4. Buddy Hield, Shooting Guard
Team: Phoenix Suns
Original Draft Slot: 6
This is where the waters start to muddy up a bit. The 2016 NBA Draft was really deep among the top 10 players out of this rookie class. But the next man up here should be the original No. 6 overall selection of the Pelicans, and former Oklahoma Sooners shooting guard Buddy Hield. Two years after landing with the Pelicans, Hield was traded to the Sacramento Kings.
The 6-foot-4 and 220 pound Hield is shooting around 41 percent from three-point range for his career, and averaging more than 20 points per game this season. Hield is about as modern as they come for a shooting guard that can space the floor. When he heats up, there’s not really anyone that could slow him down. He was a candidate to get a max contract last offseason.
5. Jaylen Brown, Small Forward
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Original Draft Slot: 3
Instead of landing with the Celtics at No. 3 overall, I have Jaylen falling to the Timberwolves at No. 5 in this re-draft. The Timberwolves needed help on the wing at the time, and this would be a much better pick than that of the defensively stout 6-foot-4 former Providence Friars point guard Kris Dunn.
Brown will be on the edge of his first even All-Star selection this season if he stays hot through the halfway point of the regular season. The 2016-17 All-Rookie-Team honoree is averaging 19.8 points per game, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from three-point range this season.