Re-Drafting the 2013 NBA Draft

Steven Adams. 3. player. 142. <p><strong>Original pick: Otto Porter</strong></p> <p>Prior to the 2016 NBA Playoffs, this probably would have been a reach for Steven Adams. The third-year big man from Pittsburgh (via New Zealand) was best known for being the “prize” in the disastrous James Harden trade, and while Adams was quite effective at times in Oklahoma City, he was not a prominent “asset” in the minds of most NBA pundits.</p> <p>Then, he exploded.</p> <p>Adams was absolutely tremendous in helping the Thunder push the Golden State Warriors to seven games in the Western Conference Finals, dominating the glass and serving as an elite defensive force with rim protection and mobility. The 7-footer displayed lightning quick feet when compared to his peers at the position, and Adams is a highly intelligent player that does exactly what his team needs him to do.</p> <p>Casual fans will undoubtedly push back on a player that just averaged 8.0 points per game over a full season, but Adams is a double-double waiting to happen with a full workload and, more importantly, his defensive acumen is obscenely valuable in today’s NBA. Did I mention that he is only 22 years old?</p> <p>Maybe, just maybe, that James Harden trade won’t be <em>such</em> a mess for the Thunder after all, and the Wizards would certainly enjoy having Adams in the middle for years to come.</p>. C. Pittsburgh