[steviechillzParticipant]

I think four years later is a good amount of time to do a re-draft. The 2012 Draft IMO doesn’t get as much love as it should. I think the weakness of the drafts of 2010-2013 definitely hurt its reputation, but the draft has the potential to add 3-4 HOFs and 5-6 all stars…that’s not bad at all in my books.

Quick disclosure, my re-draft does not include team needs and I’m going to just do the lottery picks(1-14):

#1 Anthony Davis(#1 in 2012 NBA Draft) – Davis is going to be one of the HOF’s of this class and could be the NBA’s best players as soon as LeBron James is out of the league. This guy has continued to get better at every level of basketball and Davis has the potential to be right back in the MVP consideration this upcoming 2016-2017 NBA season. You can’t really teach innate guards skills combined with a seven foot frame and his ever-changing post game.

#2 Damian Lillard(#6 in 2012 NBA Draft) – As Stephen A would say, he’s a baaaaaaad man…Lillard is a killer on the court, with Steph Curry – Three Point range and nasty handles, Dame is definitely in consideration for one of the top 5 point guards in the game. He also is a winner both at Weber State and in small-market Portland, where they were one of the biggest surprise playoff teams last year. It will be interesting to see how Lillard and the Trailblazers handle being a contender versus an underdog next year, but either way, I expect Dame to Dame next year and for the rest of his career.

#3 Andre Drummond(#9 in 2012 NBA Draft) – I know a lot of you might draft Draymond Green ahead of him, but not me. When you are a barely 23 year-old who drops 15 and 20 on an almost consistent basis and you are the undisputed defensive leader of a Pistons squad that surprised everyone by sneaking into the Eastern Conference playoffs last year, then you get consideration for a top 3 player in this draft. Drummond’s 14.8 RPG lead all other NBA player’s and the next closest player was DeAndre Jordan, at 13.8 RPG. Drummond also has that uncanny ability to stay healthy as a seven footer, playing at least 81 games in each of the last three seasons(knock on wood).

#4 Draymond Green(#35 in 2012 NBA Draft) – You either love him, or you hate him, but Draymond has definitely carved out a niche role in today’s NBA. The epitome of a small-ball 4 in today’s league, Draymond has definitely surprised every GM, fan, and coach in the league by posting 13 triple-doubles this past regular season and showing that he is a legit player, not just a system player. And although he couldn’t find much time in USA basketball this Olympics, he has shown that he rises to the occasion when the lights are brightest, dropping 32 points, 9 assists, and 15 rebounds in a game 7 for the ages for the 2016 NBA championship.

#5 Bradley Beal(#3 in 2012 NBA Draft) – Jury is still out on Bradley Beal due to numerous injuries and chemistry issues with fellow star guard, John Wall, but at 6’4-6’5, 200+ pounds, Beal has definitely shown that he is a knockdown three-point shooter and is one of the best rebounding guards in the world. We will find a lot about Beal this upcoming season and see if he was worth the massive extension the Washington Wizards gave him last season.

#6 Khris Middleton(#39 in 2012 NBA Draft) – Definitely one of the more improved players last year, Middelton at 6’7-6’8 can shoot the lights out. One thing he will definitely need to work on is strengthening his slight frame, but the Bucks look like a team ready to rise up on everyone’s power rankings this upcoming season. We will find out a lot about Middleton on whether or not he’s the next Kevin Martin or the next Allan Houston.

#7 Harrison Barnes(#7 in 2012 NBA Draft) – Once dubbed the next Kobe in high school, Barnes has fallen short of most people’s expectation so far in his NBA career. But, Barnes has a great chance this upcoming season to show he can be a 20 PPG scorer on a fringe playoff team in the Dallas Mavericks(for whatever that is worth).

#8 Jae Crowder(#34 in 2012 NBA Draft) – Crowder is on an over-achieving Celtics squad that includes fellow improved players in Avery Bradley, Isaiah Thomas, and Amir Johnson. The next step for Crowder would be to continue to extend his range to make opposing defenses more honest in Brad Stevens’ creative Boston offense.

#9 MKG(#2 in 2012 NBA Draft) – Coaches rave about him and we know the kid has talent, but a combination of an absolute atrocious jumpshot(I mean we are talking about some Chuck Hayes/Joey Dorsey type shooting form) and injuries have sidelined Kidd-Gilchrist for most of his NBA career. Despite only playing in 202 of a possible 328 games in his four year career, MKG’s work ethic combined with a new and improved jay could lead to him rising up these rankings w/ a solid 16-17 campaign.

#10 Evan Fournier(#20 in 2012 NBA Draft) – Fournier won over Orlando and is now the undisputed starting 2G for the new and improved Orlando Magic. He has a very nice combination of shooting and athleticism, and he is obviously doing something right, forcing Oladipo out of Orlando this offseason.

#11 Dion Waiters(#4 in 2012 NBA Draft) – Mr. Ball-Hog himself has an opportunity in Miami to show that he is a team player and can actually be a net positive versus a negative for an NBA squad this upcoming 16-17 season. I will say, his output in the playoffs this year was definitely encouraging.

