1996 NBA DRAFT: A different NBA

(What if Stern changes the rule about expansion agreements and the expansion teams are able to pick first. Here is the new lottery order.)
1996 NBA DRAFT LOTTERY
1. Toronto
2. Philadelphia
3. Vancouver
4. Celtics
5. Milwaukee
6. L.A Clippers
7. Minnesota
8. New Jersey
9. Cleveland
10. Dallas
11. Indiana (they trade their 1996,97,98 first round picks for Denver's 1996 first round and 1998 second round.)
12. Golden State
13. Sacramento
14. Charlotte

1996 NBA DRAFT

Toronto could either have a center in Marcus Camby or Allen Iverson. But to the Raptors it was obvious that AI was the clear #1 pick.
1. Allen Iverson
2. Marcus Camby
3. Ray Allen
4. Shareef Abdur-Rahim
5. Stephon Marbury
6. Antoine Walker
Minnesota wanted to build on Kevin Garnett who was slowly developing his own skills. They picked Kerry Kittles who was great in college to create a potential tandem.
7. Kerry Kittles
8. Samaki Walker
Meanwhile Cleveland selected Kobe Bryant, however Kobe did not want to even train with Cleveland but they didn't budge.
9. Kobe Bryant
10. Predrag Stojakovic
11. Jermaine O'Neal
12. Steve Nash
13. Lorenzen Wright (Steve Nash is traded for Lorenzen Wright to Sacramento on draft night.)
14. Erick Dampier

Notable pick: Ben Wallace (Pistons)

"This draft is probably the second best draft in the history of the NBA. It produced several stars superstars and legends."
ESPN 30 for 30
2016
 
1996-97 NBA SEASON
Toronto's season: The Raptors would started off with a bang when Allen Iverson, the rookie of the year went for 4 straight 35+ games mid November. He would lead (along with Stoudamire who was moved to SG) the Raptors to 37 wins and the 11th place in the East. They seemed to have a very bright future...

Vancouver: Vancouver's season was extremely lackluster but had beam of light. Ray Allen seemed to be a player who's potential was huge and he could be a star..

Lakers: Shaquille O'Neal would still go to the Lakers as the Magic chose Penny over him to have the max deal and the prospect of a twin towers situation with Divac. He would carry the Lakers to the 4th seed and finish 4th in MVP voting with 23 points 10 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.

Cleveland: The Cavaliers get the ninth seed even as they had the best defense in the league holding other teams to the least points in the NBA. Kobe Bryant would be their 7th man barely having ten points.

MVP: Karl Malone
ROY: Allen Iverson
DPOY: Dikembe Mutumbo
Sixth Man: John Starks

Eastern Conference Standings
Atlantic Division
Miami Heat 61-21 (2)
New York Knicks 57-25 (3)
Orlando Magic 56-26 (4)
Washington Bullets 44-38 (8)
New Jersey Nets 26-56 (13)
Philadelphia 76ers 22-60 (14)
Boston Celtics 17-65 (15)

Central Division
Chicago Bulls 69-13 (1)
Atlanta Hawks 55-27 (5)
Detroit Pistons 54-28 (6)
Charlotte Hornets 54-28 (7)
Cleveland Cavaliers 42-40 (9)
Indiana Pacers 40-42 (10)
Toronto Raptors 35-47 (11)
Milwaukee Bucks 33-49 (12)


Western Conference Standings
Midwest Division
Utah Jazz 63-19 (1)
Houston Rockets 57-25 (2)
Minnesota Timberwolves 41-41 (6)
Dallas Mavericks 24-58 (11)
Denver Nuggets 21-61 (12)
San Antonio Spurs 19-63 (13)
Vancouver Grizzlies 14-68 (14)

Pacific Division
Seattle Supersonics 56-26 (3)
Los Angeles Lakers 55-27 (4)
Portland Trail Blazers 49-33 (5)
Phoenix Suns 40-42 (7)
Los Angeles Clippers 37-45 (8)
Sacramento Kings 34-48 (9)
Golden State Warriors 30-52 (10)

Playoff brackets
Chicago Bulls (1)- Washington Bullets (8)
Orlando Magic (4)- Atlanta Hawks (5)
Miami Heat (2)- Charlotte Hornets (7)
New York Knicks (3)- Detroit Pistons (6)

Utah Jazz (1)- Los Angeles Clippers (8)
Los Angeles Lakers(4)- Portland Trail Blazers (5)
Houston Rockets (2)- Phoenix Suns (7)
Seattle Supersonics (3)- Minnesota Timberwolves (6)
 
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1997 NBA PLAYOFFS
Eastern Conference

Chicago Bulls over Washington Bullets : 3-0
Game 1: Bulls 128-91 Bullets (Webber puts up 26 points and 16 rebounds but Jordan and Pippen score a collective 67 points.)
Game 2: Bulls 119-76 Bullets (Rodman this time locks down Chris Webber who only scores 14 points and the Bulls easily win game 2.)
Game 3: Bullets 91-98 Bulls (A hard fought contest until Michael Jordan took over in the last 4 minutes of the game scoring 15 of his 40 points, including 4 threes.)
The Bulls cruise to a sweep even when Chris Webber tried to carry his team against them.

