Re-Drafting the 2017 NBA Draft

The 2017 NBA Draft wasn’t just about who teams picked, it was about who they missed. Now that two members of the class have proven they can help lead a championship team, hindsight paints a very different picture. So let’s give every front office a time machine and redo the draft. Who goes #1? Who falls out of the lottery? And how different would the NBA look if everyone knew what was coming?

14. Heat — Dillon Brooks, Oregon

Actual Pick: Bam Adebayo, Kentucky NBA Career: 2022–23 All-Defensive; 14.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 11.1 PER, 16.8 Win Shares, -5.2 VORP in 9 seasons with Grizzlies, Rockets, Suns

13. Jazz (traded from Nuggets) — Luke Kennard, Duke

Actual Pick: Donovan Mitchell, Louisville NBA Career: 9.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 13.0 PER, 28.1 Win Shares, 6.3 VORP in 9 seasons with Pistons, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Lakers

12. Pistons — Kyle Kuzma, Utah

Actual Pick: Luke Kennard, Duke NBA Career: 2020 NBA champion, 2017–18 All-Rookie; 16.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.7 APG, 13.8 PER, 16.3 Win Shares, 1.8 VORP in 9 seasons with Lakers, Wizards, Bucks

11. Hornets — John Collins, Wake Forest

Actual Pick: Malik Monk, Kentucky NBA Career: 2017–18 All-Rookie; 15.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.4 APG, 18.5 PER, 43.8 Win Shares, 10.0 VORP in 9 seasons with Hawks, Jazz, Clippers

10. Trail Blazers (traded from Kings) — Isaiah Hartenstein, Zalgiris

Actual Pick: Zach Collins, Gonzaga NBA Career: 2025 NBA champion; 7.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.2 APG, 18.3 PER, 33.3 Win Shares, 9.4 VORP in 9 seasons with Rockets, Nuggets, Cavaliers, Clippers, Knicks, Thunder

9. Mavericks — Josh Hart, Villanova

Actual Pick: Dennis Smith Jr., North Carolina State NBA Career: 2026 NBA champion; 10.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 13.5 PER, 42.8 Win Shares, 12.6 VORP in 9 seasons with Lakers, Pelicans, Trail Blazers, Knicks

8. Knicks — OG Anunoby, Indiana

Actual Pick: Frank Ntilikina, SIG Strasbourg NBA Career: 2x NBA champion, 2x All-Defensive, 2022–23 Steals Leader; 13.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.7 APG, 13.8 PER, 37.6 Win Shares, 10.5 VORP in 9 seasons with Raptors, Knicks

7. Bulls (traded from Timberwolves) — Derrick White, Colorado

Actual Pick: Lauri Markkanen, Arizona NBA Career: 2024 NBA champion, 3x Defensive Player of the Year; 13.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 4.3 APG, 15.9 PER, 46.7 Win Shares, 18.4 VORP in 9 seasons with Spurs, Celtics

6. Magic — Jarrett Allen, Texas

Actual Pick: Jonathan Isaac, Florida State NBA Career: 2022 All-Star; 13.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 20.7 PER, 73.1 Win Shares, 19.4 VORP in 9 seasons with Nets, Cavaliers

5. Kings — Lauri Markkanen, Arizona

Actual Pick: De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky NBA Career: 2023 All-Star, 2022–23 Most Improved Player, 2017–18 All-Rookie; 18.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 17.7 PER, 36.7 Win Shares, 12.2 VORP in 9 seasons with Bulls, Cavaliers, Jazz

4. Suns — De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky

Actual Pick: Josh Jackson, Kansas NBA Career: 2022–23 All-NBA, 2x All-Star, 2023–24 Steals Leader; 21.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.1 APG, 18.5 PER, 40.3 Win Shares, 15.1 VORP in 9 seasons with Kings, Spurs

3. Celtics — Bam Adebayo, Kentucky

Actual Pick: Jayson Tatum, Duke NBA Career: 3x All-Star, 6x All-Defensive; 16.2 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 19.7 PER, 64.0 Win Shares, 22.2 VORP in 9 seasons with Heat

2. Lakers — Donovan Mitchell, Louisville

Actual Pick: Lonzo Ball, UCLA NBA Career: 3x All-NBA, 7x All-Star, 2017–18 All-Rookie; 25.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.8 APG, 20.3 PER, 60.2 Win Shares, 29.4 VORP in 9 seasons with Jazz, Cavaliers

1. 76ers — Jayson Tatum, Duke

Actual Pick: Markelle Fultz, Washington NBA Career: 2024 champion, 5x All-NBA, 6x All-Star, 2023 All-Star MVP, 2017–18 All-Rookie; 23.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 20.3 PER, 67.2 Win Shares, 30.3 VORP in 9 seasons with Celtics