Re-Drafting The 2017 NBA Draft: Philadelphia 76ers And Los Angeles Lakers Would Make The Perfect Decision

In a re-draft of the 2017 NBA Draft class, Jayson Tatum would be the No. 1 overall pick; Donovan Mitchell would go second.

One of the conversations that engage fans every time it comes up is an NBA redraft. We look in hindsight at the players that each draft pick has become and see if they would fit on the teams that missed out on those players initially. There are certainly concerns when it comes to fit and team chemistry but the players at the top of the draft are so talented that they could fit in any scheme they become a part of. The draft we will be taking a look at today is one of the most talented draft classes of the last decade so the shakeup should be a great conversation.

The 2017 draft class is filled with legitimate MVP candidates in 2022-23 as well as All-Stars, defensive juggernauts, and talented role players across the NBA. There are players who are on the cusp of their first All-Star appearances as well as players who can be greatly impactful on championship teams. The 2017 NBA Draft is one that certain teams wish they could have back and others are happy with who they ended up selecting. Just as we did with 2009, we will re-select each pick of the entire first round. This draft class is sure to be a big part of the NBA moving forward so let’s take a look at where some of these great players could have ended up.

This is the re-drafting of the 2017 NBA Draft class.

1. Philadelphia 76ers

Original Pick: Markelle Fultz

Re-Draft Pick: Jayson Tatum

The first overall selection in our 2017 re-draft is Jayson Tatum to the Philadelphia 76ers. This selection would pair Tatum with Joel Embiid, immediately forming one of the most dominant duos in NBA history. Since entering the NBA, Tatum has developed into one of the best players in the league, currently a Top 5 MVP candidate. Tatum has already led the Celtics to an NBA Finals appearance and one other Conference Finals appearance. With him and Embiid sharing the floor, the possibilities would be endless and maybe “The Process” wouldn't have been such a failure.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

Original Pick: Lonzo Ball

Re-Draft Pick: Donovan Mitchell

When the Lakers selected Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick in 2017, the entire world already knew it was coming. If they could go back, they would undoubtedly select one of the best young shooting guards in the NBA today, Donovan Mitchell. Spida would bring an athletic and electric scoring machine to the Lakers that were in desperate need of a No. 1 guy to take control on the court. Mitchell would enjoy the arrival of LeBron James for his second season of play which would certainly have sped up his development as a player. Mitchell with the Lakers, along with James, would solve a lot of the issues they are currently facing with their roster.

3. Boston Celtics

Original Pick: Jayson Tatum

Re-Draft Pick: De’Aaron Fox

With their original pick already off the board, the Boston Celtics will have to settle for a consolation prize. The good news for them is they are getting a talented young guard with tremendous upside in De’Aaron Fox. Over the last four seasons, Fox has been a 20.0 PPG or better scorer as well as a 5.5 APG or better facilitator, a piece that Boston could have used at the time having parted with Isaiah Thomas earlier in the offseason. With Fox, the Celtics may have had a delay in their development into contenders but they could eventually get there with Fox, a likely first-time All-Star in 2022-23, running the backcourt.

4. Phoenix Suns

Original Pick: Josh Jackson

Re-Draft Pick: Bam Adebayo

The domino effect of the Suns having a chance at a re-draft would be monumental. Instead of going with Josh Jackson, the Suns would select versatile big man Bam Adebayo. What Adebayo would bring to the Suns is one of the best defenders in the NBA as well as a solid option on offense to pair with a young Devin Booker. With their big man already in place, perhaps the Suns decide on Luka Doncic in the following year’s draft setting them up for massive future success.

5. Sacramento Kings

Original Pick: De’Aaron Fox

Re-Draft Pick: Jarrett Allen

With their original pick also already off the board, the Sacramento Kings decide to go big with Jarrett Allen. For the Kings, they were still a few seasons away from any sort of contention as they tried to rebuild into a playoff contender. Allen brings size, athleticism, and serious interior defense to a team in desperate need of it at the time. In 2021-22, Allen became an All-Star for the first time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, showing that in the right system, he could flourish. Whether that was with the Kings or not will never be known.

