2014 NBA DRAFT

Chad Ford (1:00 PM)

Aloha everyone and welcome to my second chat of the season. I'm in Chicago this week for the Championship Classic between Kentucky-Michigan State, Kansas-Duke. Tons of NBA scouts and GMs will be here to get our first good look at many of the top prospects in the draft playing against each other. We'll talk a little NBA the first half and then do NBA Draft in the second half. Let's roll ...
Mark (OKC) [via mobile]

Do you have "small sample size" ready to paste as an answer to half the questions for chatting efficiency?
Chad Ford (1:00 PM)

Maybe I should just post this and be done with it ... LOL. Read my mind Mark. Read my mind.
Scott (New York)

Do you see MCW as the clear front runner for ROY?
Chad Ford (1:02 PM)

For sure. Not sure there's a close second right now. Steven Adams is the dark horse right now. So impressed with his play at OKC. Better than anything he really did as a freshman at Pittsburgh. Victor Oladipo will always be in the hunt too, but he had some serious shooting woes last week. Things starting to click a bit with Ben McLemore as well.
Sonic (Poland)

Would you trade A. Bennet for next year lottery pick (no 8-14)?Don't want to write him off but am I wrong that in next year lottery may be better talent from no. 1 pick to no. 14 pick than in this year's draft top 3?
Chad Ford (1:04 PM)

Top 10 pick? Yes. Not sure I'd go lower than that. Bennett has talent. He's just out of shape and rusty. But the bigger point is that the 2013 NBA Draft just didn't really have a true No. 1 pick. That's why there was so much uncertainty leading up to the draft. I'd take anyone in my Top 7 right now over anyone in the 2013 Draft.
Nick (SLC)

Do you think the Jazz are aggressively tanking? or just trying to mesh as a team with a new identity and new core players?
Chad Ford (1:06 PM)

No. That's what the Sixers and Suns front office did over the summer (though apparently the players and head coaches didn't get the memo). The Jazz didn't lop off young talent, they just didn't make any efforts to strengthen their team this summer and knew they weren't a playoff team with this group. However the more I watch this group, the more I think that the effect will be the same. They'll be serious contenders for the No. 1 pick -- even when Trey Burke gets back. And I think everyone in Utah will be OK with that. I doubt they do anything to try to make this team competitive.
Noah (L.A.)

If I bet a bunch of money before the season on Markieff Morris winning most improved player, how excited should I be right now?
Chad Ford (1:09 PM)

He's been very good ... but have you seen what Anthony Davis is doing right now in New Orleans? He's second in the entire league in PER and leads the league in Estimated Wins Added. The Pelicans are two completely different teams when he's on or off the floor.
Joe (Arizona)

Do you see either the Suns and/or the Sixers dropping off significantly to meet their preseason expectations?
Chad Ford (1:11 PM)

Probably ... though I'll be the first to admit that they're already better than I thought they'd ever be. I thought the Suns would struggle to win ONE game in the West. They've won 5. But both GMs know that they need another elite player. Guys like Evan Turner and Markieff Morris, who are playing out of their minds right now, could be on the block soon. Selling high is always a good idea when you're rebuilding.
Deven (New York, NY)

Are the Knicks in trouble?
Chad Ford (1:14 PM)

Let's see ... they're playing awful. Hired Isiah Thomas' enabler as the new GM. Tyson Chandler, the soul of last year's team, is out. And on top of it, they can't even throw their hands up in the air and start tanking for Wiggins or Randle. They must send their draft pick to the Nuggets this year, even if it's the No. 1 pick. I guess they could try to trade Carmelo, but just don't see that happening. It's going to be a long year Knicks fans.
ted (cape cod)

If this Celtics team is .500 at the trading deadline, what direction do you think does Danny Aigne take?
Chad Ford (1:16 PM)

Depends on why they are at .500. If that's because Avery Bradley, Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk are leading the charge, he's stoked. If it's a Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries and Courtney Lee led charge ... changes are coming.
James (Utah)

Does Ty Corbin get fired??
Chad Ford (1:19 PM)

Not sure why. He didn't make the decision to jettison off the team's vets. Nor did he draft Trey Burke. Not sure another coach would have this team playing much better. There are all sorts of positives for Utah right now (and losing might be one of them).
john (jacksonville)

What should miami heat do if big 3 leaves in free agency?
Chad Ford (1:22 PM)

I don't think they're going anywhere ... I love the idea of LeBron returning to Cleveland ... but as long as Dan Gilbert is the owner, I don't see it happening. Besides ... I'm not sure the Cavs have drafted well enough to make it compelling for LeBron. Had they chosen differently on Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters and Anthony Bennett? Maybe ... but they've clearly missed a few times on players that could've been more helpful to their cause. Thank goodness for Kyrie Irving.
Brian (Chicago)

Are you surprised by the early struggles of Bulls, Heat, and Nets?
Chad Ford (1:24 PM)

Not surprised with Bulls slow start given how long Rose has been out. By mid-season, I don't think this is going to be an issue. Watched the Nets play live on Friday night in Washington and just wasn't impressed -- but this is a veteran team and they're still all getting a feel for each other. I'd be shocked if they didn't end up as a playoff team. As for the Heat ... not sure what's going on there, but won't be concerned unless this is happening in March and April. In other words ... patience.
Matt Levine (Boston)

One more question/thought. I hate the idea of tanking in general I think it's bad for the league. What do you think of the idea of getting rid of our system and having all teams (15-30) have the same chance of getting #1 pick. This would avoid teams purposely losing, and competing to be the worst. Would this make the league more or less competitive in the long run?
Chad Ford (1:28 PM)

It's not a horrible idea, but my fear is that some of the worst teams might never get better. I think they should dump the lottery. My idea is for the league to take a 3 year average to determine draft order. The team with the worst record over the last three years would get the No. 1 pick. If you are going to tank ... you have to commit to three straight years of it before you're in a position to get the No. 1 pick. That would make most GMs think twice -- not sure how many of them could keep their jobs. I also think it would protect from teams taking a one year dip and landing a great pick because they've had an injury or because they are intentionally tanking.
Ed (Queens Village)

