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The 2013 NBA Draft was one of the most exciting drafts ever with drama right from the top pick.

Now that it’s over, we focus on who helped themselves the most by adding talent to their teams.

NBADraft.net’s Adam Ganeles (East) and Jacob Stallard (West) break down the entire draft.

 

Atlanta
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

A-

#16 Lucas Nogueira
#17 Dennis Schroeder
#44 Mike Muscala
Jared Cunningham

With his sights set on the future, GM Danny Ferry invested in two physically compelling international talents in Nogueira and Schroeder. “Bebe” has an octopus-like 7-foot-6 wingspan with smooth mobility and soft hands. At 220 pounds, he’ll struggle to battle on the interior, but his rim-protection skills are ready-made for the NBA. It will be interesting to see the tact Atlanta takes in nurturing his development.

With Jeff Teague a restricted free agent, the Hawks believe Schroeder is their future floor general. He possesses electricifying speed and great length for his position (6-foot-7.5 wingspan), despite standing 6-foot-1. Like most young point guards, he needs to rein in his pace and learn to run an offense. Additionally, he needs to hit the weight room or he’ll be knocked around like a pinball.

Mike Muscala is a skilld face-up guy, but we question his strength and athleticism for the NBA level. Jared Cunningham couldn’t sniff the court in Dallas, but he has the capacity to be a very effective on-ball defender and transition lane filler.

Boston
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis
C+

#13 Kelly Olynk
#53 Colton Iverson
3 first round picks
Kris Humphries
Gerald Wallace
Kris Joseph
MarShon Brooks
Keith Bogans

Danny Ainge finally decided to blow it up, and he couldn’t have picked a better time with prospects such as Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Marcus Smart and Julius Randle on the draft horizon. As a fan, it’s never easy to see your favorite players leave, but the time was right. Additionally, Ainge landed the three first-round picks with limited protection. Outside of Gerald Wallace’s abysmal contract, the group of players they added are each under age 28 and they all come off the books after next season. But he still has to pay Wallace $30 million over the next three seasons to do whatever Wallace does at this point in his career.

It’s hard to fathom the Celtics moving up three spots to snag Olynyk, but he was their targeted player. His game is unusual, due to his ability to handle, facilitate and shoot as a 7-footer. He was efficient in college, despite underwhelming explosion at the rim; he’s going to find finishing plays a more trying task against elite athletes of comparable size.

Like Olynyk, Iverson was a master of efficiency in the Mountain West, but his lack of explosive power and elevation will limit his opportunities. Despite our lukewarm evaluation of taking Olynyk at 13, the trade that landed the first-round picks and dumped salary in advance of the 2014 draft brings our grade up a little bit.

Brooklyn
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis
D+
#22 Mason Plumlee
Paul Pierce (35)
Kevin Garnett (37)
Jason Terry (35)

The Mikhail Prokhorov-era Nets are in the midst of their Isiah Thomas phase, stockpiling aging talent for premium money and giving away first-round picks. The Nets have pushed all their chips to the middle of the table, having pulled off a surreal trade to add Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Both KG and Pierce make this squad undeniably better, but given the payroll/luxury-tax bill and the lack of roster flexibility, this team needs to win a championship within the next two seasons to justify the costs. The Nets, as presently constituted, are no better than a No. 3-seed in the East, perhaps lower, depending on Derrick Rose’s health and what the Knicks do this offseason.

Plumlee is an excellent run/jump athlete at 6-foot-10, but he lacks a high skill level, limiting his upside. He did average 10 boards a game for Duke as a senior, and his ability to play above the rim should be impactful from the get go, but at age 23, it appears as if his ceiling is "high-energy hustle big-man." Unfortunately for a team like the Nets, mortgaging the future around an aging nucleus and an energy guy will only get them so far. Can this team truly call itself a contender now? Dream on.

Charlotte
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis
B
#4 Cody Zeller

The Bobcats went with one of the draft’s more well-rounded prospects in Zeller, as their recent trend of "substance over flair" continues. Nerlens Noel didn’t make sense here, given the commitment made to another shot-blocking dynamo with next to no offensive game, Bismack Biyombo, in 2011.

