In recognition of yesterday's NBA Draft, The Canon Review has taken a look back at the worst draft picks for each of the past three decades. You can check out the worst of the 1980s here and the worst picks of the 1990s here. I would have had this done before the NBA Draft took place, but because of technical difficulties, this post was delayed a couple of days. So, without further adieu, here are the worst draft picks for each year since 2000.
2000: Take Your Pick
Ok, so this may seem like a bit of a copout, but seriously take a look at the first round here. There's Stromile Swift, the second pick in the draft who started 97 games in his career and averaged 8.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in his career. There's Darius Miles, a high school product and a world class headcase who showed glimpses of quality play, but had his career ruined by injury and drug use. There's Marcus Fizer, who just couldn't play and was out of the league by 2007 with a career field goal percentage of .435, not too good for a power forward listed at 6'9". There's DerMarr Johnson, who came out too early and struggled in his first two years for the Hawks (less than 40 percent shooting, more turnovers than assists), then nearly had his career ended after a car wreck. He recovered, but was nothing more than a reserve. There's Chris Mihm, Courtney Alexander, the immortal Jerome Moiso, and even more. Suffice it to say, the 2000 Draft may have been the worst draft class in the past 30 years.
2001: Kwame Brown, Center, Washington Wizards, 1st Pick
A high school product out of Brunswick, GA, Brown was the a surprising first pick in the 2001 draft by then Wizards owner Michael Jordan. Yes, Brown had an NBA-ready body (6'11". 270 lbs) with great athleticism for a man his size, but to say he was raw would be an understatement. Brown wasn't ready for the NBA, and to make matters worse his owner/teammate Jordan would constantly berate Brown, causing the youngster to lose his confidence. Also, Brown developed a reputation for being lazy and not wanting to put in the proper work in order to be great. So, after four years in Washington where he averaged in double figures in points just once, they traded him to the Lakers for Caron Butler. Brown played for the Lakers for two and a half years, wowing the Lakers fans with incompetent free throw shooting (.492 FT percentage as a Laker) and his hands of stone. Somehow, the Lakers traded Brown, along with three others, for Pau Gasol. Brown lasted 15 games in Memphis, then signed with the Pistons in 2008. In two years in Detroit, Brown averaged 3.8 points and 4.3 rebounds. Apparently, that was enough to impress the owner of the Bobcats, one Michael Jordan, who signed Brown to a one year deal. Last season, Brown started 50 games for the Bobcats, although his averages of 7.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game begs the question as to why Brown played so much. Yes, Brown's only 29, but if he hasn't turned into a good player by now, there's no reason to expect he will anytime soon.
2002: Jay Williams, Guard, Chicago Bulls, 2nd Pick
The Bulls picked Williams, an All-American at Duke, with the second pick in the draft, and many experts felt that Williams should of been picked first instead of Yao Ming. In fact, Bill Simmons predicted that "Years from now, we will remember Yao Ming over Jay Williams the way we remember Bowie over Jordan". To be honest, I also thought Williams would be a great pro and turn the then moribund Bulls around. In his rookie year, Williams struggled mightily with his shot (.399 field goal percentage, .640 free throw percentage), but then again, Kobe Bryant didn't have a great rookie year, and he turned out fine. Unfortunately, we'll never know how the rest of Williams's career would have played out, as he wrecked his motorcycle in June 2003, suffering career-ending injuries. Despite many comeback attempts, Williams never made it back to the NBA, leaving everyone to wonder what could have been.
2003: Darko Milicic, Center, Detroit Pistons, 2nd Pick
Considering how Milicic's career has played out, and the players selected directly after Darko, this could turn out to be the worst pick in the history of the NBA Draft. The Pistons selected the Croatian Sensation with ahead of future All-Stars Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. The good news is that in Darko's first year, the Pistons won the NBA championship, although it's hard to argue that Milicic's 14 minutes in the 2004 postseason had any impact. Milicic spent the next two years buried on the Pistons bench, and started to publicly complain about his lack of playing time, arguing that he wasn't getting any better by sitting on the bench. Perhaps he had a point, but the Pistons didn't want to hear it, so they traded him to the Magic. In 2006-07, Darko finally got some significant playing time, and his 8.0 ppg and 5.5 rpg in 23.9 mpg must have impressed the Memphis Grizzlies, who signed him to a three year-21 million dollar contract. Darko started 64 games in 2007-08, but his play (7.2 ppg) was not exactly what the Grizzlies were hoping for, so he went back to the bench. In 2009, the Grizzlies traded Milicic to the Knicks, and in February of 2010, the Knicks sent him to the Timberwolves. After the 2010 season, Timberwolves GM David Kahn signed Milicic to a four year, 20 million dollar contract because, well, who the hell knows? Last season, Milicic did set a career high in points per game (8.8) and finished 10th in blocks per game (2.0), so there's still a slight bit of hope for the 25 year old. He has a long way to go before matching the exploits of Anthony, Wade, and Bosh, however.
2004: Shaun Livingston, Guard, Los Angeles Clippers, 4th Pick
I really don't want to include Livingston on this list, but since Jay Williams had a similar set of circumstances, I must also include Livingston, the 6'7" point guard who came straight from high school to the NBA. Since the Clippers had a point guard in Sam Cassell, Livingston spent the first two years primarily coming off the bench. He was given the starting point guard position in 2006-07, and while he wasn't great, he did show promise (9.3 ppg, 5.1 apg). However, he suffered a serious knee injury in February 2007 which nearly ended his career. Livingston came back, and bounced around the league for a while, playing with the Heat, Thunder, and Wizards before signing a two year contract with the Bobcats this past offseason. Livingston played a career high 73 games last season, although his numbers (6.6 ppg, 2.2 apg) weren't too impressive. A couple of days ago, Livingston was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, where presumably he will serve as Brandon Jennings's backup.
2005: Marvin Williams, Forward, Atlanta Hawks, 2nd Pick
All right, I'll admit I'm a little biased in making this pick. After all, it's not as if Williams has been terrible as an Atlanta Hawk. He's averaged double figures in scoring each of the past five seasons, and has improved in quite a few areas, including three-point shooting. However, his defense is questionable at best, his rebounding is poor for a man of his height (5.3 rpg), and during the Hawks latest playoff run, Williams was usually on the bench late in the game. Williams has seemed to fall out of favor with Hawks coach Larry Drew, which isn't good considering Williams has three years left on a five-year, 40 million dollar contract. What makes this pick even worse is, back in 2005, the Hawks already had forwards Josh Childress and Josh Smith, and needed a point guard to replace Tyronn Lue. Luckily for the Hawks, both Chris Paul and Deron Williams were there for the taking. Instead, the Hawks took Williams, yet another small forward, in a move that made little sense at the time and still doesn't, to be honest. Ever since then, the Hawks have tried a variety of solutions, including drafting Acie Law and trading for Mike Bibby and Kirk Hinrich. Perhaps young Jeff Teague will be the answer for the Hawks' point guard problems, but if the Hawks drafted Paul or Deron Williams, they could have become a power in the East right up there with Boston and Orlando. Then again, the Hawks have historically been run by fools, so I guess I should just be happy that at least they drafted a player capable of starting in the NBA instead of the next Doug Edwards or Sheldon Williams.
2006: Adam Morrison, Forward, Charlotte Bobacts, 3rd Pick
Morrison was the National Player of the Year at Gonzaga University and was frequently compared to Larry Bird, so when the Bobcats made him the third choice in the draft, many people, including me thought it was a good pick and that Morrison would be the man to turn the Bobcats' fortunes around. Well, we were wrong. Morrison's shot suddenly disappeared upon entering the NBA, and in his rookie year, he shot under 40 percent from the field (.376) and would eventually lose his starting spot due to poor defense. The next year, Morrison hurt his knee and missed the entire 2007-08 season. By the time he came back, Morrison was out of the Bobcats' plans, so he was traded to the L.A. Lakers. Morrison collected two championship rings as the Lakers' 12th man, so that's nice. Last year, Morrison was cut in training camp by the Washington Wizards, and it looks as if the 26 year old's NBA career is over, a fate that no one expected just five years ago.
2007: Greg Oden, Center, Portland Trailblazers, 1st Pick
Like Jordan and Bowie in 1984, the Trailblazers picked a big man in Greg Oden over the scoring sensation Kevin Durant. Yes, the pick was questioned at the time, but unlike Bowie, Oden didn't seem to have a history of leg injuries. But Oden quickly made up for lost time and underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee just before the start of his rookie season. In 2008-09, Oden suffered a lot of minor injuries, but he did play 61 games, although his 8.9 ppg and 7.0 rpg weren't exactly inspiring visions of Moses Malone. The next year, Oden got off to a decent start (11.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.3 bpg), but he fractured his patella and missed the rest of the season after playing 21 games. Last year, Oden missed the enitre season due to microfracture surgery on his left knee. So far, Oden's played 82 games in his career, while Durant's won two scoring titles and led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the conference finals this past year. I'm thinking that Trailblazers fans would like a do over.
2008: Joe Alexander, Forward, Milwaukee Bucks, 8th Pick
Nicknamed 'Vanilla Sky' for his leaping ability (and because he's white), Alexander was picked in the expectation that he would give the Bucks some much needed scoring punch in the frontcourt. In his rookie season, Alexander struggled on both ends of the court and was relegated to a bench role, averaging 4.7 points in 59 games. The Bucks became so disenchanted with Alexander that they traded him to the Bulls during his second season. Alexander would play a grand total of eight games in Chicago, and was cut by the New Orleans Hornets in November of 2010. Undaunted, Alexander spent the rest of the season in the NBA D-League, averaging 20.2 points a game for the Texas Legends and earning a spot on the All D-League first team. So maybe there's hope for Vanilla Sky after all.
2009: Hasheem Thabeet, Center, Memphis Grizzlies, 2nd Pick
Thabeet is a 7'3" center who was thought to be a bit of a project when the Grizzlies selected him second overall in the 2009 draft. As it turned out, Thabeet was so unprepared to play in the NBA that the Grizzlies sent him down to the D-League during his rookie season. Last year, Thabeet played 45 games with the Grizzlies, scoring a grand total of 47 points. Since the Grizzlies had Marc Gasol as their center of the future, they traded Thabeet to the Rockets in a deal for Shane Battier. So far, Thabeet's been a major disappointment, but the Rockets are hoping that Thabeet will fill the hole at the center position left by Yao Ming's injury problems.
