The NBA Draft 2017 has come and gone, leaving us with 60 more or less unfamiliar names and faces and with a unprecedented collection of tasteless suit jackets, socks and shoes.
The kids have learned their next addresses and we got reminded how tall the NBA commissioner is. The collective thinking among the green room invitees and their ever-growing entourages is that they’ve made it (praise the lord). They are too green to understand that the journey has only begun and that all the shiny stuff they are going to buy as soon as the first check cashes in, it all has to be earned through the hard work in practices and in games.
For a night, it’s all pink and everybody’s dreaming, but the hard reality is that at least half of the ’17 class won’t see their second contract (some won’t make it to the first), and probably 10-15 will last at least 10 years in the NBA, in various roles. In the business of basketball, you are only worth as much as you show on the court. And in the business of sports betting, it’s never too early to get prepared for what lies ahead. It’s been a relatively quiet draft, but there were some interesting action nonetheless.
Before even the dust settles, I’ll give you a quick round up on how the teams fared in this hectic evening, so let’s find out which teams got better and which failed to do so.
Atlanta Hawks
Drafted: C John Collins (Wake Forest) at #19, PG Tyler Dorsey (Oregon) at #41 and PF Alpha Kaba (France) at #60
Grade: B-
While the Hawks picked value at their two main slots and looked for players that will go well with the rebuilding process they are entering, I believe they should have been more aggressive to move up the NBA draft and further clear out their roster, even with unfavorable deals.
Brooklyn Nets
Drafted: C Jarrett Allen (Texas) at #22, SF Aleksandar Vezenkov (Bulgaria) at #57
Grade: C
The Nets are still feeling effect of the poor management decisions of the previous era, so they got to pick much later that their record and needs indicate. They’ve addressed the immediate need with Allen replacing Lopez who has been traded to the Lakers and got one of the better Euro players, but a one who is not very likely to come to the NBA without a guaranteed contract.
Boston Celtics
Drafted: SF Jayson Tatum (Duke) at #3, SF Semi Ojeleye (SMU) at #37, PG Kadeem Allen (Arizona) at #53 and SG Jabari Bird (California) at #56
Grade: B
I’ve tried to be fair grading Celtics draft after the trade, but it will probably be rated with regard of what they could have got with Fultz or Ball at number one. Still, Tatum is a nice young player that will add points to their inconsistent wing contribution, while Ojeleye is a first rounder in my book. I’m fairly disappointed that they didn’t address rebounding and power forward position.
Charlotte Hornets
Drafted: SG Malik Monk (Kentucky) at #11 and PG Frank Jackson (Duke) at #31
Grade: A-
By drafting two big schools alumni, the Hornets are counting on the accelerated learning process with the rooks. They also needed a true shooting guard and got one of the best in Monk, so it was a good draft for Jordan’s team.
Chicago Bulls
Drafted: PF/C Lauri Markkanen (Arizona) at #7 – via trade with Minnesota
Grade: D-
The Bulls have traded away their star Jimmy Butler and their #16 pick for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the rights to select at #7, which they use to take stretch big Lauri Markkanen. They also traded their #38 pick to the Golden State Warriors for cash. Trade is surprisingly bad and there were much better players than Markkanen to be had at No. 7. He’s a prototypical stretch big that can’t give you much otherwise, and that’s pretty much they already had with Mirotic (who is a restricted FA, so perhaps they are not going to sign him up). This should be a final nail in their decision making duo’s coffin.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Drafted: –
Grade: –
The Cavaliers didn’t have any picks, but probably should have invested in youth with a trade. Still, no action, no grade.
Dallas Mavericks
Drafted: PG Dennis Smith (NC State) at #9
Grade: C-
The Mavericks went for the safe pick, as if they didn’t want to risk criticism. Let’s take a player who is supposed to be taken in top 10. Smith has ranked that high and is a decent player with some upside, but is just another undersized combo guard like so many in the NBA league. The Mavericks won’t get much with him and they failed to address their needs.
Denver Nuggets
Drafted: SF/PF Tyler Lydon (Syracuse) at #24 – via trade with Utah, SF Vlatko Cancar (Slovenia) at #49, PG Monte Morris (Iowa State) at #51
Grade: B
The Nuggets were busy looking at trade opportunities around the NBA and ultimately settled for sending their #13 pick to Utah for Trey Lyles and pick #24, where they chose to select Tyler Lydon, a forward that perfectly fits their needs. Expected move, well operated. Their second round picks are unlikely to earn the Nuggets jersey, so they could have probably sold them.
