[Evan_MilbergParticipant]

Alright guys, it’s time for those draft grades. Who do you think were the winners and losers from last night? Here are mine:

Winners

Suns – As if getting a franchise centerpiece in DeAndre Ayton wasn’t enough, they also added another top-10 prospect in Mikal Bridges, who is going to be a great 3-and-D rotation player for them. Getting Elie Okobo at 31 was the cherry on top.  

Mavs – After falling out of the top 3 in the lottery, I was convinced Dallas wasn’t going to end up with one of the top 3 players in the draft, but they pulled the move of the night by trading for Doncic. I also loved what they did after that too, as Brunson was a steal at 33. They also added some good frontcourt pieces in Spalding and Antetokounmpo, who I think could both compete for roster spots. 

Celtics – Regardless of where you stand on Robert Williams, you can’t deny that he’s a steal at 27. The Celtics needed to add frontcourt depth, and they took a guy who could be the next Clint Capela if he reaches his full potential. 

Nuggets – Credit the Nuggets for not being afraid to take a risk on MPJ. The team doesn’t have any glaring positional needs, so I think they could afford to take the best player available – and one who at one point was seen as the best player in his class. I also think Vanderbilt, Jackson and Welch were all good value picks. 

T-Wolves: The Wolves quietly had a great draft. I like Okogie’s potential to be a long-term role player for them. Super athletic, can play/guard multiple positions, and complements the talent they have there well. Getting Bates-Diop at 48 was a huge steal, and I could see him cracking the rotation as well. 

Pistons: For a team that started the night with just one draft pick, ending up with a first round talent like Khyri Thomas and a blue-chip player like Bruce Brown is tremendous value. 

 

Losers

Wizards: They had by far the worst draft of the night. I was at a loss for words when the Wizards took Troy Brown. They had Zhaire Smith, Lonnie Walker and Robert Williams on the board, and they took a guy who projects as a third stringer that Ernie Grunfeld thinks "maybe" could compete for minutes. He has virtually no jump shot and limited athleticism for someone who should see minutes at the 2 and 3. As for Sanon, I get that he was impressive in tournaments, but he’s incredibly raw, and the Wizards need people who can contribute NOW. Neither of these guys fit the ball. 

Clippers: I like the Gilgeous-Alexander pick, but Jerome Robinson at 13 was a huge reach in my opinion. He’s a great shooter, but doesn’t offer much in terms of athleticism or defense. I have a hard time seeing him getting minutes. 

Sixers: The Sixers made the PERFECT pick in Mikal Bridges, a 3 and D guy who would have fit perfectly with their current personnel….and then they screwed it up by trading him for Zhaire Smith. Don’t get me wrong, I like Smith and his value in the age of positionless basketball, but Bridges is far more ready to contribute from Day 1. I also don’t get why they would take Shamet and Milton when they already have Simmons, Fultz and McConnell. 

[chrsw003Participant]

 Hawks – I feel like everyone is dogging the Hawks draft, but Trae could end up a beast so it really depends on that Mavs first rounder next year. If the Hawks are lookin at a top 3 pick and another top 10 then there lookin real good all a sudden. I dont no much about the Maryland dude but i always like shooters so its whatever. I wanted them to get Okogie somewhere bc im a GT guy so have seen every game hes played in and hes a beast. I think I was on him first this year, but ive always seen some d-wade in his game. That probably sounds crazy and by no means am i saying hes on prime d-wades level, but he does alot of stuff/shows flashes of that elite level slashing/body type/explosiveness/creativeness that is very very impressive. He is a great rebounder for a guard and gets up for rebounds that leave you shaking your head. So all that being said goodpick for the twolves, and I am torn on the Hawks draft bc I rlly like Doncic and Trae. So if they both pan out which i think they will then it comes down to what that Mavs pick ends up lookin like. Sorry for the rant, im mid pregame.

[juves4783Participant]

WINNERS

spurs – they basically had lonnie walker jr. fall right into their lap, similar to dejuante murray a couple years ago.  fills a definite need at shooting guard with all their expiring contracts.  kid seems like he’s teachable and just needs to refine his skill set for the next level.  athleticisim is there, no doubt.  i think metu is a servicable body.  he’s got the nba frame but just needs the work ethic to match. 

LOSERS

blazers – anfernee simons was a real headscratcher.  your team is on the raise and just missing a few pieces and you draft a high schooler that plays the same positions as your two best, young players.  i thought robert williams was the right pick here to be a rim protector and fill the void if ed davis leaves.  trent jr. is allen crabbe 2.0.  can put the ball in the hole from range, but struggles defensively.  i thought khyri thomas would of been a better pick as they struggled to guard the pelicans small ball lineup.

 

 

 

  

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

Pop will mold Metu the way he molded Dedmon. I see him shining as a role player for the Spurs.

[Sewok15Participant]

 I would add the Spurs to the Winners list getting Lonnie Walker at 18. He is a lottery talent and could have as high an upside as any guard in the draft. He may be a few years away but I could see him contributing sooner than later with his athleticism and scoring ability. 

Orlando was a major winner for me as well getting Bamba 6th. He doesn’t seem like a need with their PGless roster but he could be the best player in this draft 5 years from now. If he gets stronger he will be a force on both ends. It was much better to add a player with an elite skill and big time upside than it would have been to reach for a point guard. 