Who are must watch players in ESPN Marathon not named Parker, Randle, or Wiggins?
Chad Ford (1:31 PM)

Oh, there's a ton at the Championship Classic. There are 8 players there that I currently have ranked in the lottery. 13 I have ranked in the Top 30 and 17 I have ranked in the Top 50. That's crazy for four teams on the same floor on the same night. Highlights include Kentucky's Andrew and Aaron Harrison, James Young, Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress and Darkari Johnson, Michigan State's Gary Harris and Adrien Payne, KU's Joel Embiid and Wayne Selden and Duke's Rodney Hood
Tyler (Nova Scotia)

Thoughts on the debuts of Wiggins/Randle/Parker?
Chad Ford (1:32 PM)

Thought they all played really well. Wiggins is never going to be able to live up to the hype. No matter what he does, some are going to be disappointed. To me, all look worthy of the type of praise they've been given in high school.
Brad (Indianapolis)

Which freshman has been the best so far?
Chad Ford (1:33 PM)

Julius Randle has just been a beast. Two double-doubles. Killing everyone. He's the most NBA ready of the prospects. Wiggins may have a little higher ceiling, but Randle is ready right now. I think he'd better than any rookie in the NBA right now.
James (Boston)

Would you draft Randle over Wiggins?
Chad Ford (1:34 PM)

Way too early to tell ... Expected Randle to come out of the gate strong. Ask me again in June :)
Johannes (Denver)

What range do you think Glenn Robinson III will land in in this stacked draft (assuming he comes out this year)? Do scouts see him as having as much huge potential as Michigan fans like myself do?
Chad Ford (1:37 PM)

Scouts really like him. IF he continues to improve his ability to create his own shot? He's a Top 10 pick. Great athletic abilities and size for his position and has that great NBA DNA.
Daniel (Miami)

Is Dante Exum a top 3 pick?
Chad Ford (1:38 PM)

I think so. Hearing from sources that he and his family are now strongly leaning toward skipping college and having him go straight into the NBA. Some NBA guys think he should be the No. 1 pick. Will be interesting to see how they feel if the college guys all live up to the hype while Exum is just working out in Australia.
Andrew (New York)

Is Marcus Smart still a top 10 pick? Would you take him over Exum?
Chad Ford (1:40 PM)

Think he's a Top 10 pick. Depends on what your looking for in a point guard of whether you'd take Exum or Smart. Smart is such a great leader and a defensive force. Exum I think has much more potential as an offensive player. I personally lean Exum right now, but I'm still a big Smart fan as well.
Rick (Chicago)

What other players have you been impressed with the opening week of the college season?
Chad Ford (1:43 PM)

Arizona's Aaron Gordon, Michigan State's Gary Harris, Indiana's Noah Vonleh, NC State's TJ Warren ... I could keep going.
JeremyK (Indy)

Where does Vonleh fall in your projections?
Chad Ford (1:44 PM)

Potential lottery pick. Defensively, I think he could play in the NBA right now. The offense could still use some work. Think he's a real sleeper to crack the Top 10 by the end of the season.
brandon (winston salem)

Chad, do you think the macadoo we saw friday night is the one scouts have been talking about?
Chad Ford (1:46 PM)

Yes and no. He's played well before against weaker competition. Need to see him do that against a ranked opponent.
Chris (Michigan)

How good is Embiid? Is there any Thabeet in him? Who do you like better as a big man prospect, him, Montrezl Harrell, or Cauley-Stein?
Chad Ford (1:47 PM)

Like him a lot. Think he's the best true center prospect in the draft. Great combination of size, quickness and skill. Still doesn't know what he's doing lots of the time, but his learning curve has been off the charts lately. Like Harrell and Cauley-Stein too, but see those guys and borderline lottery picks. Embiid could easily go Top 5.
Paul (Seattle)

Besides Exum, are there any other international prospects that could be a lottery pick?
Chad Ford (1:49 PM)

Teams are pretty excited about Dario Saric. Not everyone loves him, but those that are fans, tend to be big fans. He's off to a fast start in Croatia this year averaging 14.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg and shooting 60 percent from the field. On Saturday, Saric dropped 22 points and 10 rebounds on Mega Vizura. He's No. 8 on our Big Board right now. Croatia's Mario Hezonja another potential lottery pick though he's getting much less run in the ACB in Spain.
Tom (Jax, FL)

Where do you have Kyle Anderson from UCLA right now? He has to go in the lottery right? He seems like a protatipical NBA SF. Has size, handles, can shoot and rebound and plays OK defense. Seems more complete than Otto Porter no?
Chad Ford (1:53 PM)

Still really intrigued with him. He and Saric are the most unique players in this draft -- they are Point 4s ... Point power forwards. He had a very good opening game for the Bruins. If he plays like that all year, he'll likely creep into the late lottery. His lack of athletic ability is what is causing concern ...
Mark (Milwaukee)

Did you have a chance to watch the Wisconsin game last week? Where does Sam Dekkar project. Also, this Badger team seems like the perfect mix to go anti-Bo Ryan and push the tempo and shoot a lot of 3's
Chad Ford (1:54 PM)

I'm a very big Dekkar fan. So are a lot of teams that rely heavily on analytics. Think he could have a big year. He's No. 17 on our Big Board.
Quintin (Scottsdale)

What arebscouts saying about arizona state Jahii Carson?
Chad Ford (1:55 PM)

Like him. Maybe the Kings' Isaiah Thomas is the right comp. Little, but lethal.
Brian (Ann Arbor)

How worried are scouts about McGary's back "condition"?
Chad Ford (1:55 PM)

