Post Draft Review

dboss wrote:Now that the draft is over here are some of my observations.

The Suns got a great center in Ayton, a two way SF in Mikal Bridges and a good PG in Elie Okobo (1st player taken in the 2nd round. Add this group to a developing young Core that includes Booker, Josh Jackson, Chriss and Bender and they have improved their team dramatically.  Now consider that they should also have some Cap space when they renounce their CAP holds and they could be a player to land a productive Free Agent.

What I don't like ?  They were the worst  defensive team in the NBA last year giving up 113 PPG and they also posted the worst offensive/defensive differential at -9.4.  They will remain a poor defending team this year.

I guess they will be looking for a veteran PG  to lead the team, Rondo anyone?

The Kings added PF Marvin Bagley and they definitely will need his scoring.  The Kings are a challenged offensive team that were led in scoring last season by Zach Randolph at 14.5 PPG.  Imagine that.  their top score was under 15 PPG.  This is good news for Boston because the Kings look like  lottery team again next year.  They may have a few dollars to play with in free agency.

about $18 M in usable cap space, but who wants to go there?

Dallas traded up to take the Euro phenom Doncic.  They also gave up a protected 2019 First rounder.  Dallas has had the hots for Doncic although adding SG/SF hardly seems like a position of need.  Doncic is not considered to be a high end defender because of his lack of lateral quickness.  He will help them on offense but not on defense where defending at the 2 or the 3 may leave him a step or two behind. Dirk is like 60 years old and the Center and PF positions on this team are dreadfully inadequate.  They were able to snag Jalen Brunson, the solid PG out of Villanova in the second round but I do not think this team will be much better.  However Dallas has a lot of CAP space to add a couple of free agent.  Smart's name has been mentioned.  I do not think that they will be able to acquire a big time free agent unless they can sign Cousins.  

I think he was a good pick for them, they need to add quality players and Doncic, Smith and Barnes give them 3 now. Don't sleep on DeAndre Jordan opting out and getting a longer term deal here as an option instead of Cousins in FA.

Memphis made a smart choice in taking Jackson the PF/C who is a long and active defender rebounder and he can stretch the floor.  Marc Gasol is 33 and has one year plus an option year (at $25 million) Getting Jackson now was a great move.  In the second round they added a mature 4 year PG in Jevon Carter out of West Virginia.  He appears to be a very solid all around player.  He average 17.3 PPG, 6.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds.  He is a good defender and average 3 steals per game.  He shot 39% from deep and 86% from the line.    I think if these two rookies get a chance to play meaningful minutes Memphis should be improved.  they are another challenged offensive team that simply plays too slow in the modern NBA.  They may have made a mistake giving Conley that huge contract.  They definitely made a mistake signing Parsons his big contract.  He is still owed around $50 million and they are in bed with Conley for around $97 million still.  The West is very competitive so Memphis may not be a playoff team.  They will be limited in free agency.  The two drafts picks however  send them in the right direction.  We have their pick next year, top 8 protected, top 6 in 2020 and unprotected in 2021.  I think the value of that pick will appreciate over time.



The Hawks are in a rebuilding mode.  The biggest problem is that they started dumping players over an extended period of time instead of doing it quicker.  They are stock piling draft picks the same way Boston did but unlike Boston they did not have enough talent to win and rebuild at the same time.  They have also been plagued by ownership changes, Coaching changes and GM changes.  They drafted Trae Young and that may bring some level of excitement to the fans when he launches and makes a few Curry like deep balls.  But he can't play a lick of defense.  His 6' 2" height AND wingspan does not help nor does his 180 lb frame.  He averaged 8.7 assists per game but turned it over at an alarming 5.2 per game.  He shot 36% from deep because he really takes a lot of bad 3 pointers.  I was very high on him until the West Viginia game where Jevon Carter  exposed his lack of physicality.  Nevertheless, they did managed to also draft Kevin Huertler, the solid shooting guard out of Maryland and Omari Spellman out of Villanova.  They took another PG in the 2nd round, Devonte Graham but in the process passed on both Gary Trent Jr. and Khyri Thomas.  Graham out of Kansas is a tough noised player though.   They have Cap space, draft assets and a core of young players to build around.  I think they are on the right track but I see no Allstar talent on this team .

I think the Hawks made the biggest mistake of the night here. I guess Schroder is on the outs, but they just extended him last year and now trade down for Young? Giving up Doncic will be something that will dog this team for years, IMO.

The Magic took Bamba.  They still need a PG but you cannot pass up on a guy with tremendous defensive upside.  The Magic have been a flighty team over the past few years and cannot seem to make up their minds about what they need.  Case in point they traded Oladipo to OKC for Serge Ibaka and then when that mistake was made they traded Serge to Toronto for Terrance Ross and a low 1st rounder in 2017.  In 2016 they traded Tobias Harris to Detroit in exchange for Brandon Jennings and Erson Ilyasova.  This team has a bad front office.



Chicago continues on a rebuilding path and added Wendell Carter.  He should work well with Markkenen.  They also drafted Chandler Hutchison, the SG/SF out of Boise state.   The Bulls have a roster filled with rotation players but not one star.  They are a long way from being a good team.



Cleveland used the pick from the KI trade to draft PG Sexton.  I though a young wing would have been the better choice with the impending departure of Lebron James.  Even if Lebron James stays this team slips more and more each year.  They are horribly CAP strapped and will have to begin a rebuild sooner rather than later.

