The 2011 NBA draft was a pretty wild ride, with the usual high volume of trades and trade rumors. And while the talent level at the top wasn't as high as in other years, the draft was very solid in the mid-to-late first round and beyond.
Now it's time to evaluate what we saw. In my day job as a college professor, I don't give final grades after just one day of class. But as an NBA analyst, that's essentially what I have to do when handing out draft grades just hours after teams have made their selections.
The truth is, there is still so much we don't know about the 2011 draft class and how the players will fit with their respective teams. In other words, the ultimate draft grades won't be known for at least a couple of years, and probably much longer. And this year, due to the weakness of the draft, I'm going to have to grade on the curve.
Here's my take on how every team in the league did Thursday (in alphabetical order):
[h4]ATLANTA HAWKS GRADE: C-[/h4]
Round 1: None.
Round 2: Keith Benson (4
Analysis: The Hawks sent their first-round pick to the Wizards in the Kirk Hinrich trade, and Washington turned it into Chris Singleton. Between Hinrich and Singleton, I'd rather have Singleton for the long haul.
In the second round, the Hawks didn't fare much better. They may be desperate for size, but Keith Benson plays small. I've been intrigued by his talent for years, but unless he really turns the corner I don't think he will stick in the league. Most second-rounders don't.
[h4]BOSTON CELTICS GRADE: A-[/h4]
Round 1: JaJuan Johnson (27, obtained from New Jersey)
Round 2: E'Twaun Moore (55)
Analysis: When you're drafting as low as the Celtics are in a weak draft, you temper expectations. But I think they may have found two players who can help.
Johnson was underrated all season, mostly because he was a senior. He's long, athletic and skilled, and he has improved every year.
Moore is the consummate role player. He isn't great at anything, but his overall game is solid. Both players could help the Celtics down the road.
[h4]CHARLOTTE BOBCATS GRADE: B+[/h4]
Round 1: Bismack Biyombo (7, obtained from Sacramento), Kemba Walker (9)
Round 2: None.
Analysis: It was a good night for Charlotte, as they added toughness at two critical positions.
Biyombo has the ability to be a Ben Wallace-like defensive anchor. He may never figure it out offensively, but it's hard to see how he fails defensively if he stays healthy. With that body, motor and athletic ability, he's going to intimidate in the paint.
Walker may be undersized, but he's a winner, and the Bobcats needed some winners in their organization. Whether he sticks in the league as a Jason Terry-type combo guard, or whether he proves people wrong and becomes a pure point guard, at No. 9, I think Walker was the right choice.
[h4]CHICAGO BULLS GRADE: B[/h4]
Round 1: Nikola Mirotic (23, rights from Houston from Orlando via Phoenix), Jimmy Butler (30)
Round 2: None.
Analysis: The Bulls were drafting late and still found talent.
I like the Mirotic pick. He was a lottery talent who slid because of contract issues, but the Bulls can afford to be patient and allow him to continue to develop in Europe. They do take a risk that he doesn't ever come here (Mirotic is already getting paid major coin in Europe), but at No. 23, it's worth the gamble.
Butler will not be a star, but he will play his role off the bench. He can guard multiple positions, has a great work ethic, and has the maturity to fit into a veteran team. When you factor in
all that he's overcome in his life, it's not hard to believe he'll succeed.
[h4]CLEVELAND CAVALIERS GRADE: A-[/h4]
Round 1: Kyrie Irving (1, from LA Clippers), Tristan Thompson (No. 4)
Round 2: Milan Macvan (54, obtained from Oklahoma City via Miami)
Analysis: The Cavs got the best player in the draft in Irving. There was a temptation to get carried away by taking Derrick Williams No. 1 and then trying to score a player like Brandon Knight at No. 4. But the Cavs kept their eye on the ball and took the best player available.
Will Irving be a star? Maybe not. But he's going to be a starting point guard for a long time in the league and has enough upside to get to a star level someday.
I did think the Cavs reached just a little bit for Tristan Thompson. We might debate for years whether the Cavs would've been better off taking Williams and Brandon Knight ahead of Irving and Thompson. But I think history will be kind to the Cavs.
