Tyrus Thomas over LeMarcus Aldridge

[Jadoogar]

Why is anyone talking about melo when wade was also passed on for darko

Because Wade wasn't even being discussed as a potential top 3 pick at the time

So? He was a top two draft pick who cares what people discussed or thought prior.

What? Obviously hindsight is 20/20. You can't fault a team for not being able to see the future. Wade was considered to be drafted a bit high even at 5. Someone like WEsley Johnson or Anthony Bennett should be considered mistakes because everyone knew they were going to be bad even at the time.

Melo could have gone second at the time. Obviously it didn't hurt Detroit since they were an established team but Darko over Melo was definitely a mistake. Bargnani over Rondo was not because no sane person would have selected Rondo number 1.

[MR IB4TL]

Both were bad decisions. I think the Darko over Melo is bigger because the 2003 Draft Class was that spectacular in talent.

[mrlancers]

Dumars drafting Darko over Melo may have cost Detroit a potential dynasty. Imagine Melo with those Piston teams in the mid 2000s. Defensive ability was certainly there. Melo could've been the number one scoring option they so desperately needed, but they drafted out of need at number two that year instead. And a PF/C was their need (then they acquired Rasheed midseason so Darko wasn't even necessary). It's the ultimate cautionary tale that a GM should always take the best player available when you're up there in the lottery.

[phx#7]

That trade did hurt Chicago in the short run. Going by win shares during the 2007-08 season, The Bulls gain 3-4 extra wins with LaMarcus Aldridge and fall back to 10th or 11th in the draft and miss out on Rose like most predict.

So they'd have LMA and not one of the worst contracts in the NBA?

Probably 2 of the worst contracts since I doubt they'd sign Boozer.

[Harmoo]

Rose has had one relevant season, don't see him having another one ever again

By that rationale, Westbrook has had one almost relevant season. Enjoy the fruits of your logic.

He has had one season where he got MVP and made the first team and nothing since, whilst Westbrook has made the 2nd team 3 seasons in a row barring most likely this season. Though if we have another deep run it will be another relevant season for WB.

Just don't see Rose really getting back to his MVP form and challenging the new generation of guards coming through.

NBA Most Valuable Player (2011)
NBA Rookie of the Year (2009)
2× NBA All-Star (2010–2011)
All-NBA First Team (2011)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2009)
Skills Challenge Champion (2009)

This is not even mentioning leading the Bulls to the best record in the league twice and an EFC appearance without having the benefit of a HOF scorer like Westbrook does. They also took the Heat to 5, the same exact number OKC did.

But please, continue with your absurd narrative. When Westrbrook averages what Rose did his MVP season, we can talk.

[Boarder Patrol]

All things considered, is Melo really all that much better than LMA?

If put under the gun, I'd give Melo a slight edge, but it's probably a lot closer than expected.

I like Aldridge's game, but I think Melo is clearly better. Just such a gap between the two as scorers.

[JDizzel3000]

The whole "what if they never got rose" Arguement is just a cop out for those bull fans who actually defended this egregious move when it happened .. getting rose had absolutely nothing to do with the poor thought process and decision making display by the bulls FO when they made this move

[ISB]

Thomas dominated Aldridge in an NCAA tournament game. Let this be a lesson to not put too much stock into the NCAA tournament.

[JasonStern]

We always hear about Darko over Melo; was drafting Tyrus Thomas over LeMarcus Aldridge just as bad?

1. LaMarcus, not LeMarcus

2. the Thomas for Aldridge and Khryapa trade was probably the worst trade in the 2006 draft, if not that entire season; however, as many people have pointed out, there are many trades that were much worse historically

Well they might not have Rose then...

and they might have signed Kobe in the 2007 off-season then. irrational hypothetical mind blown.

[Jonatton Yeah]

But the Bulls would've gotten Rose anyway because the league conspired to give them the first pick no matter what.

[Jonatton Yeah]

Dumars drafting Darko over Melo may have cost Detroit a potential dynasty. Imagine Melo with those Piston teams in the mid 2000s. Defensive ability was certainly there. Melo could've been the number one scoring option they so desperately needed, but they drafted out of need at number two that year instead. And a PF/C was their need (then they acquired Rasheed midseason so Darko wasn't even necessary). It's the ultimate cautionary tale that a GM should always take the best player available when you're up there in the lottery.

Yeah. And people should remember that there was actually a debate between 'melo and Darko. While Wade and Bosh certainly turned out better, they were considered tier 3 and the distance between them and 'melo/Darko was about the same as the distance between James and the field. Beat up on Dumars for not taking Anthony, but including Wade and Bosh isn't really fair. I do wonder how Anthony would have faired with Larry Brown though. That tempramental old bastard.

[AgentGreen]

I knew this thread would pop up.

Its always easy when you look back at what teams did draft, sometimes you think "what the hell were these gm's thinking?". But when you rewind the clock and go back you'd realise that it was a obvious pick by the Bulls. Even most mock drafts had Tyrus as the 2nd pick. It will always be like that after drafts and when you look back a few years later.

Maybe we'll say in the future:"What the hell were these gm's thinking with picking Randle and Exum over Gordon and Smart?" Thats how drafts work, sometimes its a blessing in disguise to pick between the 5-10 range.

