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April 4, 2023.
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Boston Celtics: Alex Caruso, SG, Texas A&M
Actual Pick: Guerschon Yabusale
As a Bulls fan, I cannot remember many role players as fun as Caruso. He is a defensive wizard, with incredible energy, strong athleticism and a nice jump shot. There are few teams that couldn’t use someone like him. -
Memphis Grizzlies: Gary Payton II, SG, Oregon
Actual Pick: Wade Baldwin
Payton, like his father, is a bulldog who is a beast off the bench. He would have been a perfect fit for those tough Grizzlies teams, giving defense and shooting off the bench. -
Detroit Pistons: Furkan Korkmaz, SG, Turkey
Actual Pick: Henry Ellenson
Korkmaz has been with Philadelphia for a long time and is an inefficient scorer. Regardless, the 76ers must like him. -
Denver Nuggets: Malik Beasley, SG, Florida State
Actual Pick: Jamal Murray
Beasley has been traded quite a bit, but has proven to be a big-time bench talent. He could be a shooter and scorer off 30 benches and be the sixth man for many. Denver and Beasley would have worked well. -
Indiana Pacers: Damion Lee, G, Louisville
Actual Pick: Caris LeVert
Lee is well-known as the brother in law of Stephen Curry, but the guy is one of the truly elite shooters in the NBA. The undrafted guard has had a fantastic career. -
Atlanta Hawks: Kris Dunn, PG, Providence
Actual Pick: DeAndre Bembry
My Bulls gave Dunn more than a year to prove himself as a franchise point guard, but the truth is that he was just a pitbull defender with a very mediocre offensive game. He’s playing well for Utah currently, and in 2016, he could have been a very nice fit with Dennis Schroeder at point guard. -
Charlotte Hornets: Damian Jones, C, Vanderbilt
Actual Pick: Malachi Richardson
Jones hasn’t played very much in the NBA, despite having been in the league a long time. He has rings, and he has been productive when given minutes, so he’s far from a bust. -
Boston Celtics: Taurean Prince, F, Baylor
Actual Pick: Ante Zizic
Prince has had a nice career as a mediocre scorer and shooter. He was traded from Atlanta to Brooklyn after a few seasons, which affected his career. Prince really could have made a difference with that Boston squad. -
Philadelphia 76ers: Danuel House Jr., SG, Texas A&M
Actual Pick: Timothe Luwawu-Caborrat
House is a big-time athlete, which is a significant part of why he is still in the league. He is also somewhat efficient from three. -
Los Angeles Clippers: Juan Hernangomez, PF, Spain
Actual Pick: Brice Johnson
Willy Hernangomez’s brother is a power forward who can shoot, which means he will probably have a long career. He is currently with the Raptors, but could be the fifth big man on most teams. -
Philadelphia 76ers: Jake Layman, F, Maryland
Actual Pick: Furkan Korkmaz
Layman had three really solid years in his six NBA seasons and was a solid rotational forward. He would have likely performed similar in the City of Brotherly Love. -
Toronto Raptors: Denzel Valentine, F, Michigan State
Actual Pick: Pascal Siakam
Valentine isn’t in the NBA currently, but he is who he is, which is a mediocre scorer, and that’s about it. He wouldn’t have made a big difference for the Raptors. -
Phoenix Suns: Shaq Harrison, G, Tulsa
Actual Pick: Skal Labissiere
Harrison is a pitbull defender who could guard multiple positions. The problem is he has zero offensive game. Harrison is currently not in the NBA. -
San Antonio Spurs: Marquese Chriss, F, Washington
Actual Pick: Dejounte Murray
Chriss was an incredible athletic prospect, and he went eighth in the 2016 NBA Draft mostly for that fact. His athleticism allowed him to be a strong shot-blocker and rebounder, and he had two very solid seasons, one with the Suns and one with the Warriors. You think Greg Popovich would have known how to develop him properly, but Chriss isn’t in the league. -
Golden State Warriors: Yogi Ferrell, G, Indiana
Actual Pick: Damian Jones
Because Ferrell was so short, he was beloved by NBA fans. His size is also very likely why he isn’t in the league, as he had a lot of trouble with efficiency. Ferrell was fun though.
Back to Mike’s 2016 NBA Mock Re-Draft: Round 1 – Picks 1-15
By Mike Elworth.
Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.
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