Milwaukee Bucks: Grading every draft of the past decade
By Ben Sewell
2010
15. Larry Sanders
37. Darington Hobson
47. Tiny Gallon
Grade: C+
Hammond could not have known the storm that was brewing with Larry Sanders when he picked him in the 2010 draft. All he knew was that the Bucks required a backup for their then star center Andrew Bogut.
While it took several seasons for Sanders to hit his strides, once he did, he become one of the best defensive centers in the league. During the 2012-13 season, Sanders played 71 games, averaging 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game.
Sanders’ superb season culminated in a four-year, $44 million contract offer that offseason. At the time, most Bucks fans were excited about the future prospects of Sanders as a defensive minded center who could finish strongly around the rim. Essentially, a slightly lesser version of Andrew Bogut in his prime.
The disastrous events that ensued for the Bucks could not have been foreseen by Hammond, or anyone in Milwaukee’s administration, as Sanders walked away from the NBA due to a variety of off the court struggles.
The consequences are unfortunately still being felt with Sanders mammoth contract being stretched by Milwaukee, in an attempt to lessen the blow of their star center leaving the NBA, just one year into his deal. These events obviously lessen the grade Hammond receives for drafting Sanders, but you cannot deny the impact he had on the team when he was focused and at his peak.
Hobson played only five games for Milwaukee while Gallon never actually played in the NBA, being waived after Summer League. Second round draft picks are always hit and miss but Hobson and Gallon were clear misses for Hammond.