[h4]DALLAS MAVERICKS GRADE: A-[/h4]
Round 1: None.
Round 2: None.
Analysis: The Mavs dropped out of the draft by trading their pick, Jordan Hamilton, to the Nuggets. But they picked up a young player in Rudy Fernandez who can come in and help them right now. Fernandez has talent -- proven talent -- and likely will outperform anyone else who would've been available at 26.
In the second round, Dallas also traded away the rights to Targuy Ngombo to the Blazers. I don't know how they're going to be able to sleep at night over that decision.
[h4]DENVER NUGGETS GRADE: B[/h4]
Round 1: Kenneth Faried (22), Jordan Hamilton (26, obtained from Dallas)
Round 2: Chukwudiebere Maduabum (56, obtained from L.A. Lakers)
Analysis: The Nuggets had a busy night. Not only did they trade Raymond Felton for Andre Miller, but they ended up with three draft picks.
I won't factor the Felton/Miller trade into their draft grade. (I'll let John Hollinger pick that one apart.) But I love Kenneth Faried. He has great energy and can really rebound the basketball. Faried probably won't be a star -- he may not even be a starter. But given his relentless enthusiasm for playing defense, it's hard to see how he doesn't stick in the league.
Jordan Hamilton is a bit harder to fathom. I like the value. But on a team with Danilo Gallinari and most likely Wilson Chandler, a restricted free agent this summer, I'm not sure how he ever gets into the game. As for Chukwudiebere Maduabum ... he's a big-time project.
[h4]DETROIT PISTONS GRADE: A-[/h4]
Round 1: Brandon Knight (
Round 2: Kyle Singler (33, obtained from Toronto), Vernon Macklin (52)
Analysis: Brandon Knight wasn't the Pistons' biggest need, but he was the best talent on the board when the Pistons selected and GM Joe Dumars didn't hesitate to take him. I applaud that. Dumars can figure out how to fit Knight into a somewhat crowded backcourt, and teams typically fare better when they don't worry about fit and take the best player on the board. Knight isn't a sure thing, but he's a hardworking, unselfish player with all the tools to be great if he puts it together.
I'm not in love with the Singler pick, but I also can't argue definitively that there was a better prospect for the Pistons to take at No. 33. You can't teach toughness and Singler has loads of it. If he ever becomes a consistent shooter, he could be a threat.
[h4]GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS GRADE: B[/h4]
Round 1: Klay Thompson (11)
Round 2: Jeremy Tyler (39, obtained from Charlotte), Charles Jenkins (44, obtained from Phoenix via Chicago)
Analysis: Warriors adviser Jerry West became enamored with Klay Thompson early, and I can see the appeal. The Washington State guard is big, shoots the ball well and has some great basketball DNA from his father Mychal, the No. 1 pick in the 1978 draft and a 12-year NBA veteran.
But there were still players like Kawhi Leonard and Alec Burks on the board at No. 11 that I think have much higher ceilings. The Warriors went safe, but safe doesn't get you an "A" grade.
I did really like their second-round selection of Charles Jenkins, who can be a major scoring threat off the bench. Their other second-rounder, Jeremy Tyler, has lottery size and talent ... but is he mature enough to handle the rigors of the NBA? He's going to be a project.
[h4]HOUSTON ROCKETS GRADE: C+[/h4]
Round 1: Marcus Morris (14), Donatas Motiejunas (20, obtained from Minnesota from Memphis via Utah).
Round 2: Chandler Parsons (38, obtained from LA Clippers)
Analysis: At some point, I'm going to learn that the harder I grade the Rockets, the more I get burned.
Marcus Morris is solid at No. 14, but they passed on Kawhi Leonard to get him. I think the pick also implies (given the Rockets' current personnel) that they're projecting Morris as a 3. I'm not so sure that's a good idea.
Donatas Motiejunas has potential as a big-time scorer, but with all the forwards already in Houston, he looks to be hopelessly buried.
Chandler Parsons is one of the most intriguing players in the draft. If he ever lives up to his potential, he's a great pick in the second round. But after four years of not doing it at Florida, I'm not at all confident he'll do it at the NBA level.
[h4]INDIANA PACERS GRADE: B+[/h4]
Round 1: None.
