1988 NBA Re-Draft

This is the second of my NBA re-drafts. The goal is to re-do all the professional drafts of my lifetime which began in 1987. Here is the 1988 NBA Re-Draft. Let's look at how different the NBA would look if the teams got it right way back when. Here is a look back at the 1987 re-draft.

For accuracy and length purposes, only the 1st round is redone in these redrafts.

1 Los Angeles Clippers

Select: SG      Hershey Hawkins      Bradley

Hawkins was actually selected by the Clippers with the 6th overall selection.

Actual Selection: F     Danny Manning       Kansas

Manning was a fine pro and had a good career, but the Clippers 2nd selection in 1988 actually had a better pick. Hershey Hawkins had a really solid career that spanned 13 seasons and saw him average 14.7 points per game.

2 Indiana Pacers

Select: PF       Anthony Mason        Tennessee State

Mason was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 53rd overall pick by the Trailblazers.

Actual Selection: C     Rick Smits         Marist

Smiths was solid and a good pick, but Mason was the slightly better all-around player. He averaged 2 more rebounds and 2 more assists per game than Smits. Perhaps Mason could have been the boost that Reggie Miller's Pacers needed.

3 Philadelphia 76ers

Select: SG     Mitch Richmond       Kansas State

Richmond was actually selected by the Warriors with the 5th overall selection.

Actual Selection: F      Charles Smith      Pittsburgh

Richmond was the big points scorer of this draft scoring 21 points per game over his 14 year career. Having his shooting presence would have been a big asset to the Barkley led 76ers.

4 New Jersey Nets

Select: PG            Rod Strickland       DePaul

Strickland was actually selected with the 19th overall selection by the New York Knicks.

Actual Selection: SF     Chris Morris       Auburn

Rod Strickland was a great point guard and an underrated star of the 90s decade. He nearly averaged a double double and had a far better career than Morris.

5 Golden State Warriors

Select: SF            Dan Majerle        Central Michigan

Majerle was actually selected with the 14th overall selection by the Phoenix Suns.

Actual Selection: SG     Mitch Richmond       Kansas State

Richmond was the best scorer in the draft and a great pick, but he's gone in the re-draft. Majerle was a solid pro that wasn't quite at Richmond's level, but he would have been a solid selection and is a great choice in the re-draft.

6 Los Angeles Clippers

Select: PG           Avery Johnson      Southern

Johnson actually went undrafted in the 1988 NBA Draft.

Actual Selection: SG      Hershey Hawkins      Bradley

Johnson was a winner and a solid point guard that would have done well on the Clippers. The fact that he went undrafted is a crime. The Clippers love the chance to draft this guy in the re-draft and add him to a backcourt with Hershey Hawkins.

7 Phoenix Suns

Select: C     Rick Smits         Marist

Smits was actually selected with the 2nd overall selection by the Indiana Pacers.

Actual Selection: C        Tim Perry          Temple

Tim Perry was not effective as a pro and the Suns could have done much better with this selection. However, Rick Smits was gone in  the actual draft and they wanted a center. Here in the re-draft, Smits was available and the Suns are greatful.

8 Charlotte Hornets

Select: PF          Grant Long            Eastern Michigan

Long was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 33rd overall pick by the Miami Heat.

Actual Selection: PG       Rex Chapman       Kentucky

Grant Long was not selected until the 2nd round, but he was a better pro than Rex Chapman. Long had a 15 yr NBA career where he averaged 9.5 points and 6.1 rebounds.

9 Miami Heat

Select: F     Danny Manning       Kansas

Manning was actually selected with the 1st overall selection by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Actual Selection: C         Rony Seikaly         Syracuse

The 15 year vet, Danny Manning, actually went 1st in the draft. Here in the re-draft, Manning is a bargain at #9.

10 San Antonio Spurs

Select: SG       John Starks        Oklahoma State

Starks actually went undrafted in the 1988 NBA Draft.

Actual Selection: SF       Willie Anderson      Georgia

The Spurs needed some scorers and were waiting on David Robinson's service commitment back in 1988. Selecting Starks in the re-draft, allows San Antonio to get some scoring punch into the lineup.

11 Chicago Bulls

Select: PG       Steve Kerr        Arizona

Kerr was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 50th overall selection by the Phoenix Suns.

Actual Selection: C          Will Perdue         Vanderbilt

Kerr was a key part of several Bulls championships. They want to keep him in the fold via the re-draft.

