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With the 2015 NBA Draft in the books, it’s time to take a look at which teams made the best and worst decisions on draft night.

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

 

Atlanta
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B-

Tim Hardaway, Jr. (acquired for Kelly Oubre)
#50 Marcus Eriksson
#59 Dimitrios Agravanis

Obviously, the big acquisition from this draft for the Hawks was Tim Hardaway, Jr., which was kind of an odd addition as his volume shooting style isn’t very Popovich-ian and doesn’t seem to gel with the Hawk’s current style of play. Plus, Kyle Korver is coming off a career year and seems to be The Guy on the wing, despite his age. Granted, as a team looking for help right away, with Hardaway, you know exactly what you’re going to get, and it’s very solid. He’s better than the average pick that you will get at 15, but you sacrifice the upside of some of the guys you could have selected at #15 (like Kelly Oubre). Beyond Hardaway, the Hawks took a couple of draft-and-stash Euro prospects with their late picks. These two weren’t even really on the radar for international prospects. Both appear to be mildly skilled, but fairly unathletic, and while the decision to take draft-and-stash prospects when the Hawks’ roster is pretty crowded makes sense, these two are both relatively unknown, so it’s hard to see either one even making it to the NBA. Very perplexing draft for the Hawks, and not a lot of potential for these acquisitions. The end result will probably be somewhere between “mediocre” and “bad”.

Boston
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis
B

#16 Terry Rozier
#28 RJ Hunter
#33 Jordan Mickey
#45 Marcus Thornton

It’s tough to be too critical of the Celtics when they made considerable effort to move up into the lottery. They supposedly offered 6 picks to the Hornets to move up to 9 to grab Winslow. Despite widely being criticized, they got an excellent player at 16 with Terry Rozier, a player who was universally undervalued but in reality has a lot of upside. The problem is he comes in to a team with a log jam at the guard position with Marcus Smart, Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley. We graded Rozier out as a lottery talent in the summer and though he had a rocky season at Louisville, he’s a natural leader. They then picked R.J. Hunter, a player known for his shooting. Hunter fell further than many expected, but in reality his stock was greatly exaggerated. He’s a fairly one-dimensional player who posted poor percentages last year in that one dimension. A lot of scouts graded him as a second rounder, due to strength and defensive shortcomings. It’s hard to imagine him ever becoming a starter unless he vastly improves his body and shot creating ability. But playing alongside a high level set up man, he can be effective offensively. At #33, they made a very sound choice with Jordan Mickey. He’s a great defender with length at the power forward position. Finally, the Celtics picked Marcus Thornton of William and Mary in the mid-second round, who possesses incredible leaping ability. Unfortunately for the Celtics, trading up seemed like the best option, but nothing came together. They did however find quality value with some of their picks.

Brooklyn
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis
B+

#23 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson,
#29 Chris McCullough,
#39 Jean Vaulet,
Steve Blake (acquired with #23 and #39 for Mason Plumlee and Pat Connaughton)

 

The big move of the night for Brooklyn was their trade centered around Mason Plumlee. They had been shopping Plumlee, who was stuck behind Brook Lopez. They got a player with a great deal of "role player potential". Hollis-Jefferson, an excellent young defender with a MKG-esque awkward jumpshot. He could potentially start someday, but his perimeter and mid-range shooting is abysmal right now. Not a bad pick up at #23, however. He can serve as a defensive specialist right away, but he may not see starter’s minutes. McCullough was also a good pick, a young, raw power forward with good size and agility (something the Nets lack at the 4), taken with their second first round pick. Vaulet isn’t a pick of much consequence, as he won’t see the NBA floor for a while while playing overseas. And Steve Blake is an aging veteran who will probably be in a battle just for the backup point guard position. Hollis-Jefferson has some upside as a stopper, but it could be a while before we see if this trade was a positive one or a negative one. These moves towards youth signal one thing, this team appears heading for a major overhaul, if they are able to move some of their exorbitant contracts, that is.
Charlotte
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

D
#9 Frank Kaminsky

Kaminsky was a questionable pick when you consider that Justise Winslow slipped to them and the team is still in need of high level talent to compete. Reports had surfaced that they were taking Kaminsky long before the draft began. Well, so much for staying flexible. Frank the Tank obviously wasn’t a popular pick, but at the very least, the Hornets add a super-tall, and accurate shooting stretch 4 to a team that was last in the league in 3-point shooting last season. We graded Kaminsky out as a mid to late first round value, and feel that he’s most likely a high level rotational big in the league. Drafting him at 9 only works out if he ends up being a high level starter. This team has one of the worst track records of drafting and also developing talent. On the bright side, Kaminsky is not a player in need of development. If Kaminsky’s strength and post game translate better than we expect to the NBA, this pick looks great; if not, it’s sure to go down as another in a long line of questionable picks.

Chicago
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis
A-

#22 Bobby Portis

Content to be patient and take the best player to fall to them with their lone pick at #22, the Bulls were rewarded with Bobby Portis, a versatile power forward who could’ve gone as many as 9 spots higher. He’s a long, smooth big man with a good face-up game and a respectable arsenal of post moves, and will likely be entrusted with starting duties once the ever-reliable Pau Gasol finally starts to lose a step. The Bulls have a good nucleus in place from last season, so they did well to just draft for talent, and Portis should be able to come in and contribute right away off the bench.

Cleveland
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B

#31 Cedi Osman
#36 Rakeem Christmas
#53 Sir'Dominic Pointer

The Cavs traded out of the first round to get two picks in the second, and they made the most out of their modest selections. Osman went first, and he’s one of the most polished international players available. He’ll have a chance to come over and be a really skilled scoring threat at the small forward position. The Cavs then selected Rakeem Christmas, who only fell so far because of his age (at 6’10, he’s shorter than the prototypical center, but his 7’5” wingspan surely negates that). He dominated other prospects in 5-on-5 workouts at the combine, and really began to come into his own last season, as a senior at Syracuse. I think he has more developing left, and despite being a second rounder, could have starter potential as an NBA player. He doesn’t need to touch the ball a lot, and should be a great value pick who can take over for some of Cleveland’s aging backup big men. Finally, the Cavs made a surprise late selection in Sir’Dominic Pointer out of St. John’s. He was a good scorer in college but his lack of outside shooting may not be the best complement to Lebron James, who usually is at his best when surrounded by good perimeter shooters. Pointer has an NBA body and could develop into a solid bench scorer. All in all, an underrated trio of selections by the defending runner-ups, who already have a lot of talent in place.
Dallas
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B-
21. Justin Anderson,
52. Satnam Singh Bhamara

As the Dirk Nowitzki era in Dallas is slowly coming to a close, the Mavericks are looking for pieces that will help them remain competitive. These will more than likely come in Free Agency as opposed to the draft, as they still seem to be players in the LaMarcus Aldridge sweepstakes. What they did get at 21 is a standout athlete in Justin Anderson, and a player who improved his shooting greatly. He lacks ideal ball skills to step right in to replace say, a Monta Ellis, but could be a nice option for when Chandler Parsons needs a breather. Satnam Singh Bhamara, on the other hand, is no where near NBA ready but could provide the team some quality international marketing. It is certainly fantastic that he is the first player drafted from India after training at IMG Academy. He’s a real longshot, but at 52 the odds of striking gold are very slim anyway.

