Scouting Report: Keith Appling

Height: 6'2''
Weight: 170
Bday: 2/13/1992

Team: Michigan State
Class of 2014

Appling came to Michigan State as a McDonald's All-American heralded for his scoring ability. At just 6'2, he was viewed as a prospect who needed to stay in school for a few years and learn the PG position until he was ready to make an impact at the NBA level.

So far, Appling has completed his sophomore season and has shown improvement under the tutelage of coaching great, Tom Izzo. Entering his junior season, Appling is poised for a breakout year and could emerge as a legitimate NBA prospect.

The best part of Appling's game is his defense. He is an absolute pesky defender who Izzo claims to be the best defender he has coached in a long while. That is pretty high praise for a player who was a young sophomore at the time - being coached by a guy who also coached Eric Snow.

Appling has terrific lateral quickness and despite his 6'2 stature, he sports an above average wingspan. He is the table setter for Michigan State on defense, never taking a play off and often taking on a task of shutting down the opposing teams best player - even if he is giving up a few inches. The one thing Appling needs to improve on defensively is his strength. Right now, he is able to get around pick and rolls surprisingly well due to his tremendous speed, but he can rely on that at the next level.

As a point guard, Appling still has plenty to work on. Last year he had Draymond Green to lead the team and help facilitate the offense, now he will be expected to fill both roles himself. The leadership role seems like natural progression for Appling, who already leads by example and vocally setting up the offense. Being the main playmaker though, will be something that scouts will closely keep an eye on for next season.

Appling struggled in the halfcourt last season, as the Spartans relied on a combination of Green and offensive rebounds, mostly both, to get their points. Appling was very good in transition, but once they settled in for an offensive set, he struggled to get things going.

Part of the problem is the inconsistent 3-pt shot. During his freshman year, it showed promise, but this year, with more defensive attention and less open spot up chances, he made only 25% of attempts. He needs to do a better job of shooting of the dribble, staying under control and getting his feet set. Also, I question his ability to extend even farther back to NBA 3-pt range, as his jumper can be a bit flat. His free throw shooting has been good - nearly 90% his freshman year and just under 80% this past season.

With a better jumper, it should be able to improve his pick and roll game, which looked pretty non existent at times last year. Appling has the speed and the burst to operate, but needs to learn to change speeds and see the entire court. Appling very rarely wows you with a nice pass. His game is very vanilla when it comes to setting up his teammates.

Appling does do a nice job of staying under control and getting the ball down low. Michigan State played a lot of in and out basketball last year and Appling had no problem feeding the bigs. He's a willing passer and a team guy. He doesn't force the issue on offense, but at the same time, doesnt make a lot of plays. I think that could be different next season, as Izzo certainly will be counting on him more for offense.

His transition game is his main way of scoring at this point as he displays great speed and solid body control in the open court. Most of the time in the open court he will take in all the way and finish himself. He does need to get better at starting a break from a point guard's prospective.

Appling is a solid prospect who may end up finishing up his degree and coming out his senior year. Michigan State is in good hands with him on their team the next two years, so look for his name to become bigger and the Spartans to be serious contenders while he is on the roster. Keith Appling will never be great, but I could easily see him being a Royal Ivey type in the NBA. He offers some more upside than that and we will be able to see just how much upside he has next year. The success of guys like Avery Bradley should help his stock. Right now, he looks like a future early second rounder.

Scouting Report: Nate Wolters

Height: 6'4''
Wingspan: 6'3.5''
Weight: 190lb
Bday: 5/15/1991

Team: South Dakota State
Class of 2013 (Senior)

Wolters has been a very productive point guard his past two years, filling up both the scoring and assist column. He has led them back to back winning seasons, included their first tournament birth this past year.