"Back condition" provokes an automatic response of worry in every NBA scout. We will see how serious it is, but yes, it's scaring teams a bit.
Chad Ford (1:57 PM)

Gotta run everyone. Enjoy the Championship Classic on ESPN tomorrow night. Not sure you'll ever find a finer collection of NBA talent in college on the same floor on the same night.

crazy theres three guys smart mcgary saric who couldve gone top 10 last year who waited for this years historically stacked draft

ESPN Stats & Info ‏@ESPNStatsInfo 45s
Jabari Parker leads all freshmen in Player Efficiency Rating this season. He's on pace for highest PER for any freshman in last 5 seasons.

watched him a bit last night and he does indeed look like a total beast

tho obvs his size is ridiculous for college but will be somewhat more ordinary in the nba

it will be interesting to see what happens with jabari. there is a chance he's more advanced than any of the other freshmen but also closer to being maxed out. there's also a chance he's the a slightly worse version of durant.

he seems like more of a bruiser than durant, i wonder if hes quick enough to defend the three in the nba, maybe hes more of a stretch 4

jabari is someone whose game actually reminds me a bit of tmac... he's less athletic but it seems like dude just pulls up from anywhere on the court at any time and makes a jumper

julius randle is really crazy to watch, i can't get a handle on that guy

yeah have not watched him yet

he's basically unstoppable right now but i get some beasley vibes from his game that make me wonder how well he'll translate

yeah was wondering if beas wasnt the last guy to have a higher per than jabari

randle seems a lot more physically talented than beas was

randle can handle a little bit but i dunno he's listed at 6' 9" which prob means he's even shorter but he seems to be mostly a post player which i think is concerning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdsY62qaCoA

like, i don't see how much of any of this translates to the nba. he's just outmuscling random dudes from michigan state. but then there's the one play where he goes coast to coast and finishes with the ease of a point guard so who knows.

just one game of course

Could be a paul millsap type of dude

would be pretty funny if none of these guys developed into superstars

Could be a paul millsap type of dude

― 乒乓, Tuesday, November 19, 2013 12:34 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark

yea true

lot of z-bo vibes too, also a lefty

randle's handle is diff than all those dudes, i assume that's why he's considered a top 3 pick

not really integrated into his game at the moment it seems like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDVCEDrHPlU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxXictCDDqA

ballin out

jabari is really damn good

wow that block -> coast to coast euro. dude could start in the NBA today

talking about jabari

i can see the concerns about his athleticism but i think if i was in nba team who had to win a game tomorrow i'd rather have him than, like, rudy gay

marcus smart could also prob start in the nba today

wow yeah smart looking extremely good there against srs competition

smart's flop game is ready for sure

important nba skill

Mamadou Ndiaye's rising stock
NBA scouts are on alert following the 7-foot-6 center's breakout performance
Updated: November 20, 2013, 11:18 AM ET
By Kevin Pelton | ESPN Insider

The biggest NBA prospect in the country has been developing in relative obscurity with the UC Irvine Anteaters, but if Mamadou Ndiaye continues to play like he did in Thursday's upset win over the Washington Huskies, he'll soon be a household name.

At 7-foot-6, the freshman from Senegal is believed to be the tallest player currently active in the U.S. He dwarfs Rudy Gobert, the Utah Jazz rookie who was drafted in the first round largely on the strength of his size. Gobert, who is listed at 7-2, recorded a record 7-foot-8½ wingspan at last spring's NBA draft combine. Ndiaye blows that away -- his wingspan was measured at an incredible 8-1 at the 2012 Amar'e Stoudemire Skills Academy.

Tools like that are enough to make Ndiaye a game-changing presence with just a few weeks of high-level experience. After two quiet outings to start his career, he powered Irvine's win over a Pac-12 opponent with a near triple-double: 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go with eight rebounds and nine blocks in 26 minutes.

"He's an incredible factor on a game," Irvine coach Russell Turner said. "He really performed tonight. Really performed. And that was without us involving him in the game much early offensively. In the past, when we haven't been able to do that, he's gotten discouraged. The impact he has is immeasurable."

Ndiaye's size altered UW's game plan at both ends. With more than a quarter of their 2-point attempts ending in blocks, the Huskies were forced to resort to uncomfortable floaters or avoid the rim entirely. Offensively, Ndiaye's finishing ability forced defenders to stay at home, opening up driving lanes for the Anteaters' guards. And when Irvine was able to enter the ball to the post, a Ndiaye bucket was nearly automatic.

A pair of NBA scouts were in attendance Thursday to watch Ndiaye, and more will surely follow as he continues to develop his game. Already, Ndiaye is ranked 65th in Chad Ford's Top 100.

At this point in his development, Ndiaye isn't close to being NBA-ready. Even when the Anteaters played man-to-man defense, Ndiaye effectively played a one-man zone, keeping him close to the basket. The NBA's three-second violation will prevent him from doing the same, and pro centers will make him pay if he's unable to step out and defend on the perimeter.

Still, Ndiaye's tools are tantalizing. He can avoid foul trouble because he rarely needs to leave the ground to contest shots, and at times he demonstrated surprising quickness for his size in terms of contesting shots out of his area.

The track record of behemoth centers in the NBA is distinctly mixed. Since 7-6 Shawn Bradley and 7-7 Gheorge Muresan were drafted in 1994, Yao Ming is the only player taller than 7-3 to have any kind of NBA career. A pair of 7-5 prospects, Pavel Podkolzin (No. 21 in 2004) and Slavko Vranes (No. 39 in 2003), were drafted but quickly washed out of the league.

What will potentially separate Ndiaye from their ranks is his ability to continue to develop both his body (while not rail-thin like Manute Bol, he could stand to improve his base) and his skills (particularly his footwork and his flat perimeter shot; he's just 8 of 25 from the free throw line thus far). On that front, Turner is encouraged.

"What you saw tonight is just how committed he is to being good because he's getting better," said Turner. "Every day he's getting better. That's because of how bad he wants to be a player and a great teammate."

