Biggest NBA Draft Blunders

The premier NBA teams, even the lesser teams, make mistakes when it comes to the draft. There have been more than a handful of ‘missed opportunities’ along the way, and teams have paid a heavy price for these types of mistakes. Some of the basketball aficionados call these mistakes ‘bad choices’, others deem them ‘bad luck’. Either way, the biggest NBA draft blunders cost teams titles at conference, division, and championship level.

Ready for the most competitive NBA point spread? Come check out 888sport!

Draymond Green – The Dancing Bear

Back in 2012, the Boston Celtics missed #35 Draymond Green when they selected #22 Fab Melo and #21 Jared Sullinger. It wasn't only the Boston Celtics that made this blunder, but it cost them big. Boston drafted a couple of bigger players, foregoing Draymond Green who wasn't a star performer in his early days. However, Draymond Green now boasts impressive career stats of 28.1 minutes per game, 43.5 field goal percentage, 31.9 three point percentage, 71 free throw percentage, and an average of 9 points per game. Known as, ‘The Dancing Bear’, Green is a 3 X All Star, 3 x NBA Champ, 2 X All-NBA, 5 X All-Defensive and 2016/17 Player of the Year.

Luka Doncic - Cool Hand Luke

One of the finest rookies to hit the big leagues was Luka Doncic. Back in the 2018/2019 NBA season, few superstars in the making compared to him. Two other players made a big impact on the NBA during that year, including Marvin Bagley and DeAndre Ayton – but they didn't even come close to Cool Hand Luke. What should have been a no-brainer in terms of being the premier selection in the NBA draft didn't quite materialize. The Phoenix Suns and The Kings passed on him, to their detriment. Since his breakout year in 2018/2019, he teamed up with Dallas and has averaged 24.4 points per game, 8.5 total rebounds, and 7.1 assists. He already has 1 X All Star, 2018/2019 All Rookie, and 2018/2019 ROY awards to his credit. A star in the making and a big regret for the Suns and the Kings.

The Atlanta Hawks – Chris Paul

Chris Paul a.k.a. The Skate Instructor has quickly become a phenomenal NBA star. He wears the #3 jersey and has racked up more awards than most players. This point guard shoots right, and stand 6'1" tall at a weight of 175 lbs. He started in 2005/2006, and remains active to this day. With 1013+ games played and an average of 18.5 points per game, 4.5 total rebounds, and 9.5 assists, he is in a superstar league all his own. Among the many awards he has collected include: 10 X All Star, 4 X AST Champ, 6 X STL Champ, 8 X All-NBA, 9 X All-Defensive, 2005/2006 All-Rookie, 2012/2013 AS MVP, and 2005/2006 ROY. So why was he one of the biggest NBA draft blunders? The Atlanta Hawks already had two tried and trusted point guards on their team. They didn't want another one. Needless to say, Chris Paul became a celebrated All-Star many times over.

The 2013 Cleveland Cavaliers - Victor Oladipo

Back in 2013, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected #1 Anthony Bennett, and missed out on #2 Victor Oladipo. This point guard and shooting guard stands 6'4" tall and weighs in at 210 lbs. His breakout year was 2013/2014. Over the course of his career, he has competed in 415+ games, scored an average of 17.4 points per game, 4.6 total rebounds, and 3.9 assists. He may not play for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he has signed up for several other ranking teams over the years including Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, and more recently the Indiana Pacers. He wears the #5 and #4 Jersey, and has played impeccably. With career stats as good as his, it comes as no surprise that he has been nominated as a 2 X All-Star, 2013/2014 All-Rookie, 2017/2018 All-NBA, 2017/2018 STL Champ, 2017/2018 All-Defensive, and 2017/2018 Most Impressive Player. A pick and a miss!

New York Knicks 2009 – Jordan Hill

Back in the 2009 NBA draft, New York Knicks were unable to draft Stephen Curry. It would have been a great pair with Mike D’Antoni, but it wasn't to be. Instead, the Knicks picked Jordan Hill. His selection was a major disappointment for a team seeking talent. Within short order, Hill was traded to the Houston Rockets. His career didn't last very long, and he averaged 7.9 points per game five on eight total rebounds, and 0.8 assists. The central and power forward from Atlanta ended his career in 2016/2017 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

There you have it folks! A handful of NBA draft blunders. Naturally, there are dozens of NBA players who blossomed into superstars over the years, notably the erstwhile Kobe Bryant. Not surprisingly, several NBA legends ended their careers with teams other than the ones that they became famous with, including Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, and even Michael Jordan. Happy dunking with the best NBA odds at 888sport!

* Image courtesy of Ron Jenkins and AP