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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Feb 5, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Justin Anderson (1) sets the play against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Spurs defeat the Mavericks 116-90. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Justin Anderson (1) sets the play against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Spurs defeat the Mavericks 116-90. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

15. player. 125. . Small Forward. Virginia Cavaliers. Justin Anderson

Nobody was more ridiculed for what they did with their first round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft than the Atlanta Hawks, who traded Oubre’s draft rights to the Wizards for Jerian Grant’s draft rights, who they then turned into broken shooting guard Tim Hardaway, Jr.

Hardaway came along just fine and proved to be a respectable rotation player for the Hawks by the second half of the season after playing sparingly in the first part of the year. Yet, what if Atlanta just acquired a wing player the good, old-fashioned way with their No. 15 draft pick.

Atlanta lucked into the No. 15 pick thanks to a hilarious rights to a pick swap with the Nets to move up from No. 29 to No. 15. The next best wing that Atlanta could have gotten in this re-draft might be the Virginia Cavaliers’ Justin Anderson.

Anderson is big-bodied and comes from a strong coaching culture at Virginia. Would he have eventually replaced fellow Hoo in Mike Scott in this re-draft? Maybe, but Atlanta has to keep throwing wings into the mix to see what sticks. Anderson would have helped Atlanta on the boards at the very least in 2015-16, which remains the club’s biggest weakness.

Next: 16. Boston Celtics

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