Denver
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

A
7. Emmanuel Mudiay,
57. Nikola Radicevic

The Nuggets took a very noticeable step backwards this season and look to be in full on rebuilding mode. With Ty Lawson well on his way out the door, the Nuggets now have a viable replacement for him. We have been extremely high on Mudiay, who will have a chance to get valuable minutes right away. He is a top notch athlete, who missed time while with China’s Guangdong Tigers due to a severe ankle sprain. He will probably have the benefit of making some mistakes and having some of the pressure taken off of him with a rebuilding team, not to mention a potential chip on his shoulder after slipping to 7. Radicevic was the third player drafted from Spain’s Cajasol Sevilla, a teammate of Kristaps Porzingis and Guillermo Hernangomez. The Serbian is a combo guard with good size, though much like Mudiay he needs to work on his consistency as a shooter. While he definitely does not possess Mudiay’s athleticism and will likely need some work to get to NBA level on the defensive side of the ball, there is a chance he could turn into a back-up with more time in Europe. The team was said to be very high on Mario Hezonja, and apparently would have preferred him to Mudiay. But they may have had the top talent in the draft fall into their laps at 7.

Detroit
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B+

#8 Stanley Johnson
#38 Darrun Hilliard

The scuttlebutt we were hearing was that Stanley Johnson was the Pistons’ guy heading into the draft. They proved it by taking him, even though highly rated fellow small forward Justise Winslow was on the board. Both guys are tough, versatile defenders who are also aggressive on the offensive end, but Winslow helped lead his team to a National Championship. Ultimately, Johnson could end up the better small forward in 5 years, but the consensus is that Winslow is better. Johnson is a hard-nosed versatile defender and he should be able to make a positive impact for Detroit and should become the long-term solution at small forward, where Tayshaun Prince, is beyond ready to pass the torch. At 38, the Pistons made one of the more surprising selections of the draft, taking Darrun Hilliard of Villanova, who was safely flying below the radar. Hilliard isn’t the most explosive or flashy wing player, but he’s got good size, good defensive versatility, and a solid shooting stroke.
Golden State
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis


B+
30. Kevon Looney

[An E40 style Warriors offseason recap: Did they pass up the best value in Looney? Nope. Do they have to trade away David Lee? Yup. Can Looney come in and contribute right away? Nope. Will fans eventually cheer his name in the Bay? Yup. Should they let Draymond walk in free agency? Nope. See if they can win again with their Big 3? Yup]…. When you are as deep a team as the reigning NBA Champions, you might as well roll the dice and take a gamble with your lone draft pick. Looney’s stock took a major hit, as some worried about his energy, his asthma condition and rumors that a hip injury could cost him time this season. Well, players have still had successful careers with asthma and Looney unquestionably brings energy as a rebounder, always a good sign. He absolutely needs to add weight to his frame and the hip injury will need to be monitored; it just is not easy to find a player with Looney’s absurd combination of length and skills at the 30th pick. There are many teams in which Looney might have been destined to become a “tweener”. On the Warriors, he will have a chance to fit into their “positionless” basketball with some work on his skill set and body. This seems like a very worthwhile bet by GM Bob Myers. The Warriors will likely look to move David Lee this offseason, however credit them for being patient about it as teams are sure to see more value in him after they strike out in free agency.

Houston
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

A-
18. Sam Dekker,
32. Montrezl Harrell
The Rockets have been all about drafting value over need, which definitely seemed to be the strategy when drafting Dekker and Harrell. Dekker was a tournament darling for NCAA Tournament Runner-Up, who grew to near power forward size while still possessing a perimeter skill set. He is a solid athlete, though will likely have a difficult time getting to the basket at the NBA level. Even as a streaky shooter, Dekker still has some potential to become a solid role player who could even play next to Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer at times. In Harrell, the Rockets get more depth at PF, along with a boost in intensity and athleticism. He should at least push some players as a back-up and has some major length along with above the rim ability. They will be hoping Harrell can harness this into becoming an energy defender and rebounder. They decided to pass on a point guard, which was a desire of James Harden. However, with the likely addition of ACB MVP Sergio Llull to the roster next year, the Rockets added some depth in a pair of juniors who should push to play.
Indiana
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B
#11 Myles Turner
#43 Joseph Young
In my opinion, Myles Turner is a High Reward, Not-Particularly-High-Risk player that the Pacers took at 11. He began to show some real flashes as an 18-year-old freshman near the end of last season. He’s already got a great combination of size and shooting, so whether or not his running form is corrected, he could be a real contributor for the Pacers. If Roy Hibbert is traded, I think the Pacers should feel good about Turner as the long-term successor. If Hibbert stays, Turner can likely come off the bench as he develops, and also play alongside Hibbert some at power forward. He has some real upside here, which could really make the Pacers’ young core dangerous. In the mid-second round, the Pacers took a talented, if undersized, shooting guard in Joseph Young. This guy put up all kinds of points against elite competition in college, and though he likely doesn’t have the size to make a career as a starting shooting guard, he could definitely find a spot as an instant-offense combo guard off the bench for the Pacers once Rodney Stuckey declines/moves on to another franchise. Solid draft for the Pacers after a disappointing, injury riddled year put them back in the lottery.
LA Clippers
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis


C
56. Branden Dawson

The Clippers entered the draft without a pick and ended it by buying the rights to Branden Dawson from the New Orleans Pelicans. A large portion of their bench have expiring contracts, which could mean Dawson has a chance to scrap for a roster spot. His specialty has always been rebounding; he has a great nose for the ball and is a strong, scrappy athlete. What limits his upside seems to be the lack of lateral quickness and shooting ability to play on the perimeter, with him being severely undersized as a PF. At this portion of the draft, you are good with getting a no frills energy player to push guys in practice, which definitely is Dawson’s forte.

LA Lakers
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B+
2. D'Angelo Russell,
27. Larry Nance Jr.,
34. Anthony Brown

It seemed that Jahlil Okafor was linked to the Lakers ever since the conclusion of the lottery. In the morning of draft day however, Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report broke the story that the Lakers were leaning towards taking Russell and loved his star potential, along with the possibility of landing a Free Agent big man, making him the likely choice. Russell brings ball skills and fantastic vision, while he can also turn into a deadly shooting threat. He can play either guard spot, which should help him mesh well with either Kobe or breakout rookie, Jordan Clarkson. Russell is certainly an exciting pick for the Lakers, who would have a higher grade if not for their later selections. Nance is a nice athlete with an NBA pedigree, though could have a tough time finding a real NBA position. (Particularly if he posts any more disparaging tweets about Kobe). He is viewed by most as the first round’s biggest reach. Brown is seen as a potential “3-and-D” wing. The Russell pick will be what is ultimately remembered and he should bring a lot of excitement back to Laker land.

Memphis
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

C+
25. Jarell Martin,
44. Andrew Harrison

Memphis had a promise in place and took Martin at 25. While he possesses some ball skills for a player his size, he has not shown much consistency as a shooter and lacks ideal power forward size. It seems that he will also have a really hard time defending NBA PF’s. With players with much more length than Martin on the board, it seems like the only thing that could be a stretch in Memphis is this pick. Later on, the Grizzlies traded Jon Leuer to the Phoenix Suns for the draft rights to Kentucky combo guard Andrew Harrison. Harrison certainly has size and some ball skills, but will have to answer questions regarding his speed, shooting and attitude. With a deep backcourt, he will have his work cut out as far as making the roster. Their ability to keep Marc Gasol in the fold will make or break the team’s offseason and overshadow their draft.

