2014 NBA Draft: Biggest draft mistakes of the lottery era

1998 — Captain bust

One of the most talked about busts in NBA history went No. 1 overall in 1998, Mr. Michael Olowokandi out of the University of the Pacific. The Los Angeles Clippers could have had a multitude of quality players, including Mike Bibby (No. 2), Vince Carter (No. 5), Dirk Nowitzki (No. 9) or Paul Pierce (No. 10). This was a pick that even back then was universally panned.  No wonder the Clippers went through so much losing during these times.

1999 — The next Kevin Garnett

I can remember being excited about Jonathan Bender back in 1999. He had the length, just like Garnett. He was lanky, but he’d bulk up a bit, just like Garnett. He came right out of high school too, just like Garnett. The problem…he was nothing like Garnett. Bender got bounced around like a ping-pong ball and could barely find the court. After Bender at No. 5, we saw (in order, no less) quality guys like Wally Szczerbiak, Richard Hamilton, Andre Miller, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry.

2000 — Shut it down

The worst draft in the lottery era. Hedo Turkoglu holds the most win shares of anyone in this draft. We could say the mistake was holding this draft. We’ll go with the Chicago Bulls at No. 4, taking Marcus Fizer out of Iowa State University. Mike Miller could have been had…you know what, this draft was so bad I’m not wasting more keystrokes.

2001 — The wrong big man (twice)

Oh, Kwame Brown. You never lived up to expectations, though to your credit — you spent over a decade in the NBA. Was it your fault that the 2000-01 Washington Wizards boasted Calvin Booth, Cherokee Parks and Jahidi White as their centers? Was it your fault that they badly wanted a physical big man to play opposite Juwan Howard? No, but it was Washington’s fault for thinking that Brown was better than either Tyson Chandler (No. 2) or Pau Gasol (No. 3).