Certain NBA GMs have proven very deft at using the draft to better their team even in inauspicious draft spots, with later selections like Tim Hardaway, Karl Malone, Gilbert Arenas, and Tony Parker.  These steals are often the difference in making a team advance to the next level or keeping you on top.

But what about the picks that are so obvious even the dumbest team could make them? And in some cases, should have made them?  Here's a brief selection of those:

2009 Blake Griffin, #1 to the LA Clippers: Just look at the number 2 pick, Shawn Bradley 2.0, and you know all you need to about this draft.  Hmmm...the double-double machine with awesome athleticism  or #2 or the teen point guard from Spain, etc.? 

2007 Kevin Durant, #2 to the Seattle Sonics: You may recall the debate over whether Durant or Oden was better (this debate is settled now, no?).  Since the Blazers took Oden, the Sonics made this pick asleep.  While the Sonics/Thunder deserve no credit for this pick, the Blazers certainly deserve scorn for passing up one of the most breathtaking college players of all time who crushed all competition in every single national POY award.  How untouchable would Portland be with Durant?  Scary to think about, so I'm glad I don't have to.

2006 Brandon Roy, #6 to the Blazers (via trade): The Italian Nowitzki-lite?  The 'Stache?  The Landlord?  These teams should have gone with the leader who could do everything well and deliver in crunch time.  I believe it was me who said in October 2006 about the Bobcats: "They drafted the 'Stache, but when Brandon Roy hoists the Rookie of the Year trophy this year and is knocking down clutch shots in the playoffs in a few years, the Bobcats will conclude they made the wrong choice."  Picks 9 and 10 in that draft are so horrible, the entire personell department should have been immediately gutted.  Not fired, actually gutted.

2005 Chris Paul, #4 to the Hornets: After the Bucks amused us with the selection of the Australio-Croat, the Hawks picked UNC's sixth man, and Deron Williams went to the Jazz, who else could they have picked?  The next six are an astounding collection of chuckers.

2003 Lebron James, #1 to the Cavs: We were all witnesses to the Kings awesomeness.  As fantastic as picks 3-5 were, LBJ was the obvious choice.  Not so obvious: why the supremely overrated Joe Dumars picked the Count Chocula soundalike who couldn't even crack the rotation on his second-rate Serbian team.

1997 Tim Duncan, #1 to the Spurs: 1997's draft looks a lot like this year's.  Duncan was the unanimous player of the year and Boston not getting him set the Celtics back for years.  He looked like an all-timer from beginning, and the next pick was Keith Van Horrible.  Billups has made a nice career for himself (at #3) and McGrady was briefly a superstar-caliber player, but the rest of the lottery picks are a litany of busts and overrated role-players.