Chicago Bulls: Re-drafting 2017 NBA Draft two-and-a-half years later

2. Jayson Tatum, Small Forward

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Original draft slot: 3

All three of the teams that wound up picking at the top of the 2017 NBA Draft are really solid playoff contenders this season. But who would benefit the most from this re-draft? Since there isn’t any bona fide superstar that emerged from this draft class yet, but a load of solid contributors, this presents good strategy for all parties involved.

But when the 2017 draft arrived, the Los Angeles Lakers were floundering out West. They were trying to build a young core that would revolve around the former UCLA Bruins point guard Lonzo Ball. But the Lakers ditched the idea to build around Ball over the summer went they send him, among a number of other young players, to the New Orleans Pelicans in that blockbuster Anthony Davis deal.

However, would the path to contention be any different in hindsight if the Lakers would’ve picked the former Duke Blue Devils star wing Jayson Tatum instead of Lonzo?

Tatum is a very good player for the Boston Celtics, but it’s hard to imagine a player most would consider shy of worth a max contract as someone who could guide the Lakers back to relevance. Instead, Tatum could be a key member of the supporting cast that is now surrounding star forward LeBron James in LA.

Tatum is improving his per game stats almost all-around this season. He’s averaging around five more points per game, one more rebound, and one more assist this season compared to last. But he has to get more efficient in the process as his field goal percentage is down by more than four compared to his career numbers.