2026 NBA Draft Grades
Now that I finally have figured out where almost everyone is going, I have my draft grades for this year! The grades are completed by team, and while my evaluation of a player does play a role, I also grade based on fit, role, and how high the draft pick is. Free agency moves and any trades not including 2026 draft picks were not included in my grades (sorry for everyone who was looking for my grades on the LaMelo Ball, Isaiah Stewart, or Miles Bridges trades…not that I’m guessing that this was a huge thing everyone was waiting for).
Atlanta
Hawks
Drafted
·
Kingston Flemings (8)
·
Zuby Ejiofor (23)
·
Henri Veesaar (52)
Traded
·
57th pick (Narcisse Ngoy)
·
Cash
Atlanta had an eventful draft with varying results. I love the Flemings pick for Atlanta given
his long-term upside and their depth at guard for the short-term, allowing him
to develop a bit. He is small and
doesn’t have the best shot (he seems to bail at going into the paint at times
and also doesn’t take as many 3’s as I would like), so he likely will need a
bit of time to adjust, but is so athletic and a great passer. I think the biggest thing with him is that he
is a good perimeter defender due to his competitiveness, athleticism, and
attention to everything on that end of the court, which is huge for his
potential success in the NBA. I
understand the idea of drafting Ejiofor as a backup 5 given his competitiveness
and 2-way potential, but I am low on him.
I personally think that he is a third string big who is undersized;
while there is nothing wrong with drafting a third string big (every
competitive team should have one due to their value in the regular season), I
think the first round is too high to justify drafting a player with that
potential. They had the 57th
pick in the draft but ended up trading up to 52 at a shot at Veesaar, who was a
projected first round pick who fell all the way to 52nd (for those
wondering why nobody in the 40’s selected him, his camp reportedly told teams
he wouldn’t sign a 2-way contract, which is what most teams in the 40’s and
50’s offer). While I was very low on him
due to being uncertain about how his game would translate (I had him 47th
on my board), I think there is potential for a steal here due to his finishing
ability to rebound and finish; even if the rest of his game doesn’t translate,
he can hone on this and be a backup big at worst. I think it is a good draft overall, though
the 23rd pick does bring down the grade a little. Grade: B
Boston
Celtics
Drafted
·
Chris Cenac Jr. (27)
·
Dillon Mitchell (40)
While some went into the draft saying that Boston needed to
draft a big, I felt as though it made sense to take whomever they thought was
the best available for the team, which I felt like they shot for with both
picks. While I was lower on Cenac than
most (I had him 41st on my board due to my concerns about his
reliance on jumper and avoidance of physicality, especially since I don’t trust
the jumper), there is no denying that he is an intriguing player. He won’t be needed to play a big role
immediately due to their depth, but they can afford to see if he can figure out
his jumper and how to play more physical; if it doesn’t work, they were able to
afford taking the risk on him. I was
very high on Mitchell on the other hand, as I had him 21st on my
board (so basically flip the two of them with where they were drafted). While there were concerns about his offense
and shooting, he is an amazing defender and rebounder who can also handle the
ball and make nice passes, which could have a lot of value; I thought both he
and Baba Miller could both end up being similar to Ron Holland, who has been a
welcome addition in Detroit as a role player.
Even if he starts on a 2-way contract, I could see him making the roster
before the contract expires. Overall I
thought it was a nice draft. Grade:
B+
Brooklyn
Nets
Drafted
·
Mikel Brown Jr. (6)
·
Joshua Jefferson (28)
·
Tyler Bilodeau (43)
Acquired
·
Julius Randle
Traded
·
Nic Claxton
·
33rd pick (Isaiah Evans)
I think it’s safe to say that Nets had a bit of an
interesting draft. Prior to the draft,
they got involved in the Randle trade in order to move up 5 spots, which was a
nice return in doing so. Despite his
clunky fit in Minnesota and terrible playoff run this past season, Randle is
still a good player who is adept at getting to his spots on the ball (even if
his shot selection isn’t the best), is a good playmaker, and is a very good
rebounder. I think they can rehab
Randle’s value in the same way that they have rehabbed Michael Porter Jr.’s
value. The downside is that they had to
give up Claxton, who is a talented player who I thought could have netted more
separately, but that was the price of getting Randle; on top of that, Claxton
was miserable in Brooklyn, so I’m just glad for him to be out of there. With the 6th pick, they took
Brown, who has interesting upside. He is
a creative guard who is a solid playmaker and shooter; when he is clicking, he
looks so smooth and looks like he has a good grasp of everything going on. That said, he is a bit raw with his decision
making; there are a lot of times where he has no idea what is going on and it
is a chaotic mess (it’s still kind of fun, though not ideal for an NBA
team). He needs to hone this energy in
and be selective with how to use it while staying in control of the game, which
I think he can do. With the 28th
pick, they took Jefferson, who I think is a good fit for them. While I have questions about his athleticism
and shot, I think he is a do-it-all forward who is willing to do all the little
work in order to win. He is a great
playmaker and rebounder who I think can thrive off-the-ball as well given his
IQ. As for Bilodeau, who they drafted 43rd,
he is a great shooting forward who can rebound some; they can do worse with a
2-way deal with the hopes of making it in the league. Even while I don’t love them losing Claxton
and I’m lower on Brown than Darius Acuff, I think it’s a good draft. Grade: B+
Chicago
Bulls
Drafted
·
Caleb Wilson (4)
·
Dailyn Swain (15)
Acquired
·
Nic Claxton
·
Kam Jones
·
2028 2nd round pick swap
·
2030 2nd round pick swap
·
Cash
Traded
·
Mo Gueye
·
38th pick (Braden Smith)
·
56th pick (Vsevolod Ishchenko)
The Bulls managed to have a calm first round by taking their
picks and a busy remaining draft with multiple trades. Prior to the draft, they got involved in the
Julius Randle trade by acquiring Claxton, which I think is a great move. He is a great finisher, paint defender, and rebounder
who was stuck in a bad situation in Brooklyn.
