2013 NBA draft Puns

There are billions of little threads that have tied together over the years to give us the current NBA landscape. Of course, some of these threads were a lot more important in shaping the game we know than others. One of these threads is unknown to the average NBA fan but tied two of the most impactful trades that have occurred in the modern game, as well as one league-changing trade that didn't happen.

Now, before I start I want to mention that we aren't looking at any elaborate trade trees here. Any random pick in any random draft can be considered league-changing if someone follows enough steps of a trade tree that it was involved in. We're only going to discuss two moves and one non-move that this pick was directly involved in.

The history that was and never was:

1. The pick that wound up becoming the #12 selection in 2013 first belonged to Toronto. When Toronto lost out to the Lakers on signing Steve Nash, they sent the 2013 1st-round pick along with Gary Forbes to the Houston Rockets to acquire Kyle Lowry in a trade.

2. The Houston Rockets eventually flipped that Toronto first-round pick in an elaborate package sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The trade? Acquiring James Harden: "The Thunder acquired guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick in the surprising deal that was completed Saturday night. Oklahoma City also sent center Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to Houston."

3. Meanwhile, less than a year after trading away their first-rounder in a deal for Kyle Lowry, Toronto signed reigning NBA Executive of the Year, Masai Ujiri, away from the Denver Nuggets.

4. Masai immediately got to work on exploring trade options to get back into the first half of the first round. The reason? He was desperate to draft this kid by the name of Giannis Antetokounmpo before any other teams picked him up.

5. The closest Toronto got to moving back into the lottery: A proposed trade for their own 2013 first-rounder, which now sat with OKC and had become the #12 pick in the draft via a lottery that took place just 10 days prior to the Raptors making Ujiri the organization's new General Manager.

6. The problem for Toronto: Oklahom

Giannis Antetokounmpo just led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship in 50 years. The “ Greek Freak”won the Finals MVP after one of the most impressive Finals and Play Off performances ever. Giannis was already a 2 time NBA MVP prior to the 2021 season. How did Milwaukee obtain their franchise star, and arguably the best player in the NBA? Giannis was selected 15th in the NBA draft by Milwaukee in 2013. What players were drafted ahead of him? Here’s the list.

1.) Anthony Bennett to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

2.)Victor Oladipo to the Orlando Magic.

3.) Otto Porter to the Washington Wizards.

4.) Cody Zeller to Charlotte.

5.) Alex Len to the Suns.

6.) Nerlens Noel to the New Orleans Pelicans.

7.) Ben McLemore to the Kings.

8.) Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Detroit.

9.) Trey Burke to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

10.) CJ McCollum to Portland.

11.) Michael Carter Williams to Philadelphia 76ers.

12.) Steven Adams to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

13.) Kelly Olynyk to the Dallas Mavericks.

14.) Shabazz Muhammad to the Utah Jazz.

15.) Giannis Antetokounmpo note to the Milwaukee Bucks.*

https://sports.yahoo.com/were-14-players-drafted-giannis-041447858.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_Thunder_draft_history

2007- Durant, Landry, Big Baby Glen Davis

2008- Westbrook, Ibaka

2009- Harden, Rodrigue Beaubois (Played well for a couple years in Dallas)

2010- Eric Bledsoe (Traded)

2011- Reggie Jackson

2012- No one of note

2013- Steven Adams

They have SGA, Bazley, and Dort as good young talent but are pretty thin besides that. Most of these picks are going to be mid to late first rounders. I just don't really get what he is doing but he has been a good GM so I trust he has a plan. I feel like he is still chasing the dragon Westbrook, Harden, Durant, Green, Ibaka smallball lineup he could have had a dynasty with.

Craziest to look back on has to be 2013.

Some crazy facts:

• Anthony Bennett went 1st overall. He played 4 season on 4 different teams before leaving the NBA. He never averaged over 5PPG

• Just ONE lottery pick from this class has made an all-star team (Victor Oladipo, 2nd overall)

• Giannis Antetokounmpo went 15TH OVERALL!! Not even a lottery pick and wasn’t considered to even have a chance at the time. Now, he is the supposed handler of the torch after LeBron retires.

• Rudy Gobert, 2x Defensive Player of the Year, went 27TH!

• MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS (11th overall) won ROTY and was seen as the “next big thing” (EDIT: in Philly during early Process era, to clarify; he averaged 16/6/6/2)

• Just THREE 2nd round selections still have a job in the NBA

• SIX of the top-10 picks (this doesn’t include Bennett) never made an impact and have made a career as a bench booster

• Aside from Victor Oladipo and Giannis, only CJ McCollum (who went 10TH!!??) came out of this class and has posted at least one 20+ PPG season

• The Cavaliers won 1st overall pick, selected Bennett, and traded him to Minnesota. The next year? The Cavaliers won 1st overall pick, select Andrew Wiggins, and traded him to Minnesota. Both were considered major talent coming into the league. In hindsight, neither of those players play for Minnesota anymore and both were considered extremely disappointing considering their potential. The Cavs won the NBA championship three years after the Bennett selection.

