NBA Draft 2013: My Grades on the Winners and Losers

Well that was interesting.  I can’t remember a time I was shocked at the first pick. This set the tone for a crazy night that was almost too crazy because it was so hard to keep up with who was going where. The Celtics imploded their team and Bill Simmons imploded on national TV. There were some clear winners (Lucas Noguiera’s hair/hat combo) and probable losers (Solomon Hill? Really?). It’s probably not an awesome sign if your GM is telling the fans not to worry a day after the draft (lookin at you Flip). Without further ado here are my grades for each team.

Atlanta Hawks – A-

Lucas Noguiera 16^th pick

Dennis Schröeder 17^th pick

Mike Muscala 44^th pick

Raul Neto 47^th pick

You have to love the Noguiera pick. He gave us the moment of the draft with that appearance from the stands. It’s too bad he didn’t stay in Boston because I absolutely would have rocked a fake fro/hat combination, like OKC did with Harden. I think his upside could be worth it here.

Apparently the Hawks believe in the D.E.N.N.I.S. system as much as I do. I like Schröeder quite a bit and I still don’t understand why he went this low in the draft. This gives Atlanta an insurance policy if Teague leaves and an asset, like Eric Bledsoe, if not. Love love this pick.

Muscala is a solid pick this late in the draft. Could be a decent rotation guy. And then Raul, which is a fun name to say.

With all these draft picks and their first rounders being non-American teenagers, it’s clear Atlanta is going into rebuilding mode. I think they started that movement with grace in the draft.

Boston Celtics – F

Kelly Olynyk 13^th pick

Colton Iverson 53^rd pick

The KG-Pierce deal didn’t affect this draft so I won’t count that in this assessment.  I will just say that I actually like the deal for Boston and it will make the NBA Draft interesting around here for the next 5 years.

Boston got so Dennis-ed by Dallas with that shitty trade up for Kelly Olynyk. They must really like him to have traded two valuable second round picks and their own pick to move up 3 spots. If your team is in rebuilding mode, maybe trading 3 picks for 1 isn’t a great idea. This terribleness (making it a word) is bolstered by the fact that I think Olynyk will be a bust. This is my personal opinion, though most would agree his upside is a downside. With news that they are potentially shopping Rondo, it would have made so much sense to stay at 16 and take Schröeder. 

Another big goofy white guy with their second round pick of Colton Iverson (might be the blackest name for a white guy possibly ever). They must really be missing Greg Stiemsma. With these two guys, plus Sullinger and Fab Melo, Boston is going for the slowest frontcourt in the game. Haven’t they learned their lesson about trying to tank for franchise guys (Duncan, Oden/Durant)? I’m hoping they get Wiggins aka Maple Jordan, but we all know they won’t. The Cs pulled a real Mantis Toboggan here.

Brooklyn Nets – C-

Mason Plumlee 22^nd pick

I personally don’t think Plumlee will turn into anything but bench fodder in the NBA. There were some good guys on the board here and I think they would have been better off taking one of the wing players with some upside (Ledo, Rice Jr., Bullock, Franklin). If they think this guy is going to be an adequate sub for Brook Lopez they have another thing coming.

Charlotte Bobcats – D+

Cody Zeller 4^th pick

Another draft shocker here. There were reports that Rich Cho (the GM) wanted Zeller here, but once Noel and McLemore slid I thought it was a sure thing they would take one of those guys. Nope. Cody Zeller is a guy I like, but don’t see him becoming anything more than a solid starter. There were guys who had potential to be All-Stars on the board and I don’t really know why they didn’t take them. They must hate playing on national television or something, because they somehow just get worse every year.

Chicago Bulls – C

Tony Snell 20^th pick

Erik Murphy 49^th pick

Some pretty average picks here. Snell has a chance to turn into a decent rotation guy for them. My preference would have been for some of the other guys on the board, but clearly Chicago thought he was a better fit. I like seeing South Kingstown, Rhode Island’s own Erik Murphy (or as I like to call him, E. Thought of that one myself) make it with a strong organization. He has a chance to be a Matt Bonner type if he keeps improving his outside shot.

Cleveland Cavaliers – B+

Anthony Bennett 1^st pick

Sergey Karasev 19^th pick

Carrick Felix 33^rd pick

The Cavs started off the draft with a bang! I thought they were taking Noel and everything else was a smoke screen, but like most of us, I was wrong. I’ve said previously that Bennett would be the first to become an All-Star out of this class and he is now in a good situation to do that. I had him graded as the second best player in the draft, right behind Noel so I don’t have any problems with this pick. Maybe Noel was a jackass, and they liked Bennett. Good pick for the Cavs.

