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Rockford’s Fred Van Vleet was not selected in either round of the 2016 NBA Draft, obviously a bad move by all 30 teams. The question is: Where would he be chosen if they knew then what they know now?

Here is how Sportsfan’s Jorden Goethe would see it:

1) PHI: Original Pick F Ben Simmons; Do-over F Ben Simmons

Going into the 2016 draft Ben Simmons had the potential to turn around a
franchise, and so far he has done that in Philadelphia, winning Rookie of the
Year and leading his Sixers to the playoffs in his first healthy season.

2) LAL: Original Pick F Brandon Ingram; Do-over G/F Jaylen Brown

This pick comes down between the next two best players: Brandon Ingram and
Jaylen Brown. Ingram has tremendous potential, but so far through two
seasons, Brown has simply outperformed him.

3) BOS: Original Pick G/F Jaylen Brown; Do-over F Brandon Ingram

Boston still gets a good player here, as they select their future
starting small forward in Duke’s Ingram. Remember this is before the
Celtics fell in love with another Duke forward: Jayson Tatum.

4) PHX: Original Pick F Dragan Bender; Do-over G Jamal Murray

Phoenix had already committed money to guards Eric Bledsoe and Brandon
Knight and they had to upgrade their forward depth, but I don’t think the Suns
would pass up one of the best guards in this draft class in Murray.

5) MIN: Original Pick PG Kris Dunn; Do-over G Malcolm Brogdan

Minnesota needed to find a younger point guard and the eventual replacement
to Ricky Rubio. Kris Dunn was a good option, but so far former Rookie of the
Year Malcolm Brogdan has played really well on both sides of the court and
would be a great fit in Minnesota.

6) NO: Original Pick: SG Buddy Hield; Do-over: PG Kris Dunn

The Pelicans desperately needed another playmaker to go along with Anthony
Davis. With the addition of Kris Dunn, he could facilitate the ball to their two
main scorers: Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis.

7) DEN: Original Pick: G Jamal Murray; Do-over: SG Buddy Hield

The Nuggets were looking to make a splash in the draft. They wanted to find a
proficient scorer with range. That’s why they selected Jamal Murray. But now
with Murray already off the board; why not pick the next-best option with very
high upside in Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield.

8) SAC: Original Pick: PF Marquese Chriss; Do-over: PF Domantas Sabonis

Even though Sacramento sent this pick to Phoenix, both teams wanted to
upgrade at power forward. Domantas Sabonis is the best player available not
only at the position, but best overall left on the board.

9) TOR: Original Pick: C Jakob Poeltl; Do-over: C Thon Maker

So far Jakob Poeltl has been one of the more disappointing picks in this draft
class, but Toronto wanted to upgrade in the post in 2016. Thon Maker fits the bill better and
could provide quality minutes off the bench.

10) MIL: Original Pick: PF Thon Maker; Do-over: PG Fred Van Vleet

And here is the biggest pick in the draft! Rockford’s very own Fred
Van Vleet, who originally went undrafted and signed with the Raptors, has now
found himself re-selected in the top 10. Van Vleet really proved himself last year by
providing meaningful minutes off the bench and even cracking the starting
lineup a few times. And with Milwaukee, he’s close to home.

11) ORL: Original Pick: PF Domantas Sabonis; Do-over: PF Dragan Bender

Heading into the draft, Orlando wanted to add another rim protector, and the
best-case scenario was Dragan Bender falling to them, which
does fact happen in this re-draft. Orlando adds more depth in the post like they wanted, and
they get the guy they wanted to all along.

12) UTAH: Original Pick: SF Taurean Prince; Do-over: Same

Originally Utah did draft a good player in Taurean Prince, so there is no reason
to change the pick considering it was a positon of need.

13) PHX: Original Pick: C Georgios Papagiannis; Do-over: PF Marquese
Chriss

Marquese Chriss has shown flashes, but most of the time he’s been inconsistent.
He is still worth a small gamble with this pick, especially for a team that
has multiple first-round selections like Phoenix.

14) CHI: Original Pick: SF Denzel Valentine; Do-over: PG Dejounte Murray

The Derrick Rose era is over in Chicago and it’s time to find his
replacement. The Bulls needed someone to help out
Jimmy Butler and lead this team into the future. I believe that guy could be
Dejounte Murray. In real life, Murray replaced Tony Parker as the starting point guard last
season in San Antonio, so taking over for a local legend was obviously not a problem.

15) DEN: Original Pick: PF Juan Hernangomez; Do-over: F Pascal Siakam

The Nuggets needed a stretch forward that could play both positions and
eventually replace Wilson Chandler. Denzel Valentine could be
an option here, but the Nuggets already grabbed their sharpshooter earlier in the
draft. Pascal Siakam has performed well on a winning team and that moves him
all the way up from the 28th pick in real life to the 15th overall pick here.

