Grading The 2011 NBA Draft
The goals of the NBA Draft should be about improving your team first, assembling good talent or improving the depth of your team in a positive way.
In assigning letter grades to the teams, improving your team earns the most consideration. The quality of the players added helps a grade and adding too much depth decreases a grade.
With that in mind here is how the 2011 NBA Draft graded out:
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| Round 1: No picks. Round 2: Keith Benson (48) |
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| Thoughts: The Hawks were a team that really spent a lot of time looking at this draft and were active in trying to secure additional draft picks, but at the end of the day they were not successful. The Hawks dealt their first round draft pick to Washington at the trade deadline to land Kirk Hinrich, so they had no options in the first round.In the second round they scooped up Benson, who underwhelmed in the workout process and is a marginal pickup at best. Benson has size, something the Hawks desperately needed, but for a team with almost no roster flexibility, they missed an opportunity to add cheap talent, which brought their overall grade down. |
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| Round 1: JaJuan Johnson (27, acquired via New Jersey) Round 2: E’Twaun Moore (55) |
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| Thoughts: Leave it to the Celtics to draft some of the older players in the class, both Johnson and Moore are 22yr old Seniors, making them the elder statesmen of a draft filled with 19 and 20 year olds.Johnson was highly underrated through this draft process and is a very good pick up for the Celtics. He is someone that could play right away and that’s really what Boston needed was reinforcements with fresh legs.Moore is a bit more of a project in that he is not excessively skilled. He does a lot of thing well, but is not great at anything. His career will be more of a bench guy, but everyone who worked him out raved about his competitiveness and his desire, so that should fit in nicely in Boston.
Considering what Boston had to work with, they came away with two pieces that fit. |
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| Round 1: Bismack Biyombo (7, acquired via Sacramento), Kemba Walker (9) Round 2: No picks. |
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| Thoughts: The Bobcats were part of the three-team trade with Milwaukee and Sacramento that sent out Stephen Jackson, Shaun Livingston and the 19th picks and got back Corey Maggette and the 7th pick. Maggette should fit right in with Charlotte, he was miserable in Milwaukee and he is thrilled about being a Bobcat.The deal on the surface also shed $2.5 million in contract money and set the Bobcats up for a solid draft.
With the #7 the Bobcats picked Biyombo, who everyone fell in love with during a last minute workout the day before the draft. Biyombo is a defensive monster and in time could evolve into a very good player. He is smart, he is humble and likes to put in work so that should add a lot to the Bobcats culture. With the 9th pick the Bobcats landed Walker, who is going to be a great addition. Walker adds leadership, poise and an explosive offensive game to a Cats team that wants to be up-tempo. Overall this was a solid draft for the Bobcats, there are some issues surrounding Biyombo’s contract, he is going to have to sue his way to a full release, so until that’s resolved the Bobcats’ grade take a small hit, mainly because there is a chance Biyombo is not in uniform next season and that would mean they used the #7 on a player for next year and that’s a tough one to grade. |
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| Round 1: Nikola Mirotic (23, rights via Houston via Orlando via Phoenix), Jimmy Butler (30) Round 2: No picks. |
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| Thoughts: The Bulls made it clear they would come out of this draft with one player for this year and that meant taking an International player or trading a pick. They actually ended up doing both.The Houston Rockets traded the draft rights to Nikola Mirotic to Chicago after obtaining him a few moments earlier from Minnesota. The net gain is Chicago now holds the draft rights to arguably one of most NBA-ready players from the International ranks, the problem is he signed a new deal with Real Madrid last summer to increase his annual salary and now he has a hefty buyout that will keep him abroad for at least two more seasons. This was a great deferment pick because Mirotic is ready to play now and will only get better as he plays in Europe, assuming he stays healthy.With the last pick in the first round the Bulls nabbed Butler, who is a perfect fit for Chicago. He is a defensive oriented wing that can guard multiple positions and he is a very good shooter. Butler is a great locker room presence and he is a graduating senior, so he is not some young guy that needs time to develop, Jimmy can contribute right away.
