Draft Grade Additions Analysis



B 19. John Collins

41. Tyler Dorsey

60. Alpha Kaba

With the addition by subtraction trade of Dwight Howard and the impending free agency of Paul Millsap, the Hawks’ frontcourt cupboard looks to be a little bare for next season. ATL didn’t have any lottery picks to dramatically shake things up with, but they were able to land Wake Forest big man, John Collins at 19, who was good value at the pick. Collins is a good inside scorer who helps put another body in this sparse frontcourt. The Hawks also took Tyler Dorsey in the second round, a great shooter and shot creator who could definitely find a permanent role off the Atlanta bench providing a spark offensively. Finally, the Hawks capped off the draft with the selection of "Mr Irrelevant" Alpha Kaba, a power forward with a 7’5” wingspan and a small forward mindset. The odds are against Kaba ever making it in the league, but his physical attributes give him a chance.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis

B 3. Jayson Tatum

37. Semi Ojeleye Apparently, it ain’t easy being green with regards to the NBA draft as two of the top 5 talents available (Ball and Jackson) refused to workout for the Celtics. After flying across the country, Celtics brass were told they were not invited to watch Jackson workout, as BJ Armstrong didn’t see Boston being a good fit for his client as they already have a similar player in Jaylen Brown. The Celtics settled on a guy they absolutely loved at 3 in Jayson Tatum, someone who has as solid a floor as anyone in the draft. While he may not have the franchise altering talent you normally want out of a top 3 pick, he can develop into an all star level guy in the future. At #37, they grabbed Semi Ojeleye, a guy who improved a lot in the past year, and despite being a bit of a tweener could stick with the team and challenge for minutes.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis

B+ 22. Jarrett Allen A true project, Allen slid a little more than he would’ve liked, being picked after most of the rest of the green room attendees, but he ended up on a team that could really use a high-potential guy in Brooklyn. With little talent on board, young or otherwise, they will certainly be hoping to develop Allen into a more skilled and consistent player whose massive wingspan and athleticism will allow him to be dominant in a few years. While there’s a lot of risk involved with taking a guy as raw as Allen, the upside is so great that taking him when he falls is a no-brainer for the Nets.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



A 11. Malik Monk

40. Dwayne Bacon The Hornets lucked into one of the best value picks of the draft with Malik Monk falling to them at 11. Possibly the best go to scorer in this draft, Monk should pair with Kemba Walker to form an exciting backcourt. At 6’3”, Monk has point guard size, but is an explosive athlete; and can just flat-out put the ball in the basket. This pick could turn out to be a steal as Monk was seen by some as a mid-lottery level talent. Bacon is an older wing but possesses excellent versatility and athleticism. Teams had some medical concerns that may have cost him a few spots on draft night.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis

F 7. Lauri Markkanen

Zach LaVine (from Timberwolves)

Kris Dunn (from Timberwolves) The Bulls claimed that the Minnesota deal was the best one that came along, so the question must be asked, why did they feel compelled to deal Butler for pennies on the dollar? Was there not a better offer in the past year? Stars should not be moved for pu pu platters. Would a better offer not have come? They did not simply acquire the 7th pick, they essentially only climbed up from 16 to 7, and gave up a dominant two way player for a couple of unknowns (LaVine coming off an injury, and Dunn a miserable rookie season) Jimmy Butler is considered by many as a legitimate top 15 player in the league. Two way players of his caliber are generally not given away for so little. Dunn and LaVine, in particular, are talented young guys who could form an exciting backcourt for the Bulls. But there’s no guarantee either will become an effective starter, much less star going forward. While Markkanen has offensive potential, there were better prospects on the board, or to target (Josh Jackson) using Butler. They came very close to netting the 3rd pick for Butler, and were prepared to take Tatum, which would have been a better option than what they received. The kicker being that they (a major market team no less) sold their number 38th pick to the Warriors for 3.5 million, which became Jordan Bell, instead of keeping the pick. This trade could ultimately work out better for the Bulls than anyone expects. But it would certainly appear that the Bulls parted ways with their franchise player for little in return.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



I No picks The Cavaliers had no picks coming into the draft and decided to keep it that way. They apparently tried to work out a deal for Ivan Rabb suring the draft, but not having a GM apparently made that tricky . They will attempt to make upgrades to their team via trades and free agency.

