NBA Draft Grades

Now that the NBA Draft has passed, I thought it would be good to analyze the NBA Draft.  Despite having an abysmal set of predictions (I accurately predicted 4 picks:  picks 1-3 and pick 32), I didn't feel like there were any picks that were necessarily bad and that every team had a decent draft night.  With that, I would like to grade each team's picks.  I didn't necessarily focus on why teams valued chose another player still on the board that I liked more because just about every player seemed to be valued differently by teams; rather, I focused on whether I think it makes sense for the team depending on their short term or long term goals.  I will account for draft selections and trades made on the day of the draft.  Teams are listed in order by location.

Atlanta Hawks

• Draft picks
• Onyeka Okongwu (#6)
• Skylar Mays (#50)

Atlanta got one of my favorite players in the draft in Okongwu and another player who I thought was a steal in Mays.  Okongwu is a great all-around player (minus shooting) who doesn't command the ball on offense much; think something similar to Bam Adebayo.  They could use some size behind Clint Capela, especially if he's still injured and John Collins gets traded.  Mays gives the team a solid backup point guard who can also play alongside Trae Young since he's big enough to do that in stints.  I think they filled the two biggest needs entering the draft.  Grade:  A+

Boston Celtics

• Draft Picks
• Aaron Nesmith (#14)
• Payton Prichard (#26)
• Yam Madar (#47)
• Other Acquisitions
• 2 future 2nd round picks (from Memphis)
• What they gave up
• 30th pick (Desmond Bane)

The Celtics seemed to have on of the more polarizing nights:  they were trying to obtain a top 3 pick, but wound up trading away the 30th pick and keeping the others.  Many Celtics fans were hoping they would get a big man, but the Daniel Theis/Enes Kanter/Robert Williams platoon worked well in the regular season and the Theis/Williams/Grant Williams platoon seemed to work until they faced Bam Adebayo; in short, I wouldn't overreact based on that one series.  I think a much greater need for them was bench scoring, and they addressed it alright.  Nesmith had 23.0 PPG and shot 52.2% from behind the arc in 14 college games this past season and Prichard also averaged over 20 PPG while shooting over 40% from 3.  Madar is going to be a draft-and-stash player, which is wise because he's raw but has a boatload of potential and has already improved to the point he looks like he could be a starting point guard.  Having to settle for trading only pick number 30 hurts, but they still had a strong draft and got two NBA ready players out of it.  Grade:  A

Brooklyn Nets

• Draft Picks
• Reggie Perry (#57)
• Other Acquisitions
• Landry Shamet
• What they gave up
• Saddiq Bey (#19)
• Jay Scrubb (#55)

Brooklyn's main job here is to build a team that can contend around Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.  I love Landry Shamet's offensive ability, but I'm not sure he's the defensive fit that they need.  Giving up Bey wasn't the best thing in the world since I think he's a great fit, but there is more guarantee in what they will get out of Shamet.  Originally, they drafted Scrubb with the 55th pick, but I think trading for Perry was a wise decision:  Scrubb is a ball dominant scoring guard while Perry is a stronger post presence who has some playmaking ability and is a decent defender.  While he's not a good shooter yet (32.4% from 3), he has improved substantially and I think he can continue to improve.  If nothing else, he's a guy that can play and should be able to give them minutes.  Grade:  B

Charlotte Hornets

• Drafted
• LaMelo Ball (#3)
• Vernon Carey (#32)
• Nick Richards (#42)
• Grant Riller (#56)
• What they gave up
• Future 2nd round pick

There were rumors that Charlotte was trying to trade up into the top 2, but I think it was wise to remain at number 3; while they were stuck without a choice between the three prospects considered at the top, they still acquired Ball, who was without a doubt the best passer and possibly playmaker in the draft.  Even if he winds up being a bust (which is possible considering how raw he is), they still drafted a player who clearly loves basketball, can get his teammates in good situations, and has the potential to be a star, something they're missing in their current lineup.  I love the selection of Carey; I think questions about his defensive ability caused him to slip to 32, but they got a player who is great in the paint and can shoot some.  They gave up a future 2nd round pick for Nick Richards, which I think is a good pick; I don't see Richards being a starting center in the near future, but he's a strong defender so he and Carey could be an interesting tandem.  It makes too much sense to pass on Riller; he's an explosive offensive player who had a shot to be drafted in the first round that was available with the 56th pick.  Their picks aren't fool proof, but I think they played it well.  Grade:  A+