• Only Giannis, McCollum, Adams, Roberson, and Olynyk have ever played any meaningful minutes in a Conference final.

I swear, this draft was a troll all around. Any other crazy facts I’m missing? Would love to hear more about this absolute mess of an NBA draft.

EDIT: I actually forgot to include Steven Adams at 12th as well. On Wiki MCW is just above him and was distracting, lol. Seems like two international elite big-guys were passed on, and not just Gobert.

Time: 7pm ET

PLEASE SUBMIT DRAFT TRADE RUMOURS IN THIS THREAD DURING THE DRAFT

NBA Scout James Kerti (/u/JamesKerti) will likely be dropping by to comment on some draft picks and give his insight, so if you have any questions, drop em in the thread and he might answer them!

Reddit comment stream: http://reddit-stream.com/comments/1h7d4t/

Draft Resources:

http://www.nbadraft.net/

http://www.draftexpress.com/

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

With the _st/nd/rd/th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the __________ ___________ select:

Cleveland: ANTHONY BENNETT

Orlando: Victor Oladipo

Washington: Otto Porter

Charlotte: Cody Zeller

Phoenix: Alex Len

New Orleans (first draft as the Pelicans snicker): Nerlens "Nawlins" Noel (TRADED TO THE SIXERS ALONG WITH A 2014 FIRST ROUND PICK FOR JRUE HOLIDAY AND THE 42nd pick- WOJ)

Sacramento: Ben McLemore

Detroit: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Minnesota: Trey Burke (Trey Burke going to Jazz for 14 & 21 pick - Chad Ford)

Portland: CJ McCollum

Philadelphia: Michael Carter-Williams

Oklahoma City: Steven Adams

Dallas (traded to BOS*): Kelly Olynyk

*BOS trades two future 2nd rounders and the 16th pick for the 13th pick (Kelly Olynyk)

Utah (traded to MIN): Shabazz Muhammad

Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Boston (traded to DAL traded to ATL*): Lucas Noguiera

*DAL trades 16th and Jared Cunningham to ATL for 18th and 44th

Atlanta: Dennis Schroeder

Atlanta (traded to DAL): Shane Larkin

Cleveland: Sergey Karasev

Chicago: Tony Snell

Utah (traded to MIN): Gorgui Dieng

Brooklyn: Mason Plumlee

Indiana: Solomon Hill

New York : Tim Hardaway Jr

LA Clippers: Reggie Bullock

Minnesota (traded to GSW* traded to OKC): Andre Roberson

*Minnesota trades Malcolm Lee and 26th to GSW for cash and future 2nd rd'er then 26th traded to OKC for 29th and cash (I'm actually confused about this trade)

Denver: Rudy Gobert (traded to UTA for 46th pick and cash)

San Antonio: Livio Jean-Charles

Oklahoma City (traded to GSW traded to PHX): Archie Goodwin

Phoenix (traded to GSW): Nemanja Nedovic

Cleveland : Allen Crabbe (traded to POR for two future 2nd)

Oklahoma City: Alex Abrines

Cleveland : Carrick Felix

Housto

2013 NBA Draft:

• Allen Crabbe and Mike Muscala are the highlights of the entire 2nd Round. It was a pretty shite draft class in general, but 8 of the 30 2nd Rounders did not play a single minute in the NBA.

2014 NBA Draft:

• Nikola Jokic taken at #41 Overall. He's by far the best player of this bunch and no one comes close, fair enough. How did everyone else do? You're looking at a fair few decent names in Spencer Dinwiddie, Jerami Grant, Joe Harris, and Jordan Clarkson. Certainly better than 2013's class, but still 7 of the 30 didn't play a single NBA minute.

2015 NBA Draft:

• Josh Richardson at #40 and Cedi Osman at #31 are seriously the only notable names. Norman Powell we'll see how he develops with Toronto, but this class has a crazy 15 of 30 players who haven't played a minute of action yet. Some are still stashed overseas of course but still, half the class.

2016 NBA Draft:

• Malcolm Brogdon was the ROTY and remains one of the few bright spots in an increasingly less impressive 2nd Round. You're scrapping the bottom of the barrel looking at Jake Layman and Ivica Zubac. 6 of the 30 haven't played in the NBA.

