Nba First Round Busts

[bigboydan]

on the eve of the NBA draft. i was thinking about all the big time busts there have been over the years.

the one that really stuck out to me the most though, was harold minnor.

this kid was nicknamed baby jordan, after he won the slam dunk contest while he was a member of the miami heat.


what are some of the other big time busts you remember ?

[onlooker]

Pervis Ellison.

Overall number 1 pick in 1989. Enough said.

[not mofome]

sam bowie imagine if the portland trailblazers would
of picked jordan instead

[SquareShooter]

Kwame Brown is an epithome.

[isetcap]

Pervis Ellison was a decent player for a number of years. Certainly not the value you would like to see out of a number 1 but not quite a bust. His third year in the league he averaged 20/12/3 and then injuries started to hamper his performance. He ended up with 11 seasons in the NBA.

I'm not sure what an "epithome" is but Kwame Brown is steadily developing into a force in the league. His development under Phil Jackson has far exceeded expectations. Defensively he is a weapon and offensively he is improving. Although his progress has been much slower than anticipated, I think he ultimately won't be part of any "bust" discussion.

Harold Miner went #13 in the 92 Draft and only managed 4 years in the league. Pretty unimpressive, but at #11 in that year's draft, you have Adam Keefe who managed to muck around for 9 years with only one season averaging over 7 points a game (7.8 to be exact). At least Miner had over 10 points a game his first 2 seasons before injuries really caused his flame to flicker out.

Really hard to argue with that Sam Bowie pick especially in light of the fact that he was sandwiched by Akeem Olajuwon and MJ as mofome pointed out. Having said that, his numbers aren't terrible. He put in 10 years and had 6 seasons where he averaged more than 10 ppg.

I'll keep my selections limited to #1 overall picks in the last couple decades...

I think right at the top of the list you have to have Michael Olowokandi, the #1 pick in the 98 Draft. Of course you also have Robert Traylor going #6 in that same draft.

The other #1 overalls I would throw out as busts are the enigmatic Joe Smith and Ralph Sampson.

[BadAzz]

Didn't Ralph Sampson have pretty identical career with never nervous Pervis? A few good to great seasons and then injuries struck.

[Willie Bee]

As far as their careers went, Bowie and Samspon were fairly similar in regards to underachieving and not living up to their pre-NBA hype. Guess you can blame some of it on injuries for both of them, but neither was really as physical as they needed to be in the NBA. Sampson at least made some impact his first few seasons; hard to think of Bowie as an impact player at just about any point in his career.

Along the 1st-round lines, how about Lancaster Gordon in the same Olajuwon-Bowie-Jordan draft of 1984? Or Bobby Hurley as the 7th-overall pick by the Kings in 1993? He went ahead of Vin Baker, Allan Houston and Sam Cassell in the opening round that year.

[isetcap]

Along the 1st-round lines, how about Lancaster Gordon in the same Olajuwon-Bowie-Jordan draft of 1984? Or Bobby Hurley as the 7th-overall pick by the Kings in 1993? He went ahead of Vin Baker, Allan Houston and Sam Cassell in the opening round that year.

Come on, Willie. That's not fair. You can pick just about any Duke player with the exception of Elton Brand that went in the first round and call them a bust. That includes Grant Hill.

[isetcap]

Obviously Darko Milicic is working hard to lay claim to bust status.

[moses millsap]

Obviously Darko Milicic is working hard to lay claim to bust status.

He showed flashes of being quite productive in Orlando. I think he'll be fine.

How about Todd Fuller and Frederik Weis (sp?)

[isetcap]

Look at 2002. You have Jay Williams going second overall. Oh that's right I already mentioned the Duke Autobust Theory.

You also have Dajuan Wagner who has really fallen off the map. He had a solid rookie season and I guess he's been on the IR ever since. Is he in jail or something?

[isetcap]

He showed flashes of being quite productive in Orlando. I think he'll be fine.

How about Todd Fuller and Frederik Weis (sp?)

Agreed on the flashes. Keep in mind that on that team he should be producing so he'll have to do much better than that.

I don't even know about the other 2 you mentioned so they must be busts!

[moses millsap]

Agreed on the flashes. Keep in mind that on that team he should be producing so he'll have to do much better than that.

