Four NBA teams that thrived after whiffing on top picks

The Atlanta Hawks drafted Zaccharie Risacher with the top overall pick in 2024. Two years later, they've tacitly admitted it was a mistake.

Risacher is headed to the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team trade that sends Lu Dort and second-year point guard Ryan Nembhard, a small return for a No. 1 pick. But NBA history shows that whiffing on a high pick doesn't necessarily doom a franchise. Here are four teams that wasted high picks but succeeded anyway.

Golden State Warriors, 2020 | James Wiseman

James Wiseman played only three games in college before the Golden State Warriors used the No. 2 pick on him in the 2020 draft. The Warriors believed in the seven-footer's potential as a shooter, shot-blocker and lob threat for passes from Steph Curry.

They never got to see Wiseman develop after injuries limited him to only 39 games as a rookie and zero games during his sophomore season in 2021-22. Meanwhile, the Warriors won the title in 2022 despite getting nothing from a top lottery pick.

Cleveland Cavaliers, 2013 | Anthony Bennett

After the departure of LeBron James in 2010, the Cleveland Cavaliers ended up with the No. 1 overall pick in three of the next four drafts, though the top pick in 2011 came when the Los Angeles Clippers made a short-sighted salary dump, only to see the pick they sent Cleveland turn into Kyrie Irving.

Bennett was a surprising top pick in 2013, after one injury-plagued season at UNLV and struggles with both sleep apnea and asthma. He didn't score until his fifth NBA game and averaged 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds during his rookie year. One year later, the Cavs traded him along with 2014 No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love, and they won the NBA title in 2016.

Miami Heat, 2008 | Michael Beasley

Michael Beasley's career with the Miami Heat started off poorly when the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft got in trouble at the Rookie Transition Program. He continued to rack up fines during his rookie season, then went to rehab in the summer of 2009.

Miami traded him after two seasons as part of an effort to clear salary cap room to sign James and Chris Bosh, but they'd also clearly given up on Beasley. The Heat won it all in 2012 and 2013 without Beasley. When the Phoenix Suns released Beasley after he was arrested for marijuana possession in 2013, the Heat signed him — and went on to lose in the 2014 Finals.   

Detroit Pistons, 2003 | Darko Milicic

It sounds crazy in hindsight, but there were actually people who argued that the seven-foot Serbian teenager Darko Milicic should be the top pick over James in 2003. Instead, the Detroit Pistons took Milicic at No. 2, ahead of Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Bosh and Dwyane Wade.

Milicic averaged 1.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 4.7 minutes per game for the 2003-04 Pistons, who went on to win the NBA title. He averaged only 1.8 points the next season, when the Pistons lost in seven games in the 2005 Finals. At the 2006 deadline, Milicic was traded to the Orlando Magic for a first-round pick, which they turned into Rodney Stuckey, who scored 6,339 more points for the Pistons than Milicic did.

What's the common thread? It's not a tragedy to miss on a top draft pick — as long as you've got plenty of other talent.