The NBA Draft has came and went, and with it, young players took a step further into realizing their dreams of making it in the league. It’s time to see which teams won big and which teams lucked out.
Atlanta Hawks: The Atlanta Hawks may have traded away Dwight Howard to the Charlotte Hornets, but after drafting the likes of John Collins, it may be up for interpretation that Paul Millsap could be leaving the Hawks as a free agent. If Millsap leaves Atlanta, it would be the start of a reboot, especially after being an Eastern Conference playoff fixture since 2008. As to whether they are draft winners or losers, I will give them a nod for selecting a player with the most unique name in Alpha Kaba. Verdict: Winner (slightly)
Brooklyn Nets: Brooklyn acquired D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov in a trade before the draft, but during the draft, they selected Jarrett Allen from Texas and Aleksandar Vezenkov (pronounced Alexander Vez-en-cov) from Cyprus (via Spain), but also dealt Kyle Kuzma to the Los Angeles Lakers. After losing Brook Lopez to the Lakers, the Nets needed a replacement and then some, so signing Allen should benefit them. As for Vezenkov, he’ll have to improve in many areas. Verdict: Winner
Boston Celtics: The Celtics traded down to the number 3 spot and drafted Jayson Tatum. That shouldn’t be seen as a consolation prize, it should be seen as Danny Ainge using his wit. The Celtics are still poised to make moves in the free agency, so it’s obvious of what the verdict is here. Verdict: Winner
Charlotte Hornets: Malik Monk is going to make everyone who didn’t draft him regret it fully. Adding Malik Monk (along with Dwayne Bacon in a trade with New Orleans) could help the Hornets’ backcourt a lot, especially with Kemba Walker leading the team. A Walker-Monk combo could be a highly effective duo in Buzz City. Verdict: Winner
Chicago Bulls: The Bulls lost Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves and acquired Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine. Despite drafting Justin Patton from Creighton, who ended up traded to Minnesota for Lauri Markkanen, Chicago might lose Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade in the free agent market this July. Verdict: Loser
Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks were a lottery pick for the first time under the Mark Cuban era and drafted Dennis Smith Jr. out of North Carolina State. Smith is an explosive point guard on offense, a spark that can ignite Dallas, who have been stagnant in recent memory. The Mavericks will need a lot more spark in the free agency market, too. Verdict: Winner
Denver Nuggets: Denver traded its lottery pick, Donovan Mitchell, to the Utah Jazz for Tyler Lydon, and in the second round drafted Vlatko Cancar (pronounced Flat-ko Can-car) from Slovenia (via Serbia) and Monte Morris from Iowa State. With the improvements of Nikola Jokic (pronounced Yo-kich) and Emmanuel Mudiay (pronounced Moo-di-hey), Denver is still building their team and getting back to being the fun team, should they retain Danilo Gallinari. Verdict: Winner
Detroit Pistons: Detroit basketball could be making a comeback sooner than you think. With the addition of Luke Kennard from Duke, joining the likes of Reggie Jackson, Tobias Harris and Andre Drummond. With Stan Van Gundy leading the Pistons at the coaching helm, Detroit could pull themselves in the Eastern Conference playoffs conversation before next season even begins. Verdict: Winner
Golden State Warriors: Golden State (along with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers) didn’t have a draft pick, but yet they somehow walk away with a draft pick in Jordan Bell, who the Chicago Bulls drafted and traded away to. As they say, the rich get richer. Just another feather in the cap for the NBA Champions. Verdict: Winner (surprise)
Houston Rockets: The Rockets had two draft picks in the second round and selected Isaiah Hartenstein from Germany and Dillon Brooks from Oregon. Though the latter was dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies, Hartenstein on the other hand, has a lot of work to do. Don’t expect Hartenstein to join the Rockets just yet. Give him time, more like a year or two, and he’ll be ready to help the Rockets. Verdict: Winner
Indiana Pacers: Paul George may still be a Pacer (for now), but adding TJ Leaf and Ike Anigbogu (pronounced E-ke An-ig-bo-gu) to bolster their frontcourt that has a prosperous Myles Turner in the mix. Even if, or rather when, George leaves, Indiana’s big man depth could cause problems for the future. Verdict: Winner
