2006 NBA Re-Draft: Lottery Edition
A look back at the 2006 NBA Draft — The top NBA players from the 2006 Draft Class.
The 2006 NBA Draft wasn’t good. There wasn’t a lot of depth at the top of the Draft, and after the 8th pick, it was a struggle to redo some of the later lottery picks. Mission completed though as we continue our NBA Re-Draft series.
The same rules apply to the continuing series. The best player available, and team needs at the time, will be considered for each pick.
Before we begin be sure to check out the other NBA Re-Drafts:
2021 NBA Draft Coverage:
1. Toronto Raptors: LaMarcus Aldridge, PF
Career Stats: 19.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.0 AST, 49.1 FG%, 31.9 3PT%, 81.1 FT%, 0.7 STL, 1.1 BLK
Raptors Original Pick: Andrea Bargnani
Aldridge's Original Draft Slot: Chicago Bulls (traded to Trailblazers), 2nd Overall
A combination of Chris Bosh and a young LaMarcus Aldridge? Yeah, I’ll take that in a heartbeat. This a no-brainer for the Raptors. Aldridge’s game fits any era of NBA basketball because of his ability to stretch the floor as a big man.
He’s a great team defender, and a solid Rebounder as well. His longevity and ability to stay healthy throughout his career are also very appealing. Aldridge recently signed with the Brooklyn Nets and has his eyes set on winning the first Championship of his NBA career.
2. Chicago Bulls: Kyle Lowry, PG
Career Stats: 14.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.2 AST, 42.4 FG%, 36.7 3PT%, 81.2 FT%, 1.3 STL
Bulls Original Pick: LaMarcus Aldridge (traded to Blazers)
Lowry’s Original Draft Slot: Memphis Grizzlies, 24th Overall
Kyle Lowry has had a terrific second-half of a career. The first half of his career was filled with inconsistencies in performance and playing time. After being traded to the Toronto Raptors back in 2012, Lowry blossomed into a perennial All-Star player and leader of the Franchise. In his 9 seasons with the Raptors thus far, Lowry has made 6 All-Star appearances and helped the Raptors win their first Championship during the 2018–19 NBA Season.
At the time of the 2006 NBA draft, the Chicago Bulls had a young and very talented Point Guard by the name of Kirk Hinrich, so Lowry isn't necessarily a need here. Still, Lowry is arguably the best player available here, and you can never go wrong with having multiple great Guards on the roster.
At the very worst, the Bulls can have Lowry come off the bench until he is eventually ready to start. Hindsight is 20–20, and we all know that Lowry would end up being better than Hinrich in the long run anyway.
3. Charlotte Bobcats: Rudy Gay, SF
Career Stats: 16.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.2 AST, 45.4 FG%, 35.0 3PT%, 79.9 FT%, 1.2 STL, 0.8 BLK
Bobcats Original Pick: Adam Morrison
Gay’s Original Draft Slot: Houston Rockets (traded to Grizzlies), 8th Overall
It’s odd. Rudy Gay seems like he should be much better than he has been able to produce thus far in his NBA career. His career path is kind of similar to what is happening with Andrew Wiggins. Two naturally talented athletes with high skill levels, but who lack the assertiveness and work ethic to be true leaders and Super-Stars.
Rudy Gay does just enough to keep the teams he plays for satisfied but doesn’t “wow” you. It’s a shame because in my opinion, in an alternate universe, Rudy Gay is a much better player.
Maybe in a situation like the Charlotte Bobcats, who were an Expansion Franchise at the time, Gay has no choice but to develop into a more assertive role. He would have instantly been the Franchise's best player in my opinion and a solid piece to build around if the coaching staff could harness his strengths and give him the keys to carry the team.
4. Portland TrailBlazers: Brandon Roy, SG
Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.7 AST, 45.9 FG%, 34.8 3PT%, 80.0 FT%, 1.0 STL
Bulls Original Pick: Tyrus Thomas (traded to Bulls)
Roy’s Original Draft Slot: Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to Trailblazers), 6th Overall
This one is tough. We all know about the career-changing injury of Brandon Roy. The question is, does his short prime years warrant a high draft pick? In this draft class, yes it does. The 2006 NBA Draft class wasn’t great. It was top-heavy, and then a huge drop-off after the 8th best player.