12 Washington Bullets

Select: F      Charles Smith      Pittsburgh

Smith was actually selected with the 3rd overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Actual Selection: PF          Harvey Grant      Oklahoma

Charles Smith was gone in the actual draft, but he's available here now. He averaged 5 more points per game than Grant and was clearly a superior player. Washington would love to get Smith in the re-draft and keep him from the rival 76ers.

13 Milwaukee Bucks

Select: PG      Vinny Del Negro      NC State

Del Negro was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 29th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings.

Actual Selection: SF           Jeff Grayer        Iowa State

The 12 year vet Del Negro should have been a 1st rounder, especially in this weak draft class. Here in the re-draft, Del Negro goes 13 to the Bucks.

14 Phoenix Suns

Select: C         Rony Seikaly         Syracuse

Seikaly was actually selected with the 9th overall selection by the Miami Heat.

Actual Selection: SF            Dan Majerle     Central Michigan

Majerle is gone in the re-draft so the Suns pick best player available. That is Rony Seikaly, who was gone in the actual draft.

15 Seattle Supersonics

Select: SF     Chris Morris       Auburn

Morris was actually selected with the 4th overall selection by the New Jersey Nets.

Actual Selection: PG            Gary Grant       Michigan

Morris was gone in the actual draft and the obvious choice in the re-draft. The 11 yr vet averaged 11 per game and is a clear top 15 guy in this draft class.

16 Houston Rockets

Select: PF          Harvey Grant        Oklahoma

Grant was actually selected with the 12th overall pick by the Washington Bullets.

Actual Selection: SF             Derrick Chievous      Missouri

Harvey was solid and clearly better as a pro than Chievous. Grant spent 11 years in the NBA, while Chievous only spent 3.

17 Utah Jazz

Select: PG          Michael Williams       Baylor

Williams was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 48th overall pick by Detroit Pistons.

Actual Selection: C               Eric Leckner        Wyoming

Williams would have been a solid back up point guard to John Stockton which is about the best they could do in this draft. He's clearly the best player available and possible trade bait at some point. 

18 Sacramento Kings

Select: C            Andrew Lang          Arkansas

Lang was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 28th overall pick by the Phoenix Suns.

Actual Selection: SG            Ricky Berry        San Jose State

Andrew Lang was a solid big man for 12 seasons and a better player than anyone else available. 

19 New York Knicks

Select: SF       Willie Anderson        Georgia

Anderson was actually selected with the 10th overall selection by the San Antonio Spurs.

Actual Selection: PG            Rod Strickland       DePaul

Anderson was actually gone in the real draft and Strickland is long gone in the re-draft. Rod was a much better pro, but Anderson was solid and would have been a decent selection for the Knicks at this point.

20 Miami Heat

Select: PG        Vernon Maxwell        Florida

Maxwell was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 47th overall pick by the Nuggets.

Actual Selection: PG            Kevin Edwards       DePaul

Maxwell was a much better player than Edwards and averaged 12.8 points per game over a 13 year career. He is a bargain here for the Heat at 20 overall.

21 Portland Trailblazers

Select: PG       Rex Chapman       Kentucky

Chapman was actually selected with the 8th overall selection by the Charlotte Hornets.

Actual Selection: C              Mark Bryant          Seton Hall

Rex Chapman was crazy overdrafted in 1988, but he was still a 1st round value in this weak class. He had a solid 12 year career and would have fit well with the Blazers.

22 Cleveland Cavaliers

Select: C          Will Perdue         Vanderbilt

Perdue was actually selected with the 11th overall selection by the Chicago Bulls.

Actual Selection: SF             Randolph Keys       Southern Mississippi

The 13 year solid pro was still first round value. The Cavs would have done much better to get him at 22. Keys only lasted 5 years and was simply a bad pick.

23 Denver Nuggets

Select: PG             Brian Shaw         UC Santa Barbara

Shaw was actually selected with the 24th overall selection by the Boston Celtics.

Actual Selection: PF             Jerome Lane        Pittsburgh

Most probably remember Shaw at this point for his years as a pro, but he was actually a solid guard in the NBA.

24 Boston Celtics

Select: C              Mark Bryant          Seton Hall

Bryant was actually selected with the 21st overall selection by the Portland Trailblazers.

Actual Selection: PG             Brian Shaw         UC Santa Barbara

Shaw was a solid guard, and gone in the re-draft, but the Celtica may have actually benefitted from getting a big man instead. This could especially be true for Bryant, who lasted 15 years in the league.

25 Los Angeles Lakers

Select: SG            Duane Ferrell         Georgia Tech

Ferrell was actually undrafted in the 1988 NBA Draft.

