NBA Draft: Re-drafting the 2008 NBA Draft’s first round

#17 Pick – Toronto Raptors: Mario Chalmers (Originally: Roy Hibbert)

Mario Chalmers had the blessing of playing for one of the best franchises in the NBA, the Miami Heat. He was even more blessed because his Heat tenure tied into the Heatles stint.

Chalmers was the starting point guard for four Finals teams and came away with two championships.

I would be lying if I said that Chalmers played a major role in earning those titles, but I would also be lying if I said he did nothing. The first year they won, in 2012, Chalmers played the role of a tertiary facilitator and fourth option perfectly.

Averaging 11.3 points 3.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game, Chalmers played his role perfectly and was a good point guard for a few years, serving as the ideal floor-spacer by shooting 36.0 percent from downtown in Miami.

His NBA career ended in 2018 after a couple of decent years with the Memphis Grizzlies but he still plays professionally in Greece.

Chalmers was never the focal point, and rarely even the secondary-option on the court. He played his NBA career out as a consistent starter, played on quite a few Finals teams and had a productive nine-year-career. Solid enough to earn him the 17th pick in the 2008 re-draft.