Bleacher Report's Ultimate 2014-15 NBA Re-Draft: 1st-Round Results

Remember how LeBron James signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer? 

So much for that. He's now going to be playing for a third NBA team, one that doesn't call Northeast Ohio or South Beach home. Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki? No longer lifelong members of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, respectively.

What if you learned that the Big Three in San Antonio was being split up, with one member joining the Heat and another taking his talents to the Washington Wizards in a move that precious few saw coming? How would you react if the Atlanta Hawks actually landed a marquee player? 

These are the types of things that can only happen when a select group of 30 NBA writers get together and participate in Bleacher Report's third annual NBA Re-Draft.

While starting from scratch and completely dispersing the league's talent across the 30 current teams into a landscape flush with parity, these basketball minds built 13-man rosters—12 players and a coach—set up to compete with one another during the 2014-2015 season in a magical world where injuries are suddenly healed before the first game. 

Where will Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and the rest of the star-studded 2014 rookie class end up? How high will up-and-comers like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis be drafted? Will age be the downfall of veterans like Kobe, Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett?

This article will contain the first-round results of the 13-round selection process, complete with a description of each pick, as written by the team's make-believe general manager. The full results of the draft will be revealed Friday, Oct. 24. (Update: Click here for the rest.)

The Process

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If you're wondering how the re-draft worked, wonder no longer. 

Once all 30 participants had selected which teams they would control, a random number generator determined the order of the draft. 

The 13 rounds proceeded in a snake format. For those of you unfamiliar with fantasy lingo, that means the 30th team in the first round picked first in the second round. Essentially, the draft order snakes back and forth to allow for a more even playing field. 

The 30 of us selected 13-man rosters (12 players and a coach), keeping a few things in mind: 

1. We were only concerned with the 2014-15 season, so how these players develop in the future is completely and utterly irrelevant. A player is only as good as he'll be during the next campaign. 
2. Team fit does matter, especially when thinking about the coach. The players selected should be able to work well together, and playing styles should not clash.
3. Injuries—like Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose's knees, as well as Paul George's leg*—are automatically healed for the start of the season. However, injury-prone players do remain injury-prone. 
4. We can form whatever type of team we wanted. If someone wanted five centers in his starting lineup, well then, that was his prerogative.
5. Players are only eligible if they're going to play in the NBA next season. Foreign players, collegiate athletes and retired stars are not available to be selected.  

These are the results of the first round, from pick No. 1 to pick No. 30.

You can check back soon for the results of the entire draft, team-by-team breakdowns and the official projected standings.  

*Note: Paul George was drafted before his brutal injury in a Team USA scrimmage. Even though he's out for the season, that injury is still healed in this magical world. 

1. Dallas Mavericks: Kevin Durant

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Actual Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Position: SF

Age at Start of 2014-15: 26

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, 29.8 player efficiency rating

A vote for Kevin Durant with the first overall pick is obviously an implicit vote against LeBron James. Choosing between the two wasn't easy, but a few things really sold me on going with KD.

First, I like his quiet leadership. You won't find a humbler player in the NBA. I wanted my Mavericks to have a culture that was premised on those kinds of intangibles—much like the champion San Antonio Spurs.

Second, Durant is arguably the best floor-spacer in the game. He can shoot from anywhere and keep defenders off balance with his versatile scoring ability. Though he doesn't pass the ball like LeBron, his impact on teammates is felt every time he stretches the floor and opens a driving lane.

Finally, Durant can flat-out carry a team. With him on my side, it's easier to select specialists and role players with subsequent picks. I know I have 30-plus points per game guaranteed.

James may be the best all-around player on the planet, but I wanted to build my team around Durant. He was the 2013-14 MVP for a reason.

-Stephen Babb, Mavericks Re-Draft GM

2. Charlotte Hornets: LeBron James

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Actual Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: SF/PF

Age at Start of 2014-15: 29

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 27.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.3 blocks, 29.3 PER

There really wasn't much of a thought process here. With the second pick in the re-draft, I took LeBron James—because I was sober and coherent when I had to make my pick. 

James alone makes my Charlotte Hornets a contender. He's the best player on the planet. And not only that, as my centerpiece, his versatility allows for flexibility when building my roster. 

