Redrafting the 2016 NBA Draft: Who Goes No. 1?

Joel Piton
2 minutes ago
16 min read

The 2016 NBA Draft feels close enough to remember clearly, yet just far enough away to judge honestly. The class was led by young prospects with tremendous upside, from franchise saviors to reliable role players. Now, with ten years of NBA evidence in the books, the picture looks very different. Some players became All-Stars, some exceeded every projection, and others notably never quite became what fans hoped they would be. Now we have years of production, playoff appearances, injuries, and development arcs to work with with a decade of hindsight. So come one, come all: it's time to revisit the 2016 NBA Draft and see how the order should have really went.

Jaylen Brown

Actual Position — No. 3 (BOS)

Career Stats — 20.0 PPG · 5.5 RPG · 3.0 APG · 47.8 FG%

Brown has evolved from a high-upside athlete into the definitive two-way wing of the modern era. With three All-Star nods, an All-NBA selection, and a Finals MVP, he’s the crown jewel of this class. After a shaky rookie year, Brown has officially exceeded all expectations and then some. His ball handling was the biggest "if" early in his career, but he think he's become an above ball handler at this point. This guy has virtually no weaknesses and carried a Tatum-less Celtics squad to one of the best records in the league.

Pascal Siakam

Actual Position — No. 27 (TOR)

Career Stats — 18.5 PPG · 6.6 RPG · 3.6 APG · 49.7 FG%

Siakam might be the greatest developmental success story of the decade. He went from a "motor-only" prospect criticized for being too old to a two-time All-NBA engine who played a massive role in the Raptors' 2019 title. His transition scoring and playmaking from the power forward spot are elite. And while his three-point jumper can be off and on, you can't really afford to leave him open. This guy can also guard positions 1-5 and create easy buckets at the rim. Siakam jumps up at least 20 spots easily.

Jamal Murray

Actual Position — No. 7 (DEN)

Career Stats — 19.0 PPG · 3.8 RPG · 5.0 APG · 45.9 FG%

The regular-season All-Star nods only just started hitting, but "Playoff Jamal" is a top-10 player in the world. He was the indispensable second star for the Nuggets' 2023 championship run and has been one of the most consistent NBA point guards of the last decade. What makes it more inspirational is that Murray had to overcome major injuries to get to where he is today. Without the ACL injury who knows just how decorated Murray could be by this point. Murray's chemistry with Jokic has been palpable in keeping Denver competitive and his ability to explode for 40+ in a playoff game makes him a tier-one building block.

Domantas Sabonis

Actual Position — No. 11 (ORL)

Career Stats — 16.1 PPG · 10.7 RPG · 65.0 APG · 56.0 FG%

A triple-double machine that draws comparisons to Jokic, Domantas Sabonis is lab-made for the modern NBA. A three-time All-Star who has led the NBA in rebounds multiple times, the Kings go from a dangerous playoff squad with him on the court to one of the worst teams in the league with him off. He struggled early in OKC when they tried to get him to stretch the floor but once he was moved to Indiana, his elite passing and screening unlocked everything. No one could have predicted this style of play coming out of Gonzaga. If you put Sabonis on a roster, you are guaranteed a top-10 offense because of his playmaking from the elbow.

Brandon Ingram

Actual Position — No. 2 (LAL)

Career Stats — 19.8 PPG · 5.2 RPG · 4.2 APG · 47.0 FG%

A three-level wing who can put up buckets in his sleep, you could argue that Ingarm should go fourth. Ingram has confirmed his title as one of the smoothest pure scorers in the league, and he’s earned two All-Star nods and a Most Improved Player award to boot. Health has been the biggest hurdle, as he’s struggled to stay on the floor for 70+ games but this season we saw him play the most amount of games since his rookie year which is insane to think about. He hasn't quite lived up to the Kevin Durant comparisons, but his evolution into a secondary playmaker capable of averaging 5+ assists has made him much more than just a "KD-lite". I see him remaining a high-level offensive focal point for another half decade easily.

Dejounte Murray

Actual Position — No. 29 (SAS)

Career Stats — 15.5 PPG · 5.8 RPG · 5.4 APG · 45.4 FG%

I initially saw Murray as just another lockdown defensive weapon due to his height and wingspan, but the offense surprised me big time. Murray has transitioned from a clamp-specialist to a legitimate All-Star floor general. He racked up triple-doubles with ease in San Antonio and led the league in steals, making a rebuilding Spurs team fun to watch. This guy has a deadly mid-range jumper, can finish with authority or kick the ball out to the open man. But facing tough injuries last season, as well as the emergency of rookie phenom Jeremiah Fears, makes me wonder what his next direction will be.