While it led to a technical for screaming at his defender after one finish, the emotion Ndiaye showed on the court demonstrated his desire. Ndiaye reinforced that after the game, using "keep improving" and "get better" as mantras with the small media contingent surrounding him.

"I think I've improved in my footwork, my jump shot, my rebounding and my running up and down the floor," he said. "I'm still working. I have a lot of work to do. I need to work on everything to get better to go to a high level."

If he does, the NBA will be waiting.

The issue with Ndiaye is that he had gigantism. The injury track record for guys with that condition is very bad. With Muresan basically everything went right and they only got 2 good years out of him.

it's absolutely ludicrous that he was only recruited by two schools, what is wrong with college coaches?

btw I'm pretty sure that Ndiaye has the second longest wingspan in hoops history behind Bol's 8'4.

I don't see how any hoops fan doesn't get excited about this sort of guy

haven't seen him play but "huge underrecruited dude" doesn't exactly scream "fun to watch"

huge dude is always fun

haven't seen him play but "huge underrecruited dude" doesn't exactly scream "fun to watch"

― twist boat veterans for stability (k3vin k.), Thursday, November 21, 2013 12:24 AM (9 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

wtf dude

he was "under-recruited" but also a top 100 prospect so...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epU5oSz5LLE

huge dude is always fun

― lag∞n, Wednesday, November 20, 2013 4:33 PM (13 minutes ago) Bookmark

exactly

Tom Haberstroh ‏@tomhaberstroh 6m
Probably (maybe?) a coincidence, but since that Wiggins-Parker-Randle night, MIL/ORL/BOS/PHI/PHX/UTA are 3-23 combined.

man just checking out this page http://www1.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed and recalling how amazing it is that boston got FOUR first rounders from brooklyn for garnett-pierce-terry lmfao

(actually 3 and the right to swap another)

i like marcus smart, i like how this piece flips the script http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/10041111/marcus-smart-returns-oklahoma-state

putting the system stephen a. and skip on trial.

chad ford or someone was saying recently that they thought smart stayed because he thought he would get a chance to improve on stuff like ballhandling more in college than in the nba, which seems to fit with that piece.

for someone with elite talent whos m/l guaranteed playing time/attention from coaches in the nba i dont see how college could be better for developing skills, youre limited by law how much time you can spend in formal practice and youre playing against inferior competition and being coached by inferior coaches, plus it seems like one year is just prob not gonna make a huge difference in a career development arc, idk maybe for some guys it might help from a confidence standpoint to just totally fn own for a year in college, i support smart staying in college to enjoy himself cause life in the nba is obvs fairly hellish

fwiw i do think both college and nba would benefit from requiring players to stay two years on both a quality of play and marketing level - guys would have two years to build a name and wreck the college game and then theyd be a year older and better at basketball when they hit the pros

I would be ok with a 2 year minimum if you could also go straight to the pros. Drummond did not belong in college.

Get rid of the 1 year rule and destroy the NCAA

duh

i think young will be able to shoot

i also don't think smart's shot is broken or anything. i think his offensive game will get better once he's not playing on a team where he's basically the only offensive threat.

i like smart a lot, i can see the wade comparisons you made because he's gonna be a beast down low and he can get to the rim. don't think he's in young wade's ballpark as an athlete tho and i can't tell if he's kind of a chunker or if he's just buff

i think hes got a little chunk but nothing some nba-level training won't fix.

[Anthony Bennett plays in the distance]

bennett was basically made of 100% chunk

im watching kyle anderson ucla highlights and omg i love his game but omg he's so fucking slowwwwwwwww but he makes it work

yeah i think it's a *slight* concern that at age 20 he plays at the speed boris diaw is going to be playing at in 4 or 5 years

szerbiak seemed like an otm comparison

szerbiak seemed like an otm comparison

― Strictly EZ Snappin' Nhex (Spottie), Friday, June 27, 2014 12:07 PM (57 minutes ago) Bookmark

haha yeah i feel like it's kind of depressing if your 11th overall pick is all "yeah wally sczerbiak is actually an otm comparison"

he had a good career!

yeah i think it's a *slight* concern that at age 20 he plays at the speed boris diaw is going to be playing at in 4 or 5 years

― call all destroyer, Friday, June 27, 2014 12:01 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark

i forget who said this on twitter last night (bomani?) but someone was like "i'm not a fan of 20 year olds whose main attribute is being cerebral"

can someone post this please

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2014/story/_/id/11139035/2014-nba-draft-grades-every-team

ATLANTA HAWKS | GRADE: B

Round 1: Adreian Payne (15)

Round 2: Walter Tavares (43), Lamar Patterson (48)

Analysis: The Hawks went with a couple of seniors and a huge upside pick. Payne, who was only drafted this low because at 23 he's old for the draft and may have less room for improvement, gives the Hawks a big man who can stretch the floor and play down low. Patterson is the sort of blue-collar swingman that the Hawks love; he does a little bit of everything, but has zero sexiness to his game. Both guys contribute right now, which is what the team went into draft day wanting.

Tavares has crazy wingspan and huge hands -- the raw tools to be a dominant big man. But he's really far away. The Hawks will let him continue to develop in Spain and see what they have down the road.

BOSTON CELTICS | GRADE: A-

Round 1: Marcus Smart (6), James Young (17)

Round 2: None

Analysis: This draft isn't going to turn around the Celtics overnight. But the team landed two foundational players to rebuild with or trade. Smart is tough, a leader and someone who competes every second, sometimes almost more than you'd like. He's going to be a nightmare for other guards defensively. Somewhere, Brad Stevens is smiling.

Smart also has the versatility to play both the 1 and 2, which gives the Celtics options when talking Rajon Rondo trades this summer.

Young is an upside pick. He has great size for his position and the potential to be a really good shooter. He's not an elite athlete, isn't a great defender and is one dimensional, but he's one of the youngest players in the draft and worth trying to develop. Overall, a good night for Celtics fans. They didn't get their franchise player, but did get talent.