I don't even know about the other 2 you mentioned so they must be busts!

Warriors drafted Fuller out of NCST in the Kobe draft and the Knicks took Weis and passed on Artest, much to the dismay of the crowd, lol.

[isetcap]

How about Rodney White in 2001? Anybody want to argue for his cause?

[isetcap]

Warriors drafted Fuller out of NCST in the Kobe draft and the Knicks took Weis and passed on Artest, much to the dismay of the crowd, lol.

Could they have had Artest and Spreeeeeee at the same time or had LS moved on by then? That would have been a fireworks display!

[moses millsap]

How about Rodney White in 2001? Anybody want to argue for his cause?

We need Michael Jordan to come here as a poster, since he called Rodney the next Magic Johnson.

Guy has TERRIBLE work ethic and a horrendous attitude as I witnessed here in the Bay Area, while he was riding the pine for the Warriors

[Mudcat]

I always feel like it's my job to inject some Canadian content. Picked 6th in 1995 by the Vancouver Grizzlies, Bryant "Big Country" Reeves.

I don't honestly know what his career stats look like (although I know they're not spectacular) - but I just know that a big contract he signed out there is considered the death of the NBA in that city.

[isetcap]

Hate to rail on Duke some more (not really), but in looking at the 1999 draft, you have Trajon Langdon (LOL), Corey Maggette (solid), and William Avery (are you kidding me?) in the top 14 picks.

[moses millsap]

Question:

Who do you think will be the biggest bust in this draft?

Aldridge for me.

[isetcap]

I always feel like it's my job to inject some Canadian content. Picked 6th in 1995 by the Vancouver Grizzlies, Bryant "Big Country" Reeves.

I don't honestly know what his career stats look like (although I know they're not spectacular) - but I just know that a big contract he signed out there is considered the death of the NBA in that city.

Excellent call there, Mudcat! How many players can you say completely erased a sport in the city for which they played? Definitely a bust for the ages but was anyone really surprised other than perhaps Dick Vitale who can assess professional talent about as well as a dolphin.

[moses millsap]

How about another Grizzlies pick?

Steve Francis

[isetcap]

We need Michael Jordan to come here as a poster, since he called Rodney the next Magic Johnson.

Guy has TERRIBLE work ethic and a horrendous attitude as I witnessed here in the Bay Area, while he was riding the pine for the Warriors

Went to a Warriors game this year around Christmas (I have a special place in my heart for the Beautiful Bay Area) and I watched them get utterly torched by the Denver Nuggets. Fortunately the only action I had on the game was over 207 and I think the final total was about 250 in that game. Around that time, I was still quite excited about the prospects for the Warriors and it really went downhill from there. It's really hard for me to figure out why this team perpetually underachieves. I mean I thought they were playoff bound this year. They have boatloads of talent. It seems like Rodney would fit right in. I'd love to hear the local perspective on them.

[moses millsap]

Went to a Warriors game this year around Christmas (I have a special place in my heart for the Beautiful Bay Area) and I watched them get utterly torched by the Denver Nuggets. Fortunately the only action I had on the game was over 207 and I think the final total was about 250 in that game. Around that time, I was still quite excited about the prospects for the Warriors and it really went downhill from there. It's really hard for me to figure out why this team perpetually underachieves. I mean I thought they were playoff bound this year. They have boatloads of talent. It seems like Rodney would fit right in. I'd love to hear the local perspective on them.

Let's see...

1-Our coach is borderline retarded. The man who is running our team, Baron Davis, hates him and thus comes into camp in horrible shape and with a negative mindset playing for him.
2-Montgomery and Mullin are convinced Mike Dunleavy is the second coming, thus rewarding him with a ridiculous contract. He deserves little to no playing time and should be well behind Pietrus on the depth chart.
3-Derek Fisher. Absolutely f'n horrible running the point mainly because he thinks he's Michael Jordan and takes a gazillion shots, most of which are horrible, yet he takes minutes away from one of the up and coming stars in Monta Ellis (trust me, this kid is very good and was a total steal in round 2)
4-Combining the two above along with Foyle and Murphy's contracts, that's just a ton of dead weight, giving us little room to be creative and maneuver.
5-Speaking of Murphy, he has to be the worst 18-10 guy in the history of the NBA. His interior defense at the 4 spot is beyond horrible and the +/- with him on the court is astounding. Another local writer here noticed this and actually added it up in one article.
6-Our rotation should be Baron, JR, Ellis at the guard spots with Fish coming in to shoot FTs only. Pietrus, Zarko, Diogu, Taft, and Biedrins in the front court.

