2014 NBA re-draft: The way it should have been (2024)

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 three-time MVP, 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: $198,343,831
Career stats: 20.9 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 6.9 apg, 55.7 FG%, 35.0 3P%
Scouting Report

If it weren’t for Jokic, Joel Embiid would be seen in an even brighter light, as the Kansas product would likely have more than 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: $215,298,426
Career stats: 27.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 50.4 FG%, 34.1 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $131,818,842
Career stats: 19.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.7 apg, 47.0 FG%, 33.3 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $164,808,017
Career stats: 20.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.9 apg, 46.4 FG%, 38.2 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $196,890,649
Career stats: 18.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 44.9 FG%, 35.4 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $136,976,550
Career stats: 13.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 48.1 FG%, 32.3 3P%
Scouting Report

The former Defensive Player of the Year, even as questionable as that award might have been, Marcus Smart truly has been one of the best guard defenders in the NBA, an absolute pest on that end of the floor, and also provides some solid playmaking, though his shooting is still very inconsistent.

Actual position: No. 6
Career earnings: $101,122,114
Career stats: 10.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.6 apg, 38.8 FG%, 32.3 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $113,178,688
Career stats: 12.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 1.0 apg, 62.1 FG%, 54.5 FT%
Scouting Report

One of many late-first-round, second-round steals for the Lakers during this time frame, Jordan Clarkson was another hit for Los Angeles 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: $112,100,024
Career stats: 16.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.9 apg, 43.8 FG%, 33.5 3P%
Scouting Report

If we do this re-draft in another few years, Jerami Grant could go even higher than No. 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: $109,507,867
Career stats: 13.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 45.5 FG%, 36.4 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $88,973,304
Career stats: 12.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 50.3 FG%, 28.0 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $88,237,857
Career stats: 13.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.2 apg, 41.4 FG%, 33.3 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $108,562,615
Career stats: 11.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 44.7 FG%, 37.0 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $92,234,674
Career stats: 10.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 47.9 FG%, 43.6 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $99,700,000
Career stats: 14.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 43.8 FG%, 38.4 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $60,736,644
Career stats: 6.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.8 apg, 47.9 FG%, 33.8 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $75,861,520
Career stats: 7.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 60.2 FG%, 29.3 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $60,304,306
Career stats: 14.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.2 apg, 50.5 FG%, 35.1 3P%
Scouting Report

Doug McDermott hasn’t really lived up to the lottery-pick billing, falling eight 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: $73,686,434
Career stats: 8.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.0 apg, 47.1 FG%, 41.0 3P%
Scouting Report

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

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: $40,459,514
Career stats: 10.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 44.5 FG%, 36.2 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $47,418,857
Career stats: 6.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 44.6 FG%, 35.7 3P%
Scouting Report

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

Vasilije Micic has without a doubt been one of the best guards in the world outside of the NBA in his career. After a rocky start of the season with the Thunder playing just 12 minutes per game, his trade to Charlotte provided him a new and better environment, averaging 10.8 points.

Actual position: No. 52
Career earnings: $7,723,000
Career stats: 7.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 4.4 apg, 43.0 FG%, 27.9 3P%
Vasilije Micic Rumors

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

Out of the undrafted guys, Torrey Craig is one of the best still active, providing a lot of energy and defensive aptitude from the wing, as well as high percent three-point shooting marks.

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $18,284,337
Career stats: 6.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 45.3 FG%, 35.3 3P%
Scouting Report

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: $28,207,856
Career stats: 5.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 52.0 FG%, 20.0 3P%
Scouting Report

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 two EuroLeague titles and been named a Euroleague 1st Teamer twice, all accolades that came with Real Madrid.

Actual position: No. 43
Career stats (Euroleague): 9.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.0 apg, 67.7 2P%, 71.2 FT%
Walter Tavares Rumors

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

Dante Exum didn’t live up to the expectations teams had for him in the 2014 draft. The Australian guard was plagued by injuries, starting early when he suffered a torn ACL while playing for his national team after a rookie season with the Jazz where he played 82 games. After being sidelined the next season, he was never the same, averaging only 32.4 games in the next five years. However, after two seasons playing abroad, he returned to the NBA in a successful stint with the Mavericks, showcasing his unique skill set of size and playmaking abilities.

