Re-drafting the 2015 NBA Draft

20 of 31

Mar 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Bobby Portis (5) dunks the ball past Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

142. . Power Forward. Arkansas Razorbacks. Bobby Portis. 19. player

While the Washington Wizards did end up with a fine pick in wing Kelly Oubre of Kansas in exchange with the Atlanta Hawks for Notre Dame point guard Jerian Grant, who Atlanta then swapped for Tim Hardaway, Jr. of the New York Knicks, wouldn’t it make a ton of sense for the Wizards just to have targeted 2014-15 SEC Player of the Year in the Arkansas Razorbacks’ Bobby Portis?

Yes, Oubre was probably coming off the board before Portis in the 2015 NBA Draft. Since Oubre is already on the Suns with the No. 13 overall pick in this re-draft, the obvious choice for the Wizards to now make is with the power forward Portis.

Portis did well in limited action with the Chicago Bulls, but could have really progressed as a rookie if he wasn’t in the middle of a front court log jam with Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson, and Nikola Mirotic.

Though Washington already had Nene and Marcin Gortat, had the Wizards liked what they got out of Portis as a rookie, both veteran big men offered sizable trade bait for the Wizards. Maybe they could have gotten more than Markieff Morris for Kris Humphries and a first round pick with either Nene or Gortat on the trade block?

Portis has a ton of upside at power forward and it’s still pretty remarkable that he fell all the way to Chicago at No. 23 last summer. Washington would have found a way to make it work with Portis had he been their choice in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Next: 20. Toronto Raptors

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