Here are my reactions to the NBA Draft. Almost all of them came as the picks were coming in last night, and I gave every team a grade after the draft. I think it's a bit premature and I don't want to judge a lot of these draft classes before seeing them play, but I gave them grades anyways. Let me know what you thought of your favorite teams' draft on Twitter @ThreePointRange and be sure to follow me while you're there.
Atlanta Hawks
Picks: #4: De'Andre Hunter, #10: Cam Reddish, #34: Bruno Fernando
Moves: Receive: #4, #57, Solomon Hill; Give Up: #8, #17, #35
Receive: #34, Give Up: #57, Two Future Second Round Picks
Reaction: The Hawks moved up in the draft to the fourth pick to get their guy in De'Andre Hunter. He's a great fit with their core of Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, John Collins, etc. thanks to his defensive ability, low usage role, and three point shooting. However, they gave up a lot, parting with three valuable picks, including one in the lottery, to get him. However, they still managed to end up with Cam Reddish at 10, which I think is another great pick. I think he would have gone to the Hawks had the kept the eighth pick, and he dropped two more spots to end up in Atlanta. I think he's another good fit in Atlanta, where he can utilize his grab and go ability as a ball handler and playmaker, and play in a lower stakes environment with more spacing that should allow him to be a better shooter. I'm personally really high on Reddish, and I think getting him at #10 is really good value, and picking up both him and Hunter is a great haul. Add in Bruno Fernando, who they traded up in the second round to get. I'm a huge fan of Fernando, with an NBA ready body and post scoring ability. He also improved his mid range jump shot and passing IQ, and he's going to hit the glass as well. He's not a great defender and his upside isn't that high, but I think he can be a low end starter and he fits next to John Collins for the Hawks. They gave up a lot of assets, but I think their draft went very, very well.
Grade: A+
Boston Celtics
Picks: #14: Romeo Langford, #22: Grant Williams, #33: Carsen Edwards, #51: Tremont Waters
Moves: Receive: #24, #33; Give Up: #20
Receive: Bucks 2020 First Round Pick; Give Up: #24, Aron Baynes
Reaction: The Celtics had a bevy of picks, and while they were rumored to be moving up in the draft with their capital, they instead stayed put and actually added to their stash by trading back with a trade with the Sixers. They used their first pick on Romeo Langford. I'm personally a big fa of Langford overall, mostly because I think the thumb injury really impacted his shooting last year. He struggled to shoot from deep, and while there are clear mechanical issues, I think he can be at least an average shooter from deep. He's a good athlete and slasher right now who is great at finishing at the rim, and I think he can be a pretty good defender with more work on that end. I don't know how well he fits with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, two other guys with questionable jumpers, but this was a bet on the talent by the Celtics. They then took Grant Williams at 22. I'm not a big Williams guy, I had him as a second rounder on my big board, but I'm fine with this pick from the Celtics. They get a really high IQ player in Williams who should fit in well with the Celtics thanks to his unselfish nature. He's also jacked and super physical, and has the potential to be a perimeter defender. I don't really know if he will be because he has a small wingspan for his size and isn't super mobile, but he's a very hard worker and could figure it out. I also have questions about his ability to shoot it, although a lot of people are a lot higher on him than I am, and I think the Celtics taking him here is a solid pick. It's not what I have done, but there's a reason I'm not in charge of an NBA team and Danny Ainge is. They ended up trading one of the picks they got from the Sixers for some salary relief and a future first, but they used the second rounder on Carsen Edwards. He's going to be a good bench scorer for the Celtics thanks to his excellent shooting ability. He'll be running off screens and trying to get his shot off, and he isn't afraid to attack the rim either. He's got a good handle, although he isn't a good passer or defender. They finished their night with Tremont Waters, a diminutive point guard out of LSU. He's a good shooter and playmaker with great speed, and he's super fun to watch. He won't be a great defender thanks to his size, but he could end up being a bench point guard. I wouldn't have made some of these picks, but I think they got some pretty good value and I can't disagree with too much with their draft.
Grade: C
Brooklyn Nets
Picks: #31: Nic Claxton, #56: Jaylen Hands
Moves: Receive: #56, 2020 first round pick; Give Up: #27
Reaction: The Nets traded their two first round picks in separate deals, but still ended up with a first round talent, in my opinion, in Nic Claxton. The big man out of the University of Georgia is one of the more intriguing talents in the draft thanks to his role for the Bulldogs last year. He acted as a point center, often facilitating the offense and showing some ball handling ability at 6'11". He's very agile for a big, and has the ability to be a plus defender in the front court thanks to his to his super long arms, athletic ability, potential to guard on the perimeter and switch onto guards, and shot blocking prowess. There are questions about his scoring, since he is somewhat skinny and not yet a good shooter from deep, but there is potential there. They then picked Jaylen Hands late after trading with the Clippers, and I do not like this one at all. He was on a bad UCLA team and doesn't do a lot of things well. He's a mess defensively and I don't think he does anything all that well on the offensive end either. Maybe he needs to get into a better system like the one the Nets have to reach his potential that he displayed in high school, but I would bet on him never latching on. However, I love the Claxton pick, and I think the Nets get a pretty good grade here.
Grade: C+
Charlotte Hornets
Picks: #12: PJ Washington, #36: Cody Martin, #52: Jalen McDaniels
Moves:
Reaction: The Hornets grabbed Kentucky big man PJ Washington with the twelfth pick to start off their night. He is a skilled four man who has great measurements. He has good face up ability and showed a nice jump shot this year for the Wildcats. He is a talented scorer in the post and a good rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. PJ is a solid defender both in the post and on the perimeter, and I think he'll be a solid player at the NBA level. He can play good minutes next yea and I think he's going to a nice piece in Charlotte, whether it's next to Kemba or not. They then picked up Cody Martin, a tall point guard who can play on the wing in the NBA. His upside revolves around his jump shot, as he was inconsistent during his time at Nevada, but he can definitely act as a transition playmaker and facilitator even without that. He's got a pretty high upside if he figures it out more as a scorer, but I think he can be a solid contributor either way. They finished their night with Jalen McDaniels, a four man somewhat similar to PJ. He's got good length, a solid shot, and defensive upside, and I had him with a borderline first round grade, so this is a really nice pickup for Charlotte late. They got some solid players here, and I think they did a good job here and these picks can fit either next to Kemba or not.
Grade: B
Chicago Bulls
Picks: #7: Coby White, #38: Daniel Gafford
Moves:
Reaction: The Bulls picked up Coby White with the seventh pick, and for a team that desperately needed a better offensive option at the point guard, it's a good fit. He fits in next to Zach LaVine, Otto Porter, Lauri Markkanen, and Wendell Carter for the Bulls core. He's lightning quick with the ball in his hands, and he's a great scorer. His pull up jumper is very good, and he can blow past defenders after a quick crossover. He's not a great playmaker or defender, which were areas the Bulls needed to improve in the back court, but he's such a dynamic scorer that can handle the ball that I think it was worth the pick, although the fit isn't as good as it would be with a more traditional point guard. They then picked up Daniel Gafford in the second round, who is an athletic rim running big. He was looked at as a first round pick last year before returning to Arkansas, but I think he is really good. He's a great finisher around the basket, a good shot blocker, and a good roll man in pick and rolls. He gives the Bulls some front court depth behind Wendell Carter and Lauri Markkannen. I think they did well, getting White to fill a position of need and drafting a talented player in Gafford.
Grade: B+
Cleveland Cavaliers
Picks: #5: Darius Garland, #26: Dylan Windler, #30: Kevin Porter Jr
Moves: Receive: #30; Give Up: 4 Second Round Picks, $5 million
Reaction: I like Darius Garland a lot as a player and I think his offensive upside is very high thanks to a great pull up jump shot and really good ball handling skills. I just do not understand the fit next to Collin Sexton, who does a lot of the same stuff. They are both scoring guards who have concerns about their playmaking and defensive abilities, and I don't know if those two can share the court. They then picked up Dylan Windler, a great shooter at 6'8" and a good athlete as well, who will fit well in John Beilein's scheme. I'm personally really high on him, and I think he's going to be very good. They then traded back into the draft to grab Kevin Porter Jr with the last pick in the first round, and I love that move. He's got sky high potential and might be one of the five most talented players in the draft on pure ability alone. He's got an excellent scoring package featuring step backs, dunks, and a good mid range game, plus he has some playmaking ability as well. However, he often looked disinterested at USC, and he has some questionable off the court problems, including a suspension during the year. If he can stay locked in, he's got sky high potential and I love that pick at the end of the first round for a team in need of star power. It came out that they paid $5 million for the pick after I wrote this, which is a whole lot of money, and I wonder why they wouldn't have just gone with him at 26 and tried to get Windler later for what would have likely been a cheaper price. Still, I think they did a good job of acquiring talent, although I still don't love the Garland and Sexton fit.