With this pick, the Bobcats could potentially employ a bigger lineup with Zeller at the 4, (Gerald Henderson is a restricted FA). Zeller has the footwork to be a primary back-to-the-basket option and the soft touch to make midrange shots. He loves to run, and should thrive in transition playing alongside Kemba Walker. The question remains: is he tough enough?

Chicago
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis
A-

#20 Tony Snell
#49 Erik Murphy

Snell was one of the draft’s big risers leading up to Thursday night. He’s mostly viewed as a knock-down shooter running off down screens, but his athleticism and ball-handling skill often gets overlooked. His passivity is a cause for apprehension, but if the light clicks on, he can transform into an elite role player. Defensively, he gets check marks in the length and lateral quickness departments – now it’s all about awareness and grasping complicated team defensive concepts. His shoulders are defined, but he’d be well served to bulk up.

Murphy is a prototypical stretch-4 who should be well utilized in Chicago. The Bulls don’t get much three-point shooting from their guards, so they might as well try to get it from a 6-foot-10 power forward.

Cleveland
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B+

#1 Anthony Bennett
#19 Sergey Karasev
#33 Carrick Felix

Cavs’ GM Chris Grant made a mockery of draft prognostication for the second consecutive year, selecting Anthony Bennett at the head of the class — so much for concerns over added weight crippling his stock. Bennett should be physically prepared from day one (if his shoulder heals properly) and he boasts a polished, versatile offensive arsenal — claims that could not be made to support Alex Len or Nerlens Noel. He wants to play small forward, but his lack of lateral quickness could derail this plan.

While the 19-year-old Karasev is a developmental project, he has major value and high upside as a shooter at 6-foot-7. Felix is a late-bloomer who plays with great energy and jumped a 38.5-inch max vert. He shares many commonalities with current Cavs wing Alonzo Gee, sans the range.

Dallas
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B+
#18 Shane Larkin
#43 Ricky Ledo

The Mavericks were involved in an odd sequence of events on draft night, but they ultimately ended up with Larkin, an athletic point guard with great upside. The pick itself is a very good one, as Larkin could potentially be the best point guard in this draft with his combination of speed, athleticism, floor vision and passing skills. Restricted free agent Darren Collison was inconsistent last season, so point guard was one of Dallas’ key needs. Larkin is a suitable choice to take the starting role in the not-so-distant future and he is a good value pick at the No. 18 spot.

The concern here is the road Dallas took to get Larkin. They started out with the No. 13 pick, traded down for the rights to No. 16 pick Lucas Nogueira and two future second rounders, then traded Nogueira’s rights, Jared Cunningham, and the No. 44 pick (Muscala) for the rights to Larkin at 18. Essentially, they traded the 13th pick, the 44th pick, and Jared Cunningham for the 18th pick and two future second rounders, when it would’ve probably just made sense to take Larkin at 13. Regardless, Larkin is a good addition to the Mavericks.

Denver
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B+
#46 Erick Green
# 55 Joffrey Lauvergne
Darrell Arthur

The Nuggets made a couple trades in this draft but didn’t actually make any franchise-shaking moves on draft night. They did move out of the first round and down to the No. 46 pick, where they selected Erick Green, the nation’s leading scorer last season. Some saw him as a late-first-round talent, so he was definitely a great value pick in the mid-second round for a Nuggets team that has no glaring weaknesses. He’s a quick, scoring combo guard who will fit the Nuggets’ up-tempo style and will be able to replace an aging Andre Miller as the backup to Ty Lawson.

Lauvergne is a foreign prospect who started getting some attention in the week leading up to the draft. He’s an athletic face-up power forward who can get up and down the floor, making him another potentially good fit for the Nuggets. But he is still a project and may need to spend a few more years overseas. The Nuggets also traded away serviceable big man Kosta Koufos and acquired a comparable replacement in Darrell Arthur, although this trade could create depth problems at center if Timofey Mozgov, a restricted free agent, is not brought back.

Detroit
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

A-

#8 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
#37 Tony Mitchell 2586
#56 Peyton Siva

It can certainly be argued that Detroit’s faith in Brandon Knight is misguided, but the Pistons are standing by their talent evaluation. They passed over a trio of point guards to select Caldwell-Pope at No. 8, who will fill an immediate need on a roster without a shooting guard. Slight reach or not, KCP has the tools to be an outstanding pro. His range is unlimited and he’s equally adept at dribbling into an intermediate jumper. His skill with the dribble is more advanced than he’s given credit for, although he rarely touches the paint in a half court set. Picking up a freak athlete in Tony Mitchell was a gift at No. 37. There are concerns surrounding his lack of progress and unrefined basketball awareness, but in the second round, his potential was a no-brainer gamble. Siva is 6-foot without a jump shot; however, his speed and defensive tenacity can’t be taught. He’s a winner.

