The 1996 NBA Draft was a historic class, featuring four Hall of Famers, four MVP awards, and six players with retired jerseys. However, teams got a lot wrong in that draft, as evidenced by three MVP awards being taken with the 13th and 15th picks. Let's take a look at how re-drafting the top 10 picks might have changed those teams' fortunes.
Philadelphia 76ers: Kobe Bryant (SG) - A homecoming with the Sixers, adding him to a team with Jerry Stackhouse, could have been fun. Kobe and his agent were angling for him to find his way to the Lakers, but a reunion with the Sixers isn't bad.
Toronto Raptors: Allen Iverson (SG) - A backcourt of Iverson and Damon Stoudamire would've been a nightmare defensively for Toronto and for defenses against the Raptors. Iverson would've galvanized basketball in Canada to an even greater degree than Vince Carter.
Vancouver Grizzlies: Steve Nash (PG) - Nash could've saved basketball in Vancouver, ushering in good basketball and becoming an All-Star point guard. However, he didn't become more than an All-Star until he locked in with Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix in 2004.
Milwaukee Bucks: Ray Allen (SG) - No real change here. Allen is a Hall of Fame shooting guard who put up 25 points per game in his heyday and became a championship role player in his twilight.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Ben Wallace (C) - Wallace, who went undrafted in 1996, would've set the Wolves up down the road with a defensive master next to Kevin Garnett. Wallace needed some seasoning, and KG still couldn't legally drink, but that's a great base for a patient front office.
Boston Celtics: Jermaine O'Neal (PF/C) - O'Neal would've been a brilliant pickup, taking some patience to develop into the Celtics' big man of the future.
LA Clippers: Stephon Marbury (PG) - A young core of Marbury, Brent Barry, Rodney Rogers, and Lamond Murray wouldn't have been terrible, but working for Donald Sterling would've driven Marbury back East quicker than a Minnesota winter.
New Jersey Nets: Marcus Camby (C) - With John Calipari taking over the Nets, doing that with Camby as his big man like at UMass would've been a cool story. Camby could've benefited from Kenny Anderson as the point guard, and a Camby-Shawn Bradley frontcourt would've been funny.
Dallas Mavericks: Peja Stojaković (SF) - Stojaković didn't come over until the 1998-99 season, so we're pretending the Mavs still end up with Dirk Nowitzki in 1998 and have the greatest shooting forward duo of all-time.
Indiana Pacers: Antoine Walker (F) - A loaded Pacers team ending up with Walker as a young player off the bench, eventually working his way into the starting lineup to bomb 3s with Reggie Miller, would've been a lot of fun.
In other news, the Celtics could trade for Giannis, but should they? The Knicks are holding their championship parade today, and the NBA is looking at the small-forward free-agent class, with Tari Eason as the best one. The draft is also in full swing, with Sam Vecenie's NBA Draft Guide providing fresh intel on what teams are thinking. Darius Acuff Jr., Brayden Burries, Christian Anderson, Cameron Carr, Bennett Stirtz, Richie Saunders, Meleek Thomas, and Isaiah Evans are some of the best outside shooters in the draft, and where they could go.