Grade: B
Dallas Mavericks
Picks: #45: Isaiah Roby
Moves: Receive: #45, Two Future Second Round Picks; Give Up: #37
Reaction: The Mavs traded back and picked up Isaiah Roby out of Nebraska. He's got the ability to be a stretch four who can protect the rim as well. He's a solid shooter and good athlete, although he's not great guarding in space and his effort was inconsistent. If he locks in, he can certainly out play this range and be a nice piece next to Luka and Kristaps.
Grade: B
Denver Nuggets
Picks: #44: Bol Bol
Moves: Receive: #44; Give Up: Future Second Round Pick, Cash Considerations
Reaction: I'm a known Bol Bol hater, and even I think he slipped a little too far. The Nuggets traded into the draft to get him in the second round, and I think he's in a solid developmental situation. Denver will have to get him to add a lot of muscle and work on his defense, but if he can figure things out, he can be a true star thanks to his offensive ability to shoot from NBA range right now. There are also questions around his motor, but I think this late, he's an excellent flyer and I hope he proves me wrong.
Grade: A
Detroit Pistons
Picks: #15: Sekou Doumbouya, #37: Deividas Sirvydis, #57 Jordan Bone
Moves: Receive: #30, Tony Snell; Give Up: Jon Leuer
Receive: Four Second Round Picks; Give Up: #30
Receive: #37; Give Up: #45, Two Future Second Round Picks
Receive: #57; Give Up: Future Second Round Pick, Cash Considerations
Reaction: I really like the trade the Pistons made to get another first rounder. Sure, they took on Tony Snell's salary, but they probably weren't going to use their space to sign anyone super valuable, and Snell can help shoot it, which is big around Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond. Speaking of big, the Pistons used their first pick on French forward Sekou Doumbouya. He's still pretty raw, and I admittedly don't know a ton about him, but I've heard Pascal Siakam comparisons for him at his peak, and that would be an absolute win for the Pistons. I wouldn't expect him to be a big contributor over the next few seasons, but he could be on the rise when Blake Griffin begins his decline in a few years. They then moved the last pick in the first round for future second round picks, and then moved back up to take European shooter Deividas Sirvydas. He figures to be a good shooter from the wing whenever he arrives in the NBA, which could be sooner rather than later according to reports. They finished up their night by acquiring a late second round pick to get Jordan Bone from Tennessee. He's a very good athlete and coming off of his combine, his stock rose. He also comes from a good situation with Tennessee, and I bet he ends up being a solid NBA rotation guy. I think the Pistons took some shots on upside, which is a strategy I don't hate, but I don't know how much better it makes them next year.
Grade: C+
Golden State Warriors
Picks: #28: Jordan Poole, #39: Alen Smailagic, #41: Eric Paschall
Moves: Receive: #41; Give Up: Cash Consideration
Receive: #39; Give Up: Two Future Second Round Picks
Reaction: Selecting Jordan Poole with the 28th pick came as a shock to me. I didn't have him on my top 60 big board mostly because of his inconsistency at Michigan. He clearly has talent as a scorer and flashed potential defensively, but he floated in and out of games at times and struggled with an increased offensive load. He also has a lot of swagger in bis game and I think he can eventually put things together to be a good wing scorer, and Golden State is a great place for him to develop. They moved up in the second round to select their G-League player Serbian Alen Smailagic. He's a pick and pop big man who can do some stuff and played well in the G-League for Santa Cruz, and the Warriors are known to be fans of him after seeing a lot of him last season. Golden State then absolutely crushed it with Eric Paschall, a big man from Villanova. He's a great shooter and a high IQ like most of Jay Wright's players are, and I love his fit in Golden State because of that. He's also a physical defender on the wing, and I think he can play minutes even when the team is at full strength. I'm not a fan of their first pick, but I think Paschall is awesome, so they salvaged the draft in my mind with that selection.
Grade: C+
Houston Rockets
Picks: N/A
Moves: N/A
Reaction: The Rockets didn't do anything in the draft.
Grade: N/A
Indiana Pacers
Picks: #18: Goga Bitadze
Moves: Receive: TJ Warren, #32; Give Up: Cash Consideration
Receive: 3 Future Second Round Picks, Give Up: #32
Receive:? ; Give Up: #50
Reaction: The Pacers made an incredible trade, in my opinion, to grab TJ Warren and a high second rounder for nothing other than taking him into their cap space. While they ended up trading the pick, the acquisition of Warren is a good one. First off, he doesn't have that big of a cap hit, and Warren is a pretty solid player that can contribute for the Pacers. They also still have a pretty good amount of cap space to sign players, Ricky Rubio has been mentioned, and they picked up a good draft asset in the process. As for their picks, they started off by taking European big man Goga Bitadze. He is similar to Myles Turner as a stretch five who can also block shots pretty well. He is a really good pick and roll big man, and his screens are apparently slobberknockers. I know there is overlap with this pick, but I suspect it was a case of taking the best player available for the Pacers and looking to figure out everything else later.
Grade: B-
Los Angeles Clippers
Picks: #27: Mfiondu Kabengele, #48: Terance Mann
Moves: Receive: #27, Give Up: #56, 2020 First Round Pick
Reaction: The Clippers traded into the first round to get Florida State big man Mfiondu Kabengele. He can shoot it from deep and is a solid rebounder and post player. There are concerns about his ability to move defensively, but I think on the whole this was a pretty smart move by the Clippers to get a guy who can contribute next season in the front court while also possessing more offensive potential. They then picked up his college teammate in Terance Mann, who I like a lot. He's a playmaker, solid scorer and shooter, and he can defend as well. He's not a great athlete or ball handler, and he won't do a ton of scoring, but he can definitely figure things out and be a nice role player for the Clippers. They got two players who I don't think will ever be stars, but can fill a role for the Clippers, especially as they look to become a contender.
Grade: B
Los Angeles Lakers
Picks: #46: Talen Horton-Tucker
Moves: Receive: #46; Give Up: Future Second Round Pick, Cash Considerations
Reaction: The Lakers moved into the second round to select Talent Horton-Tucker. He's a wing who has a very interesting frame, with an over 7 foot wingspan despite being 6'5". He's not great at anything yet, although there is potential for him to be a high level shooter, good ball handler and passer, and a solid defender, but he's a lot more of a project than I think a lot of people mentioned in their evaluations. I don't know if he ever becomes plus player in any area, which is why I'm sort of lukewarm on this pick.
Grade: C-
Memphis Grizzlies
Picks: #2: Ja Morant, #21: Brandon Clarke
Moves: Receive: #21; Give Up: #23, future second round pick
Reaction: The Grizzlies grabbed Ja Morant with the second pick, which has been the expected move for a while, and was basically confirmed when the Grizzlies dealt Mike Conley during the lead up to the draft. He's an elite level passer with exceptional athleticism, and he will immediately become a centerpiece of the Memphis rebuild alongside Jaren Jackson. He needs to add some strength to his frame and work out a few kinks in his jump shot, but I think he'll be a very good NBA point guard in the near future. They then picked up Brandon Clarke after a trade with the Thunder to move up two picks. I absolutely love that pick. I had Clarke at number nine on my big board, and I think he's going to be really good. He's a high level athlete who is an elite shot blocker that excels around the rim. He's got great bounce that makes him an elite shot blocker and lob catcher, and he, Ja, and Jaren Jackson is going to be a lot of fun. I like the fit since Jackson's ability to step out on the perimeter helps hide Clarke's questionable outside jump shot. I think the Grizzlies killed it in this draft with two really good players that fit in with what they are trying to do, and they are going to usher in a new era in Memphis.
Grade: A+
Miami Heat
Picks: #13: Tyler Herro, #32: KZ Okpala
Moves: Receive: #32, Give Up: Three Future Second Round Picks
Receive: Future Second Round Pick, Cash Considerations ;Give Up: #44
Reaction: The Heat grabbed Tyler Herro with their first pick in the draft. I really like Herro from his time at Kentucky. He's a versatile offensive player who is known for his shooting, but is also good off the dribble and his playmaking is coming along well. Herro also competes on the defensive end, and was consistently locked in on that end. He can be plugged in right away for Miami with his shooting and defensive effort, although he isn't a particularly good athlete and while he tries, he has physical limitations, a negative wingspan, that hold him back defensively. They then traded up into the second round to grab KZ Okpala, a guy I love. He's sort of Cam Reddish-esque. He's 6'8", can dribble and pass at a passable level, has a great looking job shot, and is a really fluid athlete. The results weren't totally there, but he has the ability to maybe be a plus defender in the right system. I'm a huge fan of him, and I really like this pick by the Heat. They finished up their night by trading their pick to the Nuggets. I think they did a very good job, even if they reached for Herro a little bit, and I love the KZ Okpala pick.
Grade: B+
Milwaukee Bucks
Picks: N/A
Moves: Receive: Jon Leuer ; Give Up: #30, Tony Snell
Reaction: The Bucks traded their pick to the Pistons to free up cap space.