Dallas Draft Grade Additions Analysis



A 9. Dennis Smith An excellent pick here. The Mavericks not only took the best player available, but he is exactly the backcourt upgrade they needed. A bit of a wildcard as there are concerns about laziness, but the talent is unmistakable if he challenges himself. The Mavs were one of the worst fast break teams in the league last season, and Smith gives them an immediate boost with his gifted athleticism and combination of scoring and playmaking. An immediate ROY candidate. Smith needs to improve his defensive effort and ease questions about his leadership skills, but if he can put it all together, he could very well emerge as the best guard from the entire draft.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



C+ Trey Lyles (from Jazz),

24. Tyler Lydon (from Jazz)

49. Vlatko Cancar

51. Monte Morris There’s no two ways about it, the Nuggets had a disappointing draft. They were in a tough spot as the draft clearly had a talent shelf that dropped off a spot or two before their selection. They probably should have made a bigger push for Jimmy Butler, instead of allowing him to go to a division rival, for apparently a low value haul. Another option would have been a stronger attempt to move up to 10 and grab Collins or Monk. Taking Donovan Mitchell or Bam Adebayo at 13 were difficult due to having similar types of players in Gary Harris and Kenneth Faried. The Nuggets traded the 13th pick, landing Trey Lyles and Tyler Lydon, both of which will spread the floor to complement Nikola Jokic in the frontcourt. Lyles may actually turn out to be a solid addition for them, but lacks the pop to inspire fans regarding their draft. Cancar is a versatile forward that can shoot it and make plays with the ball, but may struggle to fit a position at the NBA level. Monte Morris could provide value in the mid-second round as an efficient backup point guard off the bench.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



C+ 12. Luke Kennard The Pistons took the Duke shooting guard with their lone pick, and in the wake of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s potential in free agency, Kennard could see a lot of playing time from day one. He’s a talented shot creator and shooter, and the Pistons are surely hoping that his contributions on offense far outweigh his shortcomings on defense. His 38.5 inch vertical is probably a bit misleading as he’s really not the most athletic player in a basketball setting. In fairness to Detroit, they were likely drafting 12th in an 11 prospect draft.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



A- 38. Jordan Bell (from Bulls) An almost impossibly talented Warriors team just got even better with the addition of Jordan Bell, at the same 38th pick they added Patrick McCaw a year ago. The Dubs bought the pick for a reported 3.5 million. The move prompted some to question why other teams around the league would even allow them to do this. If there was one area that the Warriors needed to address on Thursday it was protecting the rim and depth at the center position with free agency potentially costing them centers Zaza Pachulia and Javale McGee. With Bell, Steve Kerr adds an undersized center, but he’s long, athletic and brings terrific defensive versatility and energy on the glass. The Warriors apparently "rang the Bell" once again adding quite possibly the highest motor guy in the entire draft.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



A- 43. Isaiah Hartenstein Houston’s first rounder went to the Lakers for Louis Williams. Hartenstein apparently fell from his first round projections due to medical concerns (leg and back). With an enticing set of physical tools, and potential, Houston likely landed one of the draft best value picks at 43. It is clear that the Rockets need help defensively both on the perimeter and inside and Hartenstein provides potential as a decent pick and roll, mobile big man. If he can iron out the wrinkles to his game, namely getting his body healthy and fixing his guide hand issues on his shot, he can become an excellent fit for Mike D’Antoni in Houston.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis

B 18. TJ Leaf

47. Ike Anigbogu

52. Edmond Summer

The headline for the Pacers’ draft is all about Paul George and the fact that he’s still a Pacer after the draft. But within the draft itself, the Pacers made an interesting mix of selections. At #18, the Pacers took TJ Leaf, an intriguing power forward prospect with tremendous athleticism and face up game, but a guy who may struggle to bring the Pacers an element of toughness inside. Offensively, it will be interesting to see how Leaf and Myles Turner gel. In the second round, the Pacers seem to have knocked it out of the park. First they used their own pick to grab Ike Anigbogu, a second UCLA big man who was getting first round buzz but fell due to injury (and skill) concerns. In the Bismack Biyombo mold, his wingspan stretches to a ridiculous 7’6”, so in spite of his lack of consistent minutes last season, he is still looked at as a project who could develop into a rim protector in the future. Finally, the Pacers also traded cash considerations for the rights to Edmond Summer, a well-rounded shooting guard from Xavier who could crack the rotation as well.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



