The Biggest Draft goofs of all time?

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

A Minnesota Vikings goof:

 

- When they drafted that Underwood headcase who tried to kill himself. Granted, he wasn't showing those problems beforehand, but still, though...

 

- Dallas Mavericks drafted Leon Smith. What a waste of a 1st round pick.

 

- The aforementioned Bowie over Jordan.

 

Jeff George, number 1 pick...

 

 

- In defense of teams that passed over TD til the 6th round, he really seemed like nothing more than your average SEC running back when he played at UGA, so really that's not a "goof".

[Guest Ripper]

I'd like to say that Steve Nash and Michael Finely both came to the Suns in late picks. Finley was 24 and Nash...I can't even remember.

[Guest nl5xsk1]

Why?

 

Drafting Len Bias turned out to be a draft goof b/c he didn't play one game for them when they could've drafted others....who did

Reggie Lewis died young, too ... was that pick a goof? They could have picked a player that would have played a longer career with them.

 

How about Korey Stringer? Or Roberto Clemente?

[Guest bob_barron]

Len Bias died without playing one game for Boston.

 

 

Roberto Clemente got 3,000 hits before dying.

[Guest nl5xsk1]

I used the Clemente example as a type of hyperbole. Your point seemed to be that they could have drafted someone that played more (although ANYONE would have played more than Bias did). If that's your reasoning, any player that dies in his career, or is forced to retire early due to injuries, is a draft goof.

 

Ignoring the Clemente example, was Reggie Lewis a draft goof? Was Korey Stringer? Was Bryan Berard (went from Calder winner to almost out of the league b/c of his eye injury)?

[Guest bob_barron]

What I mean is that Boston could've drafted anyone that year because they wouldn't have died and have been more valueable.

 

Lewis, Stringer and Berard all gave their teams at least one game of service. Len Bias ODed the night he got drafted and that makes his drafting a 'goof'

[Guest BobbyWhioux]

In 1997, with Jake Plummer still available, the 49ers take Jim "Who?" Druckenmiller.

 

Oh, and speaking of Van Poppel, what one has to remember is he's part of a bigger goof by the A's. He at least made it to the major leagues, which actually makes him not the worst bust of the bunch. Us older A's fans smile so much at the sight of the Big 4 now because we remember we were promised this kind of thing in the early 90's, with the "Four Aces draft." As a quartet, it's about the biggest compound bust I know of.

 

The A's draft 4 "sure fire" ace starters in about 1990 or 91. Karsay, Van Poppel, Dreisendorfer, and The Other One. The fact that Van Poppel is one of them, and the fact that Zito, Mulder, Hudson, and Harden are NONE OF THEM, should give you a pretty good idea how this turned out.

 

Kirk Dreisendorfer, who I think pitched one major league game before his arm exploded (come to think of it, he may not have ever made it to he bigs).

 

The Other Guy: Never made it to the bigs, nobody remembers his name, could be dead for all I know.

 

Todd Van Poppel: Career ERA over 6, so bad even Texas dumped him from their traditionally dismal starting rotation (after the A's dumped him totally).

 

Of the four, only one, Steve Karsay, ever ammounted to damn thing, and even on his best day he was merely mediocre, though he seems to be decent out of the Yankee bullpen today. I think he's the one who started out his career by breaking his arm. Twice.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Thats why I have never considered the Bowie/Jordan thing a goof. The Blazers needed a big man and they went and got one. Now if Houston had taken Bowie instead of Hakeem...then we would be talking.

Sometimes I wonder what the Blazers would have been like with Clyde and M.J. in the backcourt -- yeah I know neither is a point guard, but I'm sure somehow Portland would have managed...

[Guest Ripper]

Thats why I have never considered the Bowie/Jordan thing a goof.  The Blazers needed a big man and they went and got one.  Now if Houston had taken Bowie instead of Hakeem...then we would be talking.

Sometimes I wonder what the Blazers would have been like with Clyde and M.J. in the backcourt -- yeah I know neither is a point guard, but I'm sure somehow Portland would have managed...

