The draft came and went this week and it was full of trades! It's funny that none of the rumored trades (Hawks move down, Grizzlies move up, etc.) happened, and instead we saw surprises like Minnesota moving up to 8 and the Wizards trading into a second lottery pick. After watching the first round, I honestly didn't think there were many "bad" picks. Now, that's not to say I would have selected all of the same players, but I can see most of the picks working out.
As I go through these picks, let it be known that trades will not be accounted for in my grades. For example, the fact that Oklahoma City traded five second-rounders for the 26th pick will not affect my grade for them selecting Dillon Jones with that pick.
Let's get into the grades.
Pick 1 - Atlanta Hawks
Zaccharie Risacher - SF/SG
19 - 6'10" - 195lb - France
Grade: B+
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Donovan Clingan, Alex Sarr
I was originally lower on this pick, but after trading away Dejounte Murray and AJ Griffin, it looks like Atlanta is paving the way for Risacher to have a larger role on the team. Alex Sarr declined to work out with the Hawks, which is unfortunate because he was widely seen as the best player in the draft class and also the player with the highest ceiling. Donovan Clingan would've been a seamless fit with Trae Young and would've also allowed for a retool at the center spot by moving Capela or Okongwu. Still, Risacher projects to become an above-average outside shooter at the NBA level and he has all of the physical tools (positional size, 6'10" wingspan, defensive IQ) needed to develop into a good defender. It will be interesting to see if the Hawks make more major moves and retool to win now, or if they continue to blow it up and gather assets.
Pick 2 - Washington Wizards
Alex Sarr - C/PF
19 - 7'1" - 224lb - France
Grade: A+
Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
This was the best-case scenario for the Wizards, who landed the best player in the class and at a position they desperately needed. Sarr has All-Defensive team potential as a 7'1" big man that moves like a wing. He can switch out on the perimeter and also protect the rim with authority. He has his flaws, but he'll have all the time in the world to develop in areas such as perimeter shooting and defensive rebounding. Sarr is only 19, so he fits Washington's timeline and could captain the rebuild. Clearly he wants to be in Washington since he declined his workout with Atlanta. On a team where he will have so much opportunity and so much of the team's attention, it wouldn't be surprising to see Sarr become an All-Star within the next five years or so.
Pick 3 - Houston Rockets
Reed Sheppard - PG/SG
20 - 6'3" - 187lb - Kentucky
Grade: A
Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
This is exactly what the Rockets needed, and what I was hoping for as a Rockets homer. As a team that finished in the top half of of the league in 3PA and the bottom half in 3P%, Houston needs more reliable shooters. Sheppard is easily the best shooter in this draft class, as he made over half of his threes last season. He also finished in the 100th percentile (!!!) for spot-up shooting and the 99th in shooting of the dribble. Going into the draft, I was hoping that Houston would trade back and secure future assets, instead drafting someone like Jared McCain, but I now fully agree with the pick here. Reed likely won't play too many minutes in his rookie year without injuries to the main rotation, but he will be a key piece in the rotation if and when the Rockets ultimately decide to trade a big package for a star player (hopefully in a year or two).
Pick 4 - San Antonio Spurs
Stephon Castle - PG/SG
19 - 6'7" - 210lb - UConn
Grade: A-
Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
This has been the consensus pick for a while now, and credit to San Antonio for not overthinking it. With a high-profile player like Victor Wembanyama on the roster, it was of the utmost importance for the Spurs to get him a playmaker and a winner. Castle fits that resume to a tee as a reigning NCAA Champion and as a guy who can run pick-and-rolls efficiently. The Spurs also needed defense, and Castle is one of the highest-upside prospects in the class in that regard. At 6'7", Castle will have major positional size should he actually stick to his guns and insist on playing PG at the next level. He will be switchable, make the right reads, and become a lethal defensive duo with Wemby. One team need that Castle doesn't solve is three-point shooting; Castle shot under 27% from outside the arc last season and will need major development in that area.