2010: Cole Aldrich, Center, New Orleans Hornets, 11th Pick
Okay, it's a little early to call anybody from the 2010 draft a bust, but I'm sure that the Oklahoma City Thunder, who traded for Aldrich on draft day, were hoping for a little more from the big man from Kansas. Aldrich ended up bouncing around between the Thunder and their D-League affiliate in Tulsa. In 18 games last year, Aldrich put up a total of 18 points and 35 rebounds. It's not as if the Thunder needed Aldrich to come through last year, but they will need him to step up for the Thunder to realize their championship dreams. Whether he can remains to be seen.
Well, that's it for The Canon Review's worst NBA draft picks of the past 11 years. Thanks for reading, and if you have any thoughts about this or other posts, or ideas for future posts, then send them to me either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at kthec2001@gmail.com.
Showing posts with label draft picks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label draft picks. Show all posts
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Worst NBA Draft Picks: 1990-1999
In the second of a three-part series, The Canon Review takes a look at the worst draft pick for each year in the 1990s. While teams always hope they have the next superstar coming out of the draft, that's not always going to be the case. For every Kobe Bryant or Dirk Nowitzki, there's a Todd Fuller or a Michael Olawakandi on the draft board, providing nothing but disappointment and grief to their team's fanbase. So, without further aideu, here are the worst NBA draft picks of the 1990s.
1990: Felton Spencer, Center, Minnesota Timberwolves, 6th Pick
Spencer was a teammate of 1989's worst pick, Pervis Ellison, at the University of Louisville. Because of Ellison's presence, Spencer only started one year at Louisville. But the Timberwolves needed a better center than Randy Breuer, so they picked the 7'0" Spencer with their pick. Spencer proved quite early that he wasn't going to be an offensive force, but he did average 7.9 rebounds in his rookie year. However, the Timberwolves weren't satisfied, so they picked Luc Longley the next year. Spencer spent the next two years primarily on the bench for Minnesota, then was traded to the Utah Jazz for Mike Brown.
1991: Doug Smith, Forward, Dallas Mavericks, 6th Pick
Some people might have Billy Owens in this slot, but he did have a few good years in Golden State and Miami, so I'll give him a pass. Instead Smith, a 6'10" inch forward out of Missouri, gets the nod here. Smith held out and didn't sign until just before the 1991 season started, and when he showed up, he was out of shape and struggled most of his rookie year. Smith averaged a career high 10.4 points in 1992-93 for the 12-70 Mavericks, but lost playing time the next year. After the 1995 season, Smith was selected by the Toronto Raptors in the expansion draft, but was released soon after. Smith then signed with the Celtics and played 17 games in 1995-96 before getting released, ending his NBA career.
1992: Todd Day, Guard-Forward, Milwaukee Bucks, 8th Pick
1992 was a rather strong draft, but the Bucks didn't get exactly what they wanted when they picked Day with the 8th pick in the draft. Day, who finished his collegiate career as Arkansas' all time leading scorer, Day got a lot of playing time with the Bucks during his first three seasons and averaged 14.0 points a game, but was an inconsistent shooter, shooting .just over 41 percent from the field during his stay in Milwaukee. So off he went to the Celtics, where Day once held the franchise record for points scored in a quarter. However, he also shot .387 from the field in his two seasons in Boston. Day spent the next few years as a backup for three different NBA teams and then finished his basketball career playing in various locales, including the new ABA and a stint on the Harlem Globetrotters.
1993: Shawn Bradley, Center, Philadelphia 76ers, 2nd Pick
Yes, Bradley played over 800 games and made nearly 70 million dollars during his career (if only I were 7'6"), but his career as a whole came up short. The 76ers decided to make the big man from BYU the centerpiece of their franchise, and picked him over Anfernee Hardaway and Jamal Mashburn. Bradley proved to be an excellent shot blocker, and his 2.5 blocks per game rank ninth in NBA history. However, offensively he was limited at best, and his rebounding was rather lackluster for a man that stands 7'6". In his two plus years in Philly, Bradley averaged 9.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, and the Philadelphia fans and press turned on him. Traded to New Jersey, Bradley showed signs of competency, averaging 12.3 points and 8 rebounds a game. That's not great, but the Mavericks were impressed, and sent Jim Jackson, Sam Cassell, and others for a package centered around Bradley. Bradley would spend nine seasons in Dallas, but only averaged double figures in points for the first two seasons, gradually losing playing time and becoming little more than a better version of Jim McLlvaine. Bradley retired in 2005, finishing his career averaging 8.1 points and 5.4 rebounds a game, and also leaving behind a legacy of getting dunked on.
1994: Sharone Wright, Forward, Philadelphia 76ers, 6th Pick
Over the years, Clemson has produced some quality power forwards, like Larry Nance and Horace Grant, and Wright was supposed to be the next link in the chain. In his first year in the league, Wright was solid, averaging 11.4 points and 6.0 rebounds a game and was named to the All NBA Rookie 2nd Team. The next year, his play seemed to slip, and when Philadelphia decided to start all over, Wright was traded to the Toronto Raptors. Wright finished the 1995-96 season strongly for the Raptors, averaging 16.5 points in 11 games. The next year, Wright spent most of the season as a backup, averaging only 16.8 minutes and 6.5 points per game. During the 1997 offseason, Wright was seriously injured in a car wreck, and was never the same player. After playing seven games with the Raptors in 1998, Wright continued his career in Europe, and is currently a coach for a Dutch team in Amsterdam.
1995: Bryant Reeves, Center, Vancouver Grizzlies, 6th Pick
Reeves, nicknamed Big Country, was the first ever pick of the Vancouver Grizzlies, and the 7'1, 275 lb was positioned to be the franchise player of the expansion Grizzlies. In his first three years, Reeves wasn't great, but he wasn't terrible either, averaging 15.2 points per game. The Grizzlies were encouraged by Reeves' play, so they signed him to a six year, 65 million dollar contract extension. It is contracts like these that is the cause of the upcoming lockout. The only thing that improved after the contract signing was Reeves' waist size, as he got overweight and the Grizzlies saw his ppg average go from 16.3 to 10.8 to 8.9. In 2001, Reeves averaged 8.3 points a game, and chronic back pain forced him to retire in 2002. Meanwhile, Reeves continued to reap the benefits of his contract until 2005, so good for him.
1996: Lorenzen Wright, Center, Los Angeles Clippers, 7th Pick
Wright was a journeyman center who wasn't an awful player, but when you're the seventh player in the draft and picked ahead of Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, you're expected to be a little more than a big man that can provide 15-20 minutes off the bench each night. Coming out of Memphis, Wright was chosen by a Clippers team that needed help at the center position. But Wright wasn't the answer for the Clippers' problems, averaging 7.7. points and 7.4 rebounds during his three years in L.A. The Hawks saw some potential in Wright, so after the 1999 season, they traded two future first round picks for Wright and signed him to a six year, 42 million dollar contract. So imagine my frustration as a Hawks fan when Wright proceeds to average 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds a game next year. Wright improved in 2001 (12.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg), so it was time for the Hawks to make another stupid trade and send Wright along with the pick that would become Pau Gasol for Shareef-Abdur Rahim. Wright spent five seasons playing for his hometown Grizzlies, averaging 9.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in 336 games. After the 2006 season, Wright signed again with the Hawks as a backup center, and was eventually part of the deal that sent Mike Bibby to Atlanta. After 18 games in 2008-09 with the Cavaliers, Wright retired. Sadly, Wright was found dead in July 2010, and the investigation into his murder is still pending.
1997: Antonio Daniels, Guard, Vancouver Grizzlies, 4th Pick
The 1997 Draft was not very good at all, as you had Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Chauncey Billups, and a whole bunch of guys that were either decent or something less than that. Daniels was the fourth pick in this draft out of Bowling Green, and unlike Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury, Daniels actually wanted to play in Vancouver. But after struggling in his rookie season (7.1 ppg, 4.5 apg, .416 field goal percentage), the Grizzlies drafted Mike Bibby the next year and sent Daniels to San Antonio for Carl Herrera and Felipe Lopez. In San Antonio, Daniels developed into a decent role player, but not the star he was projected to become. After three years in San Antonio, Daniels has been a backup in Portland, Seattle, Washington, and New Oreleans, and just this past season, Daniels played four games for the Philadelphia 76ers. While Daniels is a consummate pro, the fact is that he's only had one season where he averaged double figures in points (11.2 with the 2004-05 Supersonics) and his career averages of 7.6 points and 3.4 assists per game are not the marks one hopes for out of a number four pick, hence, his appearance on this list.
1998: Michael Olowokandi, Center, Los Angeles Clippers, 1st Pick
The Clippers could have chosen Mike Bibby, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, or Paul Pierce with the pick. But in true Clippers fashion, they chose Olowokandi, a seven footer from Pacific who didn't start playing organized basketball until he was 17. To say that Olowokandi was raw would be an understatement, but in his first season, he wasn't terrible (8.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.2 bpg). But Olowokandi didn't improve much after his rookie season, and his range was limited (.433 field goal percentage as a Clipper). After a 2002-03 season in which Olowokandi set a career high in ppg (12.3), and rpg (9.1, albeit in 36 games), the Timberwolves signed him as a free agent in the hopes that Olowokandi and Kevin Garnett would make an imposing front line. While Garnett lived up to his end of the bargain, Olowokandi struggled with injury and in his three years in Minnesota, he averaged a mere 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds a game. After a trade to the Celtics in 2006, Olowokandi would last only one more season before finding himself out of the NBA after the 2006-07 season.
1999: Jonathan Bender, Forward, Toronto Raptors, 5th Pick
The Raptors chose Bender straight out of high school in 1999, but didn't hold on to him long, as they traded him to the Pacers for Antonio Davis on Draft Night. That would prove to be a good decision for the Raptors. The Pacers, a team full of veterans, figured that they could wait a couple of years and allow Bender to develop and adjust to life in the NBA. At the time, it probably seemed like a good idea. But time makes fools of us all and Bender wasn't able to translate his athletic talent into a decent NBA career. He struggled shooting (career .417 field goal percentage) and while he was 6'11", he was too slim to bang with the power forwards of the league. Knee problems started to rob Bender of his elite athleticism, and the Pacers had to call it a day and release Bender at the end of the 2006 season. Remarkably, Bender came back and played for the Knicks in the 2009-10, but wasn't brought back after averaging 4.7 points in 25 games. For his career, Bender finished with averages of 5.5 points and 2.2 rebounds. However, he's only 30, so a comeback is theoretically possible.
