NBA Draft Frenzy: Redrafting the 2016 NBA Draft

Date: June 21, 2017

By: Matt Ambrose

Now things get tough. It's hard to judge a player just based off of one season. But, that's what I'm going to do today. With just one season under their belts, let's take a look back at last year's NBA Draft.

1. Philadelphia 76ers- Ben Simmons (Original Selection: Ben Simmons)

He didn't play a single game, but he is still by far the best player in this draft. The Sixers weren't going to select anyone else with this pick. He is part of the young core that is about to add another piece tomorrow night in Markelle Fultz. The future is bright in Philly.

2. Los Angeles Lakers- Brandon Ingram (Original Selection: Brandon Ingram)

He didn't have a very impressive season, but this falls under the same criteria as Philadelphia. The Lakers weren't going to take anyone else at number two. They had their point guard in D'Angelo Russell, even though they just traded him. They had their low post man in Julius Randle. It was time to address the small forward position, and though Ingram had a slow start, his upside is still high.

3. Boston Celtics- Malcolm Brogdon (Original Selection: Jaylen Brown)

Brogdon's original slot: 36th overall

Brogdon came out of nowhere in this draft, falling all the way to Milwaukee at 36. All he did this past season was average 10.2 PPG and is one of the finalists for NBA Rookie of the Year. He was a star at Virginia, and has brought that level of play into the NBA, a level of play that warrants top five recognition in this draft.

4. Phoenix Suns- Buddy Hield (Original Selection: Dragan Bender)

Hield's original slot: Sixth overall

Hield's strongest play came after he was dealt to the Sacramento Kings just after the All-Star break in the DeMarcus Cousins deal. In 25 games with the Kings, Hield averaged 15.1 PPG and shot 48% from the field. He was able to see the floor more in Sacramento, and his play with the Kings is why he moves up in this redraft.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves- Yogi Ferrell (Original Selection: Kris Dunn)

Ferrell's original slot: Undrafted

The undrafted guard out of Indiana, Yogi Ferrell began his career with the Brooklyn Nets, appearing in just 10 games. It wasn't until he was given a chance by the Dallas Mavericks where he found his groove. He averaged 11.3 PPG with the Mavs, starting 29 of the 36 games he appeared in. He got his chance and cashed in on it, and put himself into the Mavs' future plans.

6. New Orleans Pelicans- Jamal Murray (Original Selection: Buddy Hield)

Murray's original slot: Seventh overall

Murray only started 10 games in his rookie year, but still appeared in each game for the Denver Nuggets. In just 21.5 MPG, he averaged just under 10 PPG, but his best play came down the stretch of the regular season. On April 7th, he scored a career high 30 points in a win over the Pelicans. Two games later, he got his first double-double with 10 points and 10 assists in a win over Dallas. He moves up a spot in this redraft, and it'll be interesting to see if he can carry over this production into his sophomore season in the NBA.

7. Denver Nuggets- Jaylen Brown (Original Selection: Jamal Murray)

Brown's original slot: Third overall

Brown appeared in 78 games this year for the Celtics, 20 of them being starts. He didn't see enough playing time this year to warrant his third overall selection. However, he ended the year on a high note, as he had a very solid Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, showing confidence and poise. This is something Celtics fans hope he brings into next year.

8. Sacramento Kings (Traded to Phoenix)- Ivica Zubac (Original Selection: Marquese Chriss)

Zubac's original slot: 32nd overall

He only played in 38 games this year, but Zubac showed tons of promise. This shone brightest at the end of the season, in which he started the final 10 games he appeared in. In those games, he averaged 11.1 PPG, and for the season he averaged just under one block per game. There's a lot to like with the 7'1" center.

9. Toronto Raptors- Marquese Chriss (Original Selection: Jakob Poeltl)

Chriss' original slot: Eighth overall

Chriss' skillset is featured primarily on the defensive end, however he wasn't bad on the offensive side of things either in his rookie season. He averaged 9.2 PPG in 82 games played this season, 75 of which were starts. He came into the league as a very raw prospect, and still has plenty to improve with his game.

10. Milwaukee Bucks- Dragan Bender (Original Selection: Thon Maker)

Bender's original slot: Fourth overall

Bender just played in 43 games this season, averaging just 3.4 PPG. He remains in the top-10 due to his upside. He is an extremely raw prospect, but he will only improve as time goes on. He can handle the basketball, he can shoot, and he has size. In a couple of years, he could be a very special player.

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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