Sometimes I would wonder if everyone would have been so quick to say Jordan>Drexler if Pippen and the rest of the Bulls hadn't made that 16pt comeback in the 4th against the Blazers in 1992, game 6. I still think if the Blazers had held on, Clyde Drexler would recieve alot more love than he does today. Now he is just forgotten.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

What I mean is that Boston could've drafted anyone that year because they wouldn't have died and have been more valueable.

According to an ESPN special, Bias had used Cocaine previously. The writing was on the wall.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Thats why I have never considered the Bowie/Jordan thing a goof. The Blazers needed a big man and they went and got one. Now if Houston had taken Bowie instead of Hakeem...then we would be talking.

The guy was injury proned at Kentucky. That's why it was a goof.

[Guest Zero_Cool]

Cade McKnown was a huge flop for the Bears. It was a stupid pick cuz they were looking for a new Jim McMann, which is a bad idea, since Jim didn't exactly light the NFL up for an entire generation.

 

Oh, and the Bulls drafted Jason Caffey in 95 I think..and Finley was taken a couple picks later. Anyone know what knocked Finley down so much in the draft that year..not a cocain problem right?

[Guest Ripper]

His shooting percentage dropped to like the high 30's his last year in college and so he was considered a slasher with no jump shot. Of course, he had been a great shooter the other years in college, which they viewed as a fluke.

[Bored 0]

In 1997, with Jake Plummer still available, the 49ers take Jim "Who?" Druckenmiller.

 

Oh, and speaking of Van Poppel, what one has to remember is he's part of a bigger goof by the A's. He at least made it to the major leagues, which actually makes him not the worst bust of the bunch. Us older A's fans smile so much at the sight of the Big 4 now because we remember we were promised this kind of thing in the early 90's, with the "Four Aces draft." As a quartet, it's about the biggest compound bust I know of.

 

The A's draft 4 "sure fire" ace starters in about 1990 or 91. Karsay, Van Poppel, Dreisendorfer, and The Other One. The fact that Van Poppel is one of them, and the fact that Zito, Mulder, Hudson, and Harden are NONE OF THEM, should give you a pretty good idea how this turned out.

 

Kirk Dreisendorfer, who I think pitched one major league game before his arm exploded (come to think of it, he may not have ever made it to he bigs).

 

The Other Guy: Never made it to the bigs, nobody remembers his name, could be dead for all I know.

 

Todd Van Poppel: Career ERA over 6, so bad even Texas dumped him from their traditionally dismal starting rotation (after the A's dumped him totally).

 

Of the four, only one, Steve Karsay, ever ammounted to damn thing, and even on his best day he was merely mediocre, though he seems to be decent out of the Yankee bullpen today. I think he's the one who started out his career by breaking his arm. Twice.

Druckenmiller was a huge fuck up. I mean even if he hadn't had the off field problems and maybe had been a decent quarterback he was completely wrong for the 49ers system.

 

Oh on the A's "four aces" from 1990, Karsay wasn't one of them. They were Van Poppel, Dressendorfer, Don Peters, and Dave Zancanaro. The last two never made it and Dressendorfer did pitch for the A's a little in '91 making seven starts and I think your right about the arm injury. Van Poppell was the typical over hyped, flame throwing, high school kid but the A's screwed up also by immediately getting him up to the majors. He actually had a couple of decent years as a middle reliever with the Cubs late in his career and got a pretty big deal from the Rangers because of it but completely flamed out last year with them and is now out of baseball I believe.

 

Karsay on the other hand was acquired in the Rickey Henderson trade with the Blue Jays in '93. It was a brilliant move at the time to get Karsay and because Henderson just re-signed with the A's after the season. He would have been great if it weren't for the arm problems and he did become an excellent reliever down the road and even has spent some time as a closer. But now he's missed the entire season this year because of another arm injury.

[Guest razazteca]

- Dallas Mavericks drafted Leon Smith. What a waste of a 1st round pick.

That was the high school kid that went crazy?

[Guest CanadianChris]

In the same vein...Dallas takes Chris Washburn (I think) 3rd overall, despite discipline problems at NC State. He gets into drugs and is out of the league in 3 years.

[Guest Crazy Dan]

In the same vein...Dallas takes Chris Washburn (I think) 3rd overall, despite discipline problems at NC State. He gets into drugs and is out of the league in 3 years.

