Workouts for the 2012 NBA Draft have officially started and the NBA Playoffs are pretty deep at this point so it’s that time for a re-draft to see how team really did in last year’s NBA Draft. Note, however, that re-drafting is a difficult process and in some cases I will try to match position-for-position as best I can… as long as it’s plausible.
1. Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving (Actual pick: Irving)
Kind of like LeBron James… started every game he played in his rookie year, led the team in points and assists. Irving’s the clear-cut ROY and the clear-cut appropriate No. 1 pick coming from last year’s draft. And when you have a guy who’s got a great personality that he can go out and do this, you’ve won the draft.
2. Timberwolves: Kemba Walker (AP: Derrick Williams)
Walker went #9 to Charlotte | It was a stretch to fit a forward in this re-draft slot (I told you this was hard), but Kemba Walker was the second best player in this draft. He had 12 points per game and 4 assists with the Bobcats, but a ridiculously impressive 2.4 assist/turnover ratio which nearly topped all rookies.
Via Bleacher Report
3. Jazz: Kenneth Faried (AP: Enes Kanter)
Faried went #22 to Denver | Faried averaged a double-double in the playoffs this season, but was just as consistent and highlight-making in the regular season – 10 points per game and 7.7 rebounds.
4. Cavaliers: Marshon Brooks (AP: Tristan Thompson)
Brooks went #25 to Boston | Traded on draft night to the Brooklyn Nets, Brooks averaged 12.5 points per game and ended up starting 47 of the 56 games he played in. Also, offered 3.6 rebounds per game. A team player, I see.
5. Raptors: Isaiah Thomas (AP: Jonas Valanciunas)
Thomas went #60 to Sacramento | Not too shabby for the Mr. Irrelevant of the NBA Draft. He’s more relevant than most in this draft. As a point guard he had a 2.5 assist/turnover ratio and averaged 11.5 points per game and 4.1 assists. As for Valanciunas, Jesus you won’t see him anywhere in this first round.
6. Wizards: Brandon Knight (AP: Jan Vesely)
Knight went #8 to Detroit | Finished with 12.8 points per game and a few decimals over 3 assists. It was certainly the season an 8th overall pick is expected to have.
7. Kings: Klay Thompson (AP: Bismack Biyombo)
Thompson went #11 to Golden State | Thompson scored like scouts said he would. Make that 12.5 points per game 2.4 rebounds and 2 assists. Definitely a better scorer than Biyombo.
8. Pistons: Iman Shumpert (AP: Knight)
Shumpert went #17 to New York | This is not to say the Pistons made a bad choice whatsoever in Brandon Knight; in fact, it’s the exact opposite. Knight had such a good season that the Pistons shouldn’t have even had a chance to pick him where they did. Shumpert would’ve been available with 9.5 points per game this season and 2.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds. A stellar substitute both literally and figuratively.
9. Bobcats: Tristan Thompson (AP: Walker)
Thompson went #4 to Charlotte | We now have the first drop-down in the re-draft. Thompson wasn’t worth the 4th pick it appears this season at least, even though he did good things – 8 points, 6 rebounds per game and led his team in blocks.
CBS Houston
10. Bucks: Chandler Parsons (AP: Jimmer Fredette)
Parsons went #38 to Houston | Parsons had a sweet season for so many teams passing on him. He showed everyone up with 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
11. Warriors: Jimmer Fredette (AP: K. Thompson)
Fredette went #10 to Milwaukee | Fredette had a nice season, but not the kind you’d expect from a guy who lit up scoreboards at BYU last year draining everything from three-point-land. Even so, he showed he’s more than just a spot shooter.
12. Jazz: Alec Burks (AP: Burks)
Burks was actually the perfect fit here how it all turned out in the re-draft. He had a good season averaging 7 points per game, more than we can say about a lot of people.
13. Suns: Derrick Williams (AP: Markieff Morris)
Williams went #2 to Minnesota | We all expected more from Williams. He’s a human highlight reel and gets some special props for being in the All-Star Slam Dunk competition. This season, 8 points per game. He didn’t start very many games though (15).
14. Rockets: Kawhi Leonard (AP: Marcus Morris)
Leonard went #15 to Indiana | This is a guy who led the Spurs in steals with 1.3 per game. Add to that 7.9 points and 5 rebound a game. In the playoffs (in which the Spurs are still alive), Leonard has proven he can hold his own.
