Greg Oden To Cavs: Biggest Draft Busts Since 2003
Is Greg Oden going to the Cavs? It seems Cleveland is prepared to offer the former No. 1 overall pick a two-year deal, as he works his way back from devastating knee injuries that have robbed him of an NBA career six years after he was picked in 2007.
Greg Oden's name is synonymous with "Draft Bust," fair or unfair. The guy was a monster at Ohio State, was hailed as the second coming of everyone from Patrick Ewing to Hakeem Olajuwon, and just happened to be made of paper mache. Not his fault, blame genetics.
But either way, Oden was most unlucky for being drafted just one slot ahead of Kevin Durant, who is the second-best player in the NBA and looks poised to become an all-time legend.
So Oden's name is now next to Sam Bowie's in the history books, the guy drafted ahead of Michael Jordan. It's a little unfair to judge Oden at this point, and if Oden goes to the Cavs and revives his career, the NBA will be better for it. But is he the biggest bust of the last decade?
A real draft bust has to do with investment versus reward. If you draft a guy no. 1 and he does nothing, that's much worse than drafting a guy no. 32 and getting nothing. So who else has stuck out since 2003 as a notable misstep?
Greg Oden's name is synonymous with "Draft Bust," fair or unfair. The guy was a monster at Ohio State, was hailed as the second coming of everyone from Patrick Ewing to Hakeem Olajuwon, and just happened to be made of paper mache. Not his fault, blame genetics.
But either way, Oden was most unlucky for being drafted just one slot ahead of Kevin Durant, who is the second-best player in the NBA and looks poised to become an all-time legend.
So Oden's name is now next to Sam Bowie's in the history books, the guy drafted ahead of Michael Jordan. It's a little unfair to judge Oden at this point, and if Oden goes to the Cavs and revives his career, the NBA will be better for it. But is he the biggest bust of the last decade?
A real draft bust has to do with investment versus reward. If you draft a guy no. 1 and he does nothing, that's much worse than drafting a guy no. 32 and getting nothing. So who else has stuck out since 2003 as a notable misstep?
2003 NBA Draft: Darko Milicic
Well, this one is kinda obvious. Poor Darko had the misfortune of being sandwiched between LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. And he was picked before those last three. But Darko has stuck around just as long as those, albeit for six different teams and with considerably less success.
Well, this one is kinda obvious. Poor Darko had the misfortune of being sandwiched between LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. And he was picked before those last three. But Darko has stuck around just as long as those, albeit for six different teams and with considerably less success.
2004 NBA Draft: Shaun Livingston
Like Oden, Shaun Livingston had two freak knee injuries that have wrecked his career, but he's been able to resurrect it, coincidentally in Cleveland as well. He'll never be a superstar, but the former high school star has played parts of seven years in the NBA, and that's nothing to sneeze at. It's just too bad he was picked No. 4 overall, before All-Stars like Devin Harris, Luol Deng, Andre Iguodala, and Jameer Nelson.
Like Oden, Shaun Livingston had two freak knee injuries that have wrecked his career, but he's been able to resurrect it, coincidentally in Cleveland as well. He'll never be a superstar, but the former high school star has played parts of seven years in the NBA, and that's nothing to sneeze at. It's just too bad he was picked No. 4 overall, before All-Stars like Devin Harris, Luol Deng, Andre Iguodala, and Jameer Nelson.
2005 NBA Draft: Marvin Williams
Yeesh. Marvin Williams was a No. 2 pick, ahead of... gulp... Deron Williams and Chris Paul. The Hawks really, REALLY screwed this one up. Plenty of serviceable guys went in this draft, including Andrew Bynum and Danny Granger and David Lee, while Williams is a career 11.3 PPG scorer. Not a great pick.
Yeesh. Marvin Williams was a No. 2 pick, ahead of... gulp... Deron Williams and Chris Paul. The Hawks really, REALLY screwed this one up. Plenty of serviceable guys went in this draft, including Andrew Bynum and Danny Granger and David Lee, while Williams is a career 11.3 PPG scorer. Not a great pick.
2006 NBA Draft: Adam Morrison
Morrison was a college superstar and a much-maligned pick by then-Bobcats GM Michael Jordan, and he's had basically no NBA career since then. He has two NBA Championships, thanks to some lucky spots on the bench for the Lakers, but hasn't been in the NBA since 2010. This was a terrible draft in general, producing only three All-Stars: LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Rajon Rondo.
Morrison was a college superstar and a much-maligned pick by then-Bobcats GM Michael Jordan, and he's had basically no NBA career since then. He has two NBA Championships, thanks to some lucky spots on the bench for the Lakers, but hasn't been in the NBA since 2010. This was a terrible draft in general, producing only three All-Stars: LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Rajon Rondo.
2007 NBA Draft: Yi Jianlian
Reserve judgement on Oden until he attempts this latest comeback. We don't exactly know what he's capable of yet, but we know exactly what to expect from Yi. And that's... pretty much nothing. This top-10 in general was a misstep: Besides Kevin Durant and Al Horford and Joakim Noah, there's a whole lot of nothing. The best value pick was definitely Marc Gasol, all the way down at No. 48.
Reserve judgement on Oden until he attempts this latest comeback. We don't exactly know what he's capable of yet, but we know exactly what to expect from Yi. And that's... pretty much nothing. This top-10 in general was a misstep: Besides Kevin Durant and Al Horford and Joakim Noah, there's a whole lot of nothing. The best value pick was definitely Marc Gasol, all the way down at No. 48.
2008 NBA Draft: Michael Beasley
Three franchise altering guys came in this draft: Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love are all certified superstars. Michael Beasley is best known for his rap sheet and his wasted talent. He did sort of help bring LeBron and Chris Bosh to Miami, so the Heat fans will always love him for that.
Three franchise altering guys came in this draft: Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love are all certified superstars. Michael Beasley is best known for his rap sheet and his wasted talent. He did sort of help bring LeBron and Chris Bosh to Miami, so the Heat fans will always love him for that.
2009 NBA Draft: Hasheem Thabeet
Hindsight is 20/20 and all that, but some of these picks just look worse and worse as the years pass. Thabeet has spent basically zero time in the NBA in the last 3 years, and he was picked in between No. 1 Blake Griffin and No. 3 James Harden. And ahead of Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans, plus Stephen Curry, Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson, and a whole host of other very useful pieces.
Hindsight is 20/20 and all that, but some of these picks just look worse and worse as the years pass. Thabeet has spent basically zero time in the NBA in the last 3 years, and he was picked in between No. 1 Blake Griffin and No. 3 James Harden. And ahead of Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans, plus Stephen Curry, Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson, and a whole host of other very useful pieces.
2010 NBA Draft: DeMarcus Cousins
John Wall was the No. 1 pick, and he's starting to look a little bit more like he deserved it recently. Evan Turner and Derrick Favors have not yet reached their full potential. Paul George looks like a star in the making. But none of them has accomplished what DeMarcus Cousins has: He may have helped kill basketball in Sacramento. That's a big ol' miss.
As for the most recent two drafts, it's a little too early to make that call, but Enes Kanter in 2011 and Royce White in 2012 sure look like misses for now.
John Wall was the No. 1 pick, and he's starting to look a little bit more like he deserved it recently. Evan Turner and Derrick Favors have not yet reached their full potential. Paul George looks like a star in the making. But none of them has accomplished what DeMarcus Cousins has: He may have helped kill basketball in Sacramento. That's a big ol' miss.
As for the most recent two drafts, it's a little too early to make that call, but Enes Kanter in 2011 and Royce White in 2012 sure look like misses for now.
