NBA: What If We Re-Draft 2001?
1. Washington Wizards: Pau Gasol: With the help of then president of basketball operations, Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards originally selected Kwame Brown as the historic No. 1 overall pick straight out of high school. Historic because Brown was the first high school player to be drafted first overall not because of his ability. Brown showed much promise dominating his peers but went on to have a pretty mediocre career in the pros. He wasn’t a total bust having played 12 seasons in the NBA but in this draft, Brown would be replaced with Pau Gasol. Gasol is one of the most decorated international players of all-time, a two-time NBA champion with career averages of 17.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.2 as a second option for much of his career. Jordan initially came out of retirement in hopes of steering the ship in the right direction for Washington, due to his competitive nature, but he didn’t have anyone on the court as talented as Gasol to help him out. The Wizards go on to win a few more games and sneak into the 8th spot to make the playoffs with the Jordan and Gasol duo, but lose to the deep New Jersey Nets in the opening round.
2. Chicago Bulls (via Los Angeles Clippers): Tony Parker: The Clippers traded away their second pick in exchange for Elton Brand because he was phenomenal in his two years with Chicago averaging 20.1 points and 10.0 rebounds in his rookie and sophomore season. So L.A. still gets their man and Tony Parker is sent to Chicago to team up with some unknown player with the fourth pick (who may or may not be Eddy Curry). With Parker as the floor general in Chicago, along with Jamal Crawford, they retain Ron Artest – Metta World Peace for those who don’t know — and somehow still trade for a prime Jalen Rose to create a talented team ready to compete for the playoffs faster than anticipated. Parker at his best used blazing quick speed and change of pace to get into the lane and finish at an elite level. He also brings his championship level pedigree to the Bulls making them a much better team had they taken Tyson Chandler and paired him with Eddy Curry.
3. Atlanta Hawks: Zach Randolph: In reality, Atlanta traded away Pau Gasol to the Memphis Grizzlies which was surely one of the dumbest trades in Hawks history since Gasol went on to become a monster of a player. Some disgruntled Hawks fan travels back in time Back to the Future style and prevents the Hawks from making a similar mistake and convinces them to take Zach Randolph as the third overall pick. Z-Bo stays put in Atlanta which means Shareef Abdur-Rahim is never traded from Portland which also means Randolph has to develop quickly otherwise this team is very bad. Aside from Randolph, Jason Terry is the next best player on the team which doesn't bode well for the win column. The Trailblazers never become the “Jail Blazers” and we miss out on some fun basketball in the near future. There's no help in sight for Atlanta since they traded away their First Round picks for 2002 and 2003 but select Deron Williams second overall in 2005.
4. Chicago Bulls: Tyson Chandler: Having traded away their best player in Elton Brand to the Clippers, Chicago has a lot of holes to fill and select Tyson Chandler as their fourth overall pick. Chandler’s ability to single handedly impact the game on the defensive end helped propel the 2011 Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals to become eventual champions. But before playing out the rest of his career, Chandler teams up with Tony Parker, Jamal Crawford, Jalen Rose, and Ron Artest to become one of the best young teams in the league rising up the ranks in the Eastern Conference. Without Artest, Indiana never goes on to become the team it was meant to be and Chicago makes the playoffs the following season in 2003 with the addition of rookie Caron Butler. Instead of the iconic block by Tayshaun Prince against Reggie Miller in 2004, Prince blocks Jalen Rose in the Second Round of the playoffs and the Detroit Pistons never face the Pacers en route to a championship.
5. Golden State Warriors: Gilbert Arenas: Before Stephen Curry and Co. revitalized the Bay Area by bringing them their second championship in 2015, Golden State was in the navy blue, orange, and yellow jersey era where Jason Richardson was a highlight waiting to happen. However, the Warriors don't select Richardson here with the fifth pick and take their chances with Gilbert Arenas, who they ended up taking 31st overall in the same draft. All Arenas needed was a chance to prove he was one best guards in the game gradually increasing his scoring average every year for five straight seasons. Arenas once lit up Kobe Bryant and the Lakers for 60 points and averaged 29.3 points and 6.1 assists with the Wizards in the 2005-06 season. Arenas was notorious for playing jokes on his teammates like putting baby powder on plain donuts and starting a snowball fight on the team bus, but he never meets and "plays" with Javaris Crittenton because he becomes a superstar much earlier in his career. The gun toting incident never happens and he continues cooking teams for years to come.