Chicago Bulls

• Drafted
• Patrick Williams (#4)
• Marko Simonovic (#44)

I'm personally not the biggest fan of Williams since I think he's so raw offensively that he could be a massive project.  He is a talented defender who has the potential to guard every position, but I'm not sure how much he'll be able to stay on the court at the end of games in the near future if the Bulls wind up competing for a playoff spot.  They drafted him for upside, but I'm a little skeptical of his floor when other players with high floors and solid ceilings could have been drafted instead.  I won't penalize them for valuing Williams over others, but I will for selecting a player that makes sense for a longer rebuild than the Bulls seem to be making.  I think Simonovic is a good choice; I wasn't expecting him to be drafted, but he could be a quality draft-and-stash player in the next year or two.  Grade:  B-

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Drafted
• Isaac Okoro (#5)

The Cavs used their lone draft pick to select one of my favorite players in the draft in Okoro.  He can defend every position well, finish strong, and is a solid playmaker.  I think his best value can be displayed alongside Colin Sexton and Darius Garland by developing his shot (many analysts don't think it's broken), but worst case scenario they drafted a guy who can still do a lot.  The defensive ability will definitely be necessary alongside Sexton and Garland, and I think Cedi Osman is better as a bench player due to his ability to shoot and score.  In the long-term, this could allow this to occur.  Grade:  A

Dallas Mavericks

• Drafted
• Josh Green (#18)
• Tyrell Terry (#31)
• Tyler Bey (#36)
• Other Acquisitions
• Josh Richardson
• What they gave up
• Seth Curry

I think the Mavericks made some great selections in the draft.  Green is a talented defender who can also shoot fairly well; I doubt he'll be a superstar, but a team with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis doesn't necessarily need that.  Terry is a great shooter who I consider to be a massive steal at 31.  Bey looks like he could be a solid 3-and-D guy in the league and could be a guy who contributes some this year.  The issue that I have with this draft for Dallas is that they gave up Curry.  He is an excellent shooter, can be a ball handler in small doses, and is good enough on defense to not truly be a liability; he also was the Mavericks' third best player on many occasions.  While I like Richardson, I don't think he's as clean of a fit since he isn't the shooter Curry is; he is, however, a better defender and playmaker.  I think Curry's fit with the team was worth more than Richardson and Bey; I would have requested at least one more 2nd round pick if I were with the Mavericks.  Grade:  B

Denver Nuggets

• Drafted
• Zeke Nnaji (#22)
• R.J. Hampton (#24)
• What they gave up
• 2023 lottery-protected 1st round pick

The Nuggets have been great at getting draft steals for a few years:  drafting a seemingly out-of-shape and unathletic Nikola Jokic with the 41st pick in 2015, drafting an injured Michael Porter Jr. who slipped to 14 in 2018, and selecting a skinny and injured Bol Bol who slipped to 44 in 2019.  Drafting R.J. Hampton with the 24th pick is another example of this; he gives them another option as a wing who is probably ready to give them 15 minutes a game to start the season, which will help given that is their weakness.  He isn't the best shooter yet, but he worked with Mike Miller on it, so he clearly wants to improve at it.  On top of that, he was clearly frustrated he slipped to 24, so expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder.  They also added to their team by getting Nnaji for a future 1st, who is a talented center (especially offensively) and might have been the breakout star of Arizona last year.  He is a guy who can be a cheaper option as a backup center if Mason Plumlee isn't resigned.  Grade:  A+

Detroit Pistons

• Drafted
• Killian Hayes (#7)
• Isaiah Stewart (#16)
• Saddiq Bey (#19)
• Saben Lee (#38)
• Other Acquisitions
• Trevor Ariza
• Rodney McGruder
• Tony Bradley
• What they gave up
• Luke Kennard
• 2021 Top-16 Protected 1st round pick
• Lakers 2021 2nd round pick
• Future draft pick
• Cash considerations