Grade: N/A
Minnesota Timberwolves
Picks: #6: Jarrett Culver, #43: Jaylen Nowell
Moves: Receive: #6; Give Up: #11, Dario Saric
Reaction: The Timberwolves traded up to the sixth pick, spurning Dario Saric, who never quite fit in Minnesota, and their own first round pick to get Jarrett Culver. I think the fit with the Timberwolves roster, mostly Karl-Anthony Towns, is great. He's a good playmaker and is good in pick and roll scenarios, and I think he and Towns can be a nice pairing offensively. The real question with Culver surrounds his shooting, as he was inconsistent at Texas Tech. However, I think that if he doesn't have to create his own shot as much, he will be better in that regard and be an above average shooter getting more set shots. I like that move overall for Minnesota. The Timberwolves used their second round pick on Jaylen Nowell, a scorer out of Washington. He impressed at the combine, and his ability to score will be valued by the Timberwolves, who need all the talent they can get around KAT. He's got an alright three point jump shot, and I think Gerson Rosas looked really good during his first draft as a GM, getting two players who can fill a role right away for Minnesota.
Grade: A-
New Orleans Pelicans
Picks: #1: Zion Williamson, #8: Jaxson Hayes, #17: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, #35: Marcos Louzada Silva
Moves: Receive: #8, #17, #35; Give Up: #4, #57, Solomon Hill
Receive: Two Future Second Round Picks ; Give Up: #39
Reaction: What a grade trade for the Pelicans. They moved down four spots and picked up two more top 40 picks, giving them 5 in total, to fill in around their new core of Lonzo Ball, Jrue Holiday, Brandon Ingram, and the first pick of the night, Zion Williamson. Zion was the one can't miss prospect in this draft thanks to his freakish athleticism and pretty high skill level, and the Pelicans won the lottery and took him first overall as expected. They then picked up Jaxson Hayes, the big man out of Texas. He and Zion will be manning the front court together, and they are an extremely athletic and bouncy front court. They should defend the rim at a very high level almost right away. He's still a project offensively, but he won't need to be an elite post scorer or anything like that given the rest of the players on the roster. I know Lonzo Ball is salivating at the idea at throwing lobs to Zion and Hayes, and the Pelicans could be one of the better defensive teams in the league next season. They then grabbed Nickel Alexander-Walker as another backcourt piece. He's a jack of all trades, master of none, with good ball handling, playmaking, shooting and defense. He's not elite in any one area, but he should be a good rotation piece with Lonzo and Jrue in the backcourt thanks to his ability to do a little bit of everything. He isn't a great athlete, but he should be able to overcome that thanks to his skill level. In the second round, the Pelicans took a flyer on Marcos Louzada Silva, a draft and stash prospect from Brazil. He has potential down the line as a three and D guy, and makes his name defensively, although I don't know a ton about him if I'm honest. I think the Pelicans did a great job of acquiring a lot of young talent that fits perfectly with their young core, and I'm excited to see what they build in NOLA.
Grade: A+
New York Knicks
Picks: #3: RJ Barrett, #47: Ignas Brazdeikis
Moves: Receive: #47; Give Up: #55
Reaction: The Knicks snagged the third prize in the draft with the selection of RJ Barrett. He was overshadowed a bit by Zion at Duke, but he's got the potential to be an elite level scorer. I also think his playmaking is really good, with great vision and he's a good athlete with a lot of strength on the wing. He's got the "Mamba Mentality" and I think he'll thrive under the bright lights at Madison Square Garden. There are some questions surrounding his jump shot, but I trust him to be a good shooter with his work ethic. The Knicks picked up a Kings second round pick, and used it to select Ignas Brazdeikis out of Michigan. He's got a good frame and strength on it, and he's a versatile scorer. His three point shot isn't super consistent yet, and he's not a great athlete who isn't great defensively. Still, there's upside for him as a scorer in the future. They made the easy pick and picked up a potential role player as well, which is very un-Knicks like seeing as they did a solid job.
Grade: A-
Oklahoma City Thunder
Picks: #23: Darius Bazley
Moves: Receive: #23, future second round pick; Give Up: #21
Reaction: The Thunder moved back two picks and ended up with Darius Bazley, the former Syracuse commit who chose to skip college and work out all year. His stock gradually rose throughtout the draft process, with his athleticism and potential shining through. Admittedly, a athlete with shooting concerns isn't exactly what then Thunder needed, but this pick likely was more for the future, which I don't love from the Thunder. They have a chance to capitalize on the uncertainty in the Western Conference, but clearly need shooting and there were some players here they could've gotten that could have filled that need next year, or at least given meaningful contributions, and I think they missed on that.
Grade: D
Orlando Magic
Picks: #16: Chuma Okeke
Moves: Receive: Future Second Round Pick, Cash Consideration; Give Up: #46
Reaction: The Magic really needed a point guard and shooting, so they went out and grabbed a long, versatile wing defender with their first round pick. I really don't know how Okeke fits with this roster. They have picked guys like him consistently over the past few years, and he will be recovering from an ACL tear for most of next season. He can shoot it a little bit, but his calling card comes defensively, where he is a potentially elite level guy thanks to his physicality, length, and quick feet. He can guard 1-5 and do it well, and I think he can be a versatile defender at the NBA level. I just think Orlando had a lot bigger needs and could have filled them with that pick instead.
Grade: F
Philadelphia 76ers
Picks: #20: Mattise Thybulle, #54: Marial Shayok
Moves: Receive: #20; Give Up: #24, #33
Receive: #57, Two Future Second Round Picks, Give Up: #34
Receive: Future Second Round Pick, Cash Considerations; Give Up: #57
Reaction: The Sixers traded two of their picks to the Celtics for the #20 pick, which was Matisse Thybulle. He was rumored to be a Sixers target for a while, and its easy to see why they wanted him so badly. He's an elite defender, causing havoc in the 2-3 zone at Washington last year and he should be a good defender at the NBA level thanks to his great wingspan and excellent instincts that create a ton of turnovers. He also has a good chance to be a three and D guy thanks to a pretty solid jump shot that is solid off of the catch. He doesn't do a lot else, but those two traits are enough to make him an NBA player. They then traded back deep into the second round and took Marial Shayok and Jordan Bone. Shayok was a good scorer at Iowa State, but I don't know how much he translates to the NBA. I like Thybulle a lot, especially with how he fits with the roster given he can probably play right away, although I would have preferred to get some more cheap, young assets rather than trading all of their other picks.
Grade: B-
Phoenix Suns
Picks: #11: Cameron Johnson, #24: Ty Jerome
Moves: Receive: Cash Consideration; Give Up: #32, TJ Warren
Receive: #11, Dario Saric; Give Up: #6
Receive: #24, Aron Baynes; Give Up: Bucks 2020 First Round Pick
Reaction: The Suns were very active on draft night, moving TJ Warren and attaching a second rounder to get his contract off the books, and then moving down five spots after a trade with Minnesota and picking up Dario Saric to pair with their young core. I didn't love the first move, but I thought getting Saric, who struggled in Minnesota, was a nice pickup as a stretch four and should fit next to Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and the rest of the team. However, the pick of Cameron Johnson is not good in my opinion. He's a knockdown shooter, and he is an elite floor spacer. However, I don't know what else he really does on the court. He's not a great athlete and struggles a bit defensively, especially since he might have to be guarding power forwards in the NBA. He and Saric are sort of similar in my opinion, and I think Johnson would have been there later on and the Suns could have traded down and gotten him later on while picking up another asset. They then traded back into the first round to take Ty Jerome. I'm a huge fan of Jerome and I think his fit in Phoenix is really good. He's a good ball handler, passer, and shooter with solid defensive instincts and a high basketball IQ. He's not a great athlete, but I really like him and I think he can be a good bench piece alongside Devin Booker. I really don't like what they did today on the whole though, and I don't want to be too harsh, especially before seeing what happens on the court, but I'm not a fan and I much rather would have had #6, #32, and TJ Warren than Saric and Johnson, although I like the Jerome pick.
Grade: D-
Portland Trailblazers
Picks: #25: Nassir Little
Moves: N/A
Reaction: I'm not a big Nassir Little guy, but even I would have taken him before this point. He's an excellent athlete and showed a lot of promise in high school. However, he struggled at North Carolina and was a bench player behind Cam Johnson and Luke Maye for the Tar Heels. Portland typically focuses on higher potential guys in the draft, and Little absolutely fits that mold here. He can be a high level three and D player if he works out his defensive issues and improve his feel for the game, but he's a strong wing that should be able to attack the basket at a high level pretty quickly. While I don't know if he helps them a lot next year, I think it's a great gamble by Portland on a guy who could end up being a star.
Grade: A
Sacramento Kings
Picks: #40: Justin James, #55: Kyle Guy, #60: Vanja Marinkovic
Moves: Receive: #55; Give Up: #47
Reaction: It's hard to criticize a team too much for their second round picks, since a lot of that round is a guessing game. However, I didn't like the pick of Justin James at #40. He wouldn't have been in my top 75, and I don't think he is a good enough shooter to make it at the NBA level with the Kings. They traded back and ended up grabbing Kyle Guy, which is a pick I like late. He's a good shooter and can potentially make an impact with his jumper, but he's very small and only profiles to have one NBA skill. They finished up with Vanja Marinkovic, a draft and stash player who may never end up coming over. I don't really like this draft by the Kings, as I think there were some other players they could have got that would have been a really nice fit with their existing core instead of some questionable fits in the NBA.
