It doesn't really make much sense to call all first round picks "number one picks" in the NBA because there are only two rounds in the draft.
Unless someone else gives him a deal that they can't match. I always thought that the Blazers should of drafted Durant. They already had bigs in Alridge and Randolph. I would of been an elite team by now.
What????? That's crazy talk. Everyone knows that MJ was the #1 overal pick whenever he was drafted. I mean come one!!!!
so, sam bowie is not a bust, because he wasnt a #1 pick? And Olowkandi has to be in this list too, is he still in the NBA?
Eh, i don't know about bust. Seems like the definition is subjective. Some people consider Okafor a bust but he's a double double playing in an off position. We're in the same boat with AB as well when he requested an extension. Is he KD? Nope. But then again, he's effective on the floor, he's only 22, and a legitimate center. I think Portland's just getting a guage of how much he's worth in the market as well as seeing how he'll hold up healthwise for the season. He's also going to be an RFA as stated by the 2nd poster which means, that Portland get's to match whatever it is that's offered to him. If his health holds up, expect them to scramble to find a way to keep him in their roster. It's a sensible tactical decision on Portland's end and not much more. Your thread title, at best, is premature just as ESPN's title for the article is misleading.
A "bust" depends on your definition, personally I think a bust is someone who performs far less than you expect. Someone like Okafor was expected to be in the upper tier of big men in the league, so him basically playing at the same level of his rookie year until now can qualify as a bust. With Thabeet, I think the Grizz understood he will take some time to be good, as he was really raw. If they expected him to be the 2nd coming of Deke though, then I guess he was a bust in that respect. Regarding Oden, I think he was a bust the moment KD proved he was the much better player. The blazers aren't extending his contract simply because they would need to cough up 9M for a guy who hasn't really proved anything. They will keep him as RA and resign him to a deal more in line with his production.
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