#479492
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mikeyvthedon
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That before this year, you would have said Roy to Charlotte.

Lets go over it team by team over the last few years. Know that some teams might not look anything like they did with these re-dos, for better or for worse.

Atlanta Hawks: Chris Paul over Marvin Williams 2005 (Though, they could have had Rudy Gay over Shelden Williams in 2006, but they were stacked at the wing)

Boston Celtics: Richard Jefferson over Kedrick Brown in 2001 (They picked Brown right after Joe Johnson, and also could have had Zach Randolph, Tony Parker and Gilbert Arenas, but lets just say they go for the better wing player than hit the jackpot)

Charlotte: Gay over Morrison is the obvious one

Chicago Bulls: Keeping LaMarcus Aldridge in 2006 instead of trading for Tyrus Thomas (Remember, like the ones before it, this would change the entire team. Aldridge is the far superior player to Thomas thus far, but good luck signing Boozer. Than again, maybe he might have teamed well with Noah, who still would have been a possibility as Aldridge eased into the NBA. Rose also could have been possible, who knows?)

Cleveland Cavaliers: Al Jefferson over Luke Jackson at #10 in 2005 (Also could take Josh Smith, JR Smith and/or Kevin Martin. Again, trying to make this as realistic to actual draft position, so Jefferson goes first.)

Dallas Mavericks: Hedo Turkoglu over Etan Thomas #12 in 2000 (Thomas was eventually traded, in a trade that landed Juwan Howard, but Nowitzki/Turkoglu when they were young make an interesting backcourt. Throw in Steve Nash, tons of points, no defense in Nellie land. Also could have had Kobe, but that one we will save for later)

Denver Nuggets: Amare Stoudemire over Niko Tskitishvilli at # 5 in 2002 (Would have more than likely meant no Melo, but maybe they get lucky in the lotto, where they would more than likely still go even with having draft the 2003 ROY)

Detroit Pistons: Carmelo Anthony over Darko Milicic in 2003 (I would say that Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh might have made more sense, but who am I kidding, at the time it was a two horse race after LeBron, with Darko winning by a length. Realize that the 7 foot, 17 year old Darko looked like a potential beast, even with Melo having just lead his team to a chip at Syracuse. Still, it is another time where size comes up short)

Golden State Warriors: Kobe Bryant over Todd Fuller at #11 in 1996 (They have had a number of bad picks, and the Garnett over Smith one comes to mind, but I will pick on them as Fuller gave so little in the NBA. Kobe might have changed the whole face of their franchise, if he did not demand a trade before than 🙂

Houston Rockets: Rashard Lewis over Mirsad Turckan at #18 in 1998 (This was the obvious choice, as Houston made three overall crumby picks with the 14-16-18 selections in this draft. Shard went way later at #32, but the word in Houston was the hometown kid was "Their 4th choice". Turckan never played an NBA game.)

Indiana Pacers: Tayshaun Prince over Fred Jones at #14 in 2002 (With apologies to my former UO Duck Freddie Jones, Prince would have been a very nice get for Indiana at 14. He went 23, but I am sure Pacers fans would have loved to have Tayshaun on their side instead of chasing Reggie down the floor for that massive block in the play-offs)

LA Clippers: Kevin Garnett over Antonio McDyess at #2 in 1995 (This one stands out, as they have many others they would love mulligans on. I remember Joe Smith being pretty solid at that #1 spot, so we will give them Garnett, who they hopefully would not have traded to Denver immediately for Brent Barry and some other marginal player. I am sure Clippers fans would take Garnett over Brent’s dunk contest win. Another one was in 2002, they chose 3 PF’s who all turned out to be duds. They at least could have chosen Carlos Boozer to make up for Melvin Ely at 12)

LA Lakers: Andrei Kirilenko over Devean George at #23 in 1999 (Yes, George was a starter and solid role player for years on those Lakers teams. Also, Jerry West was seen as a keen eye for getting him out of small Augsburg College, a DIII school. But, would he have not be even more of a keen eye for getting Andrei Kirilenko, who just went one spot after? I personally think the Lakers might have survived with Andrei at the 3)

Memphis Grizzlies: Amare Stoudemire over Drew Gooden at #4 in 2002 (Yeah, we already had Amare at 5 to Denver, but this goes down as executive idol Jerry West’s biggest head scratcher. Gooden was solid and all, but West gave up on him so early, and for Mike Miller of all people. Have to wonder how nice it would have been to have Stoudemire in Memphis, and I guess Denver would have gone for Caron Butler)

Miami Heat: Russell Westbrook over Michael Beasley at #2 in 2008 (Yes, this would have major consequences. So long big 3, unless they wanted an even more significant pay cut. Odds are Miami would have had either Bosh or James, but not both if they had taken Russell. Beasley is playing a lot better, but to me their is little doubt that Westbrook and Wade would have made a much better duo than he and B-Easy)

Milwaukee Bucks: Brook Lopez over Joe Alexander at #8 in 2008 (True, they still had Bogut, and yes Brook’s lack of rebounding has been well documented, but he would have made Bucks fans MUCH happier than Joe Alexander, that is for sure)

Minnesota Timberwolves: Joakim Noah over Corey Brewer at #7 in 2007 (Sure, Noah is hurt and Brewer has been playing slightly better, but a front court of Noah and Love? Noah would have sat for a while behind Jefferson, but odds are Minnesota still would have been bad enough to get Love in 2008 and I think Noah and Love would work.)