Detroit's draft night is probably best described as polarizing; I've seen them described among the winners of the draft and among the losers of the draft.  I think Killian Hayes is a good fit for them because they need a starting point guard for the future and he can fit the bill; I think his floor is to be a quality starter for them for years to come and his ceiling is to be a star player.  I'm torn regarding Stewart; I like him as a prospect, but I don't know about the fit or what it took to get him.  They have not-so-subtly indicated that Christian Wood will be a player for the future for them, but I don't think either are consistently good enough shooters to play alongside each other.  I also don't think they should have given up a future 1st round pick in order to get Stewart; admittedly it is top-16 protected for next year, but it'll have to convey at some point and I doubt Ariza will net them one at any point.  While I love Kennard, they didn't want to pay him and they still acquired a talented player who has similarities in Bey.  I don't really like the fit of Lee with Hayes since neither are good shooters and I don't know how their styles will coexist.  While I'm not high on Bradley either, it only cost a future pick (probably will be a 2nd rounder) and cash in order to get him and Lee.  Grade:  B-

Golden State Warriors

• James Wiseman (#2)
• Nico Mannion (#48)
• Justinian Jessup (#51)

The bigger news for the Warriors was losing Klay Thompson for the entire season.  While some would argue the best method there was to change course and draft a wing, I thought it was wise to still draft Wiseman if the wanted them.  Before the injury, I had argued for them trading down for Onyeka Okongwu, but I think Wiseman will give them a better offensive presence that will be lacking without Thompson.  While Mannion was a 5-star recruit before his freshman year at Arizona, he struggled and slipped all the way to 48.  It makes sense for the Warriors to take him; at best, they get a quality point guard who is a good playmaker, and at worst, they used the 48th pick on him instead of another player who likely wouldn't have been beneficial.  Jessup already signed to play in Australia next season, so he is effectively a 3-and-D player for them.  While he isn't the best defender or playmaker, he can shoot; that's certainly not the worst thing to have off the bench for them.  While they realistically were the biggest losers of the day, I will not account for Thompson's injury in the day and only account for their stellar draft picks.  Grade:  A+

Houston Rockets

• Drafted
• KJ Martin (#52)
• Other Acquisitions
• Pistons 2021 top-16 protected 1st round pick
• Lakers 2021 2nd round pick
• What they gave up
• 16th pick (Isaiah Stewart)
• Trevor Ariza
• Future 2nd round pick

The only reason it's so tough for me to grade Houston on their draft is because I still don't know what their plan for next year is.  They traded Robert Covington prior to the draft for Trevor Ariza and two 1st round picks, but then traded Ariza and one of those picks for two 2021 picks.  I think KJ Martin is a great pick for a team that is rebuilding since he has a lot of potential; that said, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, and PJ Tucker remain in Houston for the time being, but there's still time.  The grade will remain incomplete until the beginning of the season and until we know what is going on with James Harden.  Grade:  B-

Indiana Pacers

• Drafted
• Cassius Stanley (#54)

The Pacers only had one pick after using their 1st round pick to acquire Malcolm Brogdon and used it on a player who is raw but can shoot some and is a freak athlete.  Despite the solid one-and-done year at Duke, Stanley slipped until 54 (probably due to his low floor), but had bright moments and broke Zion Williamson's vertical with one of 46.5".  I doubt he will contribute next year, but if he develops right, that would be an excellent addition at 54.  Worst case scenario, he could slightly sweeten a deal if it doesn't look like he'll fit.  Grade:  A-

Los Angeles Clippers

• Drafted
• Daniel Oturu (#33)
• Jay Scrubb (#55)
• Other Acquisitions
• Luke Kennard
• What they gave up
• Landry Shamet
• Rodney McGruder
• 57th Pick (Reggie Perry)
• Pistons 2023 2nd round pick

The Clippers went into the night with the 57th pick and turned it into the 33rd pick, the 55th pick, and Kennard.  While I like Shamet and McGruder, Shamet wasn't necessarily the right fit while at times falling out of favor and McGruder struggled mightily offensively; a healthy Kennard should be a better fit alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George this season.  While Kennard is eligible for an extension this offseason and (if none is agreed upon) will be a restricted free agent next year, they shouldn't worry about that yet.  I love the move of acquiring Oturu in exchange for a future second rounder.  Oturu probably slipped due to a lack of lateral quickness and passing ability, but he can score, shoot from deep, and defend the paint at a strong level; they should be able to count on him to play up to 20 minutes a game.  I don't love the fit of Scrubb as much with them; I think he plays a bit too much hero ball and one-on-one basketball in order to mesh with their lineup at this time.  It wouldn't surprise me if they sign him to a 2-Way contract, which should help him adjusting; he is still a talent.  Props to them though for turning the 57th pick into the 55th pick without giving up anything else.  Grade:  A-

