New Orleans Hornets – B
Selections: Anthony Davis 1(1), Austin Rivers 1(10), Darius Miller 2(16)
The pick of Davis is obviously an A+, but selecting Austin Rivers with the tenth pick is questionable. While, the Hornets believe he can play along side Eric Gordon, they are similar players. Rivers had more turnovers than assists last season, so hoping for him to develop into a point guard might be false hope. If they were adamant about selecting a point guard to help get Davis the ball, Kendall Marshall would’ve been a better selection. Miller could help replace Trevor Ariza’s defense as well as provide another three-point shooter.
Charlotte Bobcats – A
Selections: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 1(2), Jeff Taylor 2(1)
Leading up to the draft, the Bobcats had been shopping the second overall selection to potentially move down and collect more picks. In the end, they kept the pick and made the right choice with MKG. While Bradley Beal was tempting as he should be able to provide immediate scoring, Kidd-Gilchrist should help the Bobcats in a lot of areas on and off the court. Taylor was a very good defender in college and has the body and athleticism to sustain this in the NBA. He is not a bad scorer and should provide the Bobcats with another solid wing player.
Washington Wizards – B
Selections: Bradley Beal 1(3), Tomas Satoransky 2(2)
Beal is a great selection and should finally provide John Wall with a competent scorer beyond recently departed chuckers Nick Young and still present Jordan Crawford. Washington should be more competitive this season, but they could’ve added another talented player with their second round pick instead of stashing someone in Europe for a couple seasons.
Cleveland Cavaliers – C
Selections: Dion Waiters 1(4), Tyler Zeller 1(17)
While Waiters may prove to be the best shooting guard in the draft, the Cavaliers passed up numerous talented players to take him fourth overall. The Cavaliers never personally saw him workout or brought him in for interviews because Waiters camp ceased any activity once he received a promise from another lottery team, which brings even more scrutiny to the selection. Waiters is not the ideal shooter either, but he will help with scoring with his ability to get to the basket. Zeller cost the Cavs three picks, but he is athletic and runs the floor well, which should make Kyrie Irving happy.
Sacramento Kings – A
Selections: Thomas Robinson 1(5)
The Kings potential deal surrounding the fifth pick was contingent on whether or not Thomas Robinson would still be available, and as he was, they selected him. In terms of perfect fits, few teams found such a match as the Kings did with Robinson. Robinson appears to be the most NBA ready prospect and his attitude and aggressiveness should pair well with Demarcus Cousins. The Kings hit a home run with this pick.
Portland Trailblazers – B+
Selections: Damian Lillard 1(6), Meyers Leonard 1(11), Will Barton 2(10)
The Blazers had a hole at point guard and Lillard should be able to come in and fill that immediately. He is an exceptional scorer and if he can improve his passing ability, has the potential to become a dynamic scoring point guard a la Russell Westbrook. Leonard is a project, but he has good range for a 7-footer as well as very good athleticism. If he is able to put it all together, he will be a nice asset for the Blazers. Barton was a good value pick in the second round, he was known as a scorer at Memphis and he should be able to provide the Blazers with that off the bench and eventually may start for them.
Golden State Warriors – A+
Selections: Harrison Barnes 1(7), Festus Ezeli 1(30), Draymond Green 2(5), Ognjen Kuzmic 2(22)
The Warriors were elated Barnes fell to them and now with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Barnes, the Warriors have three excellent scoring options. While Andrew Bogut should help the Warriors defense next season, the addition of Ezeli adds another solid defensive big man for them which will allow the Warriors to monitor Bogut’s minutes. Green is a swiss-army knife type of player that should be able to help the Warriors in a lot of areas and is generally just a good player to have in your locker room. Kuzmic is another Euro-stash player that may provide value down the road.
