2016 NBA Draft Grades 6/24/16
# | Team | Player | Pos | Ht | From | Analysis | Comp | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 76ers | Ben Simmons | PF | 6-10 | LSU | An obvious pick and the right one. Simmons is a game-changing talent who finally brings a superstar to Philly. The Process has paid off and now the Sixers are loaded with talent. | Magic/Draymond | A+ |
2 | Lakers* | Brandon Ingram | SF | 6-9 | Duke | I really like Ingram but there are some concerns with his skinny frame. How will he hold up in the NBA? Still, he’s got huge talent and was the clear choice at #2. He’ll get a lot of buckets in L.A and should become a perennial all star. | Paul George/KD | A- |
3 | Celtics* | Jaylen Brown | SF | 6-7 | California | Brown has upside but seems like a few years away from putting it all together. A reach at #3 for the Celtics. Could there be a trade still in the works? | Harrison Barnes | C |
4 | Suns | Dragan Bender | PF | 7-0 | Croatia | Bender has big upside and at only 18 years old gives the Suns a talented youngster to develop. Could blossom into the 2nd or 3rd best player in this draft. | Pau | A |
5 | T-Wolves* | Kris Dunn | PG | 6-3 | Providence | Big time talent joining the Wolves backcourt, Dunn is an explosive athlete who will bring even more excitement to the young MN roster. A Rudio trade seems inevitable. | longer Eric Bledsoe | A- |
6 | Pelicans | Buddy Heild | SG | 6-5 | Oklahoma | Heild is a good fit with the Pelicans but doesn’t have big upside. A three point specialist who needs to develop other aspects of his game. Some bust potential here. | KCP/Brad Beal | B- |
7 | Nuggets* | Jamal Murray | PG | 6-5 | Kentucky | A good value at #7, Murray is a nice addition next to Mudiay and will help space the floor for the Nuggets. Murray isn’t a great athlete but he’s super crafty and has a great feel for the game. | Deron Williams/C.J. | A- |
8 | Suns | Marquese Chriss | PF | 6-10 | Washington | Upside pick who is a boom or bust type of prospect. Suns are swinging for the fences and it could pay off. | Markieff/Blake | A |
9 | Raptors* | Jakob Poeltl | C | 7-1 | Utah | Solid (if somewhat boring) pick. Poeltl is a very similar player to Jonas but gives the Raptors good depth up front. Should have a long, solid NBA career. | Alex Len | B |
10 | Bucks | Thon Maker | PF | 7-1 | Australia | I’m pulling for Maker to make it but this is a huge reach at #10…but he fits with what the Bucks are doing, adding length at every position. Seems like he would have been available later in the first round. | Sam Dalembert with a jumper | B- |
11 | Thunder | Domantas Sabonis | PF | 6-10 | Gonzaga | I’m not too high on Sabonis but I like the fit in OKC. Sabonis has limited length and doesn’t jump well but brings smarts, heart and hustle. Is he really better than Mitch McGary? | Tyler Hansbrough | B- |
12 | Hawks* | Taurean Prince | SF | 6-7 | Baylor | A bit high for Prince at #12 but should be a solid rotation guy for the Hawks who can help defend King James. Pro-ready player for the win-now Hawks. | DeMarre Carroll | B+ |
13 | Kings | Georgios Papagiannis | C | 7-1 | Greece | I don’t hate big Papa but picking him at #13 seems high. Kings could have traded down farther and still gotten their man. Is the Cousins era nearing an end in Sactown? | Luc Longley | B |
14 | Bulls | Denzel Valentine | SF | 6-6 | Michigan State | Solid pick for the Bulls, Valentine brings high IQ and winning attitude to the rebuilding Bulls roster. | higher IQ Evan Turner | B+ |
15 | Nuggets* | Juan Hernangomez | PF | 6-9 | Spain | Fits with what the Nuggets are doing and brings another shooter into the fold. | stronger Luke Babbit | B |
16 | Celtics | Guerschon Yabusele | PF | 6-8 | France | A bit of a reach at #16 but could surprise to the upside. Has nice agility for 270lb player and is developing 3pt range. | Jason Maxiell | B |
17 | Grizzlies | Wade Baldwin | PG | 6-3 | Vanderbilt | A nice upside pick who brings a ton of talent to the Memphis backcourt. If he reaches his potential this is a steal. | longer Monta Ellis | A |
18 | Pistons | Henry Ellenson | PF | 6-10 | Marquette | A great fit next to Drummond and a good value at #18, Ellenson brings much needed scoring punch to the Pistons. | Tom Gugliotta | A- |
19 | Nuggets* | Malik Beasley | SG | 6-5 | Florida State | An underrated player who can really shoot and has NBA athleticism. Very young but could look like a steal 4 years from now. | Allen Crabbe/Eddie Jones | A |
20 | Nets | Caris LeVert | SG | 6-7 | Michigan | If he can stay healthy this will look like a nice pick. LeVert has big time talent to add to the Nets youth movement. | Ron Harper/Marty Collins | B+ |
21 | Hawks | DeAndre Bembry | SF | 6-6 | St. Joes | Another nice addition to the line-up, Bembry is a really solid, smart player who fits with what the Hawks are doing. | Aaron Afflalo | A- |
22 | Kings | Malachi Richardson | SF | 6-6 | Syracuse | A nice addition on the wing with upside as a scorer. Decent value at this point in the draft. | Willie Burton/Mo Pete | B |
23 | Celtics | Ante Zizic | PF | 6-11 | Croatia | Not the type of pick Celtics fans were hoping for but a few years from now this could look like a draft steal. | longer David Lee | B+ |
24 | 76ers* | Timothe Luwawu | SF | 6-7 | France | A superior athlete with really nice upside, Luwawu gives the Sixers a nice prospect to develop at the SF position. And kudos to the front office for not trading these picks. Great value at this point in the draft. | Rick Fox | A |
25 | Clippers | Brice Johnson | PF | 6-9 | North Carolina | Johnson should a solid pro but has limited upside. Will benefit from playing with Chris Paul, who will get him a lot of easy buckets. More | better Al Thornton | C+ |
26 | 76ers* | Furkan Korkmaz | SG | 6-7 | Turkey | Super talented scorer who will be a great fit, spacing the floor for Simmons and the young Bigs in Philly. Another value pick. | Kevin Martin | A+ |
27 | Raptors | Pascal Siakam | PF | 6-9 | New Mexico State | A sleeper prospect, Siakam has great length and impacts both ends of the floor. Should become a solid rotation Big for the Raptors. |
| A- |
28 | Kings | Skal Labissiere | PF | 7-0 | Kentucky | An upside pick, Skal might be a bust but his upside is too intriguing to pass this late in the draft. | softer Myles Turner | A- |
29 | Spurs | Dejounte Murray | PG | 6-5 | Washington | Murray falls into a great situation, getting to develop in the Spurs system. Nice upside pick who brings youth to the aging Spurs roster. | Larry Hughes | A |
30 | Warriors | Damian Jones | PF | 6-11 | Vanderbilt | Solid pick by the Warriors, Jones will bring depth to the front-court and ease the potential loss of Festus. | John Henson | B |
by NBA Draft Room