If the Trailblazers could have done it over again, they wouldn't have hesitated to select Kevin Durant 1st overall. |
What if the lottery teams from 2007 could do it over again? What if they could have another shot at making the right draft pick if they drafted a bust? The 2007 class has been able to marinate in the league for five years and either make or break their careers.
1. Portland Trailblazers(Originally Picked Greg Oden)
Kevin Durant(Originally 2nd)
Man did the Trailblazers get this one wrong. Not only have Greg Oden's knees been so bad that he can't really play, but Kevin Durant is slowly turning into the NBA's best player. Imagine if Durant was on the team with Rudy Fernandez, Wes Matthews and LaMarcus Aldridge? They'd probably be just as good as OKC. This might have been one of the worst selections of all-time, and it, by no means, is Oden's fault. The Blazers took a chance on his knees and they lost, and in this case lost badly. Luckily for them, Kevin Pritchard knew how to dig Portland out of a ditch.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder(Originally Picked Kevin Durant)
Al Horford(Originally 3rd)
With the additions OKC has made after this draft, they wouldn't be so bad off. Horford is a phenomenal big man, with a solid post game, great defense and good rebounding. Unfortunately, KD is KD, so the Thunder would obviously be losing some serious scoring talent. It really wouldn't be as bad as it looks, but fortunately for OKC, Portland didn't make the right decision.
3.Atlanta Hawks(Originally Picked Al Horford)
Joakim Noah(Originally 9th)
This pick would fit in perfectly with Larry Drew's defensive system. Noah is one of the game's best big man and could certainly change any team's offensive approach. He is the consummate energy player who is growing on offense, with a solid pick and roll game. Noah is a serious upgrade over Zaza Pachulia, that's undeniable, however it would be seriously on Jeff Teague to run a successful pick and roll offense with Noah.
4.Memphis Grizzlies(Originally Picked Mike Conley Jr.)
Marc Gasol(Originally 48th)
Well isn't this sort of ironic? Gasol was selected by the Grizzlies in the second round, but man they would be struggling if they hadn't been able to get him. His valuable post-play is much more important to the Grizzlies success than Conley's inconsistent point guard game, though Conley isn't that bad. Probably the steal of the draft here.
5.Oklahoma City Thunder(Originally Picked Jeff Green)
Nick Young(Originally 16th)
Young and Durant would form one of the nastiest duos in the league, if the Thunder weren't forced(in the redraft) to draft Al Horford. Young and their original picked Jeff Green aren't different, but I think Young's ability to get to the hoop is better and remains the reason why he is higher than Green. Plus, the uncertainty of Green's heart makes Young a safer pick as well.
6.Milwaukee Bucks(Originally Picked Yi Jianlian)
Jeff Green(Originally 5th)
As I stated earlier Green is a solid player who can score both shooting and driving to the hole, but his game isn't as great as Nick Young's. Green's heart should be fine, but might be a worry for the Bucks if they had to do it again. The Bucks would be receiving a serious upgrade over Carlos Delfino, their current small forward, and they would have also avoided the bust pick that was Yi Jianlian.
7.Minnesota T'Wolves(Originally Picked Corey Brewer)
Mike Conley Jr.(Originally 4th)
ANOTHER POINT GUARD? Well yes, because this whole thing would have been before they selected Flynn and Rubio, so maybe Conley's solid play would have settled those PG doubts. I think Conley could be labeled as a bit of disappointment because he was supposed to be an elite point guard, when he turned out to be a solid one. He's good enough to lead an offense, but doesn't posses the skills to enhance it. I'll tell you what though, he still couldn't have helped the T'Wolves.
8.Charlotte Bobcats(Originally Picked Brendan Wright)
Thaddeus Young(Originally 12th)
Even though Thaddeus Young sits the bench behind superstar(?) Andre Iguodala, he still is a formidable player. He would have assumed Gerald Wallace's role at the time who would have become trade bait even earlier. If he was given a starting spot, the 6'8 wing could average somewhere between 18-20 points a game. Bobcats might be in a better situation if they hadn't wasted a pick on Brendan Wright.
9.Chicago Bulls(Originally Picked Joakim Noah)
Wilson Chandler(Originally 23rd)
The Bulls are already chalk full of depth, but the unfortunate loss of Noah do to the redraft might seriously hinder their ability to contend. However, Chandler's scoring ability off the bench(behind Luol Deng) would allow the Bulls, even under the defensive Thibodeau, to become a monster offense. Deng or Chandler would probably become trade bait for the Bulls to get a center to replace Noah's nonexistence.
10.Sacramento Kings(Originally Picked Spencer Hawes)
Rodney Stuckey(Originally 15th)
Stuckey's has sort of fallen off, probably because the Pistons around him have fallen apart. However that doesn't mean that he isn't still a desirable piece. The drafting of Stuckey would probably have allowed Tyreke Evans to fall further down in the 2009 draft. I don't think this draft pick would change the fortune of the Kings in these last five years, but at least they'd be better defensively at the point.
11.Atlanta Hawks(Originally Picked Acie Law IV)
Carl Landry(Orginally 31st)
Now while Carl Landry is not Al Horford, at least he's better than Acie Law. Landry has shown a solid offensive game throughout his career, but nothing to write home about. Combine him with Joakim Noah who they would have redrafted at 3rd and then you have a formidable front court. But let me repeat, Carl Landry is better than Acie Law.
12.Philadelphia 76ers(Originally Picked Thaddeus Young)
Ramon Sessions(Originally 56th)
Sessions may be a career bench player, but he has shown a serious scoring ability when he is on. Unfortunately for the 76ers Thaddeus Young moved up to the eight spot, and they would be left with another solid guard. But depth is depth, and this pick would give the 76ers a disgustingly deep backcourt.
13.New Orleans Hornets(Originally Picked Julian Wright)
Aaron Brooks(Originally 26th)
Aaron Brooks would fit in perfectly with the Hornets post-CP3. Brooks showed in 2009-10 that he could score a great click(19.6 a game) and while his passing game isn't phenomenal he could certainly have moved from SG to PG once CP3 departed. Eric Gordon and him would make a nasty scoring backcourt.
14.Los Angeles Clippers(Originally Picked Al Thornton)
Rudy Fernandez(Originally 24th)
Fernandez probably would have been dealt in the CP3 trade, but if he wasn't he makes a extremely serviceable backup and would allow the Clippers to spend money on someone else than Chauncey Billups. It'd been fun to watch Fernandez, who is your classic pass-first point guard, throw oops to Blake Griffin. He's also certainly had a better career than Al Thornton.
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