BROOKLYN NETS | GRADE: C-

Round 1: None.

Round 2: Markel Brown (44), Xavier Thames (59), Cory Jefferson (60)

Analysis: The Nets bankrolled their way into the second round to get some interesting seniors who could evolve into rotation players. Of the three, Thames intrigues me the most. He can shoot and might even be a point guard. Brown is an elite athlete who can defend. Jefferson has an NBA body and has been improving every year at Baylor.

None move the needle for a capped out Nets team, but they are interesting second-round assets who might be able to play down the road.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS | GRADE: B+

Round 1: Noah Vonleh (9), P.J. Hairston (26)

Round 2: Dwight Powell (45), Semaj Christon ( 55)

Analysis: It's hard to believe that the Hornets are adding four rookies to a team with an itch for the postseason. But the truth is they got some serious talent with all four picks. Vonleh slid because teams worried he wasn't going to maximize his obvious physical talents. He can shoot, run the floor and play in the post, but questions about his motor and toughness and conditioning caused him to slide a bit. He's a steal here, albeit a bit repetitive with Cody Zeller.

Hairston would've been a lottery pick had he not been kicked off the Tar Heels team for various offenses. He can shoot and has an NBA body. The Hornets need shooting, and Hairston can fill it up right now. Powell has talent, but he has never maximized it. Christon is a great athlete with good size at the point guard position. Both second-rounders could make the roster.

CHICAGO BULLS | GRADE: A

Round 1: Doug McDermott (11)

Round 2: Cameron Bairstow (49)

Analysis: The Bulls really wanted a shooter, and packaged 16 and 19 to get their guy. McDermott can shoot the lights out, is ready to play right now and fits a need. He's a home run for the Bulls at No. 11. I'm not sure how Tom Thibodeau will feel about McDermott's defense, but offensively, he's perfect for the Bulls.

Bairstow is tough, an old-school power forward, but he lacks athleticism and will likely start his career overseas.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS | GRADE: A

Round 1: Andrew Wiggins (1)

Round 2: Joe Harris (33)

Analysis: The Cavs, in my opinion, did the right thing here. They could've taken Jabari Parker and justified it by saying they needed a player who could help them now. Instead they took the player with the most upside and showed a willingness to let him develop into the best player in the draft. I think Wiggins is a better fit for the team anyway. He brings defense, he can play the 2 or 3, and he won't need the ball in his hands to make an impact on the team.

Wiggins has as much or more talent than Kyrie Irving and, in time, will be the guy they build around.

Harris is a shooter and is tough as nails. Though he's not a great defender, he brings great effort. Overall, the Cavs improved their team this year and finally got a second long-term franchise building block next to Irving. It was a good night, Cavs fans.

DALLAS MAVERICKS | GRADE: C-

Round 1: None

Round 2: None

Analysis: The Mavs traded this year's first-rounder to the Thunder. They traded last year's first, Shane Larkin, in a deal that netted them Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton. The Mavs haven't shown much interest in developing young players.

They want to win one more title for Dirk Nowitzki and are trying to put together a roster that could lure LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony to Dallas. I doubt they get either guy, and there's the rub -- the Mavs keep sacrificing the future hoping to hit a free-agent home run. Instead, they hit singles and an occasional double. I'm not sure the guy they would've drafted at 34 was really going to make a difference, but their disregard for the draft may come back to haunt them someday.

DENVER NUGGETS | GRADE: B+

Round 1: Jusuf Nurkic (16), Gary Harris (19)

Round 2: Nikola Jokic (41)

Analysis: The Nuggets got their real prize a few hours before the draft when they traded Evan Fournier and a second-round pick for Arron Afflalo. Then they shored up their team by adding two international big men with interesting futures.

Nurkic is huge and, if he can stay in shape and stay out of trouble, could be a load in the NBA someday. Jokic is a skilled big man who can shoot and has a high basketball IQ. Both could help them down the road, but it was nabbing Harris, whom I had ranked No. 10 on my Big Board, that was the real story for Denver.

Harris slid because of his lack of size, but he's one of the few two-way players in the draft. He is tough, can play multiple positions and can shoot. He's going to learn under Afflalo for a year and then, if Afflalo leaves via free agency, he could end up with a much bigger role in Denver.

DETROIT PISTONS | GRADE: C

Round 1: None

Round 2: Spencer Dinwiddie (38)

Analysis: The Pistons had their heart broken on draft night when the Cavs jumped ahead of them to the No. 1 pick and they were pushed down one spot -- just low enough to be forced to send their first-rounder to the Hornets. It was a major blow. With players such as Noah Vonleh, Doug McDermott and Elfrid Payton still left on the board, the Pistons must have watched the draft and cringed the entire time.

The good news is that they did get a nice player in Dinwiddie at 38. Dinwiddie would have been a mid-first-rounder if he hadn't torn his ACL at midseason. He has size for his position, a high basketball IQ and knows how to score. His lack of elite athleticism limited his upside, but he has talent and could help the Pistons down the road.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS | GRADE: B+

Round 1: None

Round 2: None

Analysis:The Warriors traded their first-round pick last July to clear a bunch of cap space to sign Andre Iguodala. I think it was worth the 23rd pick in the draft this year. I like Rodney Hood, but he's no Iguodala.

HOUSTON ROCKETS | GRADE: C-

Round 1: Clint Capela (25)

Round 2: Nick Johnson (42)

Analysis: The Rockets are busy trying to clear cap space for a run at LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Again, I'm not sure how likely it is they land either guy, but both players are worth the effort. So the Rockets took a player in Capela, whom they can leave in Europe to develop -- and he needs the time. Capela is long and athletic, but very raw. His analytics numbers were off the charts for Kevin Pelton, but watching him in games was pretty painful. He has a ways to go.

