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Osk -- LeBron James, Redeemer of the Clippers; 2017 NBA Draft
I meant to add content to this shortly after starting the thread, but alas... Here is a list to start off from a setting that deviates from OTL at the start of the 2007-08 NBA Season. I've been tracking and somewhat overseeing this "TL" by way of a 2K20 MyLeague campaign and will probably add more lists from that TL here.
NBA What If: LeBron James, Redeemer of the Clippers
2017 NBA Draft Table ⇡ - Indicates how many picks higher than OTL the player was selected in this TL ⇣ - Indicates how many picks lower than OTL the player was selected in this TL ⨏ - Indicates a player that is endemic to this TL, aka fictional
First Round, Picks 1-5
1st: Jayson Tatum (SF) Los Angeles Lakers [⇡2] [1]
2nd: Lauri Markkanen (PF) Houston Rockets [⇡5] [2]
3rd: Lonzo Ball (PG) Charlotte Hornets [⇣1] [3]
4th: Donovan Mitchell (SG) Boston Celtics [⇡9] [4]
5th: John Collins (PF/C) Portland Trail Blazers [⇡5] [5]
First Round, Picks 6-36
6th: Bam Adebayo (C) New Orleans Pelicans [⇡8] [6]
7th: Dennis Smith Jr. (PG) Baltimore Phantoms [⇡2]
55th: Monte Morris (PG) Seattle Metropolitans [⇣4]
56th: Edmond Sumner (SG) Toronto Raptors [⇣4]
57th: O.J. Shaw (PF) Chicago Bulls⨏
58th: Chris Finley (PF) Atlanta Hawks⨏
59th: Wesley "Wes" Iwundu (SF) Philadelphia 76ers [⇣26]
60th: Fernando Ramos (PF) New York Knicks⨏
61st: Alfred Duncan (C) Los Vegas Aces⨏
62nd: Art Moncrief (PG) Golden State Warriors⨏
63rd: Justin Patton (C) Charlotte Hornets [⇣47] [12]
64th: Stephen Livingston (PF) Denver Nuggets⨏
65th: Jonathan Robinson (PF) New Orleans Pelicans ⨏
66th: Devin Armstrong (SG) Oklahoma City Thunder⨏
67th: Guy Garner (SG) Dallas Mavericks⨏
68th: Evan Redd (PF) Quebec Nordiques⨏
69th: Giogios Alexandris (PF) Orlando Magic⨏
70th: Darin Stockton (SF) Denver Nuggets⨏
71st: Sarunas Saric (PG) Indiana Pacers⨏
72nd: Charlie Woolridge (PG) Los Angeles Clippers⨏
Footnotes
[1] It is rumored that Kobe Bryant, who has announced this upcoming season would be his last (giving him an NBA record 22 seasons), played a major role in the Lakers selection of Jayson Tatum (SF). Bryant spoke highly of Tatum following his selection by the team.
[2] Lauri Markkanen (PF) had been heavily scouted by the Rockets, who signed the phenom known as Kevin Durant (SF) in free agency a few years back but have failed to make a contender around him. With staff shake ups this summer, the Rockets liked Markkanen's size and shooting ability. All that being said, some have questioned the selection of the power forward over other available talents, including the crafty guard Donovan Mitchell.
[3] The San Antonio Spurs originally had this pick before agreeing to a trade with the Charlotte Hornets. In exchange for the 3rd Pick (2019), San Antonio's 1st Round Pick in 2019 (Top 10 Protected), and two 2nd Round Picks (2018 & 2019), the Spurs received from the Hornets a 2nd Round Pick (2018), the Italian Senso Rancati (SF) who went 70th in the 2016 Draft, the Hornets 26th Pick in this draft, and, most importantly, the 27 year old shooting guard James Harden.
[4] The Celtics are poised to make this the final year of their rebuilding efforts following the disintegration of their "Big Three" era. In the past few years they have drafted the likes of Kristaps Porzingis (PF) and Joel Embiid (C), both of whom have been standout stars (Porzingis won Rookie of the Year for the 2015-16 season to boot). They hope to solidify this young roster with Donovan Mitchell (SG) and ideally ride the youthful roster to success before Deron Williams' (PG) career is truly over.
[5] After the Spurs-Hornets blockbuster trade during draft night, where in the Hornets received the 3rd Pick in exchange for offensive phenom James Harden (SG), yet another blockbuster trade happened two picks later when the Austin Wranglers send the 5th Pick in this draft, their 1st Round Pick in 2018 (Unprotected) and their 1st Round Pick in 2031 (Unprotected) and a 2nd Round Pick (2021) to the Portland Trail Blazers for none other than Stephen Curry (PG), along with DeAndre Bembry (SF) and a 1st Round Pick (2021). This move was completely out of left field with Curry being a fan favorite in Portland. In Curry the Wranglers get an NBA Championship (2011 as part of the Chicago Bulls) and the league's best 3PT shooter of all time. Fans were quick to react on social media, with Wranglers fans expressing mixed reactions considering the three first round picks lost, while Trail Blazers fans flooded Twitter with the hashtag #FireMarcus (Don Marcus was POR's GM at the time); many mocked the selection of John Collins with the pick. Stephen A. Smith famously tore apart the Warriors decision-making the morning after Draft Night on ESPN's First Take, saying "John Collins for STEPHEN WARDELL CURRY? HELL. No. HEEEEEELLLLL NO. Hey Don Marcus, I have one message for you - STAY OFF THE WEED." Portland's gamble is that the Wranglers will fail to gain traction in the next two seasons and their gained picks will translate to future stars.
[6] Bam Adebayo (C) would be traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for veteran forward Jared Dudley (SF/PF), the 40th Pick in the draft and an unprotected 1st Round Pick (2018).
[7] The New York Knicks
[8] In OTL, Guduric went undrafted, however, due to the butterflies he is more known and a seemingly better player in TL, playing the small forward position more often than the shooting guard position. Miami nabs him at 11th.
[9] Markelle Fultz was, at one point, considered the top prospect coming out of this draft. Even going into draft day, it was expected he would finish in the top five, with some believing the Lakers would take the guard even with their current starting point Goran Dragic. Fultz ended up slipping down the cracks on draft night, however, falling to the Cavaliers with the 11th pick, and some think he may be the steal of the draft. He'll play alongside Cavaliers stars DeMar DeRozan and Paul George.
[10] Sterling Brown was later traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the 40th Pick and a future 2nd Round Pick (2018).
[11] Most pundits placed Becker as a First Round selection, with some reputable mock drafts having him well within the lottery - SportsAnalytics2000 had Becker as high as the 2nd Pick for the Rockets in their final mock draft; NBA.com put Becker at 9th to the Grizzlies in theirs. But the first round came and went and Becker remained on the board, leading to his late selection in the 2nd Round by a Lakers franchise that may have gotten very lucky that he wasn't picked up sooner.
[12] Justin Patton suffers the largest slide of any OTL player to still be picked up in this TL's 2017 draft, dropping from being the OTL 16th Pick to TL's 63rd Pick.