5 times the Chicago Bulls missed on a superstar in the NBA Draft
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Power Forward. 2006 NBA Draft: 2nd Pick. LaMarcus Aldridge. 24. 3. player
This part of the list should be highlighted in bold since the Bulls completely missed out on this one in the 2006 NBA Draft. Originally, Paxson did pick up the former Texas Longhorns big man LaMarcus Aldridge with the second overall draft pick. But they would trade that pick to the Trail Blazers before he ever even had a chance to thrive in the Windy City.
On draft night 2006, the Bulls would send Aldridge to the Trail Blazers that most notably included a return of Tyrus Thomas. That obviously didn’t work out well for the Bulls, while working out very well for the Trail Blazers. They got nine great seasons out of Aldridge, before he would leave for the San Antonio Spurs and let the Blazers build around Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.
Aldridge would become a seven-time NBA All-Star selection, five-time All-NBA honoree, and was a member of the 2006-07 All-Rookie Team. He’s still chugging along in the NBA, averaging 18.9 points per game, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and a career-best 1.6 blocks, while shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Head coach Gregg Popovich and the Spurs deserve a lot of credit for maintaining the effectiveness of Aldridge’s existing skill set while also turning him into a better rim protector and stretch big. He’s become a bona fide consistent threat from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, Thomas would not have a single All-Star selection. His lone major accolade from his eight-year long NBA career would be 2006-07 All-Rookie Team honors.