6. Orlando Magic

Original Pick: Jonathan Issac

Re-Draft Pick: OG Anunoby

Over the past three seasons, the Orlando Magic have done a great job of building their young core to carry them into the future. It could have begun earlier than that if they had selected OG Anunoby with the sixth pick in 2017. Anunoby is one of the best young defenders in basketball who has gone to war with some of the best offensive players in the NBA and come out on top. Anunoby would have given the Magic a young star that by now would have led their young core of Wagner, Banchero, and Anthony into the future.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

Original Pick: Lauri Markkanen

Re-Draft Pick: John Collins

In 2017, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Lauri Markkanen with the 7th overall pick but he would never play a game for them being traded to Chicago almost immediately. The trade landed them Jimmy Butler which is a deal they would rescind given the chance considering how Butler’s time with the team went. This time, they would select athletic forward John Collins who could have been a great young piece for a team in need of interior help on both sides of the ball. Collins would give the Timberwolves depth and a lob threat alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, giving them a serious frontcourt to contend with.

8. New York Knicks

Original Pick: Frank Ntilikina

Re-Draft Pick: Lonzo Ball

Given the Knicks' history of picks, it would only be right for them to select Lonzo Ball even given a second chance at things in a re-draft. Despite the injury history, Ball has been a very impactful defensive player when healthy and one of the better shooting point guards from beyond the 3-point line. Ball would definitely put fans in the seats in New York considering the hype that surrounded him heading into the league thanks to his brothers and father. The Knicks would more than likely benefit from Ball’s slip to them at No. 8 but injuries would soon play a big factor in their decisions with him moving forward.

9. Dallas Mavericks

Original Pick: Dennis Smith Jr.

Re-Draft Pick: Lauri Markkanen

With a second chance at things in a 2017 re-draft, the Dallas Mavericks would land the guy they have been chasing for more than two seasons. Lauri Markkanen was almost a member of the Mavs two seasons ago when they offered the Bulls a deal that would send Markkanen to Dallas and Maxi Kleber to Chicago. Markkanen is currently on a tear for Utah leading the race for this year’s Most Improved Player while Kleber is nursing another major injury that has him sidelined for an extended period of time yet again. You tell me how that one would have worked out for Dallas.

10. Sacramento Kings

Original Pick: Zach Collins

Re-Draft Pick: Kyle Kuzma

Having already gone big in this re-draft with Jarrett Allen, the Kings would select a wing player who could impact the game on both sides of the ball with their next pick at No. 10. Kyle Kuzma has developed into quite the all-around payer in 2022-23 and is reportedly seeking his way out of Washington in light of his recent success. Kuzma would have given the Kings a consistent scorer, a good rebounder, and some life to their perimeter offense. In 2022-23, Kuzma is averaging 21.8 PPG as well as 7.6 RPG on 45.7% shooting. His addition would be a welcomed boost to the Kings' offense.

11. Charlotte Hornets

Original Pick: Malik Monk

Re-Draft Pick: Dillon Brooks

Armed with their superstar point guard Kemba Walker, the Hornets in 2017 had barely anything else to contend with other teams in the East. The addition of Dillion Brooks to their squad back them would have given some relief to Walker on the defensive side of the ball with Brooke being a beast on that side of the ball. Now, this move is not one that would have made them instant contenders by any means but would have been a solid piece to build upon considering they moved on from Walker not long after the 2017-18 season. Considering how Brooke impacts the Grizzlies, all he would have needed is some other stars around him like LaMelo Ball just a couple of seasons later in order to blossom.

12. Detroit Pistons

Original Pick: Luke Kennard

Re-Draft Pick: Derrick White

The 2017 draft for the Pistons was one where they ended up with sharpshooter Luka Kennard at No. 12. Kennard would play just three years in Detroit before leaving for the Clippers where he has become a valuable 3-point assassin. Derrick White is our re-draft pick for them this time who developed into a decent double-digit scorer for the Spurs and Celtics in his career. White is a little less efficient than Kennard but can certainly step up in big moments as we saw in the 2022 playoffs with the Celtics. White would have been a welcomed addition to the Pistons but who knows if he is the player he turned out to be today without the guidance of Gregg Popovich.

13. Denver Nuggets

Original Pick: Donovan Mitchell

Re-Draft Pick: Josh Hart

As far as this pick goes, it is clear that the Nuggets didn’t know what they had the night they drafted Donivan Mitchell and subsequently traded him to Utah. This time, they end up with Josh Hart who has been a decent starter in the NBA for most of his career. Hart will not light up the offensive stat sheet but is sure to make an impact on the defensive side of the ball as he has done for the past six seasons. Hart would give the Nuggets a Bruce Brown-type player from the beginning of their rebuild but most likely end up a trade piece down the line as he has been in the past.