I'm not worried about Kevin Durant or his MVP. James is still the top dog in the NBA. And I'm going to play a little small ball and put James at the 4.

With James playing power forward, a young athlete at the 3 and a speedy ball-handler at the point, expect these Hornets to push the tempo and run opponents out of the gym. 

-Jonathan Wasserman, Hornets Re-Draft GM

3. Utah Jazz: Kevin Love

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Actual Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: PF

Age at Start of 2014-15: 26

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks, 26.9 PER

Plenty of players have undeservedly been described as "one of a kind." In the case of Kevin Love, it's absolutely true.

No other player in league history combines rebounding and three-point shooting to the degree that Love does. No, really, he's the only player in the annals of the NBA to post a career rebounding percentage above 20 and a career three-point percentage above 36 with 100 games played.

Opposing big men simply don’t know what to do with him. On one end, he keeps them off the boards, limits their teams to one shot and tuckers them out by kick-starting fast breaks with his Wes Unseld-ian outlet passing. On the other, he drags them out of the paint to cover the 3 but still beats them back to the rim for offensive rebounds.

He creates enough spacing and matchup problems to design an entire offense around, which is exactly what I plan to do.

-Andy Bailey, Jazz Re-Draft GM

4. Detroit Pistons: Anthony Davis

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Actual Team: New Orleans Pelicans

Position: PF/C

Age at Start of 2014-15: 21

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 20.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.8 blocks, 26.5 PER

At this rate, Anthony Davis will be eating solar systems by the time he's 25. 

That—the big leap ahead—was the principal guiding logic behind selecting the New Orleans Pelicans' superstud with the No. 4 overall pick. 

As the anchor of the Detroit Pistons, Davis will quickly endear himself to a fanbase that appreciates terrific defense like few others. Couple that with an offensive skill set that is growing more frightening by the second, and you have the makings of not just a franchise player but a franchise unto himself. 

Just how good will the 21-year-old become in Year 3? His FIBA Basketball World Cup performance helped shed some light on this, of course. But free from Team USA's clearly delineated pecking order, back in his natural habitat as the league’s lanky young behemoth—this is where The Unibrow will truly take flight. 

As of this sentence, Davis probably isn’t a top-five NBA player. By the end of this one, though, he’ll be that much closer. Take cover while you can; hide the women and children. Davis isn't barreling down the street toward your house—he’s already there.

-Jim Cavan, Pistons Re-Draft GM

5. Indiana Pacers: Chris Paul

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Actual Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Position: PG

Age at Start of 2014-15: 29

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 19.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 2.5 steals, 0.1 blocks, 25.9 PER

Point God is still Point God. It says something about Chris Paul's skill level that there is still consensus that he is the best point guard in basketball despite the proliferation of talent at the position. You might take Russell Westbrook's athleticism or Stephen Curry's shooting when building the perfect lead ball-handler from scratch, but no one touches Paul's two-way excellence.

He's on the short list of the game's most intelligent players, as he scans the floor and reads defenses better than anyone this side of LeBron James. No player assisted on a higher percentage of his team's baskets while on the floor—and it wasn't even that close. Paul's 48.9 percent rate was more than 4 percent better than the next closest player who appeared in at least 41 games (Kendall Marshall).

Although not an elite long-range shooter, Paul has maintained a rate high enough that defenses aren't able to give him an extra step. He is a wizard at completing the in-between plays where efficiency typically dies, using an unending supply of hesitation dribbles and fakes to get open shots in traffic.

For a player generously listed at 6'0" who cannot dunk, to shoot nearly 65 percent in the restricted area is a testament to his skill set.

He also ranked in the 90th percentile per possession on plays where he was the primary defender last season, per Synergy Sports. 

So, basically, yeah. The Pacers will add Chris Paul at No. 5 and be thankful the four teams above them did not. 

-Tyler Conway, Pacers Re-Draft GM

6. Atlanta Hawks: Dwight Howard

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Actual Team: Houston Rockets

Position: C

Age at Start of 2014-15: 28

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 18.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.8 blocks, 21.3 PER

Does Dwight Howard have a sterling reputation at this stage of his topsy-turvy career? Absolutely not, but that doesn't change how effective he is on the basketball court. I'm trying to win it all, not curry favor with popularity-contest selections. 

