2011 NBA re-draft: The way it should have been

Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Without question the best player from his draft class, Kawhi Leonard is a two-time Finals MVP, a five-time All-Star and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, a player that morphed from being a limited offensive threat with otherworldy defensive potential to one of the best two-way players of all time, and a clutch performer at that. Lest we forget Leonard led his teams past LeBron James in the 2014 Finals and past Stephen Curry in the 2019 championship series.

Actual position: No. 15
Career earnings: $191,133,262
Career stats: 19.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.0 apg, 49.5 FG%, 38.7 3P%
Scouting Report

Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

The final pick of the first round in 2011 goes No. 2 in our re-draft, as Jimmy Butler, like Leonard, will go down as one of the best two-way wings of all time, a high-level scorer on one end and an elite defender on the other. Butler has also shown moments of supreme clutchness throughout his career, getting to the Finals once with the Miami Heat in 2019-20 while going deep in various other playoff runs. When he’s engaged and locked in, Butler is legitimately one of the best players in the league.

Actual position: No. 30
Career earnings: $181,047,328
Career stats: 18.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.2 apg, 46.6 FG%, 32.2 3P%
Scouting Report

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Two through four in this exercise were brutal to rank, as Butler, Kyrie Irving and the player coming up next are all quite accomplished and will all be remembered for generations to come thanks to their contributions to the NBA. Irving goes No. 3 in our re-draft, one of the best scoring point guards in league history and arguably the flashiest ball-handler the NBA has ever seen. He’s also an elite tough shot-maker with a flair for the dramatic, sinking the most important shot of the 2015-16 season in Game 7 of the Finals that year to help James bring a title to the Cleveland Cavaliers. That Irving went No. 1 in his actual draft class only speaks to his talent, as he played just 11 games at Duke before declaring for the draft.

Actual position: No. 1
Career earnings: $197,857,092
Career stats: 23.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.7 apg, 47.2 FG%, 39.2 3P%
Scouting Report

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Finally, the toughest part of our re-draft culminates with Klay Thompson going No. 4 overall, which one could argue is too low, something we wouldn’t disagree with too vehemently. Thompson will go down as maybe the second-best shooter ever with a picture-perfect form and balance on his jumper, and the ability to get nuclear-level hot from beyond the arc. Two major injuries threatened to end Thompson’s prime but the Golden State Warriors’ 2-guard has bounced back quite nicely this season, looking far from finished as a top shooting guard in the NBA.

Actual position: No. 11
Career earnings: $185,733,241
Career stats: 19.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 45.6 FG%, 41.6 3P%
Scouting Report

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Now we go from the Hall-of-Famers to the Hall-of-Very-Gooders (which, in fairness, is often still enough to get players into the actual Hall of Fame). We begin this next tier of players with Nikola Vucevic, an All-Star-level big man with good face-up scoring, shooting and rebounding. Vucevic’s main knock is defensively but at his peak, he was one of the better scoring centers in the NBA and a player who could grab 20 rebounds on any given night.

Actual position: No. 16
Career earnings: $134,209,237
Career stats: 17.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, 49.5 FG%, 34.8 3P%
Scouting Report

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

A superstar in college who led UConn to a national championship behind an electric run of play, Kemba Walker went ninth overall in his draft class, not going higher due to size-related concerns. Walker made those concerns look foolish, however, locking up four All-Star appearances in his career and a 3rd Team All-NBA. His peak ended a lot earlier than the guys who went ahead of him in our re-draft and his best wasn’t as good as some of the names he’s sitting behind but either way, Walker has had a tremendous career, especially for someone who didn’t even go Top 8 in his draft.

