The original second overall pick that the Sixers used on Van Horn wasn’t the worst pick in recent memory. But they would obviously be much better served in this re-draft if they were able to pick the original ninth overall pick of the Raptors and the Mount Zion Christian Academy product Tracy McGrady.
This 6-foot-8 wing went to high school in Durham, NC, and is a native of Bartow, FL. McGrady is already a Hall-of-Famer that is also a seven-time All-Star selection, seven-time All-NBA honoree, 2000-01 Most Improved Player award winner, and two-time Scoring Champion.
At his peak with the Magic and Rockets, McGrady got all seven of those All-Star selections consecutively. He also racked up 97.3 win shares, a 55.7 value over replacement player rating, .152 win shares per 48 minutes, and a 5.2 box plus/minus rating.
Keeping the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft the same with all-time great power forward and recent Hall-of-Fame inductee Tim Duncan going to the Spurs is obviously the right move. Duncan had his career last the longest of any player in this 1997 draft class. He wouldn’t retire until after the 2015-16 season. And his entire career lasted with the Spurs.
Duncan is a whopping 15-time All-Star selection, 15-time All-NBA honoree, two-time regular season MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, five-time NBA Champion, and 15-time All-Defensive Team selection. He also registered a 110 offensive rating, 96 defensive rating, 206.4 win shares, 5.6 box plus/minus rating, .209 win shares per 48 minutes, and a 91.1 value over replacement player rating.