Fansided

NBA Draft: Every NBA team’s worst draft pick

By David Rouben

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 27: Anthony Bennett of UNLV poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner David Stern after Bennett was drafted
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 27: Anthony Bennett of UNLV poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner David Stern after Bennett was drafted /
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13 Dec 1997: Center Robert Traylor of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during a game against the Duke Blue Devils at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 81-73. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman /Allsport
13 Dec 1997: Center Robert Traylor of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during a game against the Duke Blue Devils at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 81-73. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman /Allsport /

9. Milwaukee Bucks – Robert Traylor (1998)

Robert Traylor was a 300 pound center who measured at 6-foot-8 and once broke the backboard on a dunk. If he was trying to emulate Shaq, he didn’t do a very good job. Really, what he did earn was the unflattering nickname of Tractor Traylor.

He did win an NIT title in his final year at Michigan and took home MVP honors for it, so the Mavericks felt compelled to take him sixth overall. Unfortunately, this is where the Bucks come in. They chose Dirk Nowitzki three picks later, but foreign players are always more of a gamble than NCAA players. Perhaps the Bucks were hoping Traylor would still be available when it was their turn to pick, but they wanted him – badly enough to give up Dirk Nowitzki for him.

Traylor never averaged higher than 5.7 points per game in a season, and his time in Milwaukee was forgettable. Even so, Milwaukee still made the playoffs as a seventh seed but they got swept. Considering that they had gotten to the conference finals within three years, they clearly had a team in place that could contend. They were just missing one piece – or rather, they had it but then gave it up.

Tractor Traylor’s weight issues complicated his NBA career and prevented him from becoming a productive player. He had to retire partly due to the fact that his aorta required surgery. He would bounce around Spain, Italy, Puerto Rico, Turkey, and Mexico before he tragically passed away at the age of 34. Dirk, meanwhile, has had a Hall of Fame career, and has proven to be just as talented a commentator as he is a player.

Next: 8: Dallas Mavericks

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