FanSided NBA Network 2017 Re-Draft

With the actual NBA Draft in flux, FanSided’s NBA Network site experts are looking back and reselecting the 2017 draft.

The FanSided NBA Network Mock Draft has become a yearly tradition, with our site experts from each of our NBA blogs sharing their team-focused expertise and making draft selections for the teams they represent. This year we decided to take things in a different direction, re-selecting the 2017 NBA Draft and following the spiderwebs to see just how different things could have been.

Make sure to follow FanSided on Instagram and Twitter and check back here each day from Apr. 20 to Apr. 29 to see who your favorite team should have picked and for expert analysis of each selection. In addition, check out The Step Back for more exploration of what the league might look like today if this was how things actually went.

(Ed. Note: For the sake of simplicity, we’re keeping any traded draft picks in deals that were completed before draft night but undoing any trades that were completed during the course of the actual draft.)

1. Philadelphia 76ers — Jayson Tatum, Forward, Duke

Selected by Lucas Johnson of The Sixer Sense

In 2017, the 76ers executed an enormous trade just before the draft to switch places with Boston and put themselves in position to nab Markelle Fultz. His injury problems made him a non-factor in Philadelphia and hindsight here is all Jayson Tatum. He’s already a borderline All-NBA player and his shooting and creation ability would have given Philadelphia exactly what they were looking for with Fultz. In addition, Tatum is an excellent defender and could have paired with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to make the 76ers even more imposing at that end.

For more insight and analysis on the 76ers, visit The Sixer Sense.

2. Los Angeles Lakers — Donovan Mitchell, G, Louisville

Selected by Jason Reed of Lake Show Life

In the actual 2017 draft, the Los Angeles selected Lonzo Ball who seemed like a can’t miss prospect with the kind of flashy, up-tempo game that would help revive the Showtime Lakers. Ball has played well at times but hasn’t looked anything like the star he was thought to be. If Los Angeles could get a do-over, the pick is clearly Donovan Mitchell who has emerged into a top-tier offensive creator and would have made a perfect running partner for LeBron James (if they still coaxed him over.

For more insight and analysis on the Lakers, visit Lake Show Life.

3. Boston Celtics — De’Aaron Fox, G, Kentucky

Selected by Mark Nilon of Hardwood Houdini

In the actual 2017 Draft, the Celtics traded out of the No. 1 pick, picking up future draft assets and knowing they could still land Jayson Tatum at No. 3 (they player they had their eyes on anyway). With Tatum off the board here, De’Aaron Fox makes a ton of sense. He’d fit in with their defensive mentality and potentially could have helped them avoid the entire Kyrie Irving debacle.

For more insight and analysis on the Celtics, visit Hardwood Houdini.

4. Phoenix Suns — Bam Adebayo, C, Kentucky

Selected by Adam Stratton of Valley of the Suns

Adebayo didn’t look like a sure thing in the 2017 draft but rapid development in his passing ability has made him viable as a modern big, even without much range to his jumper. His defensive acumen would have been hugely helpful for the Suns and he would have made an excellent pick-and-roll partner for Devin Booker.

For more insight and analysis on the Suns, visit Valley of the Suns.

5. Sacramento Kings — Lauri Markkanen, F, Arizona

Selected by Anthony Cardenas of A Royal Pain

De’Aaron Fox was the actual pick for the Kings but he’s off the board, leaving Lauri Markkanen as a great selection. Heading into the 2017 Draft, the Kings were looking for a franchise cornerstone to replace DeMarcus Cousins. Markkenen would have created a devastating inside-out shooting combination with Buddy Hield and the Kings’ rebuilding could have been just as interesting but in a totally different way.

For more insight and analysis on the Kings, visit A Royal Pain.

6. Orlando Magic — Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State

Selected by Philip Rossman-Reich of Orlando Magic Daily

Hey, a pick that actually stays the same! The Magic selected Isaac with the No. 6 pick in the actual 2017 NBA Draft and although injuries have taken their toll (he’s appeared in just 134 of a possible 229 games since being selected) he’s been impressive enough for them to stand pat. Before a severe knee contusion essentially ended his season, Isaac was one of the league’s most improved players, averaging 12.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.4 blocks in just 29.7 minutes per game.