Pick 5 - Detroit Pistons
Ron Holland - SF/PF
18 - 6'7" - 197lb - G-League Ignite
Grade: C
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Dalton Knecht, Cody Williams, Matas Buzelis, more
How much longer are we going to see this from Detroit? For the past several years, they've used their top picks to draft raw, poor-shooting teenagers, struggle to develop them even into starting-caliber players, and then continue to play poorly as a team. Think Stanley Johnson, Sekou Doumbouya, Killian Hayes, and even Jaden Ivey could be trending in that direction. The verdict is still out on whether or not Duren and Ausar develop well, but they surely aren't shooters. Sure, Cade was a hit at number one overall, but even he isn't where most projected him to be by now. Ron Holland at least has higher defensive upside than almost every player in this draft class with his speed and leaping ability and should be able to guard multiple positions. He won't have much competition for minutes as a forward, and hopefully, he can be more efficient from the field this season now that he won't be asked to carry as much of the load offensively.
Pick 6 - Charlotte Hornets
Tidjane Salaun - PF/SF
18 - 6'9" - 212lb - France
Grade: C-
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Dalton Knecht, Cody Williams, Donovan Clingan, more
This was a reach for Salaun in my opinion, especially with so many other great options on the board like Knecht, Williams, and even Clingan. Salaun fills a position of need in Charlotte's young core, but may not fit their timeline, as he's just 18 years old and still very raw. He has a high motor and solid physical traits, but his feel for the game is far from NBA-ready, as is his shot. That being said, Salaun played very well to end his season at Cholet, flashing the potential he has if an NBA development team can fine-tune his abilities. The Hornets haven't been a good team for several years now, so I would've liked them to grab someone a little more NBA-ready or even trade back for more assets, but if Salaun hits, he will hit big.
Pick 7 - Portland Trail Blazers
Donovan Clingan - C
20 - 7'3" - 282lb - UConn
Grade: B+
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Cody Williams
Clingan fell into Portland's lap at 7 despite all of the trade-up rumors, so this was good value for him. The Blazers have already started making moves this offseason, sending Brogdon out of their crowded backcourt and bringing in Deni Avdija. To make room for Clingan, they'll need to move Robert Williams, too. Clingan has one of the highest floors in this class as a giant rim protector and pick-and-roller. He also joins this team fresh off of back-to-back National Championships and will foster some of that winning culture. Deandre Ayton will be the day-one starter, but with a contract as un-tradeable as his, the Blazers won't lose much value should they decide to bench him and jumpstart Clingan's development at some point during the season or to start off next season.
Pick 8 - Minnesota Timberwolves
Rob Dillingham - PG
19 - 6'2" - 164lb - Kentucky
Grade: B+ Players I Would've Picked Instead: Devin Carter
The Wolves traded into the lottery to take someone they clearly had their eye on as Mike Conley's successor, Rob Dillingham. The pure shot-creator was 4th among all drafted players in terms of points per 36 minutes last season at 23.5. Many of the concerns with Dillingham revolve around his height, so a mentorship program under 6'0", 17-year NBA veteran Mike Conley is a great situation for him to land in. Minnesota's roster is also well-constructed with 3&D role players who will be able to hide some of Dillingham's defensive flaws as he's developing. His future fit with Anthony Edwards may need some adjustment time as both players are ball-dominant, score-first guards, but starting his career coming off the bench will provide this title-contending team some scoring punch.
Pick 9 - Memphis Grizzlies
Zach Edey - C
22 - 7'5" - 299lb - Purdue
Grade: A
Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
I've been mocking Edey to the Grizzlies at 9 for a while now, and I'm glad they didn't overthink it. The two-time NCAA Player of the Year is exactly the type of NBA-ready prospect that Memphis needs to make a real playoff push next season. Edey will be a perfect fit next to Ja Morant in pick-and-roll sets as a huge body who will either finish strong at the rim or force the defense to stick to him and open things up for Ja, who we know is an acrobatic finisher already. Edey also has a lot of stamina and will grab a ton of boards on both ends of the floor. Having him at the 5 will also provide Memphis with some lineup versatility, allowing Jaren Jackson to move back to the 4 at times. That will be important when going against centers that can space the floor in the playoffs, as Edey isn't much of a defender outside of the paint.
