Darko Milicic: Boston Celtics Sign One of the Biggest NBA Drafts Busts in the 21st Century
Darko Milicic is still 7-feet tall, and can still run and chew gum at the same time, so the Boston Celtics signed him.
One could argue Darko is the biggest NBA draft bust of the 21st century. Sure, there have been lottery catastrophes like Joe Alexander (Milwaukee, 8th, 2008) and Hasheem Thabeet (Memphis, 2nd, 2009), and of course the gold standard, Kwame Brown (Washington, 1st, 2001).
But here’s why Milicic should be the biggest bust: The Detroit Pistons passed on two future franchise players and another star to take the Serbian who never averaged more than 26 minutes a night in the NBA.
LeBron went first, then Darko, then Carmelo Anthony was grabbed by Denver, then Chris Bosh went to Toronto, and then D Wade went to Miami.
I love this argument from Detroit fans – but the Pistons won the title in 2004! And lost in the Finals in 2005! Short term, the draft pick didn’t really hurt Joe Dumars. Long term? They’ve missed the playoffs three years in a row, and haven’t won a playoff series since 2008.
Darko, 27, should be solid defensive insurance for Kevin Garnett inside, although one wonders what that means for rookie Fab Melo. Then again, the Timberwolves (Kahn!) gave Darko a 4-year, $20 million deal to pair Darko with Kevin Love … only to have Darko get beaten out (soundly) by someone named Nikola Pekovic.

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77 Responses to “Darko Milicic: Boston Celtics Sign One of the Biggest NBA Drafts Busts in the 21st Century”
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September 20th, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Fire Joe D.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:37 PM
Joe Alexander (Milwaukee, 8th, 2008)
/dry heaves
September 20th, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Short term, the draft pick didn’t really hurt Joe Dumars. Long term? They’ve missed the playoffs three years in a row
I guess that depends on your definition of long term success. They did make the Eastern Conference finals 4 years in a row after they drafted him, correct?
September 20th, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Poor Hasheem Thabeet will never get the credit he so richly deserves for being a draft bust even though he’s one of the worst players in NBA history and he went 2nd overall. Sad
September 20th, 2012 at 2:40 PM
Joe D is responsible for the Heat. I loathe you Joe D.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:40 PM
Do we consider Carmelo one of the two franchise players?
KD aside, the #2 pick has not been a star-maker.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:41 PM
Bust? He’s got just as many RINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGZZZZZZZZZZZ as Lebron.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:41 PM
The Detroit Pistons passed on two future franchise players
The Bucks (and lots of other teams) do this every draft. Atlanta taking Marvin Williams over Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Andrew Bynum comes to mind. Hindsight.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:42 PM
Well, it’s better than your baseball post.
/all I got
September 20th, 2012 at 2:44 PM
Once Bogut was off the board, everyone else was just playing for second anyway.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:44 PM
The Detroit Pistons passed on two future franchise players
Also, saying “they passed on two future franchise players” makes it sound like Detroit made a conscious decision to pass on 2 players that had “lock for future franchise player” signs hanging from their necks.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:44 PM
he’s a bust, but there are bigger recent busts. Darko at least was good enough to stick in the NBA even if he bounces from team to team to ride pine. IMO, the biggest busts are guys like Joe Alexander who get tossed aside and never get another shot.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:44 PM
HAS ANYONE EVER HEARD THAT PORTLAND ONCE PASSED ON MICHAEL JORDAN TO PICK SAM BOWIE!!!!
September 20th, 2012 at 2:46 PM
IMO, the biggest busts are guys like
Joe AlexanderGreg Oden who gettossed aside and never get another shotinjured.September 20th, 2012 at 2:46 PM
No Pistons fan would ever say that. Please stop making shit up.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:48 PM
Shawn Bradley called from Salt Lake City and wants to know how he can get involved in this whole draft bust conversation.
/2nd overall, 1993
September 20th, 2012 at 2:49 PM
Once Bogut was off the board, everyone else was just playing for second anyway.
The last two times the Bucks have lucked into the #1 pick their selections have been Glen “Big Dogg” Robinson over Jason Kidd and Andrew Bogut over Chris Paul. Both Bogut and Robinson were consensus #1′s though, so again, hindsight is a bitch.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:50 PM
The Bucks also traded Dirk on draft day for a guy who’s dead right now.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:50 PM
dude was a fucking legend. never met a shot he didn’t like. they don’t make ‘em like that anymore.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:51 PM
Eddy Curry tried to call, but couldn’t find a quarter for the payphone.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:52 PM
Antoine Walker maybe?
/this whole conversation needs more Michael Olowokandi
September 20th, 2012 at 2:53 PM
I am trying to remember that move. There was talk all over the league that Darko would go second, no matter who had the pick. Was this the case with Bradley? I honestly do not remember what the talk was back then.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:53 PM
Robert Traylor = biggest bust ever?
/at least a C cup, right?
September 20th, 2012 at 2:53 PM
Glen “Big Dogg” Robinson
dude was a fucking legend.
