Post by CC on Oct 28, 2008 14:56:49 GMT -5
Take a ride on the Orlando Bust!
By. CC Christian
By. CC Christian
Orlando GM, w6602876, has been unlucky drafting studs ever since being hired into office. He quoted:
My next bust, the number two overall pick- DJ Fenner.
Previous busts:
Virgil Parker
Malik London
Lavon Harper
Reginald McNeil
Dominik Spohr
Marcus Robinson (12th overall pick)
Zach Peters
Zach Thomas
With that said, lets take a ride on the Orlando Bus Transit while taking a look at his previous picks. This ride might be awhile so without getting bored, sit back and relax and listen to an old school jam of "Bust A Move"! (press play and read at the same time)
2016: #5 Lavon Harper PF 22 6-10 250lbs B- D+ D- B B- B (now: C+ D F+ C B C)
This pick is probably the biggest bust W has ever had in his collection. Harper was known to be the most UOSL2 ready player to enter this draft who was very strong and a beast on defense. However, once he stepped on the court, his shadow LITERALLY left him at the draft stage. As a rookie, Harper averaged only 8 points and 5 boards... that does not seem like UOSL2 ready stats
However following his rookie year, Harper had a breakout season when he averaged a career 11 points, 7 boards, and a .9 block. But his second season improvement was no where near enough to show the league that he was UOSL2 ready. After his second year, Harper began to decline BADLY until he was thrown into the FA pool and never receiving a call again. Definitely Harper is a bust. Poor W. 2018: #9 Reginald McNeil SF 6'5'' 215 20 B- C C- C B- A (now: B C C B- C+ C)
Two years later, W drafted McNeil out of Arizona who was the best Small Forward prospect in his class at the time. However scouts believed that he was a project since McNeil did have a raw game at draft camp. But still, W decided to draft him and see if he can turn him into a project to a star. Once the season started, McNeil busted right off the bat. It seemed like McNeil brought in his raw game to use in the pro's and keep it that way without having the desire to get better. During his rookie season, McNeil only played 32 games averaging 6 minutes and 1.1 points. Clearly this was a bad sign for W since McNeil was ready to bust immediately. The next couple years McNeil averaged 2,3,6,7,and 8 PPG (which was his career best) Overall, McNeil busted throughout his career and showed no progress whatsoever. McNeil went from project to bust. Awful pick.
2019: #17 Zachary Thomas C 7'1'' 255 24 B D+ D+ C+ C+ B (now: B+ D+ D+ B+ B D)
The following year, W drafted an 24 year old rookie in Zach Thomas who scouts said was old but a big time scorer. It seemed like Thomas was ready to step onto the court and produce immediately. However he didn't show much during his rookie season after averaging 7 points and 3 rebounds. The next season he started to break out when he averaged 11 and 18 PPG. After his third season, W decided to get rid of him and send him off to the Hornets. Not sure if that was a smart move by W since Thomas continued to improve as he aged. I guess Thomas is considered a bust to W after evaluating his first 3 years in the league...who knows. Strange judgment by W.
2021: #19 Malik London C 6'9'' 240 21 B C- C- C+ C A (now: B+ C- C- C+ C+ C)
Malik London was selected in the mid round although projected to go higher between 10-15. However, he is still considered a bust in W's eyes since he thought London was a steal at his pick. As a rookie, London averaged 6 points and 5 boards. The next year he slightly improved by averaging 10 points and 6 boards, which ended up to be his career year. The next couple years London began to decline by averaging 9 points, then 4 points, and so on.... Poor W did not get a steal at #19.
2022: #7 Dominik Spohr PG 6'3'' 185 20 C C A- C C- A (now: C C A C+ C- C)
One year later, W drafted a very intriguing player in Sphor who scouts believed "has the potential to be one of the best pass-first PG's in UOSL history." His scouting report influenced W to draft him at #7 overall. However looking at W's previous picks, Sphor also became a bust. During his rookie season, Spohr made the All Rookie team after averaging 9 points and 4 boards...but wait! Where's the assists? Oh yeah, Spohr also averaged 3 assists per game
(fewer than his rebounds!) The league thought they were going to see a magician with the ball, but unfortunately, they did not. Spohr is only 23 and still has great handles, but can he pass the ball in this league for heavens sakes before it gets too late? For now, Spohr is a bust in W's book.2023: #2 D.J. Fenner SF 6'8'' 220 20 B- B- C C B- A (now: B B C- B- B+ B)
W was thankful to land a top 2 pick in this draft. Eventually W decided to draft Fenner, who was an exciting wing projected to go in the top 3. Fenner was known to be a scorer and rebounder. Solid pick here since Fenner did not disappoint during his first season when he averaged 15 points and 7 boards in 76 games. The following year Fenner slightly declined in scoring. Uh oh...was Fenner going to be a bust? Unlikely since Fenner was a top 3 talent from the draft and had all the potential to get better at only 21 years old. Now at 22, Fenner has raised his scoring to 16 points per game and is grabbing 9 boards a game. But yet, W still says he is a bust. Poor judgment? Perhaps. Maybe his game isn't sexy enough having B's across his rating line? That is probably why W believes Fenner is his next bust.
2023: #12 Marcus Robinson C 6'10'' 250 22 C+ C C- B B- B (now: C+ C C- B B- C)
Three years in a row?! Are you kidding me W?! Not surprising, but here is another bust in W's collection. Robinson was selected in the late lottery who was projected to go between 10-13. Solid selection and everything went very smooth until Robinson stepped onto the court. W thought he was getting a solid big who can defend and rebound, but what he saw was another disappointing player who averaged 4 PPG in 82 games. Watching a lottery player averaging 4 PPG in 82 games is just ugly. That's like listening to a history lecture 7 days a week non stop and getting nothing out of it. Robinson is only 24 and could get better..just maybe? However he is already a bust in W's book.2024: #5 Zach Peters PF 7'1'' 265 21 A- C- C- C C+ B (now: A- C- C C+ B- C)
This is getting contagious
At this pick, W selects a dominant post player in Peters who was at first projected to go #1 in this draft until scouts saw more of him and projected him to go in the top 5. After the first four picks, it was obvious that W would select Peters since he was the best player available. However, what he didn't know was that it was obvious the Peters was going to turn out into a bust, like many others had thought. What W saw in Peters were comparisons to a young Eddy Curry but that comparison alone is terrible since Curry was a one dimensional player. What does that mean for Peters? Well it looks like Peters may turn out into a one dimensional player as well, which is to score and that's it. However, Peters had a impressive Rookie season when he averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds. The next year Peters is currently averaging 18 points and 9 rebounds. So it looks like Peters may not bust after all. If he keeps this up and works on his defense, then Peters should not end up as a bust. But despite all this hope, W still sees bust in him. Peters did lose potential so maybe that is why W has lost hope?2025: #5 Virgil Parker C 6'10'' 265 21 B D+ C- C+ C+ A (now: B D+ C- B- C+ A)
Not a terrible pick, but W already has a bad feeling that Parker could turn out into a bust really soon too. Parker was the 2nd best center prospect entering in the 2025 draft but scouts felt that he was a risk after having a history of getting into trouble with the law. However Parker does have talent to become a player in this league. Hopefully he focuses on basketball and ONLY basketball otherwise he'll end up as an official bust on W's team. He's only a rookie this year so he has all the time to regroup himself. It's better to start early than later.
We have reached our destination. This is the end of the bust ride. Have a good day!
