Valley of the Suns
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Phoenix Suns: Top 6 missed opportunities with #6 pick

By Khaleel Abdullah

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 1: Jonny Flynn #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles around Joel Anthony #50 of the Miami Heat during a basketball game at Target Center on April 1, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien /Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 1: Jonny Flynn #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles around Joel Anthony #50 of the Miami Heat during a basketball game at Target Center on April 1, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien /Getty Images) /
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#2 – 1998 NBA Draft

With the sixth pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks select Robert Traylor.

Available – Dirk Nowitzki (#9) and Paul Pierce (#10)

Wait. The Dallas Mavericks left Dirk on the board? What kind of alternate universe is this? He’s meant to spend his entire career in Texas.

Dallas sent the rights to Traylor to the Milwaukee Bucks in a deal that gave them the ninth pick which was used on Dirk and did make him a Maverick.

Oh, okay. Whew! That almost changed history.

For the Bucks, though? What were they thinking?

“Tractor”, all 6-foot-9 and 290 pounds of him, battled weight problems throughout his career. He lasted six seasons in the NBA, averaging 4.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game.

Milwaukee also gave up the rights to the 19th pick, which ended up being Pat Garrity, who shot 39.8 percent from three for 7.3 points per game over a 10 year career. Arguably, he himself did much better in the NBA than Traylor did.

Dirk was a 14x All-Star, Finals MVP and NBA Champion. He’s going to be in the Hall of Fame, averaging 20.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting 38 percent from downtown as a 7-foot big man.

The Bucks could have just kept the pick and done so much better.

Available on the board was none other than Paul Pierce. He was a 10x All-Star, Finals MVP and NBA Champion. He averaged 19.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

History could have been changed with this pick but instead it just ended up with the Bucks with a big whiff.

*Note – RIP Traylor, who was found dead from a heart attack in 2011. Condolences to the family. This piece is solely on the draft pick and basketball view, nothing to do with the man.*

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