B+ 39. Juwan Evans (from Sixers)

48. Sindarius Thornwell (from Bucks) Evans was a Clipper target since long before "the godfather", Jerry West arrived. He was considered a potential first-rounder who struggled in pre-draft workouts, as his lack of size lowered his draft stock. However, Evans will thrive as a backup ball handler in the league with his scoring and playmaking ability. Thornwell is a versatile wing who can handle the ball and score in a variety of ways. His lack of top-level athleticism limits his potential, but he is a solid "heart and soul" type addition for an aging team like the Clippers.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



A- 2. Lonzo Ball

27. Kyle Kuzma

30. Josh Hart (from Jazz)

42. Thomas Bryant (from Jazz) Despite some late rumors that the Lakers would not take the anticipated route with the number two pick, Lavar Ball was right all along. He may not have as high upside as other prospects in the draft, but the Lakers get their point guard of the future, which is was their biggest need. Ball will immediately make the Lakers offense much more efficient, along with the addition of Brook Lopez underneath, and provide an upgrade in leadership over D’Angelo Russell. Kyle Kuzma was one of our favorite first round sleepers as he has a great deal of talent, despite the lack of efficiency at Utah. The Lakers also needed upgrades on the defensive end and smartly addressed this area by taking an already excellent defender in Josh Hart and another high upside defensive player with excellent offensive versatility. Bryant is a work in progress but plays with a lot of emotion on both ends and has could be molded into a contributor if he’s focused. It is safe to say that the Lakers’ first draft in the Magic Johnson era was a successful one.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



B+ 35. Ivan Rabb (from Magic),

45. Dillon Brooks (from Rockets) The Grizzlies continue to get older each and every season. At some point, they will need to start planning for the future and begin adding some young talent to the roster. This year, they were in no mans land, however, as they were in a difficult position to add an immediate impact young player from the draft. All things considered they did well adding a guy we graded out as a first rounder. Ivan Rabb is a very good rebounder, but his ability to stretch the floor and be offensive fit in the modern NBA is still a work in progress. However, he has talent around the basket and should be a decent scorer on the block if he can add strength. The Grizzlies needed wing scoring, and they somewhat addressed this by taking Dillon Brooks. He will not be quite the same offensive threat in the pros as he was so frequently at Oregon, but his skill set should fit in nicely in Memphis.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



A- 14. Bam Adebayo The Heat elected to keep their lone pick at the tail end of the lottery, and with it, they chose Bam Adebayo. The big man is tough and defensive-minded and will be able to learn a lot from Hassan Whiteside, whom he may even be able to play alongside. Adebayo has the physical tools and the motor to be a successful backup big man in the league, at the very least. If he can continue to progress as an offensive player, he could carve out a starter role eventually.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



B- 17. DJ Wilson

46. Sterling Brown

50. The Bucks selected a guy who exploded onto the draft scene this season and in workouts in DJ Wilson. He’s raw for his age and may take a while to figure things out, but his skill set fits in well with his length and ability to stretch the floor. The athletic face up 4 could fit in quite nicely in the Bucks’ talented offense, and fills a need with the imminent departure of Greg Monroe. In the second round, the Bucks took Sindarius Thornwell, but then shipped him to the Clippers. Brown is Shannon’s less athletic younger brother but is gritty.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis





A Jimmy Butler (trade)

16. Justin Patton (from Bulls) Minnesota was one of the biggest winners of this year’s draft. The Wolves sent Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and draft rights to 7th pick Lauri Markkanen to Chicago for one of the best current two-way players in the game in Jimmy Butler. The Wolves needed a veteran star to help their young core put it all together, and Butler should thrive in that role. Justin Patton at 16 has solid upside as well, so the Wolves add value for both next year and in the future. Suddenly Tom Thibodeau’s budding young squad finally looks like a legitimate playoff team.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



