2014 NBA Redraft: A tale of two big men and two missed picks

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 10: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on December 10, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Nuggets 97-92, NBA MVP Ladder: Top 5 MVP candidates at the All-Star break. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

14 of 31

(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

#13 Pick: Dario Saric (Originally: Zach LaVine)

The Timberwolves originally used their own pick to add Zach LaVine to compliment Andrew Wiggins, who they took with Cleveland’s pick.

Given that we changed the first pick to Joel Embiid the focus now shifts to the perimeter and going with Embiid’s real-life future teammate makes a lot of sense.

Saric was not ready to come over for two years, luckily coinciding with Embiid’s absence for the sake of this exercise. Upon coming over, he was able to find a role as a shooter off the bench, providing spacing for a Philadelphia roster that needed it.

Minnesota would need it that same presence they were to be building around Embiid. Saric would also be one of the better shooters Ricky Rubio would play with during his time in Minnesota.

Saric is a career 35.6 percent shooter from beyond the arc while averaging a solid 12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. He excelled the most in Philadelphia, showing that he is the type of player that thrives in winning situations. Minnesota has not been that historically, but that could have changed with these two new faces.

With the fourteenth pick in the 2014 NBA Redraft, the Phoenix Suns select…

Home/NBA Draft