Grade: D
San Antonio Spurs
Picks: #19: Luka Samanic, #29: Keldon Johnson, #49: Quinndary Weatherspoon
Moves: N/A
Reaction: At this point, I just kind of assume that whoever the Spurs pick is going to be really good. They used the first of their three picks on Luka Samanic, a Croatian big man whose stock began to rise at the NBA Draft Combine. He apparently has a versatile offensive game that includes a jump shot, post moves, and the ability to put the ball on the floor. There are some questions about his defense, but I would bet on the Spurs doing a good job of developing him. They then picked up Keldon Johnson, which was one of my favorite picks of the draft. I'm personally high on Johnson, since he is a hard nosed competitor who does a little bit of everything. He can shoot, defend, is a solid athlete, and is tough to stop when going to the rim. I think he fits perfectly with the Spurs culture, and I think he's going to be really good in San Antonio. They finished up their night by selecting Quinndary Weatherspoon. He's a guy I can see being a wing scorer off the bench at the NBA level after impressing at Mississippi State for multiple years. He is an alright defender as well, and I think he gets better with the Spurs. I think they did a great job of getting guys who fit their culture, and I think they came out looking really good.
Grade: A-
Toronto Raptors
Picks: #59: Dewan Hernandez
Moves: N/A
Reaction: I don't think Dewan Hernandez is ever going to be an impact NBA player, or even a rotation player, but I loved seeing him get drafted. For those who don't know, he was suspended by the NCAA for things he didn't have a part in, and was unable to play last season at Miami. He reportedly had some good workouts, and ended up being drafted late. I ultimately think he's more of a G-League player, but I feel great for him.
Grade: C
Utah Jazz
Picks: #50: Jarrell Brantley, #53: Justin Wright-Foreman, #58: Miye Oni
Moves: Receive: #50; Give Up:?
Receive: #58; Give Up: Cash Considerations
Reaction: The Jazz picked up three mid-major stars, two from the Colonial in Jarrell Brantley and Justin Wright-Foreman and one from the Ivy League in Oni. Brantley has some intrigue as a perimeter orientated four and a good defender, but I like Wright-Foreman more. He was second in the nation is scoring at Hofstra, and I think he can be a legit scoring guard off the bench at the NBA level thanks to solid size and some playmaking ability as well. I like Oni a lot as a potential multi positional defender and decent shooter on the other end. I actually think he might be the best of the three guys, and I really like the pickups of Wright-Foreman and Oni, with Brantley possessing some potential as well.
Grade: B
Washington Wizards
Picks: #9: Rui Hachimura, #42: Admiral Schofield
Moves: Receive: #42, Jonathon Simmons; Give Up: Cash Considerations
Reaction: I don't love this pick for the Wizards. If they wanted to take a shot on upside from a wing, I think Cam Reddish and Sekou Doumbouya both have higher upsides than Rui. I worry about his lack of feel for the game, especially defensively, and his lack of a three point jump shot. Still, he's got a great body and is very good offensively inside the arc. Still, I think he's more of a project than people realize, and I don't think he's going to be as good in the NBA as he was at Gonzaga. I just keep coming back to the other options on the board, who I think have higher ceilings, and I can't really endorse this pick. They then traded into the second round, taking on Jonathon Simmons to help the Sixers clear up cap space, and took Admiral Schofield. I'm a big fan of his, with three and D potential thanks to a solid jumper and physical play on the wing. He's not a great athlete, but he is big and I would bet on him being a good defender and solid role player for a while. I like that pick, but I'm not as high on getting Rui, so I can't give the Wizards a stellar draft rating.
Grade: C
Best Undrafted Players
Charles Matthews
After a strong college career at Michigan, Matthews was looking at possibly being a second round pick thanks to his great defense and athleticism. However, he tore his ACL in the lead up to the draft, and ended up going undrafted. Assuming he's healthy, he can be a lockdown wing defender thanks to his quick feet and long arms. His offense is a bit of a question mark, but he might have a chance to shoot it. I'd look for him to sign a multi-year deal somewhere so he can rehab and then potentially contribute.
DaQuan Jeffries
Jeffries came out of Tulsa and was a riser through the draft process, but didn't hear his name called. He's a solid shooter on the wing and is a physical defender that can be a three and D rotation guy. He's a guy who will be fine in a rotation, and I think he's going to be an NBA player. He signed a deal with the Orlando Magic, because they really needed a good wing defender.
Dedric Lawson
Lawson was one of the best players in college basketball last year, putting up some crazy numbers at Kansas. He isn't a very good athlete, and there are some defensive concerns with him, but offensively, he's great. He's excellent on the low block, he can shoot the ball from deep, and is a solid playmaker. He signed a two-way contract with the Warriors, and he could be a back end of the rotation guy for that team.
Jalen Lecque
Lecque skipped out on college ball at North Carolina State to head straight to the NBA. He is an excellent athlete who has good speed and bounce at the point guard position. The rest of his skill level isn't completely developed, but he has a lot of potential to be good if he develops. He signed a 4 year deal with the Suns, which I think is a nice fit for him
Jontay Porter
The only reason Porter wasn't drafted is his questionable medicals. He has ability as a stretch five who can pass and dribble, as well as having a solid array of post moves. However, he has two ACL tears in two years, and I think when he's healthy, he can be very, very good, especially offensively. However, his entire family has medical issues, and he will need to prove to teams he can stay healthy before they invest in him.
Justin Robinson
Justin Robinson is a guy I really like who I thought could have been a late second round pick. He's a great creator and shooter who I think can be a legitimate NBA rotation player thanks to his offensive game. He's small, and won't be a good defender, but I think he's going to be good. He signed a deal with the Washington Wizards
Louis King
King came into Oregon as a heralded recruit, and he never fully fulfilled his potential after a foot injury at the beginning of the year. At his best, he's a big wing who can shoot it well and has some solid ball handling and playmaking. He's a guy that can be an NBA starter if he gets to his full potential, although he has concerns about his effort level and injury history.
Luguentz Dort
Dort has drawn Marcus Smart comparisons, and it's easy to see why. He's a hard nosed defender who often picks up full court, and he's a solid athlete. He's a bulldog when attacking the rim, but his jump shot, ball handling, and passing aren't as good as they need to be an impact player at the NBA level right now. He signed a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, which I think is a good pickup for them.
Max Strus
Max Strus isn't the sexiest name in the world, but he does one thing well: shoot the ball. He 36.3% of his threes last year, but was taking 9 a game and doing a lot for DePaul. He has some interesting defensive potential on the wing, but you know what he's going to do right now. He signed a two-way contract with the Celtics, which is a solid fit for him.
Naz Reid
Reid had a productive freshman year at LSU, but didn't hear his name called during the draft. He is a stretch big with a diverse offensive skill set that can put the ball on the ground and pass it a little bit as well. His effort level is inconsistent and I don't think his defense is great, but he can be a nice backup five man who shoots it well from deep. He signed a two-way contract with the Timberwolves after the draft finished, which I think is another great move by Rosas.
Oshae Brissett
I'm a bit biased, but I like Oshae Brissett a lot. He is a bouncy athlete who has shown potential to shoot the ball from behind the arc as well as be a solid defender. There are a lot of questions, namely consistency and how well he actually shoots and defends, but watching him every game, I think he can be a role player in the NBA. He will play with the Clippers in the Summer League.
Phil Booth
I'm a big Phil Booth guy, and I think he can be a long time NBA player. If there's a guy who I'm going to call this year's Fred Van Vleet, it's him. He's a solid ball handler, passer, and I like him a lot as a shooter. He comes from Villanova as a very smart player and a winner, and I know his athleticism isn't great, but I like him a lot. He's agreed to play in the Summer League, and I love that fit with John Beilein. I think he ends up playing good minutes for them this year.
Shamorie Ponds
Ponds is another undersized point guard who can score and pass pretty well, and I think he can be an alright defender thanks to his good hands on the defensive end. He's small, and I don't think his jump shot is great, but he can be a solid backup PG. He signed deal with the Rockets.
Terence Davis
Davis might the player I'm most shocked didn't get drafted. He was a riser throughout the Combine and the whole draft process, and I think he's going to be really solid NBA rotation player. He's a good athlete and shooter as an off guard, and he can be a good defender. I think he also has some alright playmaking instincts, although he didn't handle the ball at Ole Miss. He's a good leaper as well, and I like him a lot on a two way deal.
Tyus Battle
Battle is another guy who I like because he's a Syracuse guy, but I think there's a place for him in the NBA. He's a bucket getter, pure and simple, and the NBA is always looking for guys like that. He's not a great three point shooter, and there are questions about his athleticism and how good he can be defensively given he played in a zone in college, but he knows how to put the ball in the basket. I like him as a bench scorer at the NBA level at some point.
