It was a wild 2016 NBA Draft with plenty of shocking picks as well as a whole lot of guys getting drafted who most had probably never heard of or had no clue how to pronounce their names. So which teams were winners and losers on draft night? Time to hand out some 2016 NBA Draft team grades.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlanta Hawks D
12. Taurean Prince, SF, Baylor
21. DeAndre Bembry, G/F, St. Joseph’s
44. Isaia Cordinier, G, France
While the Hawks needed options on the wing with Kent Bazemore hitting the free agent market this summer, Atlanta reached twice for Prince and Bembry who I felt were both bubble first round picks. The Prince pick is especially surprising since the team traded Jeff Teague for that twelth pick. I thought for sure the Hawks would try to find a big man with one of their first round picks since Al Horford is also a free agent. Overall, I think Atlanta picked two guys way higher than they should have and did not address their need for depth inside.
Boston Celtics C
3. Jaylen Brown, SF, California
16. Guerschon Yabusele, PF, France
23. Ante Zizic, C, Croatia
45. Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame
51. Ben Bentil, PF, Providence
58. Abdel Nader, SF, Iowa State
What was expected to be a night of wheeling and dealing for Danny Ainge and the Celtics turned out to be anticlimactic as Boston ended up keeping six of their eight draft picks. I think Jaylen Brown was a reach at three especially when Kris Dunn and Buddy Hield were both on the board. Zizic could be a nice role player but Yabusele likely stays overseas for at least another season. The C’s got great value in the second round with Jackson and Bentil, who has a chance to be a nice role player due to his ability to stretch defenses. I don’t see how Jackson fits on this team though considering how many guards they already have. Nader won’t make the roster. All in all, more was expected out of Boston and they failed to hit the home run they were looking for.
Brooklyn Nets D+
20. Caris LeVert, SG, Michigan
42. Isaiah Whitehead, G, Seton Hall
So the Nets traded their starting power forward for an injury riddled wing; Thaddeus Young for Caris LeVert? That doesn’t make sense. It does clear up some cap space and fills a need on the wing but I would stay away from LeVert in the first round due to his recent injury history. Whitehead is a solid value and could find a role off the bench but the Nets didn’t do anything to get much better on draft night.
Charlotte Hornets D+
None
The Hornets dealt the 22nd pick to the Kings for shooting guard, Marco Bellineli. This helps fill a need for a shooter on the wing but is a downgrade from free agents Nicloas Batum and Courtney Lee.
Chicago Bulls A-
14. Denzel Valentine, SG, Michigan State
48. Paul Zipser, SF, Germany
Assuming Denzel Valentine’s knees are okay, he should be a solid role player for the Bulls since he is a jack of all trades on the floor. Zipser probably never comes to the NBA so that pick is a wash.
Cleveland Cavaliers B
54. Kay Felder, PG, Oakland
The Cavs entered the night with zero draft picks but bought into the second round to select Kay Felder who put up monster numbers this past season at Oakland. He is undersized but very athletic and a gifted scorer and distributor. He does add needed depth at the point behind Kyrie Irving.
Detroit Pistons A
18. Henry Ellenson, PF, Marquette
49. Michael Gbinije, G/F, Syracuse
Ellenson has lottery potential and could end up being a steal at 18. His versatility on the offensive is needed at power forward alongside Andre Drummond in the middle. Gbinije’s ability to guard multiple positions and play a couple spots offensively as well could earn him a role off the bench which is all you can ask from a second rounder.
Indiana Pacers A-
50. Georges Niang, PF, Iowa State
The Pacers got a lot better in the two days leading up to the NBA Draft by ultimately dealing George Hill and the 20th pick for Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young. Georges Niang probably ends up playing overseas instead of in the NBA so that pick probably doesn’t mean much.
Miami Heat N/A
None
The Heat did not make a pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Milwaukee Bucks D+
10. Thon Maker, C, Australia
36. Malcolm Brogdon, SG, Virginia
Thon Maker at ten is the biggest boom or bust pick of the draft and was a huge reach considering many thought he could slide into the second round. Milwaukee already has a very similar player in Jon Henson. Selecting Malcolm Brogdon at 36 was a great pick since he could immediately be a valuable role player. I am surprised the Bucks didn’t try to add a point guard at some point since that’s an area of need as well.
New York Knicks N/A
None
The Knicks did not make a pick in the 2016 NBA Draft
Orlando Magic D
41. Stephen Zimmerman, C, UNLV
The Magic made perhaps the boldest move of the draft by dealing Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova, and the 11th pick to OKC for Serge Ibaka. Ibaka does fill a need at power forward but is coming off an underwhelming season in which his production dipped quite a bit. Orlando gave up too much to get him. Zimmerman is a skilled seven-footer but needs to develop physically before making a dent in the rotation so that pick doesn’t figure to pan out for a couple of year, if ever.
Philadelphia 76ers A
1. Ben Simmons, SF, LSU
24. Timothe Luwawu, SF, France
26. Furkan Korkmaz, SG, Turkey
Simmons was the no-brainer pick at the top and Philly improved their future wing play late in the first round by drafting a pair of foreign players who were projected as top twenty picks. Simmons has the potential to be a special player in the league and while the franchise could use an immediate upgrade at the two, Luwawu and Korkmaz will hopefully be worth the wait.
Toronto Raptors: B-
9. Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah
27. Pascal Siakam, PF, New Mexico State
Poeltl fills a need for a backup big and could be an even more impactful pick if he can play alongside Jonas Valanciunas. Siakam was a second round prospect but does give them an energy rebounder off the bench at power forward. Still, I am surprised they picked instead of higher upside guys like Skal Labissiere or Deyonta Davis.