Pick 10 - Utah Jazz
Cody Williams - SF/SG
19 - 6'8" - 178lb - Colorado
Grade: A-
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Nikola Topic
Cody Williams's stock took a dip after his injury this past season, but he was amazing before that and apparently killed his workout with Utah. Out of the remaining prospects on the board, Williams had maybe the highest upside, the most intriguing of his abilities being his rim-finishing. He ranked in the 96th percentile for rim-finishing, which is even more incredible considering his slight frame, and also shot well from beyond the arc on low volume. So, the sky is the limit for Williams' offensive game, and he should get a decent amount of playing time on this young Jazz team, especially if they end up trading Markkanen this offseason. He's not a good rebounder and will need to put on weight to keep up on the defensive end, but this is a good swing for Utah.
Pick 11 - Chicago Bulls
Matas Buzelis - SF/PF
19 - 6'10" - 197lb - G-League Ignite
Grade: A- Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
At this point in the draft, Buzelis is good value. A projected top-3 pick in the draft before the season, Buzelis really tanked his stock playing for the dumpster-fire G-League Ignite team, showing off some flaws in his game like his outside shooting and being prone to turnovers. That being said, he does have lots of positive qualities; he proved to be an elite shot blocker for his position and showed flashes of becoming a good perimeter defender with his long body and defensive IQ. He's also a great cutter which gets him easy buckets at the rim. At 6'10" and under 200 pounds, Buzelis needs some time to fill into his body, but it looks like he might have that time in Chicago after the Bulls made the first of hopefully several rebuilding moves (trading Caruso for Josh Giddey).
Pick 12 - Oklahoma City Thunder
Nikola Topic - PG
18 - 6'7" - 203lb - Serbia
Grade: B
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Dalton Knecht, Devin Carter, Tristan da Silva
It would've been nice to see OKC take someone who can help them next season, but getting Topic at 12 is still good value. He was widely regarded as a top-4 pick before his partial ACL tear but slid after reports came out that he will miss most (if not all) of his rookie season. Who knows if he will come back the same player, but Topic wasn't considered all that explosive in the first place, so the knee injury might not have as big of an effect on him as it has for other players. The real prize with Topic is his feel as a playmaker; he averaged around 7 assists a game this past season, swinging passes into tight windows and catching the defense off-guard. He's also crafty and can finish at the rim with a soft touch. Though not considered a good defender right now, Topic has great positional size at 6'7", which is a solid starting point. His outside shot will also need work, but overall, Topic should be at least a cheap floor general coming off the bench during OKC's prime years.
Pick 13 - Sacramento Kings
Devin Carter - SG/PG
22 - 6'3" - 195lb - Providence
Grade: A-
Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
I was initially confused by this pick after Sacramento was able to retain Malik Monk, but they've since traded away Davion Mitchell, so Carter will fit a lot better into the second unit. Carter was a fan-favorite throughout the majority of the draft cycle as a do-it-all, NBA-ready guard, who displayed a high motor this past season by grabbing 9 rebounds a game and playing physical on-ball defense. He will also provide the Kings with more shooting, as he shot about 38% from three last season. It will be interesting to see how Carter is able to scale down his game after having a very high usage rate for Providence, but Sacramento is trying not to fall behind in the West and will be happy to have an experienced, high-floor piece coming off their bench.
Pick 14 - Washington Wizards
Carlton Carrington - PG
18 - 6'5" - 195lb - Pittsburgh
Grade: A
Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
Bub Carrington was a late riser, and Washington swooped in to grab him with the final pick of the lottery. Carrington and the Wizards are a match made in heaven; the Wizards need their PG of the future, and Carrington needs a couple of years to develop and refine his game. Bub is a pure shot-creator with a deep bag who can score in a wide variety of ways. Though inefficient at Pittsburgh, he showed flashes of becoming a dynamic, crafty scorer who will be able to shoot over defenders at the next level at 6'5". His slight frame will be a problem, so that will be a big focus early on in his career. Coming into the draft with no real core pieces on their roster besides Bilal Coulibaly, The Wizards will be able to give their rookies a lot of opportunities to play and get used to the league right away.