Miami
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

A
#10 Justise Winslow
#40 Josh Richardson
Things just seem to work out for some people (and teams). Pat Riley and the Heat didn’t earn this A grade through any display of scouting genius or maneuvering via trades. They simply pulled the trigger on a player that many assumed would be gone by their pick in Justise Winslow. It also helps when you have clueless teams such as Charlotte and Sacramento picking in front of you. Winslow didn’t drop from the 4-7 range to #10 because of any medical issue or poor combine result; the teams above Miami in some cases took other guys that they were dead-set on taking. And the Heat ended up with a player with one of the best upsides in this draft in Winslow, an ultra aggressive, super-athlete who, at age 19, has already succeeded at both the high school and college level. He could very well start from Day 1 and, though he doesn’t necessarily have a “superstar” type of game, he could succeed Dwyane Wade as the anchor of this team for the next ten years. Not bad for a #10 pick. In Round Two, the Heat took another safe prospect in Josh Richardson, a wing player who is good-but-not-great at scoring from any level. He’s got NBA size and put up good college numbers, so the Heat may have nabbed a future rotation player at pick #40. They could have used some more frontcourt depth, but Winslow and Richardson will certainly bolster the wings, especially if Wade doesn’t stay in Miami.
Milwaukee
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B-

#17 Rashad Vaughn,
Greivis Vasquez (acquired for future first rounder and #46)

Rashad Vaughn is a talented, young guard who rapidly climbed up draft boards in the days leading up to the draft. I like this pick, as Vaughn produced some nice numbers last season despite only being 18 (which he still is, making him one of the youngest players in this class). With some development, he could be a really nice shooting guard alongside Michael Carter-Williams. He certainly has some limitations, as far as his defense, and fitting into the team concept and making smart plays on offense, but he has a lot of growth left to do. After playing at a Mountain West school on the west coast, Vaughn is far from a household name, but I think the Bucks made a solid selection here. The Vasquez trade is a little more perplexing. Maybe Jason Kidd saw a little bit of himself in the versatile point guard, but he gave up entirely too much for a player who is very similar to his current point guard, Carter-Williams. Vasquez is who he has shown he is at this point in his career, so the loss of a first rounder and a second rounder is tough.
Minnesota
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis


A-
1. Karl-Anthony Towns,
24. Tyus Jones
Minnesota took the safe bet in Karl-Anthony Towns and at the very least should have a versatile and productive big man. Towns shooting ability and defense are both top notch, with a developing post game and great physical attributes for a center. He very well could thrive in a more wide open game and seems to be a fantastic complement to Minnesota’s young pieces. The Wolves also traded the 31st and 36th picks (Cedi Osman and Rakeem Christmas, respectively) to Cleveland for the draft rights to Minnesota raised Tyus Jones. The reigning Final Four Most Outstanding Player lacks ideal NBA physical attributes, but makes up for it with an excellent basketball mind. Minnesota spent a majority of the season without a back-up point guard, with explosively athletic Zach LaVine more suited off of the ball. As a longterm back up, Jones should make hometown fans happy and most important, make his teammates happy with his ability to play mistake free and control the flow of the game.
New Orleans
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

C+
None

The Pelicans traded the rights to 2nd round pick Branden Dawson to the LA Clippers for cash considerations and their 1st round pick to the Rockets in the deal to land Omer Asik. So, not too many big things happen for the Pelicans on Alvin Gentry’s first draft night as coach of the team. While they can definitely use some help on the wing, Asik seemed to give Davis the ability to thrive with a true big man to defend opposing team’s centers. They appear to be a team on the rise with one of the elite superstars of the NBA. They will just have to wait until free agency, trade or next year’s draft to build around him.

New York
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B
#4 Kristaps Porzingis,
#19 Jerian Grant,
#35 Guillermo Hernangomez

In regards to the Knicks’ draft, one thing is for sure: they certainly didn’t cave to the pressure of the fan base. The Kristaps Porzingis selection at #4 was widely unpopular among Knicks fans, but it was also expected as many had bumped Porzingis up to #4 on their draft boards by the time the draft rolled around. There are some who say that the Knicks need to win now and that still-somewhat-raw Porzingis is not a player who will help you do that as much as Justice Winslow or Emmanuel Mudiay will. Many fans may be afraid that he’s simply an Andrea Bargnani 2.0. But he’s already got incredible size and a stellar jumper, so he’ll be able to at least contribute something as a rotation player from the get-go, and he has a lot of skills you would find in a guard, not a 7’1” post player. Porzingis is a tremendously unique player and the Knicks certainly didn’t make a cautious move by taking him. Was it the best move? Perhaps not. But it was one with a lot of potential reward. They then traded Tim Hardaway to get the 19th pick, which they used to select Jerian Grant, one of the few point guards in this draft with real starter potential. So the Knicks could very well have picked up two long-term starters in this draft. And finally, they parlayed two future second round picks into Guillermo Hernangomez, a Spanish big man with NBA-ready strength and size, who will spend the next few years developing and hopefully return to team up with former Sevilla teammate Porzingis. Three solid picks for New York. The loss of Hardaway isn’t too huge, though he played harder than anyone on the team last year. You hate to lose that.

Oklahoma City
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B+

14. Cameron Payne,
48. Dakari Johnson
 

The Thunder will look for Cam Payne to ultimately add some stability to their backcourt. He’ll start off as a back-up who can even play some minutes alongside Russell Westbrook. Payne was a late bloomer who has a vast array of offensive skills at his disposal, all while fitting the mold of pass-first PG. This seems to be a very solid value pick for the Thunder. Payne has some upside to be a very nice contributor once he gets up to NBA game speed. Dakari Johnson will be added to the stable of young Thunder big men, which should give him time to get into shape and learn the ropes. He has some below the rim center skills and certainly some physical characteristics that you like in a true 5. Ideally, the Thunder would like to sign Enes Kanter to a reasonable extension, though they at least have some big bodies who can come and mix it up if an agreement cannot be reached. Overall, a solid draft for the Thunder, who will hopefully have health on their side this coming season.

Orlando
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis
B+

#5 Mario Hezonja
#51 Tyler Harvey

The Magic snagged a potential gem at #5. Hezonja is a big, skilled, confident (maybe overly) wing player who will complement Victor Oladipo nicely. It would have been nice to acquire some post defense, but there really weren’t any good defensive centers available in the mid-lottery range. Hezonja can come in and energize this team and help drastically improve their struggling offense. He hasn’t been tested against a lot of American players, but scouts are confident he has all the tools to excel in the NBA. Tyler Harvey, picked in the late second round, has considerably less upside, but produced more. In fact, he led the nation in scoring as a senior at Eastern Washington, so he knows how to put the ball in the hoop. His lack of NBA size or athleticism will make t a challenge for him at the next level, but he could carve out a niche on the Magic bench as an instant-offense kind of guy off the bench. Solid draft for the Magic.
Philadelphia
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis


B-

#3 Jahlil Okafor
#37 Richaun Holmes
#47 Arturas Gudaitis
#58 JP Tokoto
#60 Luka Mitrovic

One would think that this is the year that Sam Hinkie’s master plan finally starts coming together. After two straight years of blatantly tanking since the roster blow-up following the 2012-2013 season, the 76ers were going to go into next season with a healthy Nerlens Noel, a hopefully soon-to-be healthy Joel Embiid, and several rookies from all the draft picks recently acquired for this year’s draft, including the #3 selection, the fruits of a second year of being absolutely awful. D’Angelo Russell was supposed to be the guy, the solution to a gaping hole at point guard after the trade that got rid of Michael Carter-Williams. But Philadelphia had their heart’s broken and missed out on Russell as the Lakers changed their minds in the final hour. Jahlil Okafor is a player most teams would be thrilled to get at #3, but a guy who plays center and only center, and would in no way be able to see the floor simultaneously with Joel Embiid. But Hinkie appears to be intent on keeping Okafor, who some rate as the best player in this draft. With their other selections, they took the following guys: power forward Richaun Holmes, a late bloomer with length and athleticism, J.P. Tokoto, an athletic small forward who is a skilled defender, and two European draft-and-stash big men, Arturas Gudaitis and Luka Mitrovic. Meanwhile, it would appear that, unless someone with an average amount of basketball talent is added this offseason, they will begin the 2015-2016 season with a starting backcourt of Robert Covington and Ish Smith, perhaps the most underwhelming starting backcourt in NBA history. Depending on whether Philadelphia moves one of their bigs, this pick could look a lot better in the coming months. And ultimately, Okafor could overtake Embiid and Noel and become the cornerstone for this franchise, as he may be a more sure thing than either of those guys. A questionable draft for Philadelphia, who got some bad luck at the start, and were not able to get back on track as the night progressed.

