Imagine with me if you will:
You're an NBA GM. You have a pick in the draft. Your team needs a SG and some help in the front line, so a PF. You want to pick someone who would be a starter sooner rather than later. What position would be the safest pick?
If you chose a F, you would be more likely to have selected a bust.
***Note: While Greg Oden is a clear bust, in my counting, I also chose players like 2001 #9 Rodney White who bounced around but never stuck, or 1999 #5 Jonathan Bender who played for a while but never really started or had quality minutes, or 1993 #8 Vin Baker who played in an All Star game but wasn't ever really worth the value that he was drafted at or paid.***
I tallied all the drafts from 1984-2008 (some of the later drafts haven't solidified 'bust' status yet so I only counted those that fit my scheme in the 05-08 draft). I only looked at the top 15 picks. In my opinion a Top 15 pick should be a player that makes a significant contribution on the court immediately ('89 #14 Tim Hardaway), develops into a solid role playing starter ('94 #10 Eddie Jones), has star power ('96 #15 Steve Nash), or has longevity providing a role for a team ('95 #10 Kurt Thomas). If you're drafted in the Top 15 and you don't do any of those things, to me, you're a bust.
Below is my count.
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|
G |
F |
C |
Year |
|
4 |
1 |
2 |
84 |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
85 |
|
2 |
5 |
5 |
86 |
|
0 |
5 |
2 |
87 |
|
3 |
4 |
0 |
88 |
|
2 |
6 |
1 |
89 |
|
6 |
4 |
1 |
90 |
|
2 |
4 |
2 |
91 |
|
4 |
3 |
0 |
92 |
|
5 |
7 |
1 |
93 |
|
2 |
4 |
2 |
94 |
|
2 |
6 |
2 |
95 |
|
1 |
2 |
4 |
96 |
|
2 |
8 |
2 |
97 |
|
2 |
2 |
5 |
98 |
|
2 |
1 |
2 |
99 |
|
3 |
7 |
1 |
00 |
|
0 |
4 |
4 |
01 |
|
3 |
7 |
0 |
02 |
|
3 |
3 |
1 |
03 |
|
2 |
4 |
1 |
04 |
|
1 |
8 |
0 |
05 |
|
3 |
5 |
3 |
06 |
|
1 |
5 |
1 |
07 |
|
2 |
5 |
0 |
08 |
|
58 |
112 |
45 |
Totals |
Based on these counts you're over twice as likely to draft a bust by drafting a forward than you are to draft a guard or center.
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