Surprise Scenarios That Could Shake Up the 2016 NBA Draft

Not all NBA drafts unfold according to plan.

Teams vacillate between potential choices. They consider moving up in the order. They consider moving down. They try consolidating picks, hoping to acquire a superstar.

Seldom do most—or even some—of the most popular surprise scenarios come to fruition, but such scenarios are still possible. 

Thus, it’s our responsibility as loyal hoops addicts to cycle through any possible draft-day curveballs, however unlikely, that would make the biggest lasting impacts on the June 23 proceedings and/or the resulting NBA landscape. 

 

Sixers Reach for Kris Dunn at No. 1

Kris Dunn to the Philadelphia 76ers? Over Brandon Ingram or Ben Simmons? Preposterous.

Or maybe not.

“Dunn is a super-athletic point guard in the mold of John Wall,” Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher said. “He’s exactly what the 76ers need and would be a great fit. They just don’t have the gumption, I’m told by league sources, to take him No. 1, even though the feeling is he could ultimately be the best player among the three.”

Bucher also noted that the Sixers are trying to move Jahlil Okafor for the Boston Celtics’ No. 3 overall pick, which would allow Philadelphia to take Dunn at No. 3 without passing on Ingram or Simmons. Philly, per Calkins Media’s Tom Moore, is still favoring Simmons:

Just that Sixers leaning toward him. RT @BMoonan: Derek Bodner has several Sixers sources telling him they’ll draft Simmons. Heard anything?

— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) May 31, 2016

Philly could even part ways with Nerlens Noel, albeit in a deal that could possibly torpedo its interest in Dunn, according to Yahoo Sports’ Shams Charania:

Atlanta and Philadelphia are discussing a deal centered on a Jeff Teague and Nerlens Noel package, league sources tell The Vertical.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 2, 2016

Trading one of Noel or Okafor is a must at this point. Simmons only compounds a frontcourt logjam that will soon include Joel Embiid and Dario Saric. There isn’t enough space in the rotation—or on the floor—for all of them to flourish.

That’s why Ingram’s name remains in the top-pick conversation, even if he isn’t the favorite. He fills an immediate need for Philly, just like Dunn. 

And if the Sixers can’t line up suitors for any of their incumbent bigs, they may draft for need over assumed talent. Just think about how that would affect the draft.

Bleacher Report’s draft guru Jonathan Wasserman has Dunn going No. 6 to the New Orleans Pelicans in his latest mock draft. All hell will break loose if he instead goes to the Sixers at No. 1. That would send Ingram and Simmons into the Los Angeles Lakers’ (No. 2) and Celtics’ waiting arms.

If Philly selected Dunn at No. 3 after possibly dealing Okafor to Boston, it would still be reaching. In addition, Dunn’s possible ascension would impact where at least one other premier prospect would fall. 

Would Buddy Hield drop out of the top five, since neither the Phoenix Suns (No. 4) nor the Minnesota Timberwolves (No. 5) need a guard to move the offensive needle? Would the Pelicans target another wing, like Jaylen Brown? Or would they perhaps hope Dragan Bender slips to No. 6, should the two best ball-handling guards, Dunn and Hield, come off the board?

It doesn’t matter how or when the Sixers select Dunn. If they somehow get him, the rest of the top 10 will feel the repercussions.

 

Dragan Bender Transcends Projections

Bender’s climb up the draft ranks over the last year is legitimate. It doesn’t hurt that Rookie of the Year runner-up Kristaps Porzingis has put sweet-shooting European bigs …

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