Well, thanks for reading The Canon Review's Worst NBA Draft Picks of the 1990s. If you have any thoughts or disagreements about this list, then feel free to share those by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at kthec2001@gmail.com.
1990: Felton Spencer, Center, Minnesota Timberwolves, 6th Pick
Spencer was a teammate of 1989's worst pick, Pervis Ellison, at the University of Louisville. Because of Ellison's presence, Spencer only started one year at Louisville. But the Timberwolves needed a better center than Randy Breuer, so they picked the 7'0" Spencer with their pick. Spencer proved quite early that he wasn't going to be an offensive force, but he did average 7.9 rebounds in his rookie year. However, the Timberwolves weren't satisfied, so they picked Luc Longley the next year. Spencer spent the next two years primarily on the bench for Minnesota, then was traded to the Utah Jazz for Mike Brown.
1991: Doug Smith, Forward, Dallas Mavericks, 6th Pick
Some people might have Billy Owens in this slot, but he did have a few good years in Golden State and Miami, so I'll give him a pass. Instead Smith, a 6'10" inch forward out of Missouri, gets the nod here. Smith held out and didn't sign until just before the 1991 season started, and when he showed up, he was out of shape and struggled most of his rookie year. Smith averaged a career high 10.4 points in 1992-93 for the 12-70 Mavericks, but lost playing time the next year. After the 1995 season, Smith was selected by the Toronto Raptors in the expansion draft, but was released soon after. Smith then signed with the Celtics and played 17 games in 1995-96 before getting released, ending his NBA career.
1992: Todd Day, Guard-Forward, Milwaukee Bucks, 8th Pick
1992 was a rather strong draft, but the Bucks didn't get exactly what they wanted when they picked Day with the 8th pick in the draft. Day, who finished his collegiate career as Arkansas' all time leading scorer, Day got a lot of playing time with the Bucks during his first three seasons and averaged 14.0 points a game, but was an inconsistent shooter, shooting .just over 41 percent from the field during his stay in Milwaukee. So off he went to the Celtics, where Day once held the franchise record for points scored in a quarter. However, he also shot .387 from the field in his two seasons in Boston. Day spent the next few years as a backup for three different NBA teams and then finished his basketball career playing in various locales, including the new ABA and a stint on the Harlem Globetrotters.
1993: Shawn Bradley, Center, Philadelphia 76ers, 2nd Pick
Yes, Bradley played over 800 games and made nearly 70 million dollars during his career (if only I were 7'6"), but his career as a whole came up short. The 76ers decided to make the big man from BYU the centerpiece of their franchise, and picked him over Anfernee Hardaway and Jamal Mashburn. Bradley proved to be an excellent shot blocker, and his 2.5 blocks per game rank ninth in NBA history. However, offensively he was limited at best, and his rebounding was rather lackluster for a man that stands 7'6". In his two plus years in Philly, Bradley averaged 9.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, and the Philadelphia fans and press turned on him. Traded to New Jersey, Bradley showed signs of competency, averaging 12.3 points and 8 rebounds a game. That's not great, but the Mavericks were impressed, and sent Jim Jackson, Sam Cassell, and others for a package centered around Bradley. Bradley would spend nine seasons in Dallas, but only averaged double figures in points for the first two seasons, gradually losing playing time and becoming little more than a better version of Jim McLlvaine. Bradley retired in 2005, finishing his career averaging 8.1 points and 5.4 rebounds a game, and also leaving behind a legacy of getting dunked on.
1994: Sharone Wright, Forward, Philadelphia 76ers, 6th Pick
Over the years, Clemson has produced some quality power forwards, like Larry Nance and Horace Grant, and Wright was supposed to be the next link in the chain. In his first year in the league, Wright was solid, averaging 11.4 points and 6.0 rebounds a game and was named to the All NBA Rookie 2nd Team. The next year, his play seemed to slip, and when Philadelphia decided to start all over, Wright was traded to the Toronto Raptors. Wright finished the 1995-96 season strongly for the Raptors, averaging 16.5 points in 11 games. The next year, Wright spent most of the season as a backup, averaging only 16.8 minutes and 6.5 points per game. During the 1997 offseason, Wright was seriously injured in a car wreck, and was never the same player. After playing seven games with the Raptors in 1998, Wright continued his career in Europe, and is currently a coach for a Dutch team in Amsterdam.
1995: Bryant Reeves, Center, Vancouver Grizzlies, 6th Pick
Reeves, nicknamed Big Country, was the first ever pick of the Vancouver Grizzlies, and the 7'1, 275 lb was positioned to be the franchise player of the expansion Grizzlies. In his first three years, Reeves wasn't great, but he wasn't terrible either, averaging 15.2 points per game. The Grizzlies were encouraged by Reeves' play, so they signed him to a six year, 65 million dollar contract extension. It is contracts like these that is the cause of the upcoming lockout. The only thing that improved after the contract signing was Reeves' waist size, as he got overweight and the Grizzlies saw his ppg average go from 16.3 to 10.8 to 8.9. In 2001, Reeves averaged 8.3 points a game, and chronic back pain forced him to retire in 2002. Meanwhile, Reeves continued to reap the benefits of his contract until 2005, so good for him.
1996: Lorenzen Wright, Center, Los Angeles Clippers, 7th Pick
Wright was a journeyman center who wasn't an awful player, but when you're the seventh player in the draft and picked ahead of Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, you're expected to be a little more than a big man that can provide 15-20 minutes off the bench each night. Coming out of Memphis, Wright was chosen by a Clippers team that needed help at the center position. But Wright wasn't the answer for the Clippers' problems, averaging 7.7. points and 7.4 rebounds during his three years in L.A. The Hawks saw some potential in Wright, so after the 1999 season, they traded two future first round picks for Wright and signed him to a six year, 42 million dollar contract. So imagine my frustration as a Hawks fan when Wright proceeds to average 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds a game next year. Wright improved in 2001 (12.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg), so it was time for the Hawks to make another stupid trade and send Wright along with the pick that would become Pau Gasol for Shareef-Abdur Rahim. Wright spent five seasons playing for his hometown Grizzlies, averaging 9.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in 336 games. After the 2006 season, Wright signed again with the Hawks as a backup center, and was eventually part of the deal that sent Mike Bibby to Atlanta. After 18 games in 2008-09 with the Cavaliers, Wright retired. Sadly, Wright was found dead in July 2010, and the investigation into his murder is still pending.
1997: Antonio Daniels, Guard, Vancouver Grizzlies, 4th Pick
The 1997 Draft was not very good at all, as you had Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Chauncey Billups, and a whole bunch of guys that were either decent or something less than that. Daniels was the fourth pick in this draft out of Bowling Green, and unlike Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury, Daniels actually wanted to play in Vancouver. But after struggling in his rookie season (7.1 ppg, 4.5 apg, .416 field goal percentage), the Grizzlies drafted Mike Bibby the next year and sent Daniels to San Antonio for Carl Herrera and Felipe Lopez. In San Antonio, Daniels developed into a decent role player, but not the star he was projected to become. After three years in San Antonio, Daniels has been a backup in Portland, Seattle, Washington, and New Oreleans, and just this past season, Daniels played four games for the Philadelphia 76ers. While Daniels is a consummate pro, the fact is that he's only had one season where he averaged double figures in points (11.2 with the 2004-05 Supersonics) and his career averages of 7.6 points and 3.4 assists per game are not the marks one hopes for out of a number four pick, hence, his appearance on this list.
1998: Michael Olowokandi, Center, Los Angeles Clippers, 1st Pick
The Clippers could have chosen Mike Bibby, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, or Paul Pierce with the pick. But in true Clippers fashion, they chose Olowokandi, a seven footer from Pacific who didn't start playing organized basketball until he was 17. To say that Olowokandi was raw would be an understatement, but in his first season, he wasn't terrible (8.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.2 bpg). But Olowokandi didn't improve much after his rookie season, and his range was limited (.433 field goal percentage as a Clipper). After a 2002-03 season in which Olowokandi set a career high in ppg (12.3), and rpg (9.1, albeit in 36 games), the Timberwolves signed him as a free agent in the hopes that Olowokandi and Kevin Garnett would make an imposing front line. While Garnett lived up to his end of the bargain, Olowokandi struggled with injury and in his three years in Minnesota, he averaged a mere 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds a game. After a trade to the Celtics in 2006, Olowokandi would last only one more season before finding himself out of the NBA after the 2006-07 season.
1999: Jonathan Bender, Forward, Toronto Raptors, 5th Pick
The Raptors chose Bender straight out of high school in 1999, but didn't hold on to him long, as they traded him to the Pacers for Antonio Davis on Draft Night. That would prove to be a good decision for the Raptors. The Pacers, a team full of veterans, figured that they could wait a couple of years and allow Bender to develop and adjust to life in the NBA. At the time, it probably seemed like a good idea. But time makes fools of us all and Bender wasn't able to translate his athletic talent into a decent NBA career. He struggled shooting (career .417 field goal percentage) and while he was 6'11", he was too slim to bang with the power forwards of the league. Knee problems started to rob Bender of his elite athleticism, and the Pacers had to call it a day and release Bender at the end of the 2006 season. Remarkably, Bender came back and played for the Knicks in the 2009-10, but wasn't brought back after averaging 4.7 points in 25 games. For his career, Bender finished with averages of 5.5 points and 2.2 rebounds. However, he's only 30, so a comeback is theoretically possible.
Well, thanks for reading The Canon Review's Worst NBA Draft Picks of the 1990s. If you have any thoughts or disagreements about this list, then feel free to share those by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at kthec2001@gmail.com.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Worst MLB Draft Picks: 2000-2010
On June 6, the MLB Draft will take place, and players such as Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, Trevor Bauer, and Sonny Gray are expected to be selected high in the draft as teams hope they can pick the next superstar. But the draft is by no such thing a certanity. Yes, Joe Mauer, Prince Fielder, and Evan Longoria are high draft picks that have become superstars, but players such as Matt Bush and Bryan Bullington have also been chosen early in the draft, with results that have been less than stellar. In the third of a three-part series, The Canon Review takes a look at the worst MLB Draft Picks in each year since 2000. If you want to look at the other parts of this series, well you can check out the worst picks of the 1980s here and the worst picks of the 1990s here.