Atlanta Hawks over Orlando Magic : 3-2
Game 1: Magic 92-78 Hawks (Penny Hardaway with 27 points 10 assists.) 0-1
Game 2: Magic 109- 95 Hawks (Penny Hardaway dominates again this time with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists) 0-2
Game 3: Hawks 90-80 Magic (The Hawks put out a great defensive effort holding Penny to just 17 points) 1-2
Game 4: Hawks 98-69 Magic (Once again holding Penny to just 6 points before he went out with a ankle injury early in the third quarter) 2-2
Game 5: Hawks 88-70 Magic (Without Penny the Magic just can't get it going on offense and collapse.) 3-2
The scrappy Hawks scrap to a comeback win which seemed certain once Penny Hardaway went out in game 4.

Miami Heat over Charlotte Hornets : 3-0
Game 1: Heat 122-80 Hornets
Game 2: Heat 101-71 Hornets
Game 3: Heat 113-86 Hornets (Alonzo Mourning put up 19 points 15 rebounds and 10 blocks)
Just like the bulls the Heat sweep their opponents easily.

Detroit Pistons over New York Knicks: 3-1
Game 1: Knicks 99-98 Pistons (Allan Houston hits last minute three with o.2 seconds left after Ewing tears his ACL in the the third quarter and George Hill leads comeback with 29 points.)
Game 2: Pistons 86-81 Knicks ( A brawl late in the fourth quarter near the Knicks bench escalates to where many players on the bench :Chris Childs, Larry Johnson, John Starks and others are ejected and later suspended for two games.)
Game 3: Pistons 107-75 Knicks (Grant Hill puts up 45 11 and 7 in a legendary performance.)
Game 4: Pistons 100-71 Knicks (Grant Hill puts up 41)
In a huge upset led by Grant Hill, the Pistons go to the second round after a very tough and physical series.

Second Round
Chicago Bulls over Atlanta Hawks: 4-1
Game 1: Hawks 86-85 Bulls (Jordan misses the would-be game winner after being hit with no foul called.)
Game 2: Bulls 137-79 Hawks ( Jordan explodes with a vengeance with 69 points 11 rebounds and 10 assists, showing the world he was the best. He then with 3 seconds left hit a jumper over three players who were smothering him to add insult to injury.)
Game 3: Bulls 118-101 Hawks ( Jordan with 50 points)
Game 4: Bulls 124-111 Hawks
Game 5: Bulls 98-77 Hawks
The Bulls dominate, as Jordan once again has legendary performances.

Miami Heat over New York Knicks: 4-3
Game 1: Heat 88-79 Pistons : 1-0
Game 2: Pistons 88-84 Heat : 1-1 (Grant Hill with 34 points Mourning with 27 points and 13 rebounds.)
Game 3: Pistons 77-73 Heat : 1-2 (Hill with 25)
Game 4: Heat 89-86 Pistons: 2-2 (Hardaway with 38 points, Hill with 29)
Game 5: Heat 96-91 Pistons: 3-2
Game 6: Pistons 95-90 Heat: 3-3 (Hill with 30 and 12 rebounds, Hardaway with 21 points and 10 assists.)
Game 7: Heat 101-92 Pistons: 4-3
The Heat win a very physical, tough and draining series where 5 games were decided by 5 or less points. Grant Hill is being called by many to be the next big thing in the NBA.

Conference Finals
Chicago Bulls over Miami Heat: 4-0
Game 1: Bulls 84-77 Heat (Jordan 37 points)
Game 2: Bulls 75-68 Heat
Game 3: Bulls 98-74 Heat (Jordan with 39 points, Hardaway with 25)
Game 4: Bulls 80-79 Heat (Jordan hits a fadeaway at the buzzer over Alonzo Mourning.)
The Bulls go to their fifth final to compete for their fifth championship

Western Conference
First Round

Utah Jazz over Los Angeles Clippers: 3-1
Game 1: Jazz 106-96
Game 2: Clippers 107-105 Jazz ( Karl Malone has 21 points and 17 rebounds but Malik Sealy hits deep three with 2.1 seconds left)
Game 3: Jazz 104-92 Clippers
Game 4: Clippers 100-89 Jazz
The Jazz beat the Clippers in a somewhat competitive series.

Los Angeles Lakers over Portland Trail Blazers: 3-1
Game 1: Lakers 95-77 Blazers
Game 2: Lakers 107-93 Blazers (Shaq hits 30 points and 13 rebounds)
Game 3: Blazers 98-90 Lakers
Game 4: Lakers 96-91 Blazers
Shaquille O'Neal carries his new team to an easy win.