New Jersey Nets: Danny Granger over Antoine Wright at #15 in 2005 (Granger was thought to be kind of a tweener, but even so, he turned out to be a far better player than Antoine)

New Orleans/Charlotte Hornets: Zach Randolph over Kirk Haston at #16 in 2001 (Might mean no David West, might even mean Baron Davis and Z-Bo could have been a cool tandom. But, it means no Kirk Haston, which I am sure would make Hornets fans happy)

New York Knicks: David West over Michael Sweetney at #9 in 2003 (The Knicks could have a few do overs, even when they thought they were good picks, a la Channing Frye, but this one stands out like a sore thumb. Sweetney looked like a solid player, and I could picture him being better than West at the time, but after all, this is a do over. Captain Hindsight reins supreme. Ron Artest over Fredric Weis in 1999 is too easy also.)

OKC Thunder/Seattle Supersonics: Josh Smith over Robert Swift at #12 in 2004 (Does anyone remember this? People heeping praise on the Sonics for drafting Swift, people calling to trade? Than, Jay Bilas saying Josh Smith was the most likely player to be a bust. Over loud speakers. So Smith could hear every word. Well, Captain Hindsight to the rescue!)

Orlando Magic: Al Harrington over Michael Doleac in 1998 #12 (I could have done "anyone over Fran Vazquez", but David Lee seemed like more of a stretch than this one. I know Fran is probably better than many players who were selected after him as well, it just kills the Magic that he will more than likely never play in the NBA, when they could have already REALLY used him. I seriously think with some play in the NBA, Vazquez could have been a real contributor for the Magic, even helping them immensely in the Finals in 2009. But, I will not say the same for Doleac.)

Philadelphia 76ers: Dirk Nowitzki over Larry Hughes at #8 in 1998 (Yes, this is a low blow 76ers fans. I am sorry. As of late, Philly has done alright, but of course they wonder what if about 1995 with KG or 1998 with Dirk or Psquared. Well, Dirk and Iverson would have been a very interesting combination, I will say that. Kind of makes you smile thinking about it, would it have worked? Well, my guess is better than AI and Larry Hughes)

Phoenix Suns: Keeping a first round pick once in a while? Luol Deng, Rajon Rondo, Nate Robinson and Rudy Fernandez all traded for cap space (Take your pick. They had Nash, but that team needed depth and take a couple of these guys and you have that. Ask Boston with Rondo and Nate)

Portland Trail Blazers: Keeping the #3 pick and taking Deron Williams (No, I will not do the Oden, Durant thing. But, go nuts everyone else. This one would have been actually possible, maybe D-Will would play some 2 his first year and than Boston still would have given up the #7 for Bassy? Well, this backcourt would have been a dream for most Blazer fans, up until Brandon Roy’s knees stopped working)

Sacramento Kings: Rajon Rondo over Quincy Douby at #19 in 2006 (Rondo and Evans would seem like an incredibly interesting back court. This one is the most obvious one for them, as Rondo went 2 picks later to Phoenix, who would have been fine with trading Douby for cap space)

San Antonio Spurs: Marc Gasol over Marcus Williams at #33 in 2007 (It is no secret, the Spurs have drafted incredibly well ever since hitting lotto gold in Tim Duncan. Parker at 28, Ginobili at 57, some more late first round finds. But this would have been a really good one for them. Unlikely, but solid)

Toronto Raptors: Iguodala over Hoffa in 2005 (Nothing more to add)

Utah Jazz: Kevin Martin over Kirk Snyder at #16 in 2004 (Seems like a great fit, even with Martin’s slight frame kind of being anti-Sloan. I am sure Jerry would have loved his ability to get to the line and he would make a nice 2 guard in which the Jazz have been aiming for. JR Smith was also available, but I think Martin would be a better fit.)

Washington Wizards: Pau Gasol over Kwame Brown in 2001 (Michael Jordan probably wishes he could do that one over all the time. Take the guy who is taller, better and much more ready to play. I am not saying Finals for the Wizards, but play-offs would seem likely if Jordan was the first great 2 guard to team up with Pau.)

 

 

 

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