Actual Selection: PG             David Rivers        Notre Dame

Ferrell went undrafted in the real draft, but he shouldn't have. He was a better guard than Rivers and would have helped the Los Angeles franchise.

- Noland

1987 NBA Re-Draft

This is the first of my NBA re-drafts. I have done a few NFL re-drafts of drafts from my lifetime, but this is the 1st basketball one, and it happens a week after my 1st baseball one. June is usually the month of the basketball draft and this is a fun way to look back on what would happen if we knew what we know now. The goal is to re-do all the professional drafts of my lifetime which began in 1987. The 1987 basketball draft was almost exactly two months after I was born. Here is the 1987 NBA Re-Draft. Let's look at how different the NBA would look if the teams got it right way back when.

For accuracy and length purposes, only the 1st round is redone in these redrafts.

1 San Antonio Spurs:
Select: C       David Robinson       Navy
Robinson was the Spurs actual selection
David Robinson is my all-time favorite athlete. It is incredible that an athlete of this caliber went to a service academy in the modern era. Robinson is one of the 50 greatest players of all-time and helped deliver multiple championships to San Antonio. Not to mention the fact, but he's one of the greatest people to ever play professional sports. The 1995 NBA MVP has numerous accolades and was the best player in a very successful draft class. He fulfilled his two year service commitment and never left San Antonio once he came. Robinson was a slam dunk as the top selection in the 1987 NBA Draft.

2 Phoenix Suns
Select: G      Reggie Miller          UCLA
Miller was actually selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 11th overall pick.
Suns Actual Selection: PF      Armen Gillum      UNLV
No disrespect to Armen Gillum who was a top 10 player in this draft class over his career and was not a terrible pick by any stretch of the imagination, but there were multiple hall of famers in this draft. Reggie Miller would have been the best player available, but he wasn't selected until pick 11. He averaged 18.2 points per game over the course of 18 years. Miller is one of the greatest players of all-time and many consider Reggie to be the greatest 3 point shooter of all-time. Simply put, Miller is too good to pass up here for the Suns.

3 New Jersey Nets
Select: F      Scottie Pippen          Central Arkansas
Pippen was actually selected by the Seattle Supersonics with the 5th overall pick.
Nets Actual Selection: F        Dennis Hopson        Ohio State
This selection would have changed the course of the NBA for the entire decade. What would have happened if Scottie never ended up in Chicago? How does not having Scottie change the legacy of one Michael Jordan? Chicago's loss would have been New Jersey's gain. The 3rd Hall of Famer of this draft class would be a no-brainer to the Nets knowing what we know now. Do the Nets possibly get a NBA championship with Pippen in the fold? It is quite possible that is exactly what happens. Pippen would have been amazing for New Jersey. Instead, New Jersey selected a player that barely held first round value. We are left wondering what if?

4 Los Angeles Clippers
Select: PG       Kevin Johnson        California
Johnson was actually selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 7th pick.
Clippers Actual Selection: F       Reggie Williams       Georgetown
Williams was okay as a pro and still would have been a 1st rounder in the re-draft. However, LA would have loved to have Johnson in the 90s. He was a multi-time All-Star and All-NBA player. Johnson was one of the top point guards of that decade. The struggling Clippers could have really used this excellent floor general to make an impact in the league.

5 Seattle Supersonics
Select: PF         Horace Grant           Clemson
Grant was actually selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 10th pick.
Supersonics Actual Selection: F      Scottie Pippen       Central Arkansas
The Supersonics made one of the best selections in league history when they picked Scottie Pippen in 1987. Unfortunately for the Sonics, they traded him to Chicago and the rest is history. During the redraft, Chicago is hit hard again as Horace Grant does not end up with the Bulls. The Sonics would love to get the all-star Horace Grant in the re-draft.

6 Sacramento Kings
Select: PG         Mark Jackson       St. John's
Jackson was actually selected with the 18th overall pick by the New York Knicks.
Kings Actual Selection: PG      Kenny Smith       North Carolina
Kenny Smith was a top 10 player in this draft, so picking him was certainly not a mistake for the Kings. The Kings didn't really get to benefit from Smith's career though, as he only stayed for 3 seasons. Additionally, Jackson had a better career than Smith. He played 17 years to Smith's 10 and made multiple all-star teams while Smith never did. Mark Jackson was a slightly better pick than Kenny Smith.

