why was Boozer drafted so low?

[RSP83]

Ground-bound 6'8" - 6'9" PF/C was really unpopular at the time. The reason was the league was moving toward longer finesse PF like a Chris Bosh or Pau Gasol. Guys like Boozer was also seen as a bad mismatch when they have to defend the likes of Duncan, KG, Nowitzki. If you're an undersized big man prospect at the time, you need to be super athletic like Marion, KMart, Stromile Swift to be considered lottery prospect. While Boozer fits the description of a classic tweener that sees their draft stock dropping, Duke Shelden Williams somehow made 5th overall pick. Boozer, IMO was a better prospect compared to Shelden.

[terry]

Boozer wasnt a great prospect coming out of college but proved people wrong.

After he played well with the Cavs he committed to a contract with the Cavs and backed out. Signed with Jazz, where he became a two time all star

Then signed with the Bulls, tripped on his bag or luggage to start his tenure with the Bulls and injured himself, downside of his career began.

Was decent with the Bulls but past his prime. Nice career he had. On the same level as Vooch for a career.

[Jcool0]

18/8 guy his last season at Duke. Should of gone in round 1. Then got overrated in Utah because he had D-Will getting him the ball in good spots. Rose was never that type of PG. Everyone knew he was a big step down from anyone of the Big 3 at the time and Bulls pretty much had no choice but to give him the max. But no one was expecting his decline to hit so quickly going form a borderline All Star to a borderline starter.

[FecesOfDeath]

There simply were more athletic, higher ceiling options at his position in the draft (Gooden, Stoudemire, Nene, Wilcox, Jeffries), plus Gasol the year before propelled the Euro big infatuation (Tskitishvili, Nachbar, Krstic), but I think it was Ryan Humphrey getting picked before him that was the final straw that probably put a massive chip on Boozer's shoulder.

Boozer was one of the reasons why the Hawks massively overreached when they drafted Shelden Williams 5th overall four years later.

Actually, the combination of Boozer overachieving his draft spot, Emeka Okafor and Ben Wallace thriving as shot blocking undersized centers, and Shelden's own shot blocking prowess in college is what elevated Williams' draft stock.

Whether or not he was a big fish in a small pond in the ACC, Boozer's 60+% shooting in three years at Duke should've at least put him in the late first round.

[DuckIII]

Round: 2 / Pick: 34

unreal. I mean Rando went last pick 1st round. Its pretty darn rare to have good players slip that far in the draft. Happens in the NFL all the time...aka Tom Brady. But man, Its crazy thinking about. The guy played for Duke as well, so its not like no one knew about that guy.

explanation?

Short, slow, poor measurables, not especially athletic, poor defender.

[Indomitable]

Marcus Fizer is the reason. He came out and was an undersize guy. He was so bad. Everyone wanted to avoid anyone like him.

[GoBlue72391]

A 14 year old thread. Let's bump it again when it's old enough to drink.

[cocktailswith_2short]

Marcus Fizer is the reason. He came out and was an undersize guy. He was so bad. Everyone wanted to avoid anyone like him.

This is just wrong . Fizer was turning into a beast before his injury .

[kodo]

Around that time it was all about measurements & physicals. Length, vertical, athleticism. The year before Kwame Brown goes #1, Tyson goes #2, and a guy like Diop goes #8. The more skilled bigs like ZBo went #19 but had a much better career because he had actual basketball skills like Boozer.

Also 3 year college guy which hurts tremendously.

[CBS7]

thread so old Boozer's son looking to get drafted in a couple years

[Indomitable]

Marcus Fizer is the reason. He came out and was an undersize guy. He was so bad. Everyone wanted to avoid anyone like him.

This is just wrong . Fizer was turning into a beast before his injury .

Fizer 1st year was embarrassing. He came in out of shape and got destroyed.

Boozer was drafted the next season. Everyone did not want the slow and short limbed Boozer because of the struggle of Fizer.

I could pull up that draft threads to prove my point. People did not want Boozer because of that comparison.

[Jcool0]

Marcus Fizer is the reason. He came out and was an undersize guy. He was so bad. Everyone wanted to avoid anyone like him.

This is just wrong . Fizer was turning into a beast before his injury .

He was Patrick Williams without being gifted minutes.

[gailgoodrich]

A 14 year old thread. Let's bump it again when it's old enough to drink.

Just where I found the scouting report I was looking for. But I love a good bit of necromancy.

[Ice Man]

He was Stacey King the 2nd. Was a star through HS and college by playing bully ball at the rim, but not long enough to do so successfully in the NBA, nor with the agility/length to be a rim protector. Agree that early 2nd round seems too low but really, he didn't project to be an NBA starter. Just a role guy. Full credit to him for adjusting to achieve what he did. By the time he reached the Bulls his limitations exceeded his reputation, so I was critical, but I admire what he accomplished in his NBA career.