The worst top 10 picks of the last decade
The NBA draft is often one giant crapshoot. It guarantees nothing to own the first overall pick, while there can even be value in bringing up the rear at No. 60 (e.g. Isaiah Thomas).
There's nothing worse than missing on a high pick, as we've seen many teams squander that potentially valuable asset.
The following players are prime examples of lottery picks that went south in hurry - one for each top-10 draft slot.
No. 1: Anthony Bennett, Cleveland Cavaliers (2013)
Statistics: 151 games, 12.6 MP, 4.4 PPG, 39.2 FG%, 3.1 RPG, 0.5 APG, 10.2 PER, 0.5 WS
Bill Simmons' on-air reaction to Bennett going to the Cavaliers summed up how out of left field the pick was. There wasn't much of a consensus at the top spot that year, but when the Canadian's name was called, there was a widespread feeling of shock and bewilderment in the air.
Bennett isn't even in the NBA at the moment, and was last seen in the Turkish Basketball Super League being cut by Fenerbahce. At least Cleveland managed to ship him off after just one season to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a package that returned Kevin Love.
Honorable mention: Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers (2007)
No. 2: Hasheem Thabeet, Memphis Grizzlies (2009)
Statistics: 224 games, 10.5 MPG, 2.2 PPG, 56.7 FG%, 2.7 RPG, 0.8 BPG, 10.3 PER, 4.8 WS
Memphis really dropped the ball with this one, especially when you consider that three future All-Stars were selected soon after this bust of a 7-footer in James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, and future back-to-back Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry.
Thabeet held the distinction of being the highest-drafted prospect to be sent down to the Development League before Bennett snatched that away from him years later. Being named a member of the D-League All-Defensive Third Team was his only accolade worth mentioning.
Honorable mention: Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves (2011)
No. 3: O.J. Mayo, Minnesota Timberwolves (2008)
Statistics: 547 games, 30.9 MPG, 13.8 PPG, 42.9 FG%, 37.3 3P%, 3.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, 13.4 PER, 21.8 WS
Mayo is currently biding his time until he's eligible for reinstatement after being given the boot from the league for violating the terms of the Anti-Drug Program.
During his peak, he was a clone of Jamal Crawford as an instant-offense guard who put points on the board in a hurry without needing to get to the charity stripe. It was a plodding downward spiral from then on out, though, with injuries, drug-related offenses, and poor conditioning keeping him from living up to the hype.
Honorable mention: Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers (2015)
No. 4: Dragan Bender, Phoenix Suns (2016)
Statistics: 43 games, 13.3 MPG, 3.4 PPG, 35.4 FG%, 2.4 RPG, 0.5 APG, 5.3 PER, - 0.3 WS
It's difficult to rag on a rook who had such limited playing time during his inaugural campaign. Bender's season was also derailed by an arthroscopic procedure to remove a bone spur in his right ankle, so the jury is still out on whether or not he can eventually grow into a serviceable role player for Phoenix.
Then again, when Bender did see the floor he wasn't exactly lighting up the opposition with his shooting, which was tabbed as being one of his more alluring qualities prior to being drafted. In the 12 games where he attempted five or more shots, the 7-foot-1 Croatian only converted better than 50 percent on two occasions, and 20 percent or worse four times.
Honorable mention: Wesley Johnson, Minnesota Timberwolves (2010)
No. 5: Thomas Robinson, Sacramento Kings (2012)
Statistics: 313 games, 13.4 MPG, 4.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.4 BPG, 14 PER, 4.6 WS
It's never a good sign when a prospect has been on more rosters (six) than he's played seasons in the Association (five). Or you can view the glass half full for Robinson, as someone with his ability - or lack thereof - has continued to find work despite team after team throwing in the towel rather quickly.
He's an easy figure to root for, with a never-say-die attitude as his search for permanent residency continues. Robinson is certainly no Love or DeMarcus Cousins (No. 5 picks in their own rights), but he's hanging in there.
Honorable mention: Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic (2016)
No. 6: Jonny Flynn, Minnesota Timberwolves (2009)
Statistics: 163 games, 22.9 MPG, 9.2 PPG, 40 FG%, 1.9 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 11.3 PER, - 1.1 WS
The logical thing to do when drafting a point guard with the first of back-to-back picks is to follow it up by taking yet another point guard. Surely such a strategy couldn't have possibly blown up in Minnesota's face.
To make matters worse, "Chef" Curry went right after Flynn at seventh overall, so if the Wolves were committed to taking two floor generals, they went with the wrong one.
Honorable mention: Jan Vesely, Washington Wizards (2011)
No. 7: Ben McLemore, Sacramento Kings (2013)
Statistics: 293 games, 25.5 MPG, 9.4 PPG, 41.7 FG%, 35.2 3P%, 2.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 9.2 PER, 3.9 WS
If you type "inconsistency" into your go-to search engine, you'll be directed to an online profile of McLemore (not really), who's as unpredictable as they come.
He'll go through stretches when he's aggressive with the basketball after shooting himself into a rhythm, only to follow that up with a series of duds that make you question why you bothered getting excited in the first place.
Honorable mention: Corey Brewer, Minnesota Timberwolves (2007)
No. 8: Joe Alexander, Milwaukee Bucks (2008)
Statistics: 67 games, 11.1 MPG, 4.2 PPG, 41 FG%, 1.8 RPG, 0.7 APG, 9.9 PER, 0.5 WS
"You have to look at Milwaukee and the management that drafted me. If you want to label anyone with the term ‘bust’ - it’s the Bucks," Alexander said in a 2015 interview with Basketball Insiders' David Pick.
At least he wasn't petty. Look, Milwaukee probably did pull the plug on the experiment prematurely, but then again, it's not like Alexander found a new home and proved his former team wrong.
Honorable mention: Nik Stauskas, Sacramento Kings (2014)
No. 9: Frank Kaminsky, Charlotte Hornets (2015)
Statistics: 156 games, 23.5 MPG, 9.5 PPG, 40.3 FG%, 4.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.5 BPG, 12.8 PER, 5.6 WS
There was a period of time when the Boston Celtics felt trading away six draft picks, including four potential first-rounders, was a reasonable price to sway Charlotte into giving up the chance to select Duke product Justise Winslow.
Talk about dodging a bullet like Neo. The Hornets were infatuated with Kaminsky, and bypassed a king's ransom to take a player who's at least slowly rounding into form. Was he worth six picks, though?
Honorable mention: Trey Burke, Minnesota Timberwolves (2013)
No. 10: Jimmer Fredette, Sacramento Kings (2011)
Statistics: 235 games, 13.4 MPG, 6 PPG, 41.2 FG%, 38.1 3P%, 1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.4 SPG, 12.6 PER, 2.4 WS
"Jimmermania" was running wild for a cup of coffee, until it became all too obvious that his one-dimensional repertoire wasn't all that reliable. An undersized shooter with poor percentages and little to offer on the defensive end has a short shelf life in the NBA, which was evident with Fredette.
He's found his calling by playing in China, at least, where he's even scored 73 points in a single game.
Honorable mention: Austin Rivers, New Orleans Pelicans (2012)
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)