Yovel Zoosman
Zoosman is a European guy who has a lot of potential as a three and D guy coming off a strong year in Israel. He's the one European guy I'm surprised wasn't drafted in the second round. I think he signs on somewhere eventually.
Zach Norvell
Norvell is a really good shooter and has potential as a ball handler and playmaker coming out of Gonzaga. He shot 37% from three both years with the Zags, and he can get red hot quickly. He's going to be a good bench scorer. He signed a two-way deal with the Lakers, which I think is a really nice fit for him as a floor spacer next to LeBron.
Atlanta Hawks
Picks: #4: De'Andre Hunter, #10: Cam Reddish, #34: Bruno Fernando
Moves: Receive: #4, #57, Solomon Hill; Give Up: #8, #17, #35
Receive: #34, Give Up: #57, Two Future Second Round Picks
Reaction: The Hawks moved up in the draft to the fourth pick to get their guy in De'Andre Hunter. He's a great fit with their core of Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, John Collins, etc. thanks to his defensive ability, low usage role, and three point shooting. However, they gave up a lot, parting with three valuable picks, including one in the lottery, to get him. However, they still managed to end up with Cam Reddish at 10, which I think is another great pick. I think he would have gone to the Hawks had the kept the eighth pick, and he dropped two more spots to end up in Atlanta. I think he's another good fit in Atlanta, where he can utilize his grab and go ability as a ball handler and playmaker, and play in a lower stakes environment with more spacing that should allow him to be a better shooter. I'm personally really high on Reddish, and I think getting him at #10 is really good value, and picking up both him and Hunter is a great haul. Add in Bruno Fernando, who they traded up in the second round to get. I'm a huge fan of Fernando, with an NBA ready body and post scoring ability. He also improved his mid range jump shot and passing IQ, and he's going to hit the glass as well. He's not a great defender and his upside isn't that high, but I think he can be a low end starter and he fits next to John Collins for the Hawks. They gave up a lot of assets, but I think their draft went very, very well.
Grade: A+
Boston Celtics
Picks: #14: Romeo Langford, #22: Grant Williams, #33: Carsen Edwards, #51: Tremont Waters
Moves: Receive: #24, #33; Give Up: #20
Receive: Bucks 2020 First Round Pick; Give Up: #24, Aron Baynes
Reaction: The Celtics had a bevy of picks, and while they were rumored to be moving up in the draft with their capital, they instead stayed put and actually added to their stash by trading back with a trade with the Sixers. They used their first pick on Romeo Langford. I'm personally a big fa of Langford overall, mostly because I think the thumb injury really impacted his shooting last year. He struggled to shoot from deep, and while there are clear mechanical issues, I think he can be at least an average shooter from deep. He's a good athlete and slasher right now who is great at finishing at the rim, and I think he can be a pretty good defender with more work on that end. I don't know how well he fits with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, two other guys with questionable jumpers, but this was a bet on the talent by the Celtics. They then took Grant Williams at 22. I'm not a big Williams guy, I had him as a second rounder on my big board, but I'm fine with this pick from the Celtics. They get a really high IQ player in Williams who should fit in well with the Celtics thanks to his unselfish nature. He's also jacked and super physical, and has the potential to be a perimeter defender. I don't really know if he will be because he has a small wingspan for his size and isn't super mobile, but he's a very hard worker and could figure it out. I also have questions about his ability to shoot it, although a lot of people are a lot higher on him than I am, and I think the Celtics taking him here is a solid pick. It's not what I have done, but there's a reason I'm not in charge of an NBA team and Danny Ainge is. They ended up trading one of the picks they got from the Sixers for some salary relief and a future first, but they used the second rounder on Carsen Edwards. He's going to be a good bench scorer for the Celtics thanks to his excellent shooting ability. He'll be running off screens and trying to get his shot off, and he isn't afraid to attack the rim either. He's got a good handle, although he isn't a good passer or defender. They finished their night with Tremont Waters, a diminutive point guard out of LSU. He's a good shooter and playmaker with great speed, and he's super fun to watch. He won't be a great defender thanks to his size, but he could end up being a bench point guard. I wouldn't have made some of these picks, but I think they got some pretty good value and I can't disagree with too much with their draft.
Grade: C
Brooklyn Nets
Picks: #31: Nic Claxton, #56: Jaylen Hands
Moves: Receive: #56, 2020 first round pick; Give Up: #27
Reaction: The Nets traded their two first round picks in separate deals, but still ended up with a first round talent, in my opinion, in Nic Claxton. The big man out of the University of Georgia is one of the more intriguing talents in the draft thanks to his role for the Bulldogs last year. He acted as a point center, often facilitating the offense and showing some ball handling ability at 6'11". He's very agile for a big, and has the ability to be a plus defender in the front court thanks to his to his super long arms, athletic ability, potential to guard on the perimeter and switch onto guards, and shot blocking prowess. There are questions about his scoring, since he is somewhat skinny and not yet a good shooter from deep, but there is potential there. They then picked Jaylen Hands late after trading with the Clippers, and I do not like this one at all. He was on a bad UCLA team and doesn't do a lot of things well. He's a mess defensively and I don't think he does anything all that well on the offensive end either. Maybe he needs to get into a better system like the one the Nets have to reach his potential that he displayed in high school, but I would bet on him never latching on. However, I love the Claxton pick, and I think the Nets get a pretty good grade here.
Grade: C+
Picks: #12: PJ Washington, #36: Cody Martin, #52: Jalen McDaniels
Moves:
Reaction: The Hornets grabbed Kentucky big man PJ Washington with the twelfth pick to start off their night. He is a skilled four man who has great measurements. He has good face up ability and showed a nice jump shot this year for the Wildcats. He is a talented scorer in the post and a good rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. PJ is a solid defender both in the post and on the perimeter, and I think he'll be a solid player at the NBA level. He can play good minutes next yea and I think he's going to a nice piece in Charlotte, whether it's next to Kemba or not. They then picked up Cody Martin, a tall point guard who can play on the wing in the NBA. His upside revolves around his jump shot, as he was inconsistent during his time at Nevada, but he can definitely act as a transition playmaker and facilitator even without that. He's got a pretty high upside if he figures it out more as a scorer, but I think he can be a solid contributor either way. They finished their night with Jalen McDaniels, a four man somewhat similar to PJ. He's got good length, a solid shot, and defensive upside, and I had him with a borderline first round grade, so this is a really nice pickup for Charlotte late. They got some solid players here, and I think they did a good job here and these picks can fit either next to Kemba or not.
Grade: B
Picks: #7: Coby White, #38: Daniel Gafford
Moves:
Reaction: The Bulls picked up Coby White with the seventh pick, and for a team that desperately needed a better offensive option at the point guard, it's a good fit. He fits in next to Zach LaVine, Otto Porter, Lauri Markkanen, and Wendell Carter for the Bulls core. He's lightning quick with the ball in his hands, and he's a great scorer. His pull up jumper is very good, and he can blow past defenders after a quick crossover. He's not a great playmaker or defender, which were areas the Bulls needed to improve in the back court, but he's such a dynamic scorer that can handle the ball that I think it was worth the pick, although the fit isn't as good as it would be with a more traditional point guard. They then picked up Daniel Gafford in the second round, who is an athletic rim running big. He was looked at as a first round pick last year before returning to Arkansas, but I think he is really good. He's a great finisher around the basket, a good shot blocker, and a good roll man in pick and rolls. He gives the Bulls some front court depth behind Wendell Carter and Lauri Markkannen. I think they did well, getting White to fill a position of need and drafting a talented player in Gafford.
Grade: B+
Picks: #5: Darius Garland, #26: Dylan Windler, #30: Kevin Porter Jr
Moves: Receive: #30; Give Up: 4 Second Round Picks, $5 million
Reaction: I like Darius Garland a lot as a player and I think his offensive upside is very high thanks to a great pull up jump shot and really good ball handling skills. I just do not understand the fit next to Collin Sexton, who does a lot of the same stuff. They are both scoring guards who have concerns about their playmaking and defensive abilities, and I don't know if those two can share the court. They then picked up Dylan Windler, a great shooter at 6'8" and a good athlete as well, who will fit well in John Beilein's scheme. I'm personally really high on him, and I think he's going to be very good. They then traded back into the draft to grab Kevin Porter Jr with the last pick in the first round, and I love that move. He's got sky high potential and might be one of the five most talented players in the draft on pure ability alone. He's got an excellent scoring package featuring step backs, dunks, and a good mid range game, plus he has some playmaking ability as well. However, he often looked disinterested at USC, and he has some questionable off the court problems, including a suspension during the year. If he can stay locked in, he's got sky high potential and I love that pick at the end of the first round for a team in need of star power. It came out that they paid $5 million for the pick after I wrote this, which is a whole lot of money, and I wonder why they wouldn't have just gone with him at 26 and tried to get Windler later for what would have likely been a cheaper price. Still, I think they did a good job of acquiring talent, although I still don't love the Garland and Sexton fit.