14. Miami Heat

Original Pick: Bam Adebayo

Re-Draft Pick: Thomas Bryant

The Miami Heat are victims in this re-draft considering one of the best players from it landed in their laps six years ago. With Bam Adebayo and many other stars already gone, Miami has to settle for another big man from this draft class in Thomas Bryant. For the last five seasons, Bryant has developed into a decent big man averaging 10.6 PPG and 6.0 RPG for his career. In Miami, he would not have filled the same role that Adebayo currently holds with the team but his ability at the center position would have been similarly important in the paint as a rebounder and opportunistic scorer.

15. Portland Trail Blazers

Original Pick: Justin Jackson

Re-Draft Pick: Malik Monk

Realistically, Malik Monk could have been off the board by now in any 2017 re-draft but here, he falls to No. 15 to Portland. Monk has developed nicely over the last six seasons as a scorer and impactful player off the bench. Over the last two seasons with the Lakers and Kings, Monk has developed into a 13.0 PPG scorer, something that Portland can certainly use off the bench in 2022-23. Had he gone to Portland, Monk would have been a nice player to take some pressure off Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons when they need a break and have the potential to be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate.

16. Chicago Bulls

Original Pick: Justin Patton

Re-Draft Pick: Jonathan Isaac

Over the last two seasons, Jonathan Isaac has missed over two seasons of play due to an ACL injury he suffered back in 2020. Isaac was a former Top 10 draft pick by the Magic and would have been a welcomed addition to the Bulls. Before his injury, Isaac had begun to experience his best NBA success as an 11.0 PPG scorer and 6.8 RPG rebounder. His biggest impact was on the defensive side of the ball as a player who averaged over 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game for his career which includes a 2020 campaign that saw him over 2.0 BPG with the Magic. That kind of interior defense would have been welcomed with open arms in Chicago.

17. Milwaukee Bucks

Original Pick: D.J. Wilson

Re-Draft Pick: T.J. Leaf

We all know how much Milwaukee loves their young guards who relentlessly hustle on the court. Well, in this re-draft that is exactly what they would get with their selection of T.J. Leaf. He isn’t a scorer or even a semi-impactful offensive player but he will give you solid minutes off the bench and a defensive presence that falls right up Milwaukee’s alley. Anything is better than their original pick D.J. Wilson who played less than 150 games in his five NBA seasons.

18. Indiana Pacers

Original Pick: T.J. Leaf

Re-Draft Pick: Markelle Fultz

The No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz falls all the way to the lower part of the first round as the Indiana Pacers scoop him up at No. 18. Fultz had a rough go at things early on in his career in Philadelphia unable to develop any sort of jump shot which eventually led to other struggles. He has had a resurgence of sorts with the Orlando Magic over the last few seasons though, averaging 12.0 PPG and 5.3 APG during his time there. The issue that remains with Fultz is health having played less than 20 games in each of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The pacers would get a solid backup to Haliburton in 2022-23 which is all they can ask for selecting this far down in the draft.

19. Atlanta Hawks

Original Pick: John Collins

Re-Draft Pick: Frank Ntilikina

With their original pick well off the board by the time their pick comes up, the Atlanta Hawks will decide to go with backcourt depth at No. 19. Fran Ntilikina has proved that he can be a decent bench player over the last few seasons with the Knicks and Mavericks which would combine a nice duo of Bogdan Bogdanovic and himself off the bench in Atlanta. His offensive game hasn’t been up to par with the hype coming out of the 2017 draft at all but he does provide a spark to the defense off the bench in Dallas. Ntilikina would certainly find a home with an Atlanta team who struggles in that department.

20. Portland Trail Blazers

Original Pick: Harry Giles

Re-Draft Pick: Dennis Smith Jr.

With their second pick of the first round, the Trail Blazers will go after some bench depth of their own in Dennis Smith Jr. He got off to a nice start in his career with the Mavericks and Knicks but each of those teams gave up on him far too fast for him to develop any consistency on the court. In 2022-23, with a fair shake in Charlotte, Smith Jr. is having a decent comeback of sorts. As a bench player and starter, he is averaging 8.1 PPG and 5.0 APG which are his highest totals since 2019 with the Knicks and Mavericks for production in a season.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder

Original Pick: Terrance Ferguson

Re-Draft Pick: Monte Morris

Back in 2017, the Thunder decided on Terrance Ferguson, a guard/forward hybrid who lasered just three seasons with the team. In their re-draft, they decided to go with Monte Morris, a solid point guard who has taken over the starting job in Washington this season. Morris has been a 10.0 PPG scorer or better in four of the last five seasons between Denver and the Wizards as well as a 4.5 APG or better facilitator. For the Thunder, he would be a decent option behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey who would thrive off the bench and earn big minutes with them as time wore on.