Two losers I would add would be the Knicks and the Hornets. Both teams really seemed like they would be solid situations to take a risk with Porter Jr but both teams passed. It isn’t that I dislike either of the players they went with in Knox and Bridges but they don’t have potential to change either teams situations like a healthy Porter could have. 

I’m not thrilled with what the Sixers did but I will give them a wait see approach before calling them losers. The 2021 pick from Miami could be excellent and they are attempting to clear money for free agents this summer. 

 
 

 

 

 

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

 Grizzlies had the ball in their court at 4.They could’ve held up the Hawks & Mavs deal by selecting Young. Maybe got a future pick . 85% of Grizzlies fans were disappointed by them selecting JJJ. Dude might become a solid contributor 1 day. But watching film of him trying to make moves in the post. He plays like his feet are tied. And he usually ends up turning over the ball. He Has no rotation on his shot. But the front office celebrating the Grit & Grind style of him and Carter is what Makes Grizzlies fans feel little excited. 

[Dog_ShammdogParticipant]

I think you’re pretty spot on with your picks so I’m going a different direction and am going to mention some of the prospects who ‘won’ on draft night by landing where they did. 

-Lonnie Walker to the Spurs is a match made in heaven imo. Danny Green just opted into his deal so Walker wil have a solid vet to learn under and won’t be thrust into the rotation unless he’s ready. I was hot and cold with Lonnie but am convinced he’s going to have a long and successful career. 

-Moritz Wagner to LA wasn’t the sexiest pick but I believe he’s poised to compete for a starting job and will be a rotation piece from day 1. His shooting is much needed in LA and his fiery personality and uber competitiveness will fit in well in LA where they’ve focussed in on filling their roster out with that type of competitors. 

-Anfernee Simons couldn’t have gone to a better spot in terms of having vets to learn from. I don’t think he’s going to be ready to contribute on a consistent basis as a rookie, but Gary Trent Jr. can get those minutes in the meanwhile as he’s the more ‘pro ready’. 

-Landry Shamet to Philly is perfect for him I believe. If Redick leaves in FA, Shamet is going to be getting minutes from day 1. He can play on or off the ball and is arguably the most versatile shooter in this draft with his ability to hit pull up jumpers off the dribble, and catch and shoot from anywhere on the floor. I also like the fit because Shamet isn’t an elite athlete, but the sixers are stacked with super athletic and very physically imposing players. 

-Trae Young/Kevin Huerter/Omari Spelman are  going to be a breath of fresh air in atlanta. I believe Spelman’s upside has been overlooked by many scouts and I don’t completely get it… He has the requisite size, skillset, length and character to succeed. But I believe his upside lies largely in his conditioning. He was darn near morbidly obese and has steadily been improving his conditioning and the results have jumped off the screen at times. If he has another level to get to from a conditioning perspective, he could become a monster. He already D’s up on the perimeter and moves his feet as well as any pudgy center I’ve seen. Huerter and Young are going to try to become the Splash Brothers 2.0 and they landed in the spot to do it with the FO committed to the model and fully believing in their abillities.

-Kevin Knox to the Knicks. I think it’s perfect for him. He wanted the spotlight at UK and he’s going to have it in NY while KP is recovering from injury. If KP were healthy, I think Knox would log more minutes at SF than he’s probably ready to at the moment, but with KP out, Knox should get the majority of his minutes at PF where he’s probably a more natural fit for now. And I also believe that KP is going to be playing center when he comes back, so PF may be Knox’s position anyways. 

-Collin Sexton to the Cavs is a polarizing pick, but thats who Lebron’s camp allegedly wanted. I like the fit because the Cavs need guys who can just go get you a bucket and also guys who are at their best when the lights are at their brightest. Sexton is exactly that. Him and Jordan Clarkson should probably NEVER be on the court together at the same time though lol 

Kostas Antetokounpo to Philly may wind up being inconsequential, but Kostas is going to get to practice every day guarding Ben Simmons on the Perimeter and Joel Embiid in the post. The Philly player development program is also on the up and up with them seeming to get production out of every one of their picks at some point or another. Even Richaun Holmes has given them valuable time and he was an afterthought from Bowling Green….. If Kostas becomes 1/2  the player that Giannis is, he will be an absolute steal. I do believe that there is some belief that he will take off once he gets into an NBA strength and conditioning/player development program like Giannis did. Thanasis was much older when he came over and just didn’t have the room for growth. 

 

 

 

 

[The GoatParticipant]

 Didnt Kostas get traded to Dallas?

[kobyzParticipant]

 1. Dallas- getting best player in the draft, best second round player in the draft – grade: 11

2. Clippers- I’m very high on Shai, think at the end he could be big time and challenge everyone in this class, getting him that late is a steal of the draft, Robinson also starting to grow on me and he’s great fit to Shai… Grade: 10.5

3. Bulls- promising Chandler and lock him up at 22 was a great under the radar move, feel like a surefire prospect as an all ar ound wing in the mold of Josh Jackson and Caron butler… Carter falling to them at 7 is a great pick by default… Grade: 10

4. Sixers- trading the 10 pick feel like a rob of phonix for them, at 16 getting great upside guy and all others picks were very solid… Grade: 10

5. Celtics- I’m less high on Williams than others here, but still at 27 it steal, you get someone with great phisical tools that you can develop to high level role player… Grade: 9

 

 

 

 

 

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