Grade: B
Picks: #45: Isaiah Roby
Moves: Receive: #45, Two Future Second Round Picks; Give Up: #37
Reaction: The Mavs traded back and picked up Isaiah Roby out of Nebraska. He's got the ability to be a stretch four who can protect the rim as well. He's a solid shooter and good athlete, although he's not great guarding in space and his effort was inconsistent. If he locks in, he can certainly out play this range and be a nice piece next to Luka and Kristaps.
Grade: B
Picks: #44: Bol Bol
Moves: Receive: #44; Give Up: Future Second Round Pick, Cash Considerations
Reaction: I'm a known Bol Bol hater, and even I think he slipped a little too far. The Nuggets traded into the draft to get him in the second round, and I think he's in a solid developmental situation. Denver will have to get him to add a lot of muscle and work on his defense, but if he can figure things out, he can be a true star thanks to his offensive ability to shoot from NBA range right now. There are also questions around his motor, but I think this late, he's an excellent flyer and I hope he proves me wrong.
Grade: A
Picks: #15: Sekou Doumbouya, #37: Deividas Sirvydis, #57 Jordan Bone
Moves: Receive: #30, Tony Snell; Give Up: Jon Leuer
Receive: Four Second Round Picks; Give Up: #30
Receive: #37; Give Up: #45, Two Future Second Round Picks
Receive: #57; Give Up: Future Second Round Pick, Cash Considerations
Reaction: I really like the trade the Pistons made to get another first rounder. Sure, they took on Tony Snell's salary, but they probably weren't going to use their space to sign anyone super valuable, and Snell can help shoot it, which is big around Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond. Speaking of big, the Pistons used their first pick on French forward Sekou Doumbouya. He's still pretty raw, and I admittedly don't know a ton about him, but I've heard Pascal Siakam comparisons for him at his peak, and that would be an absolute win for the Pistons. I wouldn't expect him to be a big contributor over the next few seasons, but he could be on the rise when Blake Griffin begins his decline in a few years. They then moved the last pick in the first round for future second round picks, and then moved back up to take European shooter Deividas Sirvydas. He figures to be a good shooter from the wing whenever he arrives in the NBA, which could be sooner rather than later according to reports. They finished up their night by acquiring a late second round pick to get Jordan Bone from Tennessee. He's a very good athlete and coming off of his combine, his stock rose. He also comes from a good situation with Tennessee, and I bet he ends up being a solid NBA rotation guy. I think the Pistons took some shots on upside, which is a strategy I don't hate, but I don't know how much better it makes them next year.
Grade: C+
Picks: #28: Jordan Poole, #39: Alen Smailagic, #41: Eric Paschall
Moves: Receive: #41; Give Up: Cash Consideration
Receive: #39; Give Up: Two Future Second Round Picks
Reaction: Selecting Jordan Poole with the 28th pick came as a shock to me. I didn't have him on my top 60 big board mostly because of his inconsistency at Michigan. He clearly has talent as a scorer and flashed potential defensively, but he floated in and out of games at times and struggled with an increased offensive load. He also has a lot of swagger in bis game and I think he can eventually put things together to be a good wing scorer, and Golden State is a great place for him to develop. They moved up in the second round to select their G-League player Serbian Alen Smailagic. He's a pick and pop big man who can do some stuff and played well in the G-League for Santa Cruz, and the Warriors are known to be fans of him after seeing a lot of him last season. Golden State then absolutely crushed it with Eric Paschall, a big man from Villanova. He's a great shooter and a high IQ like most of Jay Wright's players are, and I love his fit in Golden State because of that. He's also a physical defender on the wing, and I think he can play minutes even when the team is at full strength. I'm not a fan of their first pick, but I think Paschall is awesome, so they salvaged the draft in my mind with that selection.
Grade: C+
Picks: N/A
Moves: N/A
Reaction: The Rockets didn't do anything in the draft.
Grade: N/A
Picks: #18: Goga Bitadze
Moves: Receive: TJ Warren, #32; Give Up: Cash Consideration
Receive: 3 Future Second Round Picks, Give Up: #32
Receive:? ; Give Up: #50
Reaction: The Pacers made an incredible trade, in my opinion, to grab TJ Warren and a high second rounder for nothing other than taking him into their cap space. While they ended up trading the pick, the acquisition of Warren is a good one. First off, he doesn't have that big of a cap hit, and Warren is a pretty solid player that can contribute for the Pacers. They also still have a pretty good amount of cap space to sign players, Ricky Rubio has been mentioned, and they picked up a good draft asset in the process. As for their picks, they started off by taking European big man Goga Bitadze. He is similar to Myles Turner as a stretch five who can also block shots pretty well. He is a really good pick and roll big man, and his screens are apparently slobberknockers. I know there is overlap with this pick, but I suspect it was a case of taking the best player available for the Pacers and looking to figure out everything else later.
Grade: B-
Picks: #27: Mfiondu Kabengele, #48: Terance Mann
Moves: Receive: #27, Give Up: #56, 2020 First Round Pick
Reaction: The Clippers traded into the first round to get Florida State big man Mfiondu Kabengele. He can shoot it from deep and is a solid rebounder and post player. There are concerns about his ability to move defensively, but I think on the whole this was a pretty smart move by the Clippers to get a guy who can contribute next season in the front court while also possessing more offensive potential. They then picked up his college teammate in Terance Mann, who I like a lot. He's a playmaker, solid scorer and shooter, and he can defend as well. He's not a great athlete or ball handler, and he won't do a ton of scoring, but he can definitely figure things out and be a nice role player for the Clippers. They got two players who I don't think will ever be stars, but can fill a role for the Clippers, especially as they look to become a contender.
Grade: B
Picks: #46: Talen Horton-Tucker
Moves: Receive: #46; Give Up: Future Second Round Pick, Cash Considerations
Reaction: The Lakers moved into the second round to select Talent Horton-Tucker. He's a wing who has a very interesting frame, with an over 7 foot wingspan despite being 6'5". He's not great at anything yet, although there is potential for him to be a high level shooter, good ball handler and passer, and a solid defender, but he's a lot more of a project than I think a lot of people mentioned in their evaluations. I don't know if he ever becomes plus player in any area, which is why I'm sort of lukewarm on this pick.
Grade: C-
Picks: #2: Ja Morant, #21: Brandon Clarke
Moves: Receive: #21; Give Up: #23, future second round pick
Reaction: The Grizzlies grabbed Ja Morant with the second pick, which has been the expected move for a while, and was basically confirmed when the Grizzlies dealt Mike Conley during the lead up to the draft. He's an elite level passer with exceptional athleticism, and he will immediately become a centerpiece of the Memphis rebuild alongside Jaren Jackson. He needs to add some strength to his frame and work out a few kinks in his jump shot, but I think he'll be a very good NBA point guard in the near future. They then picked up Brandon Clarke after a trade with the Thunder to move up two picks. I absolutely love that pick. I had Clarke at number nine on my big board, and I think he's going to be really good. He's a high level athlete who is an elite shot blocker that excels around the rim. He's got great bounce that makes him an elite shot blocker and lob catcher, and he, Ja, and Jaren Jackson is going to be a lot of fun. I like the fit since Jackson's ability to step out on the perimeter helps hide Clarke's questionable outside jump shot. I think the Grizzlies killed it in this draft with two really good players that fit in with what they are trying to do, and they are going to usher in a new era in Memphis.
Grade: A+
Picks: #13: Tyler Herro, #32: KZ Okpala
Moves: Receive: #32, Give Up: Three Future Second Round Picks
Receive: Future Second Round Pick, Cash Considerations ;Give Up: #44
Reaction: The Heat grabbed Tyler Herro with their first pick in the draft. I really like Herro from his time at Kentucky. He's a versatile offensive player who is known for his shooting, but is also good off the dribble and his playmaking is coming along well. Herro also competes on the defensive end, and was consistently locked in on that end. He can be plugged in right away for Miami with his shooting and defensive effort, although he isn't a particularly good athlete and while he tries, he has physical limitations, a negative wingspan, that hold him back defensively. They then traded up into the second round to grab KZ Okpala, a guy I love. He's sort of Cam Reddish-esque. He's 6'8", can dribble and pass at a passable level, has a great looking job shot, and is a really fluid athlete. The results weren't totally there, but he has the ability to maybe be a plus defender in the right system. I'm a huge fan of him, and I really like this pick by the Heat. They finished up their night by trading their pick to the Nuggets. I think they did a very good job, even if they reached for Herro a little bit, and I love the KZ Okpala pick.
Grade: B+
Picks: N/A
Moves: Receive: Jon Leuer ; Give Up: #30, Tony Snell
Reaction: The Bucks traded their pick to the Pistons to free up cap space.
