2014 NBA re-draft: The way it should have been
The 2014 NBA draft is a fascinating one to look back at, with two centers and multiple-time finishers in 1st and 2nd of MVP races leading the way. One of them, however, was a second-round pick, making his career especially interesting.
Overperforming second-round picks is a theme in this re-draft, as multiple players who went after the Top 30 have found their way onto this list.
The second-round picks from 2014 take almost all of the shine away from the undrafted guys, too, as we didn’t have many undrafted players go in this re-draft, while in other years, we have seen undrafted players go as high as No. 6 in a re-draft.
Below, check out our 2014 NBA re-draft, with the players taken in the order they should have been.
No. 1 pick: Nikola Jokic
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
The greatest second-round pick of all time, and it isn’t close, Nikola Jokic’s draft selection was famously announced during a commercial break of that night’s draft airing – during a Taco Bell commercial if you’ll believe it. A two-time MVP already and on his way to winning a third MVP in a row, something only Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell have accomplished, Jokic is one of the best big men to ever play the sport, a dominant force in efficient scoring, playmaking and rebounding with improved defensive abilities.
Actual position: No. 41
Career earnings: $117,688,678
Career stats: 20.1 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 6.6 apg, 55.1 FG%, 34.9 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 2 pick: Joel Embiid
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
If it weren’t for Jokic, Joel Embiid would be seen in an even brighter light, as the Kansas product would likely have at least one MVP award under his belt were it not for his Serbian counterpart. Along with Jokic, Embiid has helped modernize and revitalize the center position back when it looked like it was dying a slow death. He can score from the outside, from near the basket, shoot threes, face-up, post-up and is actually a more impactful defender than Jokic thanks to his shot-blocking. The 76ers took a bit of a gamble drafting Embiid third overall as he suffered a season-ending injury during his lone year with the Jayhawks, and it actually took him years to play his first NBA game. Still, the gamble has more than paid off.
Actual position: No. 3
Career earnings: $134,074,306
Career stats: 26.9 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 49.6 FG%, 33.8 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 3 pick: Julius Randle
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Despite a standout lone season at Kentucky, Julius Randle still took a slight tumble on draft night to No. 7 due to a perceived lack of outside shooting and his unwillingness to pass the ball in college. Few could have imagined how Randle would have blossomed in the NBA, as he’s actually now a plus-playmaker out of the frontcourt, a respectable outside shooter and an All-Star-level power forward overall.
Actual position: No. 7
Career earnings: $79,831,962
Career stats: 18.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, 47.1 FG%, 33.6 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 4 pick: Zach LaVine
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
A late-lottery pick in 2014, Zach LaVine was drafted even that highly purely on potential, as LaVine displayed awe-inspiring athleticism at UCLA but was a bit raw, averaging just 9.4 points on 44.1 percent shooting in college. Obviously, LaVine has beyond panned out, now an All-Star guard who’s still an elite athlete and has developed into a high-scoring ball-handler from all three levels.
Actual position: No. 13
Career earnings: $87,647,297
Career stats: 20.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.9 apg, 46.2 FG%, 38.4 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 5 pick: Andrew Wiggins
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
The top overall pick of the 2014 class, Andrew Wiggins was a bit of a disappointment early on in his NBA career, putting up decent-enough numbers but never impacting games like many believed he had the ability to. That wasn’t a new issue with Wiggins, either, as even as a high-school, five-star, can’t-miss prospect, one of his main knocks was his willingness to just float through games, making an insane play here or there but never consistently enough. It took until he joined Golden State and slotted into being a third option on offense that he really shined, using his athleticism to shine on defense and the glass in helping guide the Warriors to the 2021-22 championship.
Actual position: No. 1
Career earnings: $138,943,522
Career stats: 19.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 44.9 FG%, 35.4 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 6 pick: Aaron Gordon
Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Aaron Gordon falls to No. 6 in our re-draft, not too far from his actual 2014 draft position of fourth overall. Gordon is not a star-level player in the NBA, but he is a freakish athlete, a monster in transition, a good scorer on slashes and a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. If he were a more consistent outside shooter, Gordon might have hit a higher level by now, but even as he is, he’s very much a positive-impact player whenever he’s out there.
