With all the excitement surrounding the NBA Finals and the free agency season, it’s easy to overlook just how important the NBA Draft is every year. The best teams look to reload for the next season, while the worst teams try to find that diamond in the rough that will turn their franchise around. This year’s draft came and went, and some teams seem to have fared better than others already. Let’s take a look at how the Atlantic division fared and whether they did enough to keep pace for next season.
Philadelphia 76ers
With D'Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns gone, Philly went with the next best player available, and that was Jahlil Okafor. The only problem here is that the 76ers spent the last two drafts also taking rim-roaming big men in Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid. The saving grace of this pick is that Embiid had a setback with his injury and will miss next season, so the pick is kind of an insurance pick as well. Either way, the 76ers needed a point guard for the future after trading away Michael Carter-Williams, and having no true standouts at the position.
With that said, it would make sense for Philadelphia to use any of their remaining 4 picks on a guard, but instead they chose all forwards and centers who may not even see the NBA for a year or two. Richaun Holmes is an interesting pick at 37, and could have an impact off the bench, but beyond him it’s difficult to see who will play a big role in the next year or two. It was a mixed bag for the 76ers, as they have to be happy with Okafor, yet still have many holes to fill.
Grade: B-
New York Knicks
Boy did the Knicks stir up some talking points on draft day. With the fourth pick, the Knicks were faced with a risk/reward situation or the possibility to trade down and ease the pressure. Instead, Phil Jackson went with the unproven, yet highly touted, Kristaps Porzingis, a move that earned both praise and admonishment. Porzingis is skilled as a big man, and if he can develop, he could be a franchise player. He has looked very competent in the Summer League, and is still only 19. However, the Knicks also may have just wasted the last few years of Carmelo Anthony’s prime, and that hit hard.
While Porzingis is a dicey pick that could boom or bust, the Knicks also traded for point guard Jerian Grant. Grant’s game is pretty well suited for the NBA, as he excelled in college at both scoring and passing. The Knicks need more offensive creators, though it remains to be seen how well he’ll fit into the triangle. For a non-lottery first rounder, Grant could be a steal and could have a long NBA career. Finally, the Knicks drafted another big man who they plan to stash in Europe, who could be a factor in the years to come. Overall, this draft was about Porzingis, and while the move may not be great in the short term, it could pan out in the future. That reward was worth the risk, and now the kid has a tough road ahead.
Grade: B-
Boston Celtics
Boston went with point guard Terry Rozier at 16, a pick that didn’t seem to fit any needs for the team. Rozier is an undersized, scoring guard, much like Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley. It is possible that Rozier could have fallen to them at 28, where they ultimately selected R.J. Hunter. Hunter provides much-needed shooting and size at the 2-guard. Hunter is a great value for his skill set, and should be able to adapt to the NBA game faster than many are giving him credit for. In the second round, Boston selected Jordan Mickey, who led the NCAA in shot blocking despite being undersized at just 6’8”. However, he enters a log-jammed frontcourt and could struggle to see minutes or provide a noticeable upgrade over the players already in front of him. Finally, they drafted another scoring guard Marcus Thornton who may not make it into the league right away. Overall, this draft was a mixed bag for the Celtics.
Grade: C+
Toronto Raptors
With the 20th pick, Toronto selected Delon Wright, a point guard from Utah who displayed a great feel for his position and who has the size to compete with any point guard in the NBA. His defense is solid, but his jumper needs work. He slides in behind Kyle Lowry to replace the traded Greivis Vasquez as the backup point guard. Right now, he should be a capable replacement, and as he grows into his role he will get better. In the second round, the Raptors traded for Norman Powell. Toronto decided to go with defense at the shooting guard late, as Powell is a great athlete, defender, and finisher. However, he too needs to improve on his jumper, and won’t threaten anyone from distance just yet. Both of these picks have solid potential, and given the Raptors position towards the end of the rounds, that might have been their ceiling.
Grade: B
Brooklyn Nets
For the last few seasons, Brooklyn made many win-now, forget later moves that cost them draft picks and the future. Now, the times have changed, and the Nets are looking for youth and athleticism. This draft forced them to switch picks with Atlanta, but the Nets made a couple moves to secure two additional picks. The first is Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, an athletic wing who can play excellent defense. His offense needs a lot of work, but he certainly can carve out a role on the wing. With their own pick, the Nets selected Chris McCullough, a young, athletic power forward who is coming off a torn ACL. He is not expected to contribute or even possibly play next season, but he was a projected lottery pick before his injury. The value at 29 could be great for the Nets, as they shift towards rebuilding from the ground up. Finally, Brooklyn traded for Juan Vaulet, a 19 year old point guard who could be a great future prospect. Overall, Brooklyn had a solid draft and could be on their way towards rebuilding the right way.
Grade: A-