2017 NBA Draft
Round one, pick 19:
Original pick: John Collins, PF, Wake Forest
New Pick: John Collins, PF, Wake Forest
The Hawks got a steal with the 19th pick, and John Collins has played like a star since being given a starting spot in Atlanta. The emphatic rim-runner has specifically put up All-Star numbers since returning from suspension this season, averaging 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
Only three players (Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, and Jayson Tatum) have produced more win shares from the draft, and no one has averaged more rebounds per game than JC. Collins had to slide in the draft a bit for the Hawks to take him (most mocks had him in the late-lottery), and Atlanta fans are sure glad he did.
Round two, pick 41:
Original Pick: Tyler Dorsey, SG, Oregon
New Pick: Dillon Brooks, SG, Oregon
Dorsey and Brooks were two of four Oregon Ducks to be drafted in the second round, and all four went within a span of eight picks.
Brooks looks to be having the best career of the four, and potentially the best career of anyone drafted in the second round.
He’s played meaningful minutes from day one in Memphis, appearing in all 82 games as a rook, and after an injury kept him out of all but 18 games last year, was the Grizzlies’ starting shooting guard this season.
Round two, pick 60:
Original Pick: Alpha Kaba, PF, France
New Pick: Luke Kornet, C, Vanderbilt
With the pick being the final one of the draft, the Hawks have to go digging the undrafted pile to redo this pick. There weren’t as many studs in the undrafted class as there was in the recent past, but Kornet has become a respectable player and routine member of the Bulls’ rotation.
He’s averaged 16.4 minutes across his three-year run with Chicago, starting a handful of games and averaging 6.6 points.