9 Big-Time, Big-Money NBA Draft Busts
Year selected: 2001
Draft pick: 1st overall
Team: Washington Wizards
High School: Glynn Academy (Brunswick, Georgia)
Michael Jordan’s prominence as a player hasn’t translated to his executive responsibilities. After watching Brown workout, the then-president of basketball operations insisted that Washington draft him out of high school. The Wizards did, passing on Pau Gasol and Tyson Chandler, and gave the inconsistent center a four-year, $17.3 million rookie scale contract.
© Reuters Photographer / Reuter
Year selected: 2002
Draft pick: 2nd pick overall
Team: Chicago Bulls
College: Duke
Williams signed a 3-year, $16.1 million deal, but a motorcycle accident prematurely ended his career after just 75 games.
© Reuters Photographer / Reuter
Year selected: 2002
Draft pick: 5th overall
Team: Denver Nuggets
From: Georgia
If Denver wanted a forward with NBA staying power, it could have selected Amare Stoudemire or Caron Butler. Instead, the Georgia native was 19 when he signed a three-year, $7 million deal, but started just 16 games in his four-year career.
© Reuters Photographer / Reuter
Year selected: 2003
Draft pick: 2nd overall
Team: Detroit Pistons
From: Serbia
Ouch. This one still hurts for Pistons fans. After LeBron James was taken by Cleveland, Detroit could have selected Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, or Carmelo Anthony. In fairness to the native Serbian, he improved after the conclusion of his three-year, $11.6 million deal rookie deal.
© Reuters Photographer / Reuter
Year selected: 2004
Draft pick: 4th overall
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
High school: Peoria (Ill.)
After Livingston signed a four-year, $14.2 million deal, he started just 60 games in four seasons for the Clippers and has played for seven teams since.
© Rick Wilking / Reuters
Year selected: 2006
Draft pick: 3rd overall
Team: Charlotte Bobcats
College: Gonzaga
The sharpshooter had an impressive career at Gonzaga, but was out of the NBA within four seasons. Under the rookie salary scale, Morrison made $6.25 million in the first of a two-year deal.
© Robert Padgett / Reuters
Year selected: 2002
Draft pick: 5th overall
Team: Atlanta Hawks
College: Duke
The well-built center signed a four-year, $13.8 million contract but didn’t deliver in a big way. He would go on to play for six more teams, never starting more than 38 games in a season or averaging more than 5.2 point per game.
© Tami Chappell / Reuters
Year selected: 2007
Draft pick: 1st overall
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
College: Ohio State
Chronic knee problems and the rising star power of league MVP Kevin Durant, who was selected after him, have combined to plague Oden. He played 82 games over two years and was out of the league until Miami signed him in 2013.
© Steve Dipaola / Reuters
Year selected: 2009
Draft pick: 2nd overall
Team: Memphis Grizzlies
College: UConn
The first Tanzanian player in the NBA signed a two-year, $7.7 million deal, but has been on four teams in four seasons.
© Nikki Boertman / Reuters