The Detroit Pistons’ selection of Darko Milicic in the 2003 NBA Draft has long been used as the gold standard for awful picks, but the Philadelphia 76ers have done their best to knock the Pistons out of this spot.
We all know the story by now: Joe Dumars decided to go with Milicic in a draft where the next picks were Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. The Pistons won a title anyway, but it’s still one of the biggest “what-ifs” in draft history, as there are many who believe Detroit would have had a dynasty had they just taken Carmelo.