Phoenix
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B+
13. Devin Booker

The Suns went from shooting 37.2% from 3-point range in 2013-14 to 34.1% this past season. Devin Booker projects as a shooting specialist at the very least, with potential to become a solid scoring guard. Booker was the youngest player drafted and is a dialed in distance shooter, with some ball skills and decent athleticism to go along with it. This was right around Booker’s draft range and he has the tools to be a nice value pick while helping the Suns with a need. They also traded the rights of 44th pick Andrew Harrison to the Memphis Grizzlies for Jon Leuer, which lands them a big man with some stretch capability. Not a bad night for the Suns.

Portland
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

C
Mason Plumlee
41. Pat Connaughton
54. Daniel Diez

This is shaping up to be a rough summer for the fans in Rip City. It started with the Blazers trading long time swingman Nicolas Batum to the Charlotte Hornets for Gerald Henderson and the talented, though unproven young PF, Noah Vonleh. That move only seems to be the beginning of the end of the Blazers core, with LaMarcus Aldridge likely to leave, Arron Afflalo opting out of his deal, along with the free agency of starters Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez. This may put the Blazers in position to land a smaller, big name Free Agent with their cap space, just not a lot of stability at this point in time for what will soon be the Damian Lillard show. With the 23rd pick, the Blazers drafted Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and then shipped him and Steve Blake to the Brooklyn Nets for Mason Plumlee and 41st pick Pat Connaughton. Plumlee should possibly ease the blow of losing Lopez, but he is more a bench grinder than a long term option. Connaughton is a really nice athlete who did a lot of the little things for Notre Dame, projected mostly as a spot-up shooter and bench energy option. Spaniard Daniel Diez was later acquired for cash considerations. Diez could ultimately contend for a roster spot, though the fact that he’s been compared to a "poor man’s Victor Claver" won’t exactly give the Rip City fan base a warm, fuzzy feeling. None of the additions creates a ton of hope, although both Plumlee and Connaughton are welcome additions to a roster in flux.

Sacramento
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

F
6. Willie Cauley-Stein

This was more than likely a Mock Draft buster for a vast majority of people playing the home game (making mocks). With word coming out regarding potential problems with his ankle stemming from a foot injury he sustained as a sophomore at Kentucky, many felt that Cauley-Stein would slip deeper into the lottery. The Kings were able to look past that, seeing his athleticism and versatility on defense. Cauley-Stein was a major defensive force, and should be disruptive on that end of the floor. His lack of offensive polish and questions regarding his focus and dedication are real concerns. The Kings are really hoping they have an unpolished gem and that Cauley-Stein can possibly team with fellow UK alum Boogie Cousins to make an imposing front court duo. In our view WCS is still a project with late lottery value and choosing him at 6 over Emmanuel Mudiay or wing options such as Justise Winslow and Stanley Johnson will ultimately come back to haunt the Kings. This appears to be a franchise in complete disarray, with a star player and coach battling for control. GM Vlade Divac has come out following the draft saying the team just didn’t have a good handle on Mudiay and didn’t feel comfortable enough to select him. Unfortunate, because one of their established former scouts Shareef Abdur-Rahim who last year pushed for Elfred Payton over Nik Stauskas, was let go by the team. Abdur-Rahim likely had a solid handle on Mudiay. C’est la vie.

San Antonio
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis


C+
26. Nikola Milutinov,
55. Cady Lalanne

The Spurs are the team everyone envies’ for their track record of mining International talent. The pick of Nikola Milutinov is seen as a surefire draft-and-stash, which given his size and athleticism, could pay off as a decent rotational big man down the road. While we don’t view Milutinov as a first round talent, second guess the Spurs at your own peril. The fact that he’s under the Spurs coaching umbrella gives him a much greater chance for success. With Milutinov staying over in Serbia, it keeps him off of the books and frees up a bit of cap space, which the Spurs may need when they make a run at big name free agent targets such as LaMarcus Aldridge and  Marc Gasol. Cady Lalanne is someone who stood out at the Portsmouth Invitational and could fight for a roster spot as the third back-up center. With Tim Duncan, Manu and TP all expected back for one more run, along with Kawhi Leonard, and a free agent acquisition, this draft strategy makes sense.

Toronto
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B
#20 Delon Wright
#46 Norman Powell

Delon Wright was a solid pick and a player we had rated in and around our top 20 all season. He’s essentially an inexperienced version of the player they gave away in Greivis Vasquez, only he comes cheaper and has more athleticism. In time he will become an adequate backup point guard to Kyle Lowry. Moving Vasquez and his contract was how they acquired the 46th pick. There they selected Norman Powell, a defensive oriented shooting guard who will also backup an established guard in DeMar Derozan. The trio of Lowry, DeRozan and combo guard Lou Williams will limit the minutes of these two, but both are solid Pac 12 prospects who produced in college and will likely become contributors at the next level. Decent value for the Raptors, although they traded away their veteran backup point guard for little in return, aside from cap space.

Utah
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

A-

12. Trey Lyles,
42. Olivier Hanlan

The Jazz were responsible for selecting the draft’s entire Canadian contingent and definitely gained themselves some fans north of the border. They used their lottery selection on talented Kentucky face-up 4 man Trey Lyles, who reminds us of former Jazz All-Star, Carlos Boozer. Even if Lyles does not get to Boozer in his prime’s level, his ability to put the ball on the floor and his shooting ability, along with prototypical PF size, makes him a valuable commodity. He struggled with consistency and mainly played out of position in Kentucky’s offense, but he should flourish at his more natural position in due time. If he does not become at least a competent starter, we would be surprised. At the 12th pick, that would make him a tremendous value selection. Hanlan should also have a real chance to earn a spot on the Jazz as an adept scorer with good size for a PG. He has a great change of speed and could really flourish in a more wide open game. If he gains some necessary weight to take the physical challenge the NBA provides, Hanlan could turn into a very solid back-up combo guard. They might not turn into the Canadian Stockton-Malone, but Lyles-Hanlan both could turn into really strong selections for GM Dennis Lindsey and a team on the rise.

Washington
Draft Grade
AdditionsAnalysis

B+

#15 Kelly Oubre
#49 Aaron White

Though they had to trade up to get him, the Wizards came away with a really enticing player in Kelly Oubre. His tremendous length and solid shooting ability give him great potential. Though he was inconsistent at Kansas, the kid is still only 19 and has plenty of time to put it all together. If he reaches his potential, a long-term perimeter of John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Oubre is a long and scary one that will really tear up opposing defenses. Oubre ill take some time, but he’s certainly worth the risk. In the second round, the Wizards took Aaron White of Iowa, a decidedly less exciting prospect. He provides versatility and a high basketball IQ, make him an ideal stretch 4 off the bench who also provides solid rebounding and team play. He may not have the strength and athleticism to thrive, but his ability to score in a variety of ways will create an opportunity for him.

 

 

 

 

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166 Comments

  1. Draft Grades

    As usual, NBADraft.net has an exceptional level of analysis but some grades and/or comments are perplexing to me. Or maybe I just disagree?

    1. Why didn’t the Lakers get an "A" for drafting DAngelo Russell who’s probably the closest we’ll ever get to seeing Magic ver 2.0 on the court? He appears to be one of those guys with the "it" factor and will quickly become a very unique player. I don’t care about the rest of the players LA selected, Russell is the first step in turning around the franchise in the right direction, and it was a big step.

    2. How could they possibly grade Charlotte with a "D" after saying the following, "If Kaminsky’s strength and post game translate better than we expect to the NBA, this pick looks great, if not, it’s sure to go down as another in a long line of questionable picks.

    The analysis is claiming this is a terrible choice (fair enough), but if we’re wrong, it could turn out to be a great choice. How does that equate to a "D"? I would think B- or C+ when you average out the two widely diverse opinions of Kamminsky.

