So, work was crushing me last week, so Part III of the series never happened. I thought with a little time gone past, I’ll review the NBA Draft.
NBA Draft Results and Review
1- Deandre Ayton – Suns – No shock here. Ayton was the best prospect in the Draft. Suns don’t overthink the pick and take the AZ kid.
2 – Marvin Bagley – Kings – A little surprising here. Doncic was my pick here, but Bagley was open to playing in Sac-Town. He will be a good front court scorer around the offensively challenged, Willie Cauley-Stein.
3 – Luka Doncic – Hawks – Doncic was originally taken by the Hawks, but traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Trae Young. The Hawks get what some say is the next “Steph Curry.” I’m not sold on him, but the Hawks are willing to wait and see.
4 – Jaren Jackson – Grizzlies – I’m a big Jackson fan. I think he has the most potential of all this draft class this year. He can learn the post alongside Marc Gasol, the consummate pro. Jackson will not be great right away, but in 3 years he should be a force.
5 – Trae Young – Mavericks – Doncic was traded for Young to Dallas. Probably a good move for Dallas. Dirk is on the way out, so a young, European who has been playing pro ball since he was 13. The question with him is ceiling. How much better can he get?
6 – Mohamed Bamba – Magic – Bamba probably should have gone higher. The best defender in the Draft with potential to be a really good finisher. Magic get a Top 5 talent at 6.
7 – Wendell Carter – Bulls – Bulls go safe with Carter. Carter is a very solid player that will complement Lauri, however I think the Bulls passed on a potential star in Michael Porter. The back injury really hurt Porter’s stock.
8 – Collin Sexton – Cavs – Sexton is better than Trae Young. He can play now with his tenacity and defense. I don’t think Lebron will stay for Sexton, but he will be a good addition to the Cavs.
9 – Kevin Knox – Knicks – The Knicks fell in love with Knox at his workout. I understand he outshined Mikal Bridges in a joint workout. So, maybe they see something I don’t. Knox is a good scorer, but why pass on Porter.
10 – Mikal Bridges – 76ers – Bridges is a smooth player that should contribute immediately. However, Bridges was traded to the Suns. I like what the Suns have now – Ayton in the middle, Bridges on the wing, and Booker at the scoring point. Nice pieces.
11 – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Hornets – I’m a big fan of Gilgeous-Alexander. The Hornets jump up trading with the Clippers (which I anticipated they would trade one of these picks) to get a very good defensive point guard. Probably will move Kemba to the 2 with him on the floor.
12 – Miles Bridges – Clippers – As expected, Jerry West picks a versatile and athletic wing player. Great selection by the Clips.
13 – Jerome Robinson – Clippers – From the Hornets, the Clips drop back to take this athletic guard from Boston College. I’m again surprised Porter doesn’t go here. West passes on him for a point guard.
14 – Michael Porter – Nuggets – Porter finally goes here. I, personally, think he is going to be a Top 3 player in this Draft. Plus, he now has motivation to be even better. Let’s see if the doctors were right about that back.
15 – Troy Brown – Wizards – The Wiz take another shooting guard with the 6’7″ Brown from Oregon. I’m not sure about this pick given their need for frontcourt players. With Beale and Porter, I’m not sure this guy cracks the starting 5.
16 – Zhaire Smith – Suns – Smith was traded for Mikal Bridges, which is interesting. Smith is a super athletic guard, but at 6’4″, I’m not sure this was wise by Philly. Not a great shooter, but maybe for his defensive prowess. Bridges and Smith will be forever tied in the Draft now.
17 – Donte DiVencezo – Bucks – In my proposed Part III of the series, I would have spent some time on Donte. He is a 6’5″, very athletic dude who can shoot. Very well suited for today’s NBA. I really like the fit for the Bucks as Giannis matures, they will need quality shooters who can create off the bounce like Donte. Good pick.
18 – Lonnie Walker – Spurs – Walker was a potential Top 15 guy in my eyes. A very good scorer from Miami, where they play defense. He really is a great fit for the Spurs. He can fit in with the vets and hopefully play alongside Kwahi Leonard.
19 – Kevin Huerter – Hawks – Atlanta is looking to build a backcourt first. With Huerter you have a long, 6’7″, shooting guard. Definitely a shoot first player, so it appears the Hawks are looking to outscore their opponents from deep.
20 – Josh Okogie – T-Wolves – Another shooting guard here, as the run continues. Okogie is an uninteresting pick for me. The Wolves need guys who can create their own shot besides Butler. Maybe he can do it.