15. Pacers: Markieff Morris (AP: Leonard)
Morris went #13 to Phoenix | This Morris Bro. had a much better season than brother Marcus. Markieff averaged 5 more points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game.
16. Sixers: Charles Jenkins (AP: Nikola Vucevic)
Jenkins went #44 to Golden State | Jenkins had a huge season – and you could say that about him starting 28 games of the 51 he played in this season. For the 44th overall pick he was wildly successful. Scored 5.8 points per game.
17. Knicks: Norris Cole (AP: Shumpert)
Cole went #28 to Chicago | He ended up in a trade to Miami, but the Bulls could’ve used him with all of the injury issues Derrick Rose had. He would’ve been a good pick at 17, too for the Knicks even though they already scored big by actually picking Shumpert.
18. Wizards: Bismack Biyombo (AP: Chris Singleton)
Biyombo went #7 to Charlotte | Although I don’t have an issue with taking Singleton here (just to make that clear), Biyombo fits in the re-draft. Biyombo was 5-and-5 this season in points and rebounds, which is only slightly better than Singleton.
19. Bobcats: Nikola Vucevic (AP: Tobias Harris)
Vucevic went #16 to Philadelphia | Vucevic started 15 games this season, scored 5.5 point per game and grabbed 4.8 rebounds. Harris did none of those things.
20. Timerwolves: Lavoy Allen (AP: Donatas Motiejunas)
Allen went #50 to Philadelphia | Allen may not have as impressive regular season numbers as others who could fit here, but he averaged 6.6 points per game in the playoffs. He was 4-and-4 in the regular season in points and rebounds. Not bad for such a low pick.
21. Blazers: Jan Vesely (AP: Nolan Smith)
Vesely went #6 to Washington | Definitely not worth the 6th pick, but for 4.7 points and 4 rebounds per game, he’s not too shabby.
22. Nuggets: Enes Kanter (AP: Faried)
Kanter went #3 to Utah | Kanter had a slow year to say the least. Tally 4.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
From Los Angeles Times
23. Rockets: Andrew Goudelock (AP: Nikola Mirotic)
Goudelock went #46 to Los Angeles Lakers | Definitely a good year off the bench for Goudelock, a guy who a lot of scouts thought could be somebody useful. A steal in the draft. Played in 40 games, averaging 4.4 points per game.
24. Thunder: Chris Singleton (AP: Reggie Jackson)
Singleton went #18 to Philadelphia | Like I said, I don’t have any problem with where Singleton was drafted. He proved he’s a good player this year and will keep improving. Averaged 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
25. Celtics: Shelvin Mack (AP: Marshon Brooks)
Mack went #34 to Washington | At this point you should realize the Wizards had a great draft last year. Many bright spots for their future. Mack led all rookies with a 2.7 assist/turnover ratio and averaged 3.6 points per game.
26. Mavericks: Jon Leuer (AP: Jordan Hamilton)
Leuer went #40 to Milwaukee | Leuer had a good season, averaging 4.7 points per game and three rebounds. That’s what you’d expect from the 40th overall pick.
27. Nets: Jordan Williams (AP: JaJuan Johnson)
Williams went #36 to New Jersey | The Nets could’ve swapped who they took at each of their two picks and been just fine. Johnson ended up being traded to Boston and the Nets kept Williams, who had the better season.
28. Bulls: Nolan Smith (AP: Norris Cole)
Smith went #21 to Portland | Not a bad season for Smith, who many scouts thought was a solid all-around guard, but not necessarily stellar at one specific thing.
29. Spurs: Jeremy Tyler (AP: Cory Joseph)
Tyler went #39 to Charlotte | Tyler was that guy who everyone in the league thought was stuck up and stupid for having skipped college and ended up in Europe because he wasn’t allowed in the NBA yet. Besides that, he was a top prospect for colleges way back when and showed a little bit of that this year in the time he got – 4.9 points per game and 3 rebounds.
30. Bulls: Josh Harrelson (AP: Jimmy Butler)
Harrelson went #45 to New Orleans | At Kentucky Harrelson battled hard to get noticed among all the freshman phenoms John Calipari brought in. He was worth the time in the NBA. He was a decimal away from being a 4 and 4 guy in points and rebounds this season, playing in 37 games.