    3. I think the grade of B for the Knicks was fair. They drafted a potential superstar/bust while getting immediate help from a pro ready PG in Jerian Grant. I never saw GH play but it sounds as if they think he will eventually become a decent back up in the center position. I like what they did.

    Do other guys think Jackson went in the right direction (big risk) or do they think he should’ve concentrated on a player who was NBA ready from day one with the 4th choice?

     

     

     

     

     

    • I think that what happened is

       I think that what happened is that the creation of the draft grades is a team effort, and somewhere between the write-up and the actual selection of of Kaminsky, there was a disconnect among the team and so not all 30 write-ups will exactly match their draft grades.  Similar situation with the Hawks and 76ers grades.

      And as far as the Russell selection, when you take him over a guy like Okafor, who is generally considered the higher-rated prospect at a position the Lakers could certainly use help at, it’s hard to give the pick an A as it is a gamble.

  2. Draft Grades

    As usual, NBADraft.net has an exceptional level of analysis but some grades and/or comments are perplexing to me. Or maybe I just disagree?

    1. Why didn’t the Lakers get an "A" for drafting DAngelo Russell who’s probably the closest we’ll ever get to seeing Magic ver 2.0 on the court? He appears to be one of those guys with the "it" factor and will quickly become a very unique player. I don’t care about the rest of the players LA selected, Russell is the first step in turning around the franchise in the right direction, and it was a big step.

    2. How could they possibly grade Charlotte with a "D" after saying the following, "If Kaminsky’s strength and post game translate better than we expect to the NBA, this pick looks great, if not, it’s sure to go down as another in a long line of questionable picks.

    The analysis is claiming this is a terrible choice (fair enough), but if we’re wrong, it could turn out to be a great choice. How does that equate to a "D"? I would think B- or C+ when you average out the two widely diverse opinions of Kamminsky.

    3. I think the grade of B for the Knicks was fair. They drafted a potential superstar/bust while getting immediate help from a pro ready PG in Jerian Grant. I never saw GH play but it sounds as if they think he will eventually become a decent back up in the center position. I like what they did.

    Do other guys think Jackson went in the right direction (big risk) or do they think he should’ve concentrated on a player who was NBA ready from day one with the 4th choice?

     

     

     

     

     

    • I think that what happened is

       I think that what happened is that the creation of the draft grades is a team effort, and somewhere between the write-up and the actual selection of of Kaminsky, there was a disconnect among the team and so not all 30 write-ups will exactly match their draft grades.  Similar situation with the Hawks and 76ers grades.

      And as far as the Russell selection, when you take him over a guy like Okafor, who is generally considered the higher-rated prospect at a position the Lakers could certainly use help at, it’s hard to give the pick an A as it is a gamble.

  3. Responding to TrillGrandpa

    TillGrandpa, thanks for you input. I thought most of what you said is pretty good. However, I disagree with your Russell comment, whom I think is a sure fire star in waiting. That’s why the Lakers drafted him at number 2.

    • I agree w/ Grand pa 100%

       Even if you LOVE Russell he is a Gamble – a BIG gamble… Personally I did Not like him at all & I don;t think phila EVER intended to Draft him… Phila has the "Guru" of analytics leading their franchise in Sam Hinkie (He was probably the ONLY guy who would have taken that job after Doug Collins BLEW up that eam on a Biblical level of destruction, they did NOT even have Draft picks when Collins snuck away just TWO short years ago..) Anyway, I am SURE they ran Mathematical models prior to the Draft Lottery in May & EVERY model I saw had the Sixers w/ ONLY their OWN pick (they had a chance to get the Lottery picks of BOTH the Heat & Lakers which they’ll now most likely get next year) & they showed an 80 + % chance that Phila would get the # 4 pick… So if you are a team like Phila that is OBSESSED w/ Analytics & Statistics & Advanced Mathematical Models & they leave NOTHING to chance AND they are the MOST disciplined (or paranoid) franchise regarding Leaks – who is that after ELEVEN months of stone SILENCE, they suddenly begin to leak to certain Local & National media members that they LOVE DeAngelo Russell… One year ago Russell was NOT even expected to be a "one & done" guy & Mudiay was Light years ahead of him… By the Tourney Russell was about even w/ Mudiay but after Hollis – Jefferson of Arizona SHUT Russell down in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tounrey his stock began to cool again… Suddenly when word got out 6 weeks before the Draft & 2 weeks before the Lottery Russell’s stock began to Skyrocket… I was reading speculation last October & November that privately Phila was very down on MCW long term & that they loved Mudiay – who scouts saw as a Bigger John Wall. I read that Phila would practically give MCW away for NOTHING so they would lose more &also be in a position to grab Mudiay (they ended up getting a likely Laker’s Lottery pick in 2016 or 2017)… So let’s think about this, Mudiay was expected to be the # 2 pick AFTER Okafor 6 months ago. Phila helps to create buzz over Russell b/c they believe they will pick # 4 so Mudiay will FALL to them at # 4… Then they get the # 3 pick (which is Rare that the 3rd worst team actually gets the 3rd pick) & then Jahlil Okafor falls to them in the Draft… They were THRILLED! Okafor has Boogie Cousins skill set but with NONE of the baggage & tons of leadership… So for the THIRD year in a row, Phila gets their hands on Potentially the BEST prospect in the Draft…. Noel is CLEARLY the best player from 2013 & after a Very UNSPECTACULAR performace from the 2014 class (Wiggins had a DECENT year, not great & NO ONE else did ANYTHING) it’s VERY likely Embiid will end up w/ the same designation… Okafor is a Beast & I’m shocked Phila got him… Russell is a 6′ 3 &1/4" (look it up) combo guard who is a good not great shooter (44% FG%) w/ NO first step, so he can NOT create his own shot & he plays ZERO defense which means EVERY guard in the Loaded WEST will blow by him like he’s a turnstile…. Russell is NO Steph Curry & he is No Way Near Magic… I give Phila an "A" (you don’t draft for need in the TOP 5) & I give L.A. a C… 

      I give Boston an F… They loved Willie Cauley Stein & DESPERATELY tried to trade into the top 10 to get him… They had TWO assets to trade (Rajon Rondo & Jeff Green). They could have grabbed future Draft Choices & finished w/ under 30 wins & they would have picked where Sacremento & Denver were… Instead they pick up Jae Crowder & PG Isaiah Thomas (which DESTROYED the Value of 2014 # 6 pick Marcus Smart) to join Evan Turner & Boston becomes the 2012 Philadelphia 76ers. They make the # 7 seed – get BLOWN out in 4 games. Every media outlet kisses their rear end but they effectively cemented themselves into a 7 year run of mediocrity… Then in the 2015 Draft – even though just ONE year earlier they took excellent prospect Marcus Smart at # 6 OVERALL & they foolishly traded for PG Isaiah Thomas (who is SO highly regarded that he’s been on 4 teams in less than ONE year) , they draft ANOTHER point guard: a 6 foot pg from Louiseville who is not even close to the Prospect that the 6’5” Smart is… And then they take ONE dimensional combo guard Hunter – who is thin AND slow…. And Sam Dekker was sitting there for them at # 16… this franchise is LOST….

      Sacremento I actually like their pick of Willie Cauley Stein when you look a bit deeper… WCS is a VERY close friend of Cousins which really shows Cousins that they are committed to him. I KNOW Mudiay is a CAN’T miss future star but the ONLY other player w/ WCS’s skill set is Nerlens Noel (a legit 7 footer that is SUCH an athletic freak that he can guard ANY player on the floor & he DESTROYS pick & rolls)…. WCS will block shots like a fiend in "on ball" AND "off ball" defense so their fornt line – very much like Phila’s will be DOMINANT… You can’t have a Star at EVERY position & when you have a super star Center, you can find a guard – maybe Not w/ Mudiay’s skill set but 7 foot Big men w/ cat like athleticism & explosive leaping ability don’t come along often…. I give Sacremetno an A – they let Mudiay (a rare talent) slip by but they Got a rare talent & their Front Line will Dominate small Western teams…And Winslow – who was listed at 6’7” – is 6’4” & much like Russell, he has qualities I like A lot but they are NOT rare qualities – there are MANY guys in the NBA that fit that mold….

