While people surely remember the greatest starts to ever be selected in the NBA Draft, they might remember the NBA Draft busts more than anyone else.
After all, who could forget the Portland Trailblazers passing on Michael Jordan, the Detroit Pistons passing on Carmelo Anthony, or the Trailblazers passing (again) on Kevin Durant.
Who might be this Draft’s potential busts? We break it down below.
1.) Karl-Anthony Towns
Yes, the potential No. 1 overall pick has some bust potential. If he can’t consistently establish position against NBA bigs, and doesn’t quicken up his shot release against power forwards, then he’s going to be in a lot of trouble. He’s also got to progress as a rim protector and show that he’s ready to consistently be a force that driving opponents have to deal with. He’s got some sick upside, but there are always going to be reasons for concern, especially with big men.
2.) Stanley Johnson
Yes, he plays extremely hard and defends his tail off. But offensively, where exactly does he fit? His ball handling is still too loose, his shot is too inconsistent, and there’s questions about whether he’ll be able to get to the spots he wants to get to on the floor. I project him to be a big time defender, but top ten picks aren’t supposed to just be three-and-D guys in the NBA.
3.) Myles Turner
If the Texas big man hits, then he’ll be one of the most dynamic centers in the NBA thanks to his skill set, coordination, and athleticism. If he misses, then he’ll just be another athletic, skinny, outside shooting big man who was too unwilling to bang inside with the men. Turner is one of the most clear cut boom or bust prospects in this Draft.
4.) Kelly Oubre
He’s got insane measurables and tremendous athleticism to go along with an emerging skill set. So, what’s not to like here? Well, his body has a long way to go in terms of filling out, and for as good of an athlete as he is, it doesn’t always translate on the court. He doesn’t blow by people, and he doesn’t show consistent effort on defense. All of that will need to be addressed if he wants to avoid becoming a bust.
5.) Justise Winslow
Winslow is a jack of all trades that looks like a guy who we will still see in the league come 2026. Still, he’s going to be a top five pick, and those kinds of picks are expected to turn into franchise players, or at least something close to it. Right now, he doesn’t have the scoring ability to be that guy, which may frustrate the fan base of whichever team drafts him.
