame Brown
Joe Smith
Michael Olowokandi

[Illmatic]

The biggest thing about the 89 draft was that you had a guy who ended up being a huge disappointment due to injuries in Ellison, and a bust in Ferry.

The biggest disappointment of that draft was Kemp, who had potential to be amazing but bottomed out by being overweight and unmotivated (just like Derrick Coleman, when you think about it).

1993 was a pretty weak draft
Round 1: Webber, Bradley, Penny, Mashburn, JR Rider, Calbeart Cheaney, Bobby Hurley, Vin Baker, Rodney Rogers, Lindsey Hunter, Allan Houston, George Lynch, Terry Dehere, Scott Haskin, Doug Edwards, Rex Walters, Greg Graham, Luther Wright, Acie Earl, Scott Burrell, James Robinson, Chris Mills, Ervin Johnson, Sam Cassell, Corie Blount, the immortal Geert Hammink, and Malcolm Mackey

Overall, you had one star (Webber), two good players (Cassell and then Nick Van Exel in round 2), two guys whose careers were ruined by injuries (Penny and Mash), one player whose career was ruined by the fact that he was a cancer (Rider), and then everyone else was either a career role player or a bust. And with Webber, Cassell, Van Exel, Vin Baker, and Rider it was a watershed year for headcases.

The worst drafts are the poisonous string of 89-91 and 2000.

[simplephotographinthesun]

though it sounds insensitive, i'll say len bilas

[dancetomdance182]

Darko Milic is number 2 draft overall. He doesn't have much of a role in the Detroit Pistons.

[Reaganista]

though it sounds insensitive, i'll say len bilas

#2 overall.

[FateisCold]

As a Minnesota native I can clearly say after never missing a T-wolves game in 2 years that Olowakandi is a supreme dissapointment to all of us. We waisted our money on a guy who never gives you 100% and his stats are absolutely horrible for a #1 pick. On a more positive note, Garnett got in his face and he seems a bit more energized as of late. Hopefully he will prove that he has the ability to dominate.

[Steve DeBerg]

Darko Milic is number 2 draft overall. He doesn't have much of a role in the Detroit Pistons.

Yeah, and we passed on Carmello Anthony, Dwayne Wade and others to get him. Joe Dumars your the best :thumb:

The biggest bust of all time, Sam Bowie. He was taken ahead of Jordan, not that i like Jordan or anything.

[Jom]

We didn't need Carmelo because we had Tayshaun.

Besides, who wants that whiny bitchass pot-smoking crybaby on your team anyway? Joe Dumars wouldn't put up with that bullshit.

Ben Wallace would make sure he didn't step out of line... he'd wreck Carmelo's ****.

[Illmatic]

Maybe you shouldn't have taken Carmelo, but virtually every single player taken after Darko has been more productive than he has.

Keep in mind, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Kirk Hinrich, Nick Collison, Luke Ridnour, and Josh Howard, all of whom are playing key roles for playoff teams (except Bosh) were all taken after Darko, as were a bunch of bench players who have accomplished more than Darko. THe only time he even plays is if the PIstons are down by 20.

[jaymz_is_god]

Any chance of an official basketball thread? There's a lot being made all of a sudden.

[Reaganista]

Basketball is the only major American sport currently in season. This is an American forum. You will deal with our threads.