2000: Adam Johnson, Pitcher, Minnesota Twins, 2nd Pick
The 2000 Draft wasn't exactly chock full of All-Stars. Of the top ten picks that year, only five ever reached the major leagues, and only two of those players had careers of any significance. Johnson did reach the big leauges, although it seems to be more because of where he was picked than anything he did. The Cal-State Fullerton pitcher reached the Twins in 2001 after a decent, but not spectacular season at AA New Britian (5-6, 3.82 ERA, 8.8 K/9). Johnson pitched in seven games that year, starting four, and was shelled by American League batters, allowing six home runs and 23 earned runs in 25 innings (8.28 ERA). The next spring, Johnson expected to make the big club on opening day, but after the Twins sent him back down to the minors, Johnson got into a heated argument with Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, which is not the best way to win friends and influence people. Johnson spent the majority of the next three years in Triple-A, and had a combined ERA of 5.52. In 2003, the Twins gave Johnson another cup of coffee, and in 1 and a 1/3 innings, Johnson managed to allow seven earned runs. In 2005, the Twins gave up on their former top prospect, and after a stint in the Independent Leagues, the Athletics signed him. However, Johnson again struggled in the minors, so Oakland cut him loose the next year. Johnson last pitched in 2009 for the Orange County Flyers in the independent Golden League, and after going 2-5 with an 8.21 ERA that season, it's doubtful we will see Johnson pitch for a major league organization any time soon.
2001: Dewon Brazelton, Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays, 3rd Pick
Brazelton was an All-American at Middle Tennessee State when the Rays drafted him ahead of Mark Teixeira, among others, in the 2001 draft. Brazelton was rather effective in 2002 at Double-A (3.33 ERA) and the Rays gave him a few starts with the big club that year. In 2003, Brazelton started the year in Triple-A, made five starts, then was called up by the then Devil Rays in May. Brazelton made 10 starts there, and was shelled so badly (1-6, 6.89 ERA) that Tampa Bay sent him all the way down to single-A. In 2004, Brazelton fought his way back to the big club, primarily because the Rays' rotation wasn't exactly stocked with quality arms. Brazelton did okay that year (6-8, 4.77 ERA, 95 ERA+) and seemed to be on track to at least become a solid mid-rotation starter. The next year, Brazelton's numbers went nuclear, as he put up a 7.61 ERA and walked 60 batters in 71 innings. After the season, the Rays traded him to San Diego for Sean Burroughs, with each team hoping they could turn around the other's failed prospect. As it turns out, they couldn't. Brazelton pitched 18 innings for the Padres in 2006, and allowed 6 homers and 24 earned runs. Since then, Brazelton has bounced around the Pittsburgh and Kansas City organizations and was last seen pitching for the Kansas City T-Bones in the Northern League, where he suffered a shoulder injury in 2010. Instead of becoming a star, Brazelton was one of the many young phenoms that were rushed to the bigs too soon.
2002: Bryan Bullington, Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates, 1st Pick
The Pirates' choice of Bullington was questioned from the beginning as many thought that the small market Pirates chose Bullington because he'd be easier to sign than other, more talented players such as B.J. Upton and Prince Fielder. Bullington did have some promise though, as he was an All-American at Ball State. Bullington started out strong in A-Ball in 2003 (13-5, 2.52 ERA), and seemed to be making his way to the big leagues when in 2005, Bullington suffered an arm injury. He missed the entire 2006 season recovering. In 2007, Bullington came back and pitched decently at AAA (4.00 ERA), but not so well in a short cameo with Pittsburgh (5.29 ERA in 17 IP). The next year, after a 5.52 ERA in Triple-A, the Pirates waived Bullington in mid season. Bullington bounced around the Cleveland and Toronto organization for the next two seasons before signing with the Royals in 2010. Last year, Bullington pitched a career high 42.2 innings in the big leagues, and even got his first victory in a start against the New York Yankees. However, he also had a 6.12 ERA, so the Royals let him go. During the offseason, Bullington signed a deal to pitch with the Hiroshima Carp in Japan, so we may not have seen the last of him.
2003: Kyle Sleeth, Pitcher, Detroit Tigers, 3rd Pick
A tall right hander from Wake Forest, Sleeth tied the NCAA record for most consecutive wins without a loss (26) as a Demon Deacon. The Tigers made him the third pick in the draft. Sleeth started pitching the next year in A-Ball, and got off to a good start (3.31 ERA, 8.6 K/9) before getting called up to AA in midseason. He didn't do so well there (6.30 ERA), then he got hurt and missed the entire 2004 season. When Sleeth came back in 2006, he wasn't the same pitcher, posting an 11.90 ERA in 8 starts at Single-A Lakeland, with 21 walks and 26 earned runs in 19 2/3 innings. The next season, Sleeth lowered his ERA, to 7.62. During the spring of 2008, Sleeth announced his retirement from baseball at the age of 25, never pitching above Double-A.
2004: Matt Bush, Shortstop, San Diego Padres, 1st Pick
Scared off by the potential price tags of top prospects Jared Weaver and Stephen Drew, the Padres made a 'signability' choice and picked Bush, a high school shortstop from the San Diego area, first overall in the draft. Two weeks after, Bush started his career by slugging a patron in a nightclub and earning a suspension. The Padres put him in rookie ball that year, and Bush struggled, hitting .181/302/.236. The next year, Bush spent the entire year playing for Fort Wayne in single A ball, and didn't do much better. Not only did Bush struggle at the plate (.221/.279/.276), he also made 37 errors at shortstop. In 2006, Bush broke his ankle, and in 2007, the Padres tried to salvage their selection by making the strong-armed Bush a pitcher. He threw less than eight innings before injuring his elbow and undergoing Tommy John surgery. After an incident involving Bush beating up high school lacrosse players, the Padres finally gave up on him in 2009. In 2010, the Rays took a chance on Bush, and with a mid-90s fastball, Tampa Bay brass believes that Bush could become an effective reliever one day. Currently with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits, Bush has a 5.00 ERA thus far in the season, with 25 strikeouts in 18 innings.
2005: Jeff Clement, Catcher, Seattle Mariners, 3rd Pick
A three-time All Pac-10 catcher from USC, the power hitting Clement was expected to become a star for the Mariners. Clement started strong for the Mariners in A-Ball in 2005 (.319/.386/.522) and, despite suffering some injuries, move his way to Triple-A Tacoma in 2007 and did quite well (.275/.370/.497, 20 homers). The Mariners called him up that year, and in 2008 Clement made the club. However, he didn't do so well against major league pitching, hitting .227/.295/.360 and striking out nearly once in every three at bats. The next year, Clement was traded to the Pirates in a seven player deal, and in 2010, the Pirates gave Clement a shot as their everyday first baseman. As is often the case in Pittsburgh, Clement did not impress, hitting a less than robust .201/.237/.368 in 153 at bats last year. Currently, Clement is recovering from microfracture surgery, and it remains to be seen if he can even contribute as a bat off the bench at this point.
2006: Greg Reynolds, Pitcher, Colorado Rockies, 2nd Pick
While it's true that 2006's 1st pick Luke Hochevar hasn't exactly set the world on fire, at least he's been a constant major league starter, which you can not say about Reynolds. A starting pitcher out of Stanford, Reynolds did well enough in the minors for the struggling Rockies to give him an audition in 2008. That audition did not go to well, as Reynolds went 2-8 with an 8.13 ERA and allowed 14 home runs in 62 innings. The next year, Reynolds pitched all of four innings as a shoulder injury shut him down, and in 2010 Reynolds suffered through elbow problems after being hit by a line drive during spring training. This year, Reynolds has split his time between the Rockies and Triple-A Colorado Springs, and his big league numbers (2-0, 4.08 ERA in 17 2/3 innings) suggest that perhaps he can be a contributer after all. But for now, he has to rank as the worst pick of the draft, if only because the Rockies picked him over Evan Longoria, who was the next pick in the draft. Imagine an infield with Longoria and Troy Tulowitzki. Yikes.
2007: Josh Vitters, 3rd Base, Chicago Cubs, 3rd Pick
Now, the five or six of you that will stumble across this post are probably question my decision to include the 21 year old Vitters among the worst draft picks of the decade. After all, it's possible that five years from now, Vitters will be the National League MVP and lead the Cubs to their first World Series win in over a decade. For now, though, it's doubtful whether Vitters will become a star or not. Yes, Vitters hit well in A-Ball (a .295 average across three different A-Ball leagues), but he lacks patience and didn't adjust well to pitching in Double-A last year (.223/.293/.383 line which included 13 walks in 228 plate apparences). This year, Vitters is hitting a bit better (.266/.306/416), but his defense has been horrendous (an .851 fielding percentage in 35 games at third base). The Cubs may have to move Vitters across the diamond, and at this point it is very questionable if he'll have a strong enough bat to be a quality starter at first base. Yes, Vitters is still young, but for now he has to be considered at least a mild disappointment.
2008: Kyle Skipworth, Catcher, Florida Marlins, 6th Pick
Another youngster, the 21 year old Skipworth was the Gatorade High School Baseball player of the year in 2008. Skipworth signed quickly and spent the last two months of the 2008 season in rookie ball, hitting a less than stellar .208/.263/.340. Moved up to A ball in 2009, Skipworth didn't do much better (.208/.263/.348). Repeating single-A in 2010, Skipworth did slightly better (.249/.312/.426 with 17 homers), but with AA Jacksonville in 2011, Skipworth has done very little. So far, Skipworth has hit .178/.245/.308, with 51 strikeouts in 148 at bats. Yes, Skipworth is still young and had plenty of time to improve, but thus far, Skipworth looks like a potential backup catcher at best.
2009: Matthew Hobgood, Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles, 5th Pick
Hobgood, like Skipworth, was also the Gatorade High School player of the year. He was also considered a 'signability' pick, and even signed for lower than the recommended amount for a 5th pick. Hobgood was thought to throw a fastball in the mid-90s, but once he started pitching in the rookie leagues, his fastball was usually in the mid to high 80s. As such, he has struggled slightly in both rookie ball (4.72 ERA) and A ball (4.40 ERA, 16 wild pitches in 94 innings). This year, Hobgood has yet to pitch due to a shoulder injury. Despite his young age, many scouts do not consider Hobgood a top prospect, and at this point it looks questionable that he'll even reach the major leagues.
