2014 NBA Draft grades: Cavaliers, Bucks praised for keeping it simple
As the dust settles from another NBA Draft, how are the analysts grading teams this year? Let’s take a look.
Mike Stobe
We don't know much about the 2014 NBA Draft class beyond who's going where, but that's more than enough for the basketball world to put on its grading caps and start evaluating. As Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and others fly around the country taking in their newest homes, let's take a look at how the analysts are thinking on Friday morning.
Picks: Adreian Payne (15), Walter Tavares (43), Lamar Patterson (48, via Bucks)
The Hawks had a fairly unexciting but still productive night, something the analysts agreed upon in their grading. Payne is a fine pick in the middle of the first round and the 7’3 Tavares is an intriguing flier, even if Atlanta didn’t significantly change its fortunes in one night.
ESPN: B
CBS: A
USA Today: C+
SB Nation: B+ for fit, B+ for immediate impact
Picks: Marcus Smart (6), James Young (17)
The Celtics didn't get a game-changing talent despite picking just outside the top five, but still had a pretty strong draft nonetheless. Smart should be able to provide backcourt depth and potentially start if Rajon Rondo is traded, while Young is an athletic shooter who could help on the wings.
USA Today: B+
SB Nation: B+ for fit, A for immediate impact (Smart); A for fit, B for immediate impact (Young)
Picks: Markel Brown (44, via Timberwolves), Xavier Thames (59, via Raptors), Cory Jefferson (60, via Spurs)
The Nets entered the draft without any picks, but didn’t leave the Barclays Center crowd empty-handed by nabbing a trio of second-round picks in exchange for cash considerations. The analysts were divided on the logic behind these moves, so we’ll see if anyone actually ends up making a difference in Brooklyn.
USA Today: A-
Yahoo! Sports: n/a
SB Nation: n/a
Picks: Noah Vonleh (9), P.J. Hairston (26, via Heat)
The Hornets lucked out somewhat by having Vonleh fall to them at No. 9, then added some value by trading down from No. 24 to No. 26 in a deal with Miami. Spending back-to-back top picks on the same position generally isn't ideal, but Steve Clifford should be able to find ways to use both Vonleh and Cody Zeller in the rotation.
Charlotte also traded its second-round pick and the husk of Brendan Haywood to Cleveland for Alonzo Gee, adding depth on the wing beyond Hairston.
USA Today: A-
SB Nation: A for fit, C+ for immediate impact (Vonleh); B for fit, B for immediate impact (Hairston)
Picks: Doug McDermott (11, via Nuggets), Cameron Bairstow (49)
The Bulls targeted McDermott early on, and ended up giving up a ton of value in order to land the former Creighton star. It could work out if he’s as good a shooter as he looked with the Bluejays, but it’s a risk given the potential value Chicago could’ve gotten by sticking at 16 and 19.
USA Today: B+
SB Nation: A for fit, A for immediate impact
Picks: Andrew Wiggins (1), Joe Harris (33), Dwight Powell (45, via Hornets)
The Cavaliers kept it simple on Thursday, taking Wiggins with the top pick before nabbing a couple extra prospects in the second round. The team also traded Gee to free up room for Wiggins, but the real story here is whether the athletic Canadian pans out.
USA Today: A-
SB Nation: A+ for fit, B+ for immediate impact
Picks: Spencer Dinwiddie (38)
The Pistons had to send their first-round pick to the Hornets as part of the Ben Gordon-Corey Maggette deal from a couple years ago, leaving the team with just its second-round pick. Dinwiddie is a fine prospect and likely would’ve gone higher if he didn’t get hurt his senior year, but it’s not much of a haul for draft night.
USA Today: A-
Yahoo! Sports: n/a
SB Nation: n/a
Picks: None
The Pacers traded away their first-round pick to Phoenix for Luis Scola last year, then dealt their second-round selection to the Knicks on Thursday. For a win-now team with a tight budget, there just wasn't room for a rookie on the roster, it seems.
USA Today: C-
Yahoo! Sports: n/a
SB Nation: n/a
Miami Heat
Picks: Shabazz Napier (24, via Hornets)
Next year's lottery?
Next year's lottery?
The Eastern Conference champions apparently had one goal for the 2014 draft, and that was to appease LeBron James by taking former UConn star Shabazz Napier. That happened, and while it wasn't cheap, who really cares when it comes to making LeBron happy? If he re-signs in Miami, mission accomplished.
USA Today: A
SB Nation: B- for fit, B+ for immediate impact
Milwaukee Bucks
Picks: Jabari Parker (2), Damien Inglis (31), Johnny O’Bryant (36)
The Bucks got their man at No. 2 overall in Parker, a high-scoring Chicago native who immediately brings star power to Milwaukee. While it’s harder to get excited about the second-round picks, the Parker pick is such a no-brainer that the future looks bright.
USA Today: A-
SB Nation: A for fit, A+ for immediate impact
New York Knicks
Picks: Cleanthony Early (34), Thanasis Antetokounmpo (51), Louis Labyrie (57, via Pacers)
The Knicks didn't have any draft picks just a few days ago, but ended up with three second-rounders after a pair of deals. The first, which sent Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to Dallas, was obviously the big one, and the team ended up doing well by getting Early and Antetokounmpo in the second round. Labyrie probably will never matter, on the other hand.
USA Today: A
Yahoo! Sports: n/a
SB Nation: n/a
Picks: Aaron Gordon (4), Elfrid Payton (10, via 76ers), Roy Devyn Marble (56)
A year after adding Victor Oladipo, the Magic doubled down on athletic defenders by drafting Gordon and Payton in the first round. Two of the most dynamic defenders in the entire class, those two should immediately make an impact on an Orlando team that's vision is becoming increasingly clear. However, not all of the analysts appear to agree with GM Rob Hennigan's plan.
USA Today: C-
SB Nation: B- for fit, B+ for immediate impact (Gordon); B+ for fit, B+ for immediate impact (Payton)
Philadelphia 76ers
Picks: Joel Embiid (3), Dario Saric (12, via Orlando), K.J. McDaniels (32), Jerami Grant (39), Vasilije Micic (52), Nemanja Dangubic (54), Jordan McRae (58)
It was a busy night for the 76ers, but nobody seems quite sure what to make of the whole shebang. Coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history, Philadelphia used its top pick on an injured player for the second straight year, then loaded up on developmental prospects. The team is clearly building toward something, but the foreseeable future remains ugly.
USA Today: A+
Yahoo! Sports: A for Embiid, C for Saric
SB Nation: B for fit, F for immediate impact (Embiid); A for fit, F for immediate impact (Saric)
Toronto Raptors
Picks: Bruno Caboclo (20), DeAndre Daniels (37)
There are questionable picks, and then there’s the Raptors taking Caboclo with the 20th overall selection. Did Toronto think he would be off the board at No. 37? Is Bruno actually the next great Euro star and we’re all looking pretty dang stupid right now? Who knows, but the general reaction to Toronto’s draft hasn’t been pretty.
USA Today: C-
SB Nation: D for fit, F for immediate impact
Picks: None
A young team on the rise can always use affordable depth, but the Wizards are apparently done with rookies after reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals in the spring. The team traded away its second-round pick to the Lakers and left Barclays Center empty-handed. The analysts were unimpressed.
Yahoo! Sports: n/a
SB Nation: n/a
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