At the time, the 2017 NBA Draft was regarded as one of the deepest and most talented drafts of the last decade. In the nearly three years that have played out since, those prognostications have been proven correct.
Already, three members of that draft have earned All-Star selections and that only begins to tell the story. Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo and Donovan Mitchell have carved out roles as budding stars while the likes of De’Aaron Fox, Lonzo Ball, Jonathan Isaac, Lauri Markkanen and others have developed into respectable starters.
None of that dives into the bizarre story of the No. 1 pick of that draft in Markelle Fultz. Calling his stint with the Sixers injury-filled would be an understatement but it remains hard to put into words how extraordinary his time with the Sixers was. But a trade and a chance to reset has allowed him to start to return to his University of Washington form.
A re-draft of the 2017 class would certainly have Fultz far from the top pick, but which All-Star would take the top spot?
1. Philadelphia 76ers – Jayson Tatum
The success the Sixers have had in recent seasons is all the more impressive considering the production the team never got from the No. 1 pick in this draft. Fultz played just 33 games for Philadelphia in two seasons.
But Tatum has been superb from day one of being drafted. While a slow sophomore season dampened the excitement of his rookie campaign, the 2019-20 season has served as a launching pad for Tatum into stardom. In earning an All-Star selection, he’s averaged 23.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 39.8% from range.
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Donovan Mitchell
The Lakers were searching for a star guard to lead them out of their dark days. While they got a serviceable, if not oft-injured, one in Lonzo Ball, drafting Mitchell is a no-brainer.
As a rookie, Mitchell led the Jazz past the Thunder in the playoffs as his breakout performance. averaging 28.5 points per game on 46.2% shooting in the series. In his three seasons, he’s never averaged less than 20 points per game.
3. Boston Celtics – Bam Adebayo
The Celtics swap one All-Star for another in this re-draft. While Tatum has been a star in Boston, Adebayo has been just as impressive in Miami in his third year. A unicorn of sorts, the former Kentucky big man is averaging 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game this season while further establishing himself as one of the league’s best defenders.
4. Phoenix Suns – Lonzo Ball
As has long become customary in Phoenix, the Suns whiffed on their draft pick of Josh Jackson, who was traded in the summer of 2019 after two disappointing seasons.
In Ball, they could found the point guard they’ve long sought to pair with Devin Booker. After two frustrating seasons in Los Angeles, Ball has turned his low-usage style into a highly-efficient one as he’s shot a career-best 38.3% from three in his first season in New Orleans.
5. Sacramento Kings – De’Aaron Fox
The first like-for-like pick in the re-draft, the Kings have to have been pleased in the player they’ve gotten in Fox. Over his three seasons in Sacramento, Fox has steadily improved culminating in his 20.4 points per game average this season.
His up-tempo style has fit perfectly into the Kings’ philosophy as he appears set to become a key member of the franchise moving forward.
6. Orlando Magic – John Collins
John Collins’ career has largely gone under the radar in Atlanta. But as the No. 19 pick in the original 2017 NBA Draft, Collins has been one of the top steals.
While a suspension for PED usage delayed the start of his 2019-20 season, Collins has continued his improvement by averaging 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, both career-high marks.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves – Lauri Markkanen
Technically, the Timberwolves drafted Markkanen seventh overall before trading him to the Chicago Bulls for Jimmy Butler. In a re-draft without trades, Minnesota would stick with the pick, pairing Markkanen with Karl-Anthony Towns to make one of the best young frontcourts in the league.
While injury has slowed his third season in Chicago, he’s still averaging 16.1 points per contest for his career on 35.6% shooting from deep.
8. New York Knicks – Jarrett Allen
While his role has changed at times in his three seasons with the Nets, Jarrett Allen has long-established his role in the league as an athletic, above-the-rim big well-suited for the modern NBA.
While his role has remained limited in three seasons, his per-36 minute averages of 14.9 points and 13.2 rebounds this season showcase his talent. He would certainly be a far better pick than the one the Knicks made originally.
9. Dallas Mavericks – OG Anunoby
Injury was the lone reason for OG Anunoby’s fall in the original draft. But as he’s been brought along slowly in Toronto, Anunoby has progressed steadily to averaging 10.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 38.1% three-point shooting in 30.1 minutes per game for one the Eastern Conference’s best teams this season.
10. Sacramento Kings – Jonathan Isaac
Another pick that was traded initially, in this re-draft the Kings pair Fox with a blossoming wing in Isaac. After a slow start to his career, Isaac has had his own breakout season in Orlando, averaging 12.0 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Magic while maintaining his high-level defense.
11. Charlotte Hornets – Kyle Kuzma
Only Tatum and Mitchell have scored more points from the 2017 draft than Kyle Kuzma. While his best season so far has been his rookie campaign, Kuzma is still averaging 18.3 points per-36 minutes this season off the bench in Los Angeles.
12. Detroit Pistons – Luke Kennard
The only other team to stick to their pick, Luke Kennard’s career has played out under-the-radar in Detroit. In his first season as a full-time starter this year, Kennard is averaging 15.8 points per game on 39.9% three-point shooting.
13. Denver Nuggets – Josh Hart
While Kuzma and Ball took much of the spotlight in Los Angeles, Josh Hart has been a great role player in his own right so far. Hart has done a bit of everything in both L.A. and New Orleans, averaging 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds off the bench for the Pelicans.
Hart would give Denver, who traded the pick to Utah in the draft, another young wing that they have stockpiled throughout recent years.
14. Miami Heat – Malik Monk
The biggest losers of a re-draft would be Miami. After landing the biggest diamond in the rough in Adebayo at the backend of the lottery, they would settle for a decent role player in Monk this time around.
Monk hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in Charlotte but still possesses a host of potential and has started to fulfill it this season, averaging 10.3 points per game.
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