Scouts arent always right, they just look at upside and potential.. but its actually about how a player translates to the NBA game, thats what you have to look at mostly.

[AgentGreen]

Detroit passed on Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade.

Chicago 'passed' on LaMarcus Aldridge.

Not even close.

Blazers passed on MJ and Durant, drafted Roy and Oden who had weak knees. Poor Blazers fans, but its always easy talking when you look back at it.

[mhsiao]

You can say it is bad trade..

However guys you need to remember one thing very important.

That draft pick is from Eddy Curry trade (same as the Noah pick.), which means Bulls turned Eddy Curry into Noah and this year's 16th pick.

No matter how bad the decision look like to some people, I still call it a WIN at expanse of Isiah Thomas and New York Knicks.

[greg4012]

Bulls. If the Bulls picked LMA over Thomas, the Bulls would have had more "success" than with Thomas, therefore they would miss on drafting Rose.

Oh him. It's been so long since he's played so I forgot.

He's got those D-Wade injury-prone genes on him, but still younger. You might want to check my avatar.

Except D Wade had WAY more total success before injuries started to become a chronic issue with him. D Wade's career trajectory is a major best case scenario for Rose

[kodo]

We always hear about Darko over Melo; was drafting Tyrus Thomas over LeMarcus Aldridge just as bad?

Not even close.

Because that was a loaded draft, even if you pass on Melo for some reason why not pick Chris Bosh. Even if you hate both Melo and Chris Bosh, why not get Dwayne Wade. Even Kaman and David West had better careers than Darko.

In 2006, almost everyone had a poor draft. Bargnani was no franchise player for TOR. Morisson went #3. Shelden Williams #5. Roy dropped down to 6 because his knee condition was well known, and it played out as expected. Rudy Gay is the best guy after LMA and he's being passed around the NBA to anyone who wants him.

The Bulls not getting a good draft in 2006 isn't surprising, not getting a good player in 2003 takes another kind of bad luck altogether.

[Tave]

You can say it is bad trade..

However guys you need to remember one thing very important.

That draft pick is from Eddy Curry trade (same as the Noah pick.), which means Bulls turned Eddy Curry into Noah and this year's 16th pick.

No matter how bad the decision look like to some people, I still call it a WIN at expanse of Isiah Thomas and New York Knicks.

Except the trade wasn't for Noah. The trade was for the pick. That means the Bulls could have had Noah + LMA or Noah + unknown 16th pick (Gordon? Stauskas? Lavine? Saric? Napier? LOLOLOLOLOL).

Plus who's to say they don't move someone else and have an equivalent pick on top of LMA? The Curry trade has zero bearing on the 2006 pick trade. It was a moot issue at that point.

[ISB]

I knew this thread would pop up.

Its always easy when you look back at what teams did draft, sometimes you think "what the hell were these gm's thinking?". But when you rewind the clock and go back you'd realise that it was a obvious pick by the Bulls. Even most mock drafts had Tyrus as the 2nd pick. It will always be like that after drafts and when you look back a few years later.

Maybe we'll say in the future:"What the hell were these gm's thinking with picking Randle and Exum over Gordon and Smart?" Thats how drafts work, sometimes its a blessing in disguise to pick between the 5-10 range.

Scouts arent always right, they just look at upside and potential.. but its actually about how a player translates to the NBA game, thats what you have to look at mostly.

That's not really true. LMA was projected as a top 2 pick throughout the majority of the year. (Rudy Gay was considered #1 at the start). Tyrus Thomas exploded at the very end of the season as LSU made a run to the final four. I'm not saying the Bulls were the only ones that preferred Tyrus but I would imagine that a significant majority of teams would have picked LMA.

I'd also say that LMA would have been the more popular #1 pick over Bargnani if you polled every team.

The Bulls made a bad pick. I don't understand the point of trying to sugarcoat it as something else. This is like if people ended up defending the Bennett pick 7 years from now.

[Doormatt]

NBA Most Valuable Player (2011)
NBA Rookie of the Year (2009)
2× NBA All-Star (2010–2011)
All-NBA First Team (2011)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2009)
Skills Challenge Champion (2009)

This is not even mentioning leading the Bulls to the best record in the league twice and an EFC appearance without having the benefit of a HOF scorer like Westbrook does. They also took the Heat to 5, the same exact number OKC did.

But please, continue with your absurd narrative. When Westrbrook averages what Rose did his MVP season, we can talk.

you know someone is reaching when they start citing stuff like "Skills Challenge Champion"

and if we temporarily ignore Rose's MVP, since it is without a doubt one of (if not the) most undeserving MVPs of all time, then westbrook certainly compares favorably in terms of accomplishments.

but those are just accomplishments, the OP was right, rose hasnt done anything since his MVP season, meanwhile westbrook is making all-nba teams and is on arguably the best team in the west.

not looking too good for rose.

[Shem]

Well they might not have Rose then...

It's up to you to decide if the Bulls would rather have LMA or the better player in Rose but with all of the doubts surrounding him

They still would have Rose. Draft was rigged

Prove it!

...that's what I thought!