Detroit Pistons
Drafted: SG Luke Kennard (Duke) at #12
Grade: A-
Considering position they had in the NBA Draft 2017, the Pistons did a stellar job. They selected Kennard, the most natural scorer in the draft, exactly what they needed the most and at the position they have very few options.
Golden State Warriors
Drafted: PF Jordan Bell (Oregon) at #38 – via trade with Chicago
Grade: C+
The champs bought the pick and used to bolster the front court with a defensive minded guy, so there’s a lot to like. Still, Bell is only serve in a mop up duty, so it’s hard to grade their draft much above average.
Houston Rockets
Drafted: PF/C Isaiah Hartenstein (Germany) at #43
Grade: D+
The Rockets didn’t have any first round picks and with the win-now mode, they didn’t do much in the second either, drafting a stash guy who might come over as a backing stretch big in a couple of seasons.
Indiana Pacers
Drafted: PF T.J. Leaf (UCLA) at #18, C Ike Anigbogu (UCLA) at #47 and PG Edmond Sumner (Xavier) at #52
Grade: C
The Pacers could do much with their picks in this years NBA draft, so they opted to take an offensive weapon in the first and pair of players with an upside but medical concerns in the second round, minimizing the risk. Neither player improves their chances of retaining Paul George, not is a capital rebuilding stone should he leave. Also, both UCLA guys have largely benefited from having Ball around and playing in a high tempo offense, so they might struggle to replicate their college contribution.
Los Angeles Clippers
Drafted: PG Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State) at #39 – via trade with Philadelphia and SG Sindarius Thornwell (South Carolina) at #48 – via trade with Milwaukee
Grade: B-
The Clippers had no picks and came up with a couple of decent players in the second round, both of whom could crack the rotation and provide some well needed youthful energy to the veteran team.
Los Angeles Lakers
Drafted: PG Lonzo Ball (UCLA) at #2, PF Kyle Kuzma (Utah) at #27, SG Josh Hart (Villanova) at #30 – via trade with Utah, C Thomas Bryant (Indiana) at #42 – via trade with Utah
Grade: A
I like that the Lakers weren’t satisfied with their luck to get the generational leader and the future franchise face in Lonzo Ball. Trading before the NBA draft to get rid of the previous mistake and to acquire additional first round pick and more help doesn’t even get included in this grade. The Lakers traded down in first round to acquire another pick from Utah. All three first rounders are immediately ready to contribute. Amazing start by the new management.
Memphis Grizzlies
Drafted: PF Ivan Rabb (California) at #35, SF Dillon Brooks (Oregon) at #45
Grade: C+
The Grizzlies are another veteran team who had no picks, so they did a good job finding trade partners early in the second round to get in. They mostly need help at the wings, so they could have done better.
Miami Heat
Drafted: PF Edrice Adebayo (Kentucky) at #14
Grade: D+
I’m not a big fan of Adebayo and the Heat needed upgrade on almost any position, so just drafting an average player in lottery isn’t enough.
Milwaukee Bucks
Drafted: PF D.J. Wilson (Michigan) at #17, SG Sterling Brown (SMU) at #46 – via trade with Philadelphia
Grade: C+
The Bucks should be commended for being bold in the draft. They liked Wilson and took him with their first round pick. They liked Brown’s shooting more than Thornwell’s so they managed to pull the swap. Still, these two players are pretty much average and won’t quake the Bucks either way.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Drafted: C Justin Patton (Creighton) at #16
Grade: A-
This would have been an A+ grade if the Wolves had made better use of the fact that they managed to stay in the NBA draft after the big trade. Patton is set to serve as a backup, nothing wrong with that, but they could have done better. Of course, landing Butler with so few assets outside their core makes the day marvelous.
New Orleans Pelicans
Drafted: PG Frank Jackson (Duke) at #31
Grade: C
The Pels did a solid job taking the position they need and can use Jackson’s offense off the bench, so it’s a win outcome for both sides.
New York Knicks
Drafted: PG Frank Ntilikina (France) at #8, SG Damyean Dotson (Houston) at #44 and PG Ognjen Jaramaz (Serbia) at #58
Grade: D
So the rumors were true that the Knicks do like Ntilikina. I still don’t like the move. Ntilikina is an intriguing project, a poor man’s Rubio, but he would have fit much better elsewhere. The Knicks need immediate help at the point and they drafted a kid who won’t be ready for another 3 or 4 years, and might never be at a NBA required level shooting wise. It’s another thing when you use your #58 pick on Jaramaz for that he’s tall, and leave him overseas forever, and to waste #8 pick on such a raw project as Ntilikina is. Dotson may turn out to be the best pick of the three.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Drafted: SF Terrance Ferguson (Australia) at #21
Grade: C-
Ferguson has the NBA body and that’s what mostly kept him in the first round, despite the fact that he doesn’t have the required talent. Despite the pre-draft stock, this was a poor decision, but not a terrible one.
