Grading The Draft

This was one of those drafts where there really weren’t too many can’t miss products, but teams did surprisingly well with their moves and how they picked.

• ATLANTA: B- They only had a second round pick and selected a raw big man in Keith Benson, not a bad pick.
• BOSTON: C+ JaJuan Johnson was a solid pick for the Celtics, but considering that they drafted MarShon Brooks first it looked like they had the steal of the draft and then they traded it away.
• CHARLOTTE: B This was probably the most active the Bobcats have been in a draft in quite a while. They added a very solid veteran player in Corey Maggette, a dangerous player coming out of college Kemba Walker and an up-and-coming big man in Bismack Biyombo.
• CHICAGO: C The Bulls selected foreign big man Nikola Mirotic and defensive stopper Jimmy Butler. Both are solid picks, but neither fills the Bulls need as a scorer.
• CLEVELAND: B+ I really thought that the Cavaliers handled the draft perfectly. They drafted Kyrie Irving and there was such a drop off from after the third pick they went with the best player they felt was available in Tristan Thompson. Thompson may not become a star, but he could develop into a starter.
• DALLAS: B+ The Mavericks went into the draft with a chance at getting a player that may help in time and instead they snagged dynamic scorer Rudy Fernandez to add to their alright strong bench. They also selected Targuy Ngumbo and I can’t tell you anything about him.
• DENVER: B+ Maybe I’m bias, but the Nuggets had a killer draft. Getting their main guy in Kenneth Faried and then snagging Andre Miller and Jordan Hamilton for Raymond Felton. They bettered themselves all across the board.
• DETROIT: B+ The Pistons followed up last season’s solid pick (Greg Monroe), with a steal in Brandon Knight. Detroit has needed a point guard since trading Chauncey Billups. They also added former Duke Blue Devil Kyle Singler.
• GOLDEN STATE: B I personally am not that high on Klay Thompson and how he plays. However, the Warriors also grabbed Jeremy Tyler and Charles Jenkins in the second round. Jenkins is in the same mode as Monta Ellis and Tyler has bundles of potential.
• HOUSTON: A- The Rockets picked up Marcus Morris with the 14th pick and then unloaded Brad Miller for the Jonny Flynn and the rights to Donatas Motiejunas. They also drafted Chandler Parsons in the second round, Parsons may not be the flashiest player but he’ll be in the league for 12 seasons.
• INDIANA: C I felt the Pacers had a steal when they selected Kawhi Leonard, but then I realized they couldn’t have put him anywhere so it made sense to trade him. However, considering that all they got was George Hill it made drafting Leonard kind of a waste. Hill is a good player, but not of the quality of Leonard. They should have just drafted Brooks.
• LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: B The Clippers traded their top pick Cleveland and so the only thing they have to show from the draft was the Georgia duo Travis Leslie and Trey Thompkins. Both have the potential to help the Clippers in the long run, especially Leslie who could become a Tony Allen-type player.
• LOS ANGELES LAKERS: B+ The Lakers grabbed two very good players in the second round, Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock. And if you combined them, you’d have an All-Star. Morris has great size for the point guard and Goudelock is deadly shooter.
• MEMPHIS: C+ I’m not as high on Josh Selby as others, but if he can just reach half of his potential he’d be a steal.
• MIAMI: C How ironic is it that the Heat got one of the best players in the state of Ohio, they just keep robbing Cleveland. Cole could become a good point guard who can split duties with Mario Chalmers.
• MILWAUKEE: B- The Bucks grabbed Beno Udrih, Shaun Livingston, Stephen Jackson and the rights to Tobias Harris for the 10th pick, John Salmons and Maggette. This helps the Bucks shed salaries and adds depth to their point guard position and alsoto small forward.
• MINNESOTA: B- The Timberwolves got arguably the best player in the draft in Derrick Williams, but not sure it is the right fit for him and also they made a questionable move of trading Flynn and the rights to Motiejunas for an over the hill center in Brad Miller, who they will probably cut.
• NEW JERSEY: B+ Well there went any chance of JR Smith going to the Nets. They got their dangerous scorer to team up with Deron Williams in Brooks. He has drawn comparison to Kobe Bryant with a huge wingspan. The Nets also added big man Jordan Williams, whose size and low post skills could mirror Carlos Boozer or Sean May.
• NEW ORLEANS: N/A The Hornets only move in the draft was selling their pick (Josh Harrellson) to the Knicks.
• NEW YORK: D Man, if there is a loser in this draft it is the Knicks they passed on Chris Singleton, MarShon Brooks and Kenneth Faried to select Iman Shumpert, who isn’t as good as those other players and doesn’t have nearly the ceiling they have. In fact the only thing he can do is defend and dunk the ball. But hey at least the Knicks got another big man with Harrellson.
• OKLAHOMA CITY: C The Thunder drafted another athletic guard in Reggie Jackson, not sure where he fits on OKC’s deep bench, but he will help somewhere.
• ORLANDO: B The Magic didn’t have a first round pick, but they they got a first round talent in Justin Harper. And snagged a defensive stopper in DeAndre Liggins.
• PHILADELPHIA: C+ I’m not sold on Vucevic, I think he has a lot of growth before being an NBA player and I couldn’t tell you who Lavoy Allen is.
• PHOENIX: C: The Suns drafted another twin in Markieff Morris and another bigger and lesser talented twin. Morris will be a good player, but the Suns are packed full of big man so not sure where he fits in.
• PORTLAND: B- The Blazers got younger with Raymond Felton and got some help in Nolan Smith, but I feel they could have gotten more for Fernandez.
• SACRAMENTO: B The Kings snagged John Salmons and the rights to Jimmer Fredette for Beno Udrih and the 7th pick. Both Salmons and Fredette are dynamic scorers to go along with the Kings already dangerous duo of Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins, but Sacramento really needs a defensive player and an unselfish player. The Kings also added Tyler Honeycutt and Isiah Thomas.
• SAN ANTONIO: A- The Spurs got Leonard, who is one of the best players in the draft and then drafted a complete project in Cory Joseph. Like always, not a shabby draft by the Spurs.
• TORONTO: C+ The Raptors were the one to fall on the grenade and draft Jonas Valanciunas. He is a year away from playing in the NBA and still has a lot of work to do.
• UTAH: B- The Jazz added Enes Kanter to an already deep frontcourt and then added a potential NBA starter in Alec Burks.
• WASHINGTON: A The Wizards got both Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton, two players that can help immediately. Then they snagged Shelvin Mack in the second round.