NBA Draft Busts

[GangstaBoogy]

Nothin new, but still a good read...

1. Sam Bowie, Trail Blazers
No. 2, First Round -- 1984

The LaRue Martin for the NBA's Golden Age. Bowie's selection underscores the cardinal rule behind NBA Draftology: you cannot draft for need. The Trail Blazers, flush with Jim Paxson and Clyde Drexler on the wings, needed a center and passed on drafting Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and John Stockton. Available pivot men Sam Perkins, Mel Turpin, Kevin Willis and Michael Cage would even have been better selections then the oft-injured Bowie.

2. Chris Washburn, Warriors
No. 3, First Round -- 1986

Of the dozens of busts in the '86 Draft, most either fell victim to obesity (William Bedford) or drug problems (Roy Tarpley). Somehow, Chris Washburn combined the two in one glorious, spiraling descent out of the lottery and into oblivion. The N.C. State product scored a grand total of 222 points in 72 career games.

3. Michael Olowokandi, Clippers
No. 1, First Round -- 1998

Bust-worthy on so many levels. The Kandi Man was taken before four future All-Stars and a host of more suitable selections. Even the final pick of the first round in '98, Nazr Mohammed, has had a much more distinguished career in the pivot.

4. Joe Smith, Warriors
No. 1, First Round -- 1995

Average in name and game, Smith has parlayed his status as a top overall pick into a serviceable career for five different teams, but later selections Antonio McDyess, Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace and (especially) Kevin Garnett all have had better careers. Smith's selection changed the way NBA teams look at lottery picks -- do you take the fully-formed All-American from the ACC or the rail-thin project out of high school? Unfortunately for the Warriors, in '95, orthodoxy was out the window.

5. Dennis Hopson, Nets
No. 3, First Round -- 1987

The first in a spate of "Next Jordans" that managed to flame out before producing a fraction of what MJ accomplished. The Nets would have settled for Hopson just filling the rim on occasion and justifying his lofty selection, but he lasted just three seasons in the New Jersey swamps before joining Jordan in Chicago in '91. Jordan summarily dismissed Hopson upon first sight, essentially ending his career. Only one pure shooting guard (Jerry Stackhouse, '95) has been drafted as high since.

6. First Round -- 2000
(Clockwise; Marcus Fizer, DerMarr Johnson, Jerome Moiso, Stromile Swift, Courtney Alexander, Dalibor Bargaric, Mateen Cleaves, Joel Przybilla, Chris Mihm)

Most of the GMs in '00 got their picks right; this was just a horrible group of players. As it stands, the second round boasted as many All-Stars (Michael Redd) as the first round (Kenyon Martin), a mark that is sure to stand, unless you think Marcus Fizer is just hitting his prime.

7. Bo Kimble, Clippers
No. 8, First Round -- 1990

Just one of several bum picks by that noted "veteran of the lottery process," Clippers GM Elgin Baylor. Kimble's unremarkable career (105 games in three seasons) was just as onerous as the selections that preceded or followed, including Lancaster Gordon, Benoit Benjamin, Reggie Williams, Charles Smith, LeRon Ellis, Randy Woods, Terry Dehere, Lamond Murray, Darius Miles, Melvin Ely, and Chris Kaman.

8. Steve Stipanovich, Pacers
No. 2, First Round -- 1983

After a stellar career at Missouri that saw him grow an unfortunate mustache and – no joke – shoot himself in his right foot, Stipanovich was chosen by the Pacers as their interior cornerstone. Sort of a working man's version of Ralph Sampson, who was taken just one spot ahead. Stipanovich lasted just five seasons in the NBA before a degenerative knee condition ended his career. He now -- again, no joke -- owns a coal mine in Missouri.

9. Kwame Brown, Wizards
No. 1, First Round –- 2001

Brown's pathetic run with in Washington ended this year after he begged off a playoff practice with a phantom stomach ailment, only to be seen later that night at a local Chinese eatery. It was the latest in a series of missteps for Brown, whose small hands and questionable maturity denied him a chance to follow through on the promise his potential once suggested.

10. Danny Ferry
No. 2, First Round –- 1989

Ferry made it known that he'd rather play for the CBA's Quad City Thunder instead of a sinking Clippers ship, and made good on his threat by spending a season in Italy before the Clippers agreed to trade his rights. Venerated Cleveland GM Wayne Embry made one of the worst moves of his career by sending scoring machine Ron Harper to L.A. for Ferry, who spent 10 nondescript seasons in Ohio.