Johnson, who is tough and super-athletic, could help now if the Rockets have a roster spot. He defends and can shoot it a bit. If he were a few inches taller, he would've gone much, much higher.

INDIANA PACERS | GRADE: C

Round 1: None

Round 2: None

Analysis: The Pacers traded this pick to the Suns as part of a deal that netted them Luis Scola. It's well enough. The Pacers are in title mode and actually have enough young talent to justify going after veterans in free agency to address their needs. Whomever they would've gotten at No. 27 wouldn't help them now.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS | GRADE: C+

Round 1: Chris Wilcox (28)

Round 2: None

Analysis: Wilcox is the type of college veteran shooter who could help the Clippers immediately. He's 23 years old, is a good athlete and has deep range. But didn't they draft that guy last year in Reggie Bullock?

LOS ANGELES LAKERS | GRADE: A-

Round 1: Julius Randle (7)

Round 2: Jordan Clarkson (46)

Analysis: I really liked this draft for the Lakers. They grabbed one of the three most NBA-ready players in the draft. Randle plays with the type of toughness and motor that Kobe Bryant will respect, and will immediately be a rebound machine. I'm not sure he doesn't have more upside than we saw in Kentucky. He was on a team with a lot of alpha dogs. If his foot ends up being OK (there is an issue, but the Lakers aren't too worried) he's a very good value here.

And I like Clarkson as an athletic combo guard who, if he shoots it as well as he did in the first half of the season, still has upside.

Randle, alone, can't turn around the Lakers, but he's one of only three rookies who can hold their own from Day 1 on a team that will be in the hunt for a playoff berth in the West.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES | GRADE: B

Round 1: Jordan Adams (22)

Round 2: Jarnell Stokes (35)

Analysis: It looks like, whatever the shakeups in Memphis, John Hollinger still has a voice. Kevin Pelton would give this draft an A+, as he had Adams ranked fifth and Stokes No. 12 in his WARP projections. If his formula is right, the Grizzlies got great value.

Adams is one of the best scorers in the draft, but he's also one of the least athletic 2-guards we've seen come along in the draft for a while. He was a beast on the offensive boards and essentially put up identical numbers to Randle. If both of these players perform as well as Pelton projects, the Grizzlies probably deserve an A. If they perform as well as scouts projected (they had them both rated much lower), the Grizzlies may have missed a few opportunities with players such as Rodney Hood and P.J. Hairston.

MIAMI HEAT | GRADE: B+

Round 1: Shabazz Napier (24)

Round 2: None

Analysis: I reported on Wednesday that the Heat were making a concerted effort to move up in the draft to land Napier. He has a huge fan in LeBron James, who tweeted during the NCAA title championship game that he believed Napier was the best point guard in the draft.

With the way Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole played in the NBA Finals, you can understand why the Heat may want an upgrade. I'm not sure it's fair to put all that on Napier as a rookie. He's undersized for his position and not an elite athlete, but he's got huge onions. He won't be afraid to play with James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. And when he gets rolling, watch out.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS | GRADE: A

Round 1: Jabari Parker (2)

Round 2: Damien Inglis (31), Johnny O'Bryant (36)

Analysis: I'm happy for the Bucks and I'm happy for Jabari. This is the guy the Bucks wanted at No. 1, and this is the team Jabari wanted to go to. The Bucks needed a franchise type player to build around. Parker's that guy. He wanted a team that would build around him, that would treat him as a focal point of the team. The Bucks will do that. Milwaukee wanted an alpha dog scorer and a leader in the locker room. Parker can do both.

The Bucks will make him a stretch power forward and I think, ultimately, that's the position he'll thrive at. I think Dante Exum may have more upside -- but the Bucks had to go for the sure thing and they got him.

Inglis is a good athlete, has great length and an NBA body. He's still learning how to play, and the Bucks will give him space to grow. He has a broken foot, but he'll come over and be with the team right away. O'Bryant was one of the few big men in this draft who can really score around the basket. He's not going to be a star, but he's a decent rotation player someday.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES | GRADE: B+

Round 1: Zach LaVine (13)

Round 2: Glenn Robinson III (40), Alessandro Gentile (53)

Analysis: Flip Saunders swung for the fences, and we'll see if he connects. LaVine and Robinson are two of the most athletic players in the draft. LaVine can also shoot it and play some point, which made him the more attractive pick. If he fills out his skill set, he'll be one of the top 10 players in this draft.

Robinson has a longer road ahead. He's stuck between positions and doesn't always play hard. But the raw talent is there and if the Wolves are patient, I think he has a future. Gentile is a terrific scorer from Italy -- wild, but productive. He's not a great athlete, but I could see him in the league someday.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS | GRADE: D

Round 1: None

Round 2: Russ Smith (47)

Analysis: The Pelicans traded away their first-rounder to Philly as part of the Jrue Holiday trade last year. Holiday was solid for them and, though I'm sure they secretly coveted the guy that did go at 10 -- hometown point guard Elfrid Payton. They traded last year's second-round pick, Pierre Jackson, for Smith. They are similar players -- small, athletic, fast, shoot-first point guards. If Smith can ever maintain control he has a chance to be a change-of-pace guard off the bench, but that's a pretty big if.

NEW YORK KNICKS | GRADE: B-

Round 1: None

Round 2: Cleanthony Early (34), Thanasis Antetokounmpo (51), Louis Labyrie (57)

Analysis: The Knicks traded away their first-round pick to the Nuggets as part of the Carmelo Anthony deal. They could've used a player such as Doug McDermott, who went No. 11. That was a major blow, but you can't fault them for giving that up for Melo. The Knicks worked hard to get into the second round and, of the group, Early might have been worth it. I liked him a lot this year. He's big and can shoot it. Teams are concerned that he can't make the transition to small forward, but as long as he can guard a position, he'll be OK.

