The 2014 NBA Draft is over so let’s hand out some grades. As always, there are initial winners and losers but the true reveal will come years down the road when we see what type of players these guys develop into. Here are my 2014 NBA Draft grades from the Eastern Conference teams who owned the first four picks of the draft. Click here for my pick-by-pick NBA Draft grades.
Atlanta Hawks: C-
15. Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State
43. Walter Tavaras, C, Spain
48. Lamar Patterson, SG, Pitt
I thought Atlanta should have drafted a wing player in the first round along the lines of James Young, Gary Harris, Rodney Hood, or Kyle Anderson. I think Adreian Payne is going to be a nice player at the next level but the Hawks already have Paul Millsap and Al Horford. Walter Tavares brings size to the team whenever he comes to the association but isn’t that what the Hawks used one of their first round picks on last year when they selected Lucas Nogueira? Lamar Patterson was a nice college played but can’t see him making a NBA roster.
Boston Celtics: A
6. Marcus Smart, G, Oklahoma State
17. James Young, G/F, Kentucky
You might be looking at the new Celtics backcourt of the future. Smart is a physical guard and at this best attacking the hoop while Young has a smooth outside shot. Sounds like a pretty good duo to me. Young was a terrific pick at 17 and Smart makes sense as well especially if the C’s end up dealing Rajon Rondo or possibly Avery Bradley.
Brooklyn Nets: B-
44. Markel Brown, G, Oklahoma State
59. Xavier Thames, PG, San Diego State
60. Cory Jefferson, PF, Baylor
The Nets entered the night with zero picks but ended up acquiring three veteran college players. Hey, if you got the money like Mikhail Prokohov does, spend it. Brown, Thames, and Jefferson may make the roster so we’ll find out if one or two of them make Brooklyn’s final 15 or if the investment was a waste.
Charlotte Hornets: A-
9. Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana
26. P.J. Hairston, SG, D-League
45. Dwight Powell, PF, Stanford
55. Semaj Christon, PG, Xavier
The Hornets got terrific value in the draft when Vonleh fell to them at nine and they then traded back to add a shooter like Hairston who should be able to help them right away. Even grabbing talents like Powell and Christon in the second round could pay off for a team that should be able to take another step forward in the Eastern Conference.
Chicago Bulls: B+
11. Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton
49. Cameron Bairstow, PF, New Mexico
The Bulls biggest need this off-season is adding a scorer on the wing. McDermott definitely fills that void even if it cost Chicago both of their first round picks and they had to take on Anthony Randolph’s contract. McDermott should be a solid role player for the Bulls for a number of years. Bairstow could find a role off the bench due to his physicality and mid-range game especially if Chicago ends up amnestying Carlos Boozer.
Cleveland Cavaliers: A-
1. Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas
33. Joe Harris, SG, Virginia
Kudos to Cleveland for making the right pick this time at number one. Since the ping pong balls bounced their way once again, I’ve said Wiggins was their guy and this is a decision they won’t regret. Harris was highly regarded because of his shooting ability but I’m not sure he is a NBA player long-term.
Detroit Pistons: B
38. Spencer Dinwiddie, G, Colorado
Had it not been for a season-ending injury, Dinwiddie likely would have been a first round pick so Detroit gets solid value with their lone pick of the night. If free agent Rodney Stuckey doesn’t return to the Pistons and Dinwiddie can even slightly help replace him, this is a solid pick.
Indiana Pacers: INC
The Pacers sold their second round pick (57th, Louis Labeyrie) to the Knicks. Nobody they were drafting at this point was going to make their roster so might as well get some free cash.
Miami Heat: A+++
24. Shabazz Napier, PG, UConn
I love this move for Miami more than I love drinking the chocolate milk out of a cereal bowl after eating Cocoa Krispies. Okay, that’s a lie but I do love this move for the Heat. Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole are clearly not the point guard answers in Miami and Shabazz Napier is a proven winner who is going to single-handedly be the reason LeBron James will stay in Miami. (I hope people understand the sarcasm there but I figured I’d write it out anyway.)
Milwaukee Bucks: A-
2. Jabari Parker, SF, Duke
31. Damien Inglis, SF, France
36. Johnny O’Bryant III, PF, LSU
Jabari and the Bucks each received their wish when the Cavs passed on him in favor of Wiggins. Parker is the go-to scorer that Milwaukee needs and crazy enough as it sounds, he actually wants to be in Milwaukee. Inglis should develop into at least a defensive forward in the NBA which is suddenly becoming crowded for the Bucks since they still have the Greek Freak. O’Bryant will add some physicality inside so overall, Milwaukee did a solid job of adding young talent.
New York Knicks: B
34. Cleanthony Early, SF, Wichita State
51. Thanasis Antetokounmpo, SF, Greece
57. Louis Labeyrie, PF, France
Originally having no picks at all, the Knicks ended the night with three second rounders. They took a pair of foreign, project forwards but Early is a first round talent who should be able to find a role in the NBA and eat up some of the minutes Melo will be leaving behind in New York.
Orlando Magic: B-
4. Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona
10. Elfrid Payton, PG, LA-Lafayette
56. Roy Devyn Marble, SG, Iowa
I really like Gordon’s potential as a solid role player in the NBA but the fit in Orlando doesn’t excite me. Trading up two spots and having to give up a future first round pick for Payton seems steep even though Orlando sorely needed to find a point guard in this draft. Marble might be able to help replace some of the production on the wing that the Magic lose by trading Aaron Afflalo.
Philadelphia 76ers: C
3. Joel Embiid, C, Kansas
12. Dario Saric, F, Croatia
32. K.J. McDaniels, SF, Clemson
39. Jerami Grant, F, Syracuse
52. Vasilje Micic, PG, Serbia
58. Jordan McRae, SG, Tennessee
So the Sixers entered the night with seven picks and ended up with three second round picks who MIGHT help this this year. This is the ultimate boom or bust draft for Philly depending on Embiid’s health and when/if Saric ever comes to the NBA which at earliest will be in two years. The 76ers did pick up a future first round when they swapped Elfrid Payton for Saric and should be high in the lottery again next year since they figure to be one of the worst teams in the league.
Toronto Raptors: D+
20. Bruno Caboclo, SF, Brazil
37. DeAndre Daniels, SF, UConn
They took a dude I’ve never heard of. Literally, NEVER heard of and I obviously consider myself a huge NBA Draft nerd. If the Raps were that high on Caboclo, why take him at 20 rather than moving back to grab him? I do like DeAndre Daniels’ potential to one day be an athletic role player in the NBA so that saves Toronto’s grade a bit.
Washington Wizards: INC
The Wizards had the 46th pick but sold it (Jordan Clarkson) to the Lakers for cash.
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.) You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.
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