sportsjabber.net

Before you read this, take into consideration that my grade is based on the pick, not the player. Also, if the player was traded I graded the pick as if the team he was traded to picked him. Overall a great draft, so not too many bad grades.

1 Washington Wizards- John Wall, PG

A great pick for Washington that everyone saw coming. Wall’s handles and ability to take it to the basket can turn this franchise around. Now the question is: Will the Wizards trade Arenas?

NBA Comparison: Derrick Rose
Grade: A+

2 Philadelphia 76ers- Evan Turner, SG

Another one everyone saw coming, and another great pick. Turner’s handles and shooting ability mixed with Iguodala’s driving ability will be them a deadly combo.

NBA Comparison: Brandon Roy
Grade: A

3 New Jersey Nets- Derrick Favors, PF

Yet again, people saw this coming, but was another good pick. Favors is great in the post and can play on both ends of the court. A good pick to start to turn the franchise around.

NBA Comparison: Al Jefferson
Grade: A

4 Minnesota Timberwolves- Wesley Johnson, SF

The final obvious pick this draft and should be another great piece on the young Minnesota team. He’s a great shooter and has a great outside game. Watch out for the Timberwolves in a few seasons.

NBA Comparison: Vince Carter
Grade: A

5 Sacramento Kings- DeMarcus Cousins, PF

I thought Greg Monroe would be a great fit here, but Cousins is a great rebounder with a good inside game. There has been many questions lately about Cousins, so we will have to wait to see if the pick payed off.

NBA Comparison: Kendrick Perkins
Grade: B+

6 Golden State Warriors- Ekpe Udoh, PF

The Warriors desperately needed a big post presence, and Udoh is a great fit for that need. Udoh is a phenomenal defender and can block many shots. Golden State really improved their defense with this pick.

NBA Comparison: Dikembe Mutombo
Grade: A

7 Detroit Pistons- Greg Monroe, C

Monroe is a great passing big man and should be a great fit for Detroit. Detroit filled their need for a center, and did it well. Monroe is a big threat on the offensive end and is also a great defender. An overall great pick.

NBA Comparison: Chris Webber
Grade: A+

8 LA Clippers- Al-Farouq Aminu, SF

Aminu is a power forward in a small forward’s body. He is great inside, but really needs to improve his outside game. With some work on his jump shot, Aminu can be a huge threat.

NBA Comparison: DeJuan Blair
Grade: B+

9 Utah Jazz- Gordon Hayward, SF

Most people think Hayward is a bust in the making, but I think Hayward has the potential to be a future All-Star. I thought Xavier Henry would be a great fit here, but Hayward handles the ball great and can shoot pretty well. His inside game needs work, but can be a big SG if the Jazz want to use him there.

NBA Comparison: Stephen Jackson
Grade: B+

10 Indiana Pacers- Paul George, SF

Paul George is a great player, but I think the Pacers should have gone elsewhere with this pick. George can shoot and drive to the basket, but the Pacers already have Danny Granger at small forward. Good player, bad pick.

NBA Comparison: Kevin Durant
Grade: C

11 New Orleans Hornets- Cole Aldrich, C

It is rumored that Cole Aldrich will be traded to the Thunder, but both teams need a big man. I don’t think Aldrich will be great, but he can be a solid player. He blocks shots and has a decent inside game, but I don’t see him being a future All-Star.

NBA Comparison: Samuel Dalembert
Grade: B-

12 Memphis Grizzlies- Xavier Henry, SG

I don’t understand this pick. Henry is a great player with a great outside game, but O.J. Mayo is already there and the Grizzlies needed a point guard. I guess the Grizzlies are giving up on Rudy Gay and Henry will probably be his replacement at the small forward position. Like Paul George, he’s a great player in the wrong situation.

NBA Comparison: Joe Johnson
Grade: C+

13 Toronto Raptors- Ed Davis, PF

A great pick by the Raptors if Davis is healthy. The wrist will be an issue, and it’s all but certain Bosh will leave so Davis should be a good replacement. They’re similar players with great inside games, but the key for the Raptors is for Davis to stay healthy.

NBA Comparison: Chris Bosh
Grade: A-

14 Houston Rockets- Patrick Patterson, PF

A great value pick for the Rockets in the end of the lottery. Patterson can really score inside and can also play good defense. He should help Houston’s front court.

NBA Comparison: LaMarcus Aldridge
Grade: A

15 Milwaukee Bucks- Larry Sanders, PF

Milwaukee needed a big man to replace Dan Gadzuric in the recent trade with the Warriors, and Sanders is a good replacement. He’s a great defender and inside scorer who should help the Bucks long term.

NBA Comparison: Tim Duncan
Grade: A

16 Minnesota Timberwolves- Luke Babbitt, SF

A big steal, but was a seemingly bad pick due to the fact Minnesota picked Wesley Johnson earlier. Babbit was traded to the Portland Trailblazers and should help them with his great jump shot and defense. Considering he was traded to Portland, a good pick.