B- 31. Frank Jackson (from Hornets) The Pelicans had only one pick in this year’s draft, and by this point all of the more talented playmaking guards were off the board. Jackson, however, gives the Pelicans a solid additional playmaker in the backcourt around the All-Star frontcourt duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. Jackson, while not really a true point guard, has a chance to be a nice rotational player off the bench for the Pelicans if his jumper translates.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



B 8. Frank Ntilikina

58. Ognjen Jaramaz Knicks owner James Dolan is too busy with Blues shows to care about the draft, and their President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson falls asleep during workouts and the NBA combine, not exactly a great look New York. A lot was made of the Knicks’ decision to possibly move Kristaps Porzingis, but ultimately, nobody offered the Zen Master what he wanted on draft night. The Knicks added French point guard Frank Ntilikina with the 8th pick, a solid choice that nabs a talented point guard who actually fits the triangle offense. But did they pass up a future star in Dennis Smith? At the end of the second round, the Knicks took a long and athletic point guard prospect from Europe in Ognjen Jaramaz who may not join the league for a few years, but impressed scouts in Treviso at the Eurocamp with his leadership. The question must be asked, is Phil’s commitment to the triangle costing the Knicks in talent both in the draft and in the open free agent market?

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



B 21. Terrance Ferguson Oklahoma City’s biggest need this often season has been clear for a while now: surround Russell Westbrook with secondary scoring and perimeter shooting. Terrance Ferguson will take a couple of years to develop, but he has the chance to thrive in this role as he matures physically. Ferguson can really get going from the outside, and he will have the opportunity to put his shooting on display immediately with Westbrook facilitating. Having an athlete and scorer on the floor like Ferguson will definitely help to alleviate some of the scoring load that Westbrook shoulders.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis

A 6. Jonathan Isaac

33. Wesley Iwundu

2020 1st round pick (for 25 Pasecniks)

2020 2nd round pick The Magic made an excellent decision in taking talented Florida State product, Jonathan Isaac at 6. While he didn’t always show consistent energy and aggressiveness and wouldn’t be categorized as an alpha, a la Josh Jackson, his skill and athletic upside is as high as anyone in this draft class. He fits the mold of a bigman who had a late growth spurt, a la the Uni-brow, and retained his guard skills. Wesley Iwundu is a late bloomer who defends well and can operate as a secondary scoring option. And finally, the Magic pulled in a couple of picks in three drafts from now. John Hammond has proven to be one of the best GMs at finding talent via the draft.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis





B+ 1. Markelle Fultz

25. Anzejs Pasecniks

36. Jonah Bolden

Mathias Lessort The 76ers made a bold move in giving up a future pick to add the what they saw as the premiere talent, and best fit for them in the draft. Is Fultz can’t miss at 1? No. But he’s got the potential to be a Harden type of dynamic offensive talent. And you could not have manufactured a better fit for the team on paper. They followed that up with three guys which included a trio of international big men and a pair of guards. Pasecniks, who was taken in the late first round following a trade with Orlando, has an intriguing set of skills, but may have been a bit of a reach at 25. 7’2 centers aren’t exactly in vogue in the NBA nowadays, and while he does have solid fluidity, it remains to be seen whether he can react to plays at the NBA level. Boldin is a late bloomer who fits today’s NBA with his ability to knock down outside shots. And finally, Lessort is a bouncy French big who could make the league in a few years if his skills can develop.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



A 4. Josh Jackson

32. Davon Reed

54. Alec Peters The Suns had themselves a very nice draft. They should be ecstatic to have Jackson fall to them at four. Danny Ainge’s loss will likely be his disciple (Suns GM) Ryan McDonough’s gain. The Suns needed an upgrade at talent on the wing, particularly on the defensive end, which is what Jackson does best at this stage while providing future All-star upside. Davon Reed at 32 is solid 3 and D prospect adding depth to an exciting young guard corps in Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker, and Brandon Knight. Alec Peters gives the Suns a much-needed shooter to space the floor and complement the abundance of athletic perimeter players on the roster. The Suns continue to add to their young core, and they look like one of the more exciting, young teams in the league.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis

