Redrafting the 2016 NBA Draft

Originally the No. 2 pick, Brandon Ingram makes the jump to No. 1 in our re-draft. A rocky start to his career in LA led many to question Ingram’s future in the NBA, but his quick ascent in New Orleans has put those questions to bed. He’s a foundational piece for a team that could contend in the West.

The Kevin Durant comparisons pre-draft were never really fair to Ingram. He’s a much different player, more focused on creating for others. That’s not to say the physical comparisons are null and void — Ingram does have a lofty release point that makes him particularly deadly on mid-range pull-ups — but it’s his playmaking that sets Ingram apart from Brown and the other contenders for No. 1.

Last season, with Zion Williamson recuperating in the shadows, Ingram was the main fulcrum of the Pelicans’ offense. He averaged 5.6 assists per game (the highest mark of his career) and often spent games in the point guard chair, especially before CJ McCollum’s arrival at the trade deadline. Ingram’s height allows him a unique vantage point from which he can read the defense. While Brown is the more prolific and even efficient scorer right now, Ingram generates more opportunities from scratch.

Ingram is no slouch defensively either. His long limbs make him quite prolific in passing lanes, to the tune of 1.5 steals per game last season. He’s also one of the youngest players from the 2016 rookie class, having just recently turned 25 years old. There are several accomplished, All-Star players in the mix here, but Ingram would be the first player off the board if teams reconvened to draft the 2016 rookies with the benefit of hindsight.