Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Makings of a Champion

Hindsight is 20-20.  That is essentially the nature of this post.  Often times, the bad teams in a sport are the teams that have poor draft records.  Essentially, the first-round* of the last five NBA drafts (2006-2010) will be revisited to make the each team in the league into a championship contender**.
* 2nd round if team had no first round picks
**Closest as possible in some cases [Read: Cleveland SUCKS]

Eastern Conference

Atlanta Hawks
2006: Shelden Williams Rudy Gay
2011 Lineup: Kirk Hinrich, Joe Johnson, Rudy Gay, Josh Smith, Al Horford
Boston Celtics
2008: JR Giddens DeAndre Jordan
2010: Avery Bradley Landry Fields
2011 Lineup: Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, DeAndre Jordan
Charlotte Bobcats
2006: Adam Morrison Brandon Roy
2007: Jared Dudley Wilson Chandler
2008: DJ Augustin Brook Lopez
2009: Gerald Henderson Ty Lawson
2011 Lineup: Ty Lawson, Brandon Roy, Stephen Jackson, Wilson Chandler, Brook Lopez
Chicago Bulls
2006: Tyrus Thomas Rudy Gay
2009: James Johnson Omri Casspi
2011 Lineup: Derrick Rose, Rudy Gay, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah
Cleveland Cavaliers
2006: Shannon Brown Paul Millsap
2009: Christian Eyenga Marcus Thornton
2011 Lineup: Baron Davis, Marcus Thornton, Antawn Jamison, Paul Millsap, JJ Hickson
Detroit Pistons
2007: Rodney Stuckey Wilson Chandler
2008: Walter Sharpe DeAndre Jordan
2009: Austin Daye Jrue Holiday
2011 Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Wilson Chandler, Tayshaun Prince, Greg Monroe, DeAndre Jordan
Indiana Pacers
2006: Shawne Williams Rajon Rondo
2008: Brandon Rush Nicolas Batum
2009: Tyler Hansbrough Taj Gibson
2011 Lineup: Rajon Rondo, Danny Granger, Nicolas Batum, Taj Gibson, Roy Hibbert
Miami Heat
2007: Daequan Cook Marc Gasol
2008: Michael Beasley Russell Westbrook
2011 Lineup: Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Marc Gasol [Read: 82-0]
Milwaukee Bucks
2006: David Noel Paul Millsap
2007: Yi Jianlian Wilson Chandler
2008: Joe Alexander Nicolas Batum
2009: Brandon Jennings Ty Lawson
2011 Lineup: Ty Lawson, Wilson Chandler, Nicolas Batum, Paul Millsap, Andrew Bogut
New Jersey Nets
2006: Marcus Williams Kyle Lowry
2006: Josh Boone Paul Millsap
2007: Sean Williams Wilson Chandler
2009: Terrence Williams Chase Budinger
2011 Lineup: Deron Williams, Anthony Morrow, Wilson Chandler, Paul Millsap, Brook Lopez
New York Knicks
2006 Renaldo Balkman Rajon Rondo
2011 Lineup: Rajon Rondo, Landry Fields, Carmelo Anthony, Amaré Stoudemire, Ronny Turiaf
Orlando Magic
2006: JJ Redick Rajon Rondo
2007: Reyshawn Terry Marc Gasol
2010: Daniel Orton Landry Fields
2011 Lineup: Rajon Rondo, Landry Fields, Jason Richardson, Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard
Philadelphia 76ers
2006: Rodney Carney Rajon Rondo
2008: Mareese Speights Roy Hibbert
2009: Jrue Holiday Ty Lawson
2010: Evan Turner DeMarcus Cousins
2011 Lineup: Rajon Rondo, Ty Lawson, Andre Iguodala, DeMarcus Cousins, Roy Hibbert
Toronto Raptors
2006: Andrea Bargnani LaMarcus Aldridge
2001 Lineup: Jose Calderon, Leandro Barbosa, DeMar DeRozan, Ed Davis, LaMarcus Aldridge
Washington Wizards
2006: Oleksiy Pecherov Paul Millsap
2007: Nick Young Wilson Chandler
2008: Javale McGee JJ Hickson
2011 Lineup: John Wall, Wilson Chandler, Rashard Lewis, Paul Millsap, JJ Hickson

Western Conference


Dallas Mavericks
2006: Maurice Ager Paul Millsap
2007: Nick Fazekas Marc Gasol
2011 Lineup: Jason Kidd, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler
Denver Nuggets
2009: Sergio Llull DeJuan Blair
2011 Lineup: Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Néne
Golden State Warriors
2006: Patrick O'Bryant Rajon Rondo
2007: Branden Wright Joakim Noah
2007: Marco Belinelli Wilson Chandler
2010: Ekpe Udoh Greg Monroe
2011 Lineup: Rajon Rondo, Monta Ellis, Wilson Chandler, David Lee, Joakim Noah
Houston Rockets
2011 Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin, Chase Budinger, Luis Scola, Yao Ming
Los Angeles Clippers
2007: Al Thornton Wilson Chandler
2011 Lineup: Mo Williams, Eric Gordon, Wilson Chandler, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Los Angeles Lakers
2011 Lineup: Shannon Brown, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum
Memphis Grizzlies
2008: OJ Mayo Russell Westbrook
2009: Hasheem Thabeet Stephen Curry
2011 Lineup: Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol
Minnesota Timberwolves
2006: Randy Foye Rudy Gay
2007: Corey Brewer Joakim Noah
2009: Ricky Rubio Stephen Curry
2009: Jonny Flynn Ty Lawson
2010: Wesley Johnson DeMarcus Cousins
2011 Lineup: Ty Lawson, Stephen Curry, Rudy Gay, Kevin Love, Joakim Noah
New Orleans Hornets
2006: Hilton Armstrong Rajon Rondo
2006: Cedric Simmons Paul Millsap
2007: Julian Wright Wilson Chandler
2010: Quincy Pondexter Jordan Crawford
2011 Lineup: Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, Wilson Chandler, David West, Emeka Okafor
Oklahoma City Thunder
2006: Mouhamed Sene Rajon Rondo
2008: Russell Westbrook Kevin Love
2009: James Harden Stephen Curry
2011 Lineup: Rajon Rondo, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Serge Ibaka
Phoenix Suns
2007: Alando Tucker Marc Gasol
2008: Robin Lopez George Hill
2009: Earl Clark Taj Gibson
2011 Lineup: Steve Nash, George Hill, Vince Carter, Taj Gibson, Marc Gasol
Portland Trailblazers
2007: Greg Oden Kevin Durant
2008: Jerryd Bayless George Hill
2009: Victor Claver Rodrigue Beaubois
2011 Lineup: George Hill, Brandon Roy, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, Marcus Camby
Sacramento Kings
2006: Quincy Douby Rajon Rondo
2008: Jason Thompson Roy Hibbert
2011 Lineup: Rajon Rondo, Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, DeMarcus Cousins, Roy Hibbert
San Antonio Spurs
2007: Tiago Splitter Marc Gasol
2011 Lineup: Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Richard Jefferson, Tim Duncan, Marc Gasol
Utah Jazz
2006: Ronnie Brewer Rajon Rondo
2007 Morris Almond Carl Landry
2011 Lineup: Rajon Rondo, Devin Harris, Carl Landry, Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson

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