Historically, centers have been crucial parts in championship-winning causes time and time again, and that's the plan by building around Howard. Nothing short of a title will be acceptable for these Atlanta Hawks, and building a foundation around the game's clear-cut No. 1 center—who's still only 28 years old, mind you—allows for a versatile team-building strategy. 

Howard was not the best player on the board at No. 6. However, the dearth of high-quality bigs, the two-way play and the historical appeal of dominant centers made this former Houston Rocket (don't worry, Houston, as "former" only applies to re-draft world) impossible to look past for Stephen Curry. 

You show me someone who doesn't think Howard is an All-World center, and I'll gladly show you someone who needs to get over the Dwightmares and evaluate a basketball player without allowing bias to serve as a blinder.

-Adam Fromal, Hawks Re-Draft GM

7. Washington Wizards: Tim Duncan

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Actual Team: San Antonio Spurs

Position: PF/C

Age at Start of 2014-15: 38

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 15.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.9 blocks, 21.3 PER

Any team's first-round pick in this kind of project should obviously be a player whom you can build a team around. Not a guy who is prone to injury, inconsistent, moody or a problem in the locker room. You know who's none of those things?

Tim Duncan.

The biggest names after James and Durant were already off the board, making Duncan a no-
brainer at the No. 7 spot. Duncan is one of the 10 best players of all time, will produce in the playoffs and never has a bad night.

Unfortunately, Duncan will turn 39 in April, so playing him in all 82 games is out of the picture. I knew that as long as I could fill up the bench in the frontcourt, it would pay off in the long run of the season.

Duncan’s experience and demeanor also make him a fantastic leader on the court and in the locker room, giving me more flexibility with taking younger players in the later rounds.

-Jonathan Munshaw, Wizards Re-Draft GM

8. New York Knicks: Stephen Curry

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Actual Team: Golden State Warriors

Position: PG

Age at Start of 2014-15: 26

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.2 blocks, 24.1 PER

Part of me regrets not taking Gustavo Ayon here, but I'll live.

Stephen Curry morphed into a top-seven NBA star last season, proving his ankles are made of more than soggy paper. For that, I am grateful, because I love me some floor spacing and ever-improving teardrop floaters.

Defensively, he can be a liability, but that tends to happen at the point guard position. He, like so many others, is often victimized by unavoidable stat lines from opponents. Point guard is such a deep position. Floor generals are going to put up numbers. Ergo, he's not that bad.

Even if he was, the Knicks will live. Curry can make his teammates better. He has superior court vision, thrives within drive-and-kicks and, oh yeah, can shoot. I fully believe he'll limit his turnovers too because he told me so.

No, really, he did.

Rival defenses beware.

-Dan Favale, Knicks Re-Draft GM

9. Boston Celtics: Blake Griffin

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Actual Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Position: PF

Age at Start of 2014-15: 25

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 24.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks, 23.9 PER

Blake Griffin is the quintessential franchise player. He scores a bunch of points, grabs a ton of rebounds, moves like a deer/bear and passes like a guard. He also hustles on both ends of the floor, and at just 25 years old he has shown noticeable improvement in each of his first four seasons.

Not including his rookie season, of which he didn't play a minute thanks to knee surgery, Griffin has missed four regular-season games in his entire career. That’s ridiculous durability.

Any offensive system can be successfully run through Griffin, and it's no coincidence that the Los Angeles Clippers were better than every team in the league at efficiently scoring the ball last season. He just finished third in the MVP race, behind the two best basketball players in the universe, and heads into the 2014-15 season as arguably the league's third-best player.

-Michael Pina, Celtics Re-Draft GM

10. Brooklyn Nets: Russell Westbrook

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Actual Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Position: PG

Age at Start of 2014-15: 25

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 21.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.2 blocks, 24.7 PER

Russell Westbrook is finally free—free!—from the lanky shadow of Kevin Durant.

