GordonBulls wrote:obviously that is old if he has kareem rush on there, and steven hunter and deshawn stevenson still need time to develop
It's dated August 31st 2004, so it was compiled fairly recently.
I also have to disagree with some of the players on that list and the reasons they have been nominated. Even if we're ignoring the accomplishments of some of the veterans, we can't ignore their injuries or lack of playing time; that really doesn't make them talentless.
1. Evan Eschmeyer, C, Dallas -- The standard bearer for today's legion of big white stiffs in the NBA
Good choice. Fair call. Cuban's motivation for giving him such a generous contract can only be attributed to the fact he's got a lot of money to throw around.
2. Michael Stewart, C, Boston -- 'Yogi' is only slightly more threatening on the court than the cartoon bear
Another good choice. Looked like he might be a promising role player in his rookie year, was even entertaining in the rookie game at the 1998 All-Star Weekend, but since then has underachieved and been overpaid.
3. Wang ZhiZhi, C, Miami -- Even the Chinese government has disowned him
Agreed. He's played for teams where he could certainly get some significant minutes, and hasn't. Where Yao has succeeded, ZhiZhi has failed.
4. Dan Dickau, PG, Dallas -- Testament that some teams do all their scouting at the NCAA Tournament
I kind of agree, but perhaps he shouldn't be this high.
5. Jerome Moiso, PF, Toronto -- Carrying on the proud French NBA tradition started by Frederic Weis and No. 6 on our list...
Yes. Potential to be one of those guys who comes in and grabs a few rebounds and blocks a few shots, but doesn't do it often enough.
6. Tariq Abdul-Wahad, SG, Dallas -- We liked him better as Olivier St. Jean
He's had a couple of decent seasons so it's not as though he hasn't shown any promise, but he doesn't seem to be able to compete for time on teams that boast good players at his position.
7. Jerome James, C, Seattle -- Fulfilling the wasted on-court comedic promise of Chris Washburn
8. Steven Hunter, C, Phoenix -- A harsh reminder to any GM who mistakingly falls in love with an unknown player at the NBA pre-Draft camps
9. Ryan Humphrey, SF, Memphis -- More myth than baller, Humphrey has never actually been seen playing in a real game
I agree with all these, but perhaps more consistent time in Phoenix will allow Hunter to shed this label.
10. Tom Gugliotta, PF, Boston -- Former All-Star scored in double figures once last season ... and that was in the preseason!
I have to disagree here. Googs hasn't had much playing time the last couple of years and no longer has the opportunity to play as well as he did early in his career. We know that he has talent - statistically he might belong on this list but I think it's an unfair selection.
11. Kedrick Brown, SG, Philadelphia -- Interesting how many guys on this list either play for or were drafted by the Celtics
12. Reece Gaines, PG, Houston -- On a team crying out for point guard help, the No. 1 pick Gaines got into only 38 games
13. Marcus Haislip, PF, Milwaukee -- And speaking of first-round bombs, Haislip notched a team-low 8.5 minutes per game
I wouldn't rate Kedrick Brown this low. Can't argue with the choice of Gaines or Haislip though. They both had an opportunity to compete for playing time last year.
14. DeSagana Diop, C, Cleveland -- We've taken to calling him 'Saggy' and a more fitting nickname in the League we don't know of
I wholeheartedly agree - he should be higher, though.
15. DeShawn Stevenson, SG, Orlando -- Don't shooting guards have to be able to shoot? 78 starts last season and only 19 3-Pointers made?
As has already been noted, this isn't a good choice, if only for the reason provided. By that logic, Michael Jordan is one of the worst players in league history as are other guards who weren't all that good from beyond the arc.
16. Kareem Rush, SG, Lakers -- Averaged 0.8 assists and 1.3 rebounds ... you gotta score more than 6.4 points to get away with that
Perhaps his heroics in Game 6 of the WCF last year have left him a little overrated but I think he's shown enough promise not to be included on this list.
17. Ira Newble, SF, Cleveland -- The patron saint of crap players getting big contracts after big years with crap teams
I can't argue with the assertion, but there are other players I would consider to be worse.
18. Ron Mercer, SG, New Jersey -- No team would even waste a chance on the former No. 6 pick after he got dumped by San Antonio mid-season
I don't think he should be on here. We know he has talent, he's capable of putting up decent numbers. He's been buried on the bench the last couple of years but one of the 25 worst players in the league? I wouldn't say so.
19. Samaki Walker, PF, Washington -- Entering the twilight years of a pitiful career -- with a name like that, how could he have failed?
I'd have to say "Fair enough".
20. Dajuan Wagner, SG, Cleveland -- Too bad a shooter to play SG, too bad a passer to play PG and too small to play in the NBA -- sounds like a winner!
21. Tyronn Lue, PG, Houston -- Milked his 15 minutes of fame in the 2001 NBA Finals for a big contract
22. Morris Peterson, SF, Toronto -- To think New Orleans took this clown off Toronto's hands and the Raptors matched the contract offer!
With these three, I'd have to say that I see where he's coming from but I disagree. He might be right about Wagner - he's got more chance of being like Shawn Respert than Allen Iverson - but he's better than this. Lue's performance in the 2001 Finals did leave him a bit overrated and Mo Pete isn't an All-Star, but I would not consider them bottom 25.
23. Dikembe Mutombo, C, Chicago -- Rigor Mortis has set in for Deke, can't wait for him to completely calcify under the basket on some February night
Mt Mutombo can still be solid off the bench, though health is a concern. Shouldn't be on the list.
24. Jacque Vaughn, PG, New Jersey -- Hopefully it happens on the same night that the Nets trot out a starting backcourt of Vaughn and Mercer in front of 11 comotose fans in the Swamp
He's got a point, but he's still better than bottom 25.
25. Juwan Howard, PF, Houston -- The burden of carrying his garish contract sucked the life out of Howard's game long ago
No. His numbers may not have reflected the contract he signed back in 1996 and he's been overpaid for years, but his numbers simply aren't bottom 25.
I agree with FanOfAll. Guys like Brezec, Trybanksi and co belong on this list. They shouldn't be represented by Eschmeyer; they should be ranked below guys like Juwan Howard, Dikembe Mutombo and Deshawn Stevenson.
