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The 2016 NBA Draft was a highly anticipated event ahead of the regular season. With players like Jamal Murray and Ben Simmons in the draft class, many expected the lottery to produce numerous superstars. While these expectations did come to be true, no one could have anticipated the severity of the mistakes committed by some unfortunate franchises on that day.
Here are five 2016 NBA Draft decisions that franchises wish they could go back and change.
2016 NBA Draft: 5 players franchises regret picking to this day
For this list, we will be looking at two main factors. First, the prospect that was chosen by a particular franchise in the 2016 NBA Draft. Second, we will be examining the prospects that were passed up on in the process.
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The severity of the mistake will also depend on how well the chosen player developed, relative to the prospect that was ignored by the team.
#5 Henry Ellenson (Detroit Pistons)
With the 18th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons selected Henry Ellenson, and boy was this pick a bad one!
The 23-year-old spent just three seasons with the Detroit Pistons before the franchise moved on from him. Ellenson's career averages of just 4.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.5 assists do not make for pretty reading.
While the 18th pick doesn't always provide teams with elite players, Caris LeVert and Pascal Siakam were among the players still on the board. Both players have gone on to become stars in the NBA, with Siakam winning an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
With the Detroit Pistons in desperate need of a two-way wing player right now, many fans would be looking back at what could have been had the franchise made a better choice with their 2016 NBA Draft pick.
#4 Brandon Ingram (LA Lakers)
In the 2016 NBA Draft, the LA Lakers had the second overall pick and the likes of Jaylen Brown and Jamal Murray on the board. Instead, the franchise chose to go with Brandon Ingram.
While it is true that Brandon Ingram has developed into a good scorer with the New Orleans Pelicans, he couldn't make the jump to stardom with the franchise that picked him. Ingram has matured into an All-Star but only after departing from the LA Lakers.
While Brandon Ingram did come in handy as a trade piece in the Anthony Davis deal, the LA Lakers will look back at the 2016 NBA Draft with considerable regret.
#3 Thon Maker (Milwaukee Bucks)
The best example of an astute and memorable pick is the Milwaukee Bucks' decision to draft Giannis Antetokounmpo as the 15th overall pick in the 2013 draft. That excellent choice is balanced out by the regrettable decision to pick Thon Maker with the 10th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Thon Maker has slowly been improving with the Detroit Pistons, but what he has shown doesn't come close to warranting a lottery pick. What makes matters so much worse for the Milwaukee Bucks is that future All-Star Domantas Sabonis was still on the board and was chosen right after Maker.
After falling short in the NBA postseason over the last few years, the Milwaukee Bucks continue continue to suffer the consequences of their poor drafting in 2016.
#2 Dragan Bender (Phoenix Suns)
With the 4th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns selected Dragan Bender. "The Dragan" isn't a bad player by any means but considering his limited production in the NBA, many continue to wonder why the 22-year-old was drafted as high up as fourth.
Other names the Phoenix Suns could have possibly drafted include Buddy Hield, Jamal Murray, and Domantas Sabonis. Bender on the other hand, has struggled for consistent time and the Phoenix Suns will look back at the 2016 NBA Draft as a forgettable one.
#1 Furkan Korkmaz (Philadelphia 76ers)
Under normal circumstances, picking Furkan Korkmaz at 26th overall wouldn't really be a terrible choice. Unfortunately for the Philadelphia 76ers, the 2016 NBA Draft wasn't your average draft.
While the 76ers picked Korkmaz, Pascal Siakam was taken with the very next pick by the Toronto Raptors. Although Korkmaz has gone on to become an average role player, the latter is now an NBA champion and has proven himself to be an elite second option on a title-winning team.
While it did take Pascal Siakam a few years to develop into the player he is today, his upside was undeniable from day one. The Philadelphia 76ers will be extremely disappointed at missing out on one of the steals of the 2016 NBA Draft by the narrowest of margins.