For more insight and analysis on the Magic, visit Orlando Magic Daily.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves — John Collins, F, Wake Forest

Selected by Ben Beecken of Dunking With Wolves

The Timberwolves flipped this pick to the Bulls in 2017 as part of the Jimmy Butler trade, a deal that turned out to be nothing more than a flash in the pan. Collins went outside the lottery in the actual draft, in part because of concerns about his lack of shooting range. However, he’s demonstrated with the Hawks that his range could expand and he can still have an enormous impact with his bounce and finishing touch. It would have made for a defensive challenge but putting Collins next to Karl-Anthony Towns as a pick-and-roll lob threat would certainly have juiced Minnesota’s offense.

For more insight and analysis on the Timberwolves, visit Dunking With Wolves.

8. New York Knicks — OG Anunoby, F, Indiana

Selected by Alex Trataros of Daily Knicks

The Knicks selected Frank Ntilikina here in 2017 and while he finally showed some positive signs this season, they’d probably like to take things in a different direction. Anunoby slid because of concerns about his surgically repaired knee but he’s stayed healthy with Toronto and would have been the wing defender and complementary scorer the Knicks were looking for.

For more insight and analysis on the Knicks, visit Daily Knicks.

9. Dallas Mavericks — Luke Kennard, G, Duke

Selected by Tyler Watts of The Smoking Cuban

The Mavericks took Dennis Smith Jr. here in 2017, a pick that’s only real value turned out to be helping them land Kristaps Porzingis. With a chance to do things over, Luke Kennard’s NBA-ready playmaking and shooting could have made Dirk Nowitzki’s final few seasons a bit more interesting.

For more insight and analysis on the Mavericks, visit The Smoking Cuban.

10. Sacramento Kings — Jarrett Allen, C, Texas

Selected by Anthony Cardenas of A Royal Pain

This chance at a re-do took De’Aaron Fox off the table but the Kings have done pretty well, adding Lauri Markkanen and now Jarrett Allen to form a new frontcourt core. In terms of offense/defense and inside/out, they form an ideal pairing complementing each other’s tendencies and helping cover for each other’s weaknesses. If the Kings could have found a young point guard somewhere else they might have been on the playoff hunt just as quickly.

For more insight and analysis on the Kings, visit A Royal Pain.

11. Charlotte Hornets — Kyle Kuzma, F, Utah

Selected by Giovanni Spillman of Swarm and Sting

The Hornets took Malik Monk in this spot in 2017, a selection that would absolutely like a do-over on. Monk was supposed to be an elite shooter and dynamic creator but neither has really materialized. Kuzma went No. 27 initially but he moves up significantly here and his offensive upside would be a great addition on the wing for Charlotte.

For more insight and analysis on the Hornets, visit Swarm and Sting.

12. Detroit Pistons — Harry Giles, C, Duke

Selected by Nicolas Henkel of Piston Powered

The Pistons took Kennard here in 2017, but he’s already off the board. Giles was a bit of a black box as a prospect, a highly ranked high school talent who had his college career disrupted by injury. He initially went No. 20 and ended up with the Kings through a trade. Assuming his injury recovery followed the same trajectory he probably wouldn’t have changed much for the Pistons up until now. But he’d be a core piece now as they look to move on from Andre Drummond and, eventually, Blake Griffin.

For more insight and analysis on the Pistons, visit Piston Powered.

13. Denver Nuggets — Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA

Selected by Cade Walker of Nugg Love

Lonzo Ball was the clear-cut choice for the Lakers at No. 2 in the actual draft but his shooting struggles and inconsistency explain his slide here towards the end of the lottery, landing with the Nuggets. However, this would be a huge win for Denver who traded out of this spot in 2017 as part of a second deal that never really materialized, leaving them with Tyler Lydon. There are still plenty of questions about how this would work but Ball’s versatile skill set is a very intriguing match with Jamal Murray, Gary Harris and Nikola Jokic.

For more insight and analysis on the Nuggets, visit Nugg Love.

14. Miami Heat — Josh Jackson, F, Kansas

Selected by Kenneth Wilson of All U Can Heat

The Heat took Bam Adebayo at this slot in 2017, a selection they probably wouldn’t care to have a mulligan on. Jackson essentially washed out in Phoenix but finally seemed to gain his footing with the Grizzlies this season and his immense talent and versatility are still too much for Miami to pass up on.