Actual position: No. 9
Career earnings: $161,139,725
Career stats: 19.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.3 apg, 41.8 FG%, 36.0 3P%
Scouting Report

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Another undersized point guard who found a lot of success in the NBA, Isaiah Thomas, obviously even smaller than Walker, was the final pick of the 2011 draft, Mr. Irrelevant as they call players with that distinction in the NFL, but had a career that made his draft slot look silly. Thomas finished up as a two-time All-Star, peaking with a 2nd Team All-NBA honor in 2016-17 when he put up 28.9 points for the Boston Celtics. Of course, the detractors were somewhat proven right when Thomas’ prime ended quickly soon thereafter that peak due to injuries slowing him down but even so, Thomas had the career of a first-round pick, even if he never finds his way back into the league.

Actual position: No. 60
Career earnings: $32,220,179
Career stats: 17.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.8 apg, 43.4 FG%, 36.2 3P%
Scouting Report

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The fifth overall pick from 2011, Jonas Valanciunas is still trucking along as one of the better centers in the NBA, a double-double machine with a lot of toughness down low who possesses a throwback post-up game. Valanciunas even adapted his game for what the modern NBA asks of its big men, and that’s to space the floor, becoming a decent outside threat later in his career.

Actual position: No. 5
Career earnings: $106,621,946
Career stats: 13.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 56.2 FG%, 35.6 3P%
Scouting Report

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Tobias Harris came into the NBA as a modern-style frontcourt player, a man with a lot of versatility as a big man with forward skills or a swingman with frontcourt chops, however you want to look at him. Regardless, Harris has been a model role player throughout his career, adapting well to various roles on different teams. Now, on a contending Philadelphia 76ers squad with an MVP at center and a former MVP at 2-guard, Harris has been a great complementary piece, able to space the floor, attack closeouts and finish as a slasher.

Actual position: No. 19
Career earnings: $174,181,672
Career stats: 16.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.3 apg, 47.7 FG%, 36.8 3P%
Scouting Report

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

What this draft class has that so many others lack is durability, as even the 10th overall re-draft pick from a draft nearly 12 years ago remains a starting-level swingman in the NBA. Bojan Bogdanovic was the first pick of the second draft in 2011 but has greatly outperformed that thanks to his spot-up shooting and face-up bucket-getting skills. He was never much of a defender but as a role-playing outside shooter, he was quite effective.

Actual position: No. 31
Career earnings: $84,826,530
Career stats: 15.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 46.0 FG%, 39.4 3P%
Scouting Report

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Coming out of Kansas, Marcus Morris and his twin brother Markieff Morris were billed as solid prospects, with the former Morris winning Big 12 Player of the Year as a junior before declaring for the draft. They have both pretty much lived up to expectations, ranking in our re-draft around where they actually went in the draft. Marcus currently remains the better player, spacing the floor from the power-forward position and providing the Los Angeles Clippers with face-up scoring.

Actual position: No. 14
Career earnings: $74,496,929
Career stats: 12.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 43.5 FG%, 37.7 3P%
Scouting Report

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

On draft night, there were rumors the Miami Heat, then led by James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh but lacking at ball-handler, had made Reggie Jackson a promise to pick him if he fell to 31st, which obviously did not happen. The Oklahoma City Thunder were wise to not let it happen, too, as Jackson turned out to be a very solid NBA player, outperforming his draft position by a decent margin thanks to his scoring and playmaking.

Actual position: No. 24
Career earnings: $81,196,658
Career stats: 12.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.2 apg, 42.2 FG%, 34.5 3P%
Scouting Report

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Tristan Thompson wasn’t a total bust after being the fifth overall pick, playing a major role as a rebounder and pick-and-roll finisher for the Cavaliers team that won the 2016 championship, but he didn’t quite live up to that draft slot, either. Still, in his prime, Thompson was one of the league’s best offensive rebounders and a good screen-setter.

Actual position: No. 4
Career earnings: $118,643,214
Career stats: 9.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 51.9 FG%, 26.3 3P%
Scouting Report

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

It was between Klay Thompson and Alec Burks regarding who would be the best off-ball guard from the 2011 draft class. Looking back, the conversation looks somewhat silly but at the time, there was legitimate debate as to who had more upside. Burks’ career has been nothing to sneeze at, still trucking along as a solid bench scorer, but he obviously hasn’t been anywhere near Thompson as far as impact and accolades.