That son of a bitch won a ring riding the bench with the Spurs too.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:54 PM
someone named Nikola Pekovic.
Pekovic surprised the hell out of me last year.
/don’t follow basketball THAT closely
September 20th, 2012 at 2:54 PM
Fun to watch old games of him in college.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:54 PM
The last two times the Bucks have lucked into the #1 pick their selections have been Glen “Big Dogg” Robinson over Jason Kidd and Andrew Bogut over Chris Paul. Both Bogut and Robinson were consensus #1′s though, so again, hindsight is a bitch.
teams take big over little every time.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:56 PM
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:56 PM
Even the people who had Durant #1, would have taken Oden at #2. You don’t get hindsight unless you said “I wouldn’t take him in the top 10″.
Same with Ryan Leaf. All the people who had Manning over Leaf still would have taken Leaf #2. Which touches a point I brought up around the draft… if you think a guy can be a good NFL QB, take him #1 overall, or ASAP. Otherwise don’t take him at all, in any round (or at least first two) or you end up settling for Joey Harrington and screwing yourself over.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:57 PM
NBA front offices are sluts.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:57 PM
I didn’t know that. Darko won a ring though and so did Morrison, so they should be exempt from the conversation.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:57 PM
On pure basketball (lack of) ability, Hasheem Thabeet should outpace Darko. I doubt eight years from now he’s going to be signed as a free agent to any NBA roster.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:58 PM
Biggest NBA Bust in the 21st century so far. Marvin Williams might be 3rd after Greg Oden.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:58 PM
I really though Thabeet could have been a Mutombo-type player. oh well.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:58 PM
To be fair to Milwaukee, in no way shape or form was taking Bogut ahead of Deron and Paul THAT bad when you consider 1) they had the (allegedly then) fully recovered TJ Ford and Redd in the backcourt 2) Atlanta passed on those two for Marvin Williams and 3) Bogut wasn’t really a bad pick.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:58 PM
Oh I get much more pissed thinking of the Joe Alexander former (Fort Wayne Mad Ant!) and Yi Jianlian piles of shit than I am at the Bogut pick. Fuck you, John Hammond and Larry Harris.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:00 PM
To be fair to Milwaukee, in no way shape or form was taking Bogut ahead of Deron and Paul THAT bad when you consider
I know. That’s why I added this: “Both Bogut and Robinson were consensus #1′s though, so again, hindsight is a bitch.”
Bogut pick doesn’t make me angry in the way the Yi or Alexander picks did.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Or I should say, the Detroit Pistons drafting Darko over the plethora of All-Stars that went after him was the biggest NBA bust in the 21st century so far.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:02 PM
Wait is Carmelo or Bosh the franchise player? Because, no.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:04 PM
Yeah…Pretty much every Pistons fan would rather have had Melo, Wade or Bosh
September 20th, 2012 at 3:04 PM
Joe D. must love him some Birch Run outlet shopping. I’ve been twice in the last few years and seen him there both times.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:04 PM
I just don’t think the Bucks get nearly the credit they deserve for being a both horribly inept and horribly unlucky franchise. They’re in Clippers territory. Only difference is the bigot Clippers owner probably wouldn’t let the Bucks owner rent an apartment of his.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:05 PM
Or Josh Howard or Chris Kaman, or shit, Kirk Hinrich.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:06 PM
David West
September 20th, 2012 at 3:06 PM
Bigger #2 bust overall in sports?
Darko
Tony Mandarich
Ryan Leaf
Charles Rogers
Sam Bowie
I would rank
1. Leaf
2. Rogers
3. Mandarich
4. Darko
5. Bowie
September 20th, 2012 at 3:08 PM
Ersan Ilyasova is legit though. Might be my favorite player on the team. Not bad for the 36th overall pick. Took him 6 years, but he finally made it.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:09 PM
Hockey has some of my favorite busts of all time.
DiPietro still is my favorite.
But Patrick Stefan going number one to Atlanta with the Sedins going two and three to Vancouver, HILARIOUS.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:09 PM
dewar – it was the 93 draft when the Sixers took Shawn Bradley, and that draft class was poop all around except for Penny Hardaway, Jamal Mashburn, Cassell and Allan Houston.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:11 PM
Vin Baker averaging 20-9 whilst drunk for a few seasons deserves your respect friend
September 20th, 2012 at 3:12 PM
I want two categories for this. Ryan Leaf was going #2 for ANY team pretty much, so he wins the ‘obvious pick’ bust. It’s tough to blame SD though, who would have preferred Manning.
More interesting to me, and tougher to figure out: what was the biggest reach as a top 5(?) pick in any sport, that confused everyone at the time and completely flopped. Who was the biggest ‘reach’ that everyone made fun of and turned out well for the drafting team?
September 20th, 2012 at 3:13 PM
Allan Houston was slow out of the gates. Lindsay Hunter was the better rookie on the pistons. really thought the pistons scored big when they landed both of them and then Grant Hill. Then Houston bolted for New York, thanks to Doug Collins being an asshole.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:13 PM
Van Exel was in that draft too.
