I agree with LarBrd33. I think you're underestimating how dominant Hakeem was in college. He certainly wasn't regarded as a project coming out of college; he was the consensus #1 pick.
If I was traveling back in time to 1984 as a GM... I'd still take Hakeem #1. Jordan's Bulls were a below .500 team until Pippen arrived. Excellent player without question, but if you're playing the championship game you still probably take Hakeem.
Actually, I know for a fact I'd take Akeem #1 in that draft since I read Bill Simmons' book and Hakeem himself swears that Ralph Sampson had so much value back in 1984 that they could have very easily traded Sampson to the Blazers for both Clyde Drexler (who hadn't done much yet) AND the #2 pick (which they would have used on JOrdan). You'd end up with Hakeem, Drexler and Jordan. LOl.
Fab Melo is nowhere near that type of prospect.
Ouch. 7 steals a game from 3 players alone, none of which are even your PG?
Roy makes a good point though, do they take Jordan if they already get Drexler? I'd go with Stockton, get him like 10 rings and make it so a Laker isn't the best PG of all time.
Although if Drexler and Hakeem were actually able to hook up in their prime they wouldn't need anybody to beat Jordan.
In Simmons' book Hakeem mentions the deal was on the table... they could have had the #2 pick AND Drexler for Sampson, but they decided to hang onto Sampson.
I mean... if I'm taking a time machine back to 1984, I totally do that deal. Drexler didn't do anything his rookie season, but in year 2 he averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds 9 assists 2.5 steals for the Blazers. I'd just play Drexler at PG in 1984 and let him and Jordan play together that season... then I'd flip Drexler to Utah for John Stockton (didn't do much of anything as a rookie and was picked 16th) and Utah's 1985 1st rounder (#13)... who I'd use to take Malone.
Then I'd just have
PG - Stockton
SG - Jordan
PF - Malone
C - Olajuwon
Nice start. Lol
While I'm at it... Rodney McCray probably had a lot of value back then too, right? He had been the 3rd pick for the Rockets in 1983... He was 23 years old in 1984-85 and averaged 14.4 points, 4.3 assists, 6.6 rebounds on 53% shooting .... How valuable do you figure he was? Do you think I could send him to Dallas in for the 8th and 17th picks in the 1985 draft? I'd take Detlef Schrempf and Joe Dumars.
PG - Stockton
SG - Jordan
SF - Detlef
PF - Malone
C - Olajuwan
--
6th man: Joe Dumars
Or Maybe I trade up the 8th pick to #7 instead and take Chris Mullin... tough call there. What can I get for Lewis Lloyd?... this is serious business.
Am I off topic? The title of this thread is "What if..."