Pick 15 - Miami Heat
Kel'el Ware - C/PF
20 - 7'1" - 230lb - Indiana
Grade: B-
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Dalton Knecht, Jared McCain, Tristan da Silva
The Heat have a lot of holes on their roster, backup center being one, but it seems like there is a bigger lack of depth in the backcourt. With players like Dalton Knecht, Jared McCain, and Isaiah Collier on the board, I was surprised to see them go Ware. Still, Ware has a lot of upside after a breakout year at Indiana. He's 7'1" and a great shot-blocker and rim protector, and even took strides as a perimeter shooter. Ware made 43% of his threes on low volume last season, and if he can prove himself as an outside threat in the NBA (which is easier said than done), he could become a great fit next to Bam Adebayo on both ends. Ware could play the 4 on offense and then guard the opposing team's center while Bam, a more versatile defender, could guard the opposing PF out on the perimeter.
Pick 16 - Philadelphia 76ers
Jared McCain - SG/PG
20 - 6'3" - 203lb - Duke
Grade: A
Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
McCain is probably the second-best shooter in the class (behind Reed Sheppard) and is no stranger to the bright lights. He shot up draft boards after an outstanding performance in the NCAA Tournament, finishing the season at the 41% mark from three. He didn't get to show off many of his lead-guard skills at Duke with so many PGs on their roster, but that may have actually been better for his stock overall since he was able to thrive so much off the ball and convert catch-and-shoot opportunities. the Sixers finished in the bottom half of the league in three-point percentage, while the Celtics were far and away the best-shooting team in the league. This was a great pick by Philly to catch up in that area and hopefully make a deeper push next season.
Pick 17 - Los Angeles Lakers
Dalton Knecht - SF/SG
23 - 6'6" - 212lb - Tennessee
Grade: A+
Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
Perfect fit for the Lakers as they become the team to put an end to Knecht's slide. Their front office has failed thus far to surround LeBron and AD with strong shooters, but that's exactly what Knecht is. The three-level scorer shot 40% from deep and also ranked in the 94th percentile for spot-up shooting last season. The 23-year-old super-senior was one of the best college players last year and led his otherwise weak team to an elite eight appearance with his leadership and NBA-ready, versatile offensive game. Knecht was in strong consideration to go as early as 6th to the Hornets, so nabbing him at 17 is immense value for Los Angeles. He'll be nice to have as a cheap option for a contending team with limited cap flexibility.
Pick 18 - Orlando Magic
Tristan da Silva - PF/SF
23 - 6'9" - 217lb - Colorado
Grade: A-
Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
Orlando surprised a lot of people last season by locking down the 5th seed in the playoffs, and now looks to make a win-now move this offseason by signing a big-name free agent like Klay Thompson or Paul George. So, they were smart to take an experienced college player who can help them out right away in da Silva. He's a versatile player without many weaknesses and should thrive as a 3&D rotational piece for the Magic. He has high basketball IQ and can guard multiple positions and switch off screens. As one of the worst teams in the league in terms of three-point percentage (and attempts), Orlando needs shooters, and da Silva shot nearly 40% from three this season for Colorado. On a rookie-scale contract, he should prove valuable during Orlando's prime years.
Pick 19 - Toronto Raptors
Ja'Kobe Walter - SG/PG
19 - 6'5" - 198lb - Baylor
Grade: B
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Yves Missi, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski
The Raptors went BPA here in Walter, who started the year off hot but cooled as it went on. He's a score-first wing who is capable of creating his own shot in a variety of ways, although he can be streaky at times. Not sure about the fit in Toronto yet, as they already have a decent amount of players at Walter's position, including score-first players like Quickley and Barrett who are both important parts of their core. Walter shot 37% on catch-and-shoot opportunities, showing potential that he can become an off-ball role player in the league. His 6'10" wingspan and awareness give him upside to become a solid defender at the next level, too. Walter's playmaking still has a ways to go, and he projects to be more of a wing than a guard at the NBA level. He will have to take a couple of years and develop in the G-League, but overall he's a decent upside swing for the rebuilding Raptors.
