I feel like with a few small changes he could have had a very different career.
I agree. The Pistons were the absolute worse spot for him.
I disagree.
If he wasn't selected in a lottery, you might have said he would have a better shot at making it. Then again, he might would have not came if he wasn't a high pick. Money was much more comparable back then, and some guys stayed to be closer to home. Also less games, less wear and tare, while you develop. Almost like he was destined to be a high pick in that sense, with his lenght (still a 2 bigs era) and fluidity, serbian pedigree too.
The arcticle points to the spot in regard why he didn't make it. He was a mean and disturbed guy in my eyes, kind of like those kids that like to torture cats type. Some of the things he said after one loss in the Eurobasket to the referees family, it was just disguisting.
https://youtu.be/woWqSmichOo This wasn't an incident, it was the way he carried himself and was formed as an adult IMO. To carry that much hate in yourself, you can't make it at the highest of levels. It eats you up from the inside.
One more note. I am a Croat and I absolutely adore Serbian basketball school, coaches and players. I just never liked this guy in particular.