Since bursting onto the scene with the Thunder in 2008-09, Westbrook has emerged as one of the league's premier point guards. He's solidified himself as a superstar, averaging 23 points, 6.6 assists and 5.1 boards per game in his past three seasons.

It's time he gets treated like one.

This one was a no-brainer. Outside of LeBron James or KD, there's no player I'd like to construct a team around more than ol' Russy.

Prior to last year, Westbrook had never missed a regular-season NBA, college or high school game. He played half of the 2013-14 season thanks to a knee injury but will be perfectly fine heading into this fall. 

Sure, Westbrook can be a gunner. But he’s a freak athlete, an elite offensive talent and one of the hardest-working players—on both ends—in the NBA today.

Brooklyn is yours, Russell. Welcome.

-Thomas Duffy, Nets Re-Draft GM

11. Phoenix Suns: John Wall

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Actual Team: Washington Wizards

Position: PG

Age at Start of 2014-15: 24

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.5 blocks, 19.5 PER

The NBA continues to be a point guard-driven league. Unless your franchise has a bona fide superstar in the mold of LeBron James or Kevin Durant, it needs a floor general to orchestrate the offense and get everyone involved.

That's why the Phoenix Suns decided to take John Wall with the No. 11 overall pick of the re-draft.

The 24-year-old established himself as one of the Association’s best point guards during 2013-14. He started all 82 games and led the Washington Wizards in points (19.3), assists (8.8) and defensive win shares (4.0) en route to their first playoff berth since 2007-08.

His ability to perform on offense and defense carries great appeal. Wall’s growth as a leader both on and off the court, however, was the biggest selling point.

As noted by RealGM's Shams Charania, the former No. 1 overall pick became a vocal leader in Washington's locker room during his fourth professional season. He’s entering his prime and will only continue to improve as a player with added experience.

-Ben Leibowitz, Phoenix Re-Draft GM

12. Los Angeles Clippers: Carmelo Anthony

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Actual Team: New York Knicks

Position: SF/PF

Age at Start of 2014-15: 30

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 27.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.7 blocks, 24.4 PER

I tried to prove a point by taking Carmelo Anthony here. 

I've always barked about how you can build a championship-caliber team with Anthony as your best player so long as you have a strong defensive supporting cast around him. Here was my chance to make it happen.

Yes, Anthony has his warts, but he can score from anywhere and provide plenty of spacing that a healthy offense needs. 

The Dallas Mavericks won a title with a vaguely similar scoring power forward in Dirk Nowitzki, right? Why can't the re-draft Clippers do it with Anthony?

Perhaps the smart move would have been to go with a low-maintenance defensive anchor who can play alongside anyone, like Marc Gasol or Joakim Noah. Maybe in the end my pride got the best of me, but the Carmelo Experiment was too enticing to pass up.

-D.J. Foster, Clippers Re-Draft GM

13. Cleveland Cavaliers: James Harden

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Actual Team: Houston Rockets

Position: SG

Age at Start of 2014-15: 25

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 25.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.4 blocks, 23.5 PER

Since Harden was drafted No. 7 a year ago and went on to make the 2013-­14 All-­NBA First Team, I was pleasantly surprised to find him available at No. 13 overall.

Harden is an offensive powerhouse who led the Rockets to 54 wins and 107.7 points per night. He averaged a video game-­esque 25.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.4 three-pointers per game this past season.

Although his scoring total was fifth­-best in the league, Harden is far from a volume shooter. His 12.8 win shares were also fifth in the NBA, and the Rockets scored nearly eight points per 100 possessions more with Harden on the court.

It's safe to say Harden has taken the title of best shooting guard in the NBA from Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. While his defense remains less than desirable, Houston allowed nearly the same amount of points per 100 possessions with or without Harden on the floor.

Able to play on or off the ball, Harden can get to the basket or knock down threes. He's an ideal pick-­and­-roll facilitator and one of the best offensive players in the league today.

-Greg Swartz, Cavaliers Re-Draft GM

14. Denver Nuggets: LaMarcus Aldridge

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Actual Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Position: PF

Age at Start of 2014-15: 29

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 23.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 blocks, 21.8 PER

With the No. 14 overall pick, selecting an elite player who can play both sides of the ball was a priority. LaMarcus Aldridge, who is entering his ninth NBA season and is at the peak of his career, was the pick.