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers made no draft day moves this year.  Grade:  N/A

Memphis Grizzlies

• Drafted
• Desmond Bane (#30)
• Xavier Tillman (#35)
• Robert Woodward (#40)
• What they gave up
• Future draft considerations (originally 2 future 2nd round picks, but will be adjusted after the trade will amended to include Portland)

Memphis gave up future picks (probably some 2nd rounders) to get the 30th pick of the draft and selected Bane with it.  Bane probably projects to be a 3-and-D wing, but he is also a smart playmaker.  He's not the best athlete and finisher, so I expect most of his work to be done around the arc (which should be fine when pairing him with Ja Morant).  I think Tillman fell due to health, conditioning, and offensive reasons, but he is a strong defender who is an underrated passer as well.  He will be especially valuable as a big if Jaren Jackson Jr. misses the start of the season.  Woodward is not a good playmaker, but he can shoot pretty well and defend multiple positions; he reminds me a lot of Jae Crowder.  Overall, the Grizzlies got 3 players who can contribute immediately and for years to come.  I don't think any of them will be a star, but they have Morant, Jackson, and Dillon Brooks, so these guys are just what they're looking for around them.  Grade:  A+

Miami Heat

• Drafted
• Precious Achiuwa (#20)

The Heat had one draft pick and used it on Achiuwa, a freakishly athletic big man.  He is raw, his jump shot isn't there yet, has occasional defensive lapses, and isn't the best passer.  That said, he's young, he shot 32% from 3 as a young big man, is an excellent defender for his age, and could be playing alongside one of the best big man passers in the NBA in Bam Adebayo.  The most important thing is that he plays incredibly hard on both ends and is willing to play through adversity.  After James Wiseman left Memphis and D.J. Jeffries got hurt, Achiuwa stepped up his game and was named AAC Player of the Year as a freshman.  In other words, he fits with Miami.  Grade:  A+

Milwaukee Bucks

• Draft
• Jordan Nwora (#45)
• Sam Merrill (#60)
• What they gave up
• Pacers 2022 2nd round pick
• 2026 2nd round pick

The Bucks entered the day with the 60th pick (which they acquired in their trade for Jrue Holiday), but traded 2 future 2nd round picks to get the 45th pick, which was used on Nwora.  Nwora can shoot and is a great athlete, but often coasted defensively.  They could use some depth, so Nwora's offensive ability could be beneficial in small doses at times; he could see more time if he keeps up the motor on defense.  Merrill is a guy who can shoot and score, but slipped to 60 due to his lack of athleticism, defense, and age.  The Bucks won't care about the fact that he's 24, but I'd expect him to spend more time in G-League (unless he shocks everybody in training camp).  While the ultimate goal is to win a championship and resign Giannis Antetokounmpo, their draft goal needed to be to get some quality bench players for their depth; I'm not certain they did that, but the choices aren't bad.  Grade:  B

Minnesota Timberwolves

• Drafted
• Anthony Edwards (#1)
• Leandro Bolmaro (#23)
• Jaden McDaniels (#28)
• Other Acquisitions
• Ricky Rubio
• What they gave up
• 17th pick (Aleksej Pokusevski)
• 33rd pick (Daniel Oturu)

The Timberwolves were busy on draft night:  After drafting first, they traded the 17th pick for Ricky Rubio, the 25th pick, and the 28th pick and then turned the newly acquired 25th pick and the 33rd pick into the 23rd pick.  The 1st pick was used on Edwards, who has a high ceiling but I worry about his floor due to his inconsistent motor, poor decision making, lack of playing in a winning environment, and inconsistent defensive intensity.  It made more sense to draft him from the standpoint of keeping Karl-Anthony Towns happy (which they have made it clear is most important to them) by not drafting another center in James Wiseman or a guard that would force D'Angelo Russell to the off-ball guard.  Bolmaro is a good ball handler and defender, but his shooting is clunky and he is very raw; I would expect he will be a 3-and-D prospect for at least a year.  McDaniels is an excellent athlete with high upside, but he has issues with his body, maturity, temper, focus, and shooting that will limit his floor.  Ultimately, I think he's a bit of a project.  The good news for them is that they got Rubio, who should be a quality backup guard for them and should be able to play alongside either Russell or Edwards.  That said, the Timberwolves traded for Russell to compete for the playoffs; I do not believe they made selections that will allow them to do that in the short term, and I'm not certain they got the right pieces for the long term, especially by pairing two players who lack focus and effort with Towns, who seems to be allergic to playing winning basketball.  It just hurts more to see that in the mix they gave up the pick for Oturu, who would be a valuable player for the team.  Grade:  C+

