1. Washington Wizards – Paul George (Original Pick: John Wall)
This one shouldn’t be a question. Paul George has been far and away the best player from this class, but back in 2010, the Fresno State product wasn’t as well known, going tenth overall to the Pacers. He’s averaged 20 points per game for his career, and no disrespect to John Wall, he should have clearly gone #1 overall.
2. Philadelphia 76ers – Derrick Favors (Original Pick: Evan Turner)
This is going to be unpopular, but Favors has been one of the most consistent players of this draft class, playing most of his career for the Utah Jazz. Evan Turner was decent, but I believe the 76ers went for the big-name Ohio State guy, and they missed out on a p
3. New Jersey Nets – Gordon Hayward (Original Pick: Derrick Favors)
Favors is no longer available at #3, so the Nets get a very solid backup plan in Gordon Hayward. The former Butler star went ninth overall, and he was a franchise player for the Jazz until he reunited with college coach Brad Stevens in Boston. Outside of his horrific injury in his first season with the Celtics, Hayward is averaging 17.3 points per pop this season and 15.3 points for his career, so the Nets would have gotten a cornerstone for their long-suffering franchise in Hayward.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves – Greg Monroe (Original Pick: Wesley Johnson)
With 13.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, Monroe has been consistent and productive through his career. In reality, Monroe, who was drafted out of Georgetown, went three picks later to the Detroit Pistons, and he averaged over fifteen points per game for five of his first six seasons. He bounced around to five other teams, but his high levels of productivity would have definitely been worth the lottery pick.
5. Sacramento Kings – Hassan Whiteside (Original Pick: DeMarcus Cousins)
I’ll get to why I wouldn’t want Cousins in the top five picks, but Whiteside was by far the best value pick of this round, going towards the midway point of the second round. Whiteside has averaged a double-double over the course of a very solid career, but his college at the low-profile Marshall University limited his draft stock. The Kings actually snared Whiteside in the second round, but they traded him to Miami, where the mid-major star became a stud.
6. Golden State Warriors – DeMarcus Cousins (Original Pick: Ekpe Udoh)
The Warriors swung and missed on their 2010 pick, and in our redraft, DeMarcus Cousins is still available at #6. Why? There are a few reasons – namely, Cousins was a lottery pick, and although he put up some impressive individual numbers, he didn’t do much to turn the Kings around, plus he’s been injured for most of the past three seasons. So for durability concerns, he’s going sixth, as the five players taken before him have been far more healthy. Cousins is a great value pick at #6, and he gets a chance at joining the Warriors dynasty that emerged later in the decade.
7. Detroit Pistons – John Wall (Original Pick: Greg Monroe)
Monroe is no longer on the table for Detroit, so they sacrifice their star for the original #1 pick in this draft, picking up a very capable talent in John Wall. A 5-time All-Star, Wall has averaged 19 points per game over his career, and he was far from a bust at #1 overall – he was just part of a very good draft class, so Detroit happily snatches up the Kentucky product with the seventh pick.
8. Los Angeles Clippers – Eric Bledsoe (Original Pick: AlFarouq Aminu)
Bledsoe remains a highly underappreciated talent in the NBA, as the 18th overall pick of the 2010 draft took a few years to develop, but he has been a very reliable contributor for much of his career. He’s maybe not a face-of-the-franchise type, but paired with a Giannis or another big name, Bledsoe is a spectacular second option. He’s averaging 14.2 points per game on his career, and he shoots at a 46% clip. The Clippers actually traded for Bledsoe but traded him after three mediocre seasons. Bledsoe emerged with the Suns, and then the Bucks, so it’s too bad the Clippers didn’t stick with him, as he would have been a great selection for them at #8.
9. Utah Jazz – Ed Davis (Original Pick: Gordon Hayward)
The Jazz downgrade with Hayward having been selected third overall, but they still pick up a solid player in Davis. Davis may not have filled the stat sheet, but his consistent, quiet efficiency has been the hallmark of the journeyman’s career. Davis actually currently plays for Utah, but he appears to be reaching the end of his days in the NBA, and the Jazz would have been better off to pick him up here (assuming Hayward was gone).
10. Indiana Pacers – Patrick Patterson (Original Pick: Paul George)
The Pacers originally got the best player of the draft at #10 overall, but they have to settle in this redraft, as their initial selection was the first name called, leaving Indiana looking for a replacement. Patterson has not been a star by any means, but to get 673 career games and over six points per game out of the tenth pick is not a bad deal, and in this top-heavy re-draft, Patterson is the best available for Indiana, so he will slot in with the Pacers.
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