Decade of Draft Disasters (NBA)

 

MikeDropSports summarizes some of the worst NBA draft decisions that teams have made over the last 10 years. Some of these decisions were knowingly bad at the time and some are just hindsight bad.

Considerations:

• Excluded guys like Kawhi, Giannis, Jokic who "everyone" missed on and grouped them into one bucket near the bottom
• Tried to keep the mistake within 2-3 picks and looked for same/similar positions (of course, some cases are unavoidable)

Other articles

• Worst draft day trades in the last 5 years
• Worst trade in NBA history and it's impact on the draft

Atlanta Hawks:

• 2014 - Adreian Payne (#15) over Jusef Nurkic (#16)

Boston Celtics:

• 2014 - James Young (#17) over Gary Harris (#19)

Brooklyn Nets:

The traded picks that could have been

• Traded draft picks that became - Damian Lillard, Draymond Green, Jaylen Brown, Jasyon Tatum, Colin Sexton
• 2015 - PF Chris Mcullough (#29) over PF Montrezl Harrell (#31)

Chicago Bulls:

Over a decade ago, but the post-MJ era drafting was nothing short of awful for the Bulls

• 2014 - Drafted and traded Jusef Nurkic (#16) and Gary Harris (#19) to Nuggets for Doug McDermott (#11) and Anthony Randolph

Charlotte Hornets:

Hornets draft mistakes

• 2018 - Drafted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (#11) but immediately traded him to Clippers for Miles Bridges (#12)
• 2015 - Frank Kaminsky (#9) over Justice Winslow (#10), Myles Turner (#11), Devin Booker (#13)
• 2017 - SG Malik Monk (#11) over SG Donovan Mitchell (#13), Bam Adebayo (#14)
• 2014 - Noah Vonleh (#9) over Dario Saric (#12), Zach LaVine (#13), TJ Warren (#14)
• 2012 - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (#2) over Bradley Beal (#3). Context - Bobcats went 7-59 the year prior, but New Orleans won the lottery and drafted Anthony Davis.

Cleveland Cavaliers:

Cavs draft history

• 2013 - Anthony Bennett (#1) over literally anyone else (Victor Oladipo was #2)
• 2013 - Sergey Karasev (#19) over Tony Snell (#20)
• 2012 - Dion Waiters (#4) over Harrison Barnes (#7), Terrence Ross (#8)

Dallas Mavericks:

• 2017 - Dennis Smith Jr (#9) over Donovan Mitchell (#13) and Bam Adebayo (#14)

Denver Nuggets:

• 2017 - Drafted Donovan Mitchell (#13) and traded him to Jazz for Trey Lyles and Tyler Lydon (#24)
• 2017 - PF Tyler Lydon (#24, via trade) over PF Kyle Kuzma (#27)
• 2013 - Drafted Rudy Gobert (#27) but traded him to Jazz for nothing
• 2012 - SF Quincy Miller (#38 over SF Khris Middleton (#39)

Detroit Pistons:

• 2020 - Killian Hayes (#7) over Tyrese Haliburton (#12)
• 2017 - Luke Kennard (#12) over Donovan Mitchell (#13)
• 2016 - Henry Ellenson (#18) over Caris LaVert (#20)
• 2015 - Stanley Johnson (#8) over Justice Winslow (#10), Myles Turner (#11), Devin Booker (#13)
• 2013 - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (#8) over CJ McCollum (#10)
• 2011 - Brandon Knight (#8) over Kemba Walker (#9)

Golden State Warriors:

• 2020 - James Weisman (#2) over LaMelo Ball (#3)
• 2010 - Ekpe Udoh (#6) over Greg Monroe (#7)

Indiana Pacers:

• 2017 - TJ Leaf (#18) over John Collins (#19)
• 2011 - Drafted Kawhi Leonard and traded him immediately to Spurs for George Hill

Los Angeles Clippers:

• 2018 - Jerome Robinson (#13) over Michael Porter Jr (#14)
• 2016 - Brice Johnson (#25) over Pascal Siakam (#27)
• 2011 - Notable trade - February 2011, Clippers traded Baron Davis and a first round pick to Cleveland. That pick won the lottery, and Cavs drafted Kyrie Irving #1 with LAC pick.
• 2010 - Al Farooq Aminu (#8) over Gordon Hayward (#9), Paul George (#10)

Los Angeles Lakers:

• 2017 - Lonzo Ball (#2) over Jayson Tatum (#3), De'Aaron Fox (#5)

Memphis Grizzlies:

• 2016 - PG Wade Baldwin (#17) over Caris LaVert (#20), PG Dejounte Murray (#29)
• 2016 - Rade Zagorac (#35, via trade) over Malcolm Brogdon (#36)
• 2015 - Jarrell Martin (#25) over Larry Nance Jr (#27)
• 2014 - SG Jordan Adams (#22) over SG Rodney Hood (#23)

Milwaukee Bucks:

• 2017 - DJ Wilson (#17) over John Collins (#19)
• 2016 - Thon Maker (#10) over Domantas Sabonis (#11)
• 2014 - Jabari Parker (#2) over Joel Embiid (#3)

Minnesota Timberwolves:

• 2017 - Justin Patton (#16, via trade) over John Collins (#19), C Jarrett Allen (#22)
• 2016 - Kris Dunn (#4) over Buddy Hield (#5) and Jamal Murray (#6)
• 2013 - Trey Burke (#9) over CJ McCollum (#10)
• 2013 - Drafted Andre Roberson (#26) and traded him away for nothing
• 2011 - Derrick Williams (#2) over Enes Kanter (#3), Tristan Thompson (#4)
• 2010 - Wesley Johnson (#4) over DeMarcus Cousins (#5)

New Orleans Pelicans

Pelicans drafting since 2012 - a lot of trades!