2010: Barrett Loux, Pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks, 6th Pick
Loux,a pitcher out of Texas A&M, was considered a bit of a reach when the Diamondbacks made him the 6th pick in last year's draft, but that's not why he's here. The reason why he's on this list is because the Diamondbacks decided not to sign Loux after discovering a torn labrum in his right shoulder and bone chips in his elbow. So instead, the Diamondbacks get an extra pick in this year's draft as compensation, and Loux became a free agent. The Rangers gave him a contract and assigned Loux to their high A-ball team in Myrtle Beach. Thus far, Loux's done pretty well, with a 3.75 ERA in 10 starts, and an average of 10 strikeouts per nine innings. It remains to be seen if Loux can stay healthy, but if he does, the Rangers have found themselves a first round talent on the cheap. If Loux keeps it up, he'll play himself right off this list, and some other pick that didn't make it will replace him.
Well, thanks for reading about the Worst Draft Picks over the past 11 years. If you have any comments or issues with this post, than feel free to express those in the comments section. Also, if you have an idea for a future post or ways to make this blog better, then shoot me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com
2000: Adam Johnson, Pitcher, Minnesota Twins, 2nd Pick
The 2000 Draft wasn't exactly chock full of All-Stars. Of the top ten picks that year, only five ever reached the major leagues, and only two of those players had careers of any significance. Johnson did reach the big leauges, although it seems to be more because of where he was picked than anything he did. The Cal-State Fullerton pitcher reached the Twins in 2001 after a decent, but not spectacular season at AA New Britian (5-6, 3.82 ERA, 8.8 K/9). Johnson pitched in seven games that year, starting four, and was shelled by American League batters, allowing six home runs and 23 earned runs in 25 innings (8.28 ERA). The next spring, Johnson expected to make the big club on opening day, but after the Twins sent him back down to the minors, Johnson got into a heated argument with Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, which is not the best way to win friends and influence people. Johnson spent the majority of the next three years in Triple-A, and had a combined ERA of 5.52. In 2003, the Twins gave Johnson another cup of coffee, and in 1 and a 1/3 innings, Johnson managed to allow seven earned runs. In 2005, the Twins gave up on their former top prospect, and after a stint in the Independent Leagues, the Athletics signed him. However, Johnson again struggled in the minors, so Oakland cut him loose the next year. Johnson last pitched in 2009 for the Orange County Flyers in the independent Golden League, and after going 2-5 with an 8.21 ERA that season, it's doubtful we will see Johnson pitch for a major league organization any time soon.
2001: Dewon Brazelton, Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays, 3rd Pick
Brazelton was an All-American at Middle Tennessee State when the Rays drafted him ahead of Mark Teixeira, among others, in the 2001 draft. Brazelton was rather effective in 2002 at Double-A (3.33 ERA) and the Rays gave him a few starts with the big club that year. In 2003, Brazelton started the year in Triple-A, made five starts, then was called up by the then Devil Rays in May. Brazelton made 10 starts there, and was shelled so badly (1-6, 6.89 ERA) that Tampa Bay sent him all the way down to single-A. In 2004, Brazelton fought his way back to the big club, primarily because the Rays' rotation wasn't exactly stocked with quality arms. Brazelton did okay that year (6-8, 4.77 ERA, 95 ERA+) and seemed to be on track to at least become a solid mid-rotation starter. The next year, Brazelton's numbers went nuclear, as he put up a 7.61 ERA and walked 60 batters in 71 innings. After the season, the Rays traded him to San Diego for Sean Burroughs, with each team hoping they could turn around the other's failed prospect. As it turns out, they couldn't. Brazelton pitched 18 innings for the Padres in 2006, and allowed 6 homers and 24 earned runs. Since then, Brazelton has bounced around the Pittsburgh and Kansas City organizations and was last seen pitching for the Kansas City T-Bones in the Northern League, where he suffered a shoulder injury in 2010. Instead of becoming a star, Brazelton was one of the many young phenoms that were rushed to the bigs too soon.
2002: Bryan Bullington, Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates, 1st Pick
The Pirates' choice of Bullington was questioned from the beginning as many thought that the small market Pirates chose Bullington because he'd be easier to sign than other, more talented players such as B.J. Upton and Prince Fielder. Bullington did have some promise though, as he was an All-American at Ball State. Bullington started out strong in A-Ball in 2003 (13-5, 2.52 ERA), and seemed to be making his way to the big leagues when in 2005, Bullington suffered an arm injury. He missed the entire 2006 season recovering. In 2007, Bullington came back and pitched decently at AAA (4.00 ERA), but not so well in a short cameo with Pittsburgh (5.29 ERA in 17 IP). The next year, after a 5.52 ERA in Triple-A, the Pirates waived Bullington in mid season. Bullington bounced around the Cleveland and Toronto organization for the next two seasons before signing with the Royals in 2010. Last year, Bullington pitched a career high 42.2 innings in the big leagues, and even got his first victory in a start against the New York Yankees. However, he also had a 6.12 ERA, so the Royals let him go. During the offseason, Bullington signed a deal to pitch with the Hiroshima Carp in Japan, so we may not have seen the last of him.
2003: Kyle Sleeth, Pitcher, Detroit Tigers, 3rd Pick
A tall right hander from Wake Forest, Sleeth tied the NCAA record for most consecutive wins without a loss (26) as a Demon Deacon. The Tigers made him the third pick in the draft. Sleeth started pitching the next year in A-Ball, and got off to a good start (3.31 ERA, 8.6 K/9) before getting called up to AA in midseason. He didn't do so well there (6.30 ERA), then he got hurt and missed the entire 2004 season. When Sleeth came back in 2006, he wasn't the same pitcher, posting an 11.90 ERA in 8 starts at Single-A Lakeland, with 21 walks and 26 earned runs in 19 2/3 innings. The next season, Sleeth lowered his ERA, to 7.62. During the spring of 2008, Sleeth announced his retirement from baseball at the age of 25, never pitching above Double-A.
2004: Matt Bush, Shortstop, San Diego Padres, 1st Pick
Scared off by the potential price tags of top prospects Jared Weaver and Stephen Drew, the Padres made a 'signability' choice and picked Bush, a high school shortstop from the San Diego area, first overall in the draft. Two weeks after, Bush started his career by slugging a patron in a nightclub and earning a suspension. The Padres put him in rookie ball that year, and Bush struggled, hitting .181/302/.236. The next year, Bush spent the entire year playing for Fort Wayne in single A ball, and didn't do much better. Not only did Bush struggle at the plate (.221/.279/.276), he also made 37 errors at shortstop. In 2006, Bush broke his ankle, and in 2007, the Padres tried to salvage their selection by making the strong-armed Bush a pitcher. He threw less than eight innings before injuring his elbow and undergoing Tommy John surgery. After an incident involving Bush beating up high school lacrosse players, the Padres finally gave up on him in 2009. In 2010, the Rays took a chance on Bush, and with a mid-90s fastball, Tampa Bay brass believes that Bush could become an effective reliever one day. Currently with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits, Bush has a 5.00 ERA thus far in the season, with 25 strikeouts in 18 innings.
2005: Jeff Clement, Catcher, Seattle Mariners, 3rd Pick
A three-time All Pac-10 catcher from USC, the power hitting Clement was expected to become a star for the Mariners. Clement started strong for the Mariners in A-Ball in 2005 (.319/.386/.522) and, despite suffering some injuries, move his way to Triple-A Tacoma in 2007 and did quite well (.275/.370/.497, 20 homers). The Mariners called him up that year, and in 2008 Clement made the club. However, he didn't do so well against major league pitching, hitting .227/.295/.360 and striking out nearly once in every three at bats. The next year, Clement was traded to the Pirates in a seven player deal, and in 2010, the Pirates gave Clement a shot as their everyday first baseman. As is often the case in Pittsburgh, Clement did not impress, hitting a less than robust .201/.237/.368 in 153 at bats last year. Currently, Clement is recovering from microfracture surgery, and it remains to be seen if he can even contribute as a bat off the bench at this point.
2006: Greg Reynolds, Pitcher, Colorado Rockies, 2nd Pick
While it's true that 2006's 1st pick Luke Hochevar hasn't exactly set the world on fire, at least he's been a constant major league starter, which you can not say about Reynolds. A starting pitcher out of Stanford, Reynolds did well enough in the minors for the struggling Rockies to give him an audition in 2008. That audition did not go to well, as Reynolds went 2-8 with an 8.13 ERA and allowed 14 home runs in 62 innings. The next year, Reynolds pitched all of four innings as a shoulder injury shut him down, and in 2010 Reynolds suffered through elbow problems after being hit by a line drive during spring training. This year, Reynolds has split his time between the Rockies and Triple-A Colorado Springs, and his big league numbers (2-0, 4.08 ERA in 17 2/3 innings) suggest that perhaps he can be a contributer after all. But for now, he has to rank as the worst pick of the draft, if only because the Rockies picked him over Evan Longoria, who was the next pick in the draft. Imagine an infield with Longoria and Troy Tulowitzki. Yikes.
2007: Josh Vitters, 3rd Base, Chicago Cubs, 3rd Pick
Now, the five or six of you that will stumble across this post are probably question my decision to include the 21 year old Vitters among the worst draft picks of the decade. After all, it's possible that five years from now, Vitters will be the National League MVP and lead the Cubs to their first World Series win in over a decade. For now, though, it's doubtful whether Vitters will become a star or not. Yes, Vitters hit well in A-Ball (a .295 average across three different A-Ball leagues), but he lacks patience and didn't adjust well to pitching in Double-A last year (.223/.293/.383 line which included 13 walks in 228 plate apparences). This year, Vitters is hitting a bit better (.266/.306/416), but his defense has been horrendous (an .851 fielding percentage in 35 games at third base). The Cubs may have to move Vitters across the diamond, and at this point it is very questionable if he'll have a strong enough bat to be a quality starter at first base. Yes, Vitters is still young, but for now he has to be considered at least a mild disappointment.
2008: Kyle Skipworth, Catcher, Florida Marlins, 6th Pick
Another youngster, the 21 year old Skipworth was the Gatorade High School Baseball player of the year in 2008. Skipworth signed quickly and spent the last two months of the 2008 season in rookie ball, hitting a less than stellar .208/.263/.340. Moved up to A ball in 2009, Skipworth didn't do much better (.208/.263/.348). Repeating single-A in 2010, Skipworth did slightly better (.249/.312/.426 with 17 homers), but with AA Jacksonville in 2011, Skipworth has done very little. So far, Skipworth has hit .178/.245/.308, with 51 strikeouts in 148 at bats. Yes, Skipworth is still young and had plenty of time to improve, but thus far, Skipworth looks like a potential backup catcher at best.
