With the NBA Draft lottery now completed, the Philadelphia 76ers have the first overall pick and have their choice of any player who declared for the draft. Fans of the team are excited, but have to be a little weary. While some high draft picks go right, others go terribly wrong. Here are five of the worst NBA Draft mistakes of all time.
1. Marvin Williams Over Chris Paul
(source: thebiglead.com)
Heading into the 2005 NBA Draft (and holding the 2nd overall pick) the Atlanta Hawks were really needing a Point Guard. And with two great options on the board with Chris Paul and Deron Williams, they were predicted to draft in that direction. However, the team selected Marvin Williams, a guy who wasn’t even a starter for his collegiate team. Even though the guy has played a solid role as a role player on a few teams, he’s no Chris Paul.
2. Hasheem Thabeet Over James Harden
(source: cbssports.com)
Like many times before him, teams were drawn to the size and potential of Hasheem Thabeet. Unfortunately for the team, all of this size and potential came with very little fundamental skills and work ethic. Very soon after coming into the league, he was sent down to the D-League and later fizzled out of the league. He was picked second in 2009 and the man that was selected third has been one of the best scorers in the league, James Harden.
3. Darko Milicic Taken Over Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh
(source: cbssports.com)
In one of the best drafts of all time, the Detroit Pistons still somehow managed to mess it up. The team had the second overall pick with the likes of Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony in the draft. They went with Darko Milicic and for some reason barely payed him, which didn’t boast well for the players’ confidence or work ethics. He soon faded out of the league while many of the players that the Pistons passed on went on to become superstars.
4. Sam Bowie Taken Over Michael Jordan
(source: wageofwins.com)
I know this one isn’t that recent, but we can’t help but include one of the most famous and awful draft misses of all time. The Portland Trail Blazers felt they were set at the shooting guard position and thus decided to draft for position as opposed for best player out there. Bowie had a hard time being anything special while Jordan went on to become the almost-consensus best player of all time.
5. Johnny Flynn and Ricky Rubio Taken Over Steph Curry
(source: sports.yahoo.com)
In this 2009 draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves had the fifth and sixth selections and were thought to make a big splash with their picks. They decided to go with two point guards (as Rubio was staying in Spain for a few years). However, both picks whiffed on a man who would become a two time MVP and an NBA Champion in Steph Curry. While Rubio has went on to become a solid started (though light years behind Curry), Flynn didn’t materialize to much and T-Wolves fans still probably have nightmares about this miss.
