Grade your teams draft

 I think I’ll have to give my nuggets an A- coming into the draft with no picks and leaving with arguably a top 10 talent is more than I could’ve hoped for.

Summary – Nuggets, A-

I give the Washington Huskies an A.

Matisse Thybulle went 20th to Philly and Jaylen Nowell 43rd to Minnesota

 Lakers getting Talen Horton Tucker was a bit confusing to me as he is not really NBA ready, I thought they were going to buy into the 2nd round to get an NBA ready guy.  I like their 2 way signing of Zach Norvelle.

I know most are claiming it’s a slam dunk A or A+ but I give it a solid B.

We gave up a whole hell of a lot to get Hunter, so he better be worth it. I thought the other picks were really well done – Reddish at 10 is great value and Fernando at 34 is also great value.

Would welcome everyone else’s thoughts on this. 

I am absolutely not big on Nassir Little but since he’s a member of the Blazers, its time to exercise some optimism. According to scouts who say he’s a steal, Portland gets an A-. I personally would’ve preferred an upper classman with a niche who I could say reliably offers that niche skill the minute he steps into the Blazers facility. We also signed Jaylen Hoard to a two way contract which I thought was very nice.

I have a feeling he’ll turn out better than Nassir also. Really not a fan of drafting people with raw talent and little feel, especially since Nassir won’t be playing much or so I’d like to think. Maybe Nassir turns out to be a steal, I’m just not keen on waiting for that day to come.

They’re not my team, but I love what the Pelicans are doing. Jaxson Hayes runs like a guard. Him with Lonzo Ball and Zion sounds like the best fast break group around. Ingram is more of a take his time guy, but you need a half court guy in there. This team just sounds fun.  

 A+

I had Ja Morant number one on my big board.  Highest UPSIDE in the draft in my opinion — even higher than Zion.  Ja is an electric playmaker, great passer and floor general with intangibles.  As a freak athlete with a good first step he could be an explosive scorer on the next level too.

With Brandon Clarke the Grizzlies are getting one of the best defenders in the draft, really good shot blocker that could translate since he has a top notch vertical and is a fast jumper.  Good rebounder.  Not much range but he finishes inside.  Ideal rim running target for Ja Morant.  I had Clarke at 10 on my board — he could be the guy the Hawks think they are getting with DeAndre Hunter.  Although both are really talented 2 way players who can defend and help out a team without being high usage.

With lots of talented guys falling, like Bol Bol going 44 winding up in Denver I think the Grizzlies should have thought about buying into the 2nd round.  Oh well.  We did good.  Although Dylan Windler could have been a perfect wing sniper for us.

I think the Grizzlies won the draft.  B+ to the Pelicans.  Pelicans took the guy they were supposed to.  Jaxson Hayes should help Zion on defense but Zion might have LESS spacing in New Orleans than he did at Duke.  NAW looks like a serviceable role player who can do some damage at both guard spots, hitting 3’s and passing although I don’t think he has the highest upside.  ZSPN has declared Mister Williamson th next Big MegaStar.  Could be too early to tell.  … I will give the Nuggets an A for going out and getting Bol Bol.  Yes, he has downside, but SO much upside to a Jokic/Bol pairing.  ‘A’ to the Pistons for getting Sekou Doumbouya.  An upside guy that I had second on my big board.  Those are probably the top draft grades.  

It took good discipline for the Wizards to not roll the dice on Reddish, but if he ends up being one of those guys who is a way better pro than collegian, we could end up regretting that one. For now, though, Haichimura was the safe pick and probably the right call. He fits well with our personnel and could be a solid replacement to any of our forwards that end up not getting re-signed.

I liked the move to trade into the second round for Schofield, too. Clearly the (interim) front office wants an infusion of effort and energy, and they certainly got some through the draft. If I’m nitpicking, though, I would’ve preferred them to make a move for a big like Fernando given how much value he had falling to the second round. 

Overall, I’d give them a B. No home run picks or steals, but two solid guys who should make an impact. 

 Heat: B+

Tyler Herro instantly gives us a free throw shooter we desperately needed. Apart from that, he can shoot anywhere whether off the catch or off the dribble and he’s a hardworker( requirements to the HEATCulture ) and Okpala is also a nice add as a lengthy 6’8" wing who can drive, shoot and play defense. Overall, we did great but could’ve have been better.