Actual position: No. 4
Career earnings: $94,019,459
Career stats: 13.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 47.1 FG%, 32.7 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 7 pick: Marcus Smart
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, even as questionable as that award might have been, Marcus Smart truly is one of the best guard defenders in the NBA, an absolute pest on that end of the floor, and also provides some solid playmaking for the Celtics, though his shooting is still very inconsistent.
Actual position: No. 6
Career earnings: $65,331,259
Career stats: 10.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.6 apg, 38.6 FG%, 32.2 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 8 pick: Clint Capela
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Another high-riser in this re-draft, Clint Capela was a late first-rounder in 2014 but has very much outplayed his draft position, developing into a high-level pick-and-roll finisher, a feisty shot-blocker and one of the league’s premier rebounders, a double-double machine at center through and through. He lacks the skill as a ball-handler and shooter of the actual top centers of this era, but Capela is just a tier or two below the top guys.
Actual position: No. 25
Career earnings: $74,355,792
Career stats: 12.4 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 1.0 apg, 62.4 FG%, 53.1 FT%
Scouting Report
No. 9 pick: Jordan Clarkson
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
One of many late-first-round, second-round steals for the Lakers during this time frame, Jordan Clarkson was another hit for Los Angles on draft night. A former Sixth Man of the Year, Clarkson is one of the craftiest scorers in the league, getting buckets in ways that may seem unorthodox but are very effective to this day.
Actual position: No. 46
Career earnings: $75,272,395
Career stats: 15.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 44.0 FG%, 33.9 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 10 pick: Jusuf Nurkic
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Fun fact: Jusuf Nurkic actually started games for the Nuggets before Jokic did, a decision that would draw ire from Denver fans once Jokic would check in and do things from the center position we had never seen before. That didn’t last that long, obviously, with Nurkic shipped to Portland in just his third season, but it did happen. Still, for a mid-first-round pick, Nurkic has performed well as an NBA player, developing into a starter-level center with good scoring chops down low and underrated playmaking from the mid-post. Plus, that brutal leg injury sapped him from the potential to be more, as Nurkic looked to be on an upward trajectory before breaking his leg.
Actual position: No. 16
Career earnings: $56,473,304
Career stats: 12.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 50.2 FG%, 29.8 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 11 pick: Jerami Grant
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
If we do this re-draft in another few years, Jerami Grant should crack the Top 10, an impressive feat for a former second-round pick, as the two-way swingman is playing some of the best basketball of his career right now, averaging nearly 21 points over the past two-plus seasons while providing versatile defense.
Actual position: No. 39
Career earnings: $60,966,660
Career stats: 12.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, 45.6 FG%, 35.7 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 12 pick: Spencer Dinwiddie
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The story of this draft seems to be overperforming second-round picks, with Spencer Dinwiddie being yet another guy to go in the lottery of this re-draft despite falling out of the first round on draft night. Of course, Dinwiddie likely wouldn’t have fallen that far had he not just torn his ACL during his final season at Colorado. It’s impressive that Dinwiddie has been able to bounce back from those injuries (he’s had other major issues since the one that ended his college career prematurely) as the tall playmaking bucket-getter remains a solid player to this day.
Actual position: No. 38
Career earnings: $46,826,060
Career stats: 13.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.1 apg, 41.7 FG%, 33.5 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 13 pick: Joe Harris
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Yet another second-round pick from 2014 to crack the Top 14 of this re-draft, Joe Harris at one time looked like one of the best stand-still three-point shooters in the NBA. Injuries have caused him to taper off over recent seasons but at one point, Harris was one of the top three-point specialists in the league, with some off-the-dribble scoring skills to go with that.
Actual position: No. 33
Career earnings: $53,663,246
Career stats: 10.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 48.1 FG%, 43.7 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 14 pick: Gary Harris
Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Out of Michigan State, Gary Harris went 19th overall, yet another player who would start their career in Denver from this draft class. Injuries have slowed him down but at one point, Harris was a very solid two-way guard who could shoot from the outside, score off the dribble and do some playmaking and rebounding.