Even though Chicago is also in a rebuild, I think they have some
exciting players who could make it more enjoyable for Claxton, who I hope ends
up back in the playoffs soon (I felt so bad for him with how everything
deteriorated around him in Brooklyn).
With the 4th pick, they took Wilson, who was the best player
available in most individual’s opinion.
I think he’s a tad bit raw, but is an explosive athlete who knows how to
use it on both ends. Even if the jumper
doesn’t develop (I think it will be at least okay), he should be an explosive
finisher who can also handle the ball on offense. He’s a tad raw on defense (which is normal
for his age), but he projects to be a long and versatile defender who could
excel on that end of the court. There
might be some clunkiness on offense at first with how many combo forwards
Chicago has, but Wilson has the potential to be the best of the group. I’m personally lower than most on Swain, who
they drafted with the 15th pick (I had him 36th on my
board). I get the potential as a
finisher and defender, especially at his size and if the shot develops (it
could take some time), but I am concerned about the lack of defensive attention
at his age and his handle. While a
counter to the defensive inattentiveness is that he had a higher load on
offense, but I thought the attention was bad for a junior. I’m surprised that nobody is focused on the handle,
which is sloppy and results in a bunch of turnovers. Hopefully he can focus more on defense and
not have the ball in his hands in this role.
They moved the 38th pick to Indiana in exchange for 2 future
2nd round pick swaps, cash, and Kam Jones, who didn’t play much last
year but showed glimpses as a playmaker.
I think the trade is fine for them, especially if they didn’t want to
commit to a standard contract or 2-way to anyone at that point. Selling the 56th pick for some
cash is a fine way to get some cash, especially since the average result of a
draft-and-stash player drafted in the 50’s is that they never come over to the
NBA (I know Manu Ginobili was drafted 57th, but most of these guys
don’t make it in the NBA). Overall I
loved the Wilson pick, was fine with the trades, and didn’t like the Swain
pick. Grade: B
Charlotte
Hornets
Drafted
·
Hannes Steinbach (14)
·
Christian Anderson Jr. (18)
While Charlotte’s big moves came after the draft by trading LaMelo
Ball and Miles Bridges, these trades are not going to be included; that said,
they made some interesting draft selections.
Steinbach will give them another option as a big who has interesting
upside. Even if he doesn’t end up
trusting his jumper, he is a great rebounder and finisher who is also a good
mover. If he ends up gaining trust in
his jumper, he could be an even better player; at worst, he could be a good big
who can easily have a role in the league.
Anderson might not be ready for the NBA immediately due to his size and
lack of athleticism in his playing style (he demonstrated more athleticism at
the Combine), but I think he could be a good player in the league. He is a great playmaker and shooter, which
will aid his chances of playing time, though the defense could be rough for a
couple of years. That said, I think
Charlotte can afford to give him some time to develop and improve. Overall, I thought they took two players who
make sense with the team and could contribute in the short and long term. Grade: A
Cleveland
Cavaliers
Drafted
·
Meleek Thomas (34)
Acquired
·
Future 2nd round pick
Traded
·
29th pick (Alex Karaban)
Cleveland entered the draft with 1 pick and then traded down
to save money (sure, their guy was available and they got an asset, but that’s
clearly the motivation given Cleveland’s books), ending up with an interesting
choice. I am higher on Thomas than most
(I had him 19th on my board due to his shooting, competitiveness,
and potential to be a combo guard), but I think it could be a wild ride for the
first couple years due to some of his decisions on offense. He doesn’t go all the way to the paint when he
goes inside the arc and misses a lot of reads on offense, which could work
against him in Cleveland with getting playing time. I think the best bet for him contributing
initially is to utilize his off-ball shooting and have him improve as an
off-ball mover, but I fear that this won’t allow his playmaking to develop,
which I think could be interesting if he improves with that. I really like him, but I think this is going
to be an awkward fit for him to reach his ceiling. Grade: C+
Dallas
Mavericks
Drafted
·
Morez Johnson Jr. (9)
·
Sergio de Larrea (25)
·
Tobi Lawal (48)
·
Vsevolod Ischenko (56)
Traded
·
30th pick (Koa Peat)
·
2 future 2nd round picks
·
Draft rights to Melvin Ajinca (2024, 51st
pick)
·
Cash
Dallas had a very busy draft, in which things started even
before by hiring Dusty May as their head coach (I’m interested to see that
since he’s a great coach and could succeed in Dallas). They ended up drafting May’s Michigan player
Johnson with the 9th pick, which I thought might have been a tad
high (I had him 18th on my board since I think he’s raw on offense),
but I think he could be a good player in the NBA. He is a great athlete and good defender who
works really hard on both ends, which is a nice role player to have at the
start of a rebuild, especially if you’re not sure if any of the remaining
players will be stars. The biggest
question to me is his offense; while a lot of people were selling his offensive
game as one that has so much room to grow, I am concerned about it due to his
unwillingness to shoot from deep and the fact that his game is so limited on
the ball. The disconnect there is that I
am aware of the fact that most players who are drafted with underdeveloped
offensive games don’t typically end up becoming good offensive players, even if
there is upside. They then traded up
from pick 30 to 25 in exchange for 2 future 2nd round picks and the
draft rights to Ajinca, and then selected de Larrea. I’m not sure if he will come over
immediately, but I was very high on him (I had him 12th on my board)
since I think he is a good shooter and playmaker with great size. Even if he isn’t good enough to be a lead
guard, I think he will be a good 2-way combo guard. I want to love Lawal, who was drafted 48th,
solely because he went to Virginia Tech (look, there really aren’t many draft
picks from there, so I have to get excited when there are because I’m a fan of
them), but he is so raw. He’s a great
athlete, finisher, and rebounder, but I feel like he found success in college
solely because he utilized his athleticism.
