Seton Hall
NBA Draft Frenzy: Redrafting the 2013 NBA Draft
Date: June 18, 2017By: Matt Ambrose
Ah, yes. The infamous 2013 NBA Draft. Widely regarded as one of, if not, the worst draft in NBA history. The top-10 is riddled with players who have faded into NBA oblivion, most notably the top overall selection Anthony Bennett, a selection that stumped even the most prestigious NBA insiders. It's safe to say that this redraft will look a lot different than the actual order from four years ago.
- 1. Cleveland Cavaliers- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Original Selection: Anthony Bennett)
Antetokounmpo's original slot: 15th overall
The Cavs had one of the biggest whiffs at number one overall in recent memory, taking Anthony Bennett out of UNLV with the top selection. Bennett has only started four games in four seasons while never lasting more than one season on an NBA roster. The real gem of this draft slipped to number 15 overall, where the Bucks scooped up the soon-to-be proclaimed "Greek Freak." Antetokounmpo is the only All-Star to emerge from this draft class so far, and his best season to date came this past year where he averaged 22.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG and shot 52% from the floor in 80 games.
- 2. Orlando Magic- Rudy Gobert (Original Selection: Victor Oladipo)
Gobert's original slot: 27th overall
Back-to-back great nicknames in this redraft, as the "Greek Freak" is followed up by the "Steiffel Tower" and number two overall. The 7'1" Frenchman has gotten better each season, and this past season made his first playoff appearance with the Utah Jazz. Gobert averaged 14 PPG along with an impressive 2.6 blocks per game, proving to be an elite rim protector. If only Orlando had known the potential Gobert had, he could have been the man to finally fill the shoes left by Dwight Howard.
- 3. Washington Wizards- C.J. McCollum (Original Selection: Otto Porter Jr.)
McCollum's original slot: 10th overall
McCollum came out of Lehigh back in 2013, and everyone knew he could score the basketball. Ever since he arrived in Portland, he has done just that. After battling for minutes his first two seasons, McCollum has started 80 games each of the past two seasons, forming one of the most formidable backcourt duos in the NBA with Damian Lillard. McCollum has averaged over 20 PPG his last two seasons, and has been a marksman from the perimeter, shooting 42% each of the last two years as well.
- 4. Charlotte Bobcats- Steven Adams (Original Selection: Cody Zeller)
Adams' original slot: 12th overall
Enter the Kiwi Phenom. Steven Adams is the second best big man in this draft class, mainly for his defense and physicality. What Adams does on the court won't jump out at you on the stat sheet, as this past season was the first time in his career he averaged double digit points. However, he is a useful presence down low on a Thunder team that traded away Serge Ibaka two seasons ago, allowing for an increased role for Adams. He has responded, and has shown his 12th overall value to be too low.
- 5. Phoenix Suns- Victor Oladipo (Original Selection: Alex Len)
Oladipo's original slot: Second overall
Oladipo has shown he can score at the NBA level, but early on in his career, he found a hard time finding minutes with the team that took him second overall in the draft. Things have become more stable later on in his career, and he has found a new home in Oklahoma City where he started all 67 games he played in last year. Now, he is playing second fiddle to Russell Westbrook in OKC, but he is a nice complement who put up just under 16 PPG last season. Second overall pick value though? Not quite.
- 6. New Orleans Pelicans (Traded to PHI)- Dennis Schroeder (Original Selection: Nerlens Noel)
Schroeder's original slot: 17th overall
Remember the night Nerlens Noel fell in the draft? Remember how shocking it was at the time? Spoiler: he doesn't even make the top-10 on this list. Dennis Schroeder does however, jumping from 17th to sixth to the newly rebranded New Orleans Pelicans, who then traded this selection to the Philadelphia 76ers. Schroeder was one of the best backup point guards in the league down in Atlanta, and finally got his chance to start this past season after the Hawks dealt Jeff Teague to Indiana. The move paid off, as Schroder averaged a career high 17.9 PPG while shooting 45% from the field and leading the Hawks to the playoffs. Imagine him as a backcourt piece of the "Trust the Process" Sixers, especially after the recent news of Philly acquiring the number one pick to take Markelle Fultz in this year's draft. Scary.
- 7. Sacramento Kings- Otto Porter Jr. (Original Selection: Ben McLemore)
Porter's original slot: Third overall
Much like Victor Oladipo, it took some time for Otto Porter to find his footing in the NBA, which is much of the reason for his slip to number seven. In his rookie year, he played in just 37 games, averaging just over eight minutes per game and scoring just two points per game. After a slightly improved second season, he has blossomed into the player the Wizards hoped he would be over the last two seasons. He has averaged double digits in points in both campaigns while starting all but two games he appeared in. His contribution significantly trumps that of Ben McLemore, who oozed with athleticism coming out of Kansas but lacked a truly polished game.
- 8. Detroit Pistons- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Original Selection: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope)
The first top-10 pick that the team nailed, KCP has been a solid player for Detroit. After primarily coming off the bench his rookie year, he has started all but one game he has appeared in over his last three seasons. In those campaigns, he has averaged double digit points in each one, while shooting 35% from three in two of the three seasons. Caldwell-Pope won't amaze you with his skillset, but he has been a nice asset for Detroit in recent years, one that the Pistons could choose to build around or look to move to gain assets for the future.
- 9. Minnesota Timberwolves (Traded to UTAH)- Mason Plumlee (Original Selection: Trey Burke)
Plumlee's original slot: 22nd overall
Plumlee made a name for himself after being drafted by the Brooklyn Nets 22nd overall, but his best years production-wise came with the Portland Trail Blazers. In his season and a half with Portland, he put up just under 10 PPG and 8 RPG, including averaging 11.1 PPG in the first 54 games of the 2016-2017 season before being dealt to Denver later in the year. He is no superstar, but has a good enough game to get into the top-10 in this draft class.
- 10. Portland Trail Blazers- Cody Zeller (Original Selection: C.J. McCollum)
Zeller's original slot: Fourth overall
Originally, the Blazers has a great two-guard fall into their lap in C.J. McCollum. Instead, in this redraft they are stuck with Cody Zeller, a player who originally went fourth to the Charlotte Bobcats (yes, still the Bobcats for one more season), where he hasn't done anything special. This past season was his first season averaging over 10 PPG, and his 6.5 RPG was also a career high. It was slim pickings as to who to put at 10th overall in this redraft, as none of the options have had stellar play in the NBA so far. Zeller edges out that competition, but not by much.
Matt Ambrose is a journalism major from Exeter, N.H. and an Assistant Sports Director at 89.5 FM WSOU. He can be found on Twitter @mambrose97 and can be reached by e-mail at matthew.ambrose1@student.shu.edu
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