Wolves, Heat, Lakers excel, Hawks not so much
evaluate what we saw unfold. Now it's time for final team grades. No sense in waiting any longer!
Selections: Marcus Eriksson (No. 50), Dimitrios Agravanis (No. 59)
Acquired Players: Tim Hardaway Jr., two future second-round picks
The Hawks had one of my least favorite drafts of the night. They started the night with the No. 15 pick, and ended up moving down to No. 19 for the price of two future second-round picks. The Wizards then selected Kelly Oubre, a player that could have acted as a pretty nice long-term replacement for DeMarre Carroll in a few years. Then, instead of insuring themselves against the potential of Paul Millsap leaving by taking the No. 11 player on my board in Bobby Portis, they traded out of the first round altogether for Tim Hardaway Jr., a guy that shot 39 percent last season and really struggled to defend. He fills a depth need on the wing, but I'm not convinced he and two second rounders are worth giving up for Oubre, Portis, or any other higher variance pick at all. In fact, that one didn't make sense to me in the slightest. Their second round picks were both stashes. Eriksson is a smooth shooter that missed a majority of the season with a torn ACL. Agravanis is a potential stretch-4 at 6-10 out of Olympiakos. Overall, it just seems like an awfully squandered opportunity out of the pick swap from the Joe Johnson trade.
Draft Grade: C-
Selections: Terry Rozier (No. 16), R.J. Hunter (No. 28), Jordan Mickey (No. 33), Marcus Thornton (No. 45)
The Celtics were very active in trade talks but ultimately ended up not making any moves. And the draft was ultimately a strange one, because had the Celtics simply reversed taking Hunter at No. 16 and Rozier at No. 28, this draft would look a lot more normal according to my pre-draft rankings. Hunter gives them a shot maker that they kind of lacked prior to this draft, and he should fit well as a player that moves off-ball well in Brad Stevens' system. Rozier is the kind of player that they already have in the system though, with Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley already there. Mickey is a pretty solid second-round pick that fits a need as a rim protector even if he's only 6-8, and he could legitimately end up becoming a cheap rotation player if things go right. I'm not really high on Thornton, but he'll give them D-League depth. Overall, it's impossible to kill them for not making a trade and they were really in a tough spot. It was a very average draft.
Draft Grade: B-
Selections: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (No. 23), Chris McCullough (No. 29)
Acquisitions: Steve Blake, Juan Vaulet (No. 39)
Departures: Mason Plumlee, Pat Connaughton (No. 41)
Brooklyn was high on Hollis-Jefferson throughout the process, and they ultimately got their man at the price of Mason Plumlee. That move could end up going either way, as both players are pretty flawed. It's hard to judge it either way. Plumlee could have acted as insurance in case Brook Lopez leaves, but Hollis-Jefferson will bring terrific, high-energy defense that Lionel Hollins will appreciate. Blake will act as insurance if they trade Jarrett Jack, but I'd still probably rather take a shot on Connaughton. McCullough will ultimately hold the key to this draft, as he's a high-upside guy that could go either way. Is he a prototypical 4 in the NBA at 6-9 with a near 7-3 wingspan, or is he a guy who never really recovers from his knee injury and struggles to play with the speed of the NBA? Juan Vaulet is kind of a surprise to end up in Brooklyn given that most thought he'd end up in San Antonio due to the connection with Manu Ginobili's brother. However, he's a long, athletic wing that may eventually become something.
Draft Grade: B-
Selections: Frank Kaminsky (No. 9)
Departures: Juan Vaulet (No. 39)
Acquisitions: Two future second-round picks
Well, the Hornets certainly got the guy they wanted here. I just question whether or not it was the right move. Frank Kaminsky gives them a guy that can stretch the floor at either the 4 or the 5, potentially even with Al Jefferson on the floor if you think that Steve Clifford can simply just coach defense. He'd also allow them to do some really fun, wide open lines with the frontcourt looking like Nicolas Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Kaminsky. But withCody Zeller already in tow, this seems kind of redundant even though they do somewhat different things. I probably would have just taken Justise Winslow since he was the best player on the board. Kaminsky is fine here, and his ability to both shoot and attack closeouts will help, I just think they could have filled a bigger need or probably gotten a better player. The Vaulet pick was kind of a shocker given that most thought he'd end up in San Antonio, but I always think grabbing two second round picks for one and giving yourself more lottery shots (especially in a weak second round) makes sense.
Published by: CBS SPORTS
June 26th, 2015
Source: www.cbssports.com
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