      Finally I give Denver an A- …. At first they looked similar to Boston. Denver has Ty Lawson & in the 2014 Draft they acquired Gary Harris, a highly regarded PG – though NOT as highly regarded as Marcus Smart – prospect… So on the surface taking Mudiay didn’t make sense… But Lawson was on the trade block (how amazing was it that Denever would have taken ANY 1st round pick for Lawson & got ZERO takers but Philly gets a Lottery pick for MCW who is NOWHERE near the player Lawson is) & Gary Harris is NOWHERE near the prospect Mudiay is…. Many experts believed that L.A. would STILL take Mudiay # 2 right up until the Draft… So much like the Sixers, Denver HAD to take Mudiay – he is just THAT good… He is a Franchise player…

      When a team Drafts in the TOP 5 of the Lottery they are Hoping to acquire a Star. And we define stars in the NBA really one way – can this kid COMMAND a DOUBLE Team??? Can he get on the block & FORCE a team to double or Can he BEAT any man off the dribble w/ a quick 1st step & FORCE help defense… There were ONLY 2 players in the 2015 Draft that fit That category – Jahlil Okafor & Emmanuel Mudiay… Over time Karl Anthony Towns will probably be added to that list & perhaps Kristaps Porzingus as well…. Time will tell…. Please forgive me for the Lengthy post…

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

  4. Responding to TrillGrandpa

    TillGrandpa, thanks for you input. I thought most of what you said is pretty good. However, I disagree with your Russell comment, whom I think is a sure fire star in waiting. That’s why the Lakers drafted him at number 2.

    • I agree w/ Grand pa 100%

       Even if you LOVE Russell he is a Gamble – a BIG gamble… Personally I did Not like him at all & I don;t think phila EVER intended to Draft him… Phila has the "Guru" of analytics leading their franchise in Sam Hinkie (He was probably the ONLY guy who would have taken that job after Doug Collins BLEW up that eam on a Biblical level of destruction, they did NOT even have Draft picks when Collins snuck away just TWO short years ago..) Anyway, I am SURE they ran Mathematical models prior to the Draft Lottery in May & EVERY model I saw had the Sixers w/ ONLY their OWN pick (they had a chance to get the Lottery picks of BOTH the Heat & Lakers which they’ll now most likely get next year) & they showed an 80 + % chance that Phila would get the # 4 pick… So if you are a team like Phila that is OBSESSED w/ Analytics & Statistics & Advanced Mathematical Models & they leave NOTHING to chance AND they are the MOST disciplined (or paranoid) franchise regarding Leaks – who is that after ELEVEN months of stone SILENCE, they suddenly begin to leak to certain Local & National media members that they LOVE DeAngelo Russell… One year ago Russell was NOT even expected to be a "one & done" guy & Mudiay was Light years ahead of him… By the Tourney Russell was about even w/ Mudiay but after Hollis – Jefferson of Arizona SHUT Russell down in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tounrey his stock began to cool again… Suddenly when word got out 6 weeks before the Draft & 2 weeks before the Lottery Russell’s stock began to Skyrocket… I was reading speculation last October & November that privately Phila was very down on MCW long term & that they loved Mudiay – who scouts saw as a Bigger John Wall. I read that Phila would practically give MCW away for NOTHING so they would lose more &also be in a position to grab Mudiay (they ended up getting a likely Laker’s Lottery pick in 2016 or 2017)… So let’s think about this, Mudiay was expected to be the # 2 pick AFTER Okafor 6 months ago. Phila helps to create buzz over Russell b/c they believe they will pick # 4 so Mudiay will FALL to them at # 4… Then they get the # 3 pick (which is Rare that the 3rd worst team actually gets the 3rd pick) & then Jahlil Okafor falls to them in the Draft… They were THRILLED! Okafor has Boogie Cousins skill set but with NONE of the baggage & tons of leadership… So for the THIRD year in a row, Phila gets their hands on Potentially the BEST prospect in the Draft…. Noel is CLEARLY the best player from 2013 & after a Very UNSPECTACULAR performace from the 2014 class (Wiggins had a DECENT year, not great & NO ONE else did ANYTHING) it’s VERY likely Embiid will end up w/ the same designation… Okafor is a Beast & I’m shocked Phila got him… Russell is a 6′ 3 &1/4" (look it up) combo guard who is a good not great shooter (44% FG%) w/ NO first step, so he can NOT create his own shot & he plays ZERO defense which means EVERY guard in the Loaded WEST will blow by him like he’s a turnstile…. Russell is NO Steph Curry & he is No Way Near Magic… I give Phila an "A" (you don’t draft for need in the TOP 5) & I give L.A. a C… 

      I give Boston an F… They loved Willie Cauley Stein & DESPERATELY tried to trade into the top 10 to get him… They had TWO assets to trade (Rajon Rondo & Jeff Green). They could have grabbed future Draft Choices & finished w/ under 30 wins & they would have picked where Sacremento & Denver were… Instead they pick up Jae Crowder & PG Isaiah Thomas (which DESTROYED the Value of 2014 # 6 pick Marcus Smart) to join Evan Turner & Boston becomes the 2012 Philadelphia 76ers. They make the # 7 seed – get BLOWN out in 4 games. Every media outlet kisses their rear end but they effectively cemented themselves into a 7 year run of mediocrity… Then in the 2015 Draft – even though just ONE year earlier they took excellent prospect Marcus Smart at # 6 OVERALL & they foolishly traded for PG Isaiah Thomas (who is SO highly regarded that he’s been on 4 teams in less than ONE year) , they draft ANOTHER point guard: a 6 foot pg from Louiseville who is not even close to the Prospect that the 6’5” Smart is… And then they take ONE dimensional combo guard Hunter – who is thin AND slow…. And Sam Dekker was sitting there for them at # 16… this franchise is LOST….

      Sacremento I actually like their pick of Willie Cauley Stein when you look a bit deeper… WCS is a VERY close friend of Cousins which really shows Cousins that they are committed to him. I KNOW Mudiay is a CAN’T miss future star but the ONLY other player w/ WCS’s skill set is Nerlens Noel (a legit 7 footer that is SUCH an athletic freak that he can guard ANY player on the floor & he DESTROYS pick & rolls)…. WCS will block shots like a fiend in "on ball" AND "off ball" defense so their fornt line – very much like Phila’s will be DOMINANT… You can’t have a Star at EVERY position & when you have a super star Center, you can find a guard – maybe Not w/ Mudiay’s skill set but 7 foot Big men w/ cat like athleticism & explosive leaping ability don’t come along often…. I give Sacremetno an A – they let Mudiay (a rare talent) slip by but they Got a rare talent & their Front Line will Dominate small Western teams…And Winslow – who was listed at 6’7” – is 6’4” & much like Russell, he has qualities I like A lot but they are NOT rare qualities – there are MANY guys in the NBA that fit that mold….

