The Frederic Weis All (Forgettable & Forgotten) First-Rounders
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Frederic Weis's One Shining MomentAs we stand on the precipice of the 2008 NBA Draft, I care surprisingly little. The thing that intrigues me most is not who will be taken first overall or what draft-day trades will be consummated. What interests me is those who will be selected with one of those high picks, showered with praise and "upside potential" to the Nth degree, staked to a hearty contract all only to disappear with nary a whimper from our collective NBA consciousness.
The real fun as I investigated the first round selections of past drafts was stumbling upon those names that make your eyebrows crinkle and ask: "Who?" Sometimes the names themselves are not entirely unfamiliar, but, with all of them, the memory of their NBA career is ever-challenging to recall. These are not necessarily busts, although some fit the description. But, for all, to be selected so high, and leave such a small imprint, was surely a disappointment to the teams that selected them.
So, who are those players and names from the past decade? Who was taken in the coveted top half of round one? Who were those prospects to whom NBA teams saddled hopes of upgrading their roster if not becoming a pillar of their organization? Who are these now forgotten ones? Let's take a walk down memory (or amnesia) lane. Here are a few of the eyebrow-raisers this somewhat-educated NBA fan had trouble pulling out from the cranial archives (either by name, NBA career, or, most often, both).
1997: Olivier Saint-Jean (#11 to Sacramento, San Jose St.)
If you were like us, the name Olivier Saint-Jean conjured up visions of absolutely nothing. Until, of course, one realizes that Saint-Jean is Tariq Abdul-Wahad. Finckle is Einhorn. Einhorn is Finckle! Yes, Tariq cast away his native France in favor of an Islamic conversion in 1997. Among this list, Saint-Jean Abdul-Wahad, although nothing to write home about, was far from the laughingstock of the bunch.
The real fun as I investigated the first round selections of past drafts was stumbling upon those names that make your eyebrows crinkle and ask: "Who?" Sometimes the names themselves are not entirely unfamiliar, but, with all of them, the memory of their NBA career is ever-challenging to recall. These are not necessarily busts, although some fit the description. But, for all, to be selected so high, and leave such a small imprint, was surely a disappointment to the teams that selected them.
So, who are those players and names from the past decade? Who was taken in the coveted top half of round one? Who were those prospects to whom NBA teams saddled hopes of upgrading their roster if not becoming a pillar of their organization? Who are these now forgotten ones? Let's take a walk down memory (or amnesia) lane. Here are a few of the eyebrow-raisers this somewhat-educated NBA fan had trouble pulling out from the cranial archives (either by name, NBA career, or, most often, both).
1997: Olivier Saint-Jean (#11 to Sacramento, San Jose St.)
If you were like us, the name Olivier Saint-Jean conjured up visions of absolutely nothing. Until, of course, one realizes that Saint-Jean is Tariq Abdul-Wahad. Finckle is Einhorn. Einhorn is Finckle! Yes, Tariq cast away his native France in favor of an Islamic conversion in 1997. Among this list, Saint-Jean Abdul-Wahad, although nothing to write home about, was far from the laughingstock of the bunch.
1998: Bryce Drew (#16 to Houston, Valparaiso)
Like I said, some of these guys names you might remember. Anyone my age cannot forget Drew nailing that improbable three to beat Ole Miss in the 1998 NCAA Tourney. Watch that video again and listen to the commentary. I'd forgotten the lead up to that final play, which makes the last few minutes of that game all the more amazing. Forgotten could also be the word I'd use to describe Drew's NBA career. Bryce somehow started 41 games for 00-01 Bulls and ended his six-year stint with a 4.4 ppg average. OK, now watch that play again. How about the inbounds pass??!!
1999: Frederic Weis (#15 to New York, France)
Our post namesake and inspiration. Sometimes Wikipedia really is all you need. My favorite line: "He was drafted by the New York Knicks with the 15th pick in the first round of the 1999 NBA Draft but did not sign with them and never played in the NBA. His selection is widely regarded as a major draft blunder that contributed to the several mediocre seasons that followed for the Knicks." You don't say?
2000: Jerome Moiso (#11 to Boston, UCLA)
Ask me where Jerome Moiso played college ball, and I'd immediately be able to respond with UCLA. His NBA career? Can't say I ever remember seeing the guy play. Ever. Which sounds about right if you look at the rundown. Marcus Fizer should also get a HT for being so dominant in college and almost succeeding in leaving no delible imprint on the part of my brain that recalls NBA players in uniform.
2001: Kirk Haston (#16 to Charlotte, Indiana)
Hmmmm...slow, 6'9 white guy from Indiana. Don't care how nice a touch he has on his jumper, you might not want to take a pass, Charlotte. Apparently, some lessons are never fully learned.
Hmmmm...slow, 6'9 white guy from Indiana. Don't care how nice a touch he has on his jumper, you might not want to take a pass, Charlotte. Apparently, some lessons are never fully learned.
2002: Nikoloz Tskitishvili (#5 to Denver, Italy)
This person went #5 overall in the draft. #5. Overall. Wait, who is this person?
This person went #5 overall in the draft. #5. Overall. Wait, who is this person?