Overall this was a “mission-accomplished” draft, the Bulls differed a pick and landed a player that helps them right away. |
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| Round 1: Kyrie Irving (1, via LA Clippers), Tristan Thompson (No. 4) Round 2: Milan Macvan (54, acquired via Oklahoma City via Miami) |
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| Thoughts: On the surface the Cleveland Cavaliers may have shocked some people taking Tristan Thompson with the fourth pick, but as a combined draft picture, the Cavs did well for themselves.With the top pick the Cavaliers took Kyrie Irving, and from a best prospect available stance, Kyrie was hands down the best option. Irving is an above average shooter. He runs a team well. He is great at change of direction and change of speed which are critical skills in the NBA.Thompson at #4 might be viewed as a reach, but according to several teams teams Thompson graded out on the advanced analytics side so much better than almost anyone in the class, there was a real sense that Thompson could have the biggest upside of anyone in the draft and his game compliments what’s already in Cleveland in JJ Hickson and Anderson Varejao perfectly.
Macvan is more of a deferment, he may never play in the NBA, but he is a decent low post bruiser. He is a tough and rugged rebounder, so he’ll be someone worth watching, but the odds he plays for the Cavs is pretty slim. Overall Cleveland improved their team in this draft. They may not have selected the sexiest of picks, but their starting five is far more respectable today and they have a young core now that can grow together. |
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| Round 1: No picks. Round 2: No picks. |
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| Thoughts: The Dallas Mavericks needed a young guy like they needed a hole in the head, so it was no surprise to see them deal the 26th pick. The surprise comes from the fact that they were able to obtain Rudy Fernandez from Portland for such a low pick in a weak draft class.Fernandez was never happy in Portland, so this was a dump by the Blazers that the Mavericks reaped the benefits from.The Mavericks drafted Targuy Ngombo with the 57th pick and dealt him to Portland, who then moved him to Minnesota. There has been some controversy on this one, because it turns out that Ngombo was not draft eligible and just shy of 30 years old. Somehow his filing to the NBA stated his age at 22, which has since been proven as wrong.
At the end of the day the Mavericks did well in this draft, they flipped the 26 for a player that can help them right away and they did not hang on to a problem, moving it on to another team, so another good draft. |
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| Round 1: Kenneth Faried (22), Jordan Hamilton (26, acquired via Dallas) Round 2: Chukwudiebere Maduabum (56) |
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| Thoughts: The Nuggets were busy on draft night, they consummated a trade with Portland and Dallas which landed them Andre Miller, the rights to pick #26 (Jordan Hamilton), and a future 2nd rounder in exchange for Raymond Felton who landed in Portland.From the draft, Faried and Hamilton were both good picks. Faried brings a tough physical game to the Nuggets. He is a good rebounder with a high motor. He is a little raw offensively, but he can really mix it up on the boards and on defense which is an area the Nuggets had targeted at the start of this process.Hamilton refused to workout with the New York Knicks, saying he was too similar as a player to Carmelo Anthony, which is ironic considered he landed in Denver. Hamilton is an impact scorer. He is very versatile in his game.