Fred VanVleet

Actual Position — Undrafted

Career Stats — 15.0 PPG · 3.4 RPG · 5.7 APG · 40.1 FG%

Fred VanVleet is the definition of "bet on yourself". VanVleet made the historic leap from undrafted benchwarmer to All-Star and NBA Champion. He spent years as the raptors heartbeat under the tutelage of Kyle Lowry before signing a massive deal to lead the young Rockets a few years back. His shooting and leadership are ironclad. However, the heavy minutes and physical playstyle have taken a toll on his percentages and efficiency, culminating in a major ACL injury in 2025 that has forced him off the floor this season and will likely make him a veteran mentor in the twilight of his career. But even with the late-career injuries, you can't ignore the value of a championship-caliber point guard who provides elite spacing and point-of-attack defense.

Ben Simmons

Actual Position — No. 1 (PHI)

Career Stats — 13.1 PPG · 7.4 RPG · 7.2 APG · 55.8 FG%

Oof. A tale of two distinct eras here. The first featured a Rookie of the Year win, three All-Star appearances, and an All-NBA nod. The second has been a struggle with back injuries and offensive confidence that led to a contract buyout before consecutively being terminated by the league. Hailed as the "next LeBron" at one point, Simmons had all the assets to be a superb weapon in the NBA, all but one: the shooting. His physical tools and passing vision at 6'10" were generational. What went wrong is the well-documented plateau in his scoring and a series of back issues that robbed him of his elite athleticism. Despite the fall from grace, his peak was arguably higher than anyone’s on this list besides Jaylen Brown. We'll draft him 8th for 4-5 years of good production.

Malcolm Brogdon

Actual Position — No. 36 (MIL)

Career Stats — 15.3 PPG · 4.1 RPG · 4.7 APG · 46.3 FG%

Despite the early retirement, Brogdon was a bucket from the moment he touched down in the league. Nicknamed "The President", he’s a rare member of the 50/40/90 club, has the unique distinction of winning both Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year and is the only 2nd rounder to take home the ROY award. His basketball IQ and shooting efficiency was picture perfect. Persistent lower-body injuries kept him from ever truly becoming a perennial All-Star despite having the talent for it. The ultimate plug-and-play veteran, Brogdon was the kind of player every contender in the league wants—a guy who can shoot 40% from deep, defend multiple positions, and run the second unit without turning the ball over

Buddy Hield

Actual Position — No. 6 (NOP)

Career Stats — 15.0 PPG · 4.1 RPG · 2.5 APG · 43.3 FG%

One of the most prolific three-point shooters in NBA history, Hield has spent his career as a human flamethrower, consistently ranking near the top of the league in made triples for multiple NBA franchises. However, it hurts that I can't put him higher here on this list. Hield exploded as the Kings primary scorer early, putting up 20+ points a night as a high-volume spacing engine. But he never quite developed any defensive engine and or playmaking chops to be more than a three-point specialist. In a league that loves threes, Buddy is a cheat code. But from a developmental standpoint, the guy peaked at 26 years old.

Ivica Zubac

Actual Position — No. 32 (LAL)

Career Stats — 10.5 PPG · 8.3 RPG · 1.4 APG · 61.4 FG%

It's hard to believe Zubac was second-rounder. To make matters worse (considering the Lakers have begged for a bigman in recent history) the Lakers traded him for Mike Muscala in 2019 which is a move still cited as one of the most lopsided. He's spent nearly a decade proving he's one of the most reliable traditional centers in the league. A bruiser who can grab boards in his sleep, Zubac has seemingly awoken at this point in his career, peaking in 2025 as a near-All Star who finished top three in rebounds. He's a double-double machine who understands his role perfectly and finding a starting center with his efficiency is a massive win in any draft.

Alex Caruso

Actual Position — Undrafted

Career Stats — 6.8 PPG · 2.9 RPG · 2.7 APG · 43.8 FG%

From "The Carushow" in LA to a multi-time All-Defensive First Team selection, Caruso has become the gold standard for backcourt energy players. Now a key cog for the Thunder, he remains one of the most disruptive point-of-attack defenders in the NBA. Caruso had to beat massive odds as an undrafted rookie to prove that he belongs, and he's conquered every challenge with flying wings. He won't score at a high volume, but when he does pull up from range, it's efficient. He hit 40% from deep in 2024 and for a minute turned into a niche specialist. His impact metrics rival those of All-Stars and it's hard to imagine the lakers let him walk.

