'He's better than Dirk' - How Joe Dumars described Darko Milicic after watching him work out prior to the 2003 Draft

The 2003 NBA Draft was known as the LeBron James sweepstakes. The prep-to-pro prospect may have been the draft's crown jewel, but there were other consolation prizes, headlined by Carmelo Anthony. So, when the draft lottery had the Detroit Pistons ending up with the second overall pick, many thought that's where the former Syracuse University product was heading.

However, former Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars went a different route after watching Darko Milicic work out before the draft. A relatively unknown prospect, Milicic turned a lot of heads during workouts. Former Pistons guard Jon Barry said Dumars even compared the Serbian youngster to Dirk Nowitzki.

"I remember Joe Dumars saying we're working him out," Barry said. "I think half a dozen of us went over to watch. Dumars, he was telling me this guy is going to be the deal, said, 'He's better than Dirk. He's going to be an absolute stud.' So I said, I'm going to go check him out."

The Pistons were in a unique spot

Perhaps Detroit's circumstances in 2003 influenced the organization's decision to keep the No. 2 selection. The team was coming off a 2002-03 season in which it finished first in the Eastern Conference and reached the East finals, where it was swept by the New Jersey Nets.

However, six years prior, the powerhouse Pistons squad had landed a high pick in what turned out to be a loaded draft class after a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies (previously known as the Vancouver Grizzlies).