At worst, he’s worth a shot in the G-League as a 2-way player. Lastly, they bought he rights to Ishchenko,
who will almost certainly be a a draft-and-stash player. He’s very raw, but he has shooting upside;
maybe he’ll develop some more internationally.
I think the draft was interesting but fine. Grade: B
Denver
Nuggets
Drafted
·
Trevon Brazile (35)
·
Bryce Hopkins (49)
Acquired
·
2 future 2nd round picks
Traded
·
Tarris Reed Jr. (26)
Denver entered the draft with two pick (one in each round),
but then traded out of the first round to almost certainly save some money and
get some assets while at it. They moved
the 26th pick in exchange for pick 35 and 2 2nd round
picks (basically they got back the 2 picks in exchange for moving down 9 picks,
which is fair value) and took Brazile. I
had a late 1st round grade on Brazile (I had him 28th on
my board), but it kind of scared me that I was as high as I was on him given
how raw he was just last year. That
said, he looks like he’s fully recovered from his injury and showcased the
athleticism, rebounding, and defensive versatility that made him an intriguing
prospect to begin with. That said, he is
still raw due to the injury he suffered; I also don’t trust the shot, which
doesn’t help matters. Either way, he
will likely be a bench player who gets some time in the G-League, which will
help him transition to the NBA. I
personally like Hopkins, who went 49th, probably more than I should,
but he is a good athlete, rebounder, and defender who I think could make it on
a roster; that said, he will likely thrive on a 2-way deal in the
G-League. Overall, I liked their draft. Grade: A-
Detroit
Pistons
Drafted
·
Ebuka Okorie (17)
·
Ugonna Onyenso (53)
Traded
·
21st pick (Karim Lopez)
·
3 future 2nd round picks
·
Cash
Detroit had interesting draft process that resulted in them
getting a player who I think could be a steal.
They gave up 3 2nd round picks to move up 4 spots (ironically
they got back those same picks by giving Memphis Isaiah Stewart, which stings a
bit but makes sense financially), and ended up getting the guy who I thought
and hoped that they would take at 21 in Okorie.
I am much higher than most on Okorie (I had him 8th on my
board) because I think he can be Collin Sexton at worst, who has been a very
good player in the NBA (albeit on bad teams, though part of that is due to bad
luck and being a part of trades to improve teams). He is a great athlete who is also an
impressive shooter and finisher. I get
concerns about his size, defense, and his playmaking (the latter is the part
that I really want him to improve on), but the scoring ability should make him find
a role in the NBA. If he develops into a
very good player, he could play alongside Cade Cunningham due to Cunningham’s
size, which I think could allow Cunningham to cut off the ball and not be as
much of a focus offensively. They ended
up buying the pick to draft Onyenso late in the second round. He’s a great shot blocker, but he needs to
improve the rest of his game if he’s going to make it in the league; at worst,
he’ll provide support for the G-League team on a 2-way deal. The Okorie deal makes me so excited for
them. Grade: A+
Golden
State Warriors
Drafted
·
Yaxel Lendeborg (11)
·
Lajae Jones (54)
With the 11th pick not being traded, Golden State
came into the draft expected to use their picks to look for depth, which they
did with the first pick by taking Lendeborg.
While I was a little lower than many on Lendeborg (I had him 23rd
on my board due to his lack of athleticism and on-ball ability compared to
other prospects in this draft), I think Golden State is a good fit for
him. Due to the makeup of the team, he
will not be required to star and will likely be expected to be more of an
off-ball option who plays hard and does a bit of everything, which I believe
feeds into his strengths. He offers
versatility on both ends and can fit easily along stars. As for Jones, he had a streaky year from 3,
but could project to be a 3-and-D wing if he develops, especially given his
size and willingness to be a role player; he will likely be on a 2-way deal,
which is the norm for the picks at this point in the draft, but his projected
role could allow him to find a role in the NBA.
Overall, their draft was solid. Grade:
B
Houston
Rockets
Drafted
·
Bruce Thornton (31)
Acquired
·
Cash
Traded
·
39th pick (Jack Kayil)
·
53rd pick (Ugonna Onyenso)
·
2029 2nd round pick (SAC)
Houston had a very busy 2nd round, as they
entered it with the 39th pick and ended with just the 31st
pick. They started by trading the 39th,
53rd, and a 2029 2nd round pick from Sacramento to get
the 31st and 55th picks.