New Orleans Pelicans

• Drafted
• Kira Lewis (#13)
• Other Acquisitions
• Nuggets 2023 Lottery Protected 1st round pick
• Jazz future 2nd round pick
• Hornets future 2nd round pick
• What they gave up
• 24th pick (R.J. Hampton)
• 39th pick (Elijah Hughes)
• 42nd pick (Nick Richards)

The Pelicans entered the night with 4 draft picks and somehow managed to leave with one.  They used this pick on Lewis, who is a fast player with a solid jumper and solid playmaker.  He isn't the best defender, but now that Jrue Holiday is gone, very few on the team are.  He could fit alongside Zion Williamson and Lonzo Ball offensively, but they will need to heavily rely on Ball defensively.  This pick was probably made to replace Holiday, but Lewis is probably too small to be the defensive player that Holiday is.  As for the trades, they turned the 24th pick into the lottery protected Nuggets 2023 1st round pick (it should convey), the 39th pick into a Jazz 2nd rounder, and the 42nd pick into a Hornet's 2nd rounder.  I found that trading the 39th pick wasn't the worst idea since Hughes probably didn't fit great, but I think Hampton and Richards would have worked well for them defensively.  Even if they decide Jaxson Hayes should be the starting center, Richards could be a defensive backup for providing 15 minutes per game to start.  Hampton isn't great defensively at this time, could play hard as a wing defender (something they desperately need).  I felt like this draft wasn't as much disappointing in what they did but more in the selections of the picks they gave up.  Grade:  C

New York Knicks

• Drafted
• Obi Toppin (#8)
• Immanuel Quickley (#25)
• Other Acquisitions
• Pistons 2023 2nd round pick
• What they gave up
• 27th pick (Udoka Azubuike)
• 38th pick (Saben Lee)

The Knicks entered the draft with picks 8, 27, and 38, and left with picks 8 and 25 while picking up an additional 2nd rounder.  They turned the 27th and 38th picks into the 23rd pick, and turned the 23rd pick into the 25th and 33rd pick (effectively turning the 27th and 38th picks into the 25th and 33rd picks; it's not supposed to work like that but they nailed it) before trading the 33rd pick for a future 2nd rounder.  I love the selection of Toppin; in addition to being my favorite prospect in the draft, he's a great athlete, is explosive, and has a complete offensive game.  There are questions about his lateral movement defensively and he is older, but he is exciting and will bring a level of excitement back to the Garden that they have been desperately searching for.  While some have been quick to point out the volume of big men on the team, I tend to doubt Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, and Taj Gibson are the future of the Knicks, and the team seems to be operating as if Kevin Knox is not.  Quickley wasn't expected by many to be a first round pick, but rose due to his strong defensive ability, elite shooting, and knack at being an excellent teammate.  He didn't get a lot of playmaking experience at Kentucky, but I think he can develop into that role.  I don't know if he will be the future playmaker of the team, but he will have a future with the team.  As for the picks with trades, it takes some smart moves to turn the 27th and 38th picks into the 25th and 33rd picks.  It stinks to see the 33rd pick (Daniel Oturu) traded for only a future 2nd rounder, but they already have Mitchell Robinson and just drafted Toppin, so his long term future with the team was bleaker anyways; seeing a second pick included would have been nicer, but I feel like that's just me being too particular.  I can't believe I'm saying this regarding a Knicks draft, but this was a successful draft.  Grade:  A-

Oklahoma City Thunder

• Drafted
• Aleksej Pokusevski (#17)
• Theo Maldeon (#34)
• Vit Krejci (#37)
• Other Acquisitions
• Al Horford
• Rights to Vasilije Micic
• 76ers 2025 1st round pick
• What they gave up
• Danny Green
• Terrance Ferguson
• Ricky Rubio
• 25th pick (Immanuel Quickley)
• 28th pick (Jaden McDaniels)
• 53rd pick (Cassius Winston)
• Future 2nd rounder

