Controversial name lands on Pistons all time draft bust starting five

The Detroit Pistons have had some signature misses in the NBA Draft over the years, which prompted me to put together an all-time starting lineup of draft busts. 

The original list is here, but I had to make some adjustments after Killian Hayes came and went, so here’s the most current version of the lineup: 

-Darko Milicic 

-Rodney White 

-Sekou Doumbouya 

-Stanley Johnson 

-Killian Hayes 

I am sure there are arguments here, and to be fair, the only metric I am using is my own, and it is completely subjective, as there are a million ways you can argue about “busts." I am not even a big fan of the term when we are talking about people who are often in their early 20's.

You can see my reasoning for each choice here. 

Even though it is early, I am considering adding a new name to the list, one I am sure many fans will disagree with. 

Jaden Ivey wasn’t a bust, but he was a disappointment 

It wouldn’t be fair to call Jaden Ivey a bust, so before you send me an angry email, I am not saying that he is... yet. But it’s fair to call him a big disappointment for the Pistons.

I am sure Ivey will get another job at some point (though I haven’t heard his name mentioned in rumors AT ALL) and a chance to prove he belongs in the NBA and not on the street preacher circuit. 

He may still have a long career in the NBA, who knows. 

It’s also fair to point out that Ivey’s ultimate failure in Detroit was not entirely his fault, as he was on some bad teams with bad coaches who mismanaged him. He then suffered a freak injury and was never able to fully come back, so no one is saying it was Ivey’s fault things didn’t work out in Detroit. 

But they didn’t and that’s the fact of the matter. 

Even though Ivey was showing some improvement in areas, the Pistons drafted him with a top five pick to be the second option, and he never was. You can blame injuries and that is entirely fair, but the results are what they are. 

He was soundly outplayed this season by a two-way player to the point that the Pistons had to trade a former top five pick for very little. Before his injury, it would have been unthinkable that Ivey would be traded for Kevin Huerter and a pick swap. 

In fact, coming into the season, many believed Ivey could be the centerpiece of a trade package to land the Pistons a star, so they went from that to Huerter and a seven-spot bump in the draft. 

Ivey then went to Chicago, where he promptly angered and alienated everyone with his bizarre behavior. That behavior (sorry, but this isn’t about religion, asking teammates and reporters about their sex lives is inappropriate behavior in a workplace setting) coupled with his injury concerns may leave Ivey looking for a job this summer. 

Going from top five pick to out of the league before your second contract is a tough route and gives Ivey a case to be included in the Pistons’ worst draft misses. 

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