:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66787332/usa_today_9353392.0.jpg)
We have all lamented our team’s draft history of wrong picks while at the same time taking for granted that the great picks could never be taken away.
What if an alternate universe allowed NBA teams to conduct a re-do of a prior NBA draft, top to bottom. With all front offices having the benefit of hindsight, how would out Phoenix Suns fare?
During “What If...?” week, SB Nation is conducting a re-draft of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 first rounds.
In those drafts, the Suns got six players: T.J. Warren (No. 14 in 2014), Tyler Ennis (No. 18 in 2014), Bogdan Bogdanovic (No. 27 in 2014), Devin Booker (No. 13 in 2015), Dragan Bender (No. 4 in 2016) and Marquese Chriss (No. 8 in 2016).
Of all those players, the only one left on the Suns roster is Devin Booker.
Forking scary isn’t it? Warren and Bogdanovic are at least legit starter quality players on other teams, while Ennis is completely out of the league and Chriss and Bender are barely hanging on day to day.
But that is not all. Oh no, that is not all!
For the privilege of taking those guys only to get rid of them later, the Suns also surrendered four MORE draft picks in the Warren and Chriss trades (two firsts and two seconds).
What if those drafts are completely redone today, top to bottom?
For sure, the Suns would likely have more bodies on their roster than one, but that one player is an All-Star. Could any combination of better picks be made with the benefit of top to bottom hindsight?
Would the Suns truly have a brighter future today if every team could have properly predicted the future?
Here are the picks Bright Side will make in re-drafts of 2014, 2015 and 2016 in the coming days.
2014: No. 14, No. 18, No. 27
2015: 13
2016: No. 4, No. 8
Here’s a ranking of players by win shares who debuted in 2014, 2015 and 2016. And here is a recap of those actual drafts in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Obviously, you can sort on any column once you click the links.
How do you think Bright Side will fare? Will we end up with more than one All-Star? Will we have a roster that should now be a playoff contender?
Actual results are coming later this week. For now, I leave it to you good folks.