The Thunder might have been the busiest on draft day; they entered the day with the 25th, 28th and 53rd picks.  Before the draft, they turned Terrence Ferguson and the newly acquired Danny Green into Horford, the rights to Micic, the 34th pick, and a 76ers 2025 1st round pick.  While some have argued that Philadelphia fleeced OKC, I think it's a fair trade for both teams.  Obviously the goal for Philly was to turn Al Horford into somebody who shoots, and Green does that.  For OKC, Green doesn't really fit their timeline or goals, so it makes sense to trade him.  Getting rid of Ferguson isn't the worst decision after his court cases for rape allegations; he also was inconsistent for them this past year and is up for an extension.  Micic is a bigger point guard who can shoot and is a solid playmaker; he won't play in the NBA this season, but keep an eye open for next year.  Horford won't be a player that's so good that he'll lead them to a surprise playoff run, but playing in OKC should increase his value for a future trade.  Of course the future picks are always nice for them.  Next, they turned Rubio (who was acquired in the Chris Paul trade), the 25th pick, and the 28th pick into the 17th pick.  Rubio might have been a clunky fit in OKC, but I would have loved to have seen Quickley and McDaniels there.  I think Quickley would have been a fun fit alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and they probably would have been able to develop McDaniels very well.  That said, a 7' playmaker in Pokusevski?  He's raw and skinnier, but that could be fun.  I thought selecting Maldeon with the 34th pick was a good choice for the Thunder because he's a guard who is a solid shooter and a good defender who was expected to be a 1st round pick; that's a great pick for the 2nd round.  Their final move was to trade the 53rd pick and a future 2nd rounder for the 37th pick.  They used the pick to draft Krejci, who I expect to be a draft-and-stash player.  While he has potential, I don't think this was a wise decision; they traded the best player in the trade for a guy who wasn't projected to be drafted and suffered a season ending knee injury in September.  I just think that's a risky decision with a pick early in the 2nd round.  Grade:  B

Orlando Magic

• Drafted
• Cole Anthony (#15)
• Other Acquisitions
• Pacers 2022 2nd round pick
• Bucks 2026 2nd round pick
• What they gave up
• 45th pick (Jordan Nwora)

The Magic had one pick after they traded the 45th pick for two future 2nd rounders.  They had the perfect opportunity to draft some 3-and-D wings with the 15th pick, especially since offense and shooting has been a bit of a weakness for them.  Ultimately, they opted for a guard in Anthony.  On the plus side, Anthony is a talented offensive player who struggled in college due to the fact that he was responsible for too much in an attempt to save UNC's season.  Even with that, he still shot 34% from 3, which could be higher if Markelle Fultz is also taking some ball handling responsibilities from him and Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic taking some offensive responsibilities from him; that would allow Anthony to develop his game more and not pressure him to do as much.  In the short term, a 3-and-D player probably would be a better fit; I'm not sure what their future team will look like at this point, so his long term fit is not something to be opposed to yet.  While Nwora might have been interesting in Orlando, they got 2 picks out of a player who is still very raw.  I don't expect the Pacer's pick to be particularly good, but who knows what the Bucks will look like in 2026 at this point.  Grade:  B

Philadelphia 76ers

• Drafted
• Tyrese Maxey (#21)
• Isaiah Joe (#49)
• Paul Reed (#58)
• Other Acquisitions
• Seth Curry
• Danny Green
• Terrence Ferguson
• What they gave up
• Josh Richardson
• Al Horford
• Rights to Vasilije Micic
• 34th pick (Xavier Tillman)
• 36th pick (Tyler Bey)
• 2025 1st round pick

The main goal for the 76ers for this draft needed to be improving their shooting and they pulled it off with veteran players.  They first traded Horford, the rights to Micic, the 34th pick, and a 2025 1st round pick for Green and Ferguson.  It became clear very quickly (even though I was suspect after the signing) that Horford was not the right fit for this team, so being able to get rid of him for a return must feel good.  They can't necessarily bank on Micic coming over next year (he's not coming over this year), and giving up a 2025 pick isn't a big deal at this time when they're creating a championship team.  Green had his struggles in the Finals the last two seasons, but the 76ers haven't been close to the Finals, so that is offset by what he can contribute as a shooter and defender.  While Ferguson had a rough season, he could have some value coming off the bench.  While Tillman is an intriguing player and would be a good player for them, giving him up to move on from Horford is a fine price to pay.  I was confused by the Maxey selection; he's an immensely talented player, but not a particularly good shooter.  The issue is that pairing Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid with shooters should be a given at this point, considering that was what their most successful team consisted of (pairing them with JJ Redick, Robert Covington, and Dario Saric).  That said, he is a great player and guard so it was far from a bad pick by any means.  They also traded for Seth Curry, which is massive for them. While Bey probably would have been a good fit there, Richardson wasn't quite the right fit for them.  Curry's ability to shoot and be a secondary ball handler will just what the team has been looking for.  Joe is a great shooter but that's largely it and Reed is an inconsistent shooter but a great defender.  In other words, they sound like great additions who could pair well with some current 76ers bench players.  Grade:  A-

