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2014 NBA Draft: Biggest draft mistakes of the lottery era

By Michael Dunlap

Feb 18, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Miami Heat center Greg Oden (20) warms up before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Miami Heat center Greg Oden (20) warms up before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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2006 — Swing and a miss

Although Andrea Bargnani will go down as one of the poorest No. 1 picks in the lottery era, he wasn’t the worst selection in the top of this draft. The Charlotte Bobcats decided to go with the helter-skelter Adam Morrison, thinking his energy and determination would overcome any shortcomings in his game. They were wrong. Really, really wrong. Morrison could barely create his own shot and sat on the bench the majority of his short career. The Bobcats could have had Brandon Roy (No. 6), Rudy Gay (No. 8) or even Rajon Rondo (No. 21).

2007 — Mistake of historic proportions

Remember that Michael Jordan decision we looked at earlier? This decision could go down as the second one of those, if Kevin Durant continues his career progression. The Portland Trail Blazers wanted a big man and understood that good centers come along very rarely, so they rolled the dice with Greg Oden. They crapped out, big time. Durant is the league’s most electric scorer and Oden can barely move. Durant holds a slight lead in career points, 14,851-840.

2008 — (Below) Average Joe

I spare you, Michael Beasley at No. 2. Joe Alexander at No. 8 to the Milwaukee Bucks was the bigger brain fart. D.J. Augustin (No. 9) and Brook Lopez (No. 10) went right after Alexander, who played in just 67 games in his NBA career, averaging just 11.1 minutes in those contests. Alexander wasn’t even good in college, as he averaged 16.9 points and 6.4 rebounds in 31.6 minutes for West Virginia. Way to waste picks, Milwaukee.

2009 — Hasheem’s not the dream

The Wolves fan in me wants to scream JONNY FLYNN OVER STEPHEN CURRY. But, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft was Hasheem Thabeet, as the Memphis Grizzlies thought James Harden, Tyreke Evans, Ricky Rubio and Curry just weren’t what they were looking for. I can actually understand the idea that they wanted a big man and aside from No. 1 overall Blake Griffin, there weren’t any there. Still, why settle? Why not trade the pick and go after a big man another way? Too late now.

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