Washington Wizards N/A
None
The Wizards did not make a pick in the 2016 NBA Draft
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Dallas Mavericks B
46. A.J. Hammons, C, Purdue
With their lone pick of the draft, the Mavs added an extremely skilled but lethargic big man. He does add depth inside since Zaza Pachulia is a free agent.
Denver Nuggets A-
7. Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky
15. Juan Hernangomez, F, Spain
19. Malik Beasley, SG, Florida State
53. Petr Cornelie, PF, France
The Nuggets added a pair of talented scoring guards in Jamal Murray and Malik Beasley. Murray fell into their laps at seven and Beasley was a good value at 19 though it will be interesting to see if he is able to get minutes with Murray and Gary Harris at the two guard. Hernangomez and Cornelie are solid draft and stash options who should both make impacts in the near future.
Golden State Warriors B+
30. Damian Jones, C, Vanderbilt
38. Patrick McCaw, SG, UNLV
If Jones can develop an edge, he should be a solid reserve big man since he has all the physical attributes and a solid skillset. He fills a need inside since Golden State has a couple of free agent big men. The Warriors bought a second round to snag McCaw who could be a steal at 38. His is a long, scoring wing and should fit their up-tempo style of play.
Houston Rockets C+
37. Chinanu Onuaku, C, Louisville
43. Zhou Qi, C, China
The Rockets added some insurance inside since Dwight Howard’s days in Houston appear to be over. Qi is not the next Yao Ming by any stretch of the imagination but might make an impact down the road.
Los Angeles Clippers A-
25. Brice Johnson, PF, North Carolina
39. David Michineau, PG, France
40. Diamond Stone, C, Maryland
The Clips needed to find some depth inside behind DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin and did so by selecting Johnson and Stone. Johnson should be able to earn some minutes right away but Stone is more of a project but has a lot of skill for his size.
Los Angeles Lakers A
2. Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke
32. Ivica Zubac, C, Croatia
Ingram was the no-brainer pick at two and the Lakers added some needed size inside with their second round pick.
Memphis Grizzlies B
17. Wade Baldwin, G, Vanderbilt
31. Deyonta Davis, PF, Michigan State
35. Rade Zagorac, F, Serbia
57. Wang Zhelin, C, China
I don’t love Baldwin but he fills a need in the backcourt since Mike Conley and a couple other guards are free agents. Memphis dealt a future first rounder to get a pair of high second round picks including Davis. Projected as a possible late first round pick, Davis fell into the second round and could be a huge steal down the road. Zagorac is an intriguing draft and stash prospect.
Minnesota Timberwolves A-
5. Kris Dunn, PG, Providence
While Dunn doesn’t fill a major void, he and Ricky Rubio should be able to play in the same backcourt. They would form one solid defensive duo and give the T-Wolves a pair of playmakers. A shooter like Buddy Hield or Jamal Murray may have been more of a need, Dunn could be a special all-around player in the league.
New Orleans Pelicans A+
6. Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma
33. Cheick Diallo, PF, Kansas
Hield will replace Eric Gordon at shooting guard and the Pelicans should be grateful he fell into their laps. New Orleans packaged to their two second rounders to move up and grab an energetic, rebounding Diallo. Though raw offensively, he could be a second round steal if he finds his niche.
Oklahoma City Thunder A-
11. Domantas Sabonis, PF, Gonzaga
56. Daniel Hamilton, SF, UConn
OKC did not have a pick entering the night but used Serge Ibaka to land Sabonis in the lottery while also adding Victor Oladipo and Ersan Ilyasova. This move 100% made the Thunder a better team which should help Kevin Durant’s cause to re-sign. Though versatile on the offensive end, Hamilton probably doesn’t stick on the roster.
Phoenix Suns A-
4. Dragan Bender, PF, Croatia
8. Marquese Chriss, PF, Washington
34. Tyler Ulis, PG, Kentucky
Desperate for an upgrade of talent at power forward, the Suns were stuck choosing between Bender and Chriss at four. After packaging their two other first round picks and a player, Phoenix was able to move up and land both players. While they are each probably not ready to be instant impacts, their potential is extremely promising. Ulis was also a solid value in the second round and at the very least, should be a nice third point guard.
Portland Trail Blazers C+
47. Jake Layman, F, Maryland
The Blazers entered the night without a pick but moved into the second round to grab a combo forward in Layman who reminds me of a poor, poor man’s Chandler Parsons. I’m not sure if he earns any minutes in Portland.
Sacramento Kings B-
13. Georgios Papagiannis, C, Greece
22. Malachi Richardson, SG, Syracuse
28. Skal Labissiere, PF, Kentucky
59. Isaiah Cousins, G, Oklahoma
The Kings ultimately dealt Marco Bellineli and the 8th pick to scoop up three first rounders. Papagiannis is one of the most confuisng picks of the draft but I love when Sacramento did in getting both Richardson and Labissiere in the 20’s. Cousins was a solid late second round pick value but the first pick holds back their grade.
San Antonio Spurs A+
29. Dejounte Murray, G, Washington
Leave it to the Spurs to score one of the steals of the draft. It is just what they do. Murray was getting late lottery looks but ended up sliding all the way to 29. I’m sure under the San Antonio tutelage, Murray becomes a solid role player at the next level.
Utah Jazz D+
52. Joel Bolomboy, PF, Weber State
55. Marcus Paige, PG, North Carolina
60. Tyrone Wallace, G, California
I think the Jazz gave up too much by swapping the 12th pick for George Hill and then proceeded to draft two more points guards. That creates an extremely crowded backcourt. Bolomboy’s ability to crash the glass could land him a role off the Utah bench.
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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