#12 Jared Sullinger(#21 in 2012 NBA Draft) – Sully is now stationed in Toronto and has a good chance at being a starting PF for a team primed for a top 3 seed in the East. Hopefully his nagging back injuries and poor conditioning won’t hinder his minutes in the upcoming NBA season.

#13 John Henson(#14 in 2012 NBA Draft) – This UNC-Grad has one of the lankiest bodies ever and is a threat defensively in the paint. Unfortunately, their are younger and better forwards on his Bucks team and you can’t really crack past 20-25 mpg as presently constructed.

#14 Moe Harkless(#15 in 2012 NBA Draft) – Despite just being the D and athleticism guy, not really being the established 3 and D guy, Harkless got PAID this offseason and is a solid 3-4 man in today’s NBA. He is very young and should continue to get better with his range.

Let me know what you guys think!? Feel free to post your own…

[Snatalini247Participant]

Good job mate, I think it’s interesting to see how this will look in a few years. I can definitely see Barnes and MKG moving up this list with more opportunities, and I could possibly even see Drummond leapfrogging Lillard if he lives up to his potential and works on his FT issues 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 I’d take Kent bazemore before waiters, sullinger, henson and harkless.

[steviechillzParticipant]

@Dazzling Dunks my re-draft doesn’t include players who were undrafted in 2012; Bazemore was added to GSW later that summer. Guys who were drafted in 2012 and just missed my cut include: Ezeli, Barton, Ross, Zeller, and Rivers.

[BogDon_KryptParticipant]

Rivers will for sure be one of the 3-4 HOFers mentioned above. And where is Royce White? Kid can flat out Bogdan children from multiple mothers.

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 I’d rather have Barton on my team than Sully. I think he should be below Henson for sure and Barton should be in there, especially if he keeps up the same work that he did last year.

[xJumpManxParticipant]

I think 4 is high for a guy who I feel is a system guy and not a legit talent on every team.

[Oryan99Participant]

 I think Barnes will be great in Dallas. He’ll be the number one option for the first time since his days in Chapel Hill and will thrive under Carslile. He was a key player in the Warrior’s 2015 championship run. Athough many people criticized him for his poor finals performance, he had a decent conference finals where he was the only GSW player to show up at times. I could definitely see him moving up in the years to come.

[omphalosParticipant]

Yeah I think Barnes is going to have a big year, he was looking terrific early last year for Golden State before he injured his ankle and never really got a rhythm back.

But he’s been adding pieces to his game each season and should thrive with more opportunities, plus Carlisle is great at getting people good looks.

Drummond ahead of Lillard for me, just because he has so much more he can prove and a C like Drummond is rarer than a PG like Lillard.

Still a shock that Andre fell to 10th!

I do agree that this draft class doesn’t get enough love as an all-time draft, if Barnes and MKG both break out it will help this draft’s reputation because it’s already pretty damn deep and impressive.

 

 

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 List looks fairly much how I’d figure it out so a +1 from me. Interesting that Brad Beal has dropped down the list due maybe as much to improvement by others as to his output when fit.

It might be hard for guys like MKG and Barnes to actually move up that much as guys like Drummond still has a scary upside.

 

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

1: A.D-No one would choose differently there the guy was hyped and has delivered(when healthy)

2: Andre Drummond-They have never had a big that could play like Drummond and would run the break nicely with Kemba.Like Bismak B was supposed to lol…

3:Damian Lillard: Lillard and Wall could work also as Lillard would play Sg on offense and guard Pgs while Wall would play pg on offense and guard Sgs on defense

4:Beal…The reliable Sg-skill wise(well minus the healthy issues), that would have played with Kyrie in the Back court and still would have gotten reps until lebron came back..Then moved into a ray allen role off the bench or as a starter..

5: Harrison barnes would have been the SF kings needed plus could have stopped the stupid rudy gay trade…Allowing the Kings to get a better PF/Sg sooner

6:MKG- this move would have moved Battum to the SG though..But gives trail blazers length and solid defense..

7:Meyers Leonard-Solely because they were looking for a stretch four around that time(Kevin love rumors)

8:Kris Middleton he could be the shooting guard that could have fitted perfectly with lowry and made demar a 6th man instead of a starter.

9:Draymond-Seems Like a Stan guy…

10:Dion Waiters would have made a better Pg than Austin ever did…He also might have stuck better

11:John Henson would have been the big that may have convince La to stay as he could have played Centre and La keeps being PF.This move also allows the trail blazers to get Dennis Schorder the next season(with 9th pick lol)…

12:Jae Crowder-Would have brought toughness to the thunder(as the pick was part of Harden trade)

13: Fournier fits nicely with dragic and could have played off the ball unlike bledsoe(who could have been traded sooner)

14: Terrance Ross could have become Kris middleton of bucks..As he may have gotten minutes to develop 

Draymond,Kris and Jae are all reaches though but since it was hypothetical why not….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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