There are some redrafts where the order at the top doesn't change much on a year-to-year basis.
The 2016 NBA Draft is not one of those redrafts.
For a few years, Ben Simmons was the easy choice at No. 1. Now, not so much. The last time we did this exercise, Jaylen Brown took over the top spot from Simmons. Almost a year later, there's a new name at No. 1 that might come as a surprise.
Are there any other big changes? Two of our writers — Scott Rafferty and Stephen Noh — put on their GM hats and redrafted the 2016 lottery.
MORE: Redrafting the 2014 NBA Draft: Nikola Jokic rises from 2nd round, battles Joel Embiid for 1st pick
Redrafting the 2016 NBA Draft in 2023
1. Jamal Murray, 76ers
Original pick: Ben Simmons
Murray's original draft position: 7th (Nuggets)
There's no obvious top-tier megastar in this draft that would be an easy number one pick, but there are a bunch of solid players. Jamal Murray, Brandon Ingram, Pascal Siakam, Jaylen Brown and Domantas Sabonis could all be reasonable choices here.
I went with Murray, who has exploded in the 2023 playoffs. He's been one of the best fourth quarter scorers during the Nuggets' Finals run while also averaging 27.7 points and 6.1 assists. He's shown that he can score from anywhere on the court, and he has proven that he is impossible to gameplan for.
Back in the day, John Calipari said that Murray was the "safe" pick at No. 1 for this draft. Maybe he was right after all. — Noh
2. Brandon Ingram, Lakers
Original pick: Brandon Ingram
There are more accomplished players on the board, but Ingram is a one-time All-Star who continues to get better and still has room to grow. (This is your reminder that Ingram won't turn 26 until September.) He's coming off of a season in which he averaged career-highs of 24.7 points and 5.8 assists per game. While it's close between him, Siakam and Brown for this spot, I'm sticking with Ingram at No. 2 for now. — Rafferty
3. Pascal Siakam, Celtics
Original pick: Jaylen Brown
Siakam's original draft position: 27th (Raptors)
Siakam is one of the most decorated members of this draft class. He's already made two All-Star games, two All-NBA Teams, won the Most Improved Player award and gotten a championship ring. He's a good two-way player that can guard multiple positions and create offense for himself and others. Those players are rare to find and certainly worthy of a top three selection. — Noh
4. Jaylen Brown, Suns
Original pick: Dragan Bender
Brown's original draft position: 3rd (Celtics)
Brown's flaws are pretty clear at this point — he's not much of a playmaker for others and teams continue to have a surprising amount of success forcing him left — but he's still a dynamite scorer and versatile defender, and he has a ton of postseason experience. In today's wing-heavy league, he's a pretty seamless fit on almost any team. — Rafferty
5. Domantas Sabonis, Timberwolves
Original pick: Kris Dunn
Sabonis' original draft position: 11th (Magic, traded to Thunder)
Sabonis has helped completely reshape the Kings' franchise. He's probably the second-best big man passer behind Nikola Jokic and a killer screen-setter. He has incredibly high feel and good touch in the post. He's already made three All-Star games and an All-NBA Team due to that offensive skill. While he's not a great defender, he does give good effort. — Noh
6. Dejounte Murray, Pelicans
Original pick: Buddy Hield
Murray's original draft position: 29th (Spurs)
Even as a late first-round pick, it didn't take Murray long to establish himself as an elite defender. He's still highly effective on that end of the court as a 6-foot-5 guard with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, only he's now a triple-double threat who can get you 20 points on a nightly basis. — Rafferty
7. Alex Caruso, Nuggets
Original pick: Jamal Murray
Caruso's original draft position: Undrafted
Caruso was named to the All-Defensive First Team in 2023, an honor that was long overdue. He is the most disruptive perimeter defender in the league and helped carry a mediocre Bulls team to a top-five ranking on that side of the ball. His technique, hustle and energy are unparalleled in the league.
On the other side of the ball, he's a capable 3-point shooter and can set up teammates well when he catches the ball with an advantage. He's also a winner, helping the Lakers win a ring in the 2020 bubble. He would have been incredible on the Nuggets playing alongside Jokic. — Noh
8. Fred VanVleet, Suns (via Kings)
Original pick: Marquese Chriss
VanVleet's original draft position: Undrafted
Nobody could've seen VanVleet becoming a champion and All-Star when he went undrafted in 2016. He's developed into one of the most disruptive defenders in the league and one of the better 3-point shooters at the guard position. He could've easily gone a spot or two higher in this redraft. — Rafferty
9. Malcolm Brogdon, Raptors (via Knicks)
Original pick: Jakob Poeltl
Brogdon's original draft position: 36th (Pelicans, traded to Bucks)
Brogdon was the Rookie of the Year winner of this class, playing a ton early after four productive years at the University of Virginia. He's continued plugging away in his NBA career, putting together some great years for the Bucks and Pacers, and winning the Sixth Man of the Year award for the Celtics in 2023. Brogdon isn't a good athlete, but he's as solid as they come. He's a good decision-maker, shooter and defender that will find different areas to help his teams win. — Noh
10. Ben Simmons, Bucks
Original pick: Thon Maker
Simmons' original draft position: 1st (76ers)
Without question, the toughest player to place in this redraft. On one hand, Simmons is a three-time All-Star who, when healthy, has proven to be a perennial All-Defense and Defensive Player of the Year candidate. On the other, he's suffered a number of injuries and the biggest concerns scouts had with him in college have turned out to be spot on. If Simmons doesn't bounce back next season, he's at risk of falling out of the lottery in future redrafts. — Rafferty
11. Jakob Poeltl, Thunder (via Magic)
Original pick: Domantas Sabonis
Poeltl's original draft position: 9th (Raptors)
Poeltl has been one of the more underrated big men throughout his very productive career. He's a rock-solid rim protector and a smart defender that is capable of playing multiple schemes. On offense, he has an unorthodox but effective floater and is a fantastic roll man that can finish at the rim or make good reads to pass out to teammates. His awful free throw shooting hurts his value, but he would go in this late lottery range in most drafts. — Noh
12. Buddy Hield, Hawks (via Jazz)
Original pick: Taurean Prince
Hield's original draft position: 6th (Pelicans)
Shooting is the name of the game in today's NBA, and few players tick that box as well as Hield. Did you know that Hield has made a total of 1,705 3-pointers since he was drafted? That ranks second to only Stephen Curry for most in the league. Hield's been pretty dang efficient as well, knocking them down at a 40.2 percent clip. Every team has room for an elite shooter. — Rafferty
13. Dorian Finney-Smith, Kings (via Suns)
Original pick: Georgios Papagiannis
Finney-Smith's original draft position: Undrafted
It's somewhat unbelievable that Finney-Smith went undrafted in this class. He's much better than any of the players left and his skillset as a 3-and-D wing is extremely valuable. He has guarded some of the best stars in the league capably — it's not a coincidence that the Mavericks went into the tank after they traded him. — Noh
14. Ivica Zubac, Bulls
Original pick: Denzel Valentine
Zubac's original draft position: 32nd (Lakers)
A double-double threat who does all of the little things, Zubac has proven himself to be a solid starting center since falling to the second round in the 2016 NBA Draft. The Lakers are probably still kicking themselves for trading him in a deal for Mike Muscala. — Rafferty
Best players still available: Gary Payton II, Caris LeVert, Malik Beasley, Taurean Prince