Pick 20 - Cleveland Cavaliers
Jaylon Tyson - SF/SG
21 - 6'8" - 218lb - California
Grade: B
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, Yves Missi
This might be a little high for Tyson, but the Cavs are in win-now mode so they couldn't really afford a project play here. That being said, the Cavs bench is pretty stacked at the wing positions with LeVert, Strus, and Merrill, so it might be a while before Tyson hits the floor unless some moves are made to pave the way for him. Tyson is coming off his junior year, in which he averaged almost 20 points per game on pretty solid efficiency for someone with a usage rate as high as he had. He excels at creating his own shot, but can also be efficient off the catch. Tyson's high motor is evidenced by his near-7 rebounds per game mark, and he's also become a much better passer/facilitator over his college career. His defense regressed this past season at Cal, so he will need to get back to where he was defensively at Texas Tech and improve from there.
Pick 21 - New Orleans Pelicans
Yves Missi - C
19 - 7'0" - 229lb - Baylor
Grade: B+
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Kyle Filipowski, Tyler Kolek
The Pelicans have been lacking at the 5 spot for a while now, especially in terms of rim protection. Misso is still a year or so away from making a true impact, but when he's developed enough, he will be a solution to that problem. He's a strong, powerful 7-footer with a great vertical who will challenge anyone attempting to score at the rim. Missi also has the capability to get out of the paint on defense and guard players further out. On offense, running pick-and-rolls and dunking is about all he can do, but pairing him up with Zion will lead to utter paint domination and leave defenses wondering what to do. He doesn't project to ever be able to shoot the ball well, but he should at least be a serviceable, traditional center who can provide valuable defense.
Pick 22 - Denver Nuggets
DaRon Holmes II - C/PF
21 - 6'10" - 236lb - Dayton
Grade: A
Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
Finally, the Nuggets have a real backup center. It was speculated that they had given Holmes a promise at 28, so it's not surprising that they jumped up to ensure he would be available. Zeke Nnaji and DeAndre Jordan just aren't good enough, and although Holmes may not have faced the toughest competition at Dayton, he still showed flashes of becoming a player who can at least provide valuable minutes when Jokic needs to go to the bench. Although a bit undersized for the center position, Holmes's shot-blocking instincts still allow him to succeed as a rim-protector. Offensively, he sets strong screens and finishes powerfully after rolling. Holmes can also space the floor a bit, jumping up to 39% from three this past season. We'll see if that holds.
Pick 23 - Milwaukee Bucks
AJ Johnson - SG/SF
19 - 6'6" - 167lb - Australia
Grade: F
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Tyler Kolek, Kyle Filipowski, Ryan Dunn, more
I don't understand this pick at all for the Bucks. Their championship window is getting smaller and smaller, and they don't have much cap flexibility. Now is not the time to take a project player; they need guys who can help out right away. On top of that, Milwaukee already has several young wings they are trying to develop like MarJon Beauchamp, Andre Jackson, and Chris Livingston. While AJ Johnson was a top recruit coming out of high school, he barely played at all in Australia. It was easy to see the athleticism and effort that he plays with, but the numbers weren't good and he's also very slim. Johnson would've been a good upside swing in the second round for a bad team, but Milwaukee should've gone in a different direction.
Pick 24 - Washington Wizards
Kyshawn George - SF/SG
20 - 6'8" - 209lb - Miami
Grade: A
Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
The Wizards walked out of day one with a young guard, a young wing, and a young big, all perfect additions to their rebuild. Washington is the perfect place for these guys to get minutes and reach their potential. Kyshawn George wasn't really on the map in terms of draft prospects before the season, but his sparkplug energy and lethal shooting off the bench opened some eyes early on. He's not much of a self-creator, but shoots consistently, hitting 41% of his threes last season. George is a high-IQ player who can dribble, pass, and of course shoot. The defense is weak right now, as is his body, so he will need to put on more muscle and get a defensive mentor because he definitely has the physical tools as a 6'8" wing with a 6'10" wingspan.