Golden State
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis


C+
#30 Nemanja Nedovic

It was an interesting night for Golden State, a team that came into the evening with no picks. But through a series of three trades, they parlayed a future second round pick into Nedovic, an intriguing Serbian point guard. The Warriors didn’t have to give up much to acquire Nedovic, which is good because he still needs to develop skills to play the point in the NBA. Fortunately, the Warriors have Steph Curry and perhaps Jarrett Jack, depending on free agency, so there is no rush for Nedovic to develop. But if he does, he will give the Warriors an athletic, slashing guard who will be a more-than-adequate backup to Curry.

Houston
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

A-
#34 Isaiah Canaan

After rumors flew about trades involving Thomas Robinson, the Rockets ended up having a pretty quiet draft — but their lone pick was an interesting one. Though they already used three point guards in the rotation last season, the Rockets selected Canaan with this pick after he slipped a few spots past where most thought he would go. The Rockets clearly went with the Best Player Available strategy, as big-man and wing-player depth seemed to be the biggest hole for them last year. Canaan is a strong, tough kid with great shooting range who can come in right away and help a team, but he still is lacking height and true point guard skills. He could be a backup point for the Rockets and even push Jeremy Lin for the starting spot, but the Rockets may choose to continue with Patrick Beverley as their backup point and send Canaan to the D-league.

Indiana
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

C
#23 Solomon Hill

Obviously a reach by Indiana, but there is credence to the pick. Hill is a versatile playmaker on a roster lacking just that. He possesses point-forward type skills, capable of starting an instant fast break or isolating at the top of the key in late-clock situations and burning his man. With that said, he’s a tweener wing with average quickness, foot speed and leaping ability and probably would have lasted another 20-25 spots. Being a four-year player in a BCS conference, the Pacers clearly drafted him seeking immediate return on investment.

LA Clippers
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis


B+
#25 Reggie Bullock

After making the deal to bring in Doc Rivers as their new head coach, the Clippers played things pretty conservatively on draft night. With their first and only pick, they selected Bullock, a well-rounded wing player who can come in and contribute right away. This is a really good pick for them because they’re pretty much at point guard and power forward, while their wing players are starting to age. Bullock can come in off the bench and provide a nice combination of shooting, defense, and athleticism. He should help this team pursue a championship right away. Some expected him to be off the board by this pick, so the Clippers got a pretty good value here.

LA Lakers
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

C
#48 Ryan Kelly

The Lakers made a somewhat odd selection with their second round pick — their only pick in this draft. The aging, injured, relatively unathletic team drafted an aging (compared to most other prospects), injured, relatively unathletic power forward in Ryan Kelly. He isn’t a bad player, and his foot injury likely won’t affect his NBA career, but the Lakers could’ve used an energetic, athletic, high-upside guy here. Instead, they went with a serviceable stretch 4. Ultimately, the team has some major issues that it needs to work out, and most of those wouldn’t have been solved no matter who they picked here. But Kelly, who will be able to come in and give them good minutes/effort as a sharp-shooter and a tough rebounder, was probably not the guy they should’ve taken here.

Memphis
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B+
# 41 Jamaal Franklin
# 60 Janis Timma
Kosta Koufos

It was a solid night for the Grizzlies, who made the most of the two second-round selections they ended up with. First off, they traded Darrel Arthur and the No. 55 pick for Kosta Koufos, which was a really shrewd move on their part to acquire a solid backup center, which they had been lacking.

With the No. 41 pick, Memphis took Jamaal Franklin, who took one of the biggest slides in this draft after being expected to possibly go in the early 20s. He’s a versatile wing player — the kind of guy who can be one more piece in the puzzle that will help them take the next step in the playoffs. If Tony Allen is not resigned, he might be able to come in and start very early on. Timma was another solid pick at 60. He’s definitely a guy who will spend a few years overseas, but he’s a good hustle guy who could be a contributor in a few years as a role player.

