About 2 years ago, I re-drafted the 2018 NBA draft, since then a lot has changed about that class and some of those picks are wrong. Now, I am going to do another re-draft since we are at a dead point in the offseason. Today, I am re-drafting the 2017 NBA draft. All picks that were traded will go to the team who got the player drafted in that slot (the 7th pick will go to the Bulls though it was made by the Timberwolves due to the first Jimmy Butler trade).
1. 76ers: Jayson Tatum
For as sick as this makes me, this one is obvious. Tatum has turned into one of the 5-10 best players in the NBA and has the Celtics looking like one of the favorites entering 2023-24.
Original: Markelle Flutz
2. Lakers: Donovan Mitchell
I could see the Bam Adebayo argument but Mitchell is my pick here. After 5 seasons with the Utah Jazz, Mitchell had a career year last season making All-NBA for the first time in his career and it looks like his best is still in the future.
Original: Lonzo Ball
3. Celtics: Bam Adebayo
Back in 2019, Miami traded Hassan Whiteside making Adebayo their starting center and they have not looked back since. Adebayo is one of the best defensive players in the NBA and probably has a DPOY in his future.
Original: Jayson Tatum
4. Suns: De’Aaron Fox
After having an up and down career, Fox pieced together his best season in the NBA last season, making his first All-NBA team in 2023. His connection with Domantas Sabonis is really fun to watch but a Fox and Devin Booker backcourt would have been so much fun.
Original: Josh Jackson
5. Kings: Lauri Markkanen
After looking very meh in his first 5 seasons, Markkanen had a breakout season in 2023 with the Utah Jazz after being included in the Mitchell trade. The future looks bright for Markkanen for years to come.
Original: De’Aaron Fox
6. Magic: OG Anunoby
I considered Anunoby at the 5th pick but the future looks brighter for Markkanen than Anunoby. However, that does not take away from what a great player Anunoby has become and how much drafting him instead of Jonathan Isaac would have helped Orlando.
Original: Jonathan Isaac
7. Bulls: Jarrett Allen
Allen is one of the best shot blockers in the league and would have given the Bulls a defensive anchor for the future. This would have helped out Zach LaVine tremendously in LaVine’s early Bulls days.
Original: Lauri Markkanen
8. Knicks: Derrick White
White has become one of the most underrated players in the sport after making the All-Defensive team last season. He was the Celtics best guard last season on a team that included Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon and his future is bright.
Original: Frank Ntilikina
9. Mavericks: Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma is another one of the most underrated players in the NBA. After becoming one of the most overrated players in the league after being drafted by the Lakers, Kuzma’s hype has gone down while his play has gone up since being traded to the Wizards.
Original: Dennis Smith Jr.
10. Trail Blazers: John Collins
After taking Zach Collins with this pick, Portland gets the better Collins in the re-draft. While I am not the biggest fan of John Collins, I will be interested to see how he plays in Utah because he is a good player.
Original: Zach Collins
11. Hornets: Dillon Brooks
While he became a huge meme during the playoffs, Dillon Brooks is a good player who is one of the better defensive players in the league.
Original: Malik Monk
12. Pistons: Markelle Fultz
The number one pick in this draft has turned his career around since being traded to Orlando by the 76ers. I am a huge fan of Fultz when he is on the court and I think he will continue to progress in his career.
Original: Luke Kennard
13. Jazz: Josh Hart
Utah actually traded Hart after drafting him with the 30th pick in this draft. While he is not nearly as good as the player the Jazz traded up for with this pick, Hart is a good player who should be signing a new 4yr/$75 million extension with the Knicks soon.
Original: Donovan Mitchell
14. Heat: Chris Boucher
After going undrafted in the real draft Boucher sneaks into the lottery in the re-draft. While just like with Utah’s pick, the player is not nearly as good as the one they originally drafted, Boucher is still a good NBA player.
Original: Bam Adebayo
15. Kings: Malik Monk
After an up and down start to his career, Monk found a home in Sacramento this past season.
Original: Justin Jackson
16. Timberwolves: Luke Kennard
Kennard is one of the best snipers in the league from 3 and you can never have too much shooting
Original: Justin Patton
17. Bucks: Monte Morris
Morris always has one of the best assists-to-turnover ratios in the league.
Original: D.J. Wilson
18. Pacers: Jonathan Isaac
When he plays, Isaac is one of the best defenders in the NBA, the problem is he never plays.
Original: T.J. Leaf
19. Hawks: Zach Collins
A trade of the Collins’! (no relation)
Original: John Collins
20. Kings: Isaiah Heartenstein
I might take Hartenstein over Zach Collins but then I would not have been able to trade the Collins’ for one another.
Original: Harry Giles III
21. Thunder: Thomas Bryant
Bryant is a good regular season player, but unplayable in the playoffs.
Original: Terrence Ferguson
22. Nets: Lonzo Ball
Ball would have gone higher, but he may never play basketball again.
Original: Jarrett Allen
23. Raptors: Dennis Smith Jr.
Smith Jr. successfully revived his career last season with the Hornets.
Original: OG Anunoby
24. Nuggets: Vlatko Čančar
Čančar was drafted by Denver in the 2nd round of this draft and is still on the Nuggets, though he recently tore his ACL.
Original: Tyler Lydon
25. 76ers: Frank Ntilikina
Ntilikina is still hanging around after signing with Charlotte this summer.
Original: Anžejs Pasečņiks
26. Trail Blazers: Tony Bradley
Bradley actually rises in this re-draft from 28 to 26.
Original: Caleb Swanigan
27. Lakers: Terrence Ferguson
…whatever happened to Terrence Ferguson?
Original: Kyle Kuzma
28. Jazz: Edmond Sumner
Sumner had a solid season for the Nets last year.
Original: Tony Bradley
29. Spurs: Jordan Bell
Bell showed some flashes with the Warriors once upon a time.
Original: Derrick White
30. Lakers: Semi Ojeleye
The Giannis stopper is the last pick in our re-draft.
Original: Josh Hart
That’s my 2017 re-draft, who went too high and who went too low?
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