NBA Draft recap + grades for every team
Steak recaps last nights NBA draft and gives a grade for each team.
Steak
NBA, CBB, NFL, CFB
Here’s a certified Steak NBA Draft recap + grades for each team.
1. Washington Wizards draft AJ Dybantsa (BYU)
Washington got the best player in the draft. I had them messing it up and taking Darryn Peterson with this pick, but they went ahead and made the right move and got an absolute future superstar.
Grade: B+
2. Utah Jazz draft Darryn Peterson (Kansas)
Have my concerns about DP character-wise and as a teammate, but have no concerns about him as a basketball player. I would’ve preferred AJ here if I were Utah, but with him off the board, this pick was a no-brainer. Add him to an up-and-coming and sneakily stacked roster going into next season.
Grade: B-
3. Memphis Grizzlies draft Cameron Boozer (Duke)
I am probably lower on Cam Boozer than most. I see he has the best odds to win Rookie of the Year (+240), but I think that could have much more to do with how much opportunity and playing time he’ll be getting in Memphis without much competition. I think Cam is a fairly low-ceiling but also very high-floor kind of guy.
Grade: C
4. Chicago Bulls draft Caleb Wilson (North Carolina)
Love this pick. I think Caleb Wilson has one of the highest ceilings in the draft, and the Chicago Bulls need a superstar BAD.
Grade: A
5. LA Clippers draft Keaton Wagler (Illinois)
Not a Keaton Wagler guy in the first place, and even if I was, I am not convinced this is the best fit for him. Would’ve loved to see the Clippers trade back.
Grade: C-
6. Brooklyn Nets draft Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville)
Have no issues with Mikel Brown Jr. or picking him, but I do have an issue with taking him over Darius Acuff if you’re Brooklyn. Yes, I’m aware of the knocks on Acuff defensively, but he is a certified hooper and shot-maker, and I’d draft him over Mikel 10 times out of 10.
Grade: C
7. Sacramento Kings draft Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas)
Love this pick, obviously, considering what I just said about the Brooklyn Nets pick.
Grade: A-
8. Atlanta Hawks draft Kingston Flemings (Houston)
I love Kingston, and I think he’ll be a great player in the NBA, so I have nothing bad to say about this pick. But I think Aday Mara would’ve been a better fit here.
Grade: B-
9. Dallas Mavericks draft Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan)
I did have Dusty May taking a Michigan player on my bingo card, but I certainly did not have it being Morez. I think he’s a great player and an absolute dog, but I think he will be the third-best Michigan player to come out of this draft. I think this was a reach, even though it very clearly fills a spot of need.
Grade: C-
10. Milwaukee Bucks draft Brayden Burries (Arizona)
This is about where I saw Burries going, so I’m not going to give it a low grade, even though I am lower on him than anyone in this draft besides Keaton Wagler and Nate Ament.
Grade: B-
11. Golden State Warriors draft Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan)
Yaxel is one of the most unique players in this draft, and Golden State feels like a pretty ideal landing spot for him. Hard not to like the fit.
Grade: B+
12. Oklahoma City Thunder draft Aday Mara (Michigan)
I wanted Atlanta to take him earlier, so getting him here feels like a steal. The Thunder continue to do Thunder things. I think, on another team, he’s a Rookie of the Year candidate.
Grade: A
13. Miami Heat draft Nate Ament (Tennessee) (Traded to Milwaukee)
I’m lower on Nate Ament than most, but Milwaukee is now officially one of the best landing spots in the NBA for a project.
Grade: C+
14. Charlotte Hornets draft Hannes Steinbach (Washington)
Big fan of Steinbach. Charlotte keeps adding size and versatility to a young roster.
Grade: B+
15. Chicago Bulls draft Dailyn Swain (Texas)
Already loved the Caleb Wilson pick, and this is another swing on upside. Bulls had themselves a night.
Grade: A-
16. Memphis Grizzlies draft Bennett Stirtz (Iowa) (Traded to Oklahoma City)
The Thunder somehow ended up with one of the safest players in the draft. Annoying how often they win.
Grade: A
17. Oklahoma City Thunder draft Ebuka Okorie (Stanford) (Traded to Detroit)
Love this for Detroit. Massive upside and exactly the type of gamble rebuilding teams should take.
Grade: B-
18. Charlotte Hornets draft Christian Anderson (Texas Tech)
One of my favorite guards in the class. Thought he could’ve gone a few spots earlier.
Grade: A
19. Toronto Raptors draft Allen Graves (Santa Clara)
Feels like a Raptors pick. Long, versatile, and probably better than people realize.
Grade: B
20. San Antonio Spurs draft Jayden Quaintance
I absolutely love this pick. One of the highest ceilings in the entire draft.
Grade: B
21. Detroit Pistons draft Karim López (New Zealand Breakers) (Traded to Memphis)
Karim is a fascinating prospect, and Memphis is a great spot for him to develop.
Grade: B+
22. Philadelphia 76ers draft Labaron Philon Jr. (Alabama)
Really solid value here. The Sixers maybe didn’t address their number one position of need, but instead went best player available, and I love it.
Grade: A
23. Atlanta Hawks draft Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s)
Zuby is an absolute DAWG. Every winning team needs guys like him, but I’m not sure how skilled he is at the next level. Either way, they got a DOG.
Grade: C+
24. New York Knicks draft Cameron Carr (Baylor) (Traded to Los Angeles Lakers)
Love the upside swing for the Lakers. Worth the gamble this late.
Grade: A
25. Los Angeles Lakers draft Sergio De Larrea (Valencia) (Reportedly traded to Dallas via New York)
One of the better international prospects in the class. Nice value.
Grade: B
26. Denver Nuggets draft Tarris Reed Jr. (Connecticut) (Traded to San Antonio)
Spurs quietly had one of the best drafts of any team. Another player I really like. Tough dude who is undersized and a great Wemby backup.
Grade: A
27. Boston Celtics draft Chris Cenac Jr. (Houston)
The rich get richer. Feels like a classic Celtics development project.
Grade: B+
28. Minnesota Timberwolves draft Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State) (Traded to Brooklyn)
I like Jefferson more than most. Tough player that does a little bit of everything, but I have absolutely no idea how his game translates at the next level, especially playing in Brooklyn.
Grade: B-
29. Cleveland Cavaliers draft Alex Karaban (Connecticut) (Traded to Sacramento)
Karaban at 29 is tremendous value. One of the safest picks in the draft.
Grade: A
30. Dallas Mavericks draft Koa Peat (Arizona) (Reportedly traded to Phoenix via New York)
I can’t believe Phoenix got Koa Peat this late. One of the steals of the first round, especially for the local kid.
Grade: A