NBA Comparison: Shawn Marion
Grade: A

17 Chicago Bulls- Kevin Seraphin, PF

Seraphin will be dealt to the Washington Wizards, and should be a good replacement for Antwan Jamison who was traded last season. Coming from France, Seraphin is a great rebounder and shot blocker, but needs to improve his inside scoring.

NBA Comparison: Emeka Okafor
Grade: B+

18 Oklahoma City Thunder- Eric Bledsoe, PG

When Bledsoe was picked, I was wondering what the Thunder were thinking, considering they have Russell Westbrook. However, Bledsoe is headed to the Clippers. He should gain some needed experience behind Baron Davis and could be a star player some day. He has a great jump shot but is a raw player. Over time, this pick will pay off.

NBA Comparison: Chauncey Billups
Grade: A+

19 Boston Celtics- Avery Bradley, SG

Considering Ray Allen is a free agent, Bradley fills the need of a shooter. He’s undersized, but can shoot as well as defend. A good pick for the Celtics as Bradley is like a younger Ray Allen.

NBA Comparison: Ray Allen
Grade: B+

20 San Antonio Spurs- James Anderson, SG

The Spurs always find late gems, and Anderson is another example of that. He has a great outside game and can drive the lane also. Anderson will be a great player off the bench this year, and should help deepen the Spurs bench.

NBA Comparison: John Salmons
Grade: A

21 Oklahoma City Thunder- Craig Brackins, PF

Brackins would have been a great player for the Thunder, but he will be traded to Hornets to add depth. He can score, rebound, and play defense so it will be interesting to see how he fairs in the NBA. I think he will turn out to be a future All-Star, but it will take time.

NBA Comparison: Kevin Garnett
Grade: A+

22 Portland Trailblazers- Elliot Williams, SG

The Blazers desperately wanted Williams before the draft, but I’m not sure why. They could have added a young point guard for the long term, or fill their biggest need at small forward. Williams is a decent player with a good jump shot, but I don’t see him becoming a star.

NBA Comparison: Delonte West
Grade: C+

23 Minnesota Timberwolves- Trevor Booker, PF

I thought this was a bit of a reach here. Booker can score inside and plays decent defense, but I didn’t see him coming off the board until the 40th pick
range. Anyways, Booker will be traded to Washington so the Wizards could have two young power forwards. Just a fun fact, this was the first senior drafted.

NBA Comparison: Jason Thompson
Grade: B-

24 Atlanta Hawks- Damion James, SF

James will traded to the Nets, and should help them out. The Nets hope to land LeBron, but should fight for the starting spot with Terrance Williams if they don’t. James is a good defender and is like Aminu where he is more of a power forward.

NBA Comparison: Glen Davis
Grade: B

25 Memphis Grizzlies- Dominique Jones, SG

Jones is a bit undersized for a shooting guard, but is a slasher who can attack the basket. He was traded to the Mavericks, and could possibly become the starter. I think he can become a great player if he can improve his jump shot.

NBA Comparison: Monta Ellis
Grade: A

26 Oklahoma City Thunder- Quincy Pondexter, SF

Pondexter, now a Hornet, had a great senior season and attacks the basket. His jump shot needs to improve to become a true small forward, but if he can improve his outside game he can become a starter for New Orleans.

NBA Comparison: Andre Iguodala
Grade: B

27 New Jersey Nets- Jordan Crawford, SG

Like the last four picks, Crawford was traded. Crawford, the March Madness star, will now be headed to Atlanta. If Joe Johnson leaves, I think Crawford will be a great replacement. He can score behind the 3-point line or by driving to the basket. I think he’s the biggest steal of the draft.

NBA Comparison: Kevin Martin
Grade: A+

28 Memphis Grizzlies- Greivis Vasquez, PG

The ACC Player of the Year was the feel good moment of the draft. Vasquez is a combo guard who mainly scores from inside of the arc. He needs to improve his jump shot, but can become a starter for the Grizzlies very soon.

NBA Comparison: Rajon Rondo
Grade: B

29 Orlando Magic- Daniel Orton, PF

Orton was the fifth player selected from Kentucky in the first round this year. He came out a year or two early, and could have been a lottery pick in the near future. Anyways, Orton could start very soon if he matures. He’s great in the post, on offense or defense, but needs to gain some experience.

NBA Comparison: Josh Smith
Grade: A-

30 Washington Wizards- Lazar Hayward, SF

Hayward was drafted way too early in my opinion, but will be traded to the Timberwolves anyways. He will be behind Wesley Johnson and Martell Webster, but his decent outside game and defense may move him to shooting guard.

NBA Comparison: Matt Barnes
Grade: C-

http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=56608