Hamilton did not handle the workout process well which is why he slipped to 26, there were rumors of attitude and professionalism issues, so hopefully he puts that behind him now that he has been drafted. Chukwudiebere or “Chu-Chu” as he is called in international circles is a project pick. Nuggets GM Masai Ujri is heavily involved in grassroots basketball in Africa and Chu Chu is a player Ujri has had an eye on for a while. Chu Chu played three games last season in the D-League, recording 23 minutes of game time, knocking in just two points and grabbed one rebound in three games and was drafted. Don’t expect him in a Nuggets uniform anytime soon. Overall this was a good draft for Denver. They got a true defensive minded forward. They got a tremendous offensive player in Hamilton. Their trade removed some of the long jam for starters’ minutes at the point guard spot and they obtained a kid whose name no one can pronounce. |
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| Round 1: Brandon Knight (8) Round 2: Kyle Singler (33, acquired via Toronto), Vernon Macklin (52) |
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| Thoughts: Getting Brandon Knight at #8 was a steal for the Pistons. The problem is he plays like a lot of guys they have on the roster already. Fitting him in and getting him minutes especially as a rookie is going to be a challenge, unless the Pistons trigger a trade to remove some of the log jam. As a player Knight slipped to #8 for a couple of reasons, most notably he refused to workout on teams’ terms. Utah soured on him based on how he handled them, and when you factor in real questions about Knight as a play making point guard, his stock took a hit.At Kentucky Knight was more of combo-guard that ran plays, so it will be interesting to see how he translates at the next level.
In the second round the Pistons obtained Kyle Singler with the 33rd pick. Singler is a quality player. He can shoot the ball and is a tough competitor. Vernon Macklin is a very similar player. Tough and proven. Both will struggle to get quality minutes for the Pistons and amount to added depth to a team stacked with young guys. Overall the Pistons nabbing Knight at #8 bumps their grade way up. Singler and Macklin are good picks, but may not change the fortunes of the team that much. |
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| Round 1: Klay Thompson (11) Round 2: Jeremy Tyler (39, acquired via Charlotte) Charles Jenkins (44, acquired via Phoenix via Chicago) |
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| Thoughts: The Warriors got the guy they targeted in Klay Thompson however it has also started a chain of events that may force the Warriors to take a step back before they can go forward.Warriors guard Monta Ellis has proclaimed he wants out of Golden State and that likely is compounded by the fact that Thompson will take minutes and shots at the two spot. Thompson is a great offensive player that can really shoot the ball, combined with Steph Curry the Warriors likely have the best shooting back court in the NBA.Klay is not much of a defender and will really need to work on his body as he is very skinny, bigger twos in the NBA will try and post him up and he won’t have much of a chance.
The Warriors got two very nice player in Jeremy Tyler and Charles Jenkins in the 2nd round. Tyler could be a good NBA player, there were lots of questions about maturity and professionalism in this process and at #39 there is almost no risk. Jenkins on the other hand was a high volume scorer at Hofsta, there were questions of how good he could be with fewer shots available. As far as second rounds go, the Warriors did very well. Overall this was a good draft for Golden State, they got quality players that should help them right away, especially if they bite the bullet and trade Monta Ellis because he will return even more assets down the road. |
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| Round 1: Marcus Morris (14), Donatas Motiejunas (20, acquired via Minnesota via Memphis via Utah). Round 2: Chandler Parsons (38, acquired via LA Clippers) |
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| Thoughts: Sometime the name of the game is collecting the best talent possible, but in Houston’s case the last thing they needed were more forwards.The Rockets identified that they wanted to replace Shane Battier, and they may have done that with Marcus Morris. They were very high on Donatas Motiejunas, who they feel could be very much like a poor man’s Dirk Nowitzki. Scooping up Chandler Parsons fits the Houston mold of best talent regardless of position, but the problem is they are loaded at the forward and guard spot and still do not have a bona fide center.The Rockets did trigger a draft day trade landing for Jonny Flynn from the Timberwolves in exchange for Brad Miller, but again that depleted the Rockets of a center.
