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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Apr 1, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles (41) slaps hands with teammate forward Gordon Hayward (20) at a timeout in the first quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles (41) slaps hands with teammate forward Gordon Hayward (20) at a timeout in the first quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

29. player. 147. . Power Forward. Kentucky Wildcats. Trey Lyles

Was Trey Lyles overdrafted by the Jazz at No. 12 in the 2015 NBA Draft? Maybe, but if he did fall to the Nets at No. 29 in this re-draft, he would have been a huge steal for a Brooklyn team that is in dire need of high upside prospects.

Having Lyles in the front court would have assured that either Thaddeus Young or Brook Lopez could have been comfortably traded for younger assets, something Brooklyn desperately needs. Losing Mason Plumlee to the Trail Blazers was a loss that many didn’t account for in Brooklyn’s terrible 2015-16 campaign.

While he does play for a great player developer in Quin Snyder in Utah, he’d be getting another great player developer from the same coaching tree in new head coach Kenny Atkinson in 2015-16. Both Snyder and Atkinson served on Mike Budenholzer’s staffs in Atlanta before becoming NBA head coaches.

Though both Young and Lopez are nice players in their own right, having Lyles in Brooklyn could stand as the first huge piece in their massive rebuilding project involving Atkinson and new general manager Sean Marks.

Lyles is too good of a player to fall out of the first round in this re-draft. From an asset and player development standpoint, going to the Nets at No. 29 makes a ton of sense for Brooklyn.

Next: 30. Golden State Warriors

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