Actual position: No. 19
Career earnings: $82,562,615
Career stats: 11.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 44.9 FG%, 36.8 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 15 pick: Kyle Anderson
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
A celebrity in the basketball world before even getting to college, Kyle Anderson had one of the most fun high-school mixtapes out of anyone, earning the nickname Slo Mo for seeming to move in slow motion despite absolutely dominating as a prospect. Anderson still has a unique game, moving very slowly but using his freakish size and length well to create some offense.
Actual position: No. 30
Career earnings: $42,736,644
Career stats: 6.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 47.9 FG%, 34.3 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 16 pick: Dwight Powell
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Another hit out of the second round from this draft, Dwight Powell went 45th overall out of Stanford back in 2014 and has greatly outplayed that draft slot. There’s a chance Powell could have ranked even higher in this re-draft, had it not been for a torn Achilles back in January of 2020. Still, Powell has posted a nice career as a high-energy big man with good finishing chops out of the pick-and-roll.
Actual position: No. 45
Career earnings: $60,781,395
Career stats: 7.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.0 apg, 59.6 FG%, 29.4 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 17 pick: Bogdan Bogdanovic
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Bogdan Bogdanovic was a star overseas, winning a multitude of awards and championships in Serbia and Turkey before finally joining the Kings three seasons after they drafted him in 2014. Bogdanovic was somewhat worth the wait, as he has been a solid scoring 2-guard in the NBA with deep shooting range on his jumper.
Actual position: No. 27
Career earnings: $63,000,000
Career stats: 14.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.4 apg, 43.9 FG%, 38.6 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 18 pick: TJ Warren
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
TJ Warren was a smooth midrange scorer at NC State before getting drafted as the final lottery pick of 2014. He’s been that in the NBA and then some, but it’s a shame he suffered a major foot injury just four games into 2020-21, as it looked like he was ready to hit another level after a fantastic showing the season prior, particularly in the Orlando bubble.
Actual position: No. 14
Career earnings: $57,026,050
Career stats: 15.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.2 apg, 50.7 FG%, 35.6 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 19 pick: Rodney Hood
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Another player who saw his career greatly affected by injury, Rodney Hood was a decent lefty scorer at his peak, who could really shoot the basketball, including off the dribble and from the midrange. Hood is the first player on this re-draft no longer in the NBA, though that, as mentioned, was due to injuries basically ending his career at the NBA level.
Actual position: No. 23
Career earnings: $27,910,065
Career stats: 10.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 42.0 FG%, 36.6 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 20 pick: Doug McDermott
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Doug McDermott hasn’t really lived up to the lottery-pick billing, falling nearly 10 spots in this re-draft. McDermott has been a very good outside shooter in the NBA, but his inability to impact games in other ways, or do much scoring outside of the spot-up three-point variety, really limited his ceiling.
Actual position: No. 11
Career earnings: $46,186,434
Career stats: 9.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, 47.5 FG%, 41.0 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 21 pick: Dario Saric
Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dario Saric was another relative lottery disappointment, not a huge bust by any means, as he remains an NBA player to this day, but just a so-so player at the highest level. Saric can do a bit of everything but never really mastered a single trait in the NBA to help set him apart.
Actual position: No. 12
Career earnings: $28,509,665
Career stats: 11.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 44.2 FG%, 35.9 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 22 pick: Elfrid Payton
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
A total lack of shooting from the outside hindered Elfrid Payton’s chances of being a star in the NBA. Still, he was a starting point guard for a long time in the league, and for various teams, too, so overall, it’s hard to call him a huge disappointment.
Actual position: No. 10
Career earnings: $28,856,044
Career stats: 10.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.7 apg, 44.7 FG%, 28.7 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 23 pick: Maxi Kleber
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The first undrafted player to make the Top 30, which is surprising because, in other years, we have even seen undrafted players go as high as Top 10 in these exercises, Maxi Kleber has been a solid shot-blocking, floor-spacing role player in the NBA, an important archetype for a modern big man. He has never and will never put up big numbers but he’s a high-end backup, no easy feat for players in the toughest league in the world.
