Fantasy Drafting Current NBA Players: Would Kobe, LeBron or KD Go First?
What if the NBA decided some teams were too stacked, and some too depleted to continue? What if they demanded that all players would be released from their current contracts, and instead held a draft to determine every players new team?
Outside of NBA 2k11 this would never happen of course, but it's a fun idea isn't it?
Would Kevin Durant be the top pick? What about LeBron? Is Kobe too old to still be a top ten pick?
Let's take a look.
Draft Setup
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While players like Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are still playing at an All Star level, they're far too old to start a team around. Teams would want to draft either an elite scorer, dominant big man or a franchise point guard with their first pick.
Just for kicks, we'll use the current draft order that teams would have right now, based on record. Every team gets one pick, and 1st rounders traded for the 2011 draft will be reinstated. Will your team get to keep their star, or steal someone else's?
Just Missed Out
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Despite gathering with friends and family eagerly awaiting a phone call, Brian Scalabrine, Adam Morrison and D.J. Mbenga are strangely left off the first round list.
No. 30 San Antonio Spurs: Al Jefferson
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Can give you 20 and 10 on any given night. After finally landing on a good team like the Jazz, Jefferson might not be too happy with the new draft. Especially since Deron Williams is already off the board.
Spurs have based their teams on big men in the past, and it's worked out alright for them.
No. 29 Boston Celtics: Andrew Bogut
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A risk, but well worth the reward if he can stay healthy. With the dominant centers off the board, Bogut is still a nice first rounder.
Rondo's already gone and Garnett, Pierce and Allen will be ordering off the senior menu soon which makes Bogut the right choice here.
No. 28 Los Angeles Lakers: Monta Ellis
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Could very well lead the league in scoring, but is that really the best way to help the team win?
LA gets a scorer to build around. Ellis gets a slightly longer commute to work.
No, 27 Miami Heat: Brook Lopez
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Don't ask me why he can't rebound anymore. Lopez is still one of the games best centers. If he bulks up, he could be the uncontested second best to Dwight Howard. Numbers are down, but still too good to pass up.
The Big 3 are already off the board, so Miami settles for the Stanford product.
No 26 Chicago Bulls: Brandon Roy
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Roy is only worthy of a first round pick if those pesky knees hold up. When healthy he can lead a franchise, and collect a triple-double on any given night.
Bulls gamble here, and Roy gets to stay in Red and Black.
No. 25 Oklahoma City Thunder: Joe Johnson
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Getting up their in age, yes, but he's still a great scorer and team leader. He'd also be the most upset with this new draft, having that $125 million contract voided.
The Thunder miss out on Westbrook and Durant, and decide Jeff Green can be obtained in the second or third rounds.
No. 24 Utah Jazz: Al Horford
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Gives you a double-double every night out of the center position. Imagine what he could do as a regular power forward?
Jazz pass on Al Jefferson for Horford, a younger and more athletic option.
No. 23 Dallas Mavericks: Josh Smith
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One of the best fantasy players in the game today, Smith is a shot blocking machine who can also rebound and score. Not a bad place to start.
Mark Cuban holds back tears missing out on Dirk, but realizes Smith plays much better defense.
No. 22 Orlando Magic: Dirk Nowitzki
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One of the elderly gentlemen on this list, Dirk can still be the centerpiece of a great team. He causes match-up problems every night and looks a lot like Chad Kroeger, for what that's worth.
He misses going back to Dallas by one spot, but Dirk looks forward to the short drive to Disney World.
No. 21 Atlanta Hawks: Pau Gasol
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The most versatile big man in the NBA has very few holes in his game, and paired with a great guard, could quickly bring home some rings as shown.
Atlanta shuns former Hawks Horford, Smith and Johnson for the talented Spaniard.
No. 20 New Orleans Hornets: Chris Bosh
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The first member of Miami Thrice to get drafted is Bosh. I mean, he did take some bad Raptors teams to the playoffs.
The Hornets hope he can do the same for them.
No. 19 Denver Nuggets: Danny Granger
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Too good of a scorer not to go in the first round, Granger has shown he can't lead a franchise to the playoffs without more help than he had on the Pacers.
Rumors of being traded to the Nets however, suddenly pop up.
No. 18 New York Knicks: Rudy Gay
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The leader of the Grizz is a dynamic scorer who's not afraid to take the last shot. A poor mans Kevin Durant, perhaps?
Gay will help fill the Garden.