We will only be saved if at least 2 of the 4 are gone: Fisher, Dunleavy, Murphy, and Foyle. I'm hoping for 3, but who in their right mind is going to take on those contracts. Oh yeah, please fire Monty too.

Being a Warriors fan

[isetcap]

Question:

Who do you think will be the biggest bust in this draft?

Aldridge for me.

Aldridge is a real good choice especially because there is a decent chance he could go #1 as Bosh is really pushing for him in somewhat of an extortion move saying that he would be more likely to sign with the Craptors if they signed his new buddy LaMarcus.

I have no problem suggesting Adam Morrison. Unless his game changes completely he will be a Duke-like bust of Christian Laettner proportions. I am also very wary of Tyrus Thomas who has absolutely no polish to his game but could have enormous upside.

Is JJ Redick projected to fall out of the first round now due to recent revelations?

[isetcap]

How about another Grizzlies pick?

Steve Francis

Stevie Francis doesn't look so good right now but he has been a bonafide allstar in this league and still has a few good years left to turn things around. Certainly disappointing at this stage but not a bust by any means.

[moses millsap]

Is JJ Redick projected to fall out of the first round now due to recent revelations?

Don't know, we were discussing that in the hoops forum in BBD's draft bets thread.

[moses millsap]

Stevie Francis doesn't look so good right now but he has been a bonafide allstar in this league and still has a few good years left to turn things around. Certainly disappointing at this stage but not a bust by any means.

I think he's more flash than anything else; more detrimental to a team than beneficial in my eyes.

[isetcap]

Let's see...

1-Our coach is borderline retarded. The man who is running our team, Baron Davis, hates him and thus comes into camp in horrible shape and with a negative mindset playing for him.
2-Montgomery and Mullin are convinced Mike Dunleavy is the second coming, thus rewarding him with a ridiculous contract. He deserves little to no playing time and should be well behind Pietrus on the depth chart.
3-Derek Fisher. Absolutely f'n horrible running the point mainly because he thinks he's Michael Jordan and takes a gazillion shots, most of which are horrible, yet he takes minutes away from one of the up and coming stars in Monta Ellis (trust me, this kid is very good and was a total steal in round 2)
4-Combining the two above along with Foyle and Murphy's contracts, that's just a ton of dead weight, giving us little room to be creative and maneuver.
5-Speaking of Murphy, he has to be the worst 18-10 guy in the history of the NBA. His interior defense at the 4 spot is beyond horrible and the +/- with him on the court is astounding. Another local writer here noticed this and actually added it up in one article.
6-Our rotation should be Baron, JR, Ellis at the guard spots with Fish coming in to shoot FTs only. Pietrus, Zarko, Diogu, Taft, and Biedrins in the front court.

We will only be saved if at least 2 of the 4 are gone: Fisher, Dunleavy, Murphy, and Foyle. I'm hoping for 3, but who in their right mind is going to take on those contracts. Oh yeah, please fire Monty too.

Being a Warriors fan

This is simply great, great stuff.

I can't say I disagree with you on any point. You were right to put coaching as the #1 problem. With all the talent they have, there is no way a coach should not be able to win at least 40 games with these guys. Mike Dunleavy has always been an overrated Duke propect. I need not say more on that topic. Derek Fisher is super streaky so his minutes should be distributed accordingly (if he misses his first two shots he should receive 0 minutes more in the game unless the decision is not in question). I hate the Foyle contract but I don't mind using his as a role player ala Erick Dampier. Murphy's shortcoming is defense but so is the entire teams'. The problem with Murphy is that he probably is not physically capable of being a good defensive player. You could probably get great value in trading he and Dunleavy. I would also add that while he's a special talent, having Baron as your leader is similar to having Starbury. I just don't like his mental approach to the game although I will admit that he does seem to want to win more than Stephon who is perhaps mentally retarded.