Phoenix Suns

• Drafted
• Jalen Smith (#10)

After making a massive splash by trading for Chris Paul, the Suns made a surprising draft selection for the second straight year in Smith.  Last year they traded the 6th pick for Dario Saric and the 11th pick, which was used to draft Cam Johnson (I predicted he would be drafted 22nd).  Despite being criticized by many (including myself) at the time, it worked out incredibly well for them.  I expected Smith to be drafted 20th, but I figured he could be drafted in the late teens as well.  Several journalists and commentators have criticized the pick due to the presence of Deandre Ayton, but I'm intrigued by it.  A shooter was probably the most ideal fit after acquiring Paul, and Smith can certainly shoot.  He's probably best defensively as a 5 due to his ability to defend the paint, but he should be able to slide into the 4 spot in doses as well.  When Ayton is on the bench, I am excited to see a shooting/defense lineup of Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Johnson, and Smith.  Ultimately, the Suns didn't need a player who would be a star for them given they have Booker, Paul, and potentially Ayton; I think drafting Smith was a solid move.  Grade:  B+

Portland Trail Blazers

• Drafted
• C.J. Elleby (#46)

Prior to the day of the draft, they traded their 1st round pick and a future pick for Robert Covington; since it was prior to the draft day, I won't grade this deal (it was an absolute slam dunk for them though).  They used their sole remaining draft pick on Elleby, who showed he could shoot as a freshman but struggled in a higher volume as a sophomore.  I'm not as high on him as Portland clearly is considering he is pretty raw (especially defensively), but he could probably be a beneficial wing in small doses.  I think having him play in G-League could be beneficial for his defensive development, but it could cause him to score in a higher volume offensively, which might not prepare him for his role alongside Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.  I'm not opposed to the selection necessarily, but I'm not sure he's ready to play much more than 10 minutes per game for a winning team at this time.  For some teams, that isn't an issue, but for Portland that doesn't bode particularly well.  Grade:  C+

Sacramento Kings

• Drafted
• Tyrese Haliburton (#12)
• Jahmi'us Ramsey (#43)
• Other Acquisitions
• Rockets future 2nd round pick
• What they gave up
• 52nd pick (KJ Martin)

Well, I'd say the Kings hit the jackpot in this draft.  Haliburton somehow fell to number 12 (some have rumored it's because he wanted to play for Sacramento and his agent only made him available to certain teams), which is an excellent fit.  He can shoot, plays hard, is a solid defender (despite being a little thinner), and is best used as a secondary ball handler.  The Kings conveniently have De'Aaron Fox as their point guard, who Haliburton should be able to play behind or alongside very well.  Ramsey seems to be a polarizing player, but I'm a big fan of him.  While he is an inconsistent defender, has questionable shot selection at times, ball handling, and free throw shooting, he can shoot well from 3, is a freak athlete, and can defend well when engaged who some considered a top 20 pick prior to the season.  I think his ball handling issues won't be as big a deal with Fox and now Haliburton on the lineup as well.  I think he makes a lot of sense with the team.  While having Martin in G-League is certainly enticing, they still got a 2nd round pick from the Rockets; given their uncertainty going forward, that's not the worst haul for the 52nd pick.  Grade:  A+

San Antonio Spurs

• Drafted
• Devin Vassell (#11)
• Tre Jones (#41)