As it stands today the Rockets have Marqus Blakely (6-5), Chase Budinger (6-7), Marcus Cousin (6-11), Jordan Hill (6-10), Marcus Morris (6-9), Donatas Motiejunas (7-0), Chandler Parsons (6-9), Patrick Patterson (6-9), Luis Scola (6-9) and Terrence Williams (6-6) all slotted for time at the two forward spots. Assuming Blakey and Cousin are cut at some point, the Rockets have eight players for two spots and only Hasheem Thabeet as a true center on the roster. The Rockets added the best talent possible at their picks, but they are so log jammed at every position now its hard to see how they got better, just simply added more trade chips to the cupboard. |
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| Round 1: No picks. Round 2: No picks. |
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| Thoughts: The Pacers traded out of this draft moving Kawhi Leonard who they selected with the 15th pick to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for George Hill. This was a very good move on the Pacers’ part because they really identified that they needed guard help and Hill is a proven commodity unlike anything they could have drafted at #15.For a Pacer team that wants to improve as a playoff contender this was a good move. |
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| Round 1: No picks Round 2: Trey Thompkins (37, acquired via Detroit), Travis Leslie (47, acquired via Houston) |
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| Thoughts: The Clippers traded their first rounder at the trade deadline and that pick by way of some lottery luck turned into the #1 overall pick. Some people have tried to criticize the Clippers for the deal but the truth of it is the Clippers would have been a worse team had they not made that trade and would not have landed the top pick as their record would have been worse. In the second round the Clippers got some OK prospects in Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie. Leslie may be the better pro prospect of the two, however both will struggle to see playing time in LA.Overall there was not much in this draft class that would have helped the Clippers, but based on what they had to work with they came out with two decent players. |
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| Round 1: None Round 2: Darius Morris (41, acquired via via Golden State via New Jersey), Andrew Goudelock (46, acquired via New York), Ater Majok (58, acquired via Miami). |
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| Thoughts: Considering the Lakers had no first round picks and did not make a section until 40 players were off the board the Lakers did very well for themselves. Darius Morris is a hometown kid, and was considered by most to be a first round talent. He is a versatile guard that has an uncanny resemblance to Andre Miller both in appearance and in how he plays. Andrew Goudelock is a gunner. He can flat out score the basketball and as an energy offense guy from the bench he adds a lot to the Lakers who at times struggled to create offense.Ater Majok is a bit of an enigma, he played sparingly for UCONN in 2009, and was playing internationally in in Turkey last season. Its highly unlikely he sees time for the Lakers, but he was an interesting pick.
None of the Lakers picks likely see a ton of playing time as rookies, but they should be able to contribute down the road and considering where the Lakers drafted this was good talent for picks in the 40′s. Overall when you combine the picks this year, with the picks made last year the Lakers have a number of quality young guys that simply need time to develop. The Lakers pride themselves in never falling to far too fast, and with the draft you can see the Lakers are primed to reload, not retool. |
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| Round 1: No picks Round 2: Josh Selby (49) |
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| Thoughts: The Grizzlies traded their 2011 first round pick to Utah in exchange for Ronnie Brewer back in 20110, so they did not have a first rounder this year. With the 49th pick the Grizzlies found themselves a steal with Josh Selby still on the board. Word is Selby skipped his MRI during the draft combine and had been flagged for knee issues. Those medical concerns combined with concerns about maturity and attitude pushed Selby deep into the second round.Selby is a solid NBA prospect and the Grizzlies may have gotten the steal of the draft at 49, either way they got a stab at a lottery level talent and will not have to guarantee nearly the money or playing time they would had he been selected in the teens to twenties where he was projected.
