Stranger Than Paradise: TOP 10 WORST NBA DRAFT PICKS.........

This is my top 10 worst NBA draft picks entering the 2000s, a tribute to those that disappointed big time. It's a top ten because there had been exactly ten drafts beginning from the year 2000 to this year's 2009 draft. Here we can see Darko getting owned by 15th pick Al Jefferson. Jefferson, not a first overall pick, plays much better than all of them in this list. Thus, it doesn't really matter what overall you're picked in, so long that the player has potential, he can have success anywhere. Enjoy.

Dishonorable mention:

Greg Oden, C, Portland Trailblazers - 1st Overall Pick 2007

Mike Sweetney

Luke Jackson

Andrea Bargani

J.J. Redick & many more

Counting down from number 10,

10. Yaroslav Korolev(notes), Los Angeles Clippers, taken 12th overall in 2005

Yaroslav is the starter for this list. Why? It's because most of the players here are well known or least recognized and he is unknown for the most part, except for Fran Vazquez but he didn't in the NBA (picked after Fran Vazquez at 12th overall). They don't have a career average of 1.2 PPG either. I doubt that even David Stern recalls this guy playing in an NBA game. Unlike most of the other draft busts, he naturally has the potential beforehand, of a failure. And it is a career, because even at age 22, he's never coming back. Mike Dunleavy clearly ousted him, who shot 28 percent from the field in 34 NBA career games of 2 seasons. Couldn't the Clippers pick Danny Granger instead?

9. Yi Jianlian(notes), Milwaukee Bucks, taken sixth overall in 2007

His age has been controversial, some claim he might have been born a year or even three years before and he has refused to comment on his age. But whatever his age might be, the truth is, he's entered the NBA now and I don't think you could rely on low-percentage jumpers (unless you're Dirk) to be effective, his laziness has his opponents walk him over defensively and he doesn't even care to rebound. He makes the fringe of this list merely because he's still in the league and his 8.6 points per game come close to Greg Oden's. After two seasons, it's pretty clear what Yi is all about.

8. Rafael Araújo(notes), Toronto Raptors, taken eighth overall in 2004

There isn't much to say about Araujo, except that he's vanished from the NBA since I don't know when. The reason? I guess he found out the NBA wasn't suitable for him because he was constantly overshadowed by other players that were actually willing to work hard.

Have a look at his career averages:

GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

139	75	11.4	.405	.250	.679	2.8	0.3	0.4	0.1	2.8

7. DeSagana Diop/ Rodney White/ Kedrick Brown, taken eight, ninth, and eleventh overall in 2001

It didn't matter whether it was 8th, 9th or 11th. The trio was drafted in 2001, pretty close to each other and thus, reflecting very similar fates too. They were impressive enough to scouts but were never close to being productive on court and received very little playing time. After, being sent by teams as part of packages to sweeten the deal and being toyed by several teams along the way, White and Brown are nowhere to be seen near basketball games and Diop playing limited minutes for the Bobcats. The total career point averages for the three is, 12.8 points per game added up. In other words, each of them averages 4.26 points per game for their career.

6. Fran Vázquez, Orlando Magic, taken eleventh overall in 2005

You've probably never even heard of him. Hey, at least Tskitishvili suited up for the Nuggets and gave it a go. Vazquez might not ever see an NBA court, and if he does it's very much in doubt if it even be with the Magic. The real knee-to-groin moment was that Vazquez announced his return to Spain shortly after the draft. Perhaps you think this is a bit high, but the not doing their homework factor is so obvious the Magic deserve a place among the top of this list. Ricky Rubio's case is much similar to his.

5. Adam Morrison(notes), Charlotte Bobcats, taken third overall in 2006

You can almost see the disappointment in his face often at times, his college success can't seem to be able to translate into the NBA. He has been consistently trying to enjoy a breakthrough year in his pro career but until he has learned on how to rebound, defend, get to the line or pass the ball properly, he's not going to be anywhere near. Did I mention he has to improve his 37% field goal too?

4. Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Denver Nuggets, taken fifth overall in 2002

For all the flak Darko Milicic takes as the poster boy for workout wonders, it's a wonder that people have forgotten about Skita. He demonstrated amazing athletic ability in his pre-draft workouts, then showed nothing on the court. Amazingly, this scene repeated itself in the summer of 2005, when a great showing in the NBA Summer League got Skita a contract with the Timberwolves. He lasted five games. This pick ultimately forced GM Kiki Vanderweghe to lose his job, but saved many more GMs. *(2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.2 blocks PER for a seven-footer.) *Career stats.

3. First Round 2000 NBA draft

Bad. Very bad. You literally can't think of a standout franchise player, other than Michael Redd, who fell to the 43rd pick, second round. Noteworthy players include, Hedo Turkoglu, Mike Miller, Kenyon Martin, Morris Peterson and Jamal Crawford. Listen on, Stormile Swift (2nd pick) entering 10th pro season is as disappointing as ever. Then put in Darius Miles, Marcus Fizer, DerMarr Johnson, Chris Mihm, and what exactly is Mark Madsen doing in the NBA? Oh right, he was waived like a week ago. Do you want me to go on? Or do you want me to just mention Jerome Moiso's name and move on with it. Moving on, ESPN.com columnist, David Schoenfield has rated drafts from 1985, and the only draft in which he gave a grade of 'F" was the year 2000 draft. The 2000 draft has all the right reasons to be the worst draft class ever.

2. Kwame Brown(notes), Washington Wizards, taken first overall in 2001

Kwame's the first top pick on this list, which holds quite a bit of weight because a top selection's success or failure will rightfully be measured alongside all that come after him. Every pick. Even the free agents. Unfortunately for Kwame, his legacy will only carry on with people remembering him as the worst no. 1 overall pick right out of high school ever and the rape accussation, that's IF he has one. And his legacy, (seven points, 5.6 rebounds in 23 minutes a contest, career) are bloody awful.

1. Darko Miličić(notes), Detroit Pistons, taken second overall in 2003

It's easy to say this was a disaster because the 2003 Draft Class was one of the most outstanding in draft history. So obviously you'd think he's going to be a superstar just because he was selected before Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Kirk Hinrich, Josh Howard, Leandro Barbosa, and the list goes on forever. But I don't think it's that simple. However, I do credit Milicic disappointment to Larry Brown who notoriously doesn't care for rookies, and ultimately ruined Darko's confidence as a basketball player. But his stats are downright dreadful, 5.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.7 APG in 17.2 MPG, for his CAREER average!!!. For now, just ignore the stats and I still can't remember a second of the 337 games that he's played in, let alone have an impact on any team. Even DeSagana Diop who averages only a disreputable 2.1 PPG makes a better center than Darko, primarily with his defensive stance and shot-blocking ability. Not to mention his on and off court behavior, who the heck rips his jersey into half when they receive a technical and subsequently being sent to the bench? Man, he ain't Iverson. I think the Pistons would rather take Kendrick Perkins instead. The only feat he's achieved so far in his NBA career, is he became the youngest player ever to appear in an NBA Finals game (18 years and 356 days) when the Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers while playing garbage minutes with Detroit leading by a huge margin.