Top 5 Biggest Successes in the 1998 NBA Draft
1. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks-
He was traded for Robert Traylor by Milwaukee after being taken with the 9th pick. Someone didn’t do their homework in the Bucks organization because Dirk became one of the top players in the game while Traylor was average at best and never had a shot due to weight problems.
2. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics-
Several teams foolishly passed on the Kansas star but he has been a multiple All-Star and a borderline franchise player for most of his career after goiong with the 10th pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. Pierce has been one of the top forwards in the game ever since, and he led Boston to an Eastern Conference Finals with very little help. He is an intense competitor who plays well in all phases of the game.
3. Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors-
He was traded for college teammate Antawn Jamison and ended up in Toronto while Jamison went to Golden State. Carter hasn’t quite lived up to his incredible potential but he has had a great statistical career and become an NBA icon for his high-flying dunks and explosive athletic moves. Carter has always been an effective player but he could have been better with a little more effort.
4. Mike Bibby, Vancouver Grizzlies-
Bibby was taken with the 2nd pick in the draft and has gone on to a solid career as a scoring point guard with a smooth outside shot. He had a tremendous playoff run as the Sacramento Kings’ starting PG.
5. Antawn Jamison, Golden State Warriors-
The Warriors traded Vince Carter for Jamison after taking Carter at number five in the 1998 NBA Draft. Jamison has gone on to a great career of his own, although big-time winning has eluded him for a while. But he’s an explosive scorer and a very good rebounder who has found his way onto some All-Star teams. He plays much harder than Carter night in and night out and has been one of the better forwards in the NBA for most of his career. Some feel Jamison is a better player than Carter and it is pretty close but Carter gets a slight nod.
Top 5 Biggest Busts in the 1998 NBA Draft
1. Michael Olowokandi, LA Clippers- The big man out of Pacific never had the desire to be a star player even though he had excellent size and pretty good overall skills. But because good centers are so hard to find in the NBA and usually wreak havoc in the NBA playoffs, the struggling LA Clippers franchise had no choice but to take a gamble on him. He was the top overall pick.
2. Robert Traylor- The rotund big man from Michigan was traded by Dallas to Milwaukee for the rights to some German guy named Dirk Nowitzki. Needless to say it was a great deal by the Dallas Mavericks. Traylor was taken 6th but couldn’t stay in shape, although he would go on to be an okay role player.
3. Bryce Drew, Houston Rockets- Drew had college star and NBA flop written all over him but the Houston Rockets ignored that and picked him 16th in the draft before watching him flame out. He was a hero at Valpo but a non-factor in the NBA.
4. Mirsad Turkcan, Houston Rockets- This product of Turkey was a superstar in his home country but never found a home in the NBA for various reasons and wasn’t able to be effective when he did make it to the states. He went 18th. He did well for the Turkish national team but took a while making it the US and was never quite the same player he was overseas in the NBA.
5. Roshown McCleod, Atlanta Hawks- The 20th overall pick from Duke never panned out because his game just wasn’t complete enough to find a role in the NBA.
