What If Each Lottery Team Got The Number One Pick

[logpmess]

13. Miami Heat (via Celtics)
C – Al Jefferson
PF – Serge Ibaka
SF – Lebron James
SG – OJ Mayo
PG – Brandon Jennings

Pick: Andrew Wiggins

Honestly, I would expect a trade down if Miami got the first overall pick. The team could get up to ten points and another pick this year in the top ten for this pick. Points are more important than a player at the top of this draft. If this pick were made, I would anticipate a trade to lower the salary cap for the position.

12. Philadelphia 76ers
C – None
PF – Thomas Robinson
SF – None
SG – Marcus Thornton
PG – None

Pick: Jabari Parker

DeMarcus should be resigned in RFA. Philly has the ability to negotiate on the resigning of Hayward during RFA since they have DeMarre Carroll who can step right in and start. I think this allows the 76ers to take someone with a little more size than Wiggins to solidify that SF spot.

11. Detroit Pistons
C – Anthony Davis
PF – None
SF – None
SG – Bradley Beal
PG – None

Pick: Andrew Wiggins

Even though he will be 29 by the time the season starts, I can see Detroit maxing on LaMarcus Aldridge. I, also, anticipate them retaining Ish Smith in RFA. That leaves SF as the only spot needing to be addressed. I am going with the player that has a higher potential inside to add another scorer to the mix in a few years.

10. VanMemphis Grizzlies
C – Omer Asik
PF – Andre Drummond
SF – Kawhi Leonard
SG – Tony Allen
PG – None

Pick: Joel Embiid

The need is clearly at PG. Asik, Drummond, and Landry are going to solidify the two big spots. Allen, Leonard, and Butler solidify the 2 and 3. But no one is on the books at 1. I would expect a trade honestly. But I’m going to take a player that would be ready in a season to take over as main back up, but can be a starter after 3 season or so.

9. Los Angeles Lakers (via Jazz)
C – Andrew Bynum
PF – Derrick Favors
SF – Giannis Antetokounmpo
SG – Sundiata Gaines
PG – Patty Mills

Pick: Andrew Wiggins

Giannis is the SF going forward. No one is taking that spot. So quite simply, I chose the player that can more easily play the SG position since CJ took such a hit this past season. I see the upgrade from Miles to Wiggins being more impactful than a potential upgrade from Bynum to Embiid.

8. Detroit Pistons (via Supersonics)
C – Anthony Davis
PF – None
SF – None
SG – Bradley Beal
PG – None

Pick: Jabari Parker

If the Pistons already got Wiggins with #1, I’m anticipating this pick as #2. I’m looking at solidifying the starting lineup. Imagine a team of Davis, Aldridge, Parker, Wiggins, and Smith.

7. Orlando Magic
C – None
PF – None
SF – None
SG – Wesley Matthews
PG – Goran Dragic

Pick: Jabari Parker

The Magic have two starters set going forward, and nobody else is on the books. This team can take the best overall at this point. I’m leaning towards Jabari Parker to step immediately into the SF position. The deciding factor is his steal potential to go alongside good steal ratings for Matthews and Dragic.

6. Chicago Bulls (via Nets)
C – Dwight Howard
PF – None
SF – Danillo Gallinari
SG – James Harden
PG – Ramon Sessions

Pick: Jabari Parker

As a playoff team, I went with the most NBA ready player right now. Danilo has the size to move into the PF position if needed. That would have a stretch 4 next to Dwight and allowing Harden to slash in the lane for scoring.

5. New York Knicks (via Mavericks)
C – None
PF – Nikola Vucevic
SF – Kent Bazemore
SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
PG – None

Pick: Andrew Wiggins

Jeremy Lin will be retained during RFA. Gogui Dieng can step into the center position. Bazemore is playing out of position at the three so I’m going with a small forward. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if Joel Embiid goes here.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves
C – Jeff Withey
PF – Anthony Randolph
SF – Otto Porter Jr.
SG – Victor Oladipo
PG – Toney Douglass

Pick: Joel Embiid

This was a tough one. This team has quality players at every starting position. I like what Otto does for the SF. I ultimately went with Embiid because this team has no inside scoring. After a few years of development, Joel could balance out the court and open up some three pointer for the shooters.

3. New York Knicks
C – None
PF – Nikola Vucevic
SF – Kent Bazemore
SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
PG – None

Pick: Joel Embiid

With Wiggins on the team from the number 1 pick. The obvious choice is to pick your center of the future. Embiid would be the pick if NY got 1 and 2.

2. New Orleans Hornet
C – Timofey Mozgov
PF – None
SF – None
SG – None
PG – None

Pick: Andrew Wiggins

The point guard is set up with Damian Lillard. Mozgov has the center position locked down. So I’m taking a player that can play multiple positions and hope to find a top player at one of the other positions. Wiggins’ quickness made this decision.

1. Los Angeles Lakers
C – Andrew Bynum
PF – Derrick Favors
SF – Giannis Antetokounmpo
SG – Sundiata Gaines
PG – Patty Mills

Pick: Joel Embiid

Similar to the reason why I selected Joel for the T-Wolves. I think if the Lakers already got Wiggins to play the SG position, the next biggest need is PG. I would honestly expect them to trade down at least once if this were the case. But if I am required to pick someone, I am going with someone who can provide inside scoring.

[garbageman]

Dig the article...also, great series taking it to 7. In the last regular season sim, I was actually hoping I'd drop to 6th/7th to avoid facing you.

No Jokic anywhere at #1 though?

[logpmess]

Honestly, once I got to Saric and saw the drop, I stopped looking down other than the point guards just to see. I would have to take a look at the teams I selected Embiid for and see which would better complement the other players.

[garbageman]

On second thought, Jokic looks like garbage. If I were one of the first 5 teams selecting, I'd just ignore him and let him fall to whoever is at #6.

[LoCo89]

On second thought, Jokic looks like garbage. If I were one of the first 5 teams selecting, I'd just ignore him and let him fall to whoever is at #6.

I got my eye on you

[NickMalone77]

Thank you Logan for your media contribution. Here's +5 for your article.