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NBA Redraft: 2011
854 sats \ 24 comments \ @Undisciplined 29 Aug Stacker_Sports
I hope you took careful notes, because we've got one heck of a decision to make this year.
The Cavs are picking first, based on your observations of one of the possible timelines, who should they take with this pick.
Bonus: rank your top 3 players in the comments.
Jimmy Butler0.0%
Isaiah Thomas0.0%
Kemba Walker0.0%
Tobias Harris0.0%
Kyrie Irving33.3%
Jonas Valanciunas0.0%
Klay Thompson0.0%
Nikola Vucevic0.0%
Kawhi Leonard66.7%
Other0.0%
6 votes \ 22h left
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42 sats \ 2 replies \ @grayruby 29 Aug
No question.
  1. Fun Guy
  2. Kyrie Irving
  3. Jimmy Butler
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40 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined OP 29 Aug
You haven't thought through the impacts on the timeline
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42 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby 29 Aug
I have given absolutely no thought to this at all. I see Fun Guy. I pick Fun Guy.
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42 sats \ 10 replies \ @BlokchainB 29 Aug
Kawhi Butler Thompson
I just can’t pass up the 2nd best shooter. But Kawhi and LeBron I think will win more titles than Bron and Kyrie. Kyrie’s didn’t want to be in LeBron’s shadow I think Kawhi would plus he is an excellent defender!!
I went with Butler because he’s a dog! Not as high a ceiling as Kawhi but a great player to build a franchise with.
Man what a draft!!
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69 sats \ 9 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 29 Aug
Here's the rub, though. Kawhi and Lebron are both small forwards and Kawhi wasn't looking like a star player yet. Same for Butler.
Does Lebron even return to Cleveland if they take Kawhi or Butler? Otherwise, they'd also be my top two picks.
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42 sats \ 8 replies \ @BlokchainB 29 Aug
Good point but LeBron is so versatile I sure he could switch positions to accommodate Kawhi. But you are correct maybe LeBron prefers a guard like Kyrie.
Kyrie is an amazing talent but the Cavs couldn’t win with him. Plus the injuries and attitude I’m not sure he makes the Hall of Fame. But in this new day it appears players get in more on vibes and popularity than actual on court achievements.
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74 sats \ 7 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 29 Aug
To me the only risk with Kawhi (other than all the Kawhi stuff) is that it changes Lebron's return decision. They would have an amazing on-court fit, maybe one of the best ever.
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105 sats \ 4 replies \ @SimpleStacker 29 Aug
Did Lebron have some special love for Kyrie, or was it more that he was seen as the best player in the draft that Lebron wanted to play with?
If he knew the kind of player Kawhi would become, he'd probably still go back to the Cavs. OTOH, who knows how Kawhi would develop if he had to play 2nd fiddle to Lebron
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72 sats \ 1 reply \ @BlokchainB 29 Aug
He developed with Tim Duncan
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30 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 29 Aug
In both cases, 3-and-D wing is a perfect fit.
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98 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined OP 29 Aug
Good point. I suppose it's within our hypothetical reality that Lebron could be told how good Kawhi would be.
I think he just saw Cleveland as the best basketball situation for him to go to, because Kyrie was immediately awesome and they had that top pick in 2014 as a trade asset. Neither Butler nor Kawhi were obviously awesome as of 2014.
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42 sats \ 0 replies \ @BlokchainB 29 Aug
Especially Butler!
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42 sats \ 1 reply \ @BlokchainB 29 Aug
I would have to check that Cavs roster to see who could run with Kawhi if bron didn’t come
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49 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 29 Aug
No one. That roster stunk. They're going to keep being the worst team in the league for the next few seasons. Lebron comes back when they get the #1 pick again, which can be traded for Kevin Love
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42 sats \ 0 replies \ @BlokchainB 29 Aug
Holy smokes this is a tough one!
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42 sats \ 3 replies \ @HardMoney 29 Aug
Still think it’s Irving but Kawhi and klay are very close and really any of them could be argued for 1
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58 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 29 Aug
I think it's Kyrie, because we know Lebron's coming back and they won a title this way.
If it were any other team drafting, then I'd be weighing the very long pros and cons lists for Jimmy and Kawhi.
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42 sats \ 1 reply \ @HardMoney 29 Aug
If they picked Kawhi then LeBron probably wins a few more Miami championships
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 29 Aug
Great point!
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42 sats \ 4 replies \ @gnilma 1 Sep
What a great draft! I'll go:
  1. Kawhi
  2. Kyrie
  3. Jimmy
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50 sats \ 3 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 1 Sep
Does Lebron come back, though?
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42 sats \ 2 replies \ @gnilma 1 Sep
I think he does. Even if not right away, when he sees the monster that Kawhi turns into, he will come back. Remember he tried to recruit Kawhi to the Lakers?
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50 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined OP 1 Sep
Good point
Ok, so I see this timeline playing out as follows, then:
  1. Without Kawhi on the Spurs, Miami wins the 2014 title
  2. Miami stays together another year
  3. Wade and Bosh begin to decline, Lebron wants out
  4. Kawhi emerges as a premier 3-and-D wing
  5. Lebron joins Kawhi on the Cavs and they form an unstoppable duo
  6. Kawhi's health limits them to two titles
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42 sats \ 0 replies \ @gnilma 1 Sep
Who knows? Maybe LeBron's training ways gives the cyborg his durability upgrade and he doesn't get hurt or just recovers fast even if he does. We can only speculate as to what could happen, but I can definitely see them win more than 2 (with proper help, of course) if Kawhi stays healthy.
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