B/R: Brian Konnick
If there’s one thing about today’s NBA that’s become painfully obvious, it’s that you have to have a Big Three—at minimum—to truly belong in the upper echelon of the league.
And as the math goes, you must have a killer tandem before you can grow to Big Three-and-beyond status.
Bleacher Report put 30 of its best basketball minds in charge of re-drafting the entire league, and if you missed the first installment of our five-part series, we've got you covered.
At this point, we know that LeBron James plus just about anybody equals a ridiculous duo. The question is: What strategy did his new team implement when selecting his running mate?
We also must ask: Should the league be more afraid of a Kyle Lowry-C.J. McCollum or John Wall-Markelle Fultz backcourt?
All 30 GMs are here to justify their first two picks and why their new dynamic duos are ready to compete.
Think we could've done better? Confident we nailed it?
Hit the comments below.
How It Works
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Before we dive into the results and analysis, it's important we lay down a few ground rules and guidelines.
- The draft order was determined in the most sophisticated manner known to humankind: online randomized number generation.
- All GMs are drafting with the 2017-18 season in mind. We’re not building a dynasty. We’re assembling squads for next season—and next season only.
- Every current NBA player and free agent is eligible for this draft
- All current injuries are healed; however, injury history and injury-proneness are relevant knowing they impact current skill sets/ability to stay on the court.
- GMs were responsible for making their picks in an allotted five-minute time period. They snooze? They lose. After that five minutes, auto-draft would select the player with the top Estimated Wins Added, according to ESPN.com.
Round 1 Results
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Here are the full results from Round 1:
1. LeBron James, New York Knicks
2. Kawhi Leonard, Indiana Pacers
3. Kevin Durant, LA Clippers
4. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Anthony Davis, Atlanta Hawks
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Sacramento Kings
7. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
8. James Harden, Dallas Mavericks
9. Chris Paul, Cleveland Cavaliers
10. Isaiah Thomas, Phoenix Suns
11. Nikola Jokic, Chicago Bulls
12. Karl-Anthony Towns, Washington Wizards
13. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
14. Jimmy Butler, San Antonio Spurs
15. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
16. Joel Embiid, Brooklyn Nets
17. Paul George, Detroit Pistons
18. Damian Lillard, Houston Rockets
19. John Wall, Boston Celtics
20. DeMarcus Cousins, Philadelphia 76ers
21. Draymond Green, Milwaukee Bucks
22. Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers
23. Kyrie Irving, Portland Trail Blazers
24. Kristaps Porzingis, Minnesota Timberwolves
25. Klay Thompson, Memphis Grizzlies
26. Mike Conley Jr., Miami Heat
27. DeMar DeRozan, Charlotte Hornets
28. Kyle Lowry, New Orleans Pelicans
29. Gordon Hayward, Orlando Magic
30. Devin Booker, Toronto Raptors
Round 2 Results
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Neilson Barnard/KCASports2017/Getty Images
Here are the full results for Round 2:
31. Ben Simmons, Toronto Raptors
32. Bradley Beal, Orlando Magic
33. C.J. McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans
34. Hassan Whiteside, Charlotte Hornets
35. Marc Gasol, Miami Heat
36. Blake Griffin, Memphis Grizzlies
37. Paul Millsap, Minnesota Timberwolves
38. DeAndre Jordan, Portland Trail Blazers
39. Kemba Walker, Los Angeles Lakers
40. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
41. Andrew Wiggins, Philadelphia 76ers
42. Markelle Fultz, Boston Celtics
43. Kevin Love, Houston Rockets
44. LaMarcus Aldridge, Detroit Pistons
45. Myles Turner, Brooklyn Nets
46. Jabari Parker, Denver Nuggets
47. Eric Bledsoe, San Antonio Spurs
48. Otto Porter, Utah Jazz
49. Goran Dragic, Washington Wizards
50. Jae Crowder, Chicago Bulls
51. Andre Drummond, Phoenix Suns
