It was merely eight years ago when the Golden State Warriors got away with one of the biggest draft heists in recent NBA history, landing Draymond Green, the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time champion, with the No. 35 pick.
Of course, even Golden State had no idea what they were getting in Green, considering even they passed on him at pick 30, where they went with Festus Ezeli instead. Even so, that’s great work by the Warriors landing such a steal in the second round.
The top pick that year, Anthony Davis, has definitely reached his massive potential, while Damian Lillard, the No. 6 pick, has surpassed expectations.
Below, we re-draft the 2012 class in the order we think they should have gone in.
No. 1 pick: Anthony Davis
Actual position: No. 1
Career earnings: $121,617,548
Career stats: 24.0 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.4 bpg, 51.5 FG%, 31.9 3P%
No. 2 pick: Damian Lillard
Actual position: No. 6
Career earnings: $122,106,658
Career stats: 24.2 ppg, 6.5 apg, 4.2 rpg, 43.7 FG%, 37.3 3P%
No. 3 pick: Draymond Green
Actual position: No. 35
Career earnings: $84,640,743
Career stats: 9.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.0 apg, 43.5 FG%, 31.9 3P%
No. 4 pick: Bradley Beal
Actual position: No. 3
Career earnings: $117,072,049
Career stats: 21.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 45.2 FG%, 38.0 3P%
No. 5 pick: Andre Drummond
Actual position: No. 9
Career earnings: $109,078,706
Career stats: 14.5 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 54.2 FG%
No. 6 pick: Khris Middleton
Actual position: No. 39
Career earnings: $89,781,167
Career stats: 16.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.1 apg, 45.8 FG%, 39.2 3P%
No. 7 pick: Harrison Barnes
Actual position: No. 7
Career earnings: $106,129,017
Career stats: 13.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 44.8 FG%, 37.5 3P%
No. 8 pick: Jae Crowder
Actual position: No. 34
Career earnings: $37,304,606
Career stats: 9.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.5 apg, 42.1 FG%, 34.0 3P%
No. 9 pick: Evan Fournier
Actual position: No. 20
Career earnings: $74,706,244
Career stats: 14.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.6 apg, 44.9 FG%, 37.5 3P%
No. 10 pick: Terrence Ross
Actual position: No. 8
Career earnings: $55,089,837
Career stats: 11.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 42.0 FG%, 37.0 3P%
No. 11 pick: Will Barton
Actual position: No. 40
Career earnings: $37,461,258
Career stats: 11.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 43.4 FG%, 34.7 3P%
No. 12 pick: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Actual position: No. 2
Career earnings: $72,545,282
Career stats: 8.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 47.4 FG%, 27.2 3P%
No. 13 pick: Jeremy Lamb
Actual position: No. 12
Career earnings: $40,867,716
Career stats: 10.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.6 apg, 44.4 FG%, 33.9 3P%
No. 14 pick: Dion Waiters
Actual position: No. 4
Career earnings: $56,999,655
Career stats: 13.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.8 apg, 41.2 FG%, 34.6 3P%
No. 15 pick: Kent Bazemore
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $75,235,799
Career stats: 8.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 41.3 FG%, 35.1 3P%
No. 16 pick: Austin Rivers
Actual position: No. 10
Career earnings: $48,282,670
Career stats: 9.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 41.8 FG%, 34.8 3P%
No. 17 pick: Moe Harkless
Actual position: No. 15
Career earnings: $49,823,697
Career stats: 7.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, 47.8 FG%, 32.5 3P%
No. 18 pick: John Henson
Actual position: No. 14
Career earnings: $52,659,184
Career stats: 7.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.1 apg, 54.0 FG%, 25.0 3P%
No. 19 pick: Tomas Satoransky
Actual position: No. 32
Career earnings: $19,000,000
Career stats: 7.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.1 apg, 46.9 FG%, 36.9 3P%
No. 20 pick: Kyle O'Quinn
Actual position: No. 49
Career earnings: $20,872,555
Career stats: 5.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.4 apg, 51.7 FG%
No. 21 pick: Mike Scott
Actual position: No. 43
Career earnings: $22,059,513
Career stats: 7.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.9 apg, 45.9 FG%, 36.4 3P%
No. 22 pick: JaMychal Green
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $23,437,202
Career stats: 8.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 0.9 apg, 47.1 FG%, 37.4 3P%
No. 23 pick: Meyers Leonard
Actual position: No. 11
Career earnings: $50,742,479
Career stats: 5.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.9 apg, 48.2 FG%, 39.0 3P%
No. 24 pick: Tyler Zeller
Actual position: No. 17
Career earnings: $17,686,467
Career stats: 6.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.9 apg, 50.8 FG%
No. 25 pick: Miles Plumlee
Actual position: No. 26
Career earnings: $55,173,973
Career stats: 4.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.5 apg, 54.2 FG%
No. 26 pick: Terrence Jones
Actual position: No. 18
Career earnings: $8,550,822
Career stats: 10.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.0 apg, 50.1 FG%, 29.7 3P%
No. 27 pick: Jared Sullinger
Actual position: No. 21
Career earnings: Earnings: $11,994,420
Career stats: 10.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 43.6 FG%, 27.2 3P%
No. 28 pick: Quincy Acy
Actual position: No. 37
Career earnings: $8,239,454
Career stats: 4.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.6 apg, 44.4 FG%, 35.0 3P%
No. 29 pick: Festus Ezeli
Actual position: No. 30
Career earnings: $13,942,841
Career stats: 4.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 51.3 FG%
No. 30 pick: Andrew Nicholson
Actual position: No. 19
Career earnings: $21,448,873
Career stats: 6.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.4 apg, 46.7 FG%, 32.1 3P%
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