7 Cleveland Cavaliers
Select: SF         Derrick McKey       Alabama
McKey was actually selected by the Sonics with the 9th overall pick.
Cavaliers Actual Selection: PG       Kevin Johnson        California
This is a rare case where taking an inferior player works out better for the franchise. Of course in the re-draft Kevin Johnson was already gone, but McKey was a better fit for the Cavs than Johnson. The Cavaliers had Mark Price at point guard and Johnson only got backup minutes with the Cavs. By picking the defensive standout in McKey, the Cavs would have done themselves a lot of favors. They likely could have kept the rival McKey away from the Pacers in the mid 90s by selecting him too.

8 Chicago Bulls
Select: PG       Muggsy Bogues       Wake Forrest
Bogues was actually selected with the 12th overall pick by the Washington Bullets.
Bulls actual selection: C      Olden Polynice        UVA
Polynice would eventually be traded for Scottie Pippen. This would not be happening in the re-draft. He had a decent career, but Muggsy was better as a pro. Let's be honest too, after seeing Space Jam, who wouldn't want to go back in time and see Jordan and Muggsy on the same team. Playing with Jordan likely would have made Bogues far more effective. He was one of the most popular players in the league at the time and playing with Jordan would have only amplified that.

9 Seattle Supersonics

Select: PG      Kenny Smith       North Carolina
Smith was actually selected with the 6th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings

Supersonics Actual Selection: SF         Derrick McKey       Alabama
The Supersonics are one of the biggest winners of this redraft. Horace Grant and Kenny Smith were some winners and they had really solid NBA careers. They could have helped change the fortune of what was to happen with basketball in Seattle. Kenny Smith is best known today for being a host for the NBA on TNT, but he was a really strong basketball player. Smith helped the Rockets capture an NBA championship and may have been able to help Seattle over the hump had he been their selection.

10 Chicago Bulls
Select: PF        Armen Gillum        UNLV

Gillum was actually selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 2nd overall pick.

Bulls Actual Selection: PF         Horace Grant           Clemson
The Bulls definitely do not come out as good in the redraft as the actual draft. Muggsy and Gillum were solid pros, but they weren't Scottie and Horace. That being said, who is to say that these guys wouldn't have had better careers playing with MJ. You have to believe that Gillum would have been even better playing with MJ. He had 13.7 points per game over the course of his career and he would have been a solid pick. 

11 Indiana Pacers
Select: G      Reggie Lewis        Northeastern
Lewis was actually selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Boston Celtics.
Pacers Actual Selection: G      Reggie Miller          UCLA
The Pacers had the best pick of the actual draft, getting Hall of Famer Reggie Miller at pick 11. Miller is long gone in the redraft. Indiana selects another guard by the name of Reggie in the redraft. Reggie Lewis is the hardest player to peg in this or any redraft. On the surface he averaged 17.6 points per game which is good for 4th in the draft class and higher than Scottie Pippen. However, the 1992 all star, also died suddenly in 1993 of a heart attack. Was it really ever safe for Lewis to play? Was the heart attack due to cocaine use as many doctors suspect to this day? As far as basketball play when he was in the league, Lewis is a top 5 pick though and the Pacers would have been lucky to snag him at this point in the draft.

12 Washington Bullets

SG       Sarunas Marciulionis        Soviet Union

Marciulionis was actually selected in the 6th round with the 127th overall pick by the Warriors.

Bullets Actual Selection: PG   Muggsy Bogues     Wake Forest

The first of the post round 1 players goes here in the redraft and Washington would have loved to have him.Marciulionis averaged 12.8 points per game over the course of his career. He was a really good NBA player over the course of his 7 seasons and even averaged 18.9 points per during a fantastic 1991-1992 season. Largely due to his international career, Marciulionis is in the basketball hall of fame. However, it is important to recognize that he was good in the league too.

13 Los Angeles Clippers
Select: SF           Kevin Gamble         Iowa
Gamble was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 63rd overall pick by the Trail Blazers.
Clippers Actual Selection: C        Joe Wolf         North Carolina
There was absolutely no reason for Joe Wolf to be a top 15 pick, then now or ever. Wolf did play in the NBA for 11 seasons and average 4 points per game, but he never made a big impact on the game of basketball. Meanwhile, we have our second post 1st round selection in the re-draft with Kevin Gamble. The forward averaged 9.5 points per game over his NBA career and was a solid starter for the majority of his career.

