HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

Earlier this month, I examined this season’s best ‘draft-day values’ (those players that significantly outperformed their draft position), as well as the top late-round fliers and waiver-wire pickups.  

Today we’ll look at the flip side of the coin.  We will discuss those overvalued players that have which have proven to be devastatingly disappointing and have burned GM’s that rolled the dice on Draft Day.
 
Anthony Randolph – New York Knicks: 
From a projected breakout season to buried on the bench in the matter of months, Ant Rand has been a complete dud this season, and has scored a total of four points since the start of December.  It seems every summer some of us get suckered into believing this will be the season Randolph establishes himself as a stud; but after forcing GMs to waste a draft pick this October, Randolph will have far fewer people jumping on the bandwagon next year.    
 
Troy Murphy – New Jersey Nets:
When he was traded to the Nets over the summer it seemed to be a perfect situation for Murphy.  The hometown kid was returning to New Jersey where the Nets needed offense and a starting PF in the worst way.  However, things quickly unraveled and the first three months of the season have been a complete waste for T-Murph.  He was dinged up early on, lost the starting power forward gig to Kris Humphries, landed in Avery Johnson’s doghouse, and has been stuck there ever since.  Murphy hasn’t played since January 7th, and is now no longer even travelling with the team nor making cameo appearances after recently demanding a trade.  This is certainly not what fantasy leaguers had in mind when they spent a mid-round pick on Murphy back in October. 
 
Carl Landry – Sacramento Kings:
In the 28 games Landry played with the Kings last season, he averaged 18 points (52.0 FG%) and 6.5 rebounds in over 37 minutes per contest.  Completely different story this time around – Landry is playing just 27 minutes a night, and his production (12.3 points and 4.8 boards) has suffered greatly as a result.  
 
O.J. Mayo – Memphis Grizzlies:
No one expected Mayo’s playing time and production to plummet heading into the season, but that is exactly what has happened in Memphis.  O.J. is averaging career-lows in basically every statistical category – including points, rebounds, assists, steals, threes, etc. – and is also shooting far below his career averages from the field, the stripe, and the three-point line.    
 
Gerald Wallace – Charlotte Bobcats:
{AUTHOR_BOX}The aforementioned Mayo can at least blame his dramatic drop to a major decrease in playing time.  G Wallace doesn’t have that excuse.  Despite playing over 39 minutes a night, Gerald’s numbers are still way down from last year’s stats.  This is due primarily to unexpected inefficiency.  Last season, Crash shot 48.4% from floor, 37% from three-point land, and 77.6% from the stripe.  This year, he is shooting 41.8% from the field, 32% from distance, and 73.4 from the line.  And of course his counting stats are down across the board as well.  
 
David Lee – Golden State Warriors:
Lee’s numbers haven’t been horrible, and his playing time has been fairly consistent, but his production has not matched pre-season prognostications.  David averaged 20.3 ppg (on 54.5% shooting) and 11.7 rpg for New York in 2009-2010.  This season he is averaging 15.7 ppg (48.6 FG%), and 9.7 rpg.  Not bad, just not worth a top-15 overall pick… 
 
Brook Lopez – New Jersey Nets:
What do shooting guards Landry Fields, Dwyane Wade, and Dorell Wright all have in common? They all average more rebounds than Brook Lopez.  This is fun – one more.  
 
What do Jordan Hill, Tyler Hansbrough, Ryan Anderson, Derrick Favors, Nazr Mohammed, Thabo Sefolosha, Ed Davis, Joey Dorsey, Kwame Brown, Darrell Arthur, and Luc Mbah a Moute, all have in common?  They are NBA players that have recorded more double-doubles during the 2010-2011 season than Mr. Brook Lopez.  (Yes, Lopez has posted a grand total of one (1) double-double this entire season).  You guys see what I am not so subtly getting at here..
 
Brandon Roy – Portland Trail Blazers:
Obviously Roy can’t be blamed for his knees giving out, but it still definitely still stings fantasy owners that have nothing to show for a second-round selection.   
 
Honorable Mention: Andre Iguodala, Tyreke Evans, Darren Collison, Mo Williams, Aaron Brooks, Marcus Thornton, Terrence Williams
 
 
Who did I miss?  Which players have left you feeling cursed this season?  As always – feel free to tweet at me (http://twitter.com/TommyBeer)