20 worst NBA Draft trades ever
By John Buhler
16. Portland Trail Blazers move back from No. 3 with Utah Jazz in 2005
In the 2005 NBA Draft, there were two future All-NBA point guards bound to be selected before the No. 5 overall pick: Illinois’ Deron Williams and Wake Forest’s Chris Paul. While the Atlanta Hawks botched their own No. 2 overall selection by taking North Carolina freshman Marvin Williams over both Williams and Paul, what the Portland Trail Blazers did is just as cringeworthy.
Portland held the No. 3 overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. The consensus No. 1 overall pick was the Utah Utes’ Australian sophomore center Andrew Bogut, who went first to the Milwaukee Bucks. Bogut was a franchise player with the Bucks before wrecking his hand on a fast break jam a few years later. He’s now found great success with the Golden State Warriors as their starting center.
Instead of taking either Williams or Paul, Portland opted to trade back to No. 5 with the Utah Jazz to select high school senior Martell Webster. Williams went No. 3 to the Jazz and Paul went No. 4 to the then New Orleans Hornets.
Portland could have had either of the two most impactful players in the 2005 NBA Draft by just sitting at No. 3. Williams was an elite point guard for about six years. Paul will make it to the Basketball Hall of Fame. This is one of the worst draft day deals Portland has ever made.
Next: 15. Vince Carter from Golden State Warriors to Toronto Raptors.