Actual position: No. 5
Career earnings: $49,125,425
Career stats: 6.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 43.1 FG%, 33.6 3P%
Scouting Report

Actual position: No. 9
Career earnings: $17,154,393
Career stats: 4.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.7 apg, 45.9 FG%, 30.7 3P%
Scouting Report

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $34,289,342
Career stats: 9.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 42.6 FG%, 36.0 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 24
Career earnings: $10,032,282
Career stats: 7.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 39.7 FG%, 34.5 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $8,002,348
Career stats: 4.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 4.0 apg, 40.0 FG%, 32.3 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $5,393,602
Career stats: 5.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.7 apg, 47.1 FG%, 24.8 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $10,833,395
Career stats: 4.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.5 apg, 55.0 FG%, 58.2 FT%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 58
Career earnings: $2,379,790
Career stats: 6.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 41.7 FG%, 35.5 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 31
Career earnings: $1,675,000
Career stats: 1.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.5 apg, 35.1 FG%, 23.1 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 18
Career earnings: $6,511,265
Career stats: 4.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 41.9 FG%, 31.7 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 17
Career earnings: $5,326,770
Career stats: 2.3 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.3 apg, 36.7 FG%, 27.7 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $33,399,729
Career stats: 4.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.7 apg, 57.2 FG%, 67.3 FT%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $1,236,181
Career stats: 3.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.6 apg, 37.8 FG%, 32.6 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 40
Career earnings: $11,305,330
Career stats: 5.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.8 apg, 45.7 FG%, 37.3 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 51
Career earnings: $9,132,728
Career stats: 2.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.6 apg, 50.9 FG%, 14.3 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 57
Euroleague Career stats: 6.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.6 apg, 66.2 2P%, 34.8 3P%
Louis Labeyrie Rumors

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $823,029
Career stats: 2.6 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.1 apg, 30.2 FG%, 29.2 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 8
Career earnings: $165,169,967
Career stats: 6.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, 38.9 FG%, 35.4 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 20
Career earnings: $11,602,480
Career stats: 4.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.7 apg, 40.3 FG%, 30.8 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 47
Career earnings: $1,352,395
Career stats: 2.0 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 0.7 apg, 31.9 FG%, 18.8 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 32
Career earnings: $7,130,463
Career stats: 5.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.6 apg, 41.2 FG%, 29.0 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 44
Career earnings: $1,429,645
Career stats: 5.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.2 apg, 38.0 FG%, 29.5 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $200,798
Career stats: 4.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 39.8 FG%, 36.0 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 60
Career earnings: $870,214
Career stats: 3.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.3 apg, 44.4 FG%, 58.3 FT%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 42
Career earnings: $2,332,826
Career stats: 2.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.4 apg, 34.7 FG%, 23.8 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $6,105,313
Career stats: 10.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 41.3 FG%, 33.5 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 53
Euroleague Career stats: 10.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 47.2 FG%, 30.7 3P%
Alessandro Gentile Rumors

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $3,361,533
Career stats: 3.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.5 apg, 40.2 FG%, 36.0 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $251,618
Career stats: 3.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 41.8 FG%, 30.4 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 15
Career earnings: $5,893,650
Career stats: 4.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.6 apg, 40.6 FG%, 25.4 3P%
Career Salary Info

Actual position: No. 34
Career earnings: $1,352,395
Career stats: 4.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.8 apg, 34.6 FG%, 26.3 3P%
Career Salary Info

Nikola Jokic: From No. 41 to No. 1 (+40)
Maxi Kleber: From undrafted to No. 22 (+39)
Jordan Clarkson: From No. 46 to No. 9 (+37)
Torrey Craig: From undrafted to No. 26 (+35)
Khem Birch: From undrafted to No. 27 (+34)
Langston Galloway: From undrafted to No. 29 (+32)
Tyler Johnson: From undrafted to No. 32 (+29)
Jerami Grant: From No. 39 to No. 10 (+29)
Dwight Powell: From No. 45 to No. 17 (+28)
Vasilije Micic: From No. 52 to No. 24 (+28)
Tim Frazier: From undrafted to No. 34 (+27)
JaKarr Sampson: From undrafted to No. 35 (+26)
Spencer Dinwiddie: From No. 38 to No. 12 (+26)
Tarik Black: From undrafted to No. 36 (+25)
Jordan McRae: From No. 58 to No. 37 (+21)
Cristiano Felicio: From undrafted to No. 41 (+20)

Adreian Payne: From No. 15 to No. 59 (-44)
Mitch McGary: From No. 21 to undrafted (-40)
Nik Stauskas: From No. 8 to No. 47 (-39)
Jordan Adams: From No. 22 to undrafted (-39)
PJ Hairston: From No. 26 to undrafted (-35)
CJ Wilcox: From No. 28 to undrafted (-33)
Josh Huestis: From No. 29 to undrafted (-32)
Bruno Caboclo: From No. 20 to No. 48 (-28)
Cleanthony Early: From No. 34 to No. 60 (-26)
Jarnell Stokes: From No. 35 to undrafted (-26)
Dante Exum: From No. 5 to No. 30 (-25)
DeAndre Daniels: From No. 37 to undrafted (-24)
Jabari Parker: From No. 2 to No. 25 (-23)
James Young: From No. 17 to No. 40 (-23)
Noah Vonleh: From No. 9 to No. 31 (-22)
Tyler Ennis: From No. 18 to No. 39 (-21)
KJ McDaniels: From No. 32 to No. 50 (-18)