Every owner/GM needs to gamble for a team to succeed. Hindsight is always 20/20, but the truth is that every transaction is a risky move until proven worth. Freak accidents, team chemistry issues, etc are all factors you can’t measure before a trade/signing. Off the top of my head, rookie Kobe for Vlade was one of the biggest payoffs in NBA history (as for “riskiest” move, that is up for debate)

  • AnyJamesBookerFansBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    And on the other side, a risky move that didn’t pay off… drafting Darko #2, ahead of Carmelo (who was considered the consensus #2 pick, having just dominated in the NCAA tourny as a freshman).

    And not only him, but also taking him over the next two picks - Chris Bosh and D.Wade.

    • 2020IsANightmareBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Darko is one of the greatest “don’t draft based on position if you have a top-5 pick” examples in NBA history.

      Wade and Bosh are more revisionist history (though obviously had HOF careers), but passing up Melo?

      Pistons left a lot of money on the table.