Marvin "Bad News" Barnes did not sign with the team in 1974. Shawn Bradley played like a choirboy after being drafted in 1993. Four years later, the Sixers shipped their pick, Keith Van Horn, on draft day to New Jersey for the seventh (Villanova's Tim Thomas) and 21st picks (Bradley's Anthony Parker). Parker and Thomas had short tenures in Philadelphia.
But the Sixers aren't the only team with a history of not getting the second pick right. Multiple times over the last 15 seasons the No. 2 pick has not panned out, compared to the No. 1 selection.
The 2003 draft is perhaps the best example.
Going first, the Cleveland Cavaliers chose LeBron James, who won his second consecutive NBA MVP honor this past season.
The Detroit Pistons then took center Darko Milicic ahead of eventual NBA all-stars Carmelo Anthony (the No. 3 pick), Chris Bosh (No. 4), and Dwyane Wade (No. 5).
Far from the dominant player the Pistons envisioned, the 7-foot Serbian played only when Detroit had insurmountable leads late in the game. He was traded to the Orlando Magic during the 2005-06 season and finished this past season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, his fifth NBA team.
In some instances - the Wizards' Kwame Brown (2001) and the Portland Trail Blazers' Greg Oden (2007) - No. 1 picks didn't pan out. But in the last 15 drafts, first picks produced three NBA most valuable players, eight league all-stars, and five rookies of the year. During that same time, the No. 2 picks have produced three all-stars and three rookies of the year. No second picks became league MVP.
NBA draft expert Jim Clibanoff, of Clib Hoops, said the disparity has a lot to do with the difference between drafting proven players and guys with huge upsides.
According to Clibanoff, in most instances the No. 1 picks were finished products, while teams were banking on upside with the No. 2 selections.