No. 17 Portland Trail Blazers: Tyreke Evans
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The former Rookie of the Year is thrilled by the new draft, finally getting out of Sacramento. He gives his team a triple-double chance every night, and should thrive in the league for years to come.
Portland gets rid of the hobbled Roy and Greg Oden, and nabs the Memphis product instead.
No. 16 Memphis Grizzlies: Stephen Curry
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Injuries have limited him this season but the numbers don't lie for the second year guard, Finally free of Monta Ellis's ball hogging, Curry should now put up 25 a night for the Grizz.
No. 15 Phoenix Suns: Kevin Love
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Really the only reason to go a Wolves game this year, Love's numbers have skyrocketed since the trade of Al Jefferson to the Jazz.
Love gets a nice climate change, and now works on his rebounding, and his tan, in the summers.
No. 14 Houston Rockets: John Wall
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One of the many 1st overall picks on this list, Wall has proven be belongs with the NBA's elite.
The Rockets are thrilled that Wall falls to them, and the recently retired Yao Ming starts to do the John Wall dance.
No. 13 Indiana Pacers: Russell Westbrook
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Is there anything on the basketball court he can't do? As long as you can live with the turnovers, the sky's the limit for Westbrook, who's only in his third pro season.
The Pacers are glad to swap UCLA guards, and Westbrook is given season tickets to Colts games.
No. 12 Philadelphia 76ers: Rajon Rondo
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Once an afterthought, Rondo is now the best Celtic and the only one worthy of a first round pick. Now if he could only make a damn free throw.
Philly is still thrilled to get him at No. 12.
No. 11 Golden State Warriors: Deron Williams
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New toys, same noise for the Jazz who are putting together another playoff run with Williams running the show. Point guard is the most important position to start a franchise with, and Deron may be the best in the league.
G-State even passes on Steph Curry to grab Williams at eleven.
No. 10 Charlotte Bobcats: Carmelo Anthony
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We begin the top ten with Anthony, who gets to play every game under the close watch of Michael Jordan. No pressure or anything.
A solid first round pick and franchise star, as long as you don't mind the constant phone calls from New Jersey.
No. 9 Milwaukee Bucks: Chris Paul
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Paul may be the best point guard currently, but he's not the first one chosen in our draft. With no big holes in his game, not everybody hates Chris as he still cracks the top ten.
Milwaukee dishes for Paul at No. 9.
No. 8 Los Angeles Clippers: Kobe Bryant
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This would be interesting. Bryant gets to stay in the same city and building, but with a completely different fan base.
Could you imagine Kobe in any other colors? The oldest player on this list still has many good years left, and could lead a franchise for a little longer before passing the torch.
One of the NBA's best, but not the first choice to start a franchise around.
No. 7 Detroit Pistons: Amare Stoudemire
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Amare has proven he can lead a team under the brightest of lights. Athletic bigs are hard to come by, which solidifies Stoudemire as a top ten pick.
Detroit ditches the defensive approach with Stoudemire aboard, but no one seems to mind.
No. 6 Toronto Raptors: Blake Griffin
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Is there anyone more fun to watch in the NBA? Griffin is a surprise top ten pick due to his ability to dunk over an elephant and sell out the arena every night.
The Raptors desperately need to rebuild their fan base, and who better to do so than Griffin?
No. 5 Washington Wizards: Derrick Rose
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The former number one overall pick has improved every year, and has emerged as an MVP candidate.
A perfect piece to build around, the Bulls will be sad to see him go.
John Wall will be very good, but Rose is more of a sure thing, and also the first point guard selected.
No. 4 New Jersey Nets: Dwayne Wade
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For those missing out on the top few picks, Wade provides a nice consolation. He's proven all he really needs is one good big man to win a title.
The Nets, after failed signings and failed trades, finally get their superstar.
No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves: LeBron James
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Banished to the land of the lakes, LeBron takes a 16 win team and turns it into 60.
He may be the best player in the NBA right now, but at 26 he's too old to go No. 1 in this draft.
Just like in the playoffs, James is once again coming up short.
No. 2 Sacramento Kings: Dwight Howard
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Quick, how many elite centers are there in the game today? How about elite guards?
Exactly. Howard grabs the number two spot due to his superiority to every center in the NBA.
The Kings pass on the King to nab Superman at two.
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Durant
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Young? Check. Talented? Check. Able to lead a franchise? Check plus.
Durant would be the first pick in a current Fantasy Draft due to all these factors and the chance that he could become one of the greatest scorers of all time.
His new deal with the Cavs brings life back to the city and also includes a "No one-hour ESPN televised specials" clause.