In this Re-draft, the Blazers don’t have to trade for Brandon Roy as they did in the actual Draft, they can take their future short-term Superstar here with the 4th pick. Who knows? Maybe in an alternate universe, and in this re-draft, Roy doesn’t get hurt.
5. Atlanta Hawks: Rajon Rondo, PG
Career Stats: 10.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 8.1 AST, 45.7 FG%, 31.9 3PT%, 60.6 FT%, 1.6 STL
Hawks Original Pick: Shelden Williams
Rondo’s Original Draft Slot: Phoenix Suns (traded to Celtics), 21st Overall
Looking back at this weak Draft class, it’s hard to believe that Rondo was available with the 21st pick. In this Re-Draft, Rondo moves 16 spots up the board, as the Atlanta Hawks were a Point Guard needy team.
Rondo is the best player available here and he would have filled a huge need. Rondo is a great facilitator and his ability to get high percentage looks for his teammates would've been a great fit next to Star player Joe Johnson.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves: Paul Millsap, SF/PF
Career Stats: 13.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.2 AST, 49.1 FG%, 34.6 3PT%, 73.6FT%, 1.3 STL, 1.0 BLK
Timberwolves Original Pick: Brandon Roy (traded to Trailblazers)
Millsap’s Original Draft Slot: Utah Jazz, 47th Overall
At the time, the Minnesota Timberwolves still had star Power Forward Kevin Garnett. However, as we all know, Garnett would be traded to the Boston Celtics in a mega-deal that would change the NBA landscape for years to come. With future All-Star Forward Paul Millsap still on the board, the T-Wolves don’t hesitate to take him and have even more leverage to maybe get more out of a future Kevin Garnett Deal.
7. Boston Celtics: J.J. Reddick, SG
Career Stats: 12.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 2.0 AST, 44.7 FG%, 41.5 3PT%, 89.2 FT%
Celtics Orginal Pick: Randy Foye ( traded to Timberwolves)
Reddick’s Original Draft Slot: Orlando Magic, 11th Overall
The interesting thing about this pick for the Celtics, as that just one year later they would acquire Ray Allen. Still, having another great long-range shooter like Reddick off the bench could’ve helped the Celtics win another Championship. During the Doc Rivers, and “big 3” Celtics era, the defense was never really an issue.
Not getting enough shooting and scoring, especially down the stretch of games, is what ultimately contributed to the Celtics only winning one Championship during the Doc Rivers era. So with Reddick available here, the Celtics don’t hesitate to take him here.
8. Houston Rockets: Andrea Bargnani, PF/C
Career Stats: 14.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.2 AST, 43.9 FG%, 35.4 3PT%, 82.4 FG%, 0.9 BLK
Rockets Original Pick: Rudy Gay (traded to Grizzlies)
Bargnani’s Original Draft Slot: Toronto Raptors, 1st Overall
You know it’s a pretty bad draft class when the former 1st overall pick was a bust, yet still goes in the Top 10 in this re-draft. Let's call it like it is. Andrea Bargnani has no business going 1st overall, let alone in the Top 15. In any other half-decent NBA Draft class, he is a solid Top 25 pick. In this Draft though, the Rockets have no choice but to take Bargnani here, and hey, at least he could shoot the basketball for a big man.
Bargnani was a horrible Rebounder, even though he’s 7 feet tall, and a soft defender. His glaring weaknesses would’ve been better hidden in a role off the bench for 15–20 minutes per game where he can focus on scoring the basketball with the second unit.
9. Golden State Warriors: Jordan Farmar, PG
Career Stats: 7.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.9 AST, 42.3 FG%, 37.4 3PT%, 73.9 FT%, 0.8 STL
Warriors Original Pick: Patrick O’Bryant
Farmar’s Original Draft Slot: Los Angeles Lakers, 26th Overall
This is where the huge drop-off in talent begins. Even after Draft bust Andrea Bargnani. Still, the Warriors can’t go wrong here with a young and talented backup-caliber Point Guard, like Jordan Farmar. Farmar could play within an offense, didn’t force many bad plays, and could play well in a structured system in limited minutes off the bench. he certainly would be a better pick than Patrick O’Bryant.