16) BOS: Original Pick: PF Guerschon Yabusele; Do-over: C Ivica Zubac

Ivica Zubac put up solid numbers last year in the G-League and this year in
the summer league. I know everyone keeps raving about his potential, and with
a year or two in Boston’s system, Zubac could become an eventual starter in
the NBA and would provide great interior depth for the Celtics.

17) MEM: Original Pick: SG Wade Baldwin IV; Do-over: SG Malik Beasley

Memphis needed to add another shooter to help out both Marc Gasol and Mike
Conley. The Grizzles could have gone with Denzel Valentine, but they wanted a
more athletic shooter who could help stretch the floor. Malik Beasley is that
type of guy.

18) DET: Original Pick: PF Henry Ellenson; Do-over: PF/C Skal Labissiere

This wasn’t a great big man class, but so far out of all the top centers, Skal
Labissiere has been one of the better ones – if not the best – over in Sacramento.
He’s provided quality minutes off the bench.

19) DEN: Original Pick: SG Malik Beasley; Do-over: C Jakob Poeltl

Denver gets a great value pick here with Jakob Poeltl. The Raptors saw
something in Poeltl and that’s why they selected him in the top 10, and so far
through two seasons he has not produced. That didn’t bother the Spurs because
they also saw potential in Poeltl and that’s why he was involved in the Kawai
Leonard trade.

20) IND: Original Pick: SG Chris LeVert; Do-over: Same

Yet another place Denzel Valentine could have gone, but he continues to fall
here in this re-draft. Indiana originally had this selection, but on draft night the Pacers
traded the draft rights of Chris LeVert to Brooklyn, which desperately needed
first-round picks, let alone talent.

21) ATL: Original Pick: SF DeAndre Bembry; Do-over: SF Denzel Valentine

Finally, the nightmare situation ends for Denzel Valentine, as he falls from a late
lottery pick to the back end of the first round. After acquiring Taurean Prince via
trade and now selecting Michigan State star Denzel Valentine, the Hawks are
looking pretty solid in this re-draft.

22) CHA: Original Pick: SG Malachi Richardson; Do-over: C Ante Zizic

I really liked Malachi Richardson coming out of college after a good
tournament run, and I thought he had a lot of potential. Boy was I wrong. He
hasn’t really transitioned well to the pro game at all. Now in this
re-draft, the Hornets, who love big men, go with another unproven
guy who has a high ceiling.

23) BOS: Original Pick: C Ante Zizic; Do-over: F Guerschon Yabusele

Boston doesn’t get two centers here. Instead, they select Guerschon Yabusele,
the forward out of Greece who they originally selected earlier in the draft with the 16th selection. Yabusele actually provided quality minutes down the stretch for Boston, including in the postseason.

24) PHI: Original Pick: F/G Timothe Luwawu; Do-over: PG Yogi Ferrell

Timothe Luwawu hasn’t made an impact yet at the NBA level and that’s why I
have the Sixers selecting Yogi Ferrell. Ferrell can play the roll TJ McConnell
played last season, a guy who can start from time to time and provide a
complimentary option to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.

25) LAC: Original Pick: F Brice Johnson; Do-over: SG Patrick McCaw

Patrick McCaw stays on the west coast, but this time he moves up in the draft as
the Clippers grab him five picks higher and keep him away from division rival
Golden State. McCaw was really good coming off the bench for the Warriors
and provided meaningful minutes down the stretch until a scary back injury
he suffered late last season. He’s one of those players that gives your team a
spark.

26) PHI: Original Pick: SG Furkan Korkmaz; Do-over: SF DeAndre Bembry

This is another luxury pick for Philadelphia; why not take a gamble on another
forward to play alongside their future star in Ben Simmons.

27) TOR: Original Pick: F Pascal Siakam; Do-over: SF/SG Paul Zipser

Paul Zipser is a better shooter than Pascal Siakam and he would help fit one of
the roles the Raptors were looking to upgrade in the draft. Zipser could also
play some small forward when needed.

28) PHX: Original Pick: C Skal Labissiere; Do-over: PF Henry Ellenson

After picking up a guard and forward earlier in the draft, the Suns continue to
add more depth in the post. Phoenix picks up the power forward from
Marquette Henry Ellenson, who has fallen all the way to the end of the first
round.

29) SA: Original Pick: PG Dejounte Murray; Do-over: PG Tyler Ullis

It’s sad to think about, but eventually the Spurs need to find Tony Parker’s
replacement. Tyler Ullis has played in a few big games and has shined in those
key moments; he’s definitely worth a gamble here at the end of the first round.

30) GS: Original Pick: C Damian Jones; Do-over: PF Juan Hernangomez

Clearly Golden State has no specific needs, so they might as well take the best available
player with the 30th pick. According to multiple scouts, Juan
Hernangomez has a lot of potential, but has yet to produce at the NBA level. He’s still
worth the pick here though.

Honorable Mention: (Just missed the redraft)

SG Furkan Korkmaz Turkey
SF Jake Laymen Maryland
SG Wade Baldwin IV Vanderbilt
C Deyonta Davis Michigan State
SG/SF Timothe Luwawu France

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