Round 2: None.
Analysis: I'm torn on this one.
On one hand, I really like that the Pacers opted out of the draft. They need help now, and trading for hometown hero George Hill could be considered a coup. The Pacers, along with a number of teams, have tried to pry Hill away for years. His versatility, toughness and playoff experience on a veteran roster all help accelerate the Pacers' rebuilding project. He can step in immediately and give them something they need: a guard who can create his own shot and defend.
On the other hand, Kawhi Leonard (who the Pacers drafted at No. 15 and traded for Hill) was one of my favorite players in the draft. I thought the Pacers were going back to 2005, when Danny Granger fell into their laps. But there's a time and place for everything, and the Pacers have plenty of young talent already. They're ready to win and Hill helps them in that quest.
[h4]LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS GRADE: C-[/h4]
Round 1: None.
Round 2: Trey Thompkins (37, obtained from Detroit), Travis Leslie (47, obtained from Houston)
Analysis: If the Clippers had sat on their hands at the February trade deadline, we'd be talking about how Kyrie Irving was the final piece of the puzzle for a young Clippers team.
Instead, they traded their first-round pick to Cleveland, Mo Williams is their point guard and the Clippers have Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie, two teammates from Georgia who've underperformed for the past two years. Both have talent appropriate for the second round, but I still can't help but think that the Clippers would've been better off with Irving and Baron Davis in L.A. instead of Irving and Davis in Cleveland.
[h4]LOS ANGELES LAKERS GRADE: C+[/h4]
Round 1: None
Round 2: Darius Morris (41, obtained from Golden State via New Jersey), Andrew Goudelock (46, obtained from New York), Ater Majok (58, obtained from Miami).
Analysis: The Lakers had a solid draft. Darius Morris has real talent as a pure point guard. If coach Mike Brown can get him to defend his position and improve his jumper, we could remember him as a draft night steal down the road. Goudelock can shoot the basketball with deep range, but he's very undersized. Majok barely deserves a mention.
[h4]MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES GRADE: A-[/h4]
Round 1: None.
Round 2: Josh Selby (49)
Analysis: I have no idea whether Josh Selby will pan out. But at No. 49, the Grizzlies drafted a player with lottery talent.
A medical red flag concerning a swollen knee and a skipped MRI were partly to blame for Selby's drop. But teams were more worried about his character and his poor season at Kansas. Still, when you watch his game film from college or watch him work out, you see that he has the potential to be special.
That late in the draft, the Grizzlies risked nothing and had everything to gain -- and maybe Selby follows in the footsteps of other young, talented second-rounders like Monta Ellis, Lou Williams and Gilbert Arenas. Selby may never get it together, but he was worth a shot here.
[h4]MIAMI HEAT GRADE: A-[/h4]
Round 1: Norris Cole (28, obtained from Bulls)
Round 2: None.
Analysis: There was value late in the first round and the Heat were aggressive in getting it. Cole was ranked in the early 20s on my board. If he had played at a school like Duke instead of Cleveland State, he'd probably have been 10 to 15 spots higher on the board.
Point guard was a need and, frankly, I think Cole could end up being a significant upgrade over Mario Chalmers down the road.
[h4]MILWAUKEE BUCKS GRADE: B+[/h4]
Round 1: Tobias Harris (19, rights obtained from New Orleans via Portland)
Round 2: Jon Leuer (40)
Analysis: The Bucks' big three-way trade cost them the 10th pick and brought back the 19th pick. Putting aside the rest of the trade, how did they fare in the draft?
They took Tobias Harris, one of the most underrated players in the draft and a very good fit for their team. While he's not an explosive athlete, he's skilled with a high basketball IQ and good versatility. At age 18, he was one of the youngest players in the draft, giving him plenty of opportunity to improve.
Leuer has a chance to stick. At his size, his ability to shoot from long range is intriguing.
[h4]MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES GRADE: A[/h4]
Round 1: Derrick Williams (2)
Round 2: Malcolm Lee (43, obtained from Jazz via Wolves), Targuy Ngombo (57, from Dallas)
Analysis: The Wolves got the second-best prospect in the draft. Given that, we can forget about the questionable fit.