With the 31st pick, they took Thornton, who I’m not certain
will project to be an NBA rotation player, but he does play hard on both ends
and fights for baskets in the paint and rebounds, which will make him fit well
in Houston. I think he’s more of a combo
guard than a point guard, which is concerning since he is small for that, but
he can do a lot both on and off the ball.
They ended up selling the 55th pick to the Clippers. I think Thornton is worth a shot, especially
since he fits with the team; at worst, a lot of second rounders don’t pan out,
so it’s not the end of the world. Grade:
B
Indiana
Pacers
Drafted
·
Braden Smith (38)
Traded
·
Kam Jones
·
2028 2nd round pick swap
·
2030 2nd round pick swap
·
Cash
Indiana didn’t enter the draft with any picks, but ended up trading
into the second round to get Smith. In
my opinion, Smith is the best playmaker in this class (he did break the record
for most career assists in Men’s D-I history this year) and is also a great
shooter. The problem is that he is
small, which is what prevented him from being a first-round pick. I personally view him as a player who is
worth selecting because he can star for a G-League team at worst (I viewed Ryan
Nembhard the same way last year, though I think Smith will translate into being
a slightly better shooter than Nembhard).
This is going to be an especially interesting fit because I think he can
learn a lot from Indiana’s current backup T.J. McCollum, who is one of the
better backup guards in the league and has been able to exceed expectations
defensively despite being smaller and not the best athlete. I think the pick swaps, Kam Jones (who didn’t
play a ton for a struggling Indiana team last year), and cash is a reasonable
trade. Overall it feels like a fair
bet. Grade: B+
Los
Angeles Clippers
Drafted
·
Keaton Wagler (5)
·
Baba Miller (36)
·
Nick Martinelli (55)
·
Narcisse Ngoy (57)
Acquired
·
Cash
Traded
·
Cash
The Clippers had one of the busiest drafts and utilized it
to get a bunch of depth. They drafted
Wagler 5th, which I thought was fine even though I’m notably lower
on him that most (I had him 17th on my board since I’m not certain
if he will be a point guard). While I
think he has a lower floor and ceiling than most are making him out to have, I think
he can be a good combo guard due to his passing and shooting. While he isn’t a good athlete, he has a high
IQ on both ends, which will help him out.
I think he could struggle initially against size and athleticism in the
paint, which is also something that he struggled with in college, but he should
be able to contribute outside the arc. I’m
not surprised that they were at least targeting a combo guard given that they
probably didn’t want to give up on Darius Garland yet (I wouldn’t have worried
about that given how short his tenure has been), so he should be able to fit
with this roster. In the second round,
they started by drafting Miller, who I might be irrationally high on (I have
him 14th on my board, which might make me the highest on him outside
of Miller and his family). I know that
he can’t shoot, which is why he is in the second round, but he can literally do
everything else; he is an amazing athlete, great rebounder, impressive
finisher, great defender, good passer, and has a nice handle. In my opinion, I think that he would thrive
in a role like Ron Holland has played in Detroit, which has been valuable for
Detroit. Later, they bought the 55th
pick and selected Nick Martinelli; I’m not sure how he will translate to the
league, but at least he has nice size and can shoot, which could be beneficial
in the G-League. Lastly, they traded
down from the 52nd pick to the 57th pick which they
drafted Narcisse Ngoy, who is a weird draft-and-stash player who is going to
play at Auburn this year. He wasn’t on
my radar since I thought there would be no way he’d be drafted, but we’ll see
how this works when he’s done with college.
I thought their draft was interesting.
Grade: B+
Los
Angeles Lakers
Drafted
·
Cameron Carr (24)
Acquired
·
Cash
Traded
·
Draft rights to Chinemelu Elonu (2009, 59th
pick)
·
Cash (no, this isn’t a typo)
The Lakers had a bit of an odd draft, as they ended up moving
up to the 24th pick before trying to do something late in the second
round. They moved up from the 25th
pick to the 24th pick by giving up the draft rights to Elonu (he’s
39 at this point; this trade was how I learned they still had his draft rights),
and they picked Carr at 24. I am very
high on Carr (I actually had him 10th on my draft board) due to his
shooting, handle, and athleticism (I am predicting now that he will win at
least one Slam Dunk Contest). He is
skinny and hasn’t shown much defensive effort, but I am not worried about both
of those, since players naturally get stronger once in the NBA and also improve
their defense (nobody talks about this, but almost all rookies are bad
defensively). I don’t think he’s going
to be a star given his limited playmaking, but I think he could be a very good
starter who can provide more value than a lot of 3-and-D wings due to his handle
and athleticism. I could see Luka Doncic
and Austin Reaves having some fun alongside him. For a bit of a wacky one, they bought the 56th
pick (reportedly because they wanted a falling Henri Veesaar), but then sold it
for cash as soon as Veesaar was selected at 52.
