The '96 Draft, Take Two.

I always find it fascinating when writers go back a couple years after a draft and look to see how the draft would've went if we knew what we knew now. So, I think I'll do the same. The most memorable draft in my mind was the 1996 NBA Draft because it was loaded with talent, much of that talent transferring into greatness in the NBA. I'm sure as I go back and "re-draft", you'll be stunned at the amount of studs, both college and pro there were on display in '96. So, let's take a look at how the top 5 picks went, and how they should've gone in a perfect world.

Philadelphia
#1 Pick (In Reality) - Allen Iverson
#1 Pick (In A Perfect World) - Kobe Bryant
This one was tough because Iverson is a first ballot hall of famer and one of the great guards of all time. I don't think that Philly will ever regret using that #1 pick on AI. He got them to a title game and gave the city something to be proud of. Even though Iverson eventually grew tired of the 76er's mediocrity and eventually was run out of town, he recently received a standing ovation in his first return to Philly after being traded. AI said "this made all my years here worth while". Kobe Bryant was drafted with the 13th pick by Charlotte. 13th! Charlotte then proceeded to trade away the second best 2 guard in NBA history (behind MJ of course) for Vlade Divac on draft day. Kobe as everyone knows has had, and is still having an incredible career, a sure fire unanimous first ballot hall of famer. Twelve teams passed on the young kid coming out of high school. If only they knew...

Toronto
#2 Pick (In Reality) - Marcus Camby
#2 Pick (In A Perfect World) - Allen Iverson
The Raptors took Camby with the second overall pick out of Massachusetts. Camby, while never panning out in his time, had a couple years with the New York Knicks, including a title series which they lost the the Spurs. He then spent a couple of injury plagued years trying to find his way. It appeared that Camby's career could be coming to a close and then the Nuggets took a chance on him. Camby has revived his career, ranking among the top three players in rebounding and blocked shots for three consecutive years. Camby's career has had many ups and downs, certainly not worthy of the #2 pick.
Allen Iverson should have ended up as the second pick in the draft behind Kobe Bryant. As stated above, Iverson has had a hall of fame career and you wonder if the Raptors would have tasted some of Philly's success if they were able to draft him. A team of AI, Vince Carter and TMac would have been at the very least, fun to watch. Camby and Iverson are now teammates on the Denver Nuggets (right).

Vancouver
#3 (In Reality) - Shareef Abdur-Rahim
#3 (In A Perfect World) - Steve Nash
It's no secret that Shareef Abdur-Rahim's career has been riddled with injuries. Shareef was a supreme talent who when healthy was very hard to stop. He had some solid seasons playing for the Atlanta Hawks but injuries kept him from being the top tier player that he was projected to be. Shareef was drafted by the then Vancouver Grizzlies, then traded to the Hawks where he spent the majority of his years. Similar to Camby, we will never know where Shareef would've ended up if he could've been as durable as either Kobe or AI.
Steve Nash was drafted by the Suns with 15th overall pick. Another steal. The Suns then traded away that diamond in the rough when he didn't progress as quickly as they had hoped. Nash flourished with the Mavs alongside superstar Dirk Novitski, becoming one of, if not the best PG in the NBA. The Suns, realizing their costly error shelled out the cash after Nash became a free agent and reclaimed him. Since then, Nash has won back to back MVPs and had the Suns in contention every year since his arrival 4 years ago. The Grizzlies fumbled this one.

Milwaukee
#4 (In Reality) - Stephon Marbury (trade)
#4 (In A Perfect World) - Ray Allen
Stephon Marbury was taken with the 4th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks, then turned around and traded to Minnesota for Ray Allen, the 5th overall pick. This was done because franchise big man Kevin Garnett had a long standing relationship, since childhood, with Marbury. Marbury turned out, to even Garnett's surprise, to be a cancer and a head case, leaving Minnesota to become the Batman of another franchise instead of being Garnett's Robin. Marbury has spent his entire career bringing teams down, starting with the T'Wolves, followed by the Suns, the Nets and now the hapless Knicks.
Meanwhile, Ray Allen has been not only a terrific player throughout his career, but also a model citizen, loved by anyone he has played with. Allen will more than likely finish his career as the all time leader in both 3 pointers made and 3 pointers attempted. As everyone knows, Allen has now been teamed up with Kevin Garnett, along with Paul Pierce in Boston and the trio have put together a 60+ win season in their first year together. Imagine if Allen and Garnett had been together from the start? It could've been that way. I'm sure Garnett wishes it had been so.

Minnesota
#5 Pick (In Reality) - Ray Allen (trade)
#5 Pick (In A Perfect World) - Jermaine O'Neal
As I mentioned above, Ray Allen has had an outstanding career and the Bucks in retrospect got an incredible deal when they traded away Marbury and received Ray Allen. The last time that the Bucks had any real excitement associated with them was when Ray Allen teamed with Cassell and "Big Dog" Glenn Robinson, creating their version of the "Big Three". Since then the Bucks have traded Allen and sunk to the perennial cellar dwellers of the NBA. If they had kept Marbury, you could throw those couple quality years out the door as well.
If Ray Allen had been drafted where he shouldve been drafted the T'Wolves would certainly have an intterestin choice to make. They could have gone with a twin towers theme, drafting either Jerm.aine O'Neal or Marcus Camby or they could have gone smaller, drafting Peja Stojakovic. I like Jermiane O'Neal in this spot because similar to David Robinson and Tim Duncan, all you need are solid role players along side of two great bigs. Jermaine progressed slowly as the 17th pick of Portland, being traded away because of the success of Rasheed Wallace. He then spent the rest of his oft injured career being a dominant power forward on both the offensive and defensive end for the Indiana Pacers. Jermaine alongside of Garnett would've been a force to reckon with.

6th Pick (In Reality) - Antoine Walker (Boston)
6th Pick (In A Perfect World) - Marcus Camby
7th Pick (In Reality) - Lorenzon Wright (LAC)
7th Pick (In A Perfect World) - Peja Stojakovic
8th Pick (In Reality) - Kerry Kittles (New Jersey)
8th Pick (In A Perfect World) - Antoine Walker
9th Pick (In Reality) - Samaki Walker (Dallas)
9th Pick (In A Perfect World) - Stephon Marbury
10th Pick (In Reality) - Erick Dampier (Indiana)
10th Pick (In A Perfect World) - Zydrunas Illgauskus