It's not just that Aldridge scored more than 21 points per game in each his last four seasons or that he posted 23.2 points and 11.1 rebounds last season—both career highs. 

His efficiency hit new heights in 2013-14—32.5 points per 100 possessions, 41.5 percent of his shots converted outside 16 feet—and he did this with a 29.8 usage percentage. Aldridge's ability to play inside-out and in the pick-and-pop has evolved into his having one of the best and most consistent post games in the league.

Plus, he turned in a 104 defensive rating last year, which tied with Thomas Robinson for best on the Portland Trail Blazers. Aldridge may only block one shot and force 0.8 steals per game for his career, but with his 6'11" frame at the 4, combined with his energy, he consistently alters shots and makes it tough for opponents to score.

-Nick Juskewycz, Nuggets Re-Draft GM

15. Houston Rockets: Joakim Noah

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Actual Team: Chicago Bulls

Position: C

Age at Start of 2014-15: 29

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.5 blocks, 20.0 PER

My game plan was to build around defense for all of the cliche reasons that teams build around a strong defensive unit. "Defense wins championships." "Defense creates offense." "Having scorers is meaningless if you can't get stops."

I wanted Anthony Davis, but he went far sooner than I anticipated. Alas, my decision came down to Joakim Noah and Paul George. I chose Noah for two reasons. 

First, a team building around defense should probably start with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

Second, it's much easier to find a quality wing player later in the draft than it is to find a big man who can do all of the things Noah does. Other than Dwight Howard, there isn't another center who can fill up a stat sheet like Noah. 

He may not be a polished scorer in the post, but I'll gladly sacrifice offense for elite rim protection and rebounding. 

-Dave Leonardis, Rockets Re-Draft GM

16. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard

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Actual Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Position: PG

Age at Start of 2014-15: 24

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 20.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.3 blocks, 18.6 PER

Damian Lillard went 19th overall in the 2013 B/R Re-Draft, but this shot alone is worth taking him a few spots earlier.

Although "The Shot" will be remembered for years to come, it was hardly the first time we'd seen Lillard's heroics. According to NBA.com, he was fifth in clutch scoring in 2014-15, and he subsequently jumped to third in the postseason.

How does a sophomore develop such a fearless approach?

"I've seen a lot worse than missing a game-winning shot or turning the ball over at the end of a game," Lillard told B/R's Jared Zwerling back in May. "I've had a lot worse experience in my life growing up in Oakland—(drugs, being around gangs and getting robbed at gunpoint)—so I don't fear that I can fail at making a shot."

That's the kind of perspective that has shaped Lillard's mentality, and it doesn't hurt either that he has the skill set to match it.

-Bryant Knox, Blazers Re-Draft GM

17. Philadelphia 76ers: Paul George

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Actual Team: Indiana Pacers

Position: SG/SF

Age at Start of 2014-15: 24

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.3 blocks, 20.1 PER

With injuries out of the picture, nabbing Paul George at No. 17 overall was a no-brainer for the Philadelphia 76ers. 

While I was considering the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge, James Harden and Dirk Nowitzki in the run-up to my first-round pick, none of them offered the same two-way versatility that George boasts in spades. 

I was seeking a linchpin on the wing who could be relied upon to function as a primary scoring option and aggressive lockdown defender, and there was no doubt George had to be the selection. 

Following a 2013-14 campaign in which George’s player efficiency rating ballooned to 20.1—up from a mark of 16.8 the year prior—while recording the league’s third-best individual defensive rating (97.0) and finishing second in defensive win shares (6.4), there was no reason to let the 6'9’" swingman slide any further.

-Alec Nathan, Sixers Re-Draft GM 

18. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kyrie Irving

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Actual Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: PG

Age at Start of 2014-15: 22

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 20.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.3 blocks, 20.1 PER

My thought process led me to Kyrie Irving or Tony Parker. Either way, I wanted someone capable of running an offense. But even though I think Parker is the more effective player right now, I went with the more offensively versatile Irving since I wasn't yet sure of what system I would be running or who I would draft as my coach.