I love Monta Ellis (no doubt a star) and Diogu. Of course JR is simply unbelievable. I just think that the primary problem is the coaching. Bring someone in who can get these guys focused on defense and let the offense take care of itself. The fans in NORCAL deserve it.

[moses millsap]

I can't say I disagree with you on any point. You were right to put coaching as the #1 problem. With all the talent they have, there is no way a coach should not be able to win at least 40 games with these guys.

Right on the button. Talent means nothing when it's riding the pine.

Mike Dunleavy has always been an overrated Duke propect. I need not say more on that topic.

Too bad the guys in charge here don't see that. He continually gets babied and gets his minutes despite doing very few things well and most things poorly. It's not just Mullin and Monty, it boils down to the local commenators, especially Jim Barnett, who I'm convinced jerks off to Dun Dun to get rid of his morning wood every day.

Derek Fisher is super streaky so his minutes should be distributed accordingly (if he misses his first two shots he should receive 0 minutes more in the game unless the decision is not in question).

This is a lose-lose situtation. If you keep him in after he hits his first several shots, he'll continue shooting and shooting even after he is 5 for 20 from the field. Of course, he started off 5-5. His perimeter defense is beyond ridiculous when confronted with a guard who has any semblence of speed and intelligence to dribble around Fish.

I hate the Foyle contract but I don't mind using his as a role player ala Erick Dampier.

Foyle gives effort and is a solid citizen for the team, but at 40-50 million, forget it. Dampier only became a role player, because he sucked so much until it was his contract year.

Murphy's shortcoming is defense but so is the entire teams'. The problem with Murphy is that he probably is not physically capable of being a good defensive player. You could probably get great value in trading he and Dunleavy.

Something about the poison pill thing with Dunleavy's contract makes him basically worthless. Supposedly Murphy has value around the league, Sam Smith this morning floated the rumor of Murphy/#9 to the Bulls for #2/#16, but this is Sam Smith, so no chance. I'd like to have a meal with him and Peter Vecsey, so I can prove to the world one's head can explode due to excessive BS.

I would also add that while he's a special talent, having Baron as your leader is similar to having Starbury. I just don't like his mental approach to the game although I will admit that he does seem to want to win more than Stephon who is perhaps mentally retarded.

Baron has a desire to win, but he knows he's surrounded by retards. This is how the basic W's game goes. Baron breaks down the defense maybe 4-5 times in the first 5 minutes, send a pass right on the hands to one of our scrubs in the post, who can't handle it, or in the faint chance that they do, they brick the point blank layup. Baron gets frustrated, starts taking his own shots, gets out of the flow of the offense. We go down 15-20 points and then Monty puts in Dunleavy and Fisher for stability. Kill me please. Starbury is retarded, you ever hear that story about him and Tim Thomas in NY? They grew up together and TT said Steph never talked to him ONCE while they were on the team together. Then when he got traded, Steph bought him an ipod with all kinds of hip-hop on there. I think TT's comment was "He's one weird dude".

I love Monta Ellis (no doubt a star) and Diogu. Of course JR is simply unbelievable. I just think that the primary problem is the coaching. Bring someone in who can get these guys focused on defense and let the offense take care of itself. The fans in NORCAL deserve it.

Their decision making is on par with a NFL franchise that thinks they can succeed by bypassing line improvement, instead relying on "star" players at the "star" positions.

[moses millsap]

Unless his game changes completely he will be a Duke-like bust of Christian Laettner proportions.

I'm one of the few that think Morrison is going to be one of the few stars that come out of this draft.

[McBa1n]

You havn't heard the last of Yinka Dare!

[isetcap]

I think this year's will yield plenty of names. I'll be the first to throw some out in order of appearance...

LaMarcus Aldridge
Adam Morrison (watch this jerky guy get crushed by NBA talent)
Patrick O'Bryant (sorry Owned)
JJ Redick (automatic)
Renaldo Balkman
Joel Freeland (will never see a minute in a NBA uniform)

[BadAzz]

Actually, I think we have heard the last of Yinka. Didn't he die a few years back? Might have been somebody else though. But he did dish out 4 assists during his 4 year career.

[Mudcat]

Yinka was all about, "distributing the ball."