By, matt | June 22, 2019, 1:13 p.m.
The 2019 NBA Draft has now come and gone. Zion is officially a Pelican, and the Suns continue to shoot themselves in the foot. Hereās our draft-day grades for each team in the league:
Pelicans
1 - Zion Williamson, F, Duke
8 - Jaxson Hayes, C, Texas
17 - Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG, Virginia Tech
35 - Marcos Louzada Silva, F, Brazil
Hiring David Griffin was the best move the Pelsā front office has made since drafting AD back in 2013. He turned the disgruntled Davis into Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Marcos Louzada Silva and future picks. Place those guys around Zion and Jrue and thatās a superteam waiting to blossom. I canāt wait to watch this team next year, hats off to Griffin.
Grade: A+
Grizzlies
2 - Ja Morant, G, Murray State
21 - Brandon Clarke, F, Gonzaga
The Grizz successfully filled their roster holes and drafted the BPA with both of their selections this year. Ja, JJJ, and Brandon Clark should be a nasty trio and the Conley trade netted them a couple of seasoned vets in Korver and Crowder, who will round the team out nicely. They wonāt be a playoff team next season, but their roster is more interesting to me than a Sacramento or Minnesota and Iāll be curious to se who they target in free agency this summer.
Grade: A+
Hawks
4 - De'Andre Hunter, F, Virginia
10 - Cam Reddish, SF, Duke
34 - Bruno Fernando, C, Maryland
Atlanta traded two firsts to move up and take the best 3 and D guy in the draft, DeāAndre Hunter, the perfect wing pairing with Trae Young. They also took a flyer on Cam Reddish, who fell in their laps at number ten. Heās inconsistent, no doubt, but his upside potential makes him a must-draft at that ten spot. Brunoās also a good pick at 34, a big man with a good inside game and improving outside jumper. The Trae, DeāAndre, Cam, Collins, Bruno core is one the Hawks can feel confident developing and building around.
Grade: A
Knicks
3 - RJ Barrett, SG, Duke
47 - Ignas Brazdeikis, F, Michigan
The Knicks received several offers for the three spot and passed on them all. They didnāt overthink the pick and stayed focused on drafting the BPA, something they would have surely done in years past. RJ Barrett has star potential and it doesnāt look like theyāll get a superstar in free agency this year, so drafting RJ and essentially giving him the keys to the franchise was the next best move for the Knicks.
Grade: A-
Pistons
15 - Sekou Doumbouya, F, Guinea
37 - Deividas Sirvydis, F, Lithuania
I have my concerns about Sekou, but at the 15th spot you have to take him. Best case, heās a Siakam, who can fit into any roster in the league. Mid to late first round picks are all about swinging for the fences, especially in a draft this thin, so the Sekou pick was a no-brainer.
Grade: B+
Blazers
25 - Nassir Little, F, North Carolina
Iām not completely sold on Little as an NBA wing, but I do think heās a great selection at 25. Kevin Porter may have been the more interesting pick, but Littleās defensive promise should fit well alongside Lillard and CJ.
Grade: B
Nets
27 - Mfiondu Kabengele, C, Florida State
31 - Nic Claxton, C, Georgia
56 - Jaylen Hands, G, UCLA
Kabengele and Claxton could be steals at 27 and 31, though Brooklyn now has too many young bigs with Allen already starting for them. But Atkinson can just go with whoever pans out the best and move on from the other two.
Grade: B
Nuggets
44 - Bol Bol, C, Oregon
I knew Bol Bol would slip but not that far. Couldnāt help but feel bad for the kid, sitting in the green room by himself as the picks kept rolling in and passing him by. I think at 44 you have to take a chance on Bol even if his health is a (major) concern.
Grade: B
Spurs
19 - Luka Samanic, F, Croatia
29 - Keldon Johnson, F, Kentucky
49 - Quinndary Weatherspoon, G, Mississippi State
I donāt know how good these picks actually are but itās the Spurs so Iām just giving them a B.