2009: Matthew Hobgood, Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles, 5th Pick
Hobgood, like Skipworth, was also the Gatorade High School player of the year. He was also considered a 'signability' pick, and even signed for lower than the recommended amount for a 5th pick. Hobgood was thought to throw a fastball in the mid-90s, but once he started pitching in the rookie leagues, his fastball was usually in the mid to high 80s. As such, he has struggled slightly in both rookie ball (4.72 ERA) and A ball (4.40 ERA, 16 wild pitches in 94 innings). This year, Hobgood has yet to pitch due to a shoulder injury. Despite his young age, many scouts do not consider Hobgood a top prospect, and at this point it looks questionable that he'll even reach the major leagues.
2010: Barrett Loux, Pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks, 6th Pick
Loux,a pitcher out of Texas A&M, was considered a bit of a reach when the Diamondbacks made him the 6th pick in last year's draft, but that's not why he's here. The reason why he's on this list is because the Diamondbacks decided not to sign Loux after discovering a torn labrum in his right shoulder and bone chips in his elbow. So instead, the Diamondbacks get an extra pick in this year's draft as compensation, and Loux became a free agent. The Rangers gave him a contract and assigned Loux to their high A-ball team in Myrtle Beach. Thus far, Loux's done pretty well, with a 3.75 ERA in 10 starts, and an average of 10 strikeouts per nine innings. It remains to be seen if Loux can stay healthy, but if he does, the Rangers have found themselves a first round talent on the cheap. If Loux keeps it up, he'll play himself right off this list, and some other pick that didn't make it will replace him.
Well, thanks for reading about the Worst Draft Picks over the past 11 years. If you have any comments or issues with this post, than feel free to express those in the comments section. Also, if you have an idea for a future post or ways to make this blog better, then shoot me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Worst NFL Draft Picks: 2000-2009
With the NFL Draft just three days away, The Canon Review is compiling a list of the worst draft picks over each of the past 30 years. This is the third of a three-part series. Before I begin, I must say that these selections are as of today, as players picked over the past three or four years still have a good chance of developing into solid players. So, without further adieu, here are the worst NFL Picks over the past 10 years.
2000: Courtney Brown, Cleveland Browns, DE, 1st Pick in the Draft
Brown and fellow Penn State teammate LB Lavar Arrington were the top two picks in the 2000 Draft. While Arrington had a star-crossed career, he at least made a couple of Pro Bowls and was generally considered an impact player during his tenure with the Washington Redskins. Brown, however, was never on the field long enough to make an impact, as he battled injury after injury during his pro football career. When he was on the field, Brown showed signs of the talent that made him an All-American at Penn State, but like a few others I've mentioned, Brown just could not stay on the field. After five years in Cleveland, Brown spent two years with the Broncos, missing one due to a torn ACL, before retiring in 2007.
2001: David Terrell, Chicago Bears, WR, 8th Pick
Coming out of Michigan, David Terrell was considered the best wide receiver prospect in the 2001 Draft, and some thought that other than Michael Vick, Terrell was the player most likely to become an NFL superstar out of this draft. Even more than LaDanian Tomlinson. Terrell did not become a superstar, or even a good NFL receiver. In five NFL seasons, Terrell caught a total of nine touchdown passes. To make matters worse, Terrell was the first receiver picked in a draft class that included wide receivers such as Santana Moss, Steve Smith, Chad Johnson (nee Ochocinco), Reggie Wayne, and Chris Chambers.
2002: David Carr, Houston Texans, QB, 1st Pick
I didn't want to put Carr on this list, as I feel like he got a raw deal. But when your a quarterback picked number one in the draft, and fail to lead your team to the postseason at least once, than you've got to be considered a disappointment. Carr was the Johnny Unitas Award winner for best college quarterback in 2001 for Fresno State, and had the size, arm, and mobility that all NFL teams look for when picking a quarterback. The expansion Houston Texans made Carr the first pick in the draft, and made Carr the starter instantly. In his first year, Carr was sacked a record 78 times, due to playing behind an inept offensive line, and over the next few years, Carr would continue to take a beating, partially due to a bad offensive line, and partially due to his tendency to hold on to the ball too long. In his five seasons with the Texans, Carr threw more interceptions than touchdowns and compiled a 22-53 record as a starter before the Texans moved in another direction. I wonder how Carr would have done with a more established team with a better offensive line, but I guess we'll never know.
2003: Charles Rogers, Detroit Lions, WR, 2nd Pick
Rogers was supposed to be the next Randy Moss after coming out of the draft from Michigan State, where he set all sorts of school records and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award for best collegiate wide receiver in 2002. Rogers instead became a spectacular failure. First, his first two seasons were ended due to a broken collarbone. Add to that a poor work ethic, and a drug problem which led to a suspension in 2005, and Rogers managed to flame out in three years, finishing his career with 36 catches and 4 touchdowns. Later, Rogers would admit that he smoked pot and drunk alcohol nearly every day during his playing days, which a judge would rule that, because the admitted drug use violated the terms of his contract, Rogers must pay the Lions back six million dollars. To make matters worse for the Lions, Andre Johnson was selected a pick after Rogers, and Johnson is now considered one of the best receivers in the NFL.
2004: Reggie Williams, Jacksonville Jaguars, WR, 9th Pick
The third wide receiver in the past four drafts to be featured, Williams was a huge target with the deep speed NFL teams covet from their wideouts. While Williams had a good season in 2007 (10 TDs), he largely failed to deliver on the promise that made him a first round pick. Williams has battled injuries, and has had multiple incidents with the law, mainly due to drugs. After five seasons in Jacksonville, the Jaguars let Williams go after the 2008 season. Just 26, Williams recently signed with the Seattle Seahawks, where he will try to make the team during training camp.
2005: Adam Jones, Tennessee Titans, CB, 6th Pick
The artist formerly known as Pacman has shown a lot of skill when on the field, as his three punt return touchdowns in 2006 show. The problem is, Jones hasn't been on the field too much, and didn't play at all in 2009. The reason why is simple, as Jones has a rap sheet at long as one of Manute Bol's legs. He was suspended for the 2007 season after one of his entourage members shot up a strip club, in which Pacman had assulted a stripper earlier that night. Like any normal person, Jones used this setback to his advantage, as he signed a contract with the wrestling organization TNA, where he was one-half of the world Tag Team champions. In 2008, Jones played for the Dallas Cowboys, and is looking to sign on with another team for the 2010 season. If he's serious, Jones still could become a very good player, but it remains to be seen if he can stay out of trouble.
2006: Michael Huff, Oakland Radiers, S, 7th Pick
Huff is still on the Raiders, but up until this point has not become the player the Raiders felt would solve their problems in the secondary. An All-American and the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award for best collegiate defensive back in 2005, the former Texas Longhorn was thought to have the versatility to play either cornerback or safety. The Raiders stuck him at safety, but by 2008 Huff had lost his starting position, due to a lack of big plays and poor tackling. 2009 was a step in the right direction, as Huff set a career high with three interceptions. Entering the 2010 season, Huff might not have a lot of chances left to prove that he is not a bust.
2007: JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders, QB, 1st Pick
Russell was considered the next great quarterback coming out of LSU. He's a huge guy, with some mobility, and may have the strongest arm among all quarterbacks in the NFL. He was supposed to breathe new life into the Raiders, but instead all Russell has brought is a triple dose of frustration to the Raiders and their fans. While Russell can throw a pretty deep ball, he can't throw with any accuracy, has trouble dealing with a pass rush, and hasn't shown a great ability to read defenses. There have also been questions about Russell's conditioning and commitment to the game. Other than all of that, JaMarcus Russell is everything you could hope for in a quarterback picked number one. Coming into the 2010 season, Russell is now in a battle for his starting job with Bruce Gradkowski, a man with the fraction of Russell's talent but unlike Russell, he understands the game and seemed to gain the trust of his teammates last year.
2008: Vernon Gholston, New York Jets, OLB, 6th Pick
I suppose I could have put Darren McFadden or Glenn Dorsey on this list, but at least those two have shown glimpses of excellence, even if they have yet to meet expectations. Gholston, on the other hand, has spent his first two years buried on the Jets bench. Gholston was expected to use his considerable speed and 260 pound frame to become the next great pass rusher, but in two years, Gholston has yet to record a sack. It's still early, but due to a lack of confidence in Gholston by Jets coach Rex Ryan, it may take a change of scenery for Gholston to receive an opportunity to realize his potential.
2009: Jason Smith, St. Louis Rams, OT, 2nd Pick
Even though it's only been one year, I had to choose somebody, and Jason Smith did not have a good rookie year. In 2009, Smith played in only eight games, five of which he started, due primarily due to injuries. But there's no reason to fret yet, as in 1997 the Rams used the number one pick on OT Orlando Pace. Like Smith, Pace struggled his rookie year, but he bounced back and became one of the best offensive lineman in football. The Rams are hoping for deja vu with Smith.
Well, thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy the final part of our three part series on the worst NFL Draft Picks over the past 30 years. If you have any feedback on this or other posts, or have an idea for a future post, than share them either by leaving a comment or by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
2000: Courtney Brown, Cleveland Browns, DE, 1st Pick in the Draft
Brown and fellow Penn State teammate LB Lavar Arrington were the top two picks in the 2000 Draft. While Arrington had a star-crossed career, he at least made a couple of Pro Bowls and was generally considered an impact player during his tenure with the Washington Redskins. Brown, however, was never on the field long enough to make an impact, as he battled injury after injury during his pro football career. When he was on the field, Brown showed signs of the talent that made him an All-American at Penn State, but like a few others I've mentioned, Brown just could not stay on the field. After five years in Cleveland, Brown spent two years with the Broncos, missing one due to a torn ACL, before retiring in 2007.
2001: David Terrell, Chicago Bears, WR, 8th Pick
Coming out of Michigan, David Terrell was considered the best wide receiver prospect in the 2001 Draft, and some thought that other than Michael Vick, Terrell was the player most likely to become an NFL superstar out of this draft. Even more than LaDanian Tomlinson. Terrell did not become a superstar, or even a good NFL receiver. In five NFL seasons, Terrell caught a total of nine touchdown passes. To make matters worse, Terrell was the first receiver picked in a draft class that included wide receivers such as Santana Moss, Steve Smith, Chad Johnson (nee Ochocinco), Reggie Wayne, and Chris Chambers.