TLDR: 2nd Rounders have a slight bit of value to push a deal over the hill, but they should not be celebrated since you have far better odds of the selection never even making it to the NBA.

• 1. Cleveland Cavaliers: PF Anthony Bennett
• 2. Orlando Magic: SG Victor Oladipo
• 3. Washington Wizards: SF Otto Porter
• 4. Charlotte Bobcats: C Cody Zeller
• 5. Phoenix Suns: C Alex Len
• 6. New Orleans Pelicans: C Nerlens Noel
• 7. Sacramento Kings: SG Ben McLemore
• 8. Detroit Pistons: SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

There's 1 consensus good player here. Oladipo. Besides that, Otto Porter signed a 100M contract and has never averaged 15PPG. Cody Zeller is a whatever player on the mediocre Charlotte White Big Men, Len was somebody the Hawks kicked the tires on, Noel turned down a 70M+ deal with Dallas and now plays for the minimum, McLemore is a shit Dion Waiters, and KCP literally serves time in prison while playing.

If you really think about it, they could've drafted Oladipo( who's not a great player but still a solid scorer and defender), Otto Porter a good three and D guy, or Noel who's an outstanding defender and they could've had a great impact til this day on the Cavs. Quite possibly the worst draft picks in the last 20 years.

2013 NBA Re-Draft

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (15)

2. Rudy Gobert (27)

3. Victor Oladipo (2)

4. CJ McCollum (10)

5. Steven Adams (12)

6. Dennis Schröder (17)

7. Otto Porter (3)

8. Tim Hardaway Jr. (24)

9. Andre Roberson (26)

10. Cody Zeller (4)

11. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (8)

12. Michael Carter-Williams (11)

13. Kelly Olynyk (13)

14. Allen Crabbe (31)

15. Gorgi Dieng (21)

16. Nerlens Noel (6)

17. Mason Plumlee (22)

18. Alex Len (5)

19. Reggie Bullock (25)

20. Tony Snell (20)

21. Ben McLemore (7)

22. Isiah Canaan (34)

23. Trey Burke (9)

24. Mike Muscala (44)

25. James Ennis (50)

26. Shabazz Muhammad (14)

27. Raul Neto (47)

28. Alex Abrines (32)

29. Archie Goodwin (29)

30. Joffrey Lauvergne (55)

.

Note: Based on CAREER SUCCESS, not just 2018-19 season.

Time: 8:30 ET

(credit to /u/Go0n)

Bucks selected Giannis (18y old) at the 2013 draft with their 15th pick.

According to this article, they had finalized their decision 3-days before the draft. Toronto's GM Masai Ujiri, also tried frantically to find a deal to move into the top 15 and select Giannis, but nothing materialized. Atlanta with the 17th pick was his floor according to the same article.

I guess we'll learn more at the "Finding Giannis" documentary airing on Saturday.

Here are some comment highlights on the r/nba thread before and after the Bucks selection:

• Let's see what poor young soul gets stuck in Milwaukee this year!!!
• THIS JUST IN: Milwaukee Bucks play-by-play announcer found dead hanging from ceiling in closet.
• I can already feel that Milwaukee is going to screw up its pick big time(Either Larkin, Onlynk or Plumlee). Calling it.
• Milwaukee, TRADE EVERYTHING TO GET TREY BURKE
• Hey uh Bucks can we trade up and get McLemore?
• Bucks please take Shabazz
• Toronto is trying extremely hard to trade into the late lottery, specifically targeting Giannis Adetokunbo - @MarkDeeksNBA
• Bucks should gamble on Giannis here IMO.
• The Milwaukee Bucks select who the fuck is that
• AFGHANTIFUKTO WHAT?
• I guess we can call the Bucks pick... the GOLDEN DAWN of a new era in their franchise. YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
• [LOL BUCKS](https://www.reddit

Obviously we can all agree on who should have gone first in the 2013 NBA Draft (ROY Michael Carter-Williams, Right guys???). I'm curious, before the draft actually happened, who did you want your team to draft? As a Cavs fan, I really wanted Otto Porter. I also thought Trey Burke was going to be a stud, so what the hell do I know?

Also, if you say you thought Giannis should have gone first, I hate you.