New York Knicks:

7 trades involving Knicks draft picks

30 years of futility in the second round

• 2018 - Kevin Knox (#9) over Mikal Bridges (#10), Michael Porter Jr (#14)
• 2017 - Frank Ntilikina (#8) over Donovan Mitchell (#13)
• 2016 - Jamal Murray drafted by Nuggets (#7) with Knicks pick acquired for Carmelo Anthony
• 2010 - Draft SG Andy Rautins (#38) over SG Lance Stephenson (#40)

Orlando Magic:

Magic and their draft misfortunes - it's not all bad picks. Some of it is just bad luck.

• 2018 - Mo Bamba (#6) over Wendell Carter Jr (#7)
• 2017 - Jonathan Isaac (#6) over Lauri Markkanen (#7)
• 2016 - Drafted Domantas Sabonis (#11) and traded him and Victor Oladipo to Thunder for Serge Ibaka
• 2015 - Mario Hezonja (#5) over Myles Turner (#11), Devin Booker (#13)

Philadelphia 76ers:

• 2018 - Drafted Mikal Bridges (#10) but traded him to Suns for Zhaire Smith (#16)
• 2017 - Drafted Markelle Fultz #1 after trading #3 pick (Jayson Tatum) and 2019 #14 pick (Romeo Langford) to move up
• 2016 - Furkan Korkmaz (#26) over Pascal Siakam (#27)
• 2015 - Jahlil Okafor (#3) over Kristaps Porzingis (#4)

Phoenix Suns:

Suns may have made the NBA Finals in 2021, but before that, it was a decade of poor drafting.

• 2018 - Deandre Ayton (#1) over Luka Doncic (#3) and Trae Young (#5). (Note - this has worked out for all three teams, including Suns)
• 2018 - PG Elle Okobo (#31) over PG Devonte Graham (#34)
• 2017 - Josh Jackson (#4) over De'Aaron Fox (#5), Jonathan Isaac (#6), Lauri Markkanen (#7)
• 2016 - Dragan Bender (#4) over Buddy Heild (#6), Jamal Murray (#7)
• 2016 - Tyler Ulis (#34) over Malcolm Brogdon (#36)
• 2014 - Tyler Ennis (#18) over Gary Harris (#19)
• 2013 - Alex Len (#5) over Nerlens Noel (#6)
• 2013 - Drafted Nemanja Nedović (#30) and traded him for Archie Goodwin (#29) over Allen Crabbe (#31)
• 2011 - Markieff Morris (#13) over Kawhi Leonard (#15)

Portland Trail Blazers:

• 2018 - Anfernee Simons (#24) over Landry Shamet (#26)
• 2017 - Traded up to draft Zach Collins (#10) over Donovan Mitchell (#13) and Bam Adebayo (#14)
• 2017 - Caleb Swanigan (#26) over Kyle Kuzma (#27)

Sacramento Kings:

Kings draft picks during playoff drought (up to 2018)

• 2018 - Marvin Bagley (#2) over Luka Doncic (#3). And if that's not bad enough, also over Jaren Jackson Jr (#4) and Trae Young (#5)
• 2017 - Drafted De'Aaron Fox (#5), following a pick swap with 76ers, who took Jayson Tatum #3. Pick swap and 2019 #14 pick were traded along with 2015 first round pick Nik Stauskas to Philly in 2015 summer
• 2017 - C Harry Giles (#20, via trade) over C Jarrett Allen (#22)
• 2016 - Drafted someone named Georgios Papagiannis #13
• 2016 - Skal Labissière (#28, via trade) over Dejounte Murray (#29)
• 2014 - SG Nik Stauskas (#8) over SG Zach LaVine (#13)
• 2013 - Ben McLemore (#7) over CJ McCollum (#10)
• 2012 - Thomas Robinson (#5) over Damian Lillard (#6)
• 2011 - Bismack Biyombo (#7) over Kemba Walker (#9) - Biyombo was part of a draft day deal, with this next guy...
• 2011 - Drafted Jimmer Fredette (#10, via trade) over Klay Thompson (#11) and Kawhi Leonard (#15)
• 2011 - SF Tyler Honeycutt (#35) over SF Chandler Parson (#38)

Toronto Raptors

• 2014 - Bruno Caboclo (#20) over Clint Capela (#25)
• 2014 - DeAndre Daniels (#37) over Spencer Dinwiddie (#38)

Utah Jazz:

• 2015 - Trey Lyles (#12) over Devin Booker (#13)
• 2014 - Dante Exum (#5) over Marcus Smart (#6)

Washington Wizards:

• 2011 - Jan Vessley (#6) over Kemba Walker (#9), Klay Thompson (#11), Kawhi Leonard (#15)
• 2011 - Chris Singleton (#18) over Tobias Harris (#19)

Everyone:

• 2018 - Mitchell Robinson (#36)
• 2014 - Nikola Jokic (#41) drafted in second round
• 2014 - Spencer Dinwiddie (#38), Jerami Grant (#39) also drafted in second round
• 2013 - Giannis (#15) to the Bucks
• 2012 - Draymond Green (#35) and Khris Middleton (#39) both drafted in second round
• 2011 - Kawhi Leonard #15 to Pacers
• 2011 - Jimmy Butler drafted #30 by Bulls
• 2011 - Isaiah Thomas (#60)