52. Avery Bradley, Cleveland Cavaliers
53. Dwight Howard, Dallas Mavericks
54. Danilo Gallinari, Golden State Warriors
55. Al Horford, Sacramento Kings
56. Jrue Holiday, Atlanta Hawks
57. Jusuf Nurkic, Oklahoma City Thunder
58. Brook Lopez, LA Clippers
59. Clint Capela, Indiana Pacers
60. Serge Ibaka, New York Knicks
Toronto Raptors: Picks 30, 31
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Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
First Pick: Devin Booker (30)
Second Pick: Ben Simmons (31)
Orlando Magic: Picks 29, 32
G Fiume/Getty Images
First Pick: Gordon Hayward
Second Pick: Bradley Beal
New Orleans Pelicans: Picks 28, 33
Craig Mitchelldyer/Associated Press
First Pick: Kyle Lowry
Second Pick: C.J. McCollum
Charlotte Hornets: Picks 27, 34
Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
First Pick: DeMar DeRozan
Second Pick: Hassan Whiteside
Miami Heat: Picks 26, 35
Brandon Dill/Associated Press
First Pick: Mike Conley
Second Pick: Marc Gasol
Memphis Grizzlies: Picks 27, 36
Harry How/Getty Images
First Pick: Klay Thompson
Second Pick: Blake Griffin
Minnesota Timberwolves: Picks 24, 37
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
First Pick: Kristaps Porzingis
Second Pick: Paul Millsap
Portland Trail Blazers: Picks 23, 38
Bruce Yeung/Getty Images
First Pick: Kyrie Irving
Second Pick: DeAndre Jordan
Los Angeles Lakers: Picks 22, 39
Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images
First Pick: Lonzo Ball
Second Pick: Kemba Walker
Milwaukee Bucks: Picks 21, 40
Gary Dineen/Getty Images
First Pick: Draymond Green
Second Pick: Khris Middleton
Philadelphia 76ers: Picks 20, 41
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
First Pick: DeMarcus Cousins
Second Pick: Andrew Wiggins
Boston Celtics: Picks 19, 42
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
First Pick: John Wall
Second Pick: Markelle Fultz
Houston Rockets: Picks 18, 43
Steve Dykes/Associated Press
First Pick: Damian Lillard
Second Pick: Kevin Love
Detroit Pistons: Picks 17, 44
Eric Gay/Associated Press
First Pick: Paul George
Second Pick: LaMarcus Aldridge
Brooklyn Nets: Picks 16, 45
Corey Perrine/Getty Images
First Pick: Joel Embiid
Second Pick: Myles Turner
Denver Nuggets: Picks 15, 46
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
First Pick: Carmelo Anthony
Second Pick: Jabari Parker
San Antonio Spurs: Picks 14, 47
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
First Pick: Jimmy Butler
Second Pick: Eric Bledsoe
Utah Jazz: Picks 13, 48
Chris Nicoll/Associated Press
First Pick: Rudy Gobert
Second Pick: Otto Porter
Washington Wizards: Picks 12, 49
Issac Baldizon/Getty Images
First Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns
Second Pick: Goran Dragic
Chicago Bulls: Picks 11, 50
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
First Pick: Nikola Jokic
Second Pick: Jae Crowder
Phoenix Suns: Picks 10, 51
Paul Sancya/Associated Press
First Pick: Isaiah Thomas
Second Pick: Andre Drummond
Cleveland Cavaliers: Picks 9, 52
Brian Babineau/Getty Images
First Pick: Chris Paul
Second Pick: Avery Bradley
Dallas Mavericks: Picks 8, 53
Noah Graham/Getty Images
First Pick: James Harden
Second Pick: Dwight Howard
Golden State Warriors: Picks 7, 54
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
First Pick: Stephen Curry
Second Pick: Danilo Gallinari
Sacramento Kings: Picks 6, 55
Mary Schwalm/Associated Press
First Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Second Pick: Al Horford
Atlanta Hawks: Picks 5, 56
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
First Pick: Anthony Davis
Second Pick: Jrue Holiday
Oklahoma City Thunder: Picks 4, 57
Craig Mitchelldyer/Associated Press
First Pick: Russell Westbrook
Second Pick: Jusuf Nurkic
LA Clippers: Picks 3, 58
Elsa/Getty Images
First Pick: Kevin Durant
Second Pick: Brook Lopez
Indiana Pacers: Picks 2, 59
Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press
First Pick: Kawhi Leonard
Second Pick: Clint Capela
New York Knicks: Picks 1, 60
Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
First Pick: LeBron James
Second Pick: Serge Ibaka