      Finally I give Denver an A- …. At first they looked similar to Boston. Denver has Ty Lawson & in the 2014 Draft they acquired Gary Harris, a highly regarded PG – though NOT as highly regarded as Marcus Smart – prospect… So on the surface taking Mudiay didn’t make sense… But Lawson was on the trade block (how amazing was it that Denever would have taken ANY 1st round pick for Lawson & got ZERO takers but Philly gets a Lottery pick for MCW who is NOWHERE near the player Lawson is) & Gary Harris is NOWHERE near the prospect Mudiay is…. Many experts believed that L.A. would STILL take Mudiay # 2 right up until the Draft… So much like the Sixers, Denver HAD to take Mudiay – he is just THAT good… He is a Franchise player…

      When a team Drafts in the TOP 5 of the Lottery they are Hoping to acquire a Star. And we define stars in the NBA really one way – can this kid COMMAND a DOUBLE Team??? Can he get on the block & FORCE a team to double or Can he BEAT any man off the dribble w/ a quick 1st step & FORCE help defense… There were ONLY 2 players in the 2015 Draft that fit That category – Jahlil Okafor & Emmanuel Mudiay… Over time Karl Anthony Towns will probably be added to that list & perhaps Kristaps Porzingus as well…. Time will tell…. Please forgive me for the Lengthy post…

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

  5. Warriors

     The Warriors analysis is spot on. 

    Response to  rtbt

    1. Lakers did not get an A because they are analyzing the draft class as a whole. Despite the great Russell pick, Larry Nance pick was a large reach so thaat drops their grade a bit.

    2. Charlotte passed On Justice Winslow who has more potential at the NBA level then Kaminsky I agree that it is not a completely awful pick maybe deserved a C.

    Overall the grades here are very solid and accurate

    • Lakers Draft ?

      Reptilian Monkey made two good points but I have a different take on the Laker’s choice.

      Do you think anyone cares or remembers who else the Lakers took in 1979 when they drafted Magic? Of course not, that was regarded as one of the great draft choices in NBA history solely because the chose the greatest PG in NBA history. I’m not claiming Russell is the 2nd coming of Magic, but he might be close. 

      Therefore RM, 3-5 years from now, and assuming D. Russsell is as good as projected, nobody will remember nor care who else was selected by the Lakers in 2015.

       

       

  6. Warriors

     The Warriors analysis is spot on. 

    Response to  rtbt

    1. Lakers did not get an A because they are analyzing the draft class as a whole. Despite the great Russell pick, Larry Nance pick was a large reach so thaat drops their grade a bit.

    2. Charlotte passed On Justice Winslow who has more potential at the NBA level then Kaminsky I agree that it is not a completely awful pick maybe deserved a C.

    Overall the grades here are very solid and accurate

    • Lakers Draft ?

      Reptilian Monkey made two good points but I have a different take on the Laker’s choice.

      Do you think anyone cares or remembers who else the Lakers took in 1979 when they drafted Magic? Of course not, that was regarded as one of the great draft choices in NBA history solely because the chose the greatest PG in NBA history. I’m not claiming Russell is the 2nd coming of Magic, but he might be close. 

      Therefore RM, 3-5 years from now, and assuming D. Russsell is as good as projected, nobody will remember nor care who else was selected by the Lakers in 2015.

       

       

  7. I think the Knicks deserve an

     I think the Knicks deserve an A. As far as building a team and acquiring players with upside that fit what they are building the Knicks did an excellent job. Hard a way was a part of the problem in New York last year not the solution so to trade him for Grant was a solid deal. 

    Hernangomez may end up just as good as any other big in this draft. He is Spain’s best prospect at this time and to call him a prospect is a mockery. He is one of the best bigs in what’s widely regarded the 2nd best league in the world.

     

  8. I think the Knicks deserve an

     I think the Knicks deserve an A. As far as building a team and acquiring players with upside that fit what they are building the Knicks did an excellent job. Hard a way was a part of the problem in New York last year not the solution so to trade him for Grant was a solid deal. 

    Hernangomez may end up just as good as any other big in this draft. He is Spain’s best prospect at this time and to call him a prospect is a mockery. He is one of the best bigs in what’s widely regarded the 2nd best league in the world.

     

  9. draft grades

    Huge Spurs fan posting here, but will try to be objective. Not too much excitement for me this draft. Think the grade is fair. Spurs did what they strategized to do, take the best foreign prospect on the board at their pick to avoid using up cap space. Probably could have traded into the second to do that is my only thought. If this strategy helps them land a big free agent it will be considered a good draft, if not then they missed the chance to get a rotational player for the bench to replace likely losses of Belenelli, Joseph and possibly Green.  I do appreciate this site evaluating the Spurs picks and giving an opinion. Overall the Spurs front office has done a great job in finding value in the draft, but its not a situation where all the picks they make work out. Some of the other sites see to give the Spurs A or B+ each year regardless of the pick just to play it safe in case the pick pans out. Kyle Anderson, last years pick has been underwhelmng and looks to slow to be productive, and James Anderson came with some hype but did not work out. Ginobili and Parker were drafted in 1999 & 2001, so its been ahwile since they drafted a foreign player that has starred. Overall I trust the Spurs front office, but  recognize while they have made some great decisions that not everything will work. 

    somne of the others that stood out

    I think the Hawks grade was generous. Especially in light of the analysis they gave think it should have been no higher than a C.

    Sixers were in a tough spot. They really needed Russell, but after he was off the board, I would have taken Okafor as well. If your picking in the late lottery maybe you look for a need, but that high up I still think you take the best player available. Nerlens Noel is a solid player but dont think he will ever be a star. Okafor has that potential I believe. If Imbiid comes back and plays well, they will obviously need to trade either Okafor or Imbiid. I would give them a B+.

    Would give the Knicks a B+ or A-. I like that they stuck to their draft board and took Porzingis,regardless of popular opinion. Just as Philly I cant fault them for the picks that went ahead of them, and of the options on the board they took the one with the most upside. I am sure Knicks fans wanted Winslow. He should be a really good NBA player. I dont think he pushes the Knicks towards the top of the conference. Think the Knicks went for the home run or strike out prospect rather than the safe pick and I am not going to fault them for that. Like there other two picks a lot. 

    Cant stand the Lakers but I would have given them an A as well. Like the Russell pick a lot and Anthony Brown is a great shooter, and in the second round was good value. Nance might be a little bit of a reach but if they had taken Brown in the first nd Nace in the second I wouldnt have thought twice, so I am not going to knock them for that. 

    Cleveland, would have given them a C+ as well. Think they could have kept Tyus Jones or taken RJ Hunter.

    Im no expert , just my initial reactions to the draft as a fan of the NBA. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

      

  10. draft grades

    Huge Spurs fan posting here, but will try to be objective. Not too much excitement for me this draft. Think the grade is fair. Spurs did what they strategized to do, take the best foreign prospect on the board at their pick to avoid using up cap space. Probably could have traded into the second to do that is my only thought. If this strategy helps them land a big free agent it will be considered a good draft, if not then they missed the chance to get a rotational player for the bench to replace likely losses of Belenelli, Joseph and possibly Green.  I do appreciate this site evaluating the Spurs picks and giving an opinion. Overall the Spurs front office has done a great job in finding value in the draft, but its not a situation where all the picks they make work out. Some of the other sites see to give the Spurs A or B+ each year regardless of the pick just to play it safe in case the pick pans out. Kyle Anderson, last years pick has been underwhelmng and looks to slow to be productive, and James Anderson came with some hype but did not work out. Ginobili and Parker were drafted in 1999 & 2001, so its been ahwile since they drafted a foreign player that has starred. Overall I trust the Spurs front office, but  recognize while they have made some great decisions that not everything will work. 

    somne of the others that stood out

    I think the Hawks grade was generous. Especially in light of the analysis they gave think it should have been no higher than a C.

    Sixers were in a tough spot. They really needed Russell, but after he was off the board, I would have taken Okafor as well. If your picking in the late lottery maybe you look for a need, but that high up I still think you take the best player available. Nerlens Noel is a solid player but dont think he will ever be a star. Okafor has that potential I believe. If Imbiid comes back and plays well, they will obviously need to trade either Okafor or Imbiid. I would give them a B+.