It was actually the Warriors who took that loser.. but you are right on every other account.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

- Dallas Mavericks drafted Leon Smith. What a waste of a 1st round pick.

That was the high school kid that went crazy?

Indeed he was. I remember ESPN the Magazine did quite a write-up on him and his problems trying to pass it off as immaturity(maybe it was, but still), man, did I ever get a good laugh out of that one.

[Guest razazteca]

NBA should make an age limit to prevent situations like that from happening again. And establish a minor league system similiar to MLB. If your under 21 and have no college experience then your going to CBA for a few years.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

In 1992 the Winnipeg Jets selected Sergei Bautin 17th overall in the NHL draft. No one had even heard of him, and most assumed that Jets GM Mike Smith (who is well known to like Russian players) had mixed him up with high-ranked prospect Sergei Brylin, who went in the 2nd round. He had one good year (his rookie season) and then completely fell off the map.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

The Royals picked Kyle Snyder over Barry Zito one year.

 

Phillies - JD Drew

 

Todd Blackledge over Marino

[Ripper 0]

NBA should make an age limit to prevent situations like that from happening again. And establish a minor league system similiar to MLB. If your under 21 and have no college experience then your going to CBA for a few years.

Bullshit...He is the one case out of them all. Maybe if they go to college they would be good, upstanding citizens like Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stodimire, or Glenn Robinson.

 

 

And Leon has since gotten over his shit. I think he was a Buck last year.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

Just about every Clippers draft pick. They actually made Terry DeHere a lottery pick!

[Ripper 0]

Just about every Clippers draft pick. They actually made Terry DeHere a lottery pick!

He was the man in NBA Live 95 though.

[bob_barron 0]

The Nets drafted Yinka Dare and Ed O'Bannon

[Ripper 0]

Yinka Dare will bitch every other draft flop with his suckiness. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!!

 

Speaking of Obannon, that whole UCLA team got in the league, stunk it up for a year or two and disappeared.

 

Tyus Edny was the last suvivor from 2 years ago with the Pacers. Toby Baily=shit Ed Obannon= Shit, Charles obbanon=Shit, George Zideck=Shit.

 

Amazing really.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

Just about every Clippers draft pick.  They actually made Terry DeHere a lottery pick!

He was the man in NBA Live 95 though.

No kidding. You couldn't miss a 3 if you tried.

[Guest BobbyWhioux]

Druckenmiller was a huge fuck up. I mean even if he hadn't had the off field problems and maybe had been a decent quarterback he was completely wrong for the 49ers system.

 

rm injury.

Yeah, that's what's especially mind boggling about it. Not only was Jim Druckenmiller SO wrong for the 49er system, but Jake Plummer seemed so right for it. I mean, hell, his physical build, mobility, and arm range coming out of college were eerily comparable to those of His Joeliness, the quarterback on which the system was f'n designed.

 

Druckenmiller, on the other hand, had the mobility of a cinderblock.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

Thats why I have never considered the Bowie/Jordan thing a goof.  The Blazers needed a big man and they went and got one.  Now if Houston had taken Bowie instead of Hakeem...then we would be talking.

Sometimes I wonder what the Blazers would have been like with Clyde and M.J. in the backcourt -- yeah I know neither is a point guard, but I'm sure somehow Portland would have managed...

Whenever I hear the debate over that draft all I can think about is the oft rumored (in Houston, at least) trade that never was for that year. Rumor has it that Houston was offered Clyde Drexler and their 1st round pick that year for Ralph Sampson (see the aforementioned need for a big man). Then the Rockets take Hakeem at #1 and MJ at #2. A team with Hakeem at the 5, MJ at the 2 and Glide at the 3 would have taken two scrubs at the 1 and 4 to so many titles they would have run out of fingers. Either that or they would've needed to play with 2 basketballs to keep everyone happy. I would've taken that chance I think.

[Guest Redhawk]

Ki-Jana Carter was the No. 1 pick overall by the Bengals. You could also throw in David Klingler (No. 5), Akili Smith (No. 2 or 3) and Dan Wilkinson (No. 1) as bad Bengals picks.

 

Aundray Bruce (LB, Auburn) was also a No. 1 overall pick by Atlanta.