LOT of guys that just stuck around the league but yeah pretty lackluster class.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:13 PM
WWOS I don’t think you can blame anyone for drafting those guys.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:14 PM
That was a really good draft.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:15 PM
Whoa forgot the Pacers drafted Thomas Hill. Good to see their pattern of reaching on Duke players is going strong.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:15 PM
Touche. He was a good drunk too. The 96 draft class is badass though. Kobe, Iverson, Garnett, Nash, Camby, Starbury, Ilgulaskus, O’Neal, Peja, Derek Fisher,
September 20th, 2012 at 3:15 PM
Who was the biggest ‘reach’ that everyone made fun of and turned out well for the drafting team?
Or how about the Aaron Rodgers category? Fell way down in the draft, but turned out to be a great selection for the team that nabbed him? Are there any other guys like that?
September 20th, 2012 at 3:16 PM
Darius Heyward Bey comes to mind as a reach who was both a bust early, but did have almost 1,000 yards last year so maybe an ‘i told you so’ case. I remember people saying Belichick reached for Mayo in the top 10 a few years ago… that he was a ’2nd round talent’. Again – if you think he’s good, get him, if not then don’t at any point. See if it works out again for Tavon Wilson this year.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Sanchez!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 20th, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Too many… especially in NFL/MLB. Tom Brady obviously comes to mind, Arian Foster was undrafted etc etc. And with MLB, signability/college commitment just screws it up too much.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:18 PM
You do if you want to at least sound like you know what you’re talking about.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:18 PM
Too many… especially in NFL/MLB. Tom Brady obviously comes to mind, Arian Foster was undrafted etc etc.
You didn’t read my question correctly. Tom Brady was not a consensus top 5 pick in the year leading up to the draft only to fall to the 6th round. I don’t think Arian Foster was in the green room either.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:20 PM
Are there any other guys like that?
Emmitt Smith was supposed to be a top 5-10 pick but nobody wanted an RB except the Jets (Blair Thomas) at #2. Also, Emmitt ran a glacial 40 time. Jimmy Johnson traded up to get Emmitt at #17 and suddenly the Cowboys o-line was magically transformed into a murderer’s row
September 20th, 2012 at 3:20 PM
I always like going back and looking at old NFL draft grades to see how stupid everyone is. WalterFootball goes back, but they give out too many instant good grades so they are never ‘really’ wrong.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:21 PM
Seems like usually guys whose draft stock falls precipitously have character issues or injuries and don’t turn out well.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:22 PM
He liked Danieal Manning as a late third, so getting him at 42 overall is a waste… exactly the kind of thing that bugs me. Each year there are what, 50 good NFL starters in a draft at most? Anyone you view as a starter is worth a top-50 pick.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:23 PM
I don’t think Arian Foster
He was regarded at the beginning of his Sr. year as a late third/fourth round guy. Not great, but at least potential. Then something happened.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Gotcha… as far as guys that fell a lot, I don’t know. Locker and Leinert were two consensus #1′s who went back to school. Brady Quinn, too, maybe? Extra scouting time leads to over-analysis and nit-picking, but those three cases suggest it’s not unfair.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:24 PM
UT sucked.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Mark Jackson
September 20th, 2012 at 3:26 PM
I predicted after the 2011 draft that even Andrew Luck had potential to fall, because of the over-analysis.
By draft day the “best QB prospect since Elway” wasn’t that far ahead of some guy most people had never heard of at the 2011 draft (though not in danger of slipping).
September 20th, 2012 at 3:27 PM
Another good one…
http://walterfootball.com/draft2006G.php
September 20th, 2012 at 3:28 PM
UT sucked
Have for a while lawya. It was his fumbling. Dude could not hold onto the ball, no coop, and in big situations.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:29 PM
Wasn’t that the first really bad year for UT, that got Fulmer canned?
Which reminds me: for all the angst over the team’s struggles and the push to can Fulmer, do you think most UT fans wish they could go back and keep him, in hindsight with the coaching flux since then?
September 20th, 2012 at 3:32 PM
do you think most UT fans wish they could go back and keep him, in hindsight with the coaching flux since then
From the ones I know, it’s mixed feelings. People say something needed to change, I’m not sure they ever really give a clear answer as to why. He was still signing good classes, with great talent (even ones that get arrested). It was sad the way he went. Sadder that once Kiffin left, the veil that was hiding the obvious truth (we were not elite anymore) came open and blinded a lot of fans. Now it’s just a collection of anger and why us?
September 20th, 2012 at 3:33 PM
San Diego got a “B” grade in 2005, for a draft they got Luis Castillo, Shawne Merriman, Darren Sproles, and Vincent Jackson… four Pro-Bowlers.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:39 PM
Joe Alexander. Christ, everyone knew that guy would be horrible months before the draft and he still went in the top 10. One of the worst draft picks of all time.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:39 PM
Joe Alexander. Christ, everyone knew that guy would be horrible months before the draft and he still went in the top 10. One of the worst draft picks of all time.