2002: David Carr, Houston Texans, QB, 1st Pick
I didn't want to put Carr on this list, as I feel like he got a raw deal. But when your a quarterback picked number one in the draft, and fail to lead your team to the postseason at least once, than you've got to be considered a disappointment. Carr was the Johnny Unitas Award winner for best college quarterback in 2001 for Fresno State, and had the size, arm, and mobility that all NFL teams look for when picking a quarterback. The expansion Houston Texans made Carr the first pick in the draft, and made Carr the starter instantly. In his first year, Carr was sacked a record 78 times, due to playing behind an inept offensive line, and over the next few years, Carr would continue to take a beating, partially due to a bad offensive line, and partially due to his tendency to hold on to the ball too long. In his five seasons with the Texans, Carr threw more interceptions than touchdowns and compiled a 22-53 record as a starter before the Texans moved in another direction. I wonder how Carr would have done with a more established team with a better offensive line, but I guess we'll never know.
2003: Charles Rogers, Detroit Lions, WR, 2nd Pick
Rogers was supposed to be the next Randy Moss after coming out of the draft from Michigan State, where he set all sorts of school records and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award for best collegiate wide receiver in 2002. Rogers instead became a spectacular failure. First, his first two seasons were ended due to a broken collarbone. Add to that a poor work ethic, and a drug problem which led to a suspension in 2005, and Rogers managed to flame out in three years, finishing his career with 36 catches and 4 touchdowns. Later, Rogers would admit that he smoked pot and drunk alcohol nearly every day during his playing days, which a judge would rule that, because the admitted drug use violated the terms of his contract, Rogers must pay the Lions back six million dollars. To make matters worse for the Lions, Andre Johnson was selected a pick after Rogers, and Johnson is now considered one of the best receivers in the NFL.
2004: Reggie Williams, Jacksonville Jaguars, WR, 9th Pick
The third wide receiver in the past four drafts to be featured, Williams was a huge target with the deep speed NFL teams covet from their wideouts. While Williams had a good season in 2007 (10 TDs), he largely failed to deliver on the promise that made him a first round pick. Williams has battled injuries, and has had multiple incidents with the law, mainly due to drugs. After five seasons in Jacksonville, the Jaguars let Williams go after the 2008 season. Just 26, Williams recently signed with the Seattle Seahawks, where he will try to make the team during training camp.
2005: Adam Jones, Tennessee Titans, CB, 6th Pick
The artist formerly known as Pacman has shown a lot of skill when on the field, as his three punt return touchdowns in 2006 show. The problem is, Jones hasn't been on the field too much, and didn't play at all in 2009. The reason why is simple, as Jones has a rap sheet at long as one of Manute Bol's legs. He was suspended for the 2007 season after one of his entourage members shot up a strip club, in which Pacman had assulted a stripper earlier that night. Like any normal person, Jones used this setback to his advantage, as he signed a contract with the wrestling organization TNA, where he was one-half of the world Tag Team champions. In 2008, Jones played for the Dallas Cowboys, and is looking to sign on with another team for the 2010 season. If he's serious, Jones still could become a very good player, but it remains to be seen if he can stay out of trouble.
2006: Michael Huff, Oakland Radiers, S, 7th Pick
Huff is still on the Raiders, but up until this point has not become the player the Raiders felt would solve their problems in the secondary. An All-American and the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award for best collegiate defensive back in 2005, the former Texas Longhorn was thought to have the versatility to play either cornerback or safety. The Raiders stuck him at safety, but by 2008 Huff had lost his starting position, due to a lack of big plays and poor tackling. 2009 was a step in the right direction, as Huff set a career high with three interceptions. Entering the 2010 season, Huff might not have a lot of chances left to prove that he is not a bust.
2007: JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders, QB, 1st Pick
Russell was considered the next great quarterback coming out of LSU. He's a huge guy, with some mobility, and may have the strongest arm among all quarterbacks in the NFL. He was supposed to breathe new life into the Raiders, but instead all Russell has brought is a triple dose of frustration to the Raiders and their fans. While Russell can throw a pretty deep ball, he can't throw with any accuracy, has trouble dealing with a pass rush, and hasn't shown a great ability to read defenses. There have also been questions about Russell's conditioning and commitment to the game. Other than all of that, JaMarcus Russell is everything you could hope for in a quarterback picked number one. Coming into the 2010 season, Russell is now in a battle for his starting job with Bruce Gradkowski, a man with the fraction of Russell's talent but unlike Russell, he understands the game and seemed to gain the trust of his teammates last year.
2008: Vernon Gholston, New York Jets, OLB, 6th Pick
I suppose I could have put Darren McFadden or Glenn Dorsey on this list, but at least those two have shown glimpses of excellence, even if they have yet to meet expectations. Gholston, on the other hand, has spent his first two years buried on the Jets bench. Gholston was expected to use his considerable speed and 260 pound frame to become the next great pass rusher, but in two years, Gholston has yet to record a sack. It's still early, but due to a lack of confidence in Gholston by Jets coach Rex Ryan, it may take a change of scenery for Gholston to receive an opportunity to realize his potential.
2009: Jason Smith, St. Louis Rams, OT, 2nd Pick
Even though it's only been one year, I had to choose somebody, and Jason Smith did not have a good rookie year. In 2009, Smith played in only eight games, five of which he started, due primarily due to injuries. But there's no reason to fret yet, as in 1997 the Rams used the number one pick on OT Orlando Pace. Like Smith, Pace struggled his rookie year, but he bounced back and became one of the best offensive lineman in football. The Rams are hoping for deja vu with Smith.
Well, thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy the final part of our three part series on the worst NFL Draft Picks over the past 30 years. If you have any feedback on this or other posts, or have an idea for a future post, than share them either by leaving a comment or by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Worst NFL Draft Picks: 1980-1989
The NFL Draft is only two weeks away. Each year, millions of NFL fans watch the draft, hoping their team can either pick the player that will finally turn their team around, or pick up the missing piece they need to win the Super Bowl. But the draft is a high-risk game of chance, as for every superstar like Peyton Manning, Deion Sanders, and Adrian Peterson, there's also going to be players like Ryan Leaf and Tony Mandarich that fail to meet expectations. Sometimes it's due to injury, other times it's due to a lack of commitment on the player's part, but mostly it's based on a team's management greatly overrating a player's ability to step up and adapt to the NFL. Whatever the reason, there is always going to be NFL Draft Busts, and here is The Canon Review's biggest draft busts for each year in the 1980s.
1980 - Johnny "Lam" Jones, WR, NY Jets, 2nd pick in the Draft
The Jets were looking for a game-changing player in the 1980 Draft, and thought they landed one in Jones, an All-American at Texas who also won the Olympic Gold Medal as part of the 1976 U.S. 4x100 relay team. While Jones was definitely one of the fastest players in the NFL, he didn't have any other skills beside speed. He couldn't catch the ball very well, which is only the most important skill for a wide receiver, and his route running was questionable at best. Basically, the only thing the Jets could do with him was run him down the sideline on a deep route and hope he catches the ball. After five frustrating years, the Jets finally let go of Jones before the 1985 season. To make matters worse, with the next pick in the draft, the Cincinnati Bengals picked OT Anthony Munoz, who went on to become a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is considered one of the best offensive lineman ever.
1981 - Rich Campbell, QB, Green Bay Packers, 6th Pick
Campbell is a man that is largely forgotten, and for good reason. An All-American at the University of California, the Packers chose Campbell to be the quarterback of the future and lead them back into the playoffs. However, in four years with the Packers, Campbell never even started a game for the team, as he couldn't beat Lynn Dickey for the starting role. Campbell only threw 68 career passes before the Packers let him go. Just two picks later, the 49ers picked a defensive back by the name of Ronnie Lott, only one of the best defensive players to play football. I'm almost positive that the woebegone Packers of the 1980s could have used Ronnie Lott.
1982 - Kenneth Sims, DE, New England Patriots, 1st Pick
1982 was not the NFL's strongest draft, as there were a lot of candidates for worst pick to choose pick. However, I decided to start with the top pick and went with Kenneth Sims, a University of Texas product who, while he lasted eight years with the Patriots, never met expectations and was really an average player at best. Sims was plagued by injury, playing only a full season once, and was often criticized for his poor conditioning and practice habits. After being arrested for possession of cocaine in June of 1990, the Patriots released Sims, and he never played another down of NFL football.
1983 - Todd Blackledge, QB, Kansas City Chiefs, 7th Pick
Blackledge had just come off leading his Penn State Nittany Lions to the national title, and in 1982, won the Davey O'Brien Award for being the best quarterback in the nation, over future legends like John Elway, Dan Marino, and Steve Young. Needless to say, the Chiefs felt they had a star in the making when they picked Blackledge seventh overall, ahead of both Marino and Jim Kelly, who both are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Blackledge, meanwhile, is not. In seven seasons with the Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers, Blackledge threw for more interceptions than touchdowns and completed less than 50 percent of his passes. Today, Blackledge is a college football analyst for ESPN, where he is a lot better than he was as an NFL Quarterback.
1984 - Kenny Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles, 4th Pick
This was probably the worst first round of the 1980s, as due to the USFL signing up a lot of the top rookies, the talent pool in the NFL Draft was a lot shallower than usual. Jackson, interestingly enough, was Blackledge's top target at Penn State, and was a two time All-American during his collegiate career. The Eagles, looking for another deep threat for Ron Jaworski, took the local kid Jackson. Like Johnny Lam Jones, Jackson had good speed, but that was about it, as he never caught more than 40 balls in a season and was released a few years later. He spent the next few years with Houston and back in Philadelphia, but mainly as a special teams gunner. Jackson now is a broadcaster and a restaurant owner, so at least he's had some success after college.
1985 - Kevin Allen, OT, Philadelphia Eagles, 9th Pick
The Eagles make their second straight appearance on this list, and nearly made a third because their 1983 first rounder, RB Michael Haddix, wasn't very good either. Allen was selected to help protect QB Ron Jaworski from pass rushers like Lawrence Taylor. Allen was described by coach Buddy Ryan as "a good football player ... if you want someone to stand around and kill the grass". Not only did he suck at football, Allen tested positive for cocaine in 1986, and then was charged and convicted of sexual assault, serving three years in prison. For the record, Kevin Allen only played one season, and wasn't very good either, which is exactly the opposite of what you expect from your first round selection. To make matters worse, future All-Pro tackle Jim Lachey was taken only three picks, and seven picks later, a guy by the name of Jerry Rice was selected.
