Giving Pick-by-Pick Grades to the Lottery Selections
#1 76ers – PF Ben Simmons A+
Ben Simmons is head over heels the best player in the draft. Although he might no immediately look like a fit in the Sixers system, you can’t pass over the player who could possibly be the next LeBron James
#2 Lakers – SF Brandon Ingram A+
Like the aforementioned Ben Simmons, Ingram is head over heels better than everyone in the draft besides Simmons. Ingram has a tremendous upside, being one of the top shooters in the nation, along with having the isolation talent that he possesses will make Ingram a scary player to face for years to come.
#3 Celtics (via Brooklyn) – SF Jaylen Brown C
Hmmmm. This pick has me a little confused. Why Boston would pick a player who is pretty good at best at the third slot when you don’t even want to shop him? I feel that Brown is just going to be another good player on a roster full of good players, and not a single great one.
#4 Suns – PF Dragan Bender B+
Suns addressed a lot of needs with this pick. With Bender, they get spot-up shooting, a stretch-4, and rebounding along side with the crazy potential that Bender has. Very solid pick.
#5 Timberwolves – PG Kris Dunn A-
With Dunn, the Timberwolves get a potential All-Star point guard. His long range abilities with his defensive presence and basketball I.Q should give the league a scare for years to come, even if he begins his career playing behind Ricky Rubio.
#6 New Orleans Pelicans – SG Buddy Hield A
Best player available, that’s the approach the Pels had going into this year’s draft, and they sure struck gold. Hield will provide the scoring outside of Anthony Davis, and can also provide a threat if the Pelicans want to use a post and kick out play between Davis and Buddy.
#7 Denver Nuggets (via New York) – PG/SG Jamal Murray A
The future looks very bright in Denver. Jamal Murray is a player who will make you forget about the bad-shooting Emmanuel Mudiay, and Mudiay will make you forget about Murray on the defensive end. Jamal Murray will fit perfectly in the Nuggets system.
#8 Phoenix Suns – PF Marquese Chriss B
Chriss was one of the risers on draft boards over time, but he has crazy potential. He, like Bender, provided rebounding, and mid-range spot-up shooting.
#9 Toronto Raptors (via Denver) – C Jakob Poeltl C+
With Poeltl, the Raptors get size and mobility, a thing they needed in a big man. But Poeltl lacks toughness, strength, and he has very limited versatility, all things the Raptors needed.
#10 Milwaukee Bucks – C Thon Maker D
What are the Bucks doing? They could’ve gotten Maker late in the first round or with their 38th pick in the second! Disgraceful, I wanted to give this an F but with Maker’s potential, the pick gets a D.
#11 Oklahoma City Thunder (via Orlando) – PF Domantas Sabonis B-
With Sabonis, the Thunder get a good post presence and rebounder, alongside of Steven Adams. But Sabonis really lacks a presence on the defensive end.
#12 Atlanta Hawks (via Utah) – SF/PF Taurean Prince D+
Like Thon Maker, the Hawks could’ve picked Prince with their 23rd pick, but maybe they got ants in their pants. Prince is a solid defender and rebounder though.
#13 Sacramento Kings (via Phoenix) – C Georgios Papagiannis C
Another big man? DeMarcus Cousins and Willie Cauley-Stein are their future and they could’ve gotten Papagiannis later in the draft, but you cant teach size, and he sure is big.
#14 Chicago Bulls – PG/SG Denzel Valentine B+
He was the AP National Player of the year, and he is headed to Chi-Town. This is a great pick, as he fills a hole left when Derrick Rose departed. He has a very high basketball I.Q and has great maturity. Good pick for the Bulls
Comment down below which rookie could surprise you the most next season, in a good or bad way.
