The 2016 NBA Draft is said to be one of the weaker ones that have come along in a while. However, even this one doesn't compare to the 2013 iteration, which had uncertainty all over the place and has since produced some nice players that were picked late -- but has been offset by some tremendous busts near the top.
Obviously, those busts start with Anthony Bennett. The big man just never quite had what it took to be in the NBA, and while it's possible he gets one more chance, it's unlikely he'll ever even carve out a role. He's probably going to go down as the worst No. 1 overall pick in NBA history.
Even beyond him though, this draft didn't produce a ton of stars near the top. In fact, it's pretty difficult to say there's a potential all-star in the top nine unless you're high on Nerlens Noel or Victor Oladipo. Luckily though, the draft's middle and end portions have buoyed its hopes. Players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steven Adams and Rudy Gobert have given teams many sleepless nights wondering how exactly they passed on these tremendous talents. If only they had one more opportunity to go back and change things.
That's exactly what I've given them here. I've created an exercise where I've re-drafted the entire 2013 draft knowing what we know now. It's a pretty interesting idea, especially given the movement from the middle upward and the top down. Take a look at where I think each team would go if it had the chance to go do this thing over.
The key thing to note is that while this draft ended up being buoyed by some hits late, it's still extremely weak once you get down to the end of it. Some people have praised this draft in terms of its talent level throughout due to those later selections, but when you lay it all out you see how bare it really is.
1. 
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Original pick: Anthony Bennett (UNLV)
- Redraft pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
Antetokounmpo has emerged as clearly the highest upside player in this class for the Milwaukee Bucks, and would have been the obvious choice for the Cavaliers looking back. Then again, it's fairly difficult to predict that a guy would grow two inches and genuinely become more explosive athletically as he filled out. Still, the athletic sense was there, and his addition would have created an interesting question for the Cavaliers once LeBron returned. I don't think his presence would have stopped them from getting Andrew Wiggins in 2014, and it seems unlikely James would have decided to stay in Miami with him around. Would they have decided to trade Antetokounmpo and Wiggins for Kevin Love? Or maybe just one of them and something else? It creates a completely fascinating set of circumstances that would likely even have implications on this NBA Finals against Golden State, as an athletic team with Giannis and Wiggins matches up much better against Golden State than the current Cavaliers do.
2. 
Orlando Magic
- Original pick: Victor Oladipo (Indiana)
- Redraft pick: Rudy Gobert (France)
Another international player here, as Rudy Gobert has emerged as an elite defensive player for Utah, something the Magic have really struggled with over the course of the last few years. His rim protection next to the team's core inside with Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon would be a sight for sore eyes on a team that could really use them. With Gobert in tow, it's not hard to imagine the Magic making the playoffs this past season with a terrific frontcourt and a solid backcourt combination of Evan Fournier and Elfrid Payton.
3. 
Washington Wizards
- Original pick: Otto Porter (Georgetown)
- Redraft pick: Steven Adams (Pittsburgh)
Adams would be my No. 3 guy from this draft, both in a vacuum and for the Wizards. He and C.J. McCollum have emerged to join the tier along with Gobert behind Antetokounmpo. The reason I lean Adams over McCollum partially has to do with age, and then also has to do with the growth curve that he still seems to be on. There's a chance Adams becomes an All-NBA defensive team member sooner rather than later, and that's exactly what the Wizards could use inside with Bradley Beal and John Wall already having been in town by that point.
4. 
Charlotte Hornets
- Original pick: Cody Zeller (Indiana)
- Redraft pick: C.J. McCollum (Lehigh)
The Hornets have struggled at the 2 guard spot for a while now, and McCollum would give them a potential all-star at the position for the foreseeable future. The most-improved player in the NBA this season, McCollum has paired swimmingly with a scoring point guard in Portland in Damian Lillard. One would envision he'd be able to do similar things with Kemba Walker in Charlotte and take advantage of their ability to put the ball in the basket from all over the floor.