I still think they made a great selection with Carr. Grade: A+
Memphis
Grizzlies
Drafted
·
Cameron Boozer (3)
·
Karim Lopez (21)
·
Richie Saunders (32)
Acquired
·
5 future 2nd round picks
Traded
·
16th pick (Bennett Stirtz)
After Memphis seemed to be lost in the wilderness for a
little while following the shortcomings of the Ja Morant led Grizzlies, Memphis
got a potential star with Boozer, who was the best player available. I don’t think he has the upside of the top 2
picks due to the athleticism they have, but he is such a skilled player who is
super strong and has been a winner at every level he has played at. While he has done a lot of backing players
down in the post up until this point (I still think he can do some of that in
the league due to his strength), he has shown an ability to fade out of the
post and dribble out of it, which is more than a lot of players have in their
arsenal. He is a willing screener and
shooter off the ball who is willing to allow other players to shine when they
are on their game. There might be some
clunkiness on defense, but pairing him with Zach Edey will be an excellent
pairing since Edey has shown a great ability as a drop defender. I love the pairing of Boozer-Edey-Cedric
Coward; even if every member of the trio doesn’t become a star (which is a tall
task to expect), I think they have 3 high level starters with at least one
likely to make an All-Star team. While
they started with the 16th pick, they turned the 16th
pick into the 17th pick and 2 2nd round picks then turned
the 17th pick into the 21st pick and 3 more picks
(ironically, they traded those same 3 2nd round picks back to the
Pistons for Isaiah Stewart, which isn’t included in these grades, though I like
this trade for Memphis). With the 21st
pick, they took Lopez, who is definitely raw and a developmental project, but
his strength, size, movement, and upside make the potential pretty
tantalizing. Even if he is not a star (I
don’t think he will be), I could see a world where he plays a role on a team. Either way, the fact that they got him along
with 5 additional draft picks is a great bit of business. Saunders is an interesting selection with the
32nd pick given that he has a torn ACL and is already 24, but his
shooting, strength, and rebounding make me believe that he will find a role
once he recovers from his injury. I
think they had an incredible draft. Grade:
A+
Miami
Heat
Drafted
·
Ryan Conwell (37)
Acquired
·
Giannis Antetokounmpo
·
Bobby Portis
Traded
·
Tyler Herro
·
Kel’el Ware
·
Jaime Jaquez
·
Kasparas Jakucionis
·
13th pick (Nate Ament)
·
41st pick (Otega Oweh)
·
2031 1st round pick
·
2033 1st round pick
·
2030 1st round pick swap
·
2033 2nd round pick
The biggest news of the draft wasn’t any of the selection
(despite it being a great draft at the top), but was Miami acquiring
Antetokounmpo, who is still a superstar.
I know that he has dealt with some injuries over the last few years and
cannot shoot, but he is still one of the best players in the game. He is an excellent defender who is also a
great scorer and ball handler at his size, who you want to have the ball in his
hands or even cut off the ball. After living
in mediocrity for a few years, Miami got their superstar who should improve
their team at least a bit (I know their depth is shot, but there’s still the
rest of the offseason to work on that).
The fit might be a little awkward offensively with him and Bam Adebayo,
but the defense between the two of them should be fun. I also think Portis will provide value as a
scorer off the bench, though it’s possible he gets moved since the contract is
pretty big. It was a good amount that
they had to give up, but it might be worth a shot. I’m lower on Herro on most given his
struggles in the playoffs and defense, but he is a great scorer who is a
reliable player on the ball. I’m really
high on Ware due to his upside as a defender and potential floor spacer, though
he is still a little raw and never got Eric Spoelstra’s full trust during his
Heat tenure. Jaquez is a nice player due
to his scoring ability, but he also has a very streaky shot. Jakucionis has upside, but he is raw and
didn’t play much in the short term. All
the picks are part of the cost of getting Antetokounmpo, but it could be worth
it if it works. In the second round,
they traded up to get the 37th pick and selected Conwell. I think Conwell is a bit limited, but he is a
great shooter, which will have value upon getting Giannis. I think it’s a bit hard to grade the Giannis
trade now without a complete roster, so I’ll give it a B; that said, this grade
could make me look foolish in either way.
