NBA Draft: Re-drafting the historic 2009 NBA Draft

As much as I hate to take away the Chicago Bulls’ Taj Gibson pick, at least they’re getting another useful big man to replace him. All 30 teams passed on Baynes twice in this draft, prompting Baynes to take his services to Europe for a few years before the San Antonio Spurs (who else) signed him in 2012.

Naturally, Baynes became yet another international player that the franchise mined significant value out of, as his post defense and ability to fit within the parameters of San Antonio’s motion offense. He’s more or less occupied the same role with the Boston Celtics for the last couple of seasons.

Given their history of punting on young prospects far too early, who knows if Chicago would’ve allowed Baynes to develop into the handy backup big he eventually became?

Given the Bulls’ more recent reputation for getting the most out of late-round picks and fringe signings — especially during the Tom Thibideau era, which was right around the corner — there’s a good chance that he would’ve still been a good player. Not .126 WS/48 good, but still good.

Even with the Bulls missing out on Gibson, Gar Forman and John Paxson would still have another solid prospect to add to their uneven body of work as executives. If only they had as much success picking coaches or signing free agents.