I really liked Karasev with that pick and I’m surprised he fell there. He’s got an ultra-smooth shot and will help them stretch the floor along with Bennett.

Carrick Felix is the one black mark on the night. There was plenty of talent left in the second round and they opted for a guy that they probably could have signed as an undrafted player. Bad move.

Dallas Mavericks – A-

Shane Larkin 18^th pick

Ricky Ledo 43^rd pick

Good picks here by the big D. Larkin is a guy that can do the things JJ Barea used to do for them. He probably won’t ever be good enough to start due to his size, but I think he can stick with this team as a backup PG/spark plug.

Ledo is a boom/bust pick and at this point in the draft, it would have been difficult to find anyone with greater upside. I really like this pick and think it could be the steal of the draft. If Mayo leaves he could be getting 20+ minutes a night right away. Great haul here.

Denver Nuggets – D

Erick Green 46^th pick

Joffrey Lauvergne – 55^th pick

What a cheapo move to trade your first round pick for a second round pick and cash. I don’t respect selling your picks off. Erick Green is a good pick this late. But then they also drafted a guy named Joffrey?!?! What the fuck! Didn’t they learn anything from Game of Thrones??? This is going to drag their grade down.

Detroit Pistons – C

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 8^th pick

Tony Mitchell 37^th pick

Peyton Siva 56^th pick

With their pick of the litter of PGs they should have taken one. Brandon Knight is not their guy to run the team and they know that. They have two big men who need a solid distributor to set of the offense. Instead they take a guy who has some upside, but I believe to be a bit overrated. Not a great pick in my opinion.

Some interesting second round guys. Tony Mitchell is an athletic freak. Definitely worth the pick here as a guy who has major upside. Siva might make the team as a backup.

Golden State Warriors – Incomplete

Nemanja Nedovic 30^th pick

With the final pick of the first round the Warriors take Nedovic. Here’s a guy I know nothing about. I gave it an incomplete because of this and because I don’t know if they plan on stashing him overseas or bringing him in this year. This team is not guaranteed a playoff spot in the tough west conference next year and unless he can make an impact for their team next season then I think the pick wasn’t good. There were guys on the board that they could have used. I think Franklin would have been a great pick as a possible defensive stopper on the wing. We will have to wait and see for this one.

Houston Rockets – B

Isaiah Canaan 34^th pick

A guy I like with some decent upside. I see his role being a Nate Robinson type off the bench for them. He’s a big-time scorer who most thought would be a first round pick. I think getting him here is more appropriate and will probably replace Aaron Brooks. Good pick.

Indiana Pacers – F

Solomon Hill 23^rd pick

For the second year in a row they make a terrible pick when all they need to do is fortify their bench. They really needed Larry Bird back for this one. I’m guessing he sat out the draft process and let Walsh do his thing, which is a big mistake. Hill probably would have gone undrafted or they could have got him in the second round for something. With the guys on the board that we’re there this just made no sense. Hate seeing this from one of the few teams that can challenge Miami next year.

Los Angeles Clippers – A-

Reggie Bullock 25^th pick

Love Reggie Bullock and the Clippers got him at a great spot here. The kid can already shoot at NBA range and will help them space the floor. Look for him to be a rotation guy pretty quickly. I had him rated in the top 15.

Los Angeles Lakers – C+

Ryan Kelly 48^th pick

Not a bad pick here. Kelly has some potential as a stretch 4. We’ll see if he sticks. The Lakers can use all the help they can get.

Memphis Grizzlies – A-

Jamaal Franklin 41st pick

I had Franklin rated at 21 so to get him here is a steal. A guy who has major defensive potential and will fit in perfectly for the Grizzlies franchise. Great pick. Don’t know anything about the other guy, but my guess is he won’t ever come to the NBA.

Miami Heat – C

James Ennis 50^th pick

It’s hard to nitpick this late in the draft, but I wasn’t crazy about this pick. There were a lot of guys with potential to stay on with an NBA roster left on the board and the Heat took a chance on Ennis. We’ll see if this pick sticks, but they haven’t really been good at mining the second round for picks in a long time (like ever).