They tried to trade the pick but weren't offered enough in return, so they took the best talent on the board. If Williams turns out to be one of the two best players on the team, which he might be, they'll find minutes for him.
I also like the Malcolm Lee pick. As we know, GM David Kahn collects point guards, but in Lee's case his versatility, defense and ability to swing to the 2 gives the Wolves something they didn't have.
[h4]NEW JERSEY NETS GRADE: B+ [/h4]
Round 1: Marshon Brooks (25, obtained from Celtics)
Round 2: Bojan Bogdanovic (31, obtained from Heat via Wolves), Jordan Williams (36)
Analysis: The Nets grabbed one of the best scorers in the draft in Brooks. He has NBA length and athleticism and is very aggressive with the ball. Given the Nets' need at the 2 position and their desire to compete right now, he's a really good fit.
Bogdanovic was the second-leading scorer in the Euroleague, so he can fill it up too. But he's not coming for a few years.
Williams gives them toughness and rebounding, but he's a bit undersized for his position.
[h4]NEW ORLEANS HORNETS GRADE: C-[/h4]
Round 1: None.
Round 2: None.
Analysis: The Hornets traded their No. 1 pick to the Blazers as part of the Jerryd Bayless deal. They then turned around and gave Bayless to the Raptors. I know they got Jarrett Jack out of the deal, but the pick was used on a pretty good prospect, Tobias Harris, who has the chance to be special.
[h4]NEW YORK KNICKS GRADE: B-[/h4]
Round 1: Iman Shumpert (17)
Round 2: Josh Harrellson (45, obtained from Charlotte)
Analysis: New York went for defense and swung for the fences at the same time. Shumpert was one of the best perimeter defenders in the draft, with great size for a guard and explosive athleticism. If he can learn to run a team and shoot the ball, he can be a monster in the NBA. But right now, that's a big
if.
Harrellson is big and the Knicks need big. But his talent is pretty limited.
[h4]OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER GRADE: B+ [/h4]
Round 1: Reggie Jackson (24)
Round 2: None.
Analysis: I'm not sure how Reggie Jackson fits in with Russell Westbrook and Eric Maynor on hand already, but he's a talent. Jackson's agents tried to hide him from every team in the first round so he could get to Miami, but the Thunder swallowed hard and took him anyway. This was a case of a team taking a prospect it believed was the best player available, and it could pay off down the road for Oklahoma City.
[h4]ORLANDO MAGIC GRADE: B [/h4]
Round 1: None.
Round 2: Justin Harper (32, obtained from Cleveland), DeAndre Liggins (53)
Analysis: The Magic moved up and grabbed Harper, one of the best shooters in the draft. He has a little Rashard Lewis in his game with his ability to stretch the floor. He's not going to be a star, but he could play a similar role to Ryan Anderson.
Liggins has a shot at sticking in the league thanks to his ability to lock down opposing players on the perimeter.
[h4]PHILADELPHIA 76ERS GRADE: C[/h4]
Round 1: Nikola Vucevic (16)
Round 2: Lavoy Allen (50, obtained from New Orleans)
Analysis: The Sixers needed size and so they took the biggest guy on the board, but this was a case of drafting need over talent. I think better players were on the board, even if they weren't 7-footers. Vucevic will be solid in the NBA, but he's far from being a potential star.
Allen doesn't exactly get you excited after a lackluster four years at Temple.
[h4]PHOENIX SUNS GRADE: B-[/h4]
Round 1: Markieff Morris (13)
Round 2: None.
Analysis: The Suns decided they needed size and another defensive presence, and to get those qualities, they may have reached just a bit for Morris here.
A year ago, scouts would've laughed at the suggestion that Markieff would go ahead of twin brother Marcus. But after a stellar junior season, he leapt ahead on some draft boards.
Morris is a solid rebounder and defender and he's tough. He can also shoot the ball, a big bonus in coach Alvin Gentry's system.
[h4]PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS GRADE: C-[/h4]
Round 1: Nolan Smith (21)
Round 2: Jon Diebler (51, pick may be conveyed to Detroit via Denver)
Analysis: The Blazers reached for a guy whose ceiling appears to be as a sixth man. Nolan Smith is solid, and maybe at No. 21, solid is good enough. But I thought players like Reggie Jackson and Marshon Brooks offered more upside.