Antetokounmpo was passed on by both the Bucks (who drafted his brother) and the Sixers (who had him playing for their D-League team) multiple times. Think that was a signal, Knicks? He's athletic and plays hard, but not sure he's a game-changer. Labyrie, by most accounts from scouts, is unlikely to ever play in the NBA.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER | GRADE: B-

Round 1: Mitch McGary (21) Josh Huestis (29)

Round 2: None

Analysis: Didn't the Thunder have this draft last year? Steven Adams was the big, athletic center with the high motor. Andre Roberson was the scrappy defender and rebounder who was undersized for his position. They must have loved that draft so much they decided to do it again!

I like McGary. He was probably a bit underrated. The Hornets wanted him badly and were trying to get up to 22 to get him. If his back is OK, he's a good pick here. And I get the Huestis pick -- he's tough, plays defense and will fit in. I just wonder why they had to draft the same two guys again.

ORLANDO MAGIC | GRADE: A-

Round 1: Aaron Gordon (4), Elfrid Payton (10)

Round 2: Roy Devyn Marble (56)

Analysis: Well, I guess we know what Rob Hennigan likes. For the second year in a row the Magic GM drafted super-athletic, defensive-minded players. Adding Gordon and Payton with Victor Oladipo gives the Magic three versatile defenders who can lock up anyone. I love the potential of both players added on Thursday.

If Gordon ever develops a jump shot he could be a superstar. Ditto for Payton. They do just about everything else well (though they both could get stronger). But where is the offense coming from? With Arron Afflalo gone and Jameer Nelson likely to be bought out, the Magic are left with Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic as their primary options. Though the Magic don't have to have everything figured out right now.

I personally think Dante Exum was a better choice at 4. But getting Payton, my sleeper in the draft, at 10 lessens my objection. Marble is a no-nonsense forward who does everything well and nothing great. Sort of like their second rounder last year.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS | GRADE: Inc.

Round 1: Joel Embiid (3), Dario Saric (12)

Round 2: K.J. McDaniels (32), Jerami Grant (39), Vasilije Micic (52), Nemanja Dangubic (54), Jordan McRae (58)

Analysis: GM Sam Hinkie has proven to be a master of collecting assets. Embiid, on pure talent and potential, may be the best prospect in the draft. Saric was a top-10 prospect as well that the Sixers had coveted for a while. Had Embiid been healthy and had Saric been available to come to the NBA this year, they would get an A. However, Embiid is likely out the whole season recovering from foot surgery. Saric has a three-year deal in Turkey and won't play in the NBA for a couple of seasons. How do you rebuild without your talent on the floor?

I know what the Sixers will say. Nerlens Noel is their rookie this year. Embiid will be next year. Saric the year after that. But are Sixers fans and ownership willing to be that bad for that long? At some point you have to move from asset collection to building a team.

McDaniels and Grant also have huge upside. They are super athletic. But like the rest of the team Hinkie has put together, they can't shoot. Micic and Dangubic are both intriguing prospects down the road, but neither is likely to play in the NBA anytime soon. McRae may be the only one really ready to contribute right now, ironically.

In five years, if Embiid is a superstar and Saric is the next Toni Kukoc, my criticisms will seem petty. But it's a long road, Sixers fans. A long road. And the 2015 NBA draft isn't as loaded as this draft is and is mostly filled with bigs, the one thing the Sixers are now stockpiled with.

PHOENIX SUNS | GRADE: B

Round 1: T.J. Warren (14), Tyler Ennis (18), Bogdan Bogdanovic (27)

Round 2: Alec Brown (50)

Analysis: The Suns addressed three big needs in the draft. They needed a small forward who can score the ball. Warren can do that. He's an incredible scorer who just has a nose for the hoop. They needed a back-up point guard and Ennis is as steady as they come. They also needed another 2-guard, and while I doubt Bogdanovic comes over right now, he's a terrific scorer who could play in the NBA someday.

What the Suns didn't add, and what I think they could use more of, is athleticism. Neither Warren, Ennis nor Bogdanovic are great athletes. All three of these players have the potential to be solid rotation players. Ennis has starter potential someday and Warren's ceiling may be even higher than that. But I'm not sure what they got here puts them into true contention in the West any time soon.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS | GRADE: C-

Round 1: None

Round 2: None

Analysis: The Blazers sent this pick as part of the Gerald Wallace trade a while ago. Wallace is no longer around which means losing this pick had to hurt a little. Though, I don't think pick No. 24, which ultimately became Shabazz Napier, was going to make a major impact on this team.

SACRAMENTO KINGS | GRADE: B

Round 1: Nik Stauskas (8)

Round 2: None

Analysis: I'm a pretty big Stauskas fan and can't fault the Kings for taking him here -- he was worthy of being picked this high. He's a great shooter and he's fearless, two qualities that go well together. My issue is fit. The Kings drafted Ben McLemore last year to play the same position and do the same thing. And before that they drafted Jimmer Fredette (now with the Bulls) to be that guy.

Meanwhile they need help at point guard, someone to protect the rim and players that can defend. Stauskas is none of those things and other players like Elfrid Payton and Noah Vonleh were on the board who could help in these capacities. If the Kings have another deal up their sleeve for McLemore (like for Rajon Rondo, for example) I'll feel better about the selection.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS | GRADE: A

Round 1: Kyle Anderson (30)

Round 2: None

Analysis: I think it was fate that the closest player we've ever seen to Boris Diaw just happened to be drafted by the Spurs the year Diaw hits the free-agent market. I suspect the Spurs will re-sign Diaw and empower him to mentor Anderson. Both guys are essentially huge point guards who see the floor as well as any little guy in the league.

Anderson can rebound and even proved this season he can shoot it a bit. He can't defend anyone, which is a problem, but I love this fit. If he's going to succeed in the NBA, this is the team to do it with.

