NBA Draft Busts: Marcus Fizer

Former McDonald’s High School All-American, Fizer went on to have an exceptional 3-year collegiate career at Iowa State. Fizer’s junior year was by far his best, racking up multiple awards including Big 12 Player of the Year and NCAA First Team All-American. The Chicago Bulls selected Fizer with the 4th pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. Fizer played under head coach Tim Floyd, the same coach who recruited him to Iowa State. He spent his first 4 seasons with the Bulls, compiling an average of 10 points and 5 rebounds per game during his stay. Fizer’s final season in Chicago ended earlier then expected as he

NBA Draft Busts: Darius Miles

One of the more unfortunate stories surrounding a professional sports career is that of former 3rd overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, Darius Miles. The Los Angeles Clippers selected the highly touted small forward out of high school and he delivered on all the hype in his first season as a pro. Miles was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, posting 9 ppg and 6 rpg. The Clippers then traded Miles after the 2001 -2002 season to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played in Cleveland for a season and a half before being traded again, this time to the Portland Trail Blazers. Miles and then coach Mo Cheeks did not see eye to eye and conflicts were very common between the two. Half way through his second season with the Blazers, Miles suffered what he would soon learn to be a career-threatening injury to his knee. He underwent microfracture surgery to repair his knee a few weeks later and ended up missing the entire 2006 -2007 and 2007 – 2008 seasons. Later in 2008, Miles accepted an invite from the Boston Celtics to try to earn a spot during training camp. unfortunately for Miles, he was waived by the Celtics right before the start of the 2008 -2009 season. In December of 2008, the Memphis Grizzlies gave Miles a shot to regain his career. He played in one game for the Grizzlies before being waived. Seven days later, the Grizzlies again signed Miles to a 10-day contract. He impressed this time around and the Grizzlies decided to sign him for the rest of the 2008 -2009 season. During the summer of 2009, the Grizzlies finally decided to part ways with Miles due to salary cap restraints. Miles is now attempting another comeback, as the Charlotte Bobcats have invited him to work out in their free-agent minicamp.

NBA Draft Busts: Stromile Swift

Arguably one of the greatest names to ever play in the NBA, Stromile Swift was basically just that (a great name), during his brief stint in the league. Drafted out of LSU with the 2nd overall pick of the 2000 NBA Draft by the then Vancouver Grizzlies, Swift spent his first 5 seasons with the Grizzlies in which he averaged 9 ppg and 5 rpg. Hardly the stats expected of a 2nd overall selection. The 6-10 athletic freak signed as a free agent with the Houston Rockets during the 2005 off-season. Swift played one season for the Rockets before being traded back to the now Memphis Grizzlies on draft day. Midway through his second season with the Grizzlies he was again traded, this time to the New Jersey Nets. Swift finished out the 2008 season with the Nets, but saw his playing time drastically reduced during the beginning of the 2009 season. In March of 2009, the Nets released Swift making him a free agent. Three days later the Phoenix Suns signed him for the rest of the 2009 season. The Philadelphia 76ers were the next team on the Swift carousel, signing him in September of 2009 only to release him one month later. After his hard luck in the NBA Swift decided to take his game overseas, signing with Shandong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association or CBA in December of 2009. Swift played for 4 different teams during his 11 year career in the NBA, finishing with career averages of 8.4 ppg and 4.6 rpg. Stromile Swift is just yet another case of a guy who couldn’t figure out how to harness his pure, raw, athleticism into becoming a productive and consistent NBA player.