Los Angeles Lakers: Welcome to the Baller Brand Era, Laker fan faithfuls. Lonzo Ball gets to play for his hometown team, which is more of a Hollywood beginning. There’s also Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart, and Thomas Bryant, too. Also, get used to seeing a lot of LaVar Ball as well. Verdict: Big Winner
Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies, much like the Warriors, Cavaliers, Wizards, and Clippers, didn’t have a draft pick, but like the Warriors, they nabbed draft picks from the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets, taking Ivan Rabb from California and Dillon Brooks from Oregon respectively. Expect Rabb and Brooks to learn from the likes of Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley to continue the grindhouse mentality that the Grizzlies are known for. Verdict: Winner
Miami Heat: The Heat needed a Power Forward, especially after losing Josh McRoberts to multiple injuries and Chris Bosh’s issues with blood clots. Thus, Pat Riley and company used their only draft pick to select Bam Adebayo (pronounced Ah-day-buy-yo) from Kentucky. On one end, Bam’s workouts with the Heat were nothing short of impressive, especially when he was able to make three-pointers way beyond the arc. His tall frame, along with Hassan Whiteside’s could definitely cause some problems down in the paint and gives Miami some much needed size. The other end, however, could be that the Heat are holding out for the free agent market to nab some star power. Verdict: Winner
Milwaukee Bucks: What is there to say about the Bucks’ draft picks in D.J. Wilson and Sindarius Thornwell? For one thing, they bring more added athleticism that the Bucks already have, but with Thornwell, they have a three and defense type player that can give them more diversity on the court. Verdict: Winner
Minnesota Timberwolves: Coach Tom Thibodeau must be very elated to have Jimmy Butler joining the Timberwolves. With Butler’s presence, he brings the much needed veteran role that the young Wolves team were looking for. This upgrade, along with adding Justin Patton, puts the Wolves closer into the Western Conference playoff conversation before the start of next season. Verdict: Big Winner
New Orleans Pelicans: You draft some, you lose some, only to gain one. That’s the story of the Pelicans’ draft night. In the second round, they drafted Dwayne Bacon from Florida State and Edmond Sumner from Xavier, only to trade them to Charlotte and Indiana respectively. They did get Frank Jackson from Duke in a trade with Charlotte, however. Jackson won’t be ready to take the floor with DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis, which will allow him to grow into his own. The Pelicans didn’t win, but they didn’t lose either (although they had to trade their picks). I guess the free agent market will compensate for this. Verdict: Winner and Loser
New York Knicks: Knicks fans surely don’t disappoint come draft time, but with picks like Frank Ntilikina (pronounced N-tili-kina) from France, Damyean Dotson from Houston, and Ognjen Jaramaz (pronounced Og-jen Jar-ra-maz) from Serbia, it was more of approval for one pick, while the rest was just quiet. The good news is that Frank has upside, which the Knicks really need, especially considering how things went with Derrick Rose this season. As for Dotson and Jaramaz, they’re going to need a lot of refreshing to get them up to par, specifically in the G League and/or overseas. One other thing, if the Knicks can find a way to keep Kristaps Porzingis for the foreseeable future, that would be great, if not, then Knicks fans are going to have a lot to gripe about even more with Phil Jackson. Verdict: Middle of the Road
Oklahoma City Thunder: With their only draft pick, Oklahoma City drafted Terrence Ferguson, who spent his time in Australia’s NBL league. While there, he averaged 4.6 points per game and only shot 31 percent from beyond the arc. That really doesn’t say much for him, but if given time to develop in the G League, he could be a difference maker for Russell Westbrook and company. Verdict: Middle of the Road
Orlando Magic: Orlando is still a draft fixture, but at least they got something out of it when they selected Jonathan Isaac from Florida State in the first round and Wesley Iwundu (pronounced E-woon-do) from Kansas State. With Isaac, his tall frame and wingspan can compliment the Magic’s needs nicely, which reminiscent to that of Kevin Durant. Iwundu, however, needs somewhat of a refresher in the summer leagues and the G Leagues before he ever steps up with the Magic. Verdict: Winner