10. Seattle Supersonics: Thabo Sefolosha, SG
Career Stats: 5.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.4 AST, 44.9 FG%, 34.9 3PT%, 73.2 FT%1.1 STL
Supersonics Original Pick: Mouhamed Sene
Sefolosha’s Original Draft Slot: Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Bulls) 13th Overall
Before the Oklahoma City Thunder became the Thunder, they were the Supersonics, and they were located in Seattle. Oddly enough, Thabo Sefolosha would end up playing for the Thunder. In this re-draft, Sefolosha ends up on the team he played for anyway and is a good fit for what this team would become later down the line, with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
In his time in the NBA, Sefolosha was a gritty lock-down defender and streaky shooter. He didn't provide much on the offensive end of the floor, but his defensive intensity and effort can’t be understated. He was the perfect role player for the Thunder, and the Franchise that would become the Thunder takes him here in this 2006 NBA re-draft.
11. Orlando Magic: J.J. Barea, PG
Career Stats: 8.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 3.9 AST, 42.4 FG%, 35.2 3PT%, 79.4 FT%
Magics Original Pick: J.J. Reddick
Barea’s Original Draft Slot: Undrafted
J.J. Bares story is inspiring. Players like him don't typically make the NBA. He’s very undersized (5–10), not very athletic, and he went undrafted. Still, he scratched and clawed his way onto the Dallas Mavericks roster and became a key contributor for them throughout his time with the Franchise. Barea was a fan favorite because he beat the odds and played with heart.
You can’t teach what Barea brings to the basketball court and I believe he would’ve been successful with any NBA Franchise. The Magic are happy to get good value in a bad Draft here and have the hindsight of knowing they are getting a player who had longevity and consistent production during his time in the NBA.
12. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets: Randy Foye, PG/SG
Career Stats: 10.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.8 AST, 40.1 FG%, 36.6 3PT%, 85.2 FT%, 0.7 STL
Hornets Original Pick: Hilton Armstrong
Foye’s Original Draft Slot: Boston Celtics (traded to Timberwolves), 7th Overall
Randy Foye would’ve been a nice fit next to Chris Paul. Foye was a Combo Guard who could run the offense if he needed to. At this point in the Draft, he’d provide the Hornets some depth and versatility at the guard spot, and can Start or produce off the bench.
13. Philadelphia 76ers: Shannon Brown, PG/SG
Career Stats: 7.6 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.1 AST, 42.0 FG%, 33.2 3PT%, 80.7 FT%, 0.7 STL
76ers Original Pick: Thabo Sefolosha
Brown’s Original Draft Slot: Cleveland Cavaliers, 25th Overall
Shannon Brown is remembered for his time during the Lakers' late 2000’s Championship runs, led by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. He was a flashy role player that occasionally made the highlight dunk of the night. He knew his role as a microwave scorer that could put points up in limited playing time.
Brown played on a great Lakers team with lots of depth so he didn’t get as many minutes as he maybe would have liked to. Here, with the 76ers, Brown enters a different situation and more than likely gets more playing time on a young rebuilding 76ers roster.
14. Utah Jazz: Daniel Gibson, PG/SG
Career Stats: 7.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 2.0 AST, 40.2 FG%, 40.7 3PT%, 78.0 FT%
Jazz Original Pick: Ronnie Brewer
Gibson’s Original Draft Slot: Cleveland Cavaliers, 42nd Overall
For some reason, I remember Daniel Gibson more for being Keyshia Cole’s Husband. Still, he was a crucial role player for the early part of LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers career. He could always be counted on to hit the open three, and often provide a much-needed spark off the bench.
Gibson was a fan favorite for Cleveland and would’ve succeeded in almost any system because of his ability to get off a quick, clean, compact, shot with perfect form. His shooting form was a beauty to watch and he’s a solid pick at the end of the lottery.
Jeffrey Genao is a Writer and Contributor for Basketball University. You can read more of his content at https://officialbballuniversity.com/author/jeffrey-genao/