11. Jonathan Bender, Raptors
No. 5, First Round –- 1999

It seemed like the perfect move at the time. Trade a seemingly superfluous big man (Antonio Davis) for the chance to take a 7-foot Kevin Garnett look-a-like who had just set a McDonald's All-American Game record by scoring 31 points. Since then, Davis has flourished, including an appearance on the '01 All-Star team; Bender has struggled to secure a starting role. Even six years later, the Pacers would love to rescind the trade and take on Davis' inside presence and expiring contract.

12. Shawn Bradley, 76ers
No. 2, First Round –- 1993

No player in NBA history has been picked on as much as the soon-to-retire Bradley. While he developed into a so-so big man in limited minutes, he had "B-U-S-T" written all over him from the time he declared himself eligible out of BYU. The 76ers weren’t wrong to think they could mold a player of Bradley's considerable height into a dominant center, but how could anyone in their right mind think they could mold a player of Bradley's considerably off-putting frame into anything more than a bit player?

13. Billy Owens, Kings
No. 3, First Round –- 1991

The Next Larry Bird? He was barely the Next Ken Norman. Owens was a jack of all trades, master of none, unless you count floating through practices and tipping the scales to be admirable qualities worth mastering. Drafted by the Kings, Owens became part of a Danny Ferry-esque deal between Sacramento and Golden State that saw the Warriors give up future Hall of Famer Mitch Richmond for Owens' rights.

14. Jon Koncak, Hawks/Joe Kleine, Kings
Nos. 5 and 6, First Round –- 1985

You'd figure with two centers expected to be drafted among the top six -- both sharing the same frame, complexion and southern drawl -- that at least one of them would cash in on his lottery potential. Alas, both Koncak and Kleine spent the bulk of their time in the NBA cashing in on their right to commit six fouls per game.

15. Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Nuggets/Dajuan Wagner, Cavs
Nos. 5 and 6, First Round –- 2002

Seemingly they were complete opposites. Tskitishvili was supposed to be a do-it-all 7-footer, someone who could finish in transition and score in bunches from the outside. He was also a foreign product who few had seen play extensively; as even his European teams had kept him confined to the pine. Wagner had a Sports Illustrated write-up dedicated to him by the time he was 17 and had spent most of his youth dominating AAU tournaments and high school camps. Neither pedigree contributed to NBA success.

16. Robert Traylor, Mavericks
No. 6, First Round –- 1998

This has has to do with the series of role-players who were taken behind Traylor who would have done just as well with the Bucks, including a pair of All-Stars (Paul Pierce and Rashard Lewis). As with Shawn Bradley, who would look at Traylor's frame, and expects him to be anything more than a fringe player?

17. Derrick Coleman, Nets
No. 1, First Round -- 1990

DC enjoyed a 15-year career, averaging a double-double five different times, while making the All-Star team in '94. That's nothing to sneeze at, unless you consider that he did all this while expending the least amount of effort possible, gliding by on an NBA-ready body and a superior touch. He also drove a series of coaches to the unemployment line and to multiple types of therapy. Coleman could have been the best power forward ever; instead he played just well enough to ensure his next paycheck.

18. Todd Fuller, Warriors
No. 11, First Round –- 1996

An Academic All-American who couldn’t put two and two together on the court, Fuller was one in a series of disappointing Golden State picks. The last selection of the ill-fated Dave Twardzik Era, Fuller was taken ahead of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Peja Stojakovic, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Jermaine O'Neal. Ouch. Fuller averaged around four points and three rebounds in five NBA seasons.

19. Ed O’Bannon, Nets
No. 9, First Round –- 1995

The go-to guy for a UCLA team that won the national championship in ’95, O’Bannon led Frank Beard’s New Jersey Nets right back into the lottery and played just two seasons in the NBA.

20. Rafael Araujo, Raptors
No. 8, First Round -- 2004

Gets the nod over Darko Milicic, mainly because Araujo is five years older than Darko, and probably won’t get much better than a rookie season that saw him average three points and three rebounds a game. As was the case with Sam Bowie years earlier, Araujo’s selection illustrates why you cannot draft for need, alone. He went about 10 spots higher than was expected, and about 25 spots higher than was deserved.

