An A+ for the draft, but getting Richard Jefferson makes the week an A++. Blair was a tremendous get considering his potential, and he has a great chance to be one of the best from this draft. McClinton gives the Spurs a great shooter off the bench, ready to grab and pop the kick outs from the post. de Colo is one of the premier guards in Europe, and like his predecessor Tony Parker, will be ready to come over in two years and play. All around a great draft.
Los Angeles Clippers: A (1- Blake Griffin [PF])
The Clippers told everyone from day 1 who they wanted, and they finally made it official. I think the Clippers might be coming out of the cellar with a core of Griffin, Gordon, and Thornton. Add in the veteran presence of Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, and Marcus Camby, and you have the makings of a team that might contend.
Houston Rockets: A- (32- Jermaine Taylor [SG], 34 Sergio Llull [SG], 44- Chase Budinger [SF])
The Rockets receive a high grade for getting Budinger, a possible elite talent, so far down and getting three picks after starting with none. Taylor is a scoring machine that can be a great contributor off the bench. Budinger was a lottery pick two years ago, and has the athleticism and outside shot to really help the team. Llull is a long term project that will play overseas.
Minnesota Timberwolves: A- (5- Ricky Rubio [PG], 6- Jonny Flynn [PG], 28- Wayne Ellington [SG], 47- Henk Norel [PF])
The gurus are not hyped about this draft but I am. The Wolves are getting young, and they are doing it with solid players. Rubio is complaining about time, but the Wolves are set to finds their point guard through a competition. Flynn and Rubio get to settle it on the court. Ellington will give them a cheaper version of Mike Miller as a shooter from the outside, while the points will replace the slashing. Plus, they turned excess picks (#14) into future firsts. Most a perplexed, but I think it was a great move and a great idea in getting the franchise point guard.
Denver Nuggets: B+ (14- Ty Lawson [PG])
The Nuggets went for quality over quantity, getting one of the only holes filled on their roster. Chauncey needed a backup, and in comes Lawson, a player that will be ready to take over from him in two or three years. With only one major free agent leaving (Linas Kleiza), the Nuggets got a major piece in another Western Conference run.
Phoenix Suns: B+ (14- Earl Clark [PF], 48- Taylor Griffin [SF])
The Suns are clearly in rebuild mode, after sending Shaq to Cleveland and shopping Stoudemire. But the pick of Clark, a top 5 talent that lacks drive, is a great way to start. Griffin brings toughness, but I am not sure he has what it takes to play the wing. If they get some parts for Stoudemire (such as Biedrins, Curry, etc.) in a deal, this is a good start to piecing the team back together.
Sacramento Kings: B+ (4- Tyreke Evans [PG], 23- Omri Casspi [SF], 38- Jon Brockman [PF])
The Kings did a lot to get rid of the soft label they garnered after trading Artest. All 3 guys are bangers. Overall, I thought all were fairly safe picks to acquire good role players, although Casspi needs to develop some more. I love the Evans pick, and I think he will be a better pro than Rubio.
Utah Jazz: B+ (20- Eric Maynor [PG], 50- Goran Suton [C])
Everybody was wheeling and dealing on draft night, but the Jazz were the Jazz. They stayed put, didn't get excited, and got two good players for the team. I absolutely love the Maynor pick. Despite coming from a small school, I think he is one of the better players and maybe the most NBA-ready player available. And he gets to come in and backup Deron WIlliams, a low pressure situation that he can excel in. Suton is a project, but he showed he can play in college and should get a few years overseas before coming back.
Dallas Mavericks: B (25- Rodrigue Beaubois [PG], 45- Nick Calathes [PG], 56- Ahmad Nivins [PF])
The Mavericks surprised me by taking Beaubois, although they were said to love him, because they needed help now. Beaubois is at least three years away. They salvaged the grade by grabbing the second rounders. First, nabbing Calathes was a steal, although his immediate presence might not happen since he signed a contract to play in Greece. Second, Nivins is a forward that can give them solid bench minutes and provide some punch. Not a bad overall draft, and just above average.
Golden State Warriors: B (7- Stephen Curry [PG])
The Warriors grade may fluctuate, depending on where Curry plays. If he is dealt to Phoenix for Stoudemire, this grade goes higher as the Warriors become a major threat. If not, the disgruntled Monta Ellis and Curry might not work. Both should thrive in Don Nelson's system, but they are small and defensive liabilities (which never slowed Nelson down before). Even if he stays, the grade is a B because of his ability to shoot.
Oklahoma City Thunder: B (3- James Harden [SG], 24- B.J. Mullens [C], 54- Robert Vaden [SG])
The Thunder were in love with Rubio or Harden, but I think they took the better fit for the current team. Westbrook is a solid player, and teamed with Harden create a great complimentary backcourt to Durant, Green, and their big men. Mullens is raw, but he has the ability to become dominant and the best center in the draft. Vaden is a luxury pick. He might stick because of his stroke, but that is all. He is old and lacks athleticism, something that might shorten his career.
Memphis Grizzlies: B- (2- Hasheem Thabeet [C], 27- DeMarre Carroll [PF], 36- Sam Young [PF])
The Grizzlies backed into an average class, literally. Their best pick was Young, a versatile player that was hurt because he is 24. Carroll was the next best, as he provides another versatile big man that can even run the point. Thabeet was hugely overrated, and I feel may be the next Michael Olowakandi. His size and defensive presence will be felt, but that is all. And strong players negate his defense at times, something he will run into in the NBA. I think it was a waste to get a backup center with the second pick, especially with interested teams looking to move up for Rubio or Harden.
Portland Trailblazers: B- (22- Victor Claver [SF], 31- Jeff Pendergraph [PF], 33- Dante Cunningham [PF], 55- Patrick Mills [PG])
I give the Blazers an average grade because this is a draft for the future. They already have the pieces to win, and only Pendergraph would appear to have any run. Cunningham is too small and is a tweener, while Claver and Mills need to develop in Europe. The big miss will be Sam Young and DeJuan Blair, guys that made the draft for other teams.
New Orleans Hornets: C+ (21- Darren Collison [PG], 43- Marcus Thornton [SG])
The Hornets had a glaring need in the front court, but they spent both of their picks on backcourt players. Collison was weird, considering they have a better version already in Chris Paul. A change of tempo guard would have been great, but with Paul set to never leave the floor again, Collison can sit and watch. Thornton is a local boy that can shoot, even if he is small. Might be a rotation player this year.
Los Angeles Lakers: C- (59- Junior Elonu [PF])
I think the Lakers did themselves a disservice in the draft. They drafted two very good guards, but dealt them away. The idea was to clear cap space for Odom and Ariza. But in the long run, they have clearly auctioned off the future for right now. Toney Douglass (to the Knicks) was the kind of player to replace Derek Fisher. Patrick Beverly (to the Heat) was the kind of guy that could take minutes from Vujacic. Instead of preparing for the future, they are older (Fisher and Vujacic). Hope it pays off...
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