Pick 25 - New York Knicks
Pacome Dadiet - SF/SG
18 - 6'9" - 217lb - France
Grade: C+
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Kyle Filipowski, Johnny Furphy, Tyler Smith, more
I would've preferred the Knicks to take someone more league-ready here, but I can understand them taking a draft-and-stash guy to save money. However, Dadiet has said he doesn't want to be stashed, so they'll have to sort that out before next season. Coming out of France, Dadiet has been one of the draft darlings; a lot of amateur big boards have had him ranked much higher than sports media outlets. He has a very versatile offensive game as a solid shot-creator who can hit shots off movement and also finish at the rim. He ranked in the 93rd percentile for rim-finishing and the 90th for shooting off the dribble. Dadiet isn't a super athletic player, but shows a lot of promise as he's just 18 years old and already possesses a deep offensive bag. It'll likely be a few years before the Knicks play him, but it was a fine swing for a broke team with a good bench unit.
Pick 26 - Oklahoma City Thunder
Dillon Jones - SF/SG
22 - 6'6" - 237lb - Weber State
Grade: D+
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Kyle Filipowski, Johnny Furphy, Tyler Smith, more
This was a reach for Jones, who wasn't projected to go until the mid-second round. With so many other options on the board such as Filipowski, Furphy, McCullar, Tyler Smith, Scheierman, etc., there was no reason to go with Jones. He has his strengths for sure; Jones put up a 21-10-5 stat line as the star of the Weber State team, but it's hard to say how well his game will translate to the NBA since most of his shots came from within the arc (he only shot 32% from deep) and since he was playing in Big Sky Conference. He plays hard but isn't much of an athletic finisher. Still, a player with high feel for the game like Jones will always have a chance in the NBA. Playing for the reigning G-League champions, the OKC Blue, Jones will get a chance to prove himself next season.
Pick 27 - Minnesota Timberwolves
Terrence Shannon Jr - SF/SG
23 - 6'7" - 219lb - Illinois
Grade: B+
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Ryan Dunn, Tyler Smith
Shannon fell off the radar for a while as he was dealing with his off-the-court issues, but he was cleared just in time to rise up boards again right before the draft. As one of the best college players in the nation last season, Shannon led the Illini to an Elite Eight appearance and finished the season averaging 23 points a game on 48% from the field and 36% from three. He's very athletic which bolsters his game in a variety of ways: he can finish strong at the rim, keep up on defense out on the perimeter, and block/affect shots in the paint. In the Wolves 3&D system, Shannon will slide right in with the chops to be more versatile on offense if needed. This was a good win-now pick for Minnesota and will add even more to their bench depth.
Pick 28 - Phoenix Suns
Ryan Dunn - PF/SF
21 - 6'7" - 214lb - Virginia
Grade: C
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Tyler Kolek, Isaiah Collier, Johnny Furphy, more
I've been mocking this for a while now, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. The Suns front office seems to be too prideful to admit they made a mistake in organizing this big 3, so they're hard committing to keeping the ball in their hands. Grabbing a PG (like Kolek) here would have been a great move to get the offense flowing a little better, but instead they opted for a guy who can't do anything on offense besides dunk. Don't get me wrong, Dunn is an amazing player on the defensive end, and I could have seen him going earlier than 28. He'll be able to guard at least the 1-4 on offense with his athleticism, 7'1.5" wingspan, vertical, and strength. As a rookie, he already has the capacity to be one of the better defenders in the league. But his offensive game is far from NBA-ready, so Phoenix likely won't be able to play him his rookie year, and their championship window is closing fast.
Pick 29 - Utah Jazz
Isaiah Collier - PG
19 - 6'4" - 205lb - USC
Grade: A+
Players I Would've Picked Instead: None
This was a homerun pick for Utah, who had been mocked several times to take Collier at 10. Keyonte George ran the PG spot for most of the last season, but it was evident that he's more of a combo guard and thrives more as a scorer than a playmaker. Collier is a true PG who can facilitate an offense. Coming into last season projected to be a top-3 pick, he struggled early on, but after returning from an injury he started to put things together. Collier has a ton of physical tools, namely his length, strength, bounce, and speed, which will allow him to develop into a lethal and powerful downhill finisher at the next level. He'll need to continue cutting back on turnovers and put in some more effort on defense, but the Jazz are a perfect landing spot for him to get minutes right away and work on those things.
