Fansided

5 biggest NBA Draft busts in history

By John Buhler

Nov 10, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Anthony Bennett (15) looks on against the New York Knicks at Air Canada Centre. The Knicks beat the Raptors 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Anthony Bennett (15) looks on against the New York Knicks at Air Canada Centre. The Knicks beat the Raptors 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 27: Michael Beasley
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 27: Michael Beasley /

. Miami Heat. 2008 NBA Draft, No. 2 overall. Michael Beasley. 4. player. 110

The 2007-08 NBA season for the Miami Heat was a disaster. Superstar shooting guard Dwyane Wade had a season-ending injury and the Heat went from being NBA champions in 2006 to the worst team in the Eastern Conference two years later with a 15-67 record, rightfully earning the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Knowing that Wade was going to recover and continue to be the transcendent he is in the backcourt, Miami had a great opportunity to capitalize on a rare trip into the NBA Draft Lottery. What the Heat did with that No. 2 pick was a bit risky, taking a true freshman out of Kansas State in All-American Michael Beasley.

Looking back on the 2008 NBA Draft going on eight years later, the Heat missed out on several key NBA players that are clearly better than Beasley. These players include Russell Westbrook who went No. 4 to the then Seattle SuperSonics, Kevin Love who went to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a trade at No. 5, and Brook Lopez who went No. 10 to the then New Jersey Nets.

Miami would recover from Beasley’s selection a few years later when LeBron James and Chris Bosh decided to form the Big Three in Miami for four fantastic seasons under head coach Erik Spoelstra, winning two NBA Finals and appearing in all four.

Beasley had two stints with the Heat, but not in either championship season (2012-13). While he averaged 13.0 points per game in his seven NBA seasons, off-the-court issues and unwillingness to become a role player has him now starring in China playing for the Shandong Golden Stars.

NBA history would have been completely different if Beasley panned out in his first two years with the Heat or if general manager Pat Riley went with either UCLA Bruins product in Westbrook or Love at No. 2. Perhaps the Heat could have won another NBA Finals without having to use the Big Three to get them No. 2 and No. 3?

Next: 3. Sam Bowie

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