For a team that didn’t have much planned for the draft they came away with a very good player. |
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| Round 1: Norris Cole (28, acquired via Bulls) Round 2: No picks |
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| Thoughts: The HEAT had targeted point guards almost exclusively with their 31st pick, but as luck would have it the player they wanted – Norris Cole was obtainable at 28 and they consummated a deal with the Bulls to get their guy. Norris is a very solid guard prospect. At 22 he is a mature proven player that has a knack for creating offense not only for himself but for others which is exactly what the HEAT were looking for.The HEAT did not have a lot of extra roster spaces for project players so the fact that got exactly what they wanted grades well for them, they also solved a real problem landing a point guard that is great off the dribble. |
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| Round 1: Tobias Harris (19, rights acquired via New Orleans via Portland) Round 2: Jon Leuer (40) |
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| Thoughts: The Bucks were part of the three-team deal that dropped on draft night landing themselves Stephen Jackson, Shaun Livingston, Beno Udrih and the 19th pick in exchange for Corey Maggette and the 10th pick. As part of the deal Maggette landed in Charlotte while the Buck shipped John Salmons to Sacramento. Overall this was a very good trade for Milwaukee as they got proven offensive players and some mature depth for a team that had a few open roster spots.The Bucks in turn nabbed Harris with the 19th pick and he is a perfect complimentary player for Milwaukee. Harris is a touch undersized for his game, but he is professional. Very mature and can really play.Nabbing Leuer at 40 was also a good pick. Leuer is a solid stretch-four type player that is big and long.
Overall, this was a great draft for Milwaukee they really changed their team and added quality players to the roster. |
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| Round 1: Derrick Williams (2) Round 2: Malcolm Lee (43, acquired via Jazz via Wolves), Targuy Ngombo (57, via Dallas) |
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| Thoughts: The amusing thing about this draft is Derrick Williams and Malcolm Lee where the two players we had the Wolves walking away from this draft with, however it didn’t go quite as scripted. Williams was the smart pick. He is the best talent in the class and he is extremely versatile. The Wolves have a real problem on the depth chart with five guys vying for two roster spots, so that’s going to be tough to sort through. Lee is a nice point guard that should really help Ricky Rubio adjust. Lee can really shoot the ball and is a tough defender.
The Wolves also triggered a trade sending out Jonny Flynn and bringing in veteran big man Brad Miller. Overall this was a good draft, but Minnesota did little to improve their team, they simply added quality depth at spots that were already filled so its hard to grade their draft as an A, simply because they guys they added may not play much in the beginning. |
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| Round 1: Marshon Brooks (25, acquired via Celtics) Round 2: Bojan Bogdanovic (31, acquired via Heat via Wolves), Jordan Williams (36) |
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| Thoughts: The Nets likely made their fans happy drafting a high impact scorer like Marshon Brooks in the first round. The problem is Marshon is a tough guy to like mainly because he edgy and sometimes arrogant, how that plays at the next level remains to be seen.Brooks likens himself to Kobe Bryant, although he’s not nearly as polished as Bryant nor can he convert the shots Kobe makes. However Marshon is great in the open floor. He is an above the rim finisher and a decent defender and should fit in nicely with Deron Williams.In the second round Bojan Bogdanovic is a bit of a deferment. he was considered one of the best players in this draft but contract issues will keep him out of the NBA for at least another year. Jordan Williams at 36 is a bit high, but you can see that Williams is very much a work in progress. He has some decent post skills, he’ll just have to learn to play tougher and more physical.
Overall the Nets did well in the draft. If Brooks can check the ego at the door the Nets should be improved next season and this draft was solid in terms of getting good talent with the available picks. |
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| Round 1: No picks. Round 2: No picks |
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| Thoughts: The Hornets sold off their sole draft pick (#45) to the New York Knicks who selected Josh Harrellson. The Hornets did pocket $750,000 for their troubles, however there were players available in the late forties that could have helped the Hornets so making the financial deal versus the basketball deal gets them a negative grade. |
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| Round 1: Iman Shumpert (17) Round 2: Josh Harrellson (45, acquired via Charlotte) |
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| Thoughts: Knicks’ fans may not like the selection, they rarely do, however the Knicks addressed a need they identified and they did it with a versatile player that can play multiple roles.Shumpert is a solid defender, he is big and athletic. He really spent a lot of time working on his jump shot at IMG Basketball under the guidance of Dan Barto and he has really improved his stroke and his form.The Knicks don’t view Shumpert as a Day 1 starter, he will groom behind Chauncey Billups and his arrival means the team can look at deals for Toney Douglas once free agency opens. The Knicks understand that Toney needs minutes and an opportunity and as good as he was, the Knicks won;t have the role Toney needs so he will likely be traded before the season starts.