I still think Love will get moved, maybe to Portland

The Knicks took SF Knox out of Kentucky and if he adds more strength he could play some PF  like the way Boston envisioned using Tatum.    They took a flyer in the 2nd round on center Mitchell Robinson.  That was a low risk choice.  Their rebuild will continue.  Nothing to see here.  Move along!



I already mentioned the suns but just a few words about the trade they made with Philly.  Philly drafts bridges, and he and his mom (who works for the organization) are interviewed.  Bridges seemed like a real good fit at the wing for Philly.  All around player, somewhat limited with the ball but a solid player who won two NCAA titles with Villanova and Philly native  Then they announce the trade with the Suns to get  Zhare Smith.  Ouch!


The Clipper took PG Alexander at 11 and SG out of Boston College, Jerome Robinson at 13.  So now you have Beverly and Rivers at the point and rookie Alexander.  I think he can help them  with his length.  His development could be slow as doc does not like to play rookies.  Robinson is a solid offensive player and should help them.  The Clipper have a few decisions to make.  Tobias Harris and Bradley are free agents, Jordan probably opts in for his last year and the bad contract for Gallinari remains on the books.  The Clippers probably think they are still a major destination but who wants to go there to play with Jordan and Austin?  I think it is back to the lottery again next year which means no pick for us.

T. Harris in under contract there next season and as I said in the Dallas part I think Jordan may opt out

Charlotte took Miles Bridges , a solid SF out of Michigan State.  This Hornets team is another team that just cannot figure out how to build a winner.  Michael Jordan should not be making basketball decisions.  He is very below average.



Denver could not pass up on Michael Porter but when that many teams let him slip all the way down to 14 red flags fly all over the place.  It is a big gamble but if Porter can play it could be the steal of the draft.  We just have to see what happens here.  



Washington drafted shooting guard Troy Brown.  There were better ones available here so not the best pick in my opinion.

Bullet wizards are in deep doo doo dues to stupid moves. Wall will be the next NBA player to demand a trade I think.

Philly traded down as I mentioned and took Zhaire Smith at 16.  He is an ultra athletic but undersized 6'4" SG that has a lot of work to do.  I still think they could have used a SF here.  They also drafted Landry Shamet, a 6'5" PG.  Seems like a lot of unnecessary redundancy.  They did do well getting Khyri Thomas in the second round.    If they can get Lebron they will be favored to win the East.

I was kinda surprised Philly didn't take a flyer on Porter at #10. With the additional draft picks and cap space I know I would have.


The Bucks got fearless Donte Divencenzo.  Soild SG added to a team in need of another good shooter.


The Spurs drafted Lonnie Walker the shooting guard out of Miami.  They have a knack for drafting late but finding talent.



The T'Wolves added a very solid two-way player in Josh Okogie.  When a playoff team is able to add players like this it enhances their chances to go deeper.

A guy I thought Danny might have looked at , if he got that far

Utah took Grayson Allen and that seems like a good place for him.  It seems like Allen has been playing for 6 years.  He better not trip or kick anyone, else he may get his ass beat.


Indiana took PG Aaron Holiday, the third of 3 brothers to make it to the NBA.  This was a very good pick.  This will allow Oladipo to play off the ball more.


Portland took Simmons (a wasted reach here given talent still on the board)



LAL drafted Wagner who incidentally was the first prospect mention in my 2018 draft thread that began in February.  With all the expected cap hold renouncements Wagner should help.  He is not as reliable a shooter as KO was but he is a tick or two quicker and more athletic.  The Lakers are looking to make a big splash in FA and since the Spurs appear to be reluctant to trade Leonard, LA can sign 2 free agents and still keep the young core together.  I think that is good for them.  They however are in need of a center and unless Cousins joins the fray I think they will struggle to win in the West.

I was very surprised by this pick , I was almost certain on draft night they would take the falling Williams

As we know Boston took low risk center prospect Robert Williams.  Celtics management as well as a lot of analysts think he will be a good fit here.  I agree 100%.  Notwithstanding his offensive limitations, his defense and rebounding ability as well as his ability to play with pace Tops off the roster with everything that they need to beat any team in the NBA.

Lucky us the Lakers passed on him

The rich get richer as evidenced by Golden State getting Jacob Evans.  A perfect fit for them and a player that was very high on the Celtics draft board.  I believe that if Williams did not slide down to 27, Evans may have been the Boston pick.  I think both Williams and Evans could be steals in this deep draft.


Brooklyn took Musa, the Euro deep gunner and that was a good pick this late in the draft


As already mentioned the Hawks took Spellman, another very solid late round pick.

I could have included some draft grades but I will leave that up to everyone else if they so choose to do so.
Looking a bit closer at the east, Philly added some talent but I do not think they drafted the right mix of players.     Philly still lacks enough wing length to beat Boston and with Hayward coming back the gap likely got wider.  They have money to sign Lebron but I just do not see that happening.  

The Bucks and Pacers added value but not enough to beat Boston.  Cleveland remains in a terminal state as they await the James departure.  Toronto had no picks and they have no CAP space either.  Toronto pushed all their chips to the table, lost,  and now have little to play with.  They will still be a good team but they are unlikely to get better but more likely to begin a slide.  Miami had no picks and will not scare anybody this year.  Washington adding Troy Brown does not push the needle forward for them.
Boston and Indy are the two Eastern Conference playoff level teams that secured players that meet their positional needs.