Toronto Raptors – B
Selections: Terrence Ross 1(8), Quincy Acy 2(7), Tomislav Zubcic 2(26)
Ross may have been a reach over Jeremy Lamb and Austin Rivers if they were looking for a shooting guard, but he is very athletic as well as a good shooter. The Raptors were one of the lowest scoring teams last season, so the addition of Ross and last year’s pick Jonas Valanciunas should be a nice shot in the arm. Acy is a scrappy player that will add some much needed physicality for the Raptors. There was no way Bryan Colangelo wasn’t going to draft a European player, but Zubcic is another project who could pay dividends in a few years.
Detroit Pistons – A
Selections: Andre Drummond 1(9), Khris Middleton 2(9), Kim English 2(14)
With the ninth pick, Drummond made a lot of sense. At a certain point, the guarantees of a player become greatly diminished and Drummond has the potential to be one of the best players in this draft. Drummond also fills a need as they have a true seven-footer to pair with undersized Greg Monroe. Middleton was another great pick, he is an underrated scorer with length, size, and defensive potential that mirrors Tayshaun Prince. The Pistons recently traded Ben Gordon, so the arrival of English will help mitigate the loss of Gordon’s outside shooting. Overall, a very solid draft for the Pistons who have made some strides in rebuilding lately.
Houston Rockets – B
Selections: Jeremy Lamb 1(12), Royce White 1(16), Terrence Jones 1(18)
The Rockets are always in search of a star, but they were unable to parlay their three first round picks into player such as Dwight Howard. They may still seek a trade once free agency starts, but for now, they made three solid selections. Lamb has the potential to become the best shooting guard in this draft, so getting him with the 12th pick was a steal. White was one of the more talked about names leading up to the draft with teams trying to trade up to get him. He is PF, but he is unusual in that he doesn’t have to be scoring or rebounding to be effective as he is a point-forward. His versatility will allow the Rockets to utilize their guards off the ball. Jones is also intriguing because he has the potential to be one of the better players in the draft, but the effort is not always there. If he can put it all together, he could be a valuable asset for the Rockets.
Phoenix Suns – B-
Selections: Kendall Marshall 1(13)
Marshall probably was drafted higher than he should’ve been, but with Steve Nash likely leaving this summer, Marshall is a good fit to run the offense. He is entirely a pass-first point guard, who will struggle on offense and defense, but his ability to set-up his teammates will ease the transition without Nash. The Suns know what they’ll get from Marshall, which is good in one sense, but his upside is limited.
Milwaukee Bucks – B
Selections: John Henson 1(14), Doron Lamb 2(12)
Henson was the Bucks number one target as they really wanted a big man despite trading for Samuel Dalembert. While he will likely never fill out his tall frame, Henson will immediately help with shot-blocking and defense as well as allow Drew Gooden to play his more natural position of power forward instead of center. Lamb was a good value pick as he adds some size and efficient shooting to an otherwise diminutive backcourt with poor shot selection.
Philadelphia 76ers – B
Selections: Moe Harkless 1(15), Arnett Moultrie 1(27)
Harkless is a sleeper prospect who may prove to be one of the better players in the draft, but for now he has a lot to work on. The one thing Philadelphia needed was a good shooter, which Harkless is not (although he is better than Evan Turner). Regardless, Harkless should provide some athleticism and he has good size. Philadelphia was enamored with Moultrie, so when they saw him slipping, they immediately jumped to get him. While Moultrie can do a lot of things, he isn’t particularly great at any of them. He is athletic and has a lot of potential, so selecting him 27th is a great value for the potential reward.
Orlando Magic – B
Selections: Andrew Nicholson 1(19), Kyle O’Quinn 2(19)
Nicholson could develop into a good stretch four with some post-scoring, but the Magic already have some of that in Ryan Anderson. The alternative would have been to select a point guard given Jameer Nelson’s potential departure or some shooters to help spread the floor. O’Quinn played his way onto the draft radar with Norfolk State’s first round upset of Missouri in the NCAA tournament. He is very heavy footed, but he likes to play with his back to the basket, and if Dwight Howard does leave, they will definitely need that.