The Knicks bought the #45 pick from New Orleans for about $750,000, and used that pick on Josh Harrellson. This might be a big reach on New York’s part, but he is a 6’10 275 center. Harrellson’s stats at Kentucky won’t blow you away – 7 points and 8 rebounds per game – but at 22 years old he is a proven commodity and he is a big body. Overall this might not have been the best draft for the Knicks, they say they solved problems and Shumpert is better than he’s getting credit for, the sum total of talent added versus talent available gives the Knicks a low grade. |
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| Round 1: Reggie Jackson (24) Round 2: No picks. |
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| Thoughts: The Oklahoma City Thunder may have pulled a fast one on the rest of the NBA. Reggie Jackson never worked out for teams. He was said to have a knee injury and even after he reportedly recovered from he still did not work out for teams. Most assumed he had a commitment he was comfortable with from a team and most assumed it was Miami. It turned out to be Oklahoma City. Jackson is an impact guard that has a lot of tools. Some have compared him to Russell Westbrook, so its interesting to see OKC double up on scoring guards. The Thunder were said to be open to trading Eric Maynor so adding Jackson opens up a little intrigue, although Thunder GM Sam Presti denied that Jackson’s selection reflected negatively on Maynor or starter Russell Westbrook. Presti also revealed that Jackson did work out for his team, so the intrigue around Jackson is even more interesting.
Overall this was a very good selection for the Thunder who have been amassing a small army of next-gen prospects, Jackson looks to be one more very talented player in OKC cupboard. The only negative here is how serious Jackson’s knee injury is and both the Thunder and the Jackson’s camp say everything is fine. |
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| Round 1: No picks. Round 2: Justin Harper (32, acquired via Cleveland), DeAndre Liggins (53) |
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| Thoughts: The Magic traded away their first round pick in their December deal with the Phoenix Suns that landed them Jason Richardson and Earl Clark. The Suns in turn flipped that pick to Houston who drafted Nikola Mirotic and dealt him to Chicago.The Magic however were busy on draft night trying to consummate a few deals and ended up trading their 2013 and 2014 2nd round picks to Cleveland in exchange for Justin Harper.Harper is a 6’9 forward that some have compared to Rashard Lewis because he is a long stretch four type player that can really shoot it, hitting on 44% of his threes in college. Harper revealed that he never met with Orlando in this process and found out about his selection on TV.
Not sure why the magic continue to draft players they have never met, worked out or interviewed but they may have done OK for themselves with this pick. DeAndre Liggins might be a steal at #53, he is a solid 6’7 shooting guard that can hit the three. He is not a volume scorer, but is a good defender and is a long and rangy. Magic fans have immediately tried to compare him to Courtney Lee, however he is a little bigger than Courtney, not quite the scorer Courtney was coming in, but he could have the same kind of impact as he is a good man-on-man defender. Overall this was a good draft for Orlando. Both players can help the team and both players fit how Orlando likes to play. |
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| Round 1: Nikola Vucevic (16) Round 2: Lavoy Allen (50, acquired via New Orleans) |
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| Thoughts: Not sure what to make of the 76ers draft. Nikola Vucevic is a decent enough player, but not exceptional in any way other than being the tallest guy in the class. Lavoy Allen at #50 is something of a reach. A number of teams were high on Vucevic and said there was not a huge gap in terms of talent between Nikola and Enes Kanter who went #3 to Utah, if that’s true the 76ers could have nabbed a better player than they are getting credit for.Overall not sure Philadelphia did anything to improve themselves. They did not add enough talent to say they went best available. This really looked like a reach at every position rather than really using the draft to improve. |
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| Round 1: Markieff Morris (13) Round 2: No picks. |
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| Thoughts: If there was a better perfect fit player for the Suns, I’d like to see it. Markieff won’t be the next coming of Amar’e Stoudemire, but their style of play is very similar and if Steve Nash has enough gas left to run for another year Markieff could have a very good year because of what he does as a player; rebound, bang in the paint and finish around the rim. All things the Suns were missing after Amar’e left for New York.Overall this was a very good pick. It fits a specific need. Its a quality fit in terms of existing players and it wasn’t a crazy reach for talent. |