Grade: B
Milwaukee
Bucks
Drafted
·
Brayden Burries (10)
·
Nate Ament (13)
·
Malique Lewis (60)
Acquired
·
Tyler Herro
·
Kel’el Ware
·
Jaime Jaquez
·
Kasparas Jakucionis
·
2031 1st round pick
·
2033 1st round pick
·
2030 1st round pick swap
·
2033 2nd round pick
Gave Up
·
Giannis Antetokounmpo
·
Bobby Portis
·
Cash
No matter who they drafted, the biggest storyline for
Milwaukee would rightfully be trading Giannis right before the draft. I know the focus from some is that they
should have traded him a year ago, but I think that’s foolish to consider since
it didn’t happen then. They likely will
be entering a rebuild, though they did get off of Portis’ contract (it’s not
that Portis is a bad player, but he doesn’t really make sense on a rebuilding
squad). I’m lower than many on Herro,
but Herro is a great regular season player given his scoring ability and handle. While there are health issues with him, he is
a great guy to have on a team if you want a functional offense. I think he can also thrive off the ball
alongside Ryan Rollins since Herro is such a great shooter. I think Ware is an interesting piece to have
going forward; while he might not be a star, I think he will be a very good
defender and shooting big. While he’s a
little bit raw, I think he’s more ready than Miami seemed to think he was this
past year. Jaquez is a nice player who
is an aggressive scorer and improved as a playmaker; he was a nice bench player
for Miami. Jakucionis is a talented
player who is raw but has intriguing upside as a combo guard. I think he needs to improve as a playmaker,
but he has shot better than I expected. With
the trade, they also ended up with an additional lottery pick, meaning they had
picks 10 and 13. Burries ended up being
available for them with the 10th pick (I thought for sure he was
going to Dallas), and I think he will be a nice shooting guard who can sub as a
point guard at points during a game. He
is such a good shooter, finisher, and defender who showed that he is willing to
be a supporting cast member if needed; I expect he will have to play a
supporting cast role as long as Herro is still with the team. They used their second lottery pick to take
Ament, who is raw and might not have an insane ceiling, but you can see how he
can make it given how fluid and smooth of an athlete he is. He has amazing size and is a nice shooter,
but it is possible that he flames out given how raw he is. While there is a lot of focus on how skinny
he is, he reminds me a bit of a young Brandon Ingram (though not as polished),
who was insanely skinny when coming in, but that wasn’t an issue within a
couple years. The purchased the last
pick in the draft and selected Lewis, who is a little raw but has played great
in each level he has played. I think he
could be a nice role player. I think
they made some nice moves and are on their way to start their rebuild. Grade: B+
Minnesota
Timberwolves
Drafted
·
Isaiah Evans (33)
·
Trey Kaufman-Renn (59)
Acquired
·
Mo Gueye (from Chicago)
Traded
·
28th pick (Joshua Jefferson)
·
Julius Randle
The most notable moves that Minnesota made were prior to the
draft (which is included here) and after the draft (which is not going to be
included here, though the LaMelo Ball could be a fun and exciting move if he
remains healthy). The Randle trade only
made sense after they were able to trade for Ball, but it still is sad that
Randle’s value has dropped so much that he was dumped and required Minnesota to
move down in the draft. Randle is still
a good player, albeit not the best fit on a lot of rosters and on a big
contract, but I’m surprised they couldn’t find more value. Gueye (the one previously with Chicago, not the
one currently in Atlanta) probably won’t play a big role and was included to
make the trade go down. With the 33rd
pick, they took Evans, who had fallen to the 2nd round after being
invited to the Green Room for the first round (I don’t think he should have
been invited, but I also think they invite too many people each year). He’s raw, small, and an inconsistent
defender, but he is a great shooter and has improved dramatically as a
perimeter defender. I think he could
play a role for Minnesota, which they will need him to do given their depth. Kaufman-Renn, who they drafted 59th,
probably won’t be better than a backup big, but he can at least rebound while
playing hard, which could provide value while on a 2-Way contract. I’d probably raise their grade when
considering the Ball trade (I know that’s controversial, but I think it’s worth
a swing), but the Randle trade that looms feels sad. Grade: C
New
Orleans Pelicans
Drafted
·
Jaron Pierre Jr. (58)
New Orleans didn’t have a pick until the 58th
pick, and took Pierre. I think Pierre is
a fine G-League level player due to his scoring, shooting, and handle. I’m not sure if he would make it in the
league, but he is a nice player to have on a 2-way deal, especially if his
scoring can translate a bit. Grade: B
New York
Knicks
Drafted
·
Jack Kayil (39)
·
Tyler Nickel (47)
Acquired
·
2029 2nd round pick (SAC)
·
2 future 2nd round picks (PHX)
·
2 future 2nd round picks (DAL)
·
Draft rights to Melvin Ajinca (2024, 51st
pick)
·
Draft rights to Louis Labeyrie (2014, 57th
pick)
·
Draft rights to Chinemelu Elonu (2009, 59th
pick)
Traded
·
24th pick (Cameron Carr)
·
31st pick (Bruce Thornton)
·
55th pick (Nick Martinelli)
New York probably the busiest draft of all (there’s a reason
I pushed off writing this one off until the end), and it appeared to all be to
save some money. They started with the
24th pick and first traded down for the 25th pick, then
traded down for the 30th pick, and then traded out of the first
round entirely, which caused them to end up with a bunch of 2nd
round picks (including pick 47) and a bunch of draft rights (don’t hold your
breath for 39-year-old Elonu or 34-year-old Labeyrie, but maybe we could see
Ajinca at some point); that said, all of these assets can be used for moves
around the margins, which are huge when a team is expensive. Next, they traded picks 31 and 55 for picks
39 and 53, optaining another pick, before finally making their first selection
of the draft with the 39th pick and drafting Kayil. Kayil is almost certainly going to be a
draft-and-stash player, but he can shoot, pass, and defend, which is
valuable. With the 47th pick,
they took Nickel, he is a great shooter who has solid size; they certainly
could do worse with a player who will almost certainly be a 2-way player. Lastly, they sold the 53rd pick to
Detroit, ending an eventful draft.
Ultimately, they accomplished their clear goal of getting cheaper. I do wish they had gotten someone who could
be a cheap contributor immediately, but it’s not the end of the world. Grade: B-
Oklahoma
City Thunder
Drafted
·
Aday Mara (12)
·
Benett Stirtz (16)
·
Otega Oweh (41)
Acquired
·
Cash
Traded
·
17th pick (Ebuka Okorie)
·
37th pick (Ryan Conwell)
·
2 future 2nd picks
OKC had an interesting draft where they drafted some players
I wasn’t as high on but I like the picks.