1. Cleveland: Anthony Bennett, F, UNLV
2. Orlando: Victor Oladipo, G, Indiana
3. Washington: Otto Porter, F, Georgetown
4. Charlotte: Cody Zeller, F, Indiana
5. Phoenix: Alex Len, C, Maryland
6. Philadelphia (from New Orleans): Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky
7. Sacramento: Ben McLemore, G, Kansas
8. Detroit: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G, Georgia
9. Utah (from Minnesota): Trey Burke, G, Michigan
10. Portland: C.J. McCollum, G, Lehigh
11. Philadelphia: Michael Carter-Williams, G, Syracuse
12. Oklahoma City (from Toronto via Houston): Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh
13. Boston (from Dallas): Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga
14. Minnesota (from Utah): Shabazz Muhammad, F, UCLA
15. Milwaukee: Giannis Adetokunbo, F, Greece
16. Atlanta (from Dallas via Boston): Lucas Nogueira, C, Brazil
17. Atlanta: Dennis Schroeder, G, Germany
18. Dallas (from Atlanta via Houston, Brooklyn): Shane Larkin, G, Miami
19. Cleveland (from Los Angeles Lakers): Sergey Karasev, F, Russia
20. Chicago: Tony Snell,G, New Mexico
21. Minnesota (from Utah via Golden State, Brooklyn): Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
22. Brooklyn: Mason Plumlee, C, Duke
23. Indiana: Solomon Hill, F, Arizona
24. New York: Tim Hardaway Jr., G, Michigan
25. Los Angeles Clippers: Reggie Bullock, F, UNC
26. Oklahoma City, (from Golden State via Memphis, Houston, Minnesota): Andre Roberson, F, Colorado
27. Utah (from Denver): Rudy Gobert, C, France
28. San Antonio: Livio Jean-Charles, F, France
29. Phoenix (from Golden State via Oklahoma City): Archie Goodwin, G, Kentucky
30. Golden State (from Phoenix via Miami, LAL, Cleveland): Nemanja Nedovic, G, Serbia

Rumor has it that they really liked Antetokounmpo and if they hadn't pulled the trigger on the trade, they would've gone for him at 14th and Gobert at 21st. They ended up seeing Gobert falling so wanted to make a move for him at 27 and got a good offer with Denver (2nd round pick and 1M$), and pulled the trigger again. This could've been one of the best drafts for a team ever if they had stayed still. Can you imagine where the Jazz would be right now with Giannis?

Edit: For reference https://twitter.com/andyblarsen/status/968607421907197952

Reviewing the lottery and one extra...

• #1 Pick: Anthony Bennett (Cavaliers) - Flamed out of the league as of right now, F
• #2 Pick: Victor Oladipo (Magic) - Bounced around ORL/OKC, may have found a home as a star in Indy, B+
• #3 Pick: Otto Porter (Wizards) - Damn solid 3rd scorer, shooting 45% from 3 this year, B+
• #4 Pick: Cody Zeller (Hornets) - Relatively under-whelming, not special in many ways, C+
• #5 Pick: Alex Len (Suns) - An alright center all these seasons but nothing special, C+
• #6 Pick: Nerlens Noel (76ers) - Did decent with Philly but has fizzled out with Dallas, C
• #7 Pick: Ben McLemore (Kings) - Spent 4 years with the Kings doing nothing, poor pick, C-
• #8 Pick: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Pistons) - Can score a fair amount, but career role player, C+
• #9 Pick: Trey Burke (Jazz) - Currently in the G-League, fairly average player when he played, C-
• #10 Pick: CJ McCollum (Blazers) - Blossomed into a 20PPG scorer in his 3rd year, A
• #11 Pick: Michael Carter-Williams (76ers) - Amazing start to his career, ROTY, poor since then, C
• #12 Pick: Steven Adams (Thunder) - Tremendous asset for OKC, solid starting center, B+
• #13 Pick: Kelly Olynyk (Celtics) - Very solid role player who fits modern NBA, B
• #14 Pick: Shabazz Muhammed (T-Wolves), Career do nothing for the T-Wolves basically, C-
• #15 Pick: Giannis Antetokounpo (Bucks) - Already an NBA superstar, best pick this draft, A+

Those were the first 15 picks, some other notables.

• #17 Pick: Dennis Schroder (Hawks) - Very solid PG, will have a place in the league for next decade, B+
• #27 Pick: Rudy Gobert (Jazz) - Phenomenal defensive center for the Jazz, some health issues, A-
• #31 Pick: Allen Crabbe (Blazers) - One of very few 2nd Rounders to be playing, decent w/ Nets, B-

EDIT: Zeller bumped from C- to C+ after reading /u/BizGilwalker's point

What if Utah picked Michael carter Williams instead of trey burke, would his career still be the same or would he be playing at a all star level?

Followed by Orlando then Washington.

OKC selected Adams with the 12th pick, MIL picked Giannis with the 15th pick.

OKC took the Spurs to Game 6 of the WCF, where the Spurs lost in 7 games to the Heat in a historical Finals series.

Would Giannis' development have been stunted if he was selected by OKC? Would Giannis become even 3/4 of what he currently is?

The world will never know.