Jakob Poeltl

Actual Position — No. 9 (TOR)

Career Stats — 9.1 PPG · 7.0 RPG · 1.8 APG · 63.6 FG%

Bouncing between San Antoinio and Toronto, Poeltl has been so consistently efficient that he managed to get an NBA word game named after him. Poeltl is a top-five rim deterrent and a highly intelligent low-post passer who has served as the defensive backbone for the Raptors for a combined six seasons. A double-double monster shooting well over 60% from the field for his career, Poeltl isn't a player you find everywhere. His verticality and IQ in the pick-and-roll are elite and despite not adapting a midrange or three point jumper, he remains effective without needing to. While he slides a few spots from his original lottery pick, 13 is a fair valuation or a high-floor center who guarantees you a top-10 interior defense.

Caris LeVert

Actual Position — No. 20 (IND)

Career Stats — 13.2 PPG · 3.6 RPG · 3.9 APG · 43.6 FG%

LeVert has played the role of "offensive spark plug" for several franchises, including the Nets, Pacers, and Cavaliers. Now providing veteran scoring for the Pistons, he remains a dangerous one-on-one threat who can create his own shot in high-pressure moments. To me, LeVert is such an underrated playmaker and I think it's his passing that has kept in the league this long since his shooting numbers can fluctuate. LeVert, like Hield, is another guy who has shown capability to average 19 plus points per game throughout the course of the season. LeVert has provided great basketball for some heavy hitters but foot injuries and serious medical scares have robbed him of what should have been his prime. I'm still taking him mid-first round for the highs.

Dorian Finney-Smith

Actual Position — Undrafted

Career Stats — 8.0 PPG · 2.8 RPG · 1.4 APG · 43.3 FG%

Dorian Finney-Smith is the quintessential 3-and-D-Wing, and for a while he was looked at as the draft's best undrafted player due to his NBA ready build, elite defensive timing and ability to hit short jumpers. Finney-Smith grinded his way to a key starter on a Mavericks team that reached the Western Conference Finals. Long range was always the immediate issue for him but his development into a 38% corner-three shooter was the missing piece to his game. He maximized every ounce of his talent to become one of the most versatile defensive wings in the league. A guy who can guard four positions and space the floor is worth his weight in gold at pick 15.

Malik Beasley

Actual Position — No. 19 (DEN)

Career Stats — 11.7 PPG · 2.8 RPG · 1.4 APG · 42.6 FG%

Despite the legal issues, I hope Beasley can find his way back to the league. Beasley established himself as a premier high-volume floor spacer, peaking as a 20-PPG scorer in Minnesota. Beasley was seemingly snubbed from the Sixth Man of The Year award in 2025, and in less than three months he was out of the league entirely for gambling circulations. Still, with his elite catch-and-shoot ability; he's been one of the league's most fearless shooters witnessed over the last decade and could easily anchor a second unit in the NBA with his shooing range.

Taurean Prince

Actual Position — No. 12 (UTA)

Career Stats — 9.8 PPG · 3.6 RPG · 1.7 APG · 42.9 FG%

Former Baylor Bear Taurean Prince has been a reliable NBA veteran for multiple franchises. After a career-best shooting season (43.9% from deep) with the Bucks in 2024-25, he remains a key part of their rotation in 2026, though injuries limited his availability during the Bucks' redemption campaign. His size and wing defense were exactly as advertised coming out of college. Coming off of the bench or starting, Prince makes his presence felt with elite defense and determination from beyond the arc.

Derrick Jones Jr.

Actual Position — Undrafted

Career Stats — 7.5 PPG · 3.3 RPG · 0.8 APG · 50.6 FG%

DJ's athleticism drew praise at UNLV, and it suprised a lot of people that he ended up undrafted. The Suns took a chance on hm in 2016, and the rest was history. "Airplane Mode" has had one of the most impressive career trajectories of any playe in the draft. After a massive role in the Mavericks' 2024 Finals run, he signed a large contract with the Clippers where his jump out of the gym dunks make him an immediate fan favorite. His verticality and point-of-attack defense are top-tier. Determined to show he's more than just a dunker, Jones improved his corner-three shooting; now teams can't sag off him, and his cutting ability becomes more lethal.