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| Round 1: Nolan Smith (21) Round 2: Jon Diebler (51, pick may be conveyed to Detroit via Denver) |
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| Thoughts: The Portland Trail Blazers were part of two trades on draft night. They traded Rudy Fernandez and the rights to Petteri Koponen and got back the 26th pick which they flipped along with Andre Miller to Denver for Raymond Felton. Overall not sure the Blazers got enough value for Rudy Fernandez, but they at least got him off the roster and upgraded at the guard spot significantly.With the 21st pick they added to their guard depth with Nolan Smith, this might have been a reach for the Blazers as Smith is somewhat average in a lot of ways. At the NBA level he projects to be more of a two guard and that’s going to be a problem for Portland.At 51 the Blazers scooped up Jon Diebler, which is actually a good pick… Diebler is the best pure shooter in the draft and actually can hit from just about anywhere. During draft visits we watched Diebs nail threes from almost half court like they were free throws, so having a knack and a history of taking and making big shots Diebler could be a very good specialist if he makes the roster.
Overall the Blazers improved themselves, but not because of their draft picks as much as landing Felton from Denver. The picks were not bad, but they were not the talent grabs they could have been. This was a safe smart draft that didn’t yield huge upside guys rather proven dependable guys. |
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| Round 1: Jimmer Fredette (10, acquired via Bucks) Round 2: Tyler Honeycutt (35), Isaiah Thomas (60, acquired via Chicago via Milwaukee) |
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| Thoughts: The Sacramento Kings triggered a big trade just before the draft sending out Beno Udrih and the #7 pick, and in return got back John Salmons and the #10 overall selection. With the #10, ownership won out and the Kings selected Jimmer Fredette with the 10th pick.There had been a lot of internal debate on what pick to take and management and coaches really were against taking Jimmer, however the Maloofs felt he was the right player and ultimately ownership trumps executives.Jimmer is not going to be the next great franchise guard. He however will have a good NBA career because he does have a skills teams covet and he can really shoot the ball. Jimmer projects to be more like JJ Redick than say Johns Stockton and landing in Sacramento where there are lots of guys that can score and carry the team likely helps Jimmer adjust.
The Kings found themselves with a solid player at 35 in Tyler Honeycutt. Tyler is a bit undersized weight wise for his game, but he is a solid player that opens the door for the Kings to move Omri Casspi once free agency opens. With the 60th pick the Kings drafted Isaiah Thomas. Thomas could be a NBA player, he is a small explosive point guard that can really score. Thomas could make the Kings roster, however it is pretty rare for the 60th pick to play, but Thomas might break the mold as his skill and talent are undeniable, he just happen to be three inches too short. Overall the Kings’ draft was exciting, but I am not sure their team is radically better for the change. They added an exciting name, but they also have a lot of mouths to feed offensively and adding another ball dominating player with the 10th pick may sell ticket, not sure that helps them win games. They could have solved real problems with the 10th pick and didn’t, hence their lower grade. |
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| Round 1: Kawhi Leonard (15, acquired via Pacers), Cory Joseph (29) Round 2: Davis Bertans (42, acquired via Indiana), Adam Hanga (59) |
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| Thoughts: Hand it to the Spurs to flip a non-starter in George Hill for a lottery level talent like Kawhi Leonard. The Spurs were actively looking for picks in the lottery and it seems they found their pick in a deal with Indiana. Leonard is a big body defensive minded player that can really score around the rim. He is a better shooter than most people give him credit for. He is a low key personality which will fit right in with San Antonio.Joseph at #29 was a bit of a reach, but as teams like to say you identify players you like and you take them when you feel you can get them. Joseph was a reach at #29, but he would have been gone at #42 or #59 when the Spurs picked again so they took their guy when they had the chance.