At No. 51, they got Diebler, maybe the best spot-up shooter in the draft.
[h4]SACRAMENTO KINGS GRADE: A[/h4]
Round 1: Jimmer Fredette (10, obtained from Bucks)
Round 2: Tyler Honeycutt (35), Isaiah Thomas (60, obtained from Chicago via Milwaukee)
Analysis: I hated the trade the Kings made on Thursday. But I loved Sacramento's draft.
Fredette was the perfect fit on a team that needed his shooting ability. (I would say the same thing if the Kings would've stayed at No. 7 and taken Fredette.) At a minimum, Fredette will come in and be a sharpshooting sparkplug off the bench, but he could be much more. He's replacing Beno Udrih, and Fredette should eventually be an upgrade over Udrih in almost every way.
My main concern is the fact that the coaching staff reportedly isn't in love with Fredette, which could be a problem. For him to succeed, he will need a coach who believes in him.
I like the Tyler Honeycutt pick, as well. Honeycutt has a lot of untapped talent, a high basketball IQ and good passing ability, which should allow him to stick in the league.
Isaiah Thomas has value as the No. 60 pick -- he's tough, he can get to the basket and he can play the point.
[h4]SAN ANTONIO SPURS GRADE: A- [/h4]
Round 1: Kawhi Leonard (15, obtained from Pacers), Cory Joseph (29)
Round 2: Davis Bertans (42, obtained from Indiana), Adam Hanga (59)
Analysis: The Spurs gave up a critical part of their rotation in George Hill to get Kawhi Leonard and Davis Bertans. But I think it was worth it for two reasons. One, the Spurs were going to have a hard time playing Hill once he hit free agency next summer. And two, I think Leonard was the steal of the draft at 15.
His approach to the game is a perfect fit with the Spurs. The team also go great value in the second round with Bertans. He can already shoot the lights out, and a few more years in Europe could turn him into a more complete player. Hanga was a stash pick at 59. I doubt we ever see him in the NBA, but you never know.
Joseph seemed like a bit of reach at 29. I think the Spurs see him as a replacement for George Hill, but I'm not sure the same level of talent is there.
[h4]TORONTO RAPTORS GRADE: Inc.[/h4]
Round 1: Jonas Valanciunas (5)
Round 2: None.
Analysis: I'm not sure how I feel about the Raptors selecting Jonas Valanciunas. On one hand, he's a legit 7-foot center who isn't afraid to mix it up in the paint. On the other hand, it's still unclear when he's going to come to the NBA.
The Raptors took a big, long-term risk. It could pay off handsomely, but it won't pay off right away. Given the Raptors' fortunes the past few years, how long can they wait? If Valanciunas comes soon and develops, it was worth the risk. If it takes him a while to get here, they may have been better off with Biyombo.
[h4]UTAH JAZZ GRADE: A[/h4]
Round 1: Enes Kanter (3, obtained from New Jersey), Alec Burks (12)
Round 2: None.
Analysis: I really like the Utah draft. Kanter has the ability to be a productive starting center in the league. And Burks is a very talented guard who, if he develops a jump shot, could become a star.
With the addition of Kanter and Burks plus Derrick Favors and last year's lottery pick, Gordon Hayward, the Jazz have quickly rebuilt a strong young talent base while keeping a nice core of veterans around to mentor them. The future looks very bright in Utah.
[h4]WASHINGTON WIZARDS GRADE: A[/h4]
Round 1: Jan Vesely (6), Chris Singleton (18, obtained from Atlanta)
Round 2: Shelvin Mack (34)
Analysis: This was a critical summer for the Wizards. Drafting John Wall was easy last year. This year, the challenge was to surround him with players who complement his talents. Mission accomplished.
Vesely is one of the most athletic forwards in the draft and should be great flying up and down the floor with Wall. Singleton is also a terrific athlete and the best defender in the draft. Factor in Shelvin Mack as a solid backup guard at No. 34, and the Wizards came away more athletic and tougher. That's a great draft.
