Atlanta Hawks : B+
Picks: Asa Newell 23rd overall draft night trade via NOL
I like Atlanta’s draft night. They moved around their original picks and ended up getting great future draft compensation, not to mention Kristaps Porzingis as well. Newell is also a good value pick at 23. He may not fill a need for Atlanta but he’s a local pick from Georgia, and he will be able to develop. If he can develop a 3 point shot, he could be a great player for a long time in Atlanta
Boston Celtics : B+
Pick: Hugo Gonzalez 28th overall
I love this pick. Hugo is a great wing prospect, who has a great motor and really fits Boston well. He was also slated to go earlier so this is a great value pick as well. He fits need and value for Boston. Great pick.
Brooklyn Nets : C
Picks : Egor Demin 8th overall, Nolan Traore 19th overall, Drake Powell 22nd overall draft night trade via ATL, Ben Saraf 26th overall, Danny Wolf 27th overall
I can’t help but feeling a bit disappointed by Brooklyn’s draft. They didn’t trade up at all, even into the late lottery and honestly didn’t add any players with true superstar potential. Plus, they reached at least a little for every player besides Danny Wolf. I like Egor Demin, but he doesn’t have the potential of Ace Bailey or Tre Johnson, guys they could’ve traded up and taken. Plus, I viewed him as a late lottery mid teens pick, not a top 10. Traore is an upside pick, but he’s was slotted to go in the 20s. Powell and Saraf in my eyes were early second rounders, not first rounders. I do like the idea of adding a bunch of rookies, considering they don’t have many young prospects, but this feels a bit like a let down.
Charlotte Hornets : B
Picks : Kon Knueppel 4th overall, Liam McNeeley 29th overall
I don’t like the Mark Williams trade, but grading the draft it’s decent. I felt like they could’ve traded down with New Orleans or Brooklyn and still got Knueppel, but they got the guy they wanted and Knueppel is a great addition to this team. McNeeley was also a great value pick at 29 as well. My issue is that they play very similar positions so it creates a bit of a logjam with them two and Miller but it’s good value so a B is given.
Chicago Bulls : A-
Pick : Noa Essengue 12th overall
This is a great pick value wise and need wise for Chicago. Essengue was slated to go in the top 10 but fell out and Chicago seized the opportunity. He fits a need long term as Chicago now has both their forward positions covered with him and Buzelis. He’s a long, rangy wing who can be a great player for a long time if he develops an outside game. Great pick here.
Cleveland Cavaliers : N/A
Dallas Mavericks : A
Pick : Cooper Flagg 1st overall
They got Flagg. Not much else to say. Elite player who can change a franchise and they didn’t screw it up by taking anyone else. Good job Dallas.
Denver Nuggets : N/A
Detroit Pistons : N/A
Golden State Warriors : N/A
Houston Rockets : N/A
Indiana Pacers : N/A
Los Angeles Clippers : B+
Pick : Yanic Konan Niederhauser 30th overall
Solid pick here for LA. Yanic was a borderline first rounder so it makes sense to take him at 30. Personally, I would’ve gone with Kalkbrenner or Raynaud but Yanic is an upside pick. He’s got great potential to develop and addresses a need for frontcourt depth behind Zubac. Good pick.
Los Angeles Lakers: N/A
Memphis Grizzlies : C
Pick : Cedric Coward 11th overall
I don’t like the trade that much value wise especially since I think they reached a bit at 11. I feel like Coward would’ve been available at 16 but at least they got the guy they wanted. Coward is a high upside player who is still a plug and play guy at 22 years old. Not great value, but I like Coward overall and props to the Grizzlies for going to get their guy.
Miami Heat: A
Pick : Kasparas Jakucionis 20th overall
Incredible value pick here. Jakucionis was arguably a top 10 prospect and him falling to 20 is incredible value for Miami. He also addresses a need for another primary ball handler and is a true passing PG. Pick and rolls with Bam project to be lethal. Props to Miami for this pick, though it’s more surprising he fell to them.
Milwaukee Bucks : N/A
Minnesota Timberwolves : A-
Pick : Joan Bedringer 17th overall
This is a solid pick for Minnesota. They got good value as he fell a little bit to them, with Sorber and Yang going ahead of him. Bedringer can now develop behind fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert and should be a long term fixture if he continues to develop offensively, as he is already a great defender and shot blocker.
