9) Rodney Hood Slips (2014)
Before the 2014 NBA Draft, two players were being heralded as potential franchise players — Andrew Wiggins of Kansas and Duke’s Jabari Parker. In the meantime, Parker’s Blue Devils teammate, Rodney Hood, failed to make waves among NBA decision-makers.
Apparently he was too old and not long enough or a good enough athlete to warrant a high first-round selection. So Hood slipped on draft night, all the way down to the Jazz at No. 23.
He’s been making a dozen or more teams rue the day they let that happen ever since. Particularly the Memphis Grizzlies, who took Jordan Adams (who’s now out of the league) at No. 22.
Over the course of three years with the Jazz, Hood has started 155 games, averaging 12.4 points per contest and shooting better than 36 percent from three-point range. Despite his status as a late first-round pick, he’s largely been one of the better two-guards in the Association.
If he could stay healthy and find some consistency, he could even be a star.
Next: No. 8