Houston Rockets over Phoenix Suns: 3-0
Game 1: Rockets 122-95 Suns (Olajuwon with 46 points and 20 rebounds)
Game 2: Rockets 101-87 Suns
Game 3: Rockets 125-99 Suns
The Rockets win easily.

Seattle Supersonics over Minnesota Timberwolves: 3-1
Game 1: Sonics 106-101 Timberwolves
Game 2: Sonics 118-78 Timberwolves
Game 3: Timberwolves 110-103 Sonics
Game 4: Sonics 127-110 Timberwolves
The Supersonics defeat the young Timberwolves in 4.

Second Round
Utah Jazz over Los Angeles Lakers: 4-2
Game 1: Jazz 93-77 Lakers : 1-0
Game 2: Jazz 103-101 Lakers : 2-0 (Malone has 33, Shaq 27 and 12 rebounds)
Game 3: Lakers 104-84 Jazz : 1-1 (Shaq has 35 points, 10 rebounds and 8 blocks)
Game 4: Jazz 110-95 Lakers
Game 5: Lakers 98-93 Jazz
Game 6: Lakers 100-92 Jazz
Karl Malone nearly chokes as Shaq dominates in the post but the better team wins out in the end.

Houston Rockets over Seattle Supersonics 4-3
Game 1: Rockets 112-102 Sonics :1-0
Game 2: Sonics 106-101 Rockets: 1-1
Game 3: Rockets 97-93 Sonics : 2-1
Game 4: Rockets 110-101 Sonics : 3-1
Game 5: Sonics 100-94 Rockets : 3-2
Game 6: Sonics 99-96 Rockets : 3-3
Game 7: Rockets 116-91 Sonics : 4-3 (Olajuwon puts up historic clutch performance with 33 points and 14 rebounds)
In an all out war the Houston Rockets just make it past the Seattle Supersonics.

Conference Final
Utah Jazz over Houston Rockets: 4-3
Game 1: Jazz 101-86 Rockets : 1-0
Game 2: Jazz 104-92 Rockets : 2-0
Game 3: Rockets 118-100 Jazz : 2-1
Game 4: Rockets 95-92 Jazz : 2-2 (Olajuwon goes for 22 points and 16 rebounds and Drexler drives and gets an and one layup with 2.4 seconds left.)
Game 5: Jazz 97-91 Rockets : 3-2
Game 6: Rockets 105-100 Jazz : 3-3
Game 7: Jazz 106-105 : 4-3 (Stockton hits a three at the buzzer)
Another all out war but this time the Rockets were too drained to pull of the victory.

NBA Finals
Chicago Bulls over Utah Jazz : 4-1
Game 1: Bulls 84-82 Jazz ( Jordan with 29, Malone with 31)
Game 2: Bulls 97-83 Jazz (Jordan with 38)
Game 3: Jazz 104-93 Bulls (Malone with 37)
Game 4: Bulls 78-73 Jazz
Game 5: Bulls 90-88 Jazz ( Jordan with a classic game, even when he was ill, Jordan scored 40 points and then hit the buzzer beater to win the game winning his fifth game.)
Jordan shows the world why he was to be the MVP and not Malone with one of his most dominant performances landing himself finals MVP.

NBA CHAMPION: CHICAGO BULLS
 
Cleveland getting Kobe over Zydrunas? I guess this might butterfly the Cavs getting Lebron, unless there's enough room for both later on.
 
Cleveland getting Kobe over Zydrunas? I guess this might butterfly the Cavs getting Lebron, unless there's enough room for both later on.

Two things with Kobe to the Cavs:

1. If Kobe even thought he was going somewhere other than L.A. he was probably going to play college ball at Duke. Going to Cleveland would be the exact opposite of what he wanted.
2. In order to get LeBron, that probably means a season-ending injury for Kobe in 2002-03 and Cleveland winning the lottery - and it never would have worked. LeBron and Kevin Love barely work for one important reason - Kobe is a diehard introvert and a loner, and LeBron, a shameless extrovert, wants the whole team to be united on and off the court. It's part of the reason Kobe didn't get along with the gregarious and extroverted Shaquille O'Neal and why there was so much tension in LA. So if LeBron and Kobe end up teammates, expect it to be very short-lived.
 
1997 NBA Draft
The NBA draft had one college superstar that could even be a NBA superstar: Tim Duncan. And the San Antonio Spurs was the team that won the lottery after David Robinson and others were injured throughout last season.

NBA DRAFT
1. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
2. Keith Van Horn, Boston Celtics (traded 3rd and 6th picks to Vancouver for the second pick.)
3. Tony Battie, Vancouver Grizzlies
4. Antonio Daniels, Philadelphia 76ers
5. Ron Mercer, Denver Nuggets
6. Tracy McGrady, Vancouver Grizzlies (Traded on draft night to Philadelphia along with their 1998 draft pick for Marcus Camby.)

(The rest of the draft would not be of importance in the future.)
 
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