The NBA is full of ‘what-ifs?’ especially when it comes to trades and draft selections. The 2003 draft might be the biggest sample of that. 18 years later, people are still discussing what specific teams should or shouldn’t have done.
The Detroit Pistons were an up-and-coming team back in 2003, ready to make a statement in the league the following year when they beat the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the Finals. Even though they were contenders, they had the No. 2 pick in that year’s draft. In case you don’t know, they selected Darko Milicic, passing on Carmelo Anthony. He was selected by the Denver Nuggets one pick later.
In an interview with Showtime’s ‘All the Smoke’ podcast, Melo revealed he was ready to go to Detroit and learn from the guys that would win a championship the next year.
“I think if I was there, they win another (title),” Anthony said. “I wouldn’t jump out there and say we three-peat. I think we’d go back-to-back if I’m there. … They were all vets, I would have learned from those guys. And that second year coming back, I would have been a totally different player coming back.”
Melo was 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 to be drafted by the Pistons 😳
He believes that decision changed the course of his career. #ATS100 | @carmeloanthony pic.twitter.com/vof21kguTH
— All the Smoke (@allthesmokeprod) August 17, 2021
Moreover, the team had promised Melo he would get drafted No. 2, which never happened, leaving the door open for the Denver Nuggets to get the talented forward.
“Changed the course of my career,” Anthony said. “I’mma tell you what, man: To this day, I still think about that. … Because I’m like, they promised me, ‘We taking you, we taking you.’ I’m talking about all the way up to draft day.
“So in my mind, I’m going to Detroit.”
Life took a different route for the legendary forward after that. Darko Milicic won a championship with the Pistons while Melo is still trying to get that elusive ring. He even joined long-time friend LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers to get that trophy.
If the Pistons kept their alleged promise, they would have been more dangerous than they were, and the 2007 Finals would have probably had a different outcome.
