With the Phoenix Suns no longer praying for ping pong balls and fruitful prospects to come their way each offseason, the 2017 NBA Draft already feels like ancient history.
During that fateful night, the Suns sat well positioned with the fourth overall pick, granted to them thanks to their abysmal 24-58 record from the season before. With their selection, Phoenix called upon athletic wing Josh Jackson, who just finished a fabulous season at the collegiate level averaging 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
But as we all know today, that investment never paid off as desired. Jackson struggled to gel with his team and failed to develop as a consistent scoring option. After two disappointing seasons with the Suns, they traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Playing the “what if” game can be dangerous, but this pick absolutely deserves our hindsight attention. During their next draft, Phoenix saw incredible returns with their picks, walking away with Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton. But the Jackson selection beforehand strikes as a strange chapter in this team’s rebuilding story, which undoubtedly works against its momentum.
If the Suns knew what we know today, they would absolutely cash their pick in on someone else and instead leave Jackson to the field. That draft produced several superstar players, and if the Suns snatched up one of them rather than Jackson, their already talented roster becomes even scarier within an instant.
So to erase these cursed pages within Phoenix’s history and replace them with new and improved ones, the 2017 NBA re-draft goes as follows.
Phoenix Suns 2017 NBA Re-Draft: Pick #1
The Philadelphia 76ers might want to join the Suns and also attempt their own re-draft at this point. With their final pick to try and complete “The Process,” they selected Markelle Fultz four summers ago. At first it looked like right selection, but not anymore.
Undergoing some injury woes to start his season Fultz barely ended up playing for Philly. He seemed to lose confidence, and the Sixers traded him to the Orlando Magic two years later. Fultz played well with Orlando last year, averaging 12.9 points and 5.4 assists per game, but also saw his season end early again due to injury. But for Philly, it remains a busted pick.
By selecting Donovan Mitchell instead though, they avoid this colossal mess.
Mitchell headlines this talented draft pool, averaging 26.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game last year. He also willed the Utah Jazz to a league-best 52-20 record, hitting clutch shots night in and night out to name himself an all-league talent.
He already owns nine 40+ point games to his name, operating as a deadly three-level scorer. Given his talent and youthfulness, Mitchell’s name absolutely belongs in the age old “start a team with one player right now” discussion. Pairing him with Embiid absolutely pushes the Sixers past the Atlanta Hawks last year, and possibly leads to earlier postseason success as well.
Phoenix Suns 2017 NBA Re-Draft: Pick #2
The Los Angeles Lakers moved on from D’Angelo Russell and chose Lonzo Ball with the 2017 NBA Draft’s second overall pick. However, Ball ended up operating as a key trade asset to help Lakers acquire Anthony Davis, rather than anything else.
Given a re-draft opportunity, the Lakers might stick with Ball just to make sure they still end up landing Davis. But even if they took someone else, they probably still find a way to reel in Davis, and if not, still add an incredibly talent piece compatible to LeBron James.
With Jayson Tatum sitting behind Brandon Ingram at this time, he likely draws less interest following his rookie year, and possibly avoids New Orleans’s attention during discussions involving Davis. If this miracle scenario indeed plays out for the Lakers, they end up with James, Davis and Tatum eventually coming into his own just a few years later. That makes for a fearsome squad that still wins the 2020 NBA Championship and stands well-equipped to do so again during the coming years.
Last year, Tatum averaged an outstanding 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Just like Mitchell, he remains a talented three-level scorer which any team would drool over the chance to build a team around.
Worst case scenario though? Tatum shines too bright to hide from New Orleans during his rookie year, so they ship him away for Davis…and still end up with a championship, and a few extra assets based off Tatum’s greater value compared to Ball’s. Not bad by any means.
Phoenix Suns 2017 Re-Draft: Pick #3
The Boston Celtics miss out on Tatum this time around, but instead take a point guard. They might still trade for Kyrie Irving months later, but with this selection, they provide themselves with some insurance following his departure and avoid all the time wasted trying to make things work with Kemba Walker shortly after.
A backcourt featuring De’Aaron Fox and Jalen Brown comes together as a stupendous consolation prize for missing out on Tatum, which still positions this team as a sure fire playoff squad within the Eastern Conference.
Fox enjoyed an incredibly underrated season with the Sacramento Kings last year, undoubtedly introducing himself to the league as a top 10 point guard. He averaged 25.2 points, 7.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game during the 2020-21 campaign. He also developed a modest 3-point shot to fully form an offensive arsenal.
Fox’s game-breaking speed remains his greatest attribute though, which poises to work marvellously with Brown. Last year, Brown finished with the second most transition points per game, and Fox finished right behind him with the fourth most. Putting those two together makes this Celtics team incredibly dangerous, with an ability to blow by teams unlike anything present in the league today.
Phoenix Suns 2017 NBA Re-Draft: Pick #4
Deandre Ayton resembles the perfect big man for the Phoenix Suns to move forward with, but if they address their needs down low a season earlier, they find themselves with two options that give way to an absolutely terrifying young team for their opponents to face.
The first option sees the Suns assemble an unstoppable frontcourt by selecting Bam Adebayo, sliding him up to the power forward spot due to his undersized frame, and still taking Ayton first overall the next year while allowing him to stay put at center. This potentially two-headed monster down low will allow Phoenix to dominate their opponents on the glass and establish even more pick-and-roll options within their offense.
With arguably the league’s best backcourt eventually set to work beside easily the league’s strongest front court, picking Adebayo allows the Suns establish a fully talented roster that stacks up close to today’s Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers juggernauts.
But the second option for Phoenix involves them holding onto Adebayo at the center spot, and straying away from Ayton the following year. Possessing the first overall pick though, they can select anyone they want—and if not Ayton, the Suns likely take Luka Doncic to fill their gap along the wing.
A starting five involving Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Luka Doncic, Jae Crowder, and Bam Adebayo feels like a fantasy, but if true, one that certainly leads to a championship.
Either that option or the “super-frontcourt” comes into fruition for the Suns if they chose Adebayo over Josh Jackson, both of which leave the Suns better off than they are right now.