TORONTO RAPTORS | GRADE: D

Round 1: Bruno Caboclo (20)

Round 2: DeAndre Daniels (37)

Analysis: I don't know what to make of GM Masai Ujiri's decision to stump everyone by taking Caboclo at 20. Caboclo has a huge, 7-foot-7 wingspan, can shoot it, is athletic and will draw inevitable comparisons to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Except, if you thought Antetokounmpo was raw, just wait until you see Caboclo. Whereas the Bucks had the freedom, once the season went into the tank, to give Antetokounmpo minutes right away, I don't see that as an option in Toronto.

Maybe he's the next Giannis, but I didn't talk to anyone in the league who thought Caboclo wouldn't have been there at 37. Which means Toronto missed out on adding another piece. I know the Raptors were hoping for Tyler Ennis or Gary Harris to fall there, but they went nuclear when neither didn't. Daniels is also a long, lanky 3 who can shoot, but he was inconsistent in his three years at UConn and I wonder how much of his stock rise came from a strong NCAA tournament. The Raptors didn't get better Thursday night. Not this year. Not next year. The hope is that, down the road, this gamble pays off.

UTAH JAZZ | GRADE: A

Round 1: Dante Exum (5), Rodney Hood (23)

Round 2: None.

Analysis: The Jazz had their hearts broken when they slid to fifth in the lottery. But everything worked out for them Thursday night. They got the guy rated third on their board, Exum, at No. 5, when both the Sixers and Magic passed on him. Then they got the guy rated 15th on their board, Hood, at No. 23, when he suddenly slid. In the process they shored up two big needs.

Trey Burke was good for them this past season, but they really need some size at the point. Burke and Exum will play together at first and eventually I think Exum will take the starting position from Burke. More importantly, the Jazz needed a franchise cornerstone, someone with star power. I think Exum could be that guy and so do the Jazz. They also wanted a wing with size to give them shooting, and Hood fits the bill. I know Jazz fans will feel like this draft wasn't a home run without Jabari Parker. But it was at least a triple, and given where they were drafting, that's an A in my book.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS | GRADE: B+

Round 1: None

Round 2: None

Analysis: The Wizards traded their first-round pick to the Suns for Marcin Gortat. Given Gortat's play for the Wizards this past season and their return to the playoffs, I'd say he was worth the 18th pick that the Suns used on Tyler Ennis.

chad ford is feeling very positive about this draft!

ty j

lol Warriors getting a B+.

he's got huge onions

thank god, they could have been turnips

we all know most picks wont work out yet everyone gets a B cause hey no one know which ones chard ford out

grade inflation turning this once great nation of ours into sissies why in my day everyone got Fs until chuck daly threw you into the game and said "hit that motherfucker square in the ribs and get a bucket" and you were grateful

yeah i chuckle at the grade inflation but at the same time i'm like 'i knew the hawks had a solid draft'

can't believe i'm at a point in my life where i just trust danny ferry

spurs east homie, like the spurs but the east version (and therefore not as good)

man next year we could have bonner, bobo, and slo mo on the same damn team, just making hella passes and not exercising much, eating all kinds of bad carbs

haha yeah i feel like it's kind of depressing if your 11th overall pick is all "yeah wally sczerbiak is actually an otm comparison"

― le goon (J0rdan S.), Friday, June 27, 2014 5:05 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

he was an allstar before the knees fell apart. He also was much more athletic than McDermott though.

im watching kyle anderson ucla highlights and omg i love his game but omg he's so fucking slowwwwwwwww but he makes it work

― it's not a fedora, it's a trill bae (m bison), Friday, June 27, 2014 3:48 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah i think it's a *slight* concern that at age 20 he plays at the speed boris diaw is going to be playing at in 4 or 5 years

― call all destroyer, Friday, June 27, 2014 4:01 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

His nickname is slomo.

Think I'm in love with Dario Saric

After talking up the Sixers' history — "Yeah, I know everything about the Sixers, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson, and I love the team" — Saric explained how he came to know so much about the organization's history:

I learned so much, like, things we have, like you have in America. Newspaper, Google, Internet, things like that. We share NBA, my friends and I. We love so much to playing PlayStation 4 and NBA, and we know so much about Philadelphia, Iguodala, and so much guys from Philadelphia. I know everything.

He left out Dr. J. Hope he gets replaced by a wimpier version next season.

We definitely have Google and Newspaper in Philly

We've been missing Toni since he left tho

Step right into those shoes, Dario

@RicBucher
my zeal to break a story take too much for granted. I'd like to think I'm better than that. Yesterday and today I was not.

https://twitter.com/RicBucher/status/48267540260782489

really this isn't any more embarrassing than the Derrick Rose>LeBron thing

honestly wonder if he fried his brain with cocaine or something tho

*touches nose*

ESPN should suspend him or something

suspend him? At least he had the good sense to own up to his mistake. How many times have we seen these guys pull this shit with no repercussions? 100,000?

For the most part media never EVER admit when they're wrong. Like I don't see A-Woj begging Twitter for forgiveness for spreading that bullshit rumor that Philly and Cleveland were in talks about trading the first pick.

i believe woj

bucher doesn't work for espn does he?

or turner, whatever

Usually when people get shit wrong they don't attack their sources

bucher doesn't work for espn does he?

― k3vin k., Sunday, 29 June 2014 00:00 (5 hours ago) Permalink

or turner, whatever

― le goon (J0rdan S.), Sunday, 29 June 2014 05:42 (10 minutes ago) Permalink

I think he just does radio in the bay area and halftime reports for the warriors.

nah he's also a turner / bleacher report guy

yeah he does west coast sideline reporting for tnt

haha I forget turner and bleacher report being siblings, with good reason

we got to leverage this blog space

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOl61QKVKs4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN-b6fGmiiI

lmao mitchell wiggins. Mitch is an easy enough nickname I guess

2017 number 1 pick will be nice to have

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ_Qn5zU-T0

^work in progress. highlights can deceive, but he obviously has length and athleticism. a few nice moves already.

if he can continue to make thons