Orlando Magic
Drafted: F Jonathan Isaac (Florida State) at #6 and SF Wesley Iwundu (Kansas State) at #33
Grade: B-
I like Isaac, really do, but what’s his position and are the Magic a good team to answer this question?! They did try to find defense on the wings and managed to add a couple of players that fit the bill, so it’s a good draft. They could have done more with two first rounders and two second rounders.
Philadelphia 76ers
Drafted: PG Markelle Fultz (Washington) at #1, PF/C Anzejs Pasecniks (Latvia) at #25 – via trade with Orlando, SF Jonah Bolden (Australia) at #36, PG Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State) at #39 and SF Mathias Lessort (France) at #50
Grade: C+
Drafting first overall doesn’t automatically mean you did a great job. Yes, Fultz is a nice player who will be a star for them, but won’t have the same impact on the franchise as Ball will with the Lakers. They were played by Ball to Lakers campaign and settled for the second best thing. But the rest of the draft is what’s most troubling.
The Sixers had 4 second rounders (the so-called assets) and managed to get rid of two, but still came up with 4 players, three of which should be left abroad. The fourth, Jawun Evans, plays a position that Sixers have no minutes to give him on. The Sixers’ rise is about to happen, but they have to be smarter than this.
Phoenix Suns
Drafted: SF Josh Jackson (Kansas) at #4, SG Davon Reed (Miami) at #32 and SF Alec Peters (Valparaiso) #54
Grade: A
Well done Suns. I’m pleasantly surprised who they navigated between who’s on board and what their needs are. Jackson is a perfect player for them, brings competitiveness, versatility and big D. The two second rounders are capable wings with a lot of upside and not a lot of risk. The Suns improved their squad in the 2017 Draft.
Portland Trail Blazers
Drafted: C Zach Collins (Gonzaga) at #10 – via trade with Sacramento and PF/C Caleb Swanigan (Purdue) at #26
Grade: B
The Blazers packaged Nos. 15 and 20 to move up to get talented Collins and picked Purdue’s big man Swanigan late in the first round, so there’s a lot to like. Still, with three first round picks they wouldn’t address their forwards situation and that will haunt them in the future. Additionally, both pick will have a lot of competition for minutes and this may slow down their upside (hopefully not!)
Sacramento Kings
Drafted: PG De’Aaron Fox (Kentucky) at #5, SF Justin Jackson (North Carolina) at #15 – via trade with Portland, PF Harry Giles (Duke) at #20 – via trade with Portland and Frank Mason (Kansas) at #34
Grade: A-
For once, the Kings management kept their poise and rebuffed the critics. They were desperate for a floor leader and the culture change and they got both with Fox, adding Mason as a cheap, capable backup in the second round. Giles is also extremely talented so hopefully his knees will hold up. They could have done better at #15, but it’s still an excellent draft for Sacto. Drafting from blue collar schools did the trick.
San Antonio Spurs
Drafted: PG Derrick White (Colorado) at #29 and SF Jaron Blossomgame (Clemson) at #59
Grade: C-
The Spurs have a great reputation in the NBA for finding super value at annually low draft positions, but there’s not much to like here. White addresses immediate need for the third point guard and is a senior with just one season in Division I. They desperately tried to trade up in the draft, but failed to do so.
Toronto Raptors
Drafted: SF OG Anunoby (Indiana) at #23
Grade: B+
The Raptors have probably had a different player in mind prior to the draft and should be ecstatic to have Anunoby passed repeatedly. Even if he doesn’t play in his first season, he’s a perfect, modern NBA wing with good career in front of him.
Utah Jazz
Drafted: SG Donovan Mitchell (Louisville) at #13 – via trade with Denver, C Tony Bradley (North Carolina) at #28 – via trade with LA Lakers, PG Nigel Williams-Goss (Gonzaga) at #55
Grade: B
I’m not a big fan of making a decision based on a good combine or a workout, but the Jazz apparently liked what they saw with Mitchell and haven’t had to give up all that much to acquire rights to draft him. They added a backup center and a high IQ playmaker that knows how to win. Good job.
Washington Wizards
Drafted: –
Grade: C
The Wizards traded their one pick to the Hornets for backup point Tim Frazier. At #52, they couldn’t get much better anyway.
