Washington Wizards all-time draft bust starting 5
By Tyler Watts
SF: Gary Bradds
The NBA Draft featured territorial picks from 1949 to 1966. As a way of trying to increase fans in local markets, teams were allowed to forfeit their first-round pick to select a college player that was within 50 miles of their home arena before the draft started.
There were two territorial picks in 1964 when the then-Baltimore Bullets held the third overall pick. They selected Gary Bradds out of Ohio State with the hopes of adding a key piece to their first playoff run. The franchise missed the postseason in each of its first three years, and they were searching for more talent.
Bradds would last just two years in the NBA where he averaged 3.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.0 minutes per game. The 6’8 forward never found a consistent role, but he did go on to play four years in the ABA after flaming out with the Bullets.
Baltimore selected Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan in the third round of the 1964 draft, but they missed on Willis Reed, who was taken just five picks after Bradds. Reed helped the Knicks win two championships, and he was a seven-time All-Star during his Hall of Fame career.