Miami
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B
Picks: #50 James Ennis

Ennis can contribute right away defensively where he can bring energy and a 6-foot-11.5 wingspan to either wing spot. He has the potential to develop into a regular contributor at the NBA level if he develops consistency from behind the three-point line. If space is what he needs, he found the ideal landing spot. He’s a full-court athlete, but his explosion is largely offset in the half-court. Learning the tricks of the trade from Shane Battier won’t hurt his cause.

Milwaukee
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

A-

#15 Giannis Adetokoubo
#38 Nate Wolters

The Bucks secured the international prospect carrying the highest upside in the Greek 18-year-old. Although Adetokunbo needs to add muscle and iron out the rough edges, he brings natural guard skills to the table at 6-foot-10 that will only ameliorate with basketball experience. He has an intriguing size/length/athleticism combination to use as a platform for his eclectic game to explode. The Hawks apparently had a promise with him at No. 17.

Nate Wolters has an incredible feel for spacing on offense and he has a penchant for manipulating defenders like chess pieces. If he can hold his own defending the perimeter, we could be looking at another Jeff Hornacek — two inches taller, but minus the aesthetically pleasing shooting form.

Minnesota
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis


B+
#14 Shabazz Muhammad
# 21 Gorgui Dieng
# 52 Lorenzo Brown
# 59 Bojan Dubljevic

The Timberwolves were one of the biggest movers and shakers in this draft. They traded their No. 9 selection to get both Muhammad and Dieng, a savvy move. Then, they traded the No. 26 pick (Andre Roberson) for a future second rounder, a more questionable move. They also had two more second-round picks. Overall, they got a nice haul of players. Muhammad has some question marks, but the undeniable fact is that Minnesota needs wing scoring, and that’s what Muhammad can bring. The reason I’m not completely sold on this pick is that Muhammad could potentially struggle to take a supporting role in the offense where he won’t be the first scoring option.

Dieng is a good rim protector with a decent mid-range game. He should develop into a very good backup to Nikola Pekovic. Brown fell pretty far in this draft, so he’s a great pick at 52 with an NBA body, great ballhandling ability and floor vision. Since they already have three good prospects coming in, the Timberwolves made a smart decision to take Dubljevic in the late second, because he’s a player with great size/length, as well as a decent outside shot. When he comes over in a few years, he could make an impact for the Wolves. Great draft for Minnesota — something they’re not very used to seeing.

New Orleans
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

A
#42 Pierre Jackson
Jrue Holiday
Grade: A

When Nerlens Noel fell to the Pelicans at No. 6, they got a top trade chip, which allowed them to acquire an All-star point guard just entering his prime in Jrue Holiday. This was a great move for the Pelicans, who now have an impressive quartet of Eric Gordon, Anthony Davis, Holiday, and Ryan Anderson. Thanks to this move, they’re starting to look like a team that can make some noise in the Western Conference.

Holiday was a much better value than any player available at No. 6 — or, honestly, any player in this draft. Plus, they acquired the No. 42 pick in the trade and selected Pierre Jackson, a quick scoring point guard who would be one of the top PGs in this draft if not for his lack of size. He could be a good backup to Holiday. The 2014 pick New Orleans sent to Philadelphia along with Noel is top-five protected, which keeps this squad in the Wiggins derby, but will likely end up a mid-to-late lotto pick for the Sixers. The Pelicans may have been the ultimate winners on draft night.

New York
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B+
#24 Tim Hardaway Jr

Will Tim Hardaway continue to haunt the Knicks even in retirement? Or does he owe them one? Junior gives the Knicks a range shooting threat, while also displaying aptitude as a one-on-one off-the-dribble creator. He’s a streaky scorer with the talent to singlehandedly take over a game. One can only hope the spirit of competition will result in more basket attacking and less jumper settling. Hardaway is a solid athlete with excellent size for the position.

