Published: June 26, 2008 08:04 pm         

Who will sink or swim in this year's NBA Draft?

On the day of the NBA Draft it is always fun to go over the biggest busts.

In 2003 the Pistons drafted Darko Milicic with the No. 2 pick, choosing him after LeBron James, and before Carmello Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dywane Wade.

The four guys that surrounded Milicic are all NBA All-Stars, while the 7-footer averaged 7.2 points per game with the Memphis Grizzlies. And what is he worth? Oh just $14.5 million over the next two years. New Orleans’ David West went with the No. 18 pick in that same draft.

Then there’s always Kwame Brown in 2001, who was the No. 1 selection, picked over players like Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol and Jason Richardson, just to name a few. Brown averaged 4.8 points last season.

2000 was one of the worst, producing Stromile Swift at No. 2 to the Grizzlies, Marcus Fizer by the Bulls at No. 4, then Chicago added to its misery selecting Chris Mihm at No. 7.

Swift, at the very least has produced 8.6 points for his career, though not what you want with the No. 2 pick in the draft.

So who’s this years bust? Is it Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, or O.J Mayo?

You never know, though my pick would be Beasley. He was selected by the Miami Heat with the No. 2 pick on Wednesday night.

He reminds me of this year’s Marcus Fizer, and not just because he played in the Big 12. Where do you play him, at small forward, or power forward?

Beasley has range, but he seems to lack NBA range. Then there was the whole size fiasco, where the Kansas State media guide listed him at 6-9, while he was actually 6-7.

He was a great player for the Wildcats, no doubt. I just don’t think he has it.

Of course it could be Kevin Love, who was selected by the Grizzlies with the No. 5 pick. He has the athletic ability of Cherokee Parks, and really doesn’t look like a lottery pick. However the video during the NCAA tournament of him hitting a bomb from the other side of the court was amazing.

Leave it to the Grizzlies to take a chance on Love, after all they need someone to fill in for Gasol, who they foolishly traded to the Lakers.

     

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