Irving provides something Parker doesn't: long-range shooting. Considering the 22-year-old is further from his peak, he narrowly beat out the (former) Spurs point guard. Still, I knew my defense would suffer from the pick.

The nicest way to describe Irving’s defense is as a "work in progress." Guys dribble by him all the time and can muscle him up seemingly whenever they want. Because of that, I knew I would have to go defensive with my next couple of selections to compensate for his flaws.

Still, Irving presented a potential offensive attack that I couldn't pass up.

-Fred Katz, Thunder Re-Draft GM

19. Golden State Warriors: Marc Gasol

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Actual Team: Memphis Grizzlies

Position: C

Age at Start of 2014-15: 29

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 14.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks, 18.2 PER

Facts first: Marc Gasol is an elite NBA player. 

Anybody who thinks otherwise is biased against grizzly bears, bearded Spaniards or guys who can't jump. Maybe all three. I don't know; I can't get inside the mind of someone so unhinged as to question Gasol's credentials.

When healthy, he's the league's best defensive player (see the award he won in 2012-13 as verification), and there's probably not a more creative passing big in the game today. Handoffs, backdoor bounce passes, no-look flips over the shoulder—if you can dream up a dime, it’s in Gasol's change purse. 

Gasol can anchor a dominant defense and run your offense from the elbows with aplomb. Aplomb!

Better still, he sets the tone for what will be, without question, the most Euro-tastic, ball-moving-esque, unselfish offense the B/R NBA Re-Draft has ever seen.

At No. 19? Are you kidding me? Yes, please.

-Grant Hughes, Warriors Re-Draft GM

20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Gregg Popovich

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Actual Team: San Antonio Spurs

Position: Head coach

Age at Start of 2014-15: 65

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: N/A 

Stuck in the middle with pick No. 20, I didn't see anyone who made a far greater impact than those players I could take in the second round. So, I got the one guy I really wanted anyway: Gregg Popovich.

Why not overcome my team's slot-inflicted talent deficiency with the leader guaranteed to noticeably up its collective play? This way, anyone I took from here on would likely outperform his draft status by a good 10-15 spots, and that competitive advantage would help me close the gap.

Pop won't have the continuity factor or R.C. Buford in this alternate universe, and I'll be stuck filling out my roster a full round behind everyone else. But his passing system, leadership and game adjustments will be more than enough. He needs very specific personalities and a wide range of skill sets, so now it's about finding the players who work for a "Pop team" above all else.

I felt like I punched my playoff ticket with this pick alone.

-Joel Cordes, Timberwolves Re-Draft GM 

21. Milwaukee Bucks: Dirk Nowitzki

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Actual Team: Dallas Mavericks

Position: PF

Age at Start of 2014-15: 36

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 21.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks, 23.6 PER

Few stars have ever aged as gracefully as the German wonder that is Dirk Nowitzki. 

At 35 years old in 2013-14, Nowitzki not only successfully bounced back from injury but put up numbers above his career per-36-minute averages in points and assists and delivered his highest PER (23.6) since 2008, when he was just one year removed from winning the MVP trophy. 

Like my wit, the future Hall of Famer is only getting sharper with age.

Last season he notched the highest effective shooting percentage (.549) and third-highest true shooting percentage (.603) of his entire career. He only missed tallying his second 50/40/90 season by four field goals (including one triple) and one free throw.

Sure, Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose are still on the board. But why gamble on question marks when you have a German exclamation point just waiting to be your MVP? 

 

-Jacob Bourne, Bucks Re-Draft GM

22. Memphis Grizzlies: Kobe Bryant

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Actual Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Position: SG

Age at Start of 2014-15: 36

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.2 blocks, 10.7 PER

This pick could not be made were it not for this beautiful fantasy re-draft world we are currently living in that allows a clean bill of health.

There is no player you’d rather go to war with in this generation than Kobe Bean Bryant, who now possesses two good legs without the assistance of some shady German doctors. Even at 36, no one is questioning Bryant's ability to lead a team unless his main sidekicks are Nick Young and Ryan Kelly.