Oklahoma City
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B

# 12 Steven Adams
# 26 Andre Roberson
# 32 Alex Abrines
# 40 Grant Jerrett
 

The Thunder ended up with four picks in this draft and they made pretty good use of them. First, they took Steven Adams, a strong, athletic project big who could develop into the center they need to replace Kendrick Perkins and give them a presence inside. Roberson was a questionable first-round pick, but he’s a great, though undersized, rebounding power forward — the kind of role player that a championship contender like the Thunder needs. Abrines is a good pick because the Thunder already have multiple guys coming in immediately from this draft to bolster their lineup, so they can afford to let Abrines develop overseas for a few years. When he comes over, he could provide them with a skilled scoring guard off the bench. Finally, they took Grant Jerrett, who was lucky to land in OKC. As Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones did last year, Jerrett will be able to spend a lot of time in the D-league developing his post game so that he can be more than a one-dimensional stretch 4. Good second-round pickup for the Thunder, as they didn’t need an instant contributor at pick No. 40.
Orlando
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis
B

#2 Victor Oladipo
#51 Romero Osby

Low risk/high reward. Worst-case scenario, Oladipo is an elite perimeter defender and fearless slasher. Best-case scenario, he continues to develop his handle and off-the-bounce creativity in tandem with his aforementioned calling-card strengths. He’s a premiere athlete with the confidence and work ethic to match. Ben McLemore presents far greater offensive upside, but character, charisma and a defined skill set were the winning ingredients on this day. Osby developed his face-up game dramatically during his final season at Oklahoma, displaying comfort in the mid-range and putting the ball on the deck. He’s well rounded and should find a niche, despite being a distinct tweener.

Philadelphia
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis


B+

#6 Nerlens Noel
#11 Michael Carter-Williams
#54 Arsalan Kazemi

Sam Hinkie is a rookie GM who is not afraid to roll the dice, for better or worse. He’ll either look like a genius or a donkey. Not only did he trade his franchise point guard for an offensively raw, rail-thin big man, but he essentially handed the on-court keys to a 21-year old driver in Michael Carter-Williams.

Let’s face it: Noel was an overlay at No. 6. He possesses game-plan-altering defensive potential behind a 7-foot-4 wingspan and effortless agility. Even if his offensive game never develops, he’ll always be an invaluable commodity preventing buckets. The physical canvas and court savvy are highly intriguing for MCW. On the other end of the spectrum, decision making, strength and jump shot are critical areas that need vast growth.

Kazemi would probably knock over a few children to dig out a loose ball, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. He’s a rebounding machine and runs the floor exceptionally well. At 6-foot-8, 225 pounds, he’s an undersized PF.

Phoenix
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

A
#5 Alex Len
# 29 Archie Goodwin
# 57 Alex Oriakhi

The Suns are a team in full-time rebuilding mode that got lucky when a skilled 7-foot-1 center in Alex Len fell to them at No. 5. Len was a potential No. 1 pick and he is a guy the Suns can build around going forward. This was an excellent choice for the Suns, as Len can get up and down the court, which will be needed with their fast-paced offense.

After trading their No. 30 pick for the No. 29, they took Archie Goodwin, a young kid with a lot of athletic ability and potential. He could end up being a really great value here, so I like this selection as a swing-for-the-fences pick. If he can devleop some skill, he can be the starting shooting guard that the Suns desperately need. At 57, they got a strong, energy big man in Oriakhi, someone who played on a big stage at the 2011 National Championship game. I like him at this pick. He has a good body and will be a solid role player off the bench for the Suns. This draft was a step in the right direction for Phoenix.

Portland
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B+
#10 CJ McCollum
# 31 Allen Crabbe
# 39 Jeff Withey
# 45 Marko Todorovic
 

No real surprises from the Blazers, just a combination of solid picks. McCollum was probably the best player available at No. 10. Although he’s more of a point guard, I believe he will complement Damian Lillard well and they can play a lot of minutes together. Crabbe is a great offensive wing player and will provide bench scoring. He represents good value at 31. Withey is a big guy, and he will be a great shot-blocker in the NBA if he makes the transition to the pros. Interior defense is a major area of need for Portland and Withey will go a long way to help fix that problem. Todorovic screams "project," as he averaged just a little more than two points a game in Spain this past year, but he’s a skilled and energetic big man who could be a solid role player down the line.

