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Now that the preamble has been taken care of, on to the topic of the day: Which projected first-rounder in this year’s NBA draft is the likeliest to become a bust/disappointment?
The NBA draft is a source of optimism around the league, with each team hoping to select the next superstar with its pick. There have been countless players who have entered the league with a world of talent, as well as the hype to go along with it. Unfortunately, quite a few of these players never live up to their press clippings. Players like Darko Milicic, Hasheem Thabeet, Joe Alexander, Kwame Brown, and Adam Morrison immediately spring to mind. This year’s Draft will be no different. There will be players who will surprise us with how well they transition to the pros, and who make the front office personnel who made the call to take them look like geniuses. But there will also be a number of draftees who can’t cut it in the NBA, and will make us look back in puzzlement at how all the scouting reports could have been so wrong.
So whom do you think will be the biggest disappointment taken in the first round? It could be someone selected in the draft lottery just as easily as a player taken toward the end of the first round. Take to the comments section below to share your predictions. We look forward to what you have to say.
Devin Booker
I think he’ll have a future as long as he can do enough things other than just shooting. But that’s the question mark.
I think he has a good future but if he struggle to find his shot early on in the season he may have a tough first year since that’s all he can do right now
Porzingis has a Milicic smell all over it.
Always tough to predict international draftees. High risk, but high reward.
The chances of it being “high reward” on these international guys are pretty slim. I think there have been 2 or 3 guys in the last 15 years who came out of Europe to be drafted in the lottery who have not been complete busts (note that I’m only talking about lottery picks and not back end of the draft guys). Actually, the chances of a Euro being a bust are more likely than not IMO…but I’d say drafting a Euro in the back half of the draft has the same bust factor as any other player.
Kristap Porzingis is the most likely to be a bust or disappointment, especially as a thinner power forward. I also think that Kelly Oubre also could be a bust if his poor season at Kansas wasn’t just a mistake
Jahlil Okafor will be the 2015 bust. Too soft to play the NBA interior
He is considered an outstanding low-post player but we have seen many No. 2 overall picks disappoint, and that’s where he’s likely to be drafted. He could have some issues defensively because he doesn’t have overwhelming athleticism.
I think the biggest bust other than Prozingis will be Mudiay. There are too many holes in his game. He reminds me of Tyreke Evans but with better D potential…so maybe he won’t be a complete bust but I suspect he will bounce around before he finds his niche as a rotation player (not a franchise player).
He played against suspect competition in China, so there is some healthy skepticism how he will fare against NBA point guards.
Anthony-Towns. People overrating offensive game.
If he’s the biggest bust, that would certainly be a major development. It would be really bad news for the Timberwolves (or perhaps the Lakers).
Frank Kaminsky. I think he is a product of Wisconsin’s system (much like Wisconsin running backs who all bust in the NFL). Also big white American centers rarely are a success recently in the NBA. I also was never an Okafer fan. He got dominated on the boards vs physical teams (see his games vs UNC) & can’t hit free throws making him a “hack-a-JO” target at the end of games. I think ESPN tried to sell on on the Okafer legend before the college season even tipped off & the public bought it. He never lived up to the hype to me.
Will be interesting to see where Kaminsky winds up — Top 10 teams have been working him out recently but he could also fall out of the lottery.
Myles Turner will Bust.
He’d be my pick. He’s almost my pick for biggest sleeper. It could go either way, depending on his health, which is always so tough to predict.
Portingis. Reminds me of Jan Vesley and Barngani
I’ve got to believe the biggest bust of this year’s Draft Class will be Porzingis. Like another commenter below, he’s reminiscent of Bargani. He can shoot some but I just don’t see him being anywhere close to Franchise Altering. His upside at the max of his potential, I believe, is Ryan Anderson.
His game is different from Barngani. Much more athletic. Has to put on 20-30 lbs though.
Emmanuel Mudiay for sure.
Do you think he would have been exposed if he’d have played for SMU this past season?
Biggest bust will be whoever the Knicks draft
No faith in the Zen Master?
If it’s not Myles Turner, then I think it’ll be Sam Dekker. NBA teams don’t seem to have a good read on him, as his projected pick range has shot all over the 1st round. I think the key for Dekker to become a solid NBA rotation player will be perimeter shooting, and if the reports are true that his shooting in team workouts has been very lackluster, then he’s in trouble.
I agree with you on Dekker. He strikes me as a real tweener but isn’t good enough at any one skill to really make an impact, besides maybe a bigger guy with an outside shot. If he doesn’t shoot consistently, I don’t really see what else he could bring to the table.
D’Angelo Russell – he is just a slow college chucker. He will have to hope nba players will give him a lot of room to get baskets.