I had no choice but to pounce on him, because with the 22nd pick, it was unlikely that I could land a player who had the ability to lead a team to a title.

Shooting guard is also arguably the league’s weakest position. I ran to the podium with this pick and am putting my team in Kobe's hands as he seeks to end his career with a sixth title.

-Justin Hussong, Grizzlies Re-Draft GM

23. San Antonio Spurs: Derrick Rose

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Actual Team: Chicago Bulls

Position: PG

Age at Start of 2014-15: 26

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 15.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks, 9.7 PER

To say I was surprised to see Derrick Rose on the board at No. 23 would be quite the understatement. Before his string of bad luck, the former MVP had joined the league's top tier of talents as an individual and team player.

Offensively, he's an athletic freak with the skill to back it up. Not only is he a tenacious slasher with a remarkable finishing ability, but his shooting touch is also improving annually. Throw in his ability to distribute—often overlooked due to his scoring aptitude—and Rose is one of the league's best offensive players.

He isn't too shabby defensively either, and his leadership and competitive drive make him an excellent option to lead any team.

Though I had originally vowed to wait before drafting a point guard, Rose—in this magical world where injury is a non-factor—was a no-brainer toward the end of Round 1.

-Garrett Jochnau, Spurs Re-Draft GM

24. Toronto Raptors: DeMarcus Cousins

Bleacher Report Media Lab

Actual Team: Sacramento Kings

Position: C

Age at Start of 2014-15: 24

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 22.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks, 26.1 PER

I often get myself into trouble in these re-drafts by taking guys I like over the best available player, so I opted for the undeniable talent of DeMarcus Cousins over someone like Kyle Lowry or Al Jefferson. 

Attitude issues aside, he had a 23-12-3 line last season, shot a career-high 49.6 percent and fixed some of the consistency issues that have plagued him.

Cousins can thrive as a first option offensively, thanks to his post game, uncanny handle and passing instincts. He takes a few too many jumpers but attempted an impressive 8.4 free throws per game in 2013-14.

Admittedly, he's not an elite post defender or rim protector, but he has excellent hands and averaged a combined 2.8 steals and blocks last season.

Essentially, I'm betting that by surrounding Cousins with the right teammates, he can be a top-10 player, which I firmly believe.

-Grant Rindner, Raptors Re-Draft GM

25. Sacramento Kings: Kyle Lowry

Bleacher Report Media Lab

Actual Team: Toronto Raptors

Position: PG

Age at Start of 2014-15: 28

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.2 blocks, 20.1 PER

Sitting at No. 25 to start the draft, I knew most of the elite players would be gone. That meant I needed to create a good foundation, and what better place to start than with a point guard like Kyle Lowry?

Lowry provided the well-rounded game I was looking for with my first pick. He's an effective scorer and a good passer, rebounds well for his position and is not a sieve on defense. Really, there's nothing he can't do on a basketball court. Since I wasn't entirely sure which type of team I wanted to build heading into the draft, Lowry's versatility made him a good place to start.

No matter what type of player is on the court with him, Lowry stays effective, and he gets the most out of his teammates. Because of that, he's the perfect foundational piece for the Sacramento Kings.

-Sim Risso, Kings Re-Draft GM

26. Miami Heat: Tony Parker

Bleacher Report Media Lab

Actual Team: San Antonio Spurs

Position: PG

Age at Start of 2014-15: 32

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 16.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks, 18.9 PER

The NBA is a point guard-driven league and is becoming even more of one every year. A great floor general isn't necessarily going to lead your team to a title, but without a strong creative force up top, your team isn't going to compete for a title either.

Tony Parker just so happens to be one of the best point guards in basketball and has been for some time. His four championships, six All-Star selections and 2007 Finals MVP with the San Antonio Spurs stand as testaments to as much. At 32, Parker may not be the same speed demon he once was, but his craftiness and cunning with the ball—particularly in the pick-and-roll—have allowed him to remain as effective as ever.

According to NBA.com, Parker led the league in drives to the basket per game (10.6) and checked in third with 6.3 points per game on drives. Better yet, Parker is becoming a more competent shooter in his older age. Last season, Parker hit 37.3 percent of his threes—the second-best mark of his 13-year NBA career—while still knocking down 50.9 percent of his twos.