Sacramento
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

A
#7 Ben McLemore
#36 Ray McCallum

The Kings lucked out with McLemore falling to them at No. 7. He’s perhaps the most talented player in this draft and he is the kind of guy who can make a big difference from day one. This pick seems to signal that restricted free agent Tyreke Evans is on his way out. In the second round, the Kings reached a little bit and took Ray McCallum, a well-rounded point guard out of Detroit. In my opinion, Pierre Jackson and Lorenzo Brown were clearly better point guards still available here, but McCallum is a steady player who might be able to help the cohesiveness of the trigger-happy Kings. But the McLemore pick is the main point here, and it was a great one.

San Antonio
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis


B+
#28 Livio Jean-Charles
#58 DeShaun Thomas

I like these picks for the Spurs. In the first round, they took Jean-Charles, an intriguing French combo forward who they can stash for a few years and bring back when their veterans start to retire. He had a breakout performance at the Nike Hoops Summit, and he appears to have the skills to be a versatile NBA small forward.

In the second round, the Spurs got another combo forward, but this one can contribute right away. Where Jean-Charles has a high upside, Thomas has a high amount of offensive ability right now. He can come off the bench and provide a scoring punch with his inside-outside game. Great value pick at 59 for the Spurs, and another great draft for a team that already has its key pieces in place.

Toronto
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

I
None

Toronto had no picks, having traded away their first rounder to Houston for Kyle Lowry. The pick was moved in the James Harden deal and ended up at No. 12 (Steven Adams).

Utah
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B+

# 9 Trey Burke
# 27 Rudy Gobert

The Jazz made a smart trade, moving up five spots and targeting the PG they liked Trey Burke. We had CJ McCollum rated higher, but Burke should bring much-needed leadership to their backcourt. Burke will presumably start from day one, and he has the drive and leadership capabilities that should immediately make this Jazz team better.

After getting their guy, the Jazz were able to take an intriguing prospect, the freakishly long Rudy Gobert. This guy has incredible size at 7-foot-2 with a 7-foot-9 wingspan. Though he’s an ultra-raw, ultra-thin project, he already possesses a decent jumper and may become a force in the league with time — a lot of time. Two solid value picks for new GM Dennis Lindsay.

Washington
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

C+

#3 Otto Porter
#35 Glen Rice Jr.

Porter is among this draft’s most dependable prospects. His innate basketball IQ and disruptive defense shine through every time he hits the hardwood. With that being said, his ceiling is decidedly lower than the other top prospects. He excels away from the ball, but he struggles to create offense for himself in isolation and his shooting mechanics (sidespin) make you cringe. To his credit, he makes shots. He profiles as a less athletic Shawn Marion-type at the next level. Everything clicked for Rice Jr. in the D-League, optimizing his physical gifts and displaying a newfound maturity away from the college life. If he’s willing to play within himself as a complementary piece, there’s a lot to like about this pick.

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40 Comments

  1. My favorites
    Phoenix and New Orleans obviously were the two who did the most with this draft. How New Orleans talked Philadelphia out of Jrue Holiday, I’ll never understand, but you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

    The Suns class (Len, Goodwin, Oriakhi) is 3 of the safer picks I’ve seen in a while. Len is a no-brainer at 5, Goodwin’s upside is as high as anybody in this draft, and skill level is high enough already that he’s guaranteed to be at least a dynamic bench scorer, and Oriakhi is just a beast in the paint. A 2nd rounder who can muscle around with anybody in the league. Yeah, I’d take that, gladly.

    I also like what Portland did, getting McCollum, while a touch of a gamble, should give them a great and very intriguing backcourt. Crabbe was a steal at 31, and Withey will have a long NBA career, as a solid defensive C. Todorovic is just a “grab and stash overseas” type of pick, but the group as a whole will definitely make a significant difference for Portland.

    Worst grade is easy. Philadelphia 76’ers. Yes, Noel is probably the best player in this draft, but this is a very weak (especially at the top) draft and Noel is as big of an injury risk as the guy you currently have on your roster, Andrew Bynum. So why is it a good idea to trade Jrue Holiday away for Noel? Ok, it cuts salary, but the only free agent you are likely to bring back is Bynum. How’s that going to work for you? Jrue Holiday is already nearly as valuable as Noel’s ceiling, by the way. So you went with a high-risk, low-reward trade that makes your team at least 15 games worse next season than they’d be with Holiday. This is an Isaiah Thomas level blunder.