5. 
Phoenix Suns
- Original pick: Alex Len (Maryland)
- Redraft pick: Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)
Yeah, once Noel began falling, it's hard for me to understand how Phoenix selected another center over him even with the injury factor - especially when the player they chose over Noel has injury concerns himself. Noel has a chance to be a really good defensive presence inside for Philadelphia or wherever he ends up, given that the 76ers have him on the trade block currently. The offensive questions are still there, but he can become an impact player by next season.
6. 
New Orleans Pelicans
- Original pick: Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)
- Redraft pick: Victor Oladipo (Indiana)
This one has potentially wide-ranging impacts on both the Pelicans and the rest of the league as a whole. If Oladipo falls to No. 6, do the Pelicans decide to move this pick to Philadelphia in order to pick up a guard? Does Philadelphia make another corresponding move and not end up with Dario Saric in 2014? What does Philly do with Noel then? What does New Orleans do to build around Oladipo? It's a tough question, but he's clearly the next guy on the board here.
7. 
Sacramento Kings
- Original pick: Ben McLemore (Kansas)
- Redraft pick: Dennis Schroder (Germany)
The Kings have been filling a hole at point guard seemingly since Mike Bibby left town. This year, it was with Rajon Rondo. If they would have taken Dennis Schroder in 2013, well, maybe they're still in the same spot. It's tough to tell if Schroder develops the same way in Sacramento as he has in Atlanta, and there are still even questions in Atlanta about whether or not he becomes the kind of starting point guard that NBA teams look for. But the upside is there, and he'd be worth this pick.
8. 
Detroit Pistons
- Original pick: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Georgia)
- Redraft pick: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Georgia)
This pick stands as called. Caldwell-Pope was the guy they decided on at the time, and he's developed nicely as a starting shooting guard in the NBA. He's a solid shooter, and he's become a really good defender due to his quickness and ability to annoy opponents. Not the typical value for the No. 8 pick, but valuable nonetheless.
9. 
Minnesota Timberwolves (Traded to Utah Jazz)
- Original pick: Trey Burke (Michigan)
- Redraft pick: Otto Porter (Georgetown)
Just a slight drop for Porter to the Jazz, who could really use a long wing like Porter in their system. He'd be a perfect fit next to both Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood. Porter for his part looks like he's going to become a really great role player after averaging 11.6 points and 5.2 rebounds this season for the Wizards with a 56.4 true-shooting percentage.
10. 
Portland Trail Blazers
- Original pick: C.J. McCollum (Lehigh)
- Redraft pick: Mason Plumlee (Duke)
It took a more circuitous route and the mechanics are awkward, but it seems to me like the most likely scenario here is that the Blazers would take Plumlee - a guy they already have on their roster now after a trade during the 2015 NBA Draft. Plumlee has exceeded his draft status thus far, becoming a great rebounder and passer to pair with his athleticism and finishing ability. He's a starting NBA center in this league.
11. 
Philadelphia 76ers
- Original pick: Michael Carter-Williams (Syracuse)
- Redraft pick: Shabazz Muhammad (UCLA)
Honestly, this is one where you just kind of throw your hands up and point at a guy. Muhammad would at least give the Sixers some much needed scoring ability on the perimeter. Having said that, if the Sixers end up getting a top five pick in the 2017 NBA Draft because of Michael Carter-Williams far exceeding his rookie expectations, I think that he might make the most sense here from a logistical standpoint. Still, that's not quite the spirit of this kind of exercise.
12. 
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Original pick: Steven Adams (Pittsburgh)
- Redraft pick: Allen Crabbe (California)
The Thunder have been looking for a floor-spacer next to Russell Westbrook for a few years now at least off of the bench, and Crabbe has now proven himself well in that capacity. He's probably going to get eight figures per year this season as a free agent after getting into double-figures for the first time this past season in Portland.
