2016 NBA Draft Grades, After 1 Year
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No, I did not do grades on the draft before the season began, for this reason alone. How can I grade a draft the day (or week or month) after the draft took place? Sure, I can express opinion that the front office didn't fix the needs, but I can't say the players won't turn out. An NBA player averages 3-4 years of NBA service, so judging them after one year is pretty fair, and yes, I will only judge the first round.
1) PHILADELPHIA: G/F Ben Simmons, INCOMPLETE
He didn't play due to injury, so I will have to show my "Joel Embiid get out of jail free card" and call it an incomplete.
2) LA LAKERS: SF Brandon Ingram, B-
Ingram ended up taking over for Luol Deng, like all rational basketball minds predicted, but hasn't lived up to the hype, I guess? 9 points and 4 boards for a 19 year old small forward is pretty solid, but it's not #2 pick worthy. The Lakers are in "wait and see mode" as well.
3) BOSTON: SF Jaylen Brown, B+
Unlike most lottery teams, Boston actually has a good roster and is a playoff team (thanks to Brooklyn) and Jaylen Brown has little pressure. His numbers aren't staggering, but he has shown promise and has had more good flashes than bad.
4) PHOENIX: PF Dragan Bender, C-
At this point, he looks like a potential Darko Milicic, since he is spending more time on the injury report than on the court. He averages under 13 minutes and under 4 points, and has another lottery drafted, rookie power forward to compete with. Obviously one of them won't be the future, and it's definitely not Bender at this point.
5) MINNESOTA: G Kris Dunn, C
Like most lottery picks in this draft, it's more about what the future holds than this season. The same went for Kris Dunn, as despite the injury to Zach LaVine, he has failed to start more than 6 games to this point or score more than 4 points. We'll see.
6) NEW ORLEANS: Buddy Hield: B
The grade for New Orleans at this point is higher than Sacramento's grade, but that is because Hield was the main cog in the DeMarcus Cousins trade. Hield has played okay with the Kings so far, and we will have to wait and see. Obviously, for the Pelicans this pick relies on how well the team does with Cousins.
7) DENVER: Jamal Murray, B
The Nuggets had 10 players (TEN) score 9 points per game this season on average, and Murray was one of them. Denver might not make the playoffs, but he is a key part on why they are close, and is definitely a part of their future plans.
8) PHOENIX: PF Marquese Chriss, B+
Trading the 13th and 28th picks to Sacramento for Chriss was definitely the right move, and part of the good grade is due to what those picks are currently doing. Also, Chriss has played in every game and started in 70, and is putting up 9 points and 4 boards. Not bad for someone who is 20.
9) TORONTO: C Jakob Poeltl, D
When Bismack Biyombo left backup center was a debate in Toronto, and they went with the more experienced Lucas Nogueira, which resulted in less playing time for Poeltl. He's had minimal impact.
10) MILWAUKEE: F/C Thon Maker, C
He barely played the first half of the season, and after the Henson injury and Miles Plumlee trade, he got to start. The problem was, he played 10 or less minutes every game until the last two (where he has shown production). They need to use him more to get a better grade.
11) ORLANDO: PF Domantas Sabonis, B
I have a hard time with this draft pick, because technically Sabonis was drafted by the Magic even though he has only played for the Thunder. If this was a Thunder pick from the get-go, I'd have the grade be an A or A- at worst, and if I graded it from a Magic perspective, C is the highest I'll go.
12) UTAH: SF Taurean Prince, B+
Prince didn't turn out as good for Atlanta as Sabonis did for Oklahoma City, at least in year one. However, Utah acquired George Hill for him, and as long as that is a factor in the selection, Utah gets a better grade. Oh, and he has helped Utah become a top 5 team in the West.
13) SACRAMENTO: C Giorgios Papagiannis, F
Who is this guy, and how did he show up on the Kings' radar?
14) CHICAGO: SG Denzel Valentine, B-
It's obvious why any team would draft Valentine, and while he didn't put up the type of season many (not me) expected, he was okay. He's not a future piece, and to be frank his draft spot is almost perfect for what I expect of his future.
15) DENVER: C Juan Hernangomez, B-
Hernangomez hasn't had to do much for Denver, but when he has been out there positive things have happened. His presence has helped with the extradition of Jusuf Nurkic, which might seem like a mistake if he and Nikola Jokic weren't around.
16) BOSTON: PF Guerschon Yabusele, Incomplete
I have to give it incomplete just because he didn't play, but I really, really, REALLY want to give Boston an F for this one. He is the highest of three picks who have not played an NBA games this season.
17) MEMPHIS: G Wade Baldwin, C-
He let an undrafted Andrew Harrison beat him out, and hasn't played in enough games to be a real factor. He may turn around, but for now his selection wasn't smart.
18) DETROIT: PF Henry Ellenson, D
For a team that really needed the help on the glass, they drafted Ellenson, but decided they also needed Jon Leuer, Boban Marjanovic and Aron Baynes. What does that tell you about their confidence in Ellenson?
19) DENVER: SG Malik Beasley, Incomplete
He's barely played this season, mainly because Denver is so deep, but because they also drafted a similar player in Jamal Murray in the same draft ahead of him. Give him a chance before you give him a grade.
20) BROOKLYN: G/F Caris LeVert, B
For a team without a first round pick for 20,000 years, Brooklyn made a good move to acquire a pick to select LeVert. He hasn't put up gaudy numbers on any level, but he has shown he can (at least) be a role player for Brooklyn in the future.
21) ATLANTA: G/F DeAndre Bembry, C
Bembry played more than Beasley, which is why Bembry is getting a C. Bembry had enough playing time, but wasn't impactful enough to get a grade that determines his real value.
22) CHARLOTTE: SG Malachi Richardson, B-
Letting him go to the Kings for Marco Belinelli looks really good at this time, especially because Richardson hasn't done anything. As for the Kings, they once again have misjudged what the NBA reality is.
23) BOSTON: C Ante Zizic, Incomplete
Yet another incomplete selection by Boston, and I only gave Yabusele an F because Boston selected two useless first round picks this season. I decided to give the "wait and see" grade to the latter, aka Zizic.
24) PHILADELPHIA: SG Timothe Luwawu, Incomplete
Luwawu hasn't played enough to get a grade either.
25) LA CLIPPERS: F Brice Johnson, D-
Johnson has spent most of the season injured, and being a team trying to compete, wasting a pick on Johnson isn't a good move.
26) PHILADELPHIA: Furkan Korkmaz, Incomplete
If anybody knows where he is currently playing, tell Dario Saric so he can bring him stateside.
27) TORONTO: PF Pascal Siakam, A-
For this late of a pick and with the impact he has had (including starting numerous games), Siakam has been a great selection by the Raptors. You can almost trade his place with Poeltl's and people would just feel neutral about the Raptors' draft.
28) SACRAMENTO: F/C Skal Labissiere, B
At first Labissiere seemed like another bust by the Kings, but he has played pretty well lately and has earned some recognition. Maybe it's part of the whole "playing gets you production" argument.
29) SAN ANTONIO: PG Dejounte Murray, B
He hasn't played much, but as far as I can tell he has shown the Spurs' qualities. He is part of the master plan.
30) GOLDEN STATE: C Damian Jones, Incomplete
He has been hurt for the better part of the season, and when he hasn't been he has been buried on the depth chart.