A- 10. Zach Collins (from Kings)

26. Caleb Swanigan The Blazers needed frontcourt depth behind Jusuf Nurkic to complement their electric backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and they got just that with their two first round additions. Credit them for being aggressive and moving into the top 10 with two mid-first rounders. Gm Neil Olshey has proven to be a very good draft talent evaluator, now if only he could stop treating free agency like a billionaire’s wife at Bloomingdales. Portland got themselves the better end of the trade in adding Zach Collins at number 10 in exchange for sending picks 15 and 20 to Sacramento. Collins has a chance to be the best big man from this draft class with his ability to alter shots at the rim and space the floor offensively. Swanigan on the other hand does not offer the same type of upside, but he is an outstanding rebounder and will provide offensive versatility off the bench.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



B 5. De'Aaron Fox

15. Justin Jackson (from Blazers),

20. Harry Giles (from Blazers)

34. Frank Mason III There was a "brand name" feel to the Kings’ draft this year. The Knicks took as many big names from big programs as humanly possible, even adding NCAA player of the Year Frank Mason with the 34th pick. De’Aaron Fox was a great pick for the Kings to give them an explosive playmaking point guard that has All-star upside. Fox will be an excellent complement to Buddy Hield’s perimeter shooting ability. However, the Kings’ decision to give up arguably the most intriguing big man in the draft in Zach Collins at number ten, for Justin Jackson and Harry Giles and 15 and 20 via the Trailblazers was a bit controversial. Jackson provides them with a knockdown perimeter shooter that has shown flashes on the defensive end, but may struggle to stick as a starter. While Mason will add toughness and perimeter shooting as a secondary ball handler, despite size concerns. Giles is the wild card, as a super talented young big man, but it is uncertain whether he will ever return to the type of standout he was before the knee injuries. This trade could wind up paying off, but it seems risky at the moment, especially for a franchise that has not had much success in recent years with high-risk prospects.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



B 29. Derrick White

59. Jaron Blossomgame San Antonio has had a knack for developing lower draft picks into quality players over the years. The Spurs took a great fit in Derrick White, who ascended up draft boards in the weeks before draft night. White is the type of old-school, skilled, versatile guard that will fit in perfectly with Greg Popovich and company. Jaron Blossomgame, while a questionable perimeter shooter, adds speed and athleticism off the bench. Blossomgame can be a lethal weapon in transition, an area where the Spurs ranked near the bottom of the league last year, and develop into a solid multi-positional defender.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



C- 23. OG Anunoby Raptor first rounder OG Anunoby’s physical tools are what jumps off the page, with his 7’2” wingspan and leaping ability. His skillset is somewhat limited, especially on the offensive end, but he is versatile enough to play either forward position and can has the potential to be a superb perimeter defender. Ultimately, his medical concerns make him a risky selection. The Raptors already have scoring punch in DeRozan and Lowry so Anunoby’s potential as a defensive stopper makes him a solid fit. There’s still a lot of risk involved in taking Anunoby, but as one of the more balanced teams in the league, they can afford to take a flier on a guy like Anunoby. I’m not sold on him being proficient enough offensively to be a big contributor whether healthy or unhealthy, but there were plenty of "sexy bloggers" that loved this pick.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis



B 13. Donovan Mitchell (from Nuggets),

28. Tony Bradley (from Lakers)

55. Nigel Williams-Goss The Jazz could be in for some major roster turnover with the potential of Gordon Hayward, George Hill, and Joe Ingles to bolt in free agency. Credit them for being aggressive and landing Donovan Mitchell, who will provide immediate energy on both ends of the court. He is an outstanding defender with elite length and athleticism, and he possesses the kind of microwave scoring ability that screams NBA sixth man. Tony Bradley is an excellent rebounder, but he could have benefited from spending another year to develop at UNC. Williams-Goss will have a chance to develop into a quality backup lead guard in the league, if his lack of quickness and athleticism doesn’t prove to be too big a detriment.

Draft Grade Additions Analysis