Grade: B
Bulls
7 - Coby White, PG, North Carolina
38 - Daniel Gafford, C, Arkansas
Grade: B-
Cavs
5 - Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt
26 - Dylan Windler, F, Belmont
30 - Kevin Porter Jr., F, USC
I like that the Cavs took the BPA at 5 in Garland and didnāt overthink the selection. Sexton hasnāt proven heās
the guy yet and in todayās positionless league, itās not impossible to play two āpointā guards together successfully. I also like the Kevin Porter Jr pick at 30 a lot. Heās kind of like Cam Reddish in that heās intriguing for his upside potential... and they didnāt have to reach for him either.
Grade: B-
Heat
13 - Tyler Herro, G, Kentucky
32 - KZ Okpala, F, Stanford
May have reached a bit on their Herro pick, but I really like KZ at 32. He has a lot of potential with his size and length and could be an interesting project player for Spoelstra.
Grade: C+
Wolves
6 - Jarrett Culver, SG, Texas Tech
43 - Jaylen Nowell, G, Washington
Pretty straight-forward selections from Minny, but they duped the Suns into the pick swap/Saric deal, so I think they did alright.
Grade: C+
Lakers
46 - Talen Horton-Tucker, G, Iowa State
Iām intrigued by Horton-Tucker, seems like he could be a decent pick at 46. Has the tools to be a switchable defender and at least league-average three point shooter.
Grade: C+
Hornets
12 - PJ Washington, F, Kentucky
36 - Cody Martin, F, Nevada
52 - Jalen McDaniels, F, San Diego State
Grade: C
Magic
16 - Chuma Okeke, F, Auburn
Grade: C
Thunder
23 - Darius Bazley, F, USA
Grade: C
Mavs
45 - Isaiah Roby, F, Nebraska
Grade: C
Clippers
48 - Terance Mann, F, Florida State
Grade: C
Kings
40 - Justin James, G, Wyoming
55 - Kyle Guy, G, Virginia
Grade: C
Raptors
59 - Dewan Hernandez, C, Miami
Grade: C
Jazz
50 - Jarrell Brantley, F, Charleston
53 - Justin Wright-Foreman, G, Hofstra
58 - Miye One, G, Yale
Grade: C
Warriors
28 - Jordan Poole, G, Michigan
41 - Eric Paschall, F, Villanova
Iām not as high on the Poole pick as others seem to be. To me, heās like a poor-manās Nick Young, who didnāt really work out for Golden State a couple years back. I donāt see him as anything more than a benchwarmer for a few years before he ends up in the G League or overseas. Paschall seems interesting tho, and I think the Dubs got him for decent value at 41.
Grade: C-
Celtics
14 - Romeo Langford
22 - Grant Williams
33 - Carsen Edwards
51 - Tremont Waters
Pretty uneventful considering Woj reported they were looking to either move up or make a significant draft night trade. Langfordās a wing who shot the three ball at 27% last yearā¦ who knows if the others will pan out...
Grade: C-
Sixers
20 - Matisse Thybulle, F, Washington
54 - Marial Shayok, F, Iowa State
57 - Jordan Bone, G, Tennessee
Philly traded most of their picks away, as theyāre trying to hold on to as much cap space as possible. They did hold onto their 20th selection, Matisse Thybulle, who might be the best wing defender in the draft, though heās very limited offensivelyā¦ reminds me of a Roberson or Tony Allen.
Grade: C-
Wizards
9 - Rui Hachimura, F, Gonzaga
42 - Admiral Schofield, F, Tennessee
Classic, safe Wizards draft. Rui isnāt a bad pick but his ceiling is relatively low, will probably end up an 18-minutes-a-night guy coming off the bench. At 9, you have to start taking flyers, especially in a top-heavy draft like this one. Cam Reddish would have been the more intriguing pick and they could have probably traded down a few spots and still got Rui, too.
Grade: D
Pacers
18 - Goga Bitadze, C, Republic of Georgia
Really donāt get this oneā¦ they already have Turner and Sabonis, not sure what adding another stiff big does for them. Theyāre apparently targeting Rubio in free agency so itās understandable they didnāt try to trade up for a guard, but Brandon Clarke and Nassir Little were still on the board at 18, both of which would have been better roster fits than Bitadze.
Grade: D-
Suns
11 - Cameron Johnson, F, North Carolina
24 - Ty Jerome, G, Virginia
Tanked all year for Saric and Cam Johnsonā¦
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