    • Disagree
      It’s about being bad this season then loading up next summer with a ton of cash and 2 more likely lottery picks in a strong draft and strong free agent class – that’ll be 4 lottery picks and $$$ to kick start the program – just adding a tweak here and there wasn’t going to get them anywhere

    • Disagree on the 76ers.
      Disagree on the 76ers. Holiday wasn’t gonna get them out of the first round so flipping him for a potential number one and a mid first round pick in next years stacked draft is very smart. And they have a chance at Wiggins.

      I don’t like what Portland did. The only thing McCollum and Lillard have in common is height and the fact that they both came from small schools. I have a feeling that McCollum will be a big disappointment as a basketball player. Crabbe wasn’t really a “steal”. He’s just a good shooter but nothing special. Whitey is pretty nice. The problem with the blazers is their whole bench is filled with rookies and sophomores still learning the NBA game.

  2. My favorites
    Phoenix and New Orleans obviously were the two who did the most with this draft. How New Orleans talked Philadelphia out of Jrue Holiday, I’ll never understand, but you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

    The Suns class (Len, Goodwin, Oriakhi) is 3 of the safer picks I’ve seen in a while. Len is a no-brainer at 5, Goodwin’s upside is as high as anybody in this draft, and skill level is high enough already that he’s guaranteed to be at least a dynamic bench scorer, and Oriakhi is just a beast in the paint. A 2nd rounder who can muscle around with anybody in the league. Yeah, I’d take that, gladly.

    I also like what Portland did, getting McCollum, while a touch of a gamble, should give them a great and very intriguing backcourt. Crabbe was a steal at 31, and Withey will have a long NBA career, as a solid defensive C. Todorovic is just a “grab and stash overseas” type of pick, but the group as a whole will definitely make a significant difference for Portland.

    Worst grade is easy. Philadelphia 76’ers. Yes, Noel is probably the best player in this draft, but this is a very weak (especially at the top) draft and Noel is as big of an injury risk as the guy you currently have on your roster, Andrew Bynum. So why is it a good idea to trade Jrue Holiday away for Noel? Ok, it cuts salary, but the only free agent you are likely to bring back is Bynum. How’s that going to work for you? Jrue Holiday is already nearly as valuable as Noel’s ceiling, by the way. So you went with a high-risk, low-reward trade that makes your team at least 15 games worse next season than they’d be with Holiday. This is an Isaiah Thomas level blunder.

    • Disagree
      It’s about being bad this season then loading up next summer with a ton of cash and 2 more likely lottery picks in a strong draft and strong free agent class – that’ll be 4 lottery picks and $$$ to kick start the program – just adding a tweak here and there wasn’t going to get them anywhere

    • Disagree on the 76ers.
      Disagree on the 76ers. Holiday wasn’t gonna get them out of the first round so flipping him for a potential number one and a mid first round pick in next years stacked draft is very smart. And they have a chance at Wiggins.

      I don’t like what Portland did. The only thing McCollum and Lillard have in common is height and the fact that they both came from small schools. I have a feeling that McCollum will be a big disappointment as a basketball player. Crabbe wasn’t really a “steal”. He’s just a good shooter but nothing special. Whitey is pretty nice. The problem with the blazers is their whole bench is filled with rookies and sophomores still learning the NBA game.

  3. Come on.
    Boston has to get an

    Come on.

    Boston has to get an A, That was split second rebuilding. They got 3 first round picks plus positioning for Wiggins.

    How are you giving New Orleans an A and the 76ers a B+??? Noel and a 2014 top 3 protected pick is an amazing haul for Jrue Holiday.

    Wizards picking up Glen Rice Jr. is at least a B.

  4. Come on.
    Boston has to get an

    Come on.

    Boston has to get an A, That was split second rebuilding. They got 3 first round picks plus positioning for Wiggins.

    How are you giving New Orleans an A and the 76ers a B+??? Noel and a 2014 top 3 protected pick is an amazing haul for Jrue Holiday.

    Wizards picking up Glen Rice Jr. is at least a B.

  5. The Wizards deserve a higher
    The Wizards deserve a higher grade. Glen Rice, Jr. was a nice value in the second round and, despite his mechanics, Porter is one of the best catch-and-shoot players in this draft. If his mechanics were more traditional, I think people’s perceptions of Porter would be very different, even if he didn’t actually make more shots. Maybe his stroke will not translate to making NBA threes like he made college threes, but I think he should be able to adjust to the NBA three point line, especially given his prowess from the wings.