For more insight and analysis on the Heat, visit All U Can Heat.

15. Portland Trail Blazers — Dillon Brooks, G, Oregon

Selected by Stevie Cozens of Rip City Project

Brooks was a second-round pick in 2017 but he’s established himself as very solid catch-and-shoot threat and a reasonable wing defender. He moves up significantly here and his size and shooting would be very useful for Portland, complementing the creation of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.

For more insight and analysis on the Trail Blazers, visit Rip City Project.

16. Chicago Bulls — Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga

Selected by Luke Askew of Pippen Ain’t Easy

Justin Patton was originally taken at this slot, with the Bulls sending him to the Timberwolves, along with Jimmy Butler, in the package that returned the No. 5 pick (Lauri Markkanen). This is probably a downgrade for Chicago but Collins was taken much higher in the real draft and he’d still be a nice prize for Chicago with his shooting and defensive upside.

For more insight and analysis on the Bulls, visit Pippen Ain’t Easy.

17. Milwaukee Bucks — Josh Hart, G, Villanova

Selected by Adam McGee of Behind The Buck Pass

As the Bucks have leaned into their floor-spacing, up-tempo identity they’ve gotten the most out of Giannis Antetokounmpo, surrounding him with a mix of sharpshooting wing defenders. Hart would have fit in perfectly and definitely been a key contributor on the current iteration of the Bucks. Milwaukee originally took D.J. Wilson, who is still on the board and has been intriguing, but they would have gotten more from Hart over the past three seasons.

For more insight and analysis on the Bucks, visit Behind The Buck Pass.

18. Indiana Pacers — Derrick White, G, Colorado

Selected by Josh Wilson of 8 Points, 9 Seconds

Derrick White was taken by the Spurs with the second-to-last pick in the first round of the actual draft, and he’s carved out a niche for himself as a solid creator and scorer. He broke out in last year’s playoffs and has become a key piece for the Spurs. In Indiana, White would be joining the Pacers at the same time as Victor Oladipo and could have served as an ideal backcourt partner, creating an elite defensive tandem and taking some of the creation load off Oladipo.

For more insight and analysis on the Pacers, visit 8 Points, 9 Seconds.

19. Atlanta Hawks — Markelle Fultz, G, Washington

Selected by Nate Friesen of Soaring Down South

Fultz was the original No. 1 pick of this draft, a can’t-miss prospect with dynamic creation potential who seemed destined to become an elite three-level scorer. But, somehow, he missed. His shooting woes are one of the league’s biggest mysteries but he’s turned the corner with Magic this season, playing consistent minutes and finding ways to contribute big positives without shooting. He’s not the player he was supposed to be but this late in the draft he would definitely still have value for Atlanta.

For more insight and analysis on the Hawks, visit Soaring Down South.

20. Portland Trail Blazers — Monte Morris, G, Iowa State

Selected by Stevie Cozens of Rip City Project

The Trail Blazers originally traded this pick as part of a package to move up and land Zach Collins. Morris is a nice consolation prize though, as he’s become one of the NBA’s best backup point guards in Denver. Morris is a solid creator with a reliable floor-spacing 3-point game and an ultra-low turnover rate. Adding Morris and Dillon Brooks to the Blazers roster helps them build on the strengths of Lillard and McCollum and creates a fascinating hypothetical about how far this team could have gone.

For more insight and analysis on the Trail Blazers, visit Rip City Project.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder — Chris Boucher, F, Oregon

Selected by Shotnelle Matano of Thunderous Intentions

The Thunder selected Terrance Ferguson here and although he’s shown flashes, getting a mulligan gives them a chance to chase a bit more upside. It wasn’t until this season that Chris Boucher solidified himself as a legitimate NBA player but his bounce, energy and shot-blocking would be welcome additions to the current iteration of the Thunder.

For more insight and analysis on the Thunder, visit Thunderous Intentions.

22. Brooklyn Nets — Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana

Selected by Nolan Jensen of Nothin’ But Nets

The Nets originally took Jarrett Allen at this lot but he moved way up and is off the board at this point. Bryant is a downgrade and a very different type of player but he broke out with the Wizards in the past season and could be a difference-maker as a versatile and floor-spacing big.