I was shockingly low on Mara compared to most (I had him 33rd
because I’m not sure he’s as mobile as most make him out to be and I’m
concerned that he didn’t play that many minutes for a junior lottery pick,
making me worried about his transition to the league), but I love the fit with
Oklahoma City. I think Mara could be a
good drop defender while also showing some passing chops, which will be
valuable initially as a backup while he develops a bit. I don’t think it’s fair to call him a Victor
Wembanyama stopper because very few are, but he at least gives them another
body to throw at Wemby. While it might
be a reach to draft this kind of player at 12, they are so deep that they can
afford to use a lottery pick to take a backup.
After this, they ended up giving up the picks they received in the Aaron
Wiggins trade (as good as he is, they are so deep and getting expensive, so the
trade made sense) to move up one pick, which they used to take Stirtz. I think Stirtz is an interesting bench player
for them due to his ability to shoot very well both on and off the ball while
also making the right plays in both scenarios.
I think the most important part is that his load will be much less than
it was in college, so his efficiency could be very high. Lastly, they traded the 37th pick
down for pick 41 and some cash, which they used to draft Oweh. While I’m a little lower on him, he is an
aggressive scoring guard who will be intriguing as a 2-way player; if he can
improve his jumper and defense, he could end up finding a role on their
roster. I like the fit of the guys they
drafted, even if I was lower than consensus than each. Grade: A-
Orlando
Magic
Drafted
·
Izaiyah Nelson (51)
Acquired
·
Cash
Traded
·
46th pick (Felix Okpara)
Orlando had a fairly quiet draft, as they entered with the
46th pick, though they traded down to the 51st pick and
got some cash while at it. They took
Nelson, who will need to be on a 2-way contract for a bit to develop,
especially coming from USF, but he at least is a good athlete, rebounder, and
finisher with a high IQ on defense. I’m
not high on Nelson personally, but I think it’s a fair pick. Grade: B-
Philadelphia
76ers
Drafted
·
Labaron Philon Jr. (22)
Philadelphia had a pretty easy draft by selecting Philon,
who had fallen a little bit in my opinion.
I understand detractors who are worried about his size, defense, and
athleticism, but I think he improved so much to the point that I was expecting
he would be drafted in the lottery. His
scoring ability makes me think that he can easily find a role off the bench
pretty quickly, which will be nice for a Philadelphia team that is starved for
depth. On top of that, he is also a good
playmaker, so I think that he could help enhance star that he would be playing
alongside rather than just being a ball-stopper. I’m not certain what his ceiling is, but they
don’t necessarily need a star, not that they would find that in the draft at
this pick (I know people will cite players who were All-Stars drafted here or
later, but the average player who was the 22nd best player in the
draft is a role player who doesn’t have a long career). I know the fit might be weird given the
presence of the obviously superior Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecomb on the
roster, but Philon is talented enough that you’re fine with bringing him off
the bench for the other guys to rest; if he ends up being a star and it’s an
awkward fit, they can trade one of them down the road. I think this was a good decision. Grade: A-
Phoenix
Suns
Drafted
·
Koa Peat (30)
Gave Up
·
47th pick (Tyler Nickel)
·
2 2nd round picks
·
Cash
After reports that Phoenix was interested in entering the
first round leading up to the draft, they were able to do so by moving up from
the 47th pick (I know that it was reported that they gave up 3 picks
with one being the 47th pick, but I think of it like they gave up
cash and 2 2nd rounders to move up 17 spots). I get that Peat is raw and polarizing, but he
is strong and plays hard, which I think has a place in the league even for a
few minutes. As he continues to improve
his rebounding and dribble, I think he can gain more minutes. I also think this current iteration of
Phoenix is a nice fit for him given the competitive mindset that many of their
players have shown. I also think they’re
in good shape with depth and don’t necessarily need him to play a big role
immediately, so he can develop some. The
additional picks to trade up is a little bit of a risk, but that’s the cost of
moving up that much into the first round; I think it’s fine. Grade: B-
Portland
Trail Blazers
Portland had no picks and made no moves during the draft; as
such, they do not receive a grade. Grade:
N/A
Sacramento
Kings
Drafted
·
Darius Acuff Jr. (7)
·
Alex Karaban (29)
·
Emanuel Sharp (45)
Traded
·
34th pick (Meleek Thomas)
·
Future 2nd round pick
Sacramento was in a bit of a disaster situation entering the
offseason, as they are expensive, bad, full of players who are either
injury-prone or coming off injuries, and entering a rebuild that they created
by shooting themselves in the foot after ending their playoff drought (their
fun construction from the rebuild resulted in 1 playoff series); that said, I
think this draft represents hope going forward.