1986 - Anthony Bell, LB, St. Louis (now Arizona) Cardinals, 5th Pick
The Cardinals were in need of a spark on the defensive side of the ball, and thought they found one in Bell. Why they felt that way is a mystery to most people, as Bell didn't even make his All-Conference team his senior year. Bell spent five years with the Cardinals, and although he started for four of them, he hardly ever made a big play and never started another NFL game after leaving the Cardinals in 1990. If the Cardinals really wanted an impact player, they should have taken Leslie O'neal, who had 12.5 sacks as a rookie and 132.5 career quarterback sacks.
1987 - Alonzo Highsmith, RB, Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans) 3rd Pick
1987 offered a lot of possible choices for this spot, but ultimately I went with the highest pick in Highsmith. Highsmith was the main ballcarrier for the Miami Hurricanes back when they were dominating college football. A large power back with some speed, Highsmith looked as if he could become one of the best running backs in the NFL, and he very well could have, except for the fact that he hurt his knee. After his knee injury, Highsmith was not the same player he once was, and retired after the 1993 season. He later became a professional boxer, compiling a career record of 27-1-2. Today Highsmith scouts potential draft picks for the Green Bay Packers.
1988 - Aundray Bruce, LB-DE, Atlanta Falcons, 1st Pick
It was only a matter of time before the Falcons made this list. In 1988, the Falcons picked Bruce over future All-Pros like wide receivers Michael Irvin, Sterling Sharpe and Tim Brown, defensive end Neil Smith, and safety Bennie Blades, believing that Bruce would become the next Lawrence Taylor. Instead, Bruce often played like James Taylor. Bruce was blessed with exceptional speed and a 6'5" 245 lb pound frame, and was a heck of an athlete. Unfortunately, he became more known for his partying exploits off the field than anything he did on the field, and would oftentimes make a dumb play due to his lack of preperation and understanding of the team's defensive scheme. The Falcons did not do any favors to Bruce, as they kept changing his role, the defensive formation, and even tried to make him a tight end. Finally, after the 1991 season, the Falcons released Bruce, and he signed with the Raiders, where he became a solid backup at defensive end for a number of years, but never came close to meeting the expectations of being the next LT.
1989 - Tony Mandarich, OT, Green Bay Packers, 2nd Pick
The first five selections in the 1989 Draft were Troy Aikman, Mandarich, Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders. Three of those men are in the Hall of Fame, and Deion will be once he becomes eligible, the fifth man is Mandarich. Mandarich was deemed the best offensive line prospect of all-time by Sports Illustrated, and was thought of as a can't-miss prospect. Mandarich ended up missing, all right. While Mandarich was as strong as an ox and built like Brock Lesnar, he also had the mobility of a phone booth and therefore, was not able to handle speedy pass rushers. He also used steroids and had a substance abuse problem, so it was small wonder that the Packers released Mandarich after only three seasons. After a brief stint in the Canadian Football League, Mandarich came back to the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, where he spent a couple of season as a starting guard for the team, and by most reports, did all right for himself, but never became the super dominant lineman that he and many others thought he would.
Well, thanks for reading, and if you have any ideas for future posts on The Canon Review, than let me know either by leaving a comment or e-mailing me at KtheC2001@gmail.com. Here are a few videos of these men, in case you wanted to watch them.
1980 - Johnny "Lam" Jones, WR, NY Jets, 2nd pick in the Draft
The Jets were looking for a game-changing player in the 1980 Draft, and thought they landed one in Jones, an All-American at Texas who also won the Olympic Gold Medal as part of the 1976 U.S. 4x100 relay team. While Jones was definitely one of the fastest players in the NFL, he didn't have any other skills beside speed. He couldn't catch the ball very well, which is only the most important skill for a wide receiver, and his route running was questionable at best. Basically, the only thing the Jets could do with him was run him down the sideline on a deep route and hope he catches the ball. After five frustrating years, the Jets finally let go of Jones before the 1985 season. To make matters worse, with the next pick in the draft, the Cincinnati Bengals picked OT Anthony Munoz, who went on to become a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is considered one of the best offensive lineman ever.
1981 - Rich Campbell, QB, Green Bay Packers, 6th Pick
Campbell is a man that is largely forgotten, and for good reason. An All-American at the University of California, the Packers chose Campbell to be the quarterback of the future and lead them back into the playoffs. However, in four years with the Packers, Campbell never even started a game for the team, as he couldn't beat Lynn Dickey for the starting role. Campbell only threw 68 career passes before the Packers let him go. Just two picks later, the 49ers picked a defensive back by the name of Ronnie Lott, only one of the best defensive players to play football. I'm almost positive that the woebegone Packers of the 1980s could have used Ronnie Lott.
1982 - Kenneth Sims, DE, New England Patriots, 1st Pick
1982 was not the NFL's strongest draft, as there were a lot of candidates for worst pick to choose pick. However, I decided to start with the top pick and went with Kenneth Sims, a University of Texas product who, while he lasted eight years with the Patriots, never met expectations and was really an average player at best. Sims was plagued by injury, playing only a full season once, and was often criticized for his poor conditioning and practice habits. After being arrested for possession of cocaine in June of 1990, the Patriots released Sims, and he never played another down of NFL football.
1983 - Todd Blackledge, QB, Kansas City Chiefs, 7th Pick
Blackledge had just come off leading his Penn State Nittany Lions to the national title, and in 1982, won the Davey O'Brien Award for being the best quarterback in the nation, over future legends like John Elway, Dan Marino, and Steve Young. Needless to say, the Chiefs felt they had a star in the making when they picked Blackledge seventh overall, ahead of both Marino and Jim Kelly, who both are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Blackledge, meanwhile, is not. In seven seasons with the Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers, Blackledge threw for more interceptions than touchdowns and completed less than 50 percent of his passes. Today, Blackledge is a college football analyst for ESPN, where he is a lot better than he was as an NFL Quarterback.
1984 - Kenny Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles, 4th Pick
This was probably the worst first round of the 1980s, as due to the USFL signing up a lot of the top rookies, the talent pool in the NFL Draft was a lot shallower than usual. Jackson, interestingly enough, was Blackledge's top target at Penn State, and was a two time All-American during his collegiate career. The Eagles, looking for another deep threat for Ron Jaworski, took the local kid Jackson. Like Johnny Lam Jones, Jackson had good speed, but that was about it, as he never caught more than 40 balls in a season and was released a few years later. He spent the next few years with Houston and back in Philadelphia, but mainly as a special teams gunner. Jackson now is a broadcaster and a restaurant owner, so at least he's had some success after college.
1985 - Kevin Allen, OT, Philadelphia Eagles, 9th Pick
The Eagles make their second straight appearance on this list, and nearly made a third because their 1983 first rounder, RB Michael Haddix, wasn't very good either. Allen was selected to help protect QB Ron Jaworski from pass rushers like Lawrence Taylor. Allen was described by coach Buddy Ryan as "a good football player ... if you want someone to stand around and kill the grass". Not only did he suck at football, Allen tested positive for cocaine in 1986, and then was charged and convicted of sexual assault, serving three years in prison. For the record, Kevin Allen only played one season, and wasn't very good either, which is exactly the opposite of what you expect from your first round selection. To make matters worse, future All-Pro tackle Jim Lachey was taken only three picks, and seven picks later, a guy by the name of Jerry Rice was selected.
1986 - Anthony Bell, LB, St. Louis (now Arizona) Cardinals, 5th Pick
The Cardinals were in need of a spark on the defensive side of the ball, and thought they found one in Bell. Why they felt that way is a mystery to most people, as Bell didn't even make his All-Conference team his senior year. Bell spent five years with the Cardinals, and although he started for four of them, he hardly ever made a big play and never started another NFL game after leaving the Cardinals in 1990. If the Cardinals really wanted an impact player, they should have taken Leslie O'neal, who had 12.5 sacks as a rookie and 132.5 career quarterback sacks.
1987 - Alonzo Highsmith, RB, Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans) 3rd Pick
1987 offered a lot of possible choices for this spot, but ultimately I went with the highest pick in Highsmith. Highsmith was the main ballcarrier for the Miami Hurricanes back when they were dominating college football. A large power back with some speed, Highsmith looked as if he could become one of the best running backs in the NFL, and he very well could have, except for the fact that he hurt his knee. After his knee injury, Highsmith was not the same player he once was, and retired after the 1993 season. He later became a professional boxer, compiling a career record of 27-1-2. Today Highsmith scouts potential draft picks for the Green Bay Packers.
1988 - Aundray Bruce, LB-DE, Atlanta Falcons, 1st Pick
It was only a matter of time before the Falcons made this list. In 1988, the Falcons picked Bruce over future All-Pros like wide receivers Michael Irvin, Sterling Sharpe and Tim Brown, defensive end Neil Smith, and safety Bennie Blades, believing that Bruce would become the next Lawrence Taylor. Instead, Bruce often played like James Taylor. Bruce was blessed with exceptional speed and a 6'5" 245 lb pound frame, and was a heck of an athlete. Unfortunately, he became more known for his partying exploits off the field than anything he did on the field, and would oftentimes make a dumb play due to his lack of preperation and understanding of the team's defensive scheme. The Falcons did not do any favors to Bruce, as they kept changing his role, the defensive formation, and even tried to make him a tight end. Finally, after the 1991 season, the Falcons released Bruce, and he signed with the Raiders, where he became a solid backup at defensive end for a number of years, but never came close to meeting the expectations of being the next LT.
1989 - Tony Mandarich, OT, Green Bay Packers, 2nd Pick
The first five selections in the 1989 Draft were Troy Aikman, Mandarich, Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders. Three of those men are in the Hall of Fame, and Deion will be once he becomes eligible, the fifth man is Mandarich. Mandarich was deemed the best offensive line prospect of all-time by Sports Illustrated, and was thought of as a can't-miss prospect. Mandarich ended up missing, all right. While Mandarich was as strong as an ox and built like Brock Lesnar, he also had the mobility of a phone booth and therefore, was not able to handle speedy pass rushers. He also used steroids and had a substance abuse problem, so it was small wonder that the Packers released Mandarich after only three seasons. After a brief stint in the Canadian Football League, Mandarich came back to the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, where he spent a couple of season as a starting guard for the team, and by most reports, did all right for himself, but never became the super dominant lineman that he and many others thought he would.
Well, thanks for reading, and if you have any ideas for future posts on The Canon Review, than let me know either by leaving a comment or e-mailing me at KtheC2001@gmail.com. Here are a few videos of these men, in case you wanted to watch them.
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