For more insight and analysis on the Nets, visit Nothin’ But Nets.

23. Toronto Raptors — Malik Monk, G, Kentucky

Selected by Thomas Valentine of Raptors Rapture

Malik Monk originally went No. 11 and has been an enormous disappointment for the Hornets. However, OG Anunoby, who the Raptors actually took here in 2017 is now a lottery pick and the team once again has to be looking for value. Monk hasn’t been able to leverage his shooting or creation abilities in Charlotte but all that talent is still there on paper and perhaps he would have been more effective in Toronto’s structure.

For more insight and analysis on the Raptors, visit Raptors Rapture.

24. Utah Jazz — Frank Ntilikina, G, Strasbourg

Selected by Zach Padmore of The J-Notes

Ntilikina’s enormous offensive struggles have pushed him out of the lottery, where he was originally selected by the Knicks. However, he started to come into his own this season and still has enormous defensive potential. Losing Donovan Mitchell puts the Jazz on a very different trajectory but Ntilikina and Gobert still make for a fascinating defensive combination.

For more insight and analysis on the Jazz, visit The J-Notes.

25. Orlando Magic — Dennis Smith Jr., G, NC State

Selected by Philip Rossman-Reich of Orlando Magic Daily

Smith Jr. has fallen far after being selected at No. 6 by the Dallas Mavericks. He didn’t look great next to Luka Doncic and Dallas flipped him to the Knicks as part of the Kristaps Porzingis deal and he’s floundered ever since. However, the Magic have been in desperate need of a point guard upgrade for years and they could have both given him more support and more rope to make mistakes as he learned.

For more insight and analysis on the Magic, visit Orlando Magic Daily.

26. Portland Trail Blazers — Terrance Ferguson, G, Adelaide 36ers

Selected by Stevie Cozens of Rip City Project

Ferguson was a mystery after forgoing his freshman year of college and choosing to play in Australia’s NBL until he was draft-eligible. He looked overmatched in the NBL and has mostly looked the same across three seasons with the Thunder. However, he’s the kind of athletic wing project the Trail Blazers could have gone slow with and still be waiting on.

For more insight and analysis on the Trail Blazers, visit Rip City Project.

27. Brooklyn Nets — Frank Jackson, G, Duke

Selected by Nolan Jensen of Nothin’ But Nets

The Nets left this draft with Jarrett Allen and D’Angelo Russell in 2017, having flipped this pick to Los Angeles. Frank Jackson hasn’t really proven he’s an NBA player at this point, struggling with both shooting and playmaking. Pairing him with Thomas Bryant is a pretty significant downgrade but maybe they can still count on Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant coming?

For more insight and analysis on the Nets, visit Nothin’ But Nets.

28. Los Angeles Lakers — T.J. Leaf, F, UCLA

Selected by Jason Reed of Lake Show Life

Leaf hasn’t done anything meaningful for the Pacers in the three years since they took him in the 2017 draft, but he’s still an active big who can get out in transition and has hit 35.6 percent of his 87 career 3-point attempts. Maybe he could have been doing more for the Lakers?

For more insight and analysis on the Lakers, visit Lake Show Life.

29. San Antonio Spurs — Dwayne Bacon, G, Florida State

Selected by Ethan Farina of Air Alamo

A re-draft really hurts the Spurs, who lucked into Derrick White at this spot in 2017. Hindsight robs them of a chance to pull a sneaky again on the rest of the league but Bacon is still a reasonable value for them. He may not have a ton of upside but he’s a passable wing defender who has hit 34.5 percent of his 3s in three seasons. And, as always, the Spurs have a tendency to get the most out of limited role players like this.

For more insight and analysis on the Spurs, visit Air Alamo.

30. Utah Jazz — Tony Bradley, C, UNC

Selected by Zach Padmore of The J-Notes

Bradley originally went No. 28 but ended up with the Jazz anyway through a trade. He hasn’t really broken into the rotation yet but Utah is happy enough with what they’ve seen to take him here with the last first-round pick in our redraft. Bradley played just over 500 minutes this season across 50 games, with per-36 minute averages of 15.7 points, 14.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.7 blocks.

For more insight and analysis on the Jazz, visit The J-Notes.