I am very high on Acuff (I think he was easily the best player outside
of the top-4) and believe that the shooting, playmaking, and scoring ability
are all real. Even if Acuff’s defense
never improves, I think he still has All-Star potential and will give
Sacramento a dose of youth and pace that it desperately needs and has been
missing ever since they unceremoniously got rid of De’Aaron Fox. While they originally had the 34th
pick, they gave up a future 2nd rounder to move up to 29th,
in which they took Karaban. I question
what Karaban can do other than shooting, but he can shoot from anywhere on the
court while also having nice size. No
matter what happens with their roster before the fall (I have no idea what it
will be), they could use shooting, and they got a sharpshooter. As for Sharp, he is a great shooter with a
nice handle, which could be nice on a 2-way despite his size; I could see him
finding minutes off the bench later in the season. I think Acuff makes this draft great, though
they also got some other nice pieces. Grade:
A
San
Antonio Spurs
Drafted
·
Jayden Quaintance (20)
·
Tarris Reed Jr. (26)
·
Ja’Kobi Gillespie (42)
·
Maliq Brown (44)
Traded
·
35th pick (Trevon Brazile)
·
2 future 2nd round picks
San Antonio clearly went into the draft with a mindset of
getting bigs, and it’s undeniable that they did that. With the 20th pick, they took
Quaintance, who could be the biggest swing of the draft given his health issues
(I had him 26th on my boards, but thought he would be a top-10
player if healthy). He is already a
great defender at the age of 18 and impressive rebounder, though several health
issues could prevent him from having a prolonged career. I think San Antonio can afford to make this
trade given their depth, though I think drafting a big is more so to get more
depth for when Victor Wembanyama is out of the game (they were a mess in the
Finals when he was off the court). They
ended up trading the 35th pick and 2 future second rounders to trade
up for the 26th pick (I would view this as giving up 2 2nd
rounders to move up from 35th to 26th, which is fair
value), and drafted another center in Reed.
I think he could be a fine second or third big in the league who could
be a very good drop defender, finisher, and rebounder; basically, I think he
could have success as a traditional big, though it’s worth noting that his
passing is improving. I think it’s odd
that they used two first round picks to draft a pair of bigs who I don’t think
will ever be able to play together, but they took two cracks at the apple to
have more bigs now and a replacement for Luke Kornet down the road. Their first 2nd round pick was
used to take Gillespie, who is a good shooter and playmaker who competes really
hard, though he is small. I’m not sure
that he will ever be a high level NBA player, but I think he could really help
the G-League team on a 2-way deal. Lastly,
they took Brown, who is a limited offensive player, but a very good defender
who has demonstrated versatility in college; if he can gain a little confidence
on offense, I could see him eventually getting an NBA contract. Their draft was a little weird at times but
was solid. Grade: B
Toronto
Raptors
Drafted
·
Allen Graves (19)
·
Jaden Bradley (50)
While there’s a case to be made that Toronto should be
targeting players at certain positions (especially centers), I think it makes
sense to draft guys who they think will play a role or are the best guys
remaining. While Graves’ analytics,
projected role, and size make him an ideal fit, I think there are concerns
about him. I think it could be alarming
how big of a jump it is going from coming off the bench at Santa Clara to
playing NBA minutes, especially on the defensive end when facing the
athleticism. While I am very low on him
(I had him 45th on my board), his size and rebounding will allow him
to at least be physical at the moment; I don’t blame Toronto for taking a shot
at him. As for Bradley, he is a talented
guard who has a nice jumper, is willing to shoot, and is a better playmaker
than he gets credit for; at worst, he could have a nice role on a G-League team
while on a 2-way deal. I think Toronto’s
draft was okay, though their first round pick might be a risk. Grade: B-
Utah Jazz
Drafted
·
Darryn Peterson (2)
Utah had a pretty quick draft, as they were done after the
second pick in the draft, which they selected Peterson. I know that Peterson is a bit polarizing due
to a difficult freshman year where he was dealing with cramping and a lack of
explosiveness, but he is one of the two best players in this class. When healthy, he is able to get to his spots
incredibly easily and score with ease. He
is an excellent shooter who I think will have more success when surrounded by
the other offensive talents he will team with in Utah. I love his fit in the backcourt in Utah; I
think that their roster construction will allow him to thrive as an off-ball
scorer and not force him to be a playmaker immediately (while he did a lot more
playmaking in high school, I think that is a work in progress). I think they will allow him to play into his
strengths initially while developing during his first couple of years. I think he was the best player remaining, so they
can’t do much better than that. Grade:
A+
Washington
Wizards
Drafted
·
AJ Dybantsa (1)
·
Felix Okpara (46)
Traded
·
51st pick (Izaiyah Nelson)
·
60th pick (Malique Lewis)
While Washington had 2 picks in this draft, the obvious focus
being on Dybantsa, who was drafted first overall. This might be an unpopular opinion, but I
don’t think they would have been wrong by drafting either Dybantsa or Darryn
Peterson (I think both are top talents), but Dybantsa is a great choice due to
his athleticism and scoring ability. He
is an elite scorer who is great at utilizing his athleticism to get to his
spots; he also is excellent at making difficult shots, though that can
sometimes result in taking more difficult shots for a younger player. I also think most of his weaknesses are ones
that are not uncommon for young players, as the shot selection, consistency of
his defensive intensity (which is better than most young players of his
pedigree who had to do everything offensively), and decision making can all
improve. I think he will be a great fit
along the Wizards because he will be able to develop a bit in an environment where
it isn’t essential for them to win a title while also playing alongside other
touted prospects and Trae Young, the latter of whom will allow him to develop
off the ball. They also traded their 2 2nd
round picks to move up to 46 and took Okpara, who is a fine defensive big and
finisher. I’m lower on him, but getting
him on a 2-way deal could help him improve and maybe become a big off the bench
in the future. That said, drafting
Dybantsa gave them an A+ instantly no matter what they did with the rest of
their draft (a joke I made about the Indiana Fever drafting Caitlin Clark was
that they could have drafted me later and gotten an A+, and I feel the same way
with this pick). Grade: A+
What draft selections did you like in this draft? Are there any grades you disagree with me on? Let me know in the comments!
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