21 – Grayson Allen – Jazz – Allen is a despised player in the Duke tradition, so why not go to the Nuthuggers and play on a team that is pesky. I like the Jazz going forward, but I’m not sure Allen is a Top 25 guy.
22 – Chandler Hutchinson – Bulls – The Bulls like this player. They seem him as a dynamic small forward. I would have liked the Bulls to trade up, as Porter fell, but we will see how their picks pan out.
23 – Aaron Holiday – Pacers – The Pacers have a good young nucleus. Holiday has brothers in the league. He was unimpressive in college to me, but if he can grow and improve like his brothers, then he may be a good pro.
24 – Anfernee Simons – Blazers – A player that did not play in college, which makes me very skeptical. At 6’3″ and 183 lbs at Shooting Guard, I’m not sure what they were thinking. Blazers backcourt is as good as anyone’s. So, a future pick, I guess.
25 – Moritz Wagner – Lakers – The college star will get a chance to play alongside the young Lakers, but I think this move was an attempt to draw Lebron. Mo is a shooting big man who does not need the spotlight.
26 – Landry Shamet – 76ers – Shamet is a smooth point guard, and I actually like this pick. Simmons will handle mostly, but the Sixers obviously like accomplished college guars, a la TJ McConnell.
27 – Robert Williams – Celtics – I had Williams as a Top 15 talent. Danny Ainge does it again to me. Williams will be a force in the paint defensively and doesn’t need to score on the Celts. Celtics got better.
28 – Jacob Evans – Warriors – Evans is a rugged forward at 6’6″ and 200 lbs. I like this player a lot. In the past 2 years, the Ws have looked for a player like this – Jordan Bell – who can come in and give good minutes defensively. Evans can also score in a variety of ways.
29 – Dzanan Musa – Nets – Musa is another mystery. At 6’9″ and 195 lbs, he is probably 2-3 years away from contributing.
30 – Omari Spellman – Hawks – The 3rd Nova Wildcat drafted is an NBA-like big man. Good athleticism to finish at the rim, very good shooter, and a versatile defender. Hawks get a good pick here.
2nd Round Notable Picks:
32 – Jevon Carter – Grizzlies – Carter was a man in college. He is undersized in the NBA at 6’2″, but he is strong and can defend much bigger. He is a more skilled Marcus Smart type guy.
33 – Jalen Brunson – Mavericks – The College Player of the Year goes 33rd and is the 4th Nova Wildcat selected. Brunson may not wow you in the athleticism, but he knows how to play. The Mavs are not great, which may impeded his growth. On a better team, Brunson would have contributed immediately.
34 – Devonte Graham – Hawks – Hornets pick up Graham form the Hawks, and the run on quality college point guards continue. Graham will also be undersized like Carter and Brunson, but the kid can play.
37 – Gary Trent – Kings – Trent is the 4th Duke player selected. A good shooter, and Blazers traded for Trent. So, he may contribute off the bench with some scoring punch.
48 – Keita Bates-Diop – T-Wolves – Bates-Diop was an accomplished scorer. He needs to work on his strength to play big minutes, but he could be a very good bench scorer for Minnesota.
54 – Shake Milton – Mavs – Milton is a big guard at 6’6″ and 205 lbs. I think he has the NBA body now. So, the 76ers who traded for him get another guard to add to the stock of players to play along with Simmons and Imbiid. I think given the Draft JJ Reddick looks expendable.
Here are some guys not drafted but signed to camp of note:
Rob Gray – Rockets – Gray is a scoring machine and really talented all around guard. With Houston, he could be an asset the way they play.
Trevon Bluiett – Pelicans – A prolific scorer in college, but lacks the NBA build. He will need to work on that physique, but the kid can play.
Allonzo Trier – Knicks – Trier was a very good player at Arizona, however some suspensions slowed him down. He can ball, though.
Keenan Evans – Warriors – Evans is another very accomplished college point guard. I love this guy’s game. Very strong with the ball, uses angles well on drives and great leadership. Ws get a nice player here.
Trevon Duval – Rockets – Duval is the lone Duke starter to not get drafted. Duval will have to outplay Gray to make the team, but he was a very highly recruited high school player.
Theo Pinson – Nets – Pinson is a very UNC-like player. All around player who is athletic and unselfish. He can make this team for sure.
Alright, that is the review. I’ll get into NBA Free Agency very soon.
Wegs