NBA Draft - Worst #7 Picks Since 1980

Worst #7 Picks since 1980

3.  Tim Perry, Phoenix Suns, 1988, from Temple (8 seasons, 6.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.9 bpg) - Perry's inclusion on this list is a reflection that the #7 picks in the draft have actually been pretty solid, as Perry was not awful and actually played for a good amount of time.  Alas, a list of 2 is not a great list, so I give you Perry, a man who flashed potential, averaging 10.1 ppg for the Suns over a 3-year span, but didn't maintain it, averaging just 3.4 ppg over the other half of his career.  The names that followed Perry...Rex Chapman, Rony Seikaly, Willie Anderson, Will Perdue, Harvey Grant...none would have been substantial upgrades for Phoenix, who at #14, took "Thunder" Dan Majerle, one of the best picks of the 1988 draft.

2.  Eddie Griffin, New Jersey Nets, 2001, from Seton Hall (303 games, 7.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.7 bpg) - The late Eddie Griffin let alcohol derail his NBA career and eventually take his life.  The Nets escaped the drama by sending him to the Rockets on draft day.  After two promising seasons in Houston, the alcoholism began to effect his status and he never reached his immense potential.  Makes you wonder if 19 isn't too young for most individuals to enter the NBA.  The Nets received Richard Jefferson as part of the trade and actually made out well from it.  Obviously the Rockets would have been best served to stand pat and draft Jefferson or Troy Murphy.

1.  Bobby Hurley, Sacramento Kings, 1993, from Duke (269 games, 3.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 3.3 apg) - Hurley was never the same after a serious car accident in his rookie season, as his points and assists both decreased in half during the 4 years he played after the accident.  He was just shooting 37% in the 19 games he played as a rookie, so all was not perfect even then.  Lindsey Hunter was the next PG taken 3 picks later, while Sam Cassell was the best PG taken at pick #24.