Kris Dunn

Actual Position — No. 5 (MIN)

Career Stats — 7.6 PPG · 3.3 RPG · 3.9 APG · 44.3 FG%

After a rocky start as a top-5 pick in Minnesota, he bounced around the league before finding his second wind as a defensive anchor for the Jazz and now the Clippers, where he was one of only a handful of players to suit up for every game in the 2025-26 season. His point-of-attack defense is legitimately All-Defensive caliber. For a guy that had bounced to the G-League for a time due to inefficient offensive play, Dunn showed teams that his defense was more than valuable enough to anchor an NBA team, valuable enough to prioritize a franchise's backcourt around him rather than a forty year old CP3.

Gary Payton II

Actual Position — Undrafted

Career Stats — 5.9 PPG · 3.0 RPG · 1.3 APG · 56.4 FG%

"The Mitten" followed his father's footsteps into defensive greatness. A vital part of the Warriors' 2022 title, he remains a cult hero and defensive specialist in Golden State through the 2026 season, still wreaking havoc in passing lanes and showing up when it matters most. Don't let the height fool you. The Warriors discovered that this kid is truthfully a "6'2" center" who can screen, roll, and finish lobs. Hard to imagine this undrafted gem going past the first round in a redraft. If you’re looking for clamp-specialists who can win you a playoff series, Payton's the guy. GP2 has a championship ring and the advanced stats of a star defender to prove he belongs here.

Guerschon Yabusele

Actual Position — No. 16 (BOS)

Career Stats — 6.2 PPG · 3.5 RPG · 1.1 APG · 46.2 FG%

Yabusele notoriously opted to play in the CBA after getting drafted by the Celtics before suiting up in the NBA the following year. What resulted was pretty forgettable. 2 points a night off the bench on 45% from the field. Yabusele subsequently returned to the CBA but came back to the NBA as a changed man after dominating in the 2024 Olympics. His improved 38% three-point stroke and refined physicality finally made him the ideal modern small-ball four. Yabusele's size and frame also make him both tough to guard in the post and an uncomfortable opponent for anyone to face up with. I think this guy was always a starting-caliber talent who simply needed the right role to unlock his potential.

Furkan Korkmaz

Actual Position — No. 26 (PHI)

Career Stats — 6.8 PPG · 2.0 RPG · 1.2 APG · 40.6 FG%

A mainstay in Philadelphia for seven seasons, Korkmaz was the quintessential gravity shooter for the Embiid era. With over 300 NBA games played (all with Philly), he returned to Turkey in 2025 to lead Tofaş as a primary scoring option. At just 28, it's hard to see him remain out of the league. But I'm still drafting him in the first round. His quick release and 40% peak from deep were exactly what Philly needed. The guy came off the bench and lit you up from deep. He was also a capable passer out of the double team and sneaky good driver. Unfortunately his defense was also a huge libaility.

Damion Lee

Actual Position — Undrafted

Career Stats — 7.8 PPG · 3.2 RPG · 1.3 APG · 43.3 FG%

Louisville Phenom Damion Lee didn't actually play in the NBA until he was 26 years old. He was seen as a G-League guy who didn't really have much to offer but to shoot a few corner threes here and there. Suffice to say, the future NBA champ had much more to offer. Lee perfected the role of "0-dribble scorer," shooting 44.5% from deep in 2023. He needed virtually nos space to get his shot off and it was pure money. Lee was seemingly the Warriors' missing link off the bench because they didn't have many shooters in the second unit apart from a 19 year old Moses Moody. You have to wonder just how good Lee could have been if he went straight to the league after college.

Danuel House Jr.

Actual Position — Undrafted

Career Stats — 7.3 PPG · 3.0 RPG · 1.1 APG · 43.4 FG%

We're racking up undrafted gems like Pokémon trading cards at this point. House turned an undrafted flyer into a productive career as a gritty, athletic 3-and-D wing. He was a critical part of the James Harden-era Rockets that were postseason locks, and later provided a scoring punch for the 76ers and Jazz. Built like a linebacker, House's athleticism and ability to hit transition threes made him a coach's favorite. He was also an above average rebounder for his size. A key contributor to multiple 50-win teams, House's only career blemish was getting suspended from the NBA in 2020 for violating COVID protocols.

Damian Jones

Actual Position — No. 30 (GSW)

Career Stats — 4.9 PPG · 3.1 RPG · 0.7 APG · 65.6 FG%

A two-time NBA Champion with the Warriors, Jones has survived a decade in the league as a reliable vertical spacer and rim protector. An athletic, interior force, Jones is your typical high flyer who doesn't need to stretch the floor and shoot thress to mkae his presence felt. Jones was virtually an athletic marvel coming out of anderbilt and whil e he didn't quite live up to. te defensive epectations, he's still a high caliber interior finisher and rebounder with literal Finals experience. I'm comfortable pickinghim up at 25.