In the second round the Spurs deferred their picks getting Davis Bertans at #42 who will remain in Europe for at least another year, which is a great pick for San Antonio. Adam Hanga, which the international scouts love, is also at least a year away. So this was a very typical San Antonio draft… They solve a real and pressing need with Leonard, they drafted a kid most had lower that fits their situation and they grabbed two future NBA players for down the road. Not a bad draft for the Spurs. |
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| Round 1: Jonas Valanciunas (5) Round 2: No picks. |
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| Thoughts: The Raptors took the best talent available and it happened to solve their biggest need. Jonas is the best center prospect in this draft, and despite uncertainties around his contract at #5 this is a steal for the Raptors. Unfortunately for Toronto they will have to wait a year before they get him.Jonas resolved his contract situation with Lietuvos Rytas agreeing to a buyout worth $2.4 million, the Raptors will contribute $500,000 to the agreement and Valanciunas will be free to join the Raptors for the 2012-2013 season.
There was talk that Valanciunas could have joined the team this year, however with labor uncertainty and the threat of a prolonged lockout it was decided Jonas would wait another year. While that sounds bad at a glance, especially for a Raptor fan base that would have loved to have had Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker, Valanciunas is a real NBA center and those are very hard to come by. Overall this was a good draft for Toronto, they just won’t see the fruits of it until next year. There is a silver lining here that Raptor fans may not like, but if the team does not improve dramatically this year they could end up with a decent pick next year and an older more polished Valanciunas which would be when the Raptors really jump forward. |
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| Round 1: Enes Kanter (3, acquired via New Jersey), Alec Burks (12) Round 2: No picks. |
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| Thoughts: The Utah Jazz did not grab a bunch of sexy picks but they did grab players that solve a real and pressing need.Enes Kanter is not going to be the next great big man in the NBA, but he will be a solid player for Utah and he can contribute right way. He will mentor with good friend Mehmet Okur and will have a good support system for his acclimation to the NBA. Enes isn’t going to blow you away with his athleticism, but is a smart physical player that likes to mix it up.Alec Burks at #12 is a smart pick. Burks has a great mid range game and really has that “it factor” you look for in a player. He can play both guard positions, but will likely be a two guard for the Jazz. He is a better three point shooter than he looked at Colorado and will have to work on his defense.
While the Jazz did not grab marquee names, they did grab two players that really help them right away and improve the team. |
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| Round 1: Jan Vesely (6), Chris Singleton (18, acquired via Atlanta) Round 2: Shelvin Mack (34) |
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| Thoughts: The Wizards got decent players that will help them improve in a number of areas, however there may have been better options on the board and their draft grade reflects that. Jan Vesely could be the International equivalent of Kevin Garnett, he is a monster athletically, he is a better shooter than people give him credit for and he has a high motor during the game. The knock on Jan is you just never know how International guys will adjust to life in the NBA or the pace of the NBA game. Jan wasn’t a reach, but there were more proven guys available.Chris Singleton could be the best athlete in the class, he is also one of the best defensive players in the class too. His offense is developing, but again at #18 there were more rounded players available.
Shelvin Mack at #34 was a steal, he will fit right in behind John wall and brings some veteran leadership and big shot making ability to DC. It looks more like the Wizards stuck to the script of the draft. Vesely was their guy and they were taking him. Singleton was the best guy on their board and they took him. Not sure those guys really are proven enough to say they help right away, they could, but they could also just as easily not and that’s the risk with the players Washington selected. Overall this was a good draft for Washington, but if there is any team in the top 10 that has “Boom-Bust” written on them its the Wizards, their guys could be exceptional NBA players and they took the risk that they will be. |
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