The 1996 nba draft was one of the best draft classes of all time. I would argue that this redraft would have saved NBA basketball in Vancouver. It features 4 players on the NBA 75th anniversary team.
1996 NBA RedraftThe 1996 nba draft was one of the best draft classes of all time. I would argue that this redraft would have saved NBA basketball in Vancouver. It features 4 players on the NBA 75th anniversary team.
Actual draft position: 13
Actual #1 pick: Allen Iverson
Imagine Kobe Bryant playing for this hometown 76ers and the Lakers without Kobe. Jerry West and the Lakers had a tentative deal in place with the Hornets if they landed Kobe at No.13. Jerry West was looking to pair Kobe with Shaq who he signed away from the Orlando Magic a week after the draft. The Hornets had wanted a center as they had traded Alonzo Mourning to the Heat at the start of the previous season for Glen Rice and a 1st round pick in the 96 draft. Eventually the Hornets and Lakers convinced Vlade Divac, who had threatened to retire if traded, to accept a trade to the Hornets and the rest is Lakers and NBA history. The Hornets had the No.13 pick and Miami's No.16 pick in the draft from the Mourning trade and ended up drafting guard Tony Delk at No.16 after Hornets coach Dave Cowens said to Kobe We don't really need you here before the 96 draft.
Actual draft position: 1
Actual #2 pick: Marcus Camby
You could argue 2x MVP and 5x assists leader Steve Nash should be No.2 rather than the iconic Allen Iverson. Iverson, a 4x scoring champ and 3x steals leader, had an MVP season in 2001 and led his 76ers to the finals that year against the the Shaq/Kobe Lakers. The overmatched 76ers lost to the Lakers in 5 despite Iverson's 48 point heroics in the Game 1 OT win where he famously stepped over Tyronn Lue after a big shot.
Actual draft position: 15
Actual #3 pick: Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Could this move have saved the Vancouver Grizzlies? I would argue yes. If GM Stu Jackson had drafted Steve Nash, who grew up in nearby Victoria, it would have changed the course of NBA history in Vancouver. The Vancouver Grizzlies suffered from poor attendance mainly due to a woeful .220 win percentage over 6 seasons. Nash was well known among Vancouver basketball fans even as a freshman in college when his No. 15 seed Santa Clara Broncos upset a No. 2 seed Arizona Wildcats in the 1st round of NCAA March Madness.
Actual draft position: 5
Actual #4 pick: Stephon Marbury
In this case the actual draft ended up better for the Bucks than the redraft. This is because the Bucks ended up getting Allen and a future 1st round pick by swapping 1 spot with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves wanted to pair Stephon Marbury with Kevin Garnett. But, they probably would've been better off letting the Bucks take Marbury and picking up Allen at #5. Interestingly, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen did eventually team up on the Celtics over a decade later and won the 2008 championship. So, I guess this pairing was meant to be.
Actual draft position: undrafted
Actual #5 pick: Ray Allen
Wallace never averaged more than 10 ppg but, I'll go with the 2004 champion, 4x defensive player of the year with the No. 5 pick. This would have been a formidable frontcourt for the Timberwolves with Kevin Garnett and Ben Wallace.