Denver Nuggets – B-
Selections: Evan Fournier 1(20), Quincy Miller 2(8), Izzet Turkyilmaz 2(20)
Fournier has the potential to develop into a good player, but for now he is has to add a lot of bulk to transition to the NBA. For a young, up-and-coming team that made the playoffs last season, the Nuggets should’ve added someone who could help them immediately. Miller was a great value in the second round and if he can move beyond his prior injury history, he could develop into a good player. Turkyilmaz will assuredly play in Europe for the next few seasons before they consider bringing him over.
Boston Celtics – B
Selections: Jared Sullinger 1(21), Fab Melo 1(22), Kris Joseph 2(21)
Sullinger fell from a potential lottery pick to 21 for the Celtics, and if his back concerns never materialize, he is a complete steal. He will be able to provide the Celtics with some low-post scoring, which they sorely need as well as some much-needed rebounding. Melo was drafted for his defensive presence, and should make an immediate impact there, but his offensive game is very raw. He will add some size to their frontline, and if Garnett returns, Melo will allow the Celtics to manage his minutes. Joseph is a decent prospect, but will likely find himself in the D-League.
Atlanta Hawks – A-
Selections: John Jenkins 1(23), Mike Scott 2(13)
Jenkins will immediately help the Hawks three-point shooting, but he is entirely one-dimensional. The picks in the later part of the first round are meant to find speciality players, and Jenkins speciality was a need for the Hawks. Scott had a very successful senior year at Virginia, and if he had been two-three inches taller, he would have been a first round pick. He will help the Hawks rebounding, and his ability to score with his back to the basket as well as from the paint will help their offense.
Dallas Mavericks – C
Selections: Jared Cunningham 1(24), Bernard James 2(3), Jae Crowder 2(4)
Cunningham is one of the best athletes in the draft and has the potential to develop into a nice combo guard. With the likely departures of Jason Terry and Jason Kidd, the Mavericks were in need of a guard, so Cunningham was a good selection. James has the best draft story of any draft prospect as he served three tours in Iraq, but as an NBA prospect, he offers limited upside. He will add some toughness and rebounding, but there’s not much else there. Crowder is a hard-working, undersized player who may struggle to find a position in the NBA. Given who was left on the board early in the second round, the Mavericks could’ve done better.
Memphis Grizzlies – B
Selections: Tony Wroten Jr. 1(25)
Point guard was a need for the Grizzlies, and Wroten has a lot of potential. He has drawn a lot of comparisons to Rajon Rondo as they both came out of college with a terrible shot, and if Wroten can develop into half the player Rondo is, it’s a win for Memphis. Wroten is very athletic, which allows him to excel at driving to the basket.
Indiana Pacers – D
Selections: Miles Plumlee 1(26), Orlando Johnson 2(6)
Plumlee tested out very well at the NBA combine, but his production at college was very pedestrian. He was a reach this high especially with players like Perry Jones and Arnett Moultrie still on the board who possess way more upside. At best, Plumlee will develop into a good bench player, but in the first round that’s generally not what you’re going for. Johnson is very long and athletic, and as a four-year college player, his transition to the NBA shouldn’t take too long. He will help them at the two-guard where they really need more bodies.
Oklahoma City Thunder – A
Selections: Perry Jones 1(28)
Jones dropped immensely in the draft once a report about his knees came out, but at this point in the draft, he is a low-risk, high-reward selection. The Thunder should be a good fit for Jones as they run such a high-tempo offense that his athleticism and scoring potential could be maximized. Also, the Thunder players should expect Jones to play at his highest level, which is often not the case for him. Given the point in the draft, Jones is a great pick.
Chicago Bulls – A
Selections: Marquis Teague 1(29)
Teague has immense potential and given the injury to Derrick Rose, point guard was a need. This likely spells the end for one or both of C.J. Watson or John Lucas, which will allow Teague to get some minutes in his rookie season. Ideally the Bulls would’ve been able to find a capable scorer, but the options were limited at the end of the first round. Teague was considered a mid-first round pick, so for the Bulls to get him at 29 is a great value.