 I’ll give the Toronto Raptors a solid B. Picking at 59 your pretty much just taking a wild guess but they took a guy who they can try to develop into a role through the G-League. Dewan Hernandez was a top 25 recruit and 1st round type talent back when his name was Dewan Huell. He sat out his Junior season at Miami due to NCAA shananigans which was supposed to be his breakout year. 

Warriors reached drafting SG Jordan Poole with the 28th pick. I think Poole was late 30s to mid 40s for most teams.  Also it could mean 2018 1st round pick, SG Jacob Evans didnt develop they way the Warriors hoped. Wings will be a position of need next season tho. 

Also why did the Warriors have to trade with NO for they’re own G league player – Alen Smailagic, of the Santa Cruz Warriors. 

I do like the pick of Eric Paschall, a proven winner, short PF, that can defend, shoot. 

 Not sure what to make of the Pistons draft. Doumbouya is a year or 2 away from being a true NBA player, but has good upside. Sirvydis is a shooter, but not much else. Roby – I don’t know much about him to be honest. Looks like a typical stretch 4 type. Bone I like at the back end of the draft. Althetic, quick PG that looks after the ball well. Ideal change of pace guard. I give the Pistons a B+.

 As a Suns fan I’d say C, it would have been a D but for getting Saric. We traded away TJ Warren who is a solid contributor and on a reasonable deal. He then took on Aaron Baynes’ deal from Boston who we will likely end up being bought out as he’d probably want to be on a contender. This has gifted Danny Ainge extra cap space to maybe chase D-Lo if Brooklyn get Kyrie!

 Jazz B+, getting Conley is a big plus and we gave up 3 players that can be replaced without too much trouble. Korver may retire, Crowder is solid but too inconsistant, Allan is talented but not a big contributor yet and who knows if he will. The two picks are in the 20’s and that usually doesn’t amount to much. 

Conley is a 20 + point scorer, great leader, good defender, just what the Jazz need.  Time will tell but this year should be a good one. 

Okeke was the biggest reason Auburn made a run to the final 4. He exhibits a nice feel for the game, can shoot it, has good physical tools, and just seems to be the type of guy teams covet in the modern game. Switchy, good range, smart.

I’m not worried about his ACL impacting his long term prospects. Orlando can take their time with him, and integrate him with regular minutes when his knee is ready. 

Good pick up.

Langford, Williams, Edwards, and Waters are guys that you could see excelling running alongside Tatum.  Williams is a guy that I was high on he’s a hopper. Langford questions remain about his shooting but I think he’s somewhere in between his injured self at Indiana and what made him a top prospect in high school. Edwards is a microwave scorer and pairing him with smart could be entertains though he is lacking in the creating for others part in his game. Waters was really the only pick I wasn’t high on  but drafting that late it’s a risk anyway.

Mavs C
Roby probably gonna make it to the league though I am not sure he will stick there for long. But that isn’t bad for 2nd rounder
But Sirvydis/Gafford/Schofield/Bol Bol were all available at 37 and I liked them all much more and we traded down. Not sure I like that

#19 samanic – raw prospect but seems to have intrigued tool set and someone able to develop into nice modern streach 4, didn’t saw much different between him and Sekou Doumbouya who went #15…

#29 Johnson – seems like a no brainier at that spot and a good chance to become a solid two way player, like him more as a wing prospect than Lonnie Walker who we got #18 last year…

#49 Weatherspoon – seams like a polish combo guard, not much upside, but someone who could become a rotation player and maybe to replace Bryn Forbes if we decided not to keep him…

 Sixers get a D- from me.

staging.nbadraft.net/forum/howd-your-team-do#comment-850731

Here is my explanation from a previous post.

 Bulls B+

Kinda upset they couldn’t make a move for the Pelicans pick at #4 but in the end they didnt have enough ammo, compared to ATL. 

I like Coby White’s change of pace ability on this team and hopefully Coach Boylen loosens up the reins and lets these players run. He’s also insurance for any possible  injuries to either Lavine or Dunn. All the shooters on the team matched with his driving ability is going to be deadly. I can see the Bulls grabbing a 7 or 8 seed next year if everyone stays healthy.

Gafford was a really good pick too, he brings a higher level of athleticism and aggressiveness to the frontcourt of Carter and Lauri. If he can learn to stay out of foul trouble he could be something like Derrick Favors

But hands down, ATL won this draft. I’m becoming a fan of this team, and Schlenk as a GM. He’s not afraid to go after who he likes but still makes smart moves. Their offense is going to be potent and their defense just got a lot better. Go Hawks