13. 
Dallas Mavericks
- Original pick: Kelly Olynyk (Gonzaga)
- Redraft pick: Cody Zeller (Indiana)
No reason here for the Mavs to not make the trade that saw them move down a couple of slots and pick up a couple of picks. The Celtics have to be relatively happy with what Olynyk has brought so far. But here, I go away from him with a slightly upgraded model. Pretty similar player types here that have had a similar NBA impact, but I've always just liked Zeller a bit more. He's just a much better defender and can bring more to the table in that capacity while also scoring efficiently around the rim and occasionally hitting an 18-footer, especially from his preferred right elbow side.
14. 
Utah Jazz (Traded to Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Original pick: Shabazz Muhammad (UCLA)
- Redraft pick: Gorgui Dieng (Louisville)
To make sure they secure Dieng this time around, the Wolves have to use their 14th overall pick. He's been a really solid piece for them with the ability to defend and also score efficiently and occasionally create something with the pass. He's been a nice little partner for Karl-Anthony Towns at times.
15. 
Milwaukee Bucks
- Original pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
- Redraft pick: Michael Carter-Williams (Syracuse)
Again, kind of a strange route to get Carter-Williams to the Bucks, but he's genuinely the best player left on the board for what they need. It's ironic that this is the case, given that it's hard to see him on the team within a year after being traded to the Bucks in the Brandon Knight swap. But he's a point guard who can occasionally score and he has potential on defense. It works.
16. 
Boston Celtics (Traded to Atlanta Hawks)
- Original pick: Lucas Nogueira Estudiantes (Spain)
- Redraft pick: Kelly Olynyk (Gonzaga)
The Hawks got into this pick from a trade with Dallas, who got it from Boston. Olynyk has turned into a decent rotation big man who can step away and shoot it as well be mobile, a pair of qualities that would fit really well within Mike Budenholzer's offense. He may not have the most upside, but he works here even better than he might work in Boston.
17. 
Atlanta Hawks
- Original pick: Dennis Schroder Phantoms (Germany)
- Redraft pick: Solomon Hill (Arizona)
The Hawks with this next pick get an athletic wing stopper in Solomon Hill, a player who one year ago seemed like a bust but now seems likely to get a really good free agency contract. He's a really versatile, strong defender who has some perimeter skill for a combo forward type in the modern NBA. Interesting player that the Hawks could likely find a way to use.
18. Atlanta Hawks (Traded to Dallas Mavericks)
- Original pick: Shane Larkin (Miami)
- Redraft pick: Ben McLemore (Kansas)
McLemore strikes me as a pretty solid change-of-scenery candidate. We know he's athletic, he can shoot it well from distance, and he works incredibly hard. Getting him out of Sacramento could do wonders for his game. Plus, he's a year removed from averaging 12 points per game. Here, the Mavericks reap the benefits of that opportunity, as the team acquired No. 18 in a trade with the Hawks at No. 16.
19. Cleveland Cavaliers
- Original pick: Sergey Karasev (Russia)
- Redraft pick: Matthew Dellavedova (Saint Mary's)
Dellavedova didn't even get taken in this draft, but knowing what we know now with LeBron coming back, Delly is kind of the perfect player to play next to him at the point. He can really shoot it, he defends like crazy, and gets under people's skin. A pretty nice come up for the Australian guard who really has done a great job in improving his game.
20. 
Chicago Bulls
- Original pick: Tony Snell (New Mexico)
- Redraft pick: Andre Roberson (Colorado)
Typically, you'd expect a starter on a conference finals team to be much higher. But with Roberson it's really tough just because while he's so good defensively, he's really just a negative out there on offense. Still, he's the best guy available at this point and coaches can trust him not to mess things up too badly.