Grade: N/A
Picks: #6: Jarrett Culver, #43: Jaylen Nowell
Moves: Receive: #6; Give Up: #11, Dario Saric
Reaction: The Timberwolves traded up to the sixth pick, spurning Dario Saric, who never quite fit in Minnesota, and their own first round pick to get Jarrett Culver. I think the fit with the Timberwolves roster, mostly Karl-Anthony Towns, is great. He's a good playmaker and is good in pick and roll scenarios, and I think he and Towns can be a nice pairing offensively. The real question with Culver surrounds his shooting, as he was inconsistent at Texas Tech. However, I think that if he doesn't have to create his own shot as much, he will be better in that regard and be an above average shooter getting more set shots. I like that move overall for Minnesota. The Timberwolves used their second round pick on Jaylen Nowell, a scorer out of Washington. He impressed at the combine, and his ability to score will be valued by the Timberwolves, who need all the talent they can get around KAT. He's got an alright three point jump shot, and I think Gerson Rosas looked really good during his first draft as a GM, getting two players who can fill a role right away for Minnesota.
Grade: A-
Picks: #1: Zion Williamson, #8: Jaxson Hayes, #17: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, #35: Marcos Louzada Silva
Moves: Receive: #8, #17, #35; Give Up: #4, #57, Solomon Hill
Receive: Two Future Second Round Picks ; Give Up: #39
Reaction: What a grade trade for the Pelicans. They moved down four spots and picked up two more top 40 picks, giving them 5 in total, to fill in around their new core of Lonzo Ball, Jrue Holiday, Brandon Ingram, and the first pick of the night, Zion Williamson. Zion was the one can't miss prospect in this draft thanks to his freakish athleticism and pretty high skill level, and the Pelicans won the lottery and took him first overall as expected. They then picked up Jaxson Hayes, the big man out of Texas. He and Zion will be manning the front court together, and they are an extremely athletic and bouncy front court. They should defend the rim at a very high level almost right away. He's still a project offensively, but he won't need to be an elite post scorer or anything like that given the rest of the players on the roster. I know Lonzo Ball is salivating at the idea at throwing lobs to Zion and Hayes, and the Pelicans could be one of the better defensive teams in the league next season. They then grabbed Nickel Alexander-Walker as another backcourt piece. He's a jack of all trades, master of none, with good ball handling, playmaking, shooting and defense. He's not elite in any one area, but he should be a good rotation piece with Lonzo and Jrue in the backcourt thanks to his ability to do a little bit of everything. He isn't a great athlete, but he should be able to overcome that thanks to his skill level. In the second round, the Pelicans took a flyer on Marcos Louzada Silva, a draft and stash prospect from Brazil. He has potential down the line as a three and D guy, and makes his name defensively, although I don't know a ton about him if I'm honest. I think the Pelicans did a great job of acquiring a lot of young talent that fits perfectly with their young core, and I'm excited to see what they build in NOLA.
Grade: A+
Picks: #3: RJ Barrett, #47: Ignas Brazdeikis
Moves: Receive: #47; Give Up: #55
Reaction: The Knicks snagged the third prize in the draft with the selection of RJ Barrett. He was overshadowed a bit by Zion at Duke, but he's got the potential to be an elite level scorer. I also think his playmaking is really good, with great vision and he's a good athlete with a lot of strength on the wing. He's got the "Mamba Mentality" and I think he'll thrive under the bright lights at Madison Square Garden. There are some questions surrounding his jump shot, but I trust him to be a good shooter with his work ethic. The Knicks picked up a Kings second round pick, and used it to select Ignas Brazdeikis out of Michigan. He's got a good frame and strength on it, and he's a versatile scorer. His three point shot isn't super consistent yet, and he's not a great athlete who isn't great defensively. Still, there's upside for him as a scorer in the future. They made the easy pick and picked up a potential role player as well, which is very un-Knicks like seeing as they did a solid job.
Grade: A-
Picks: #23: Darius Bazley
Moves: Receive: #23, future second round pick; Give Up: #21
Reaction: The Thunder moved back two picks and ended up with Darius Bazley, the former Syracuse commit who chose to skip college and work out all year. His stock gradually rose throughtout the draft process, with his athleticism and potential shining through. Admittedly, a athlete with shooting concerns isn't exactly what then Thunder needed, but this pick likely was more for the future, which I don't love from the Thunder. They have a chance to capitalize on the uncertainty in the Western Conference, but clearly need shooting and there were some players here they could've gotten that could have filled that need next year, or at least given meaningful contributions, and I think they missed on that.
Grade: D
Picks: #16: Chuma Okeke
Moves: Receive: Future Second Round Pick, Cash Consideration; Give Up: #46
Reaction: The Magic really needed a point guard and shooting, so they went out and grabbed a long, versatile wing defender with their first round pick. I really don't know how Okeke fits with this roster. They have picked guys like him consistently over the past few years, and he will be recovering from an ACL tear for most of next season. He can shoot it a little bit, but his calling card comes defensively, where he is a potentially elite level guy thanks to his physicality, length, and quick feet. He can guard 1-5 and do it well, and I think he can be a versatile defender at the NBA level. I just think Orlando had a lot bigger needs and could have filled them with that pick instead.
Grade: F
Picks: #20: Mattise Thybulle, #54: Marial Shayok
Moves: Receive: #20; Give Up: #24, #33
Receive: #57, Two Future Second Round Picks, Give Up: #34
Receive: Future Second Round Pick, Cash Considerations; Give Up: #57
Reaction: The Sixers traded two of their picks to the Celtics for the #20 pick, which was Matisse Thybulle. He was rumored to be a Sixers target for a while, and its easy to see why they wanted him so badly. He's an elite defender, causing havoc in the 2-3 zone at Washington last year and he should be a good defender at the NBA level thanks to his great wingspan and excellent instincts that create a ton of turnovers. He also has a good chance to be a three and D guy thanks to a pretty solid jump shot that is solid off of the catch. He doesn't do a lot else, but those two traits are enough to make him an NBA player. They then traded back deep into the second round and took Marial Shayok and Jordan Bone. Shayok was a good scorer at Iowa State, but I don't know how much he translates to the NBA. I like Thybulle a lot, especially with how he fits with the roster given he can probably play right away, although I would have preferred to get some more cheap, young assets rather than trading all of their other picks.
Grade: B-
Picks: #11: Cameron Johnson, #24: Ty Jerome
Moves: Receive: Cash Consideration; Give Up: #32, TJ Warren
Receive: #11, Dario Saric; Give Up: #6
Receive: #24, Aron Baynes; Give Up: Bucks 2020 First Round Pick
Reaction: The Suns were very active on draft night, moving TJ Warren and attaching a second rounder to get his contract off the books, and then moving down five spots after a trade with Minnesota and picking up Dario Saric to pair with their young core. I didn't love the first move, but I thought getting Saric, who struggled in Minnesota, was a nice pickup as a stretch four and should fit next to Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and the rest of the team. However, the pick of Cameron Johnson is not good in my opinion. He's a knockdown shooter, and he is an elite floor spacer. However, I don't know what else he really does on the court. He's not a great athlete and struggles a bit defensively, especially since he might have to be guarding power forwards in the NBA. He and Saric are sort of similar in my opinion, and I think Johnson would have been there later on and the Suns could have traded down and gotten him later on while picking up another asset. They then traded back into the first round to take Ty Jerome. I'm a huge fan of Jerome and I think his fit in Phoenix is really good. He's a good ball handler, passer, and shooter with solid defensive instincts and a high basketball IQ. He's not a great athlete, but I really like him and I think he can be a good bench piece alongside Devin Booker. I really don't like what they did today on the whole though, and I don't want to be too harsh, especially before seeing what happens on the court, but I'm not a fan and I much rather would have had #6, #32, and TJ Warren than Saric and Johnson, although I like the Jerome pick.
Grade: D-
Picks: #25: Nassir Little
Moves: N/A
Reaction: I'm not a big Nassir Little guy, but even I would have taken him before this point. He's an excellent athlete and showed a lot of promise in high school. However, he struggled at North Carolina and was a bench player behind Cam Johnson and Luke Maye for the Tar Heels. Portland typically focuses on higher potential guys in the draft, and Little absolutely fits that mold here. He can be a high level three and D player if he works out his defensive issues and improve his feel for the game, but he's a strong wing that should be able to attack the basket at a high level pretty quickly. While I don't know if he helps them a lot next year, I think it's a great gamble by Portland on a guy who could end up being a star.
Grade: A
Picks: #40: Justin James, #55: Kyle Guy, #60: Vanja Marinkovic
Moves: Receive: #55; Give Up: #47
Reaction: It's hard to criticize a team too much for their second round picks, since a lot of that round is a guessing game. However, I didn't like the pick of Justin James at #40. He wouldn't have been in my top 75, and I don't think he is a good enough shooter to make it at the NBA level with the Kings. They traded back and ended up grabbing Kyle Guy, which is a pick I like late. He's a good shooter and can potentially make an impact with his jumper, but he's very small and only profiles to have one NBA skill. They finished up with Vanja Marinkovic, a draft and stash player who may never end up coming over. I don't really like this draft by the Kings, as I think there were some other players they could have got that would have been a really nice fit with their existing core instead of some questionable fits in the NBA.