2003: Michael Sweetney (#9 to New York, Georgetown)
Since he was drafted by the Knicks, I have a soft spot for Sweetney. He seemed like a real good guy who just couldn't keep himself away from the buffet table. Plus, it was just awesome when Walt Clyde would say "...with the sweet stuff" after Michael jammed one home. But a #9 pick? Really? Georgetown has been one of my favorite college teams since I went to hoops camp there at age 10. I watched a lot of Hoyas basketball. How could one look at Sweetney and deem him worthy of a top 10 first-round pick? Ahhh, yes. It was the New York Knicks. A team that makes many things possible that could seemingly not be accomplished by any other franchise. By the way, David West went 18th and Josh Howard 29th in 2003. Sure neither of those fellas could've helped the Knicks. Nah, not a bit.
Since he was drafted by the Knicks, I have a soft spot for Sweetney. He seemed like a real good guy who just couldn't keep himself away from the buffet table. Plus, it was just awesome when Walt Clyde would say "...with the sweet stuff" after Michael jammed one home. But a #9 pick? Really? Georgetown has been one of my favorite college teams since I went to hoops camp there at age 10. I watched a lot of Hoyas basketball. How could one look at Sweetney and deem him worthy of a top 10 first-round pick? Ahhh, yes. It was the New York Knicks. A team that makes many things possible that could seemingly not be accomplished by any other franchise. By the way, David West went 18th and Josh Howard 29th in 2003. Sure neither of those fellas could've helped the Knicks. Nah, not a bit.
2004: Luke Jackson (#10 to Cleveland, Oregon)
Another guy I loved in college. Sweet stroke. Luke had that long-haired Pacific Northwest laid-back vibe going with Ridnour. But Cleveland might want to reference our comments on the 2001 draft and Charlotte's selection. That said, Jackson appears to be improving a bit with age. Still, it was shocking to look back and see his name next to the #10 pick.
Another guy I loved in college. Sweet stroke. Luke had that long-haired Pacific Northwest laid-back vibe going with Ridnour. But Cleveland might want to reference our comments on the 2001 draft and Charlotte's selection. That said, Jackson appears to be improving a bit with age. Still, it was shocking to look back and see his name next to the #10 pick.
2005: Fran Vazquez/Yaroslav Korlev (Picks #11 and #12 to Orlando and the Clip Joint, Spain/Moscow)
Never heard of these guys? Neither had we. Vazquez is under contract with the basketball version of FC Barcelona - through the 2008-2009 season. He was drafted in 2005. This whole existing contract thing supposedly came as a surprise to the Magic. If we ever hear the name Fran Vazquez associated with any sort of accomplishment in the NBA, that will be our surprise. Korolev was waived by the Clippers in October of 2007. And getting waived by the Clippers is quite an accomplishment.
2006: Patrick O'Bryant (#9 to Golden State, Bradley)
Personally, drafting a seven-footer out of Bradley with a top 10 pick just doesn't sound right. Sure, it's way too early to make any sort of judgment about a 22 year-old kid, but when was the last time you heard anything about this dude? Yea, me neither. Maybe it's that east coast bias at work?
2007: Spencer Hawes (#10 to Sacramento, Washington)
This guy just reeks of a future Frederic Weis forgotten All-Star. We won't judge...yet. But there was a lot of hype around this guy this time last year. He did play in 71 games and average 13 minutes per contest. So, we'll give him some time before officially naming him a member of this squad.
We're anxious to see who becomes the early favorite to join this illustrious class of forgettable and forgotten. Guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow. Pins and needles!
Never heard of these guys? Neither had we. Vazquez is under contract with the basketball version of FC Barcelona - through the 2008-2009 season. He was drafted in 2005. This whole existing contract thing supposedly came as a surprise to the Magic. If we ever hear the name Fran Vazquez associated with any sort of accomplishment in the NBA, that will be our surprise. Korolev was waived by the Clippers in October of 2007. And getting waived by the Clippers is quite an accomplishment.
2006: Patrick O'Bryant (#9 to Golden State, Bradley)
Personally, drafting a seven-footer out of Bradley with a top 10 pick just doesn't sound right. Sure, it's way too early to make any sort of judgment about a 22 year-old kid, but when was the last time you heard anything about this dude? Yea, me neither. Maybe it's that east coast bias at work?
2007: Spencer Hawes (#10 to Sacramento, Washington)
This guy just reeks of a future Frederic Weis forgotten All-Star. We won't judge...yet. But there was a lot of hype around this guy this time last year. He did play in 71 games and average 13 minutes per contest. So, we'll give him some time before officially naming him a member of this squad.
We're anxious to see who becomes the early favorite to join this illustrious class of forgettable and forgotten. Guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow. Pins and needles!
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5 comments:
how could you forget a name like kirk haston?
Isaac you beat me to that comment. Well done.
I'd say east coast bias, definitely. FYI, Patrick O'Bryant was not 22 when he was drafted, he left early, after leading Bradley to the NCAAs for the first time in a decade as a freshman, thus he was a 7 footer w/ upside, and a high pick. Kid shoulda stayed in school. And Marcus Fizer played a lot for the Bulls his first couple of seasons, he just never developed an offensive game
And how could you have this list w/out T'Wolves blunder. My fave was Ndudi Ebi, whom commish Stern called "Doody" instead of "Endy". More like Doo-Doo. Perhaps not in the first half of the draft, but Josh Howard was still there, and it was the first Wolves pick in 3 yrs thanks to the Joe Smith fiasco, and McHale picked a project cuz he didn't see Howard getting playing time for the Wolves
Jason Collier weeps silently in the corner...
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