6. Memphis Grizzles: Joe Johnson: The Memphis (Vancouver) Grizzles select Joe Johnson sixth overall out of Arkansas instead of Shane Battier. Battier was a better college player, but Johnson was much better player in the pros. Nicknamed “Iso Joe” for his ability to get buckets seemingly at will in isolation situations, Johnson would be instant offense for a Memphis team that no longer has Pau Gasol. Since he won't be battling for minutes in Boston and Phoenix against the likes of Penny Hardaway, Johnson is able to flourish as a rookie in Memphis alongside the exciting point guard in Jason Williams. They don’t win a lot of games because they simply suck, but they are exciting to watch between Williams’ awe inspiring passes and Johnson putting his defenders on skates every night. Before tanking was an actual thing, Memphis has a successful year in that area to capture the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft over Houston, and select Amar’e Stoudemire.
7. New Jersey Nets: Jason Richardson: New Jersey originally sent their pick to Houston for Richard Jefferson but this time around they'd retain their pick and draft Jason Richardson out of Michigan State. Richardson was better at scoring the ball compared to Jefferson early on and averaged 14.4 points as rookie. With Jason Kidd facilitating the show his numbers would surely increase due to Kidd’s precise passing. Since everyone is staying put, the 2001 draftee Jason Collins never wears a Nets jersey but they manage to roll along with Kenyon Martin, Kidd, and Richardson. The Nets still make it to the Finals for two consecutive years but suffer the same fate. Instead of getting swept in 2002 by the Lakers, New Jersey manages to win two games. And the next year, they push the series to seven games in 2003 against the San Antonio Spurs.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Richard Jefferson: The Cavs take the best player available in Richard Jefferson with the eighth pick. Cleveland is a better team compared to what would've been had they selected DeSagana Diop but not by much. Cleveland wins four more games and records a 33-49 season with the addition of Jefferson. In doing so, the Cavs fall out their sixth place lottery position but still elect to take Dajaun Wagner with their pick. Wagner can’t stay healthy due to an illness and Cleveland is still able to get LeBron James the following season in 2003. As we all know James was a national phenomenon who just so happened to be from the same state who held the No. 1 overall pick; some things are just meant to happen. James and Jefferson click right away and become a formidable duo and stick together before LeBron's first Decision.
9. Detroit Pistons: Gerald Wallace: Although Wallace may not be the best player in the draft he fits with Detroit’s style of basketball just as well as anyone else (save for Mehmet Okur). With Wallace being initially drafted by Sacramento, minutes were scarce because of the log jam of wings. But in Detroit, minutes would be made available to Wallace because of his defensive ability. Playing him early and often may mean that Detroit never acquires Tayshaun Prince, but Prince may not be needed due to their similar skill sets. However, adding Prince would allow Detroit to switch multiple positions before it was a necessity in the league. At his best, Wallace was a staunch defender who did all the dirty work and was rewarded with alley-oops and easy buckets. Detroit wins a couple more games over the next two seasons and fall out of the No. 2 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. Because of their drop, Carmelo Anthony falls into their hands. The Pistons go on to win back to back championships in 2004 and 2005 with the three Wallaces, Chauncey Billups, Anthony, Richard Hamilton, and Prince.
10. Boston Celtics: Shane Battier: Coming fresh off of a national title with Duke the Boston Celtics select senior Shane Battier with the 10th overall pick. Battier is inserted into the starting lineup to bolster the Celtics' already impressive defense. Although not much of a scorer, Battier fits right alongside Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker as a 3&D specialist. With winning nowhere in the near future for the Celtics, Battier is traded because of his inability to score at a high rate and low ceiling for more firepower. Unfortunately, the Celtics never go on to win the 2008 title because Cleveland (with the addition of Richard Jefferson) eliminates them. Battier has a similar career to what he already had, as he ended up averaging 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.
Re-Draft Order:
1. Wizards: Pau Gasol
2. Bulls: Tony Pakers
3. Hawks: Zach Randolph
4. Bulls: Tyson Chandler
5. Warriors: Gilbert Arenas
6. Grizzlies: Joe Johnson
7. Nets: Jason Richardson
8. Cavaliers: Richard Jefferson
9. Pistons: Gerald Wallace
10. Celtics: Shane Battier
NBA Champions:
2001: Lakers over 76ers
2002: Lakers over Nets
2003: Spurs over Nets
2004: Pistons over Lakers
2005: Pistons over Spurs
2006: Mavericks over Bulls
2007: Cavaliers over Spurs
2008: Lakers over Cavaliers
Photo Credit: Grantland.