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $27,418,857
Career stats: 7.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, 44.9 FG%, 35.9 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 24 pick: Vasilije Micic
PEDJA MILOSAVLJEVIC/AFP via Getty Images
This re-draft position is based purely on overseas accolades, as Vasilije Micic has yet to play a single minute in the NBA despite winning two EuroLeagues as a member of Anadolu Efes and being named EuroLeague MVP in 2021. Micic has without a doubt been one of the best guards in the world outside of the NBA in his career, he just has yet to prove it in the actual top basketball league on the planet, the NBA.
Actual position: No. 52
Career stats (Euroleague): 13.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.8 apg
Vasilije Micic Rumors
No. 25 pick: Jabari Parker
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
One of the biggest fallers in this re-draft, the unfortunate career of Jabari Parker is a particularly sad one, as repeated major knee injuries pretty much ruined any chance he had to live up to the billing of being the No. 2 pick of 2014. It’s especially unfortunate that his second major injury came in his third season, 50-plus games in when he was putting up over 20 points and six rebounds nightly, looking like the star Milwaukee thought he would be when it took him that high in his draft class.
Actual position: No. 2
Career earnings: $56,838,727
Career stats: 14.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 49.4 FG%, 32.6 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 26 pick: Khem Birch
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Khem Birch has had a long NBA career thanks to his energetic play and willingness to do the dirty work as a backup big man.
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $14,555,356
Career stats: 5.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 52.0 FG%, 20.0 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 27 pick: Langston Galloway
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Another undrafted player in 2014 to make this re-draft, Langston Galloway had a decent run in the NBA, providing teams with two-way play out of the backcourt, with some scoring and playmaking juice.
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $29,755,235
Career stats: 8.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, 39.7 FG%, 36.8 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 28 pick: Torrey Craig
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Out of these undrafted guys, Torrey Craig is probably the best active one, providing a contending Suns team right now with a lot of energy and defensive aptitude from the wing, as well as with 40-plus percent three-point shooting marks.
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $10,634,153
Career stats: 6.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 45.6 FG%, 34.7 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 29 pick: Walter Tavares
JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images
Like Micic, Walter Tavares makes this list thanks to his overseason contributions, currently considered one of the best centers in the world outside of the NBA. Tavares has won one EuroLeague and been named a EuroLeague 1st Teamer twice, all accolades that came with Real Madrid.
Actual position: No. 43
Career stats (Euroleague): 10.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.5 apg
Walter Tavares Rumors
No. 30 pick: Noah Vonleh
Nick Grace/Getty Images
Noah Vonleh was drafted ninth overall in 2014 based on a whole lot of potential thanks to having good size, movement skills and ability as a shooter and ball-handler. Unfortunately for him, he was never able to put it all together in the NBA, slotting into more of a role as an energy big man who set good screens but little more.
Actual position: No. 9
Career earnings: $15,993,438
Career stats: 4.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.7 apg, 45.9 FG%, 30.7 3P%
Scouting Report
Biggest risers
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Maxi Kleber: From undrafted to No. 23
Khem Birch: From undrafted to No. 26
Nikola Jokic: From No. 41 to No. 1 (+40)
Jordan Clarkson: From No. 46 to No. 9 (+37)
Dwight Powell: From No. 45 to No. 16 (+29)
Jerami Grant: From No. 39 to No. 11 (+28)
Vasilije Micic: From No. 52 to No. 24 (+28)
Spencer Dinwiddie: From No. 38 to No. 12 (+26)
Joe Harris: From No. 33 to No. 13 (+20)
Clint Capela: From No. 25 to No. 8 (+17)
Highest picks not listed
David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports
Dante Exum: No. 5
Nik Stauskas: No. 8
Adreian Payne: No. 15
James Young: No. 17
Tyler Ennis: No. 18
Bruno Caboclo: No. 20
Mitch McGary: No. 21
Jordan Adams: No. 22
Shabazz Napier: No. 24
[lawrence-related id=1914685]
[lawrence-related id=1905912]
[lawrence-related id=1868180]