Pick 30 - Boston Celtics
Baylor Scheierman - SF/SG
23 - 6'7" - 202lb - Creighton
Grade: B+
Players I Would've Picked Instead: Kyle Filipowski, Tyler Smith
The best-shooting team in the league lands another shooter with the final pick in the first round. Scheierman was another late riser up draft boards because of his consistent shooting and do-it-all mentality. He shot 38% from outside the arc last year and can hit shots off movement, off the dribble, or off the catch. Even more impressive is the fact that he also managed to pull in 9 rebounds a game and dish out 4 assists, too. So he's much more versatile than just a shooter, one way being his ability to run pick-and-rolls very effectively as a wing. At 23 years old, Scheierman has a lot of experience at the college level and was a top player in the most recent NCAA Tournament. He'll provide depth for Boston as they try to capitalize again on what looks to be a wide championship window.
Pick 31 - Toronto Raptors - PF/C Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco - Grade: B-
Pick 32 - Utah Jazz - PF/C Kyle Filipowski, Duke - Grade: A-
Pick 33 - Milwaukee Bucks - PF/C Tyler Smith, G-League Ignite - Grade: A
Pick 34 - New York Knicks - PG Tyler Kolek, Marquette - Grade: A+
Pick 35 - Indiana Pacers - SF/SG Johnny Furphy, Kansas - Grade: A
Pick 36 - San Antonio Spurs - PG Juan Nunez, Spain - Grade: B
Pick 37 - Detroit Pistons - PF/SF Bobi Klintman, Australia - Grade: C+
Pick 38 - Oklahoma City Thunder - PG/SG Ajay Mitchell, UC Santa Barbara - Grade: A-
Pick 39 - Memphis Grizzlies - SF/PF Jaylen Wells, Washington State - Grade: B
Pick 40 - Phoenix Suns - C/PF Oso Ighodaro, Marquette - Grade: B-
Pick 41 - Philadelphia 76ers - C Adem Bona, UCLA - Grade: A-
Pick 42 - Charlotte Hornets - PG KJ Simpson, Colorado - Grade: C+
Pick 43 - Atlanta Hawks - SF/SG Nikola Djurisic, Serbia - Grade: B
Pick 44 - Miami Heat - SG/SF Pelle Larsson, Arizona - Grade: C
Pick 45 - Toronto Raptors - PG/SG Jamal Shead, Houston - Grade: A+
Pick 46 - Los Angeles Clippers - SG/SF Cam Christie, Minnesota - Grade: C+
Pick 47 - New Orleans Pelicans - SG/SF Antonio Reeves, Kentucky - Grade: B-
Pick 48 - San Antonio Spurs - SF/PF Harrison Ingram, North Carolina - Grade: B
Pick 49 - Indiana Pacers - SG/PG Tristen Newton, Connecticut - Grade: B
Pick 50 - Indiana Pacers - PF/C Enrique Freeman, Akron - Grade: A
Pick 51 - Dallas Mavericks - SF/PF Melvin Ajinca, France - Grade: C-
Pick 52 - Golden State Warriors - C Quinten Post, Boston College - Grade: B+
Pick 53 - Memphis Grizzlies - SG/SF Cam Spencer, Connecticut - Grade: A-
Pick 54 - Boston Celtics - SF/PF Anton Watson, Gonzaga - Grade: D+
Pick 55 - Los Angeles Lakers - SG/PG Bronny James, USC - Grade: A+
Pick 56 - New York Knicks - SF/SG Kevin McCullar Jr - Grade: A+
Pick 57 - Toronto Raptors - C Ulrich Chomche - Grade: B
Pick 58 - New York Knicks - C Ariel Hukporti, Australia - Grade: C
Conclusion
This has been a super fun draft cycle to analyze! I loved all of the draft night trades and am excited to watch these rookies next season. Go Rockets!
Until next time...
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