Atlanta Hawks
Picks: Jalen Johnson 20, Sharife Cooper 48
Very interesting draft from the Hawks. They got the undisputed steal of the draft in Sharife Cooper, who will be able to play a sixth man role like Lou Williams did this season. He doesn't provide much defense and he will likely never start in Atlanta for as long as Trae Young is there (they are so similar but Sharife is WAY worse at shooting). Johnson provides some depth in the frontcourt and insurance for the John Collins situation and the Cam Reddish trade rumors. His ability to guard multiple positions should be valuable for the Hawks, and his potential on the defensive end is what they really need in that bench unit.
All in all, I think the Hawks got good value.
Grade: A-
Boston Celtics
Picks: Begarin at 45 and signed Sam Hauser in undrafted FA
They were overvaluing Begarin here, but considering they probably weren't going to get a starting caliber guard here, taking Begarin to be a future guard in the backcourt isn't a bad idea. He showed some potential scoring the ball and has some tools including athleticism on the defensive end, despite a lack of effort. Sam Hauser was a really solid pickup, provides shooting off the bench, though they got too many wings in this draft and did not at least try to get a point guard.
Grade: B+
Brooklyn Nets
Picks: Cam Thomas at 27, Day'ron Sharpe at 29, Kessler Edwards at 44, Marcus Zegorowksi at 49, Raiqaun Gray at 59
I absolutely LOVED the Nets in this draft. Cam Thomas will be a really good sixth man for them filling in the Jordan Clarkson role, and there won't be better mentors than Kyrie Irving and James Harden. Sharpe gives them a big in case they dump the salary of DeAndre Jordan off and Blake Griffin walks, a big body at 265 lb. and can protect the rim. Edwards was a terrific pick, his shooting and defense should fit right in. Zegorowski was a little high, but they needed PG depth. Gray was also a solid addition, a plus defender and another big body in the paint.
Grade: A+
Charlotte Hornets
Picks: Bouknight at 11, Kai Jones at 19, JT Thor at 37, Scottie Lewis at 56
A great draft by the Hornets, got some players who fit the timeline of LaMelo. Bouknight was a steal at that slot, I personally thought he was going to OKC and wouldn't fall past the Top 10. Kai was another great pickup - he's not going to contribute right away but has plenty of potential and fits the Hornets' fast paced style. Thor was another steal; despite lacking an imposing physical profile, he has the shot making and length to be special. Lewis was a great addition, provides much needed perimeter defense.
Grade: A+
Chicago Bulls
Picks: Ayo Dosunmu at 38, signed Ethan Thompson in undrafted FA
Great draft for the Bulls, nailed it. Dosunmu will be a steal, should hit shots at a respectable rate and should be a terrific third option and defensive player in the backcourt, and gets to stay in Illinois. Thompson is also good, shows some ability to be a scorer off the bench and is ready to contribute now for the Bulls, as they seem to be trying to go all in.
Grade: A+
Cleveland Cavaliers
Picks: Evan Mobley at 3
The Cavs got the second ranked player in the draft in my opinion, and Mobley should be a co-anchor of their defense next to Allen with his ability to switch.. He'll slide in easily with Allen and become a terrfic player IMO on both ends. Spacing the floor eventually and doing little things for the Cavs should be expected from Mobley.
Grade: A
Detroit Pistons
Picks: Cade Cunningham at 1, Isaiah Livers at 42, Luka Garza at 52, Balsa Koprivica at 57, Chris Smith undrafted
They made the right decision by getting the best player in the draft at Cunningham, but from there, it kinda falls off. Isaiah Livers was a solid pick, although I think he would be better off on a contending team. Garza wasn't a great pick either, but spaces the floor for them as a stretch big. Koprivica was definitely a surprise to me, joins a now crowded big man room with Stewart, now Garza, and him.