New Orleans Pelicans : B
Picks : Jeremiah Fears 7th overall, Derik Queen 13th overall
The Pelicans ended up with two lottery picks and addressed two needs well. The value of the Queen trade is interesting but the pick was great. I love Fears as a prospect and he gives them a guard of the future. Queen gives them another option to go with Missi, meaning that the Pelicans should be covered long term at the center position. Good picks here but giving up the first rounder next year stings.
New York Knicks : N/A
OKC Thunder : A-
Pick : Thomas Sorber 15th overall
Great draft night for the reigning champs. They land Sorber, a great center prospect who fits well with the Thunder style, and landed a 2027 first rounder from Sacramento. Sorber is a great fit and they turned the 24th pick into a pick which could be higher from Sacramento.
Orlando Magic : A-
Pick : Jase Richardson 25th overall
Personally, I love this pick. Richardson addresses a need, and was the best available at the time. He gives Orlando another ball handler and was a top 20 prospect in my opinion. Great scorer and will be able to provide floor spacing for this poor shooting Magic team. Great pick.
Philadelphia 76ers : B+
Pick : VJ Edgecombe 3rd overall
Props to Philly for going with their gut and taking Edgecombe over Bailey, as well as not trading this pick away. I like this pick as Edgecombe is an explosive guard, with superstar potential and a great guy to have in your locker room. The fit isn’t perfect which is why this isn’t an A, but long term Philly will be able to figure that out between McCain, Maxey, and Edgecombe. Good pick.
Phoenix Suns : A
Pick : Khaman Maluach 10th overall
This was a great draft night for a franchise that hasn’t had much to cheer about recently. They landed Maluach, who they thought wouldn’t be available at 10, plus landed Williams in a trade for very cheap. The Suns addressed the center position in a big way tonight. Props to the Suns organization.
Portland Trailblazers : D
Pick : Hansen Yang 16th overall
Portland drafted who??? Yang would’ve been available in the second round!!! I liked the trade they made but the pick just ruined it for me. Look, Yang is a fine prospect. But he’s not a first round guy much less 16th overall!!! Plus they just added to their already super crowded center group. I have no idea what the plan is here and in my opinion, this is another silly decision by the Portland franchise.
Sacramento Kings : B
Pick : Nique Clifford 24th overall
I didn’t mind this move from Sacramento. They went out and got their guy. They did give up a first which could be higher so I’ll leave it at a B. Decent move though.
San Antonio Spurs : A
Picks : Dylan Harper 2nd overall, Carter Bryant 14th overall
Wow I love this class for the Spurs. Harper would’ve been in the conversation for 1st overall in any normal draft class and Carter was one of my favorite 3 and D prospects. Harper was a great best available pick, and Carter was that plus fit. The Carter pick is one of my favorites in the draft. He’s a perfect fit for this Spurs team and a great player to play alongside Wemby, Castle, and Harper long term. Fantastic picks by the Spurs front office.
Toronto Raptors : B-
Pick : Collin Murray-Boyles 9th overall
I like Boyles as a prospect, and it’s not that much of a reach for Toronto, but I give them a B- because I feel like they could’ve done better. Maluach was still on the board and he’s a much better fit than Boyles with Scottie Barnes. Boyles lack of size and 3 point shooting limits him in the short term with Barnes. However, long term I do like this if he can develop his shooting game. He’s got toughness and great playmaking and defense, which should mesh well with this Raptors team.
Utah Jazz : A
Picks : Ace Bailey 5th overall, Walter Clayton Jr. 18th overall
I loved this draft from Utah. Bailey may not want to play in Utah, but the Jazz have time to convince him he should and personally I love the fit. Bailey is gonna have great opportunities to develop and make mistakes in Utah. He’s also got a good defensive big in Kessler, along with pass first guards in George and Collier. If they move more player such as Sexton and Clarkson, that’ll free up even more shots for Bailey. He also gets to develop with Walter Clayton, who I love as a prospect. He adds shooting, leadership, and clutch play to a team that needs it. Great draft here for Utah.
Washington Wizards : B+
Picks : Tre Johnson 6th overall, Will Riley 21st overall
I like this draft from Washington. They made a nice deal with the Jazz, and still landed two guys who can really help them. I love Johnson with this team as he can slot right in at SG with Poole gone and be the primary option on offense. Riley will get good mins as well and can develop as a 3 and D player for Washington. Long term, this is a great fit for both these players. Good picks.