Milwaukee Bucks – B+

Giannis Antetokounmpo 15^th pick

Nate Wolters 38^th pick

Giannis is a guy that no one knows how he will turn out. We could all be laughing at this pick in 5 years or applauding it.  I’m rooting for the kid and it’s obvious he has tons of potential. I like him in this spot and think he’s worth the risk outside of the lottery.

Wolters is a solid pick in the second round and they are hoping he can bring some of the stuff Redick did for them in the half season he played for them. Good picks for the Bucks.

Minnesota Timberwolves – C-

Shabazz Muhammad 14^th pick

Gorgui Dieng 21^st pick

Lorenzo Brown 52^nd pick

Bojan Dubljevic 59^th pick

To me, there were just so many better options for them with their first pick. To trade out of 9 when McCollum was there was their first mistake. Then passing on another great shooter in Karasev at 14 was another bad move. I just don’t like Shabazz. He’s a hard worker, yes, but he’s not a team player. A wing player that averages less than an assist a game is kind of a red flag for me. He is just another guy who will be all about himself. Look for him to try to get out of Minnesota in a few years and be a bad locker room guy when things aren’t going well.

Gorgui Dieng is an ok pick. I think with Bullock on the board he would have fit a need for a shooter they desperately need. Instead they take a raw big man who might be the next Festus Ezili.

Their second round picks didn’t wow me either except the guy with the awesome name (not Bojan). Flip Saunders proving that he can not only be incompetent as a coach, but as a GM. Double-threat! Khan isn’t looking so bad right now.

New Orleans Pelicans – C

Pierre Jackson 42^nd pick

The Pelicans are here and they came out swinging! Huge trade for them right off the bat. I think it was smart to take Noel even if they knew they wouldn’t keep him. He had too much value to pass up there. I think him an Anthony Davis could have been an intriguing duo once Davis’s offensive game came around, but instead they trade him for an All-Star PG in Jrue Holliday. They also traded a top-5 protected pick in next year’s draft, which I’m not crazy about, but they got Pierre Jackson in the deal.

So if you look at the trade as Nerlens Noel and what will probably be a pick between 8-14 next year (playoffs look more likely in 2015) for Jrue and Pierre Jackson…that trade doesn’t look awesome for them.  It helps them immediately, but the 2014 draft is loaded with potential All-Stars. I get the idea of wanting to win now, but that’s a hefty price tag. If the pick were top-10 or even top-8 protected it would have looked a lot better.

Pierre Jackson is a good get this late in the draft, but I think New Orleans mortgaged the future a bit to be relevant now. They still have a great core, but if they don’t keep that pick next year, the ceiling gets a little lower.

New York Knicks – B

Tim Hardaway Jr. 24^th pick

I may be in the minority here, but I like Hardaway Jr. at this spot. He has the size and athleticism that translates well to the league. I don’t think he has superstar potential, but there is definitely some upside left here. This will give New York some firepower off the bench they desperately need. Good pick.

Oklahoma City Thunder – C+

Steven Adams 12^th pick

Andre Roberson 26^th pick

Alex Abrines 32^nd pick

Grant Jerrett 40^th pick

Well their draft was interesting. First time we get to see the Thunder in the lottery since the Harden pick. As one of the few teams that can challenge Miami I was hoping they would take someone that wasn’t labeled project. I have Adams rated as the 22^nd best prospect, but obviously a lot depends on how quickly he can develop and if his feel for the game increases dramatically. He has potential and the Thunder need some competent big men, so it does make sense for them.

Roberson is an interesting pick. I don’t know that I would have used s first round pick on him, but he has potential to be a Corey Brewer type. Ricky Ledo or Glen Rice Jr. have plenty more potential and would give them another shooter.

Abrines gets high acclaim from those who know the European guys and I think they needed to take at least one guy they could stash overseas.

Jerrett was also a good pick. He has more upside than almost everyone left at this point.

It’s hard to give them a grade right now. It’s also hard to doubt Presti. And we might not know for a while because Scotty Brooks doesn’t play rookies too much. Lot of potential though.

Orlando Magic – B+

Victor Oladipo 2^nd pick

Romero Osby 51^st pick

Although I think Noel would have been a better fit for the team, it’s hard to argue with picking Victor Oladipo. Universally liked, Oladipo is a high character, high motor guy that should help this team be competitive soon. Now they need to trade Afflalo to make room for him.

I thought Myck Kabongo would have made a lot of sense with their second round pick, but they take Osby, a prospect with very little upside.