The Spurs have long had success drafting and developing players, but in the last few years have had some luck with the players that fell into their hands where they drafted.  In particular, I expected Dejounte Murray (drafted 29th in 2016), Lonnie Walker (18th in 2018), and Keldon Johnson (29th in 2019) to be drafted higher than they were drafted, and each have looked like they will be good players.  Their luck continues with this, acquiring Vassell and Jones.  I thought Vassell could have been a top 10 pick (he didn't slip much in my mind); once he was available at 11, I considered him the perfect fit for them.  He's a player that can shoot very well and has the potential to guard several positions.  He's not the most explosive player, but he works hard and has a reputation of having a strong character.  As for Jones, I expected he would go at the end of the first round (I had him going 30th).  He is another hard worker with a strong character who is also a great defender and projects to be a very good backup point guard in the NBA.  I don't know that any of their young guys will become superstars (I'm not sleeping on Johnson in that regard though), but Vassell and Jones are great fits for a team that is rebuilding or competing for the playoffs.  Grade:  A+

Toronto Raptors

• Drafted
• Malachi Flynn (#29)
• Jalen Harris (#59)

In my opinion, the Raptors had one player that fell to them and another player that they reached for.  I expected Flynn to go a little earlier than he did (I had him going 23, but expected him to go in the mid-20's).  He is older and smaller in NBA standards (6'1), but the Raptors, who started Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet, are a good fit for him.  He will be able to have an impact immediately due to how polished his offensive game is.  As for Harris, I'm not sure his defensive abilities will make him more than a bench player, but he can shoot and is great off the ball.  With the high number of guards that could be in their arsenal, a strong shooter off the ball is a great fit.  Ultimately, I didn't expect Harris to get drafted, but he'll be a good fit with them.  While they still could use a young big man, I think it was wise for them to not force the issue on draft night.  Grade:  A

Utah Jazz

• Drafted
• Udoka Azubuike (#27)
• Elijah Hughes (#39)
• Other Acquisitions
• Pistons future 2nd round pick
• What they gave up
• Tony Bradley
• 38th pick (Saben Lee)
• Future 2nd round pick

The picks of Azubuike and Hughes have been criticized by some because many mock drafts didn't predict Azubuike in the first round and some decided Hughes should not have been taken when he was.  I thought Azubuike could sneak into the first round because the picks between 25 and 55 always seem to vary in the drafts based on how teams evaluate the talent and I heard some mumblings about a team selecting him around then.  As for Azubuike, he's an old-school physical defensive big man:  can't shoot, can't count on him as a playmaker, but is strong, great rebounder, an exceptional shot blocker, and can finish well.  The Jazz needed a backup center after Ed Davis struggled mightily and Bradley didn't seem up to the task, leading to him being traded along with the 38th pick.  The defense struggled when Rudy Gobert was out, so I don't blame them for brining in a strong defender.  Hughes is an ok shooter but played more on-ball at Syracuse.  He would need to be an off-ball scorer for the Jazz given the presence of Donovan Mitchell as their offensive star and ball handlers Mike Conley and Joe Ingles, but he might be worth the gamble off the bench.  I'm not opposed to this move.  Grade:  B

Washington Wizards

• Drafted
• Deni Avdija (#9)
• Cassius Winston (#53)
• Other Acquisitions
• Thunder future 2nd round pick
• What they gave up
• 37th pick (Vit Krejci)

Wow, talk about being lucky about two picks falling into their laps.  I predicted Avdija going 4th and then was surprised he didn't go 4th, 5th, or 7th (I thought Atlanta and New York would go different directions given who was available), but it's sounding like his camp was selective with what teams had access to him.  I wrote in my mock draft that Avdija reminds me of Nicolas Batum:  I don't think he'll necessarily be a superstar, but he can defend multiple positions, is a strong playmaker, is improving as a shooter, and can do a lot to help a team win.  He isn't the best shooter yet, but he's made progress and he isn't the best at creating looks for himself but (unless there's a trade made) John Wall is still on the team to create looks and he and Bradley Beal would be the top two options.  Wall's presence could also allow Avdija to start in the NBA as a secondary ball handler, which I think would help his development.  I believe Winston is one of the gems in the second round:  the fact that the team traded the 37th pick to move down to 53rd where he happened to be available is shocking.  He isn't the best athlete or a particularly good defender, but offensively, he is one of the more complete guards in the draft:  he can shoot, pass, play the pick-and-roll, has a nice midrange game, is ready to play day one, and is tough as nails.  I was shocked when they traded to get him and a second rounder because I truly believe they got the best player in the trade.  Grade:  A+

What did you think of the NBA Draft?  Were there any picks you loved, hated, or surprised you?  Be sure to comment so we can discuss it!