Philadelphia 76ers: The 76ers hit the jackpot when they traded up for Markelle Fultz. The Sixers organization has always trusted the process, but could this be where the process finally pays off for them? For one aspect, it can. If Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and possibly Jahlil Okafor could stay healthy, along with Fultz, the Sixers would definitely see some fantastic results, so much as though, that they could fight for a playoff spot. However, with recent draft picks going to Philly, they always end up injured and missing a chunk of the regular season. Should that happen to Fultz, it would be a grand setback. For now, Philadelphia should relish in the hopes of the process paying off for them come time for the regular season. Verdict: Big Winner
Phoenix Suns: The addition of Josh Jackson is a much welcomed need for the Suns, in terms of needing a wing defender. Jackson is a top defender in the draft and will have to settle his aggressiveness. Another addition to the Suns is Davon Reed from the University of Miami. Reed is a three and defense player with a nice wingspan that can be developed. Throw in Alec Peters from Valparaiso and you have a Suns team that will compete in the future. Verdict: Winner
Portland Trail Blazers: Where do we begin with Portland? They drafted Justin Jackson from North Carolina and Harry Giles from Duke, only for them to be dealt to Sacramento for Zach Collins from Gonzaga, but at least they get Caleb Swanigan from Perdue. Portland have two big men, but they could still be looking to re-acquire LaMarcus Aldridge from San Antonio. Portland already has Jusuf Nurkic showing some excellence and the duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum helps. For now, Portland drafted some bigs, but they’ll have to see where they go from that point. Verdict: Middle of the Road
Sacramento Kings: Welcome to the De’Aaron Fox Era, Sacramento. The Kings truly have a solid player in Fox and he is someone to build around. The only problem is that the Kings are going to need some pieces in order to do so. Sacramento has four free agents, among them Darren Collison and Ty Lawson. The Kings would most likely deal one of them in favor of a Shooting Guard/Small Forward combo to help Fox. It’s going to be a busy summer for Sacramento, but as long as they have De’Aaron Fox, they should be fine. Verdict: Winner
San Antonio Spurs: It’s always intriguing to see who the Spurs select in the NBA Draft and without fail, the Spurs continue to make smart selections like they’ve always done. How else would you explain the success of Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. This should be no different with the likes of Derrick White from Colorado and Jared Blossomgame from Clemson. Both players present a lot of upside for the future and will definitely develop into players that could complement Kawhi Leonard. Verdict Winner (because it’s the Spurs)
Toronto Raptors: The Raptors looked for more defense in the draft and came up with OG Anunoby (pronounced Og An-nun-obi) from Indiana. While the need for more defense is a good thing for Toronto, the main setback here is that OG is still healing from a knee injury. Once he’s healed from that, then the training process can begin, with or without short shorts no less. In the free agent market, however, Toronto will have to do their best to keep Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry from leaving the six. Verdict: Winner
Utah Jazz: The Utah Jazz were perhaps the most busiest of all the teams during the NBA Draft, especially considering that they could lose Gordon Hayward and George Hill in the free agency market. In the draft, they took Donovan Mitchell from Louisville, Tony Bradley from North Carolina, and Nigel Williams-Goss from Gonzaga. While these are good picks in all, the real question is what will the Jazz do come time of the free agent market hits. Will they sacrifice their picks to keep both Hayward and Hill, trade one of them, or trade both? Either way, Utah isn’t done from deciphering their endless debate of decision making. Verdict: Winner (until the free agency market hits)
And there you have it, the winners, losers, and some middle of the road grades for each team in the draft. The next stop for the NBA’s ongoing offseason is the Summer League, which assesses young talent and even unknown talent from various leagues looking to make it in the pros, as well as the free agency market.
The Heat Check Magazine 