Actual position: No. 12
Career earnings: $69,072,453
Career stats: 10.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 41.9 FG%, 38.4 3P%
Scouting Report

Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Due to his overseas career, Enes Freedom wasn’t able to play for the college he committed to, Kentucky, which was a shame as he was a five-star prospect, a center with high-level post-up moves and rebounding acumen, even as a teenager. Watching him dominate for the Wildcats down low the way DeMarcus Cousins did just before him would have been fun. Regardless, Freedom bounced back from being declared ineligible, posting a solid NBA career as a big man who could score and rebound (though not defend).

Actual position: No. 3
Career earnings: $102,454,224
Career stats: 11.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 0.5 bpg, 54.8 FG%, 28.9 3P%
Scouting Report

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The other Morris twin hasn’t had quite as impactful of a career as his brother, though he does boast a similar skill set as a versatile defender who provides floor-spacing and face-up scoring.

Actual position: No. 13
Career earnings: $49,149,565
Career stats: 10.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, 44.6 FG%, 34.3 3P%
Scouting Report

PEDJA MILOSAVLJEVIC/AFP via Getty Images

Prior to going back to Europe and joining Barcelona, Nikola Mirotic was a good role player in the NBA, a skilled big man who could dribble, shoot, pass and score as a 4-man without providing much in the way of defense.

Actual position: No. 23
Career earnings: $41,631,175
Career stats: 12.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 42.3 FG%, 35.9 3P%
Scouting Report

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

It’s unfortunate that Chandler Parsons saw injuries end his career prematurely, as he had the makings of a solid swingman, a player with great size for the position, good ball-handling, playmaking and decent enough shooting.

Actual position: No. 38
Career earnings: $127,164,774
Career stats: 12.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 46.2 FG%, 37.3 3P%
Scouting Report

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Knight had it going in the NBA for a bit, even getting All-Star endorsements from the likes of Charles Barkley in 2015 when he was putting up 17.0 points and 5.2 assists per contest. Knight had some athleticism and wiggle, ball-handling ability and a decent jumper but before he could really hit that star level, he, unfortunately, blew out his knee and never regained that respectable form.

Actual position: No. 8
Career earnings: $82,095,269
Career stats: 14.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.9 apg, 41.1 FG%, 35.2 3P%
Scouting Report

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps underrated in this re-draft, at least Davis Bertans remains in the NBA to this day as an impactful role player thanks to his elite jumper and the deep range he has on his shooting.

Actual position: No. 42
Career earnings: $46,856,082
Career stats: 7.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.0 apg, 42.4 FG%, 39.7 3P%
Scouting Report

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

A player that came up in the wrong era, Kenneth Faried was a rebounding machine, particularly on the offensive end. Outside of that, he could finish around the basket despite being undersized thanks to his relentless energy and impressive athleticism. But lacking a jumper and at his size, it was going to be tough for Faried to enjoy a very long or fruitful career in this NBA.

Actual position: No. 22
Career earnings: $56,898,674
Career stats: 11.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.0 apg, 54.6 FG%, 22.2 3P%
Scouting Report

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

A decent role player, Justin Holiday provides teams with defense and some spot-up shooting, knowing what his role is and performing it well enough to stick around to this day.

Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $28,349,494
Career stats: 8.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.5 apg, 39.8 FG%, 36.4 3P%
Scouting Report

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Another solid role-playing guard, Cory Joseph is far from a star and sometimes draws ire from fans, but he can run an offense off the bench, get guys in the right spots and set up teammates for good looks. He also gives good effort defensively.

Actual position: No. 29
Career earnings: $67,251,153
Career stats: 7.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 44.3 FG%, 34.6 3P%
Scouting Report