Injuries will always be a concern with Parker, but so long as he's fit for the playoffs, he'll be ready to lead my Miami Heat's pick-and-roll-heavy attack straight to the top.

-Josh Martin, Heat Re-Draft GM

27. Chicago Bulls: Tom Thibodeau

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Actual Team: Chicago Bulls

Position: Head coach

Age at Start of 2014-15: 56

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: N/A

Maybe a dozen players—if that—in the league assure you of at least being competitive in the first round of the playoffs. Two coaches are capable of doing so: Gregg Popovich and Tom Thibodeau.

Popovich has carved out his legacy alongside the likes of Phil Jackson and Pat Riley already. But he was already taken. Thibodeau is just earlier in his book.

That's why the Chicago Bulls took him with the 27th pick in the draft. Frankly, there was no player there who would impact winning more than him.

You could grab five guys arbitrarily out of the local YMCA league, and he would have them playing elite defense by the end of training camp. His ability to coach a system and get his players to commit to winning will always keep his team in contention, and frankly, no player left could do that. 

-Kelly Scaletta, Bulls Re-Draft GM

28. New Orleans Pelicans: Al Jefferson

Bleacher Report Media Lab

Actual Team: Charlotte Hornets

Position: C

Age at Start of 2014-15: 29

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.1 blocks, 22.7 PER

Being awarded the No. 28 pick in a re-draft operated by intelligent NBA minds is somewhat akin to drawing the short straw.

With limited top-line talent remaining, the Pelicans were forced to go with brute numbers, and nobody remaining put them up at the rate or with the relative ease of Al Jefferson. 

The number of guys in this league who can sleepwalk their way to a 20-10 on a nightly basis is very low. Jefferson does that with the added bonus of not being a terrible free-throw shooter (see: No. 29 pick Drummond, Andre).

While not a defensive juggernaut, Jefferson is intelligent and huge. A 6'10", 289-pound tortoise may not beat the hare, but that rabbit will have a tough time moving him out of the paint.

-Mike Walsh, Pelicans Re-Draft GM

29. Orlando Magic: Andre Drummond

Bleacher Report Media Lab

Actual Team: Detroit Pistons

Position: C

Age at Start of 2014-15: 21

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 13.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.6 blocks, 22.6 PER

Finding a franchise talent with the 29th pick isn't easy, but Andre Drummond might be the exception.

Players aren't supposed to be this big, strong and athletic, and Drummond is quickly figuring out what physical tools he possesses. The hulking center averaged a mind-numbing 18.4 points and 17.4 rebounds during the month of April, elite-level production by any measure.

Bigs in today's NBA need to be mobile, and Drummond can move with the best of them. Whether thunderously throwing down lobs, inhaling errant shots or forcing opposing penetrators to find the coping skills needed to deal with rejection, he can be a force at either end of the floor.

His superstar potential put him on our draft board, but his ability to fit different systems made him an obvious choice.

He didn't determine the direction of our draft, and he increased the value of our ensuing selections.

-Zach Buckley, Magic Re-Draft GM

30. Los Angeles Lakers: Eric Bledsoe

Bleacher Report Media Lab

Actual Team: Phoenix Suns

Position: PG

Age at Start of 2014-15: 24

2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.3 blocks, 19.6 PER

Eric Bledsoe might not look like a traditional first-round pick for some, but he established himself as someone worthy of the "mini-LeBron" nickname in his inaugural season with the Phoenix Suns.

Now, Bledsoe has found himself a new home with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he should fully flourish playing a lead role on both sides of the ball after proving to be an up-and-coming star.

While we realize there are concerns centered on Bledsoe's ability to remain on the floor, we have nothing but the utmost confidence that he is going to take the next step in his preparation to ensure that he takes the best care of his body possible.

We're thrilled to welcome Bledsoe to the Lakers family, and we're eager for everyone to see why Eric will be invaluable to our future.

-Ethan Norof, Lakers Re-Draft GM

Click here for the rest of the re-draft results.

All jersey-swap photos by Ryan Hurst/Bleacher Report Media Lab. Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.