Philadelphia 76ers – A+

Nerlens Noel 6^th pick

Michael Carter-Williams 11^th pick

Arsalan Kazemi 54^th pick

Philly won this draft in a huge way. They gave up their young All-Star PG and in exchange receive Noel and a top-5 protected pick next year, which will most likely land in the lottery. They are doing the right thing bottoming out, because they were not going anywhere (thanks Andrew Bynum). Noel is a great piece to start with and I believe he will be the best player out of this class when all is said and done.

MCW was a good grab at 11 and gives them a Holliday replacement they can develop. He lacks the same ceiling, but he has a chance to be a good PG in the league.

Kazemi was also a sneaky good second round pick. He has a good chance to stick with the team.

Phoenix Suns – B-

Alen Len 5^th pick

Archie Goodwin 29^th pick

Alex Oriakhi 57^th pick

Len couldn’t have asked for a better situation. Guys his size are prone to injuries and the Suns staff is the perfect group to help. From a basketball standpoint, this gives Phoenix their first big part of their rebuilding process. Len definitely has upside and can make an impact right away just because he’s 7’1”. Not a bad pick.

Goodwin is a guy I wouldn’t have given a guaranteed contract to. I know he’s only 18, but I just didn’t see enough at Kentucky to think he deserved a first round contract. A second rounder would have been more justified.

Oriakhi is a big body that can maybe be backup if he keeps working.

Portland Trail Blazers – B+

CJ McCollum 10^th pick

Allen Crabbe 31^st pick

Jeff Withey 39^th pick

Marko Todorovic 45^th pick

I like this haul for the Blazers. McCollum is an excellent scorer and a good kid that can help them right away. The only thing I worry about is his ability to play with Lillard at the same time. D-Lill is a terrible defender at this stage of his career and McCollum won’t be helping there either. Word is they may use him as a 6^th man, which makes sense for now.

Crabbe is worth a flier this late. He has pro size and length and can shoot the ball.

Withey is a shot blocker. This should translate to the NBA. I like this pick.

They’ve just traded Todorovic to Houston in part of the Thomas Robinson trade.

Sacramento Kings – A-

Ben McLemore 7^th pick

Ray McCallum 36^th pick

With last names like these you would think you were looking at Boston’s picks. The regime is changing in Sacramento and no one should be happier about that then McLemore. He needs a team to nurture his talent and I hope this new team is capable of that. At 7, he is a worthy pick with his upside. They were lucky he slid to them (thanks MJ) and this is a great pick for the organization.

McCallum had a nice college career, but they have so many guards right now I would have thought that a big man would be on the menu. We’ll see who’s staying or going on this team.

San Antonio Spurs – C+

Livio Jean-Charles 28^th pick

Deshaun Thomas 58^th pick

Jean-Charles made a name for himself in the Nike Hoop Summit game where he played very well. The Spurs love their Frenchies so this pick isn’t a big surprise. We probably won’t see him for a few years.

I like taking a chance on Thomas this late. He was a productive player in college and has a chance to stick with this team.

Toronto Raptors – N/A

No picks

Utah Jazz – B+

Trey Burke 9^th pick

Rudy Gobert 27^th pick

The Jazz managed to move up and grab Trey Burke as the first PG off the board. I really like this pick for Utah and think Burke will be a good fit for them. Utah has a nice young core with Favors and Kanter there already so things could be looking up for them.

Gobert is worth a flier just for having one of the largest wingspans ever recorded. He’s a few years away though.

Washington Wizards – C+

Otto Porter 3^rd pick

Glen Rice Jr. 35^th pick

I had Porter rated 8^th so other people are going to like this pick more than me. I understand why they did it though. On paper he’s a great fit for the hole they have at SF and brings intangibles of a winning player. I thought Anthony Bennett would have been the best fit for them, but when he got picked then I think Noel should have been their main focus. Him and Wall could have worked very well together, but they take Porter who has much less potential, but a higher character. I’m not completely sold his skills translate to the NBA. I think he can be a good, not great player. They had a chance to get an All-Star with this pick, but they didn’t want to take the chance.

Glen Rice Jr. is a guy I think should have went in the first round. If they can get him to play defense then his ceiling becomes that much higher. The Wizards are clearly trying to build off their promising end to the season and seeing playoffs as a real possibility. They drafted for now and I think it will pay off for them. I just think they lowered the franchise’s ceiling by not taking Noel.