22. Brooklyn Nets

Original Pick: Jarrett Allen

Re-Pick: Zach Collins

Back in 2017, the Nets got lucky when talented big man Jarrett Allen fell into their laps. With Allen well off the board, they will have to settle for Zach Collins to fill a roster spot. Despite injuries completely derailing his career and costing him over 100 games from 2020 thru 2022, Collins is enjoying a nice bounce-back as a member of the Spurs in 2022-23. Collins is now a backup big in San Antonio where he is averaging 9.5 PPG and 5.7 RPG in 20 minutes off the bench. Collins would be in the same role with the nets this season and would provide some much-needed size to a lineup that could use him in a bench role.

23. Toronto Raptors

Original Pick: OG Anunoby

Re-Draft Pick: Isaiah Hartenstein

The Raptors are another team that falls victim to the re-draft having had OG Anunoby fall to their laps in 2017. With him well off the board already, they will need to select some size in Isaiah Hartenstein. As a backup big for most of his career, Hartenstein does a solid job off the bench as a rebounder and interior defender. He has his lapses in judgment like most second-round picks but is still one of the few players remaining in 2022-23 that remains on a roster from the 2017 NBA Draft.

24. Utah Jazz

Original Pick: Tyler Lydon

Re-Draft Pick: Edmond Sumner

Edmond Sumner is another player who remains on a roster in 2022-23 as we begin to run out of them as this re-draft continues. The Jazz would likely use him as a backup to Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley in 2022-23 as he is producing pretty well in that role with the Nets in 2022-23. With Brooklyn this season, Sumner is averaging 6.4 PPG and 1.3 APG in 38 games.

25. Orlando Magic

Original Pick: Anzejs Pasecniks

Re-Draft Pick: Tony Bradley

The Orlando Magic have yet another pick at the end of this 2017 NBA re-draft and they decide to go with Tony Bradley, a center who was still rostered in Chicago for 10 games in 2022-23. Bradley peaked in 2021 with 42 games played and averages of 7.1 PPG and 5.7 RPG with the Utah Jazz. Orlando loves it size given the current state of things with the team but it is most likely that Bradley ends up toward the end of the bench even with the Magic.

26. Portland Trail Blazers

Original Pick: Caleb Swanigan

Re-Draft Pick: Tyler Dorsey

Another player that was given a brief chance in 2022-23 with the Mavericks is Tyler Dorsey. As a shooting guard, Dorsey got a chance in three games with the Mavericks this season and is possibly the last player left that saw the court this season. Dorsey enjoyed a nice rookie season with the Hawks back in 2017-18 averaging 7.2 PPG but left after his second season to play overseas. In three games this year, Dorsey averaged 3.0 PPG.

27. Brooklyn Nets

Original Pick: Kyle Kuzma

Re-Draft Pick: Justin Jackson

The players who are still active have run out for teams in this 2017 re-draft so now lies hope to change the remaining career paths of the others. Justin Jackson was originally the 15th pick of the 2017 draft and played 19 games for the Celtics this year before trailing off. Jackson peaked in 2021 with the Thunder and Bucks and in 19 games with Boston this year, he averaged just 0.8 PPG in 4.4 minutes of play.

28. Los Angeles Lakers

Original Pick: Tony Bradley

Re-Draft Pick: Josh Jackson

As an original 4th overall pick, it is only fair we give Josh Jackson a shot again at the NBA with the Lakers at No. 28. Jackson was decent for the Suns and Pistons in his career, averaging over 13.0 PPG twice in his first three seasons. However, Jackson is yet to play a game in 2022-23. He made his last appearance in 2021-22 with Detroit and the Kings and averaged 6.4 PPG in 16.3 minutes of action.

29. San Antonio Spurs

Original Pick: Derrick White

Re-Draft Pick: Harry Giles

The Spurs ended up much less fortunate in this re-draft than they did in 2017 with Derrick White. Now, the Spurs must select Harry Giles from Duke as their 29th pick. Giles played just three years in the NBA with the Kings and Trail Blazers. He averaged 7.0 PPG in his rookie season and 6.9 PPG the following season with the Kings but fell off a cliff with Portland in his 3rd season averaging just 2.8 PPG in 38 appearances that year.

30. Utah Jazz

Original Pick: Josh Hart

Re-Draft Pick: Justin Patton

The final selection of our 2017 re-draft has the Utah Jazz selecting Justin Patton. He was originally the 16th pick by the Bulls in 2017 but ended up playing just four years with four different teams in total. In his final season with the Rockets, Patton averaged 5.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 1.1 BPG in 13 appearances. Patton has not appeared in a game since the 2020-21 season.

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