Yogi Ferrell

Actual Position — Undrafted

Career Stats — 7.7 PPG · 2.1 RPG · 2.3 APG · 42.0 FG%

"Yogi-mania" was one of the most electric stretches of the 2016-17 season when he took Dallas by storm. A high-school legend, McDonald's All-American and Indiana cheat code, Ferrell only went undrafted because of his age. Big mistake. Dallas picked up an elite offensive weapon ready to score from the jump. He became just the third undrafted rookie in NBA history to have a 30-point game within his first 15 games. He also hit nine three-pointers on 11 attempts, which tied the record for made three-point shots in a game for an NBA rookie. His speed and pick-and-roll navigation were high-level. He didn't let his height stop him whatsoever—at just 6'0" his pull up jumper was, well, unguardable, and larger opponents were pretty unsuccessful containing him. I'd be happy picking him up here.

Marquese Chriss

Actual Position — No. 8 (SAC)

Career Stats — 7.6 PPG · 4.7 RPG · 1.0 APG · 45.6 FG%

This kind of stings. Chriss drops nearly twenty spots from his original position. He's reinvented himself as a superstar for the Shandong Heroes out in China, averaging a monstrous 20 and 8 in the 2025-26 season. But at the NBA level? Chriss was a bit mediocre. His verticality and rim-running were elite. A dunk specialist who could catch lobs in his sleep and loved throwing it down, Chriss was fun to watch in the early Phoenix days. What went wrong was a mix of early-career instability in Phoenix and a devastating leg injury in 2020 that robbed him of his most explosive years. He was an average three-point shooter, so once that went away, there wasn't much left. Still, I'd take prime Marquese Chriss as a lob-threat off the bench at 27.

Patrick McCaw

Actual Position — No. 38 (MIL)

Career Stats — 7.6 PPG · 4.7 RPG · 1.0 APG · 45.6 FG%

The most decorated player on this list, Patrick won three championships in the late 2010s as a bench wing. McCaw became the third player ever to win titles in three consecutive seasons with different teams, and the only player to three-peat since Shaq and Kobe's Lakers 17 years earlier. That's basically Midas touch level. And don't think he didn't do much. His length and defensive instincts made him a favorite of Steve Kerr. He could score at will and was a superb rebounder for a forward his size. What went wrong was a terrifying spinal injury in 2018 and a stagnant offensive game that never quite developed a shooting touch needed to keep him in a playoff rotation long-term.

Juan Hernangomez

Actual Position — No. 15 (DEN)

Career Stats — 5.0 PPG · 3.3 RPG · 0.6 APG · 42.8 FG%

Movie star Juancho Hernangomez faded out of the league way too abruptly. Known to many as "Bo Cruz" from Hustle, Juancho’s real-life career was a bit less resilient, at least at the NBA level. After seven seasons as a stretch-four in the NBA, he returned to Europe to become. Still, the guy's shooting stroke was something every NBA team values to this day. For a guy 6'10", the range was his ticket. a bout of mononucleosis early in his career and a series of fitness issues in Minnesota derailed his momentum just as he was starting to show that he's more than just a shooter.

Anthony Gill

Actual Position — Undrafted

Career Stats — 3.8 PPG · 2.0 RPG · 0.7 APG · 54.5 FG%

With six seasons down with Washington and potentially more coming, many casual NBA fans may not even know who Anthony Gill is, despite the body of work. After taking the scenic route through Europe, Gill arrived in the NBA at 28 and never looked back. He has spent the last six years as the ultimate "coach’s player" who stays ready, provides floor spacing and veteran leadership for a rebuilding DC squad. His basketball IQ and shot selection are pretty elite. He shot 63% from the field this season and that includes a decent number of three pointers. We're drafting a culture-setter to close things off. Gill is the rare end-of-bench player who actually moves the needle on winning through professional habits and hyper-efficient play.

Ten years later, 2016 NBA Draft looks a lot different. Rarely anyone matched up with their expectations. Players either exceeded their hype, or completely switched up their reputations. And of course, a few names became cautionary tales about choosing players wisely. Now it is your turn. Which outcome surprised you the most? Was it Jaylen Brown becoming the best player in the class? Simmons’ career taking such an unexpected turn? Pascal Siakam becoming a champion? Or another player whose career went in a direction you never saw coming?

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Thanks for reading!

-Joel Piton

(@jpiton7)