    Would give the Knicks a B+ or A-. I like that they stuck to their draft board and took Porzingis,regardless of popular opinion. Just as Philly I cant fault them for the picks that went ahead of them, and of the options on the board they took the one with the most upside. I am sure Knicks fans wanted Winslow. He should be a really good NBA player. I dont think he pushes the Knicks towards the top of the conference. Think the Knicks went for the home run or strike out prospect rather than the safe pick and I am not going to fault them for that. Like there other two picks a lot. 

    Cant stand the Lakers but I would have given them an A as well. Like the Russell pick a lot and Anthony Brown is a great shooter, and in the second round was good value. Nance might be a little bit of a reach but if they had taken Brown in the first nd Nace in the second I wouldnt have thought twice, so I am not going to knock them for that. 

    Cleveland, would have given them a C+ as well. Think they could have kept Tyus Jones or taken RJ Hunter.

    Im no expert , just my initial reactions to the draft as a fan of the NBA. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

      

  11. Y’all need to change those logos….

     you guys have super old logos for a quarter of the teams. Specifically, to name a few, the Warriors, 76ers, and Wizards. Get up to date!!!

  12. Y’all need to change those logos….

     you guys have super old logos for a quarter of the teams. Specifically, to name a few, the Warriors, 76ers, and Wizards. Get up to date!!!

  13. I think maybe the Hornets D
    I think maybe the Hornets D was a little harsh since Detroit got a B+. Both teams passed on Winslow but is Stanley Johnson really going to be much better than Kaminsky ?

    The Hornets on the Kaminsky pick. Yes, they did really need to improve their 3 point shooting. A lot of ppl had them choosing Devin Booker, but Booker is still quite raw while Kamisky is a senior and more NBA ready than Booker. If Charlotte want to get back into the playoffs, Kaminsky can prob contribute a lot more earlier than Booker. I don’t know if Kaminsky will be an NBA starter but should be a 6th or 7th man Ryan Anderson style….

  14. I think maybe the Hornets D
    I think maybe the Hornets D was a little harsh since Detroit got a B+. Both teams passed on Winslow but is Stanley Johnson really going to be much better than Kaminsky ?

    The Hornets on the Kaminsky pick. Yes, they did really need to improve their 3 point shooting. A lot of ppl had them choosing Devin Booker, but Booker is still quite raw while Kamisky is a senior and more NBA ready than Booker. If Charlotte want to get back into the playoffs, Kaminsky can prob contribute a lot more earlier than Booker. I don’t know if Kaminsky will be an NBA starter but should be a 6th or 7th man Ryan Anderson style….

  15. Hawks should get a D.
    Hawks should get a D. Trading the 15th pick for Scrub Hardaway. They are prob going to lose Milsap and Portis was still on the board…. Vaughn was also available

  16. Hawks should get a D.
    Hawks should get a D. Trading the 15th pick for Scrub Hardaway. They are prob going to lose Milsap and Portis was still on the board…. Vaughn was also available

  17. NBADRAFT.NET TEAM

     Great job as always team! I’ve been on this site a long time and it seems the mocks are getting more and more accurate each year. I wouldn’t budge on the Lakers not taking Okafor… Sadly mistaken. SMH lol

  18. NBADRAFT.NET TEAM

     Great job as always team! I’ve been on this site a long time and it seems the mocks are getting more and more accurate each year. I wouldn’t budge on the Lakers not taking Okafor… Sadly mistaken. SMH lol

  19. NBADRAFT.NET TEAM

     Great job as always team! I’ve been on this site a long time and it seems the mocks are getting more and more accurate each year. I wouldn’t budge on the Lakers not taking Okafor… Sadly mistaken. SMH lol

  20. NBADRAFT.NET TEAM

     Great job as always team! I’ve been on this site a long time and it seems the mocks are getting more and more accurate each year. I wouldn’t budge on the Lakers not taking Okafor… Sadly mistaken. SMH lol

  21. NBADRAFT.NET TEAM
    Great job as always team! I’ve been on this site a long time and it seems the mocks are getting more and more accurate each year. I wouldn’t budge on the Lakers not taking Okafor… Sadly mistaken. SMH

  22. NBADRAFT.NET TEAM
    Great job as always team! I’ve been on this site a long time and it seems the mocks are getting more and more accurate each year. I wouldn’t budge on the Lakers not taking Okafor… Sadly mistaken. SMH

  23. NBADRAFT.NET TEAM
    Great job as always team! I’ve been on this site a long time and it seems the mocks are getting more and more accurate each year. I wouldn’t budge on the Lakers not taking Okafor… Sadly mistaken. SMH

  24. NBADRAFT.NET TEAM
    Great job as always team! I’ve been on this site a long time and it seems the mocks are getting more and more accurate each year. I wouldn’t budge on the Lakers not taking Okafor… Sadly mistaken. SMH

  25. NBADRAFT.NET TEAM
    Great job as always team! I’ve been on this site a long time and it seems the mocks are getting more and more accurate each year. I wouldn’t budge on the Lakers not taking Okafor… Sadly mistaken. SMH

  26. NBADRAFT.NET TEAM
    Great job as always team! I’ve been on this site a long time and it seems the mocks are getting more and more accurate each year. I wouldn’t budge on the Lakers not taking Okafor… Sadly mistaken. SMH

  27. RJ Hunter was one of the best

    RJ Hunter was one of the best shooters in the entire draft. He might have been the best pure shooter in college. Playing for Georgia State meant he had to face double and triple teams (like Curry at Davidson). He took tons of shots that would be labeled "bad looks," because that was actually the best shot the team had at scoring points.

    JaGGy

     

  28. RJ Hunter was one of the best

    RJ Hunter was one of the best shooters in the entire draft. He might have been the best pure shooter in college. Playing for Georgia State meant he had to face double and triple teams (like Curry at Davidson). He took tons of shots that would be labeled "bad looks," because that was actually the best shot the team had at scoring points.

    JaGGy

     

  29. Kaminsky good performance

    I graded Kaminsky out as mid to last first round value, and feel tha he is most likely a high level rotational big in the league. Drafting him at 9 only work out if he ends up being a high level starter. This team has one of the worst track record of drafting.  http://paperbase.in

  30. Kaminsky good performance

    I graded Kaminsky out as mid to last first round value, and feel tha he is most likely a high level rotational big in the league. Drafting him at 9 only work out if he ends up being a high level starter. This team has one of the worst track record of drafting.  http://paperbase.in

  31. nice information

    I think the Knicks deserve an A. As far as building a team and acquiring players with upside that fit what they are building the Knicks did an excellent job. Hard a way was a part of the problem in New York last year not the solution so to trade him for Grant was a solid deal. SSC CGL Syllabus

     

  32. nice information

    I think the Knicks deserve an A. As far as building a team and acquiring players with upside that fit what they are building the Knicks did an excellent job. Hard a way was a part of the problem in New York last year not the solution so to trade him for Grant was a solid deal. SSC CGL Syllabus

     

  33. Thanks, Great Article

    Thanks, Great Article wonderful game it was and thank you for giving the details about the NBA draft.

    UPTU B.Tech 1st Sem Result 2016

    I graded Kaminsky out as mid to last first round value, and feel tha he is most likely a high level rotational big in the league. Drafting him at 9 only work out if he ends up being a high level starter. This team has one of the worst track record of drafting

     aktu.ac.in

    AKTU B.Tech 1st Sem Result 2016

     

     

  34. Thanks, Great Article

    Thanks, Great Article wonderful game it was and thank you for giving the details about the NBA draft.

    UPTU B.Tech 1st Sem Result 2016

    I graded Kaminsky out as mid to last first round value, and feel tha he is most likely a high level rotational big in the league. Drafting him at 9 only work out if he ends up being a high level starter. This team has one of the worst track record of drafting

     aktu.ac.in

    AKTU B.Tech 1st Sem Result 2016

     

     

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