LA Clippers draft bust power forward: Chris Wilcox
With the eighth pick in the 2002 NBA draft, the LA Clippers selected the former NCAA champion, Chris Wilcox. This was a great selection, primarily because Wilcox was a dominant force in the paint who fit the criteria of what the Clippers were searching for.
During Wilcox’s run to the NCAA championship, he averaged 12.0 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 50.4% from the field in 24.1 minutes per contest. His numbers, along with his size, gave the front office all they needed to select him in the lottery.
Despite his collegiate success, Wilcox could not find a rhythm in his rookie season. He averaged 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds over 46 games for the LA Clippers. Although his minutes were held at a limit, Wilcox could not shine in the opportunities he was given.
Throughout the next few years, his numbers saw an increase before dropping in 2005-06. This forced the front office to trade him by any means possible. In the end, Wilcox was dealt at the trade deadline to the Seattle Supersonics for Vladimir Radmanović. This trade was a win-win for both parties involved, as Radmanović played phenomenally under the bright lights of LA.
Moreover, by selecting Wilcox with the eighth overall pick, the LA Clippers missed out on a potential Hall-of-Famer in Amar’e Stoudemire, as well as other stars such as Caron Butler and Tayshaun Prince. This draft choice was easily one of the worst in franchise history, solely because Wilcox had a short tenure with the Clippers.