Fansided

Re-drafting the 2015 NBA Draft

By John Buhler

Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 12, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cameron Payne (22) against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Thunder defeated the Timberwolves 101-96. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cameron Payne (22) against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Thunder defeated the Timberwolves 101-96. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Cameron Payne. 12. player. 118. . Point Guard. Murray State Racers

Let’s be completely honest here: the Utah Jazz were not going to take a point guard with their No. 12 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. They already had many young players in their back court with Trey Burke, Dante Exum, and Alec Burks on a roster that was certainly capable of the No. 7-8 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.

Exum had to miss the year due to injury and fate would have it that Utah’s Achilles’ Heel in 2015-16 would be their play at point guard, insanely frustrating former point guard and head coach Quin Snyder. One could argue that if the Jazz had anything better at point guard than Shelvin Mack that Utah would have made the NBA Playoffs for the first time with this group.

Given that Utah has one of the worst back courts in the NBA, it would make sense for Snyder to take a flyer on a mid-major product like Cameron Payne of the Murray State Racers at No. 12 instead of going with Kentucky big man Trey Lyles.

Payne is carving out an important rotational role on the Western Conference Finals bound Oklahoma City Thunder. Since Utah probably needs to make the NBA Playoffs in 2017, they’d probably take Payne in this re-draft so that their Northwest Division rival in Oklahoma City wouldn’t have him.

How the back court plays in 2016-17 will decide if Utah can get back into the NBA Playoffs. Having Payne would have made the difference for the Jazz this year, that’s for sure.

Next: 13. Phoenix Suns

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