Utah Jazz – B
Selections: Kevin Murphy 2(17)
Murphy was a phenomenal scorer in college and draws a lot of comparisons to Kevin Martin. The Jazz are a very young team, so bringing in a four-year college player was a smart decision. Murphy should help them with outside shooting as well as scoring.
New York Knicks – C
Selections: Kostas Papanikolaou 2(18)
Papanikolaou will likely stay over in Europe for a few seasons, but he has some potential. It’s a very low risk pick for the Knicks in the second round, and he could develop into an asset down the road.
Los Angeles Clippers – C
Selections: Furkan Aldemir 2(23)
The end of the second-round has become primarily a point to draft Euro-stash players and this is no different. Aldemir is an accomplished rebounder, but for now he is a project. The Clippers traded Aldemir’s rights to the Rockets for cash.
Brooklyn Nets – C
Selections: Tyshawn Taylor 2(11), Tornike Shengelia 2(24), Ilkan Karaman 2(27)
Taylor had a strong senior season, capped off with a run to the NCAA Championship game. He has the potential to develop into a pretty good combo guard if he can improve his decision-making, and might not be a bad backup point down the road. The two European players will likely stay overseas before they think of bringing them over to the NBA.
Minnesota Timberwolves – B
Selections: Robbie Hummel 2(28)
Hummel lost two seasons in college to injury, but he was able to play last season. He is a good shooter for a big man, and will be able to contribute immediately for the Timberwolves. Given how late they took him, it’s a no risk pick.
San Antonio Spurs – A
Selections: Marcus Denmon 2(29)
Love this pick for the Spurs. Denmon is coming off a strong season after leading Missouri to their best record in school history. He is a great shooter and if any team can utilize good shooters it’s the Spurs. Given the team and the point in the draft, this is a great selection.
Los Angeles Lakers – C
Selections: Darius Johnson-Odom 2(25), Robert Sacre 2(30)
Johnson-Odom is an extremely tough guard who can score as well as defend. His size might hurt him at the NBA level, but he has the potential to be a decent complimentary player. Sacre is very heavy-footed, but he’s big and score with his back to the basket.
Miami Heat – D
Selections: Justin Hamilton 2(15)
Hamilton is a big body that the Heat sorely need, but he is a project that needs a lot of work. He has worked out well and had moments last season at LSU, but for now, he will likely play in the D-League. The Heat had the chance to add someone like Arnett Moultire, Draymond Green, or Jeff Taylor, but wanted to avoid the guaranteed contract. The move was questionable given the fact one of those guys could’ve filled a need for them.
4 Comments on "2012 NBA Draft Grades"
Anthony Davis..attempting to trademark his brow —-> A+
You just wrote, “He (Royce White) is PF, but he is unusual in that he doesn’t have to be scoring or REBOUNDING to be effective as he is a point-forward.”
…you should probably fix that
The point is that White is comfortable playing at the top of the key and distributing the ball. He can positively effect a game without scoring or rebounding like a natural PF would.
Austin Rivers is the most clutch player in this draft, and one of two (Harrison Barnes being the other) capable of creating his own shot.* His 3 point buzzer beater in Chapel Hill to beat the Tar Heels was one of, if not the most magical moments in the history of the Duke-UNC rivalry. While you do point out his assist-turnover ratio, I believe taking Marshall that high would have been a costly mistake.
Rivers has a Kobe-esque killer confidence about him that is rare in the NBA, and while he can be over confident as many of his critics point out, his swagger is something the Hornets could definitely use. I agree, they need a true distributor of the ball (Jarrett Jack isn’t exactly the answer here), but a high scoring combo guard was indeed the right pick- assuming Eric Gordon does leave (Brooklyn perhaps???).
*Also, I have not watched Damien Lillard play, so I do not know if he can create his own shot.