Grade: D
Picks: #19: Luka Samanic, #29: Keldon Johnson, #49: Quinndary Weatherspoon
Moves: N/A
Reaction: At this point, I just kind of assume that whoever the Spurs pick is going to be really good. They used the first of their three picks on Luka Samanic, a Croatian big man whose stock began to rise at the NBA Draft Combine. He apparently has a versatile offensive game that includes a jump shot, post moves, and the ability to put the ball on the floor. There are some questions about his defense, but I would bet on the Spurs doing a good job of developing him. They then picked up Keldon Johnson, which was one of my favorite picks of the draft. I'm personally high on Johnson, since he is a hard nosed competitor who does a little bit of everything. He can shoot, defend, is a solid athlete, and is tough to stop when going to the rim. I think he fits perfectly with the Spurs culture, and I think he's going to be really good in San Antonio. They finished up their night by selecting Quinndary Weatherspoon. He's a guy I can see being a wing scorer off the bench at the NBA level after impressing at Mississippi State for multiple years. He is an alright defender as well, and I think he gets better with the Spurs. I think they did a great job of getting guys who fit their culture, and I think they came out looking really good.
Grade: A-
Picks: #59: Dewan Hernandez
Moves: N/A
Reaction: I don't think Dewan Hernandez is ever going to be an impact NBA player, or even a rotation player, but I loved seeing him get drafted. For those who don't know, he was suspended by the NCAA for things he didn't have a part in, and was unable to play last season at Miami. He reportedly had some good workouts, and ended up being drafted late. I ultimately think he's more of a G-League player, but I feel great for him.
Grade: C
Picks: #50: Jarrell Brantley, #53: Justin Wright-Foreman, #58: Miye Oni
Moves: Receive: #50; Give Up:?
Receive: #58; Give Up: Cash Considerations
Reaction: The Jazz picked up three mid-major stars, two from the Colonial in Jarrell Brantley and Justin Wright-Foreman and one from the Ivy League in Oni. Brantley has some intrigue as a perimeter orientated four and a good defender, but I like Wright-Foreman more. He was second in the nation is scoring at Hofstra, and I think he can be a legit scoring guard off the bench at the NBA level thanks to solid size and some playmaking ability as well. I like Oni a lot as a potential multi positional defender and decent shooter on the other end. I actually think he might be the best of the three guys, and I really like the pickups of Wright-Foreman and Oni, with Brantley possessing some potential as well.
Grade: B
Picks: #9: Rui Hachimura, #42: Admiral Schofield
Moves: Receive: #42, Jonathon Simmons; Give Up: Cash Considerations
Reaction: I don't love this pick for the Wizards. If they wanted to take a shot on upside from a wing, I think Cam Reddish and Sekou Doumbouya both have higher upsides than Rui. I worry about his lack of feel for the game, especially defensively, and his lack of a three point jump shot. Still, he's got a great body and is very good offensively inside the arc. Still, I think he's more of a project than people realize, and I don't think he's going to be as good in the NBA as he was at Gonzaga. I just keep coming back to the other options on the board, who I think have higher ceilings, and I can't really endorse this pick. They then traded into the second round, taking on Jonathon Simmons to help the Sixers clear up cap space, and took Admiral Schofield. I'm a big fan of his, with three and D potential thanks to a solid jumper and physical play on the wing. He's not a great athlete, but he is big and I would bet on him being a good defender and solid role player for a while. I like that pick, but I'm not as high on getting Rui, so I can't give the Wizards a stellar draft rating.
Grade: C
Charles Matthews
After a strong college career at Michigan, Matthews was looking at possibly being a second round pick thanks to his great defense and athleticism. However, he tore his ACL in the lead up to the draft, and ended up going undrafted. Assuming he's healthy, he can be a lockdown wing defender thanks to his quick feet and long arms. His offense is a bit of a question mark, but he might have a chance to shoot it. I'd look for him to sign a multi-year deal somewhere so he can rehab and then potentially contribute.
DaQuan Jeffries
Jeffries came out of Tulsa and was a riser through the draft process, but didn't hear his name called. He's a solid shooter on the wing and is a physical defender that can be a three and D rotation guy. He's a guy who will be fine in a rotation, and I think he's going to be an NBA player. He signed a deal with the Orlando Magic, because they really needed a good wing defender.
Dedric Lawson
Lawson was one of the best players in college basketball last year, putting up some crazy numbers at Kansas. He isn't a very good athlete, and there are some defensive concerns with him, but offensively, he's great. He's excellent on the low block, he can shoot the ball from deep, and is a solid playmaker. He signed a two-way contract with the Warriors, and he could be a back end of the rotation guy for that team.
Jalen Lecque
Lecque skipped out on college ball at North Carolina State to head straight to the NBA. He is an excellent athlete who has good speed and bounce at the point guard position. The rest of his skill level isn't completely developed, but he has a lot of potential to be good if he develops. He signed a 4 year deal with the Suns, which I think is a nice fit for him
Jontay Porter
The only reason Porter wasn't drafted is his questionable medicals. He has ability as a stretch five who can pass and dribble, as well as having a solid array of post moves. However, he has two ACL tears in two years, and I think when he's healthy, he can be very, very good, especially offensively. However, his entire family has medical issues, and he will need to prove to teams he can stay healthy before they invest in him.
Justin Robinson
Justin Robinson is a guy I really like who I thought could have been a late second round pick. He's a great creator and shooter who I think can be a legitimate NBA rotation player thanks to his offensive game. He's small, and won't be a good defender, but I think he's going to be good. He signed a deal with the Washington Wizards
Louis King
King came into Oregon as a heralded recruit, and he never fully fulfilled his potential after a foot injury at the beginning of the year. At his best, he's a big wing who can shoot it well and has some solid ball handling and playmaking. He's a guy that can be an NBA starter if he gets to his full potential, although he has concerns about his effort level and injury history.
Luguentz Dort
Dort has drawn Marcus Smart comparisons, and it's easy to see why. He's a hard nosed defender who often picks up full court, and he's a solid athlete. He's a bulldog when attacking the rim, but his jump shot, ball handling, and passing aren't as good as they need to be an impact player at the NBA level right now. He signed a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, which I think is a good pickup for them.
Max Strus
Max Strus isn't the sexiest name in the world, but he does one thing well: shoot the ball. He 36.3% of his threes last year, but was taking 9 a game and doing a lot for DePaul. He has some interesting defensive potential on the wing, but you know what he's going to do right now. He signed a two-way contract with the Celtics, which is a solid fit for him.
Naz Reid
Reid had a productive freshman year at LSU, but didn't hear his name called during the draft. He is a stretch big with a diverse offensive skill set that can put the ball on the ground and pass it a little bit as well. His effort level is inconsistent and I don't think his defense is great, but he can be a nice backup five man who shoots it well from deep. He signed a two-way contract with the Timberwolves after the draft finished, which I think is another great move by Rosas.
Oshae Brissett
I'm a bit biased, but I like Oshae Brissett a lot. He is a bouncy athlete who has shown potential to shoot the ball from behind the arc as well as be a solid defender. There are a lot of questions, namely consistency and how well he actually shoots and defends, but watching him every game, I think he can be a role player in the NBA. He will play with the Clippers in the Summer League.
Phil Booth
I'm a big Phil Booth guy, and I think he can be a long time NBA player. If there's a guy who I'm going to call this year's Fred Van Vleet, it's him. He's a solid ball handler, passer, and I like him a lot as a shooter. He comes from Villanova as a very smart player and a winner, and I know his athleticism isn't great, but I like him a lot. He's agreed to play in the Summer League, and I love that fit with John Beilein. I think he ends up playing good minutes for them this year.
Shamorie Ponds
Ponds is another undersized point guard who can score and pass pretty well, and I think he can be an alright defender thanks to his good hands on the defensive end. He's small, and I don't think his jump shot is great, but he can be a solid backup PG. He signed deal with the Rockets.
Terence Davis
Davis might the player I'm most shocked didn't get drafted. He was a riser throughout the Combine and the whole draft process, and I think he's going to be really solid NBA rotation player. He's a good athlete and shooter as an off guard, and he can be a good defender. I think he also has some alright playmaking instincts, although he didn't handle the ball at Ole Miss. He's a good leaper as well, and I like him a lot on a two way deal.
Tyus Battle
Battle is another guy who I like because he's a Syracuse guy, but I think there's a place for him in the NBA. He's a bucket getter, pure and simple, and the NBA is always looking for guys like that. He's not a great three point shooter, and there are questions about his athleticism and how good he can be defensively given he played in a zone in college, but he knows how to put the ball in the basket. I like him as a bench scorer at the NBA level at some point.
Yovel Zoosman
Zoosman is a European guy who has a lot of potential as a three and D guy coming off a strong year in Israel. He's the one European guy I'm surprised wasn't drafted in the second round. I think he signs on somewhere eventually.
Zach Norvell
Norvell is a really good shooter and has potential as a ball handler and playmaker coming out of Gonzaga. He shot 37% from three both years with the Zags, and he can get red hot quickly. He's going to be a good bench scorer. He signed a two-way deal with the Lakers, which I think is a really nice fit for him as a floor spacer next to LeBron.
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