21. Utah Jazz (Traded to Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Original pick: Gorgui Dieng (Louisville)
- Redraft pick: Tim Hardaway Jr. (Michigan)
This pick was traded to Minnesota on draft night, who selected a guy that they needed to take earlier in Dieng. Now, the T'Wolves have a hole on the wing and need to fix that, so here they grab Tim Hardaway Jr., who has a shot to become a really nice rotation scorer.
22. 
Brooklyn Nets
- Original pick: Mason Plumlee (Duke)
- Redraft pick: Raul Neto (Brazil)
The Nets need a point guard, and Neto started 53 games this season for the Jazz. He was their clear fifth option on the floor at all times, but he outplayed Trey Burke - another big dropper in this draft - for a majority of the year and looks to have a place going forward with the organization.
23. 
Indiana Pacers
- Original pick: Solomon Hill (Arizona)
- Redraft pick: Alex Len (Maryland)
The Pacers need help badly in the frontcourt, so taking a flier on Len makes sense here. He still has quite a bit of upside in his game if he can become a more proficient shooter, plus he rebounds well and moves well when healthy. It's worth the chance at least.
24. 
New York Knicks
- Original pick: Tim Hardaway Jr. (Michigan)
- Redraft pick: Joffrey Lauvergne (France)
This is one of those things that would get roundly booed at the arena, but he's the best option left. Lauvergne averaged eight points per game in just 17 minutes per last season, and has proved to at least be able to efficiently put the ball in the hole.
25. 
Los Angeles Clippers
- Original pick: Reggie Bullock (North Carolina)
- Redraft pick: Mike Muscala (Bucknell)
Just further depth for the Clippers inside, who could really use a guy like Muscala that is trustworthy on the floor at the very least. He doesn't have any upside beyond rotational big, but for a team that's contending it probably makes sense to get the guy who can help as opposed to taking a shot on someone like a Bebe Nogueira.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (Traded to Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Original pick: Andre Roberson (Colorado)
- Redraft pick: Jeff Withey (Kansas)
This pick had maybe the most convoluted path to its team - the Thunder - in NBA history. Eventually, they ended up with Roberson who has become a nice little hit for them as a rotational wing. Here, they get a nice little rotational big man in Withey who has proven himself competent defensively in rim protection and on the glass in his three NBA years.
27. 
Denver Nuggets (Traded to Utah Jazz)
- Original pick: Rudy Gobert (France)
- Redraft pick: Lucas Nogueira (Brazil)
With Gobert going second, the Jazz here take a shot and try to develop Bebe at a different pace than how quickly Gobert did. Nogueira has some rim protection skills due to his length, and maybe can become a good player with further development. He's still just 23, after all.
28. 
San Antonio Spurs
- Original pick: Livio Jean-Charles (France)
- Redraft pick: James Ennis (Long Beach State)
Ennis has always just struck me as one of those Spursian pick ups due to his ability to defend multiple positions and occasionally score the basketball. He averaged 16 points per game over a nine game tryout with the Pelicans at the end of this past year, and has shown that he has some potential on the offensive end as a nice role player.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder (Traded to Phoenix Suns)
- Original pick: Archie Goodwin (Kentucky)
- Redraft pick: Trey Burke (Michigan)
Burke's gotten off to a rough start to his career, but not all hope is lost. That's why he comes in here at No. 29, a pick that goes to Phoenix. He can play both on or off ball as a backup guard in a four-man rotation, much the same way Goodwin did. Burke's just a slightly more polished, better scorer than Goodwin though.
30. Phoenix Suns (Traded to Golden State Warriors)
- Original pick: Nemanja Nedovic (Lithuania)
- Redraft pick: Seth Curry (Duke)
Honestly, I'm not even sure Curry is an NBA player. That's where we're at in this draft, which is just a mess at this stage. But having said that, Curry performed well for the Kings over the second part of last season and obviously has the brotherly connection with Stephen in Golden State. He genuinely might be the best player on the board, so why not after he went undrafted in the real 2013 draft?