15 Utah Jazz
Select: SF          Ken Norman           Illinois
Norman was actually selected with the 19th overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Jazz Actual Selection: PF       Jose Ortiz        Oregon State
Ortiz was not a successful pro. He lasted just two seasons in the NBA and only started 15 career games. Meanwhile, the Jazz could have had Ken Norman who averaged 13.5 points per game for his career. Norman would have been a much better compliment to the Jazz as well, who already had Karl Malone at the PF spot. There is no telling if Norman could have helped push Utah to the top of the Western Conference, but he would not have hurt.

16 Philadelphia 76ers
Select: SF          Reggie Williams        Georgetown
Williams was actually selected with the 4th overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers.
76ers Actual Selection: C       Christian Welp       Washington
The 76ers have consistently throughout their history tried to get a big man at the expense of a more talented guy at another position. Now, you cannot blame them for not getting Williams in 1987 as he was long gone by this point. However, you can blame them for wasting a pick on Welp. The guy should have never been a 1st round pick. Welp only started 3 career games and lasted just 3 seasons. As stated earlier, Williams was a solid player and averaged 12.5 points per game over his 10 year career. A player like Williams could have had a big impact for Philadelphia.

17 Portland Trailblazers

Select: C      Olden Polynice         Virginia

Polynice was actually selected with the 8th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls.

Trailblazers Actual Selection: SG      Ronnie Murphy       Jacksonville

Polynice was a good big man and had a solid career, but was never anything special. The center averaged 7.8 points and 6.7 rebounds over his career. He provided a solid steady presence in the middle of the paint and would be a good pick here at 17. Polynice is too good of a value to pass up here at 17. With how often the Blazers tried to hit on a big man in the 80s, it would have been good to see them get this guy.

18 New York Knicks
Select: SG        Vincent Askew      Memphis State

Askew was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 39th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Knicks Actual Selection: PG         Mark Jackson       St. John's
If the Pacers didn't get the most raw deal in the re-draft, it was the Knicks. Mark Jackson was a really good selection by the Knicks here, but he is long gone in this re-draft. They pick the dependable Askew here who was a solid role player in the NBA. 

19 Los Angeles Clippers
Select:  C          Chris Dudley       Yale

Dudley was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 75th overall pick by the Cavaliers.

Clippers Actual Selection: SF         Ken Norman           Illinois
Norman is gone in the re-draft having gone just a few picks earlier. The Clippers are not complaining though as they already locked up a PG, and a SF in this re-draft. They go big here selecting Chris Dudley who averaged 6.8 boards per game over his career. Dudley leaves something to be desired, but this is an impressive haul in this draft for the Clippers.

20 Dallas Mavericks
Select: PG         Scott Brooks          UC Irvine
Brooks was actually undrafted.
Mavericks Actual Selection: SG        Jim Farmer           Alabama
Jim Farmer's career was a 1 start and disappointing mess. He simply should have been picked nowhere near the first round. You know who should have gotten a look? Scott Brooks wasn't even selected at all, but he had a 10 year NBA career. The current Wizards coach was a pretty decent point guard once upon a time.

21 Atlanta Hawks
Select: PF        Greg Anderson             Houston
Anderson was actually selected with the 23rd overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs.
Hawks Actual Selection: C        Dallas Comegys        DePaul
When selecting somebody in the 1st round, you expect them to really make an impact with the team. This was not the case for Comegys who lasted just two seasons in the NBA. Meanwhile the guy selected 2 picks after this was actually a really quality pro. Greg Anderson last 10 NBA seasons averaging over 7 points per game. His best season was 1988-1989 when he averaged 13.7 points per game. Anderson would have been a much better selection for the ATL.

22 Boston Celtics
Select: PG         Winston Garland            SW Missouri St.
Garland was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 40th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Celtics Actual Selection: G       Reggie Lewis        Northeastern
The Celtics picked an outstanding basketball player in this draft. The sky was the limit for Reggie Lewis who unfortunately tragically passed away in 1993. They can't get someone of that caliber in the redraft, but they selected a very solid PG in Garland. The point guard averaged 9 and 1/2 points per game over 7 great NBA seasons. He could have done some damage in Boston.

23 San Antonio Spurs
Select: F        Dennis Hopson        Ohio State
Hopson was actually selected 3rd overall by the New Jersey Nets.
Spurs Actual Selection: PF        Greg Anderson             Houston
Anderson is gone in the re-draft, but they select Dennis Hopson here, who was long gone in the actual draft. Coming into San Antonio instead of New Jersey would have been a blessing for Hopson who was actually a pretty dang good pro. Over his 5 seasons, Hopson averaged more than 10 points per game. He would have been in a position to be good for a long time with the Spurs.

How different NBA History would have been if the 1987 draft went down this way.

-Noland