  6. The Wizards deserve a higher
    The Wizards deserve a higher grade. Glen Rice, Jr. was a nice value in the second round and, despite his mechanics, Porter is one of the best catch-and-shoot players in this draft. If his mechanics were more traditional, I think people’s perceptions of Porter would be very different, even if he didn’t actually make more shots. Maybe his stroke will not translate to making NBA threes like he made college threes, but I think he should be able to adjust to the NBA three point line, especially given his prowess from the wings.

  7. The grades were off in my
    The grades were off in my opinion but that’s fine, that’s your opinion. What bothered me is the analysis. Like for instance the Bobcats analysis…Mullen cannot play the 3, and MKG cannot play the 2, its just not happening they will lose every single game if those two play 30 minutes each at those positions. That’s a pipe dream and a half.

  8. The grades were off in my
    The grades were off in my opinion but that’s fine, that’s your opinion. What bothered me is the analysis. Like for instance the Bobcats analysis…Mullen cannot play the 3, and MKG cannot play the 2, its just not happening they will lose every single game if those two play 30 minutes each at those positions. That’s a pipe dream and a half.

  9. There are quite a few
    There are quite a few questionable grades on here. No way the Hawks deserve an “A-” for their picks. Schroeder is the only one that I like. The Brazilian center is at least a few years away from contributing and their second round selections were a complete waste. Muscala will never contribute for an NBA team and the team got rid of James Ennis who was one of the better second round selections and passed on guys like C.J. Leslie, Peyton Siva and Deshaun Thomas who could have come in and helped this team right away.

    The Lakers choice of Ryan Kelly can only be higher than an “F” if Dwight resigns which looks like it won’t happen. Kelly could eventually become a Ryan Anderson of sorts if he stays paired with Dwight but without him it is a complete wast of a draft pick.

    The Suns draft in no way gets an “A”. Alex Len is overrated in my book and Goodwin still needs a lot of work. They didn’t do anything to really make this team better in the short term and probably not even in the long-term.

    But then again these are opinionated grades and everyone has one. I won’t bash the writers on here because they do a pretty solid job considering how subjective most of the things they write about are.

  10. There are quite a few
    There are quite a few questionable grades on here. No way the Hawks deserve an “A-” for their picks. Schroeder is the only one that I like. The Brazilian center is at least a few years away from contributing and their second round selections were a complete waste. Muscala will never contribute for an NBA team and the team got rid of James Ennis who was one of the better second round selections and passed on guys like C.J. Leslie, Peyton Siva and Deshaun Thomas who could have come in and helped this team right away.

    The Lakers choice of Ryan Kelly can only be higher than an “F” if Dwight resigns which looks like it won’t happen. Kelly could eventually become a Ryan Anderson of sorts if he stays paired with Dwight but without him it is a complete wast of a draft pick.

    The Suns draft in no way gets an “A”. Alex Len is overrated in my book and Goodwin still needs a lot of work. They didn’t do anything to really make this team better in the short term and probably not even in the long-term.

    But then again these are opinionated grades and everyone has one. I won’t bash the writers on here because they do a pretty solid job considering how subjective most of the things they write about are.

  11. Pacers
    Giving the Pacers a C is being very generous. I graded them at a D+. Isaiah Canaan, Pierre Jackson, heck even undrafted Seth Curry would have been better options for our backcourt than Soloman Hill. Soloman Hill is Sam Young 2.0. I don’t get it. I was upset on draft night, I’m still upset. The Pacers better salvage the off season with a nice free agent signing or trade. Sigh…. just heard they extended offer to Tyler Hansbrough making him a restricted free agent. Can’t we do anything right???

  12. Pacers
    Giving the Pacers a C is being very generous. I graded them at a D+. Isaiah Canaan, Pierre Jackson, heck even undrafted Seth Curry would have been better options for our backcourt than Soloman Hill. Soloman Hill is Sam Young 2.0. I don’t get it. I was upset on draft night, I’m still upset. The Pacers better salvage the off season with a nice free agent signing or trade. Sigh…. just heard they extended offer to Tyler Hansbrough making him a restricted free agent. Can’t we do anything right???

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