[R-Tistic]

I always like readin these.....

I definitely don't think Derrick Coleman should be seen as a "bust" unless you put Larry Johnson right next to them. Both were #1 picks in 90 n 91, and both had very solid careers with VERY comparable statistics...and Coleman's career actually lasted longer.

I don't think Billy Owens was a bust either. Lookin at his stats now....his first three years, he averaged 14 16 and 15, all while shooting over 50%!!

[Citizen-Y]

Eddie Griffin.  He was a monster in Seton Hall unfortunately he didn't pan out in the NBA.

After the Rockets took Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins and Brandon Armstrong with picks 13, 18 and 23 respectively, they packaged them all to New Jersey for Griffin.  What a trade!

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

This is old...The still-developing Kwame Brown shouldn't be on there after what we've seen he could do last season.

[Teddy Roosevelt]

This is old...The still-developing Kwame Brown shouldn't be on there after what we've seen he could do last season.

Kwame Brown is a bust...for the Wizards.

[WC Iz Active]

This is old...The still-developing Kwame Brown shouldn't be on there after what we've seen he could do last season.

LOL he should of been higher on the list, you cant argue that he has been a huge bust.  He was a #1 pick NIK years ago, he should be developed by now.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

This is old...The still-developing Kwame Brown shouldn't be on there after what we've seen he could do last season.

LOL he should of been higher on the list, you cant argue that he has been a huge bust.  He was a #1 pick NIK years ago, he should be developed by now.

Ummm, he came out of high school, buddy...Take a look at your boy Jermaine O'Neal...It took him even longer to put together a decent season. LMAO@Kwame Brown being higher on the list...Kwame Brown >>> Darko Milicic (who wasnt even on the list!)...


Kwame is a key component on our team and was expected to be a 15-10 guy this season before all of his injuries...


Watch some Laker games...PeACe

[R-Tistic]

This is old...The still-developing Kwame Brown shouldn't be on there after what we've seen he could do last season.

LOL he should of been higher on the list, you cant argue that he has been a huge bust.  He was a #1 pick NIK years ago, he should be developed by now.

Ummm, he came out of high school, buddy...Take a look at your boy Jermaine O'Neal...It took him even longer to put together a decent season. LMAO@Kwame Brown being higher on the list...Kwame Brown >>> Darko Milicic (who wasnt even on the list!)...


Kwame is a key component on our team and was expected to be a 15-10 guy this season before all of his injuries...


Watch some Laker games...PeACe

As bad as it sounds to have Kwame on there...according to the writer's logic, he has to be on there if people like Derrick Coleman and Billy Owens are, even though he's young and from HS.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^^The article is old...I think it's from before Kwame started putting it together for us last season.

[7even]

Kwame sucks for 1st pick, no way around it.

[$Eg2$]

I really hope Kwame gets his shit 2gether this year or next I see Amare from Phoenix and I'm like "Shit Kwame needs to be doing it big like this dude dunking on peeple" having MVP like numbers hopefully one day 

[d-nice]

Stu Lance always be saying Kwame be trying too many layups. He got to get mad at just start dunking on people. He has improved alot since his Washington days.

[Bay Area Jat]

3. Michael Olowokandi, Clippers
No. 1, First Round -- 1998

Bust-worthy on so many levels. The Kandi Man was taken before four future All-Stars and a host of more suitable selections. Even the final pick of the first round in '98, Nazr Mohammed, has had a much more distinguished career in the pivot.

lol uop's finest

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Kwame sucks for 1st pick, no way around it.

So did Jermaine O'Neal for his first few years...Kwame doesn't suck at all right now though, he has all-star potential. He is only currently limited by injuries. At 100%, we expect him to be a 15-10 type of guy, as he showed he can do 2nd half of last season as a starter...

["THE" MoSav]

I always like readin these.....

I definitely don't think Derrick Coleman should be seen as a "bust" unless you put Larry Johnson right next to them. Both were #1 picks in 90 n 91, and both had very solid careers with VERY comparable statistics...and Coleman's career actually lasted longer.

I don't think Billy Owens was a bust either. Lookin at his stats now....his first three years, he averaged 14 16 and 15, all while shooting over 50%!!

Billy Owens was a bust dude. He was suppose to be the next Magic Johnson. he had a few solid years but overall he was a bust. Trust me i watched him as he was a king for years.