Grade: B+
Indiana Pacers
Picks: Chris Duarte at 13, Isaiah Jackson at 22, signed Duane Washington Jr. in undrafted FA
The Pacers picked Chris Duarte over Moses Moody and Corey Kispert, which automatically means they did not have a great draft. Moody is WAY younger, a knockdown shooter, and has WAY more upside. Jackson was confusing to me, basically another Myles Turner. He doesn't have the stroke of Turner yet and is a shot blocker. I don't get how that makes sense. If I were them, with the 13th pick I would go Corey Kispert with his ability to play power forward next to Sabonis (assuming they trade Turner) and shoot the lights out with his quick release, and don't trade 54 and 60, get a wing and point guard with that pick. Obviously the Pacers had different plans.
Grade: C-
Miami Heat
Picks: None. Signed RJ Nembhard, Marcus Garett, Dejon Jerruea, Javonte Smart, and AJ Lwason is undrafted FA
I wasn't excited that the Heat didn't get a pick, but I will say they were solid in undrafted FA. While their defense in the frontcourt is solid, watching Herro, Robinson, and Nunn get scored on all day long was annoying to me. So they went out and got a former Naismith Defensive Player of the Year in Garett and lockdown defenders RJ Nembhard, AJ Lawson, and DeJon Jerreua. Obviously not all of them are going to stay on the roster, but excited to see what they do in summer league and who proves to be most ready.
Grade: B+
Milwaukee Bucks
Picks: Sandro Mamukelashvili at 54, Georgios Kativlias (I spelled it wrong, didn't I?) at 60
Sandro Mamukelashvili will be the perfect sucesssor to Brook Lopez (33) in Milwaukee with his floor spacing. While nearly not the defensive big, the Bucks are good enough on that end not to take a big hit when Lopez eventually retires. And who the heck is Georgios? Just a bad pick, Aaron Henry was still on the board and I really wanted them to get him, especially considering I buy the shot 100% and Donte Divencionzo's questionable health.
Grade: B
New York Knicks
Picks: Quentin Grimes at 25, Rokas Jokubatis at 34, Miles McBride at 36, Jericho Sims at 58, Aamir Simms in undrafted FA
For the Knicks, they were thought of trying to trade up and only get 1 or 2 rookies. But they got 5, and 5 decent prospects. Grimes gives them consistent shooting in the backcourt as a 6-5 swingman, Jokubatis was WAY too high in my opinion but still can shoot as well and give them depth in the backcourt, McBride I really like; his defense and shooting also is invaluable for the Knicks. Sims is a nice defensive big that can give the Knicks insurance with Mitchell Robinson and Nerlens Noel potentially leaving, and while Simms joins a crowded big man room, he is a unique prospect the Knicks can experiment with. They passed on a lot of great prospects like Jaden Springer and Sharife Cooper 3 straight times though, and a solid class great.
Grade: B
Orlando Magic
Picks: Jalen Suggs at 5 and Franz Wagner at 8
Jalen Suggs will be a great culture setter for the rebuild, and he will be a franchise point guard for the Magic. That alone makes the Magic having a great draft. I also love the Franz pick, I fully expect the shot to translate and his defense should fit well. Both are solid pickups for this rebuild. Both in my opinion will at least respectable shooters, which gives the Magic much needed shooting around Isaac, Wendell Carter Jr., and Fultz.
Grade: A+
Toronto Raptors
Picks: Scottie Barnes at 4, Dalano Banton at 46, David Johnson at 47, Justin Champaignie and Moses Wright in undrafted FA.
Wasn't a big fan of the Raptors draft here because of 1. Suggs should've been the pick at 4, would be a great successor to Lowry. 2. Dalano Banton is basically another version of Scottie, tall and with playmaking but with no shooting. That plummets their grade for me a bit, but David Johnson, Moses Wright, and Champaignie were solid pickups, as Johnson shot much better from three this season and Wright is a stretch big (which they very much needed considering that Aron Baynes didn't play the best season of his life) and Champaignie brings more and more defense, although they join crowded backcourts and frontcourts.
Grade: B
Washington Wizards
Picks: Corey Kispert at 15, Isaiah Todd at 31, signed Jay Huff in undrafted FA
More of a meh draft in my opinion for the Wizards, but not bad. Kispert, Todd, and Huff are basically shorter or longer Davis Bertans, but they do provide some immediate help, which Bradley Beal desperately needs. Todd should be ready coming off the G League, Kispert also as a senior as well as Huff. So an average draft for the Wizards.
Grade: B-