The 2009 NBA Draft looked like there would be a bunch of good players available, possibly some potential All-Stars available in the lottery. Eight years later, there are multiple members of All-NBA teams and even a champion from this draft.

Some of the teams near the top of the pecking order from that year have to be kicking themselves that they lost out on some of the heavy hitters that got scooped up later in the draft. The talent on display in this class went far below the popular names on draft night.

With hindsight firmly in hand, let’s look back at the 2009 Class and re-do these first selections armed with the information from the future. Fans have now watched these players go from prospects to reliable contributors at the NBA level.

Number One: Stephen Curry

This selection comes as a surprise to no one as most attempts to re-order this draft place the original number seven pick as the obvious selection at number one overall. He was the unanimous MVP for crying out loud.

Curry’s blend of shooting, playmaking and his value as a long range threat would mean that the Lob City era of Clippers basketball never takes place. The Chef is more than enough of a consolation prize though.

Number Two: James Harden

Poor Memphis ended up drafting Hasheem Thabeet, who was a monster at UCONN. While Thabeet was a model professional and occasionally shined as a journeyman center, he is no James Harden.

The Beard’s overall production has been on display over the course of this entire season. He has sliced and diced defenses with his passing and scoring skills. Picking him second might have given Memphis enough juice to get over the hump.

Number Three: Blake Griffin

The Poster Child gets drafted by his hometown team and he gets to be on the receiving end of lobs from Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. This selection also might have forced Scott Brooks to go to a lineup with Serge Ibaka at center faster.

Not much changes in this scenario for Griffin as he is still the athletic specimen that he would have been. Although, his game probably doesn’t develop in the same ways if he is flanked by two superstars from the word go.

Number Four: DeMar DeRozan

The Greatest Toronto Raptor of All-Time doesn’t even end up in T-Dot. DeMar would have been headed to the Sacramento Kings instead. Although that doesn’t sound great on the surface, he would have been great there as a lead guard.

DeRozan has always been a mid-range specialist at heart and the move to Northern California doesn’t change that in the slightest. He would probably not have had the postseason success that he has gained up North though.

Number Five: Jrue Holiday

Minnesota still goes point guard at number five, but they select Holiday instead of Ricky Rubio. It is worth noting that this draft featured a slew of point guards taken by the Wolves in the first round.

The UCLA product was an All-Star during his time in Philadelphia and has remained a steady contributor in New Orleans when healthy. Perhaps he and Kevin Love could have had a Southern California connection in Minny.

Number Six: Jeff Teague

Teague has been a weird sort of case in the modern NBA as he sits firmly in the middle rugs of the point guard rankings currently. Still as the next best guard on the list, he would be taken by the Wolves as well.

It is tempting to put Rubio in this spot, but Teague has also made an All-Star team as an Atlanta Hawk. His success running sets down there would indicate he’s up to the challenge in Minnesota too.