NBA Draft First Round Grades

            We’ve graded each pick of the first round of the deepest NBA draft since 2003. These grades are loosely backed by statistics and actual evidence, so keep that in mind.

1. Andrew Wiggins, SG, Cleveland Cavaliers – Arguably the most overanalyzed college basketball player of all-time, Wiggins’ stock eventually ended up where it was at the beginning of the year. He’s a better fit for the Cavs than Parker, so kudos to them for actually getting it right. Grade = A+
2. Jabari Parker, SF, Milwaukee Bucks – It’s rare that an elite prospect actually wants to go to a place like Milwaukee, so it’s great to see Parker end up there. Him and the Greek Freak provide solid building blocks for the Bucks to build around. Grade = A+
3. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers – Embiid might not play this year, but when a dude’s ceiling is being the second coming of Hakeem Olajuwon, you don’t let that dude fall out of the top 3. Philly doesn’t appear to be interested in being good anytime soon, so they’ll be patient. Grade = A+
4. Aaron Gordon, PF, Orlando Magic – Instead of creating a potentially hellacious backcourt duo of Victor Oladipo and Dante Exum, Orlando instead opted for the relative safety of drafting a defensive monster in Gordon. He can guard multiple positions, and is capable of impacting a game without scoring a point. We like Gordon, but we’re grading the pick a bit lower because the ceiling isn’t as high as it wouldn’t been with Exum. Grade = B
5. Dante Exum, PG-SG, Utah Jazz – Utah chose the path Orlando ignored, but unfortunately Trey Burke isn’t the athlete Oladipo is, so the ceiling isn’t as high for Utah. Regardless, it could be argued that only Embiid has greater overall potential, so kudos to Utah for gambling on the largely unknown Australian import. Grade = A-
6. Marcus Smart, PG, Boston Celtics – For a team in complete flux, it made sense for the Celtics to add a player that gives them the flexibility to move Rajon Rondo. Grade = A
7. Julius Randle, PF, Los Angeles Lakers – When you can get a guy that was mentioned as one of the top-3 prospects before the college season, and then led his team to a national championship game appearance, at seven, you do it. Grade = A+
8. Nik Stauskas, SG, Sacramento Kings – The first pick that felt like a panic move (they had been linked to Marcus Smart in most mock drafts), we would’ve rather see them take another point guard or Noah Vonleh. We won’t be shocked if Stauskas is eventually moved, as they are hell bent on acquiring a veteran impact player. Grade = C
9. Noah Vonleh, PF, Charlotte Hornets – Vonleh fell into Charlotte’s lap at nine, and he’s a nice shot blocking compliment to Al Jefferson. If he develops long range shooting (which scouts think is possible), this is a franchise-changing pick for the Hornets. Grade = A+
10. Elfrid Payton, PG, Orlando Magic (traded from 76ers) – Payton has all of the physical tools needed to succeed at the NBA level, and Orlando was wise to target him after passing on Exum. The first round pick they sent to Philadelphia was an extra pick Orlando received in the Andrew Bynum trade, so that was a decent price to pay to solidify their backcourt. Grade = A-
11. Doug McDermott, SF, Chicago Bulls (traded from Nuggets – We thought McDermott needed to land in a near ideal situation to have success at the NBA level, and Chicago is one of the few teams that can offer it. He’s a better athlete than people give him credit for, and he’ll thrive jacking open jumpers created by Derrick Rose and possibly Carmelo Anthony. Grade = A
12. Dario Saric, PF, Philadelphia 76ers (traded from Magic) – Saric is going to spend the next couple of years in Turkey, but that’s just fine for a Philadelphia team clearly not interested in competing for the next year or two. He’s a dark horse candidate to end up being one of the top-3 players out of this draft class. Buy stock in the 2018 76ers. Grade = A
13. Zach LaVine, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves – LaVine is a project, which tells me that Kevin Love will definitely be gone before the calendar turns to August.
14. T.J. Warren, SF, Phoenix Suns – Warren was the leading scorer in the ACC a year ago, but we don’t forecast his quirky game translating to the NBA. Adreian Payne would’ve made much more sense here as a stretch four to potentially replace Channing Frye. Grade = D+
15. Adreian Payne, PF, Atlanta Hawks – Speaking of Payne, he went to a team hell bent on hoarding as many stretch bigs as possible. He’ll never be elite, but he has the tools to be a solid contributor on a contending team. Grade = B-
16. Jusuf Nurkic, C, Denver Nuggets (traded from Bulls) – We aren’t a fan of this pick, but with picking up a second first rounder in their trade with Chicago, they could afford to stash a first rounder overseas. Grade = C-
17. James Young, SF, Boston Celtics – Young was overshadowed by Randle and the Harrison twins, but the talent is there for him to blossom in the NBA like former Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe has. Grade = B+
18. Tyler Ennis, PG, Phoenix Suns – The strength of the Suns is their backcourt, so we thought this pick on a low-upside point guard was a bit of a waste. Grade = F
19. Gary Harris, SG, Denver Nuggets (traded from Bulls) – Picked by most experts before the draft to land in the back part of the lottery, Harris was one of the notable players who slipped. It seems like Denver has 43 shooting guards and small forwards on their team (to that end, they just reacquired Arron Afflalo hours before the draft), so we won’t be shocked if Harris is eventually moved. Grade = B
20. Bruno Caboclo, SF, Toronto Raptors – We won’t pretend to know anything about Bruno, but this was the most mocked pick by the ESPN draft crew, so that warrants a low grade. It was a disappointing choice by an up and coming Raptors club. Grade = F
21. Mitch McGary, PF, Oklahoma City Thunder – The Thunder’s biggest issue against the Spurs was a lack of offensive firepower beyond Durant and Westbrook. McGary doesn’t help that, and there were other players on the board that could’ve. Grade = F
22. Jordan Adams, SG, Memphis Grizzlies – Not an elite shooter, but all he probably needs to do for Memphis next year is nail corner threes. Grade = C+
23. Rodney Hood, SG-SF, Utah Jazz – Hood could’ve gone anywhere from 14 on, so he’s a steal here. Down the line an Exum-Burke-Hood trio could make a solid three-guard lineup.
24. Shabazz Napier, PG, Miami Heat (traded from Hornets) – It’s fun that we’ll get the chance to see if a 22-year old small point guard will actually entice Lebron James to stay with the Heat. We’re not very high on Napier, as we predict him having a similar impact to the poop sandwich Miami rolled out at point guard last season. Still, kudos to them for making a move to appease King James. Grade = B+
25. Clint Capela, PF, Houston Rockets – We’re guessing Houston was trying to move this pick to save cap space, but instead opted to draft an overseas asset. Grade = C
26. P.J. Hairston, SG, Charlotte Hornets (traded from Heat) – Hairston had his issues at North Carolina, but is fortunate to get a chance to redeem himself in the same state. He has the talent of a top-10 player, so kudos to Charlotte for making a low-risk pick towards the end of the first round. Grade = A
27. Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG, Phoenix Suns – If he actually plays in the NBA, he’ll be in the running for having the most ridiculous name in the history of the NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION. Grade = C-
28. C.J. Wilcox, SG, Los Angeles Clippers – This pick only makes sense if the Clippers are trading some of their 2s and 3s, but until that happens we’re grading it accordingly. Grade = D
29. Josh Huestis, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder – Jay Bilas threw out a comparison to Bruce Bowen, which if he can hit open threes, would be a great find for the Thunder this late in the draft. Grade = B
30. Kyle Anderson, PF, San Antonio Spurs – Naturally, the Spurs have a Boris-Diaw clone fall into their laps with the last pick in the draft. The rich get richer.