Offensively, he is a very good all around player. He was a very good shooter (~40% from 3 and 80% from FT) his first two seasons, although he had a (24% from 3) poor shooting year his junior campaign. Despite his season long slump, Wolters didnt allow it to effect his offensive production. Unlike other high scoring guards from mid majors, Wolters game doesnt revolve around the jumper, but instead his ability to control the pace and get to the free throw line.

If you are looking for an NBA comparison on the offensive end, Jeremy Lin is your best bet. Wolters runs the pick and roll very well, thanks in large part due to his high IQ. He doesnt rush things and can attack the defense in a variety of ways. He has a good first step, but the key to him getting to the basketball is mixing up his speeds. He keeps the defender on his toes with his speeds, working his way closer to the hoop, and uses his frame to shield the ball. Hes got a subtle little crossover move that he uses to set defenders up for both the drive and shot. He can shoot off the dribble with this move and looks very natural doing so. Hes got a good jumper, so I think his below average shooting numbers were an abnormality.

From the passing end of things, Wolters get it done. He doesnt force the action, with only 2 TOs per game (compared to Lins 5 in college). From what Ive seen, most of Wolters turnovers come when he attacks the basket (more on that later). Wolters was blessed to be surrounded by three 40% 3-pt shooters this year, and that did help his assist totals in addition to opening up the court. Wolters is a team player, playing within the flow of the offense and getting his teammates involved. He was far from a one man show on SDST and had no problem letting his teammates make plays as well.

Wolters is a solid rebounder and likes to receive the outlet quickly and run the ball up court. Rarely does he make a homerun pass, but he is always looking to catch the defense off guard and set up a transition 3-pt attempt for one of the aforementioned shooters. He gets some assists there and most others out of the pick and roll. He has a nice bounce pass and is always on target with his passes. The pick and roll will be his bread and butter if he is to succeed in the NBA, much like Jeremy Lin.

When Wolters has the ball in his hand leading the fastbreak, there is a sense of comfort and trust there. I imagine Sebastian Pruiti would even say that he is better in the fastbreak than Kendall Marshall due to the fact that he rarely turns it over in those situations.

The place that he does turn it over is driving to the hoop. Wolters is aggressive attacking the basket, and does come through the lane unsuccessful his fair share of times. Most of the time when he drives, hes looking for his own shot. He might not make it all the way to the rim, but he has a good footwork that allows him to slow up and shoot a variety of floaters over defenders. His touch on that shot is good, but not great. There are plenty of times that he drives that he either gets his shot blocked or the ball stolen from him. He has to get more creative once he gets all the way to the hoop and always go up strong. Hes a tough player, but sometimes he anticipates contact that never actually occurs. For a guy that gets to the line as much as he does, I think he could do an even better job if he learned how to draw contact. As mentioned before, his FT shooting is fine. Hes been an 80% shooter his entire career.

From a physical standpoint, Wolters has the height that allows him to see over defenders. His wingspan, as measured at the Kevin Durant Skills Academy, is disappointing. Strength-wise he can afford to get stronger, but has a Steve Blake-esque toughness and competitiveness about him. Blake would be the guy Id compare him to from a defense and physical perspective. Wolters responds quickly on defense, although he only has average lateral quickness. His length helps make up for it at the college level, but he still isnt great against low major competition. He always plays with energy though, and like I said, he plays tough. He also keeps his head on a swivel and is a generous help defender. Sometimes he can help a little bit too much, but team defense should be considered a strength of his. Hes a good rebounder and enjoys crashing the boards inside.

Wolters will need a good shooting year to ensure last year was a fluke, which I dont think he will have a problem doing. It looks very likely that he will be drafted and could even go in the late first round.

Nike Global Challenge Participants

Here is a list of American players playing in the Nike Global Challenge, which takes place in the DC area from July 13-15. For more information go to nikeglobalchallenge.com.

The number in parenthesis indicate their class ranking on ESPN. All are class of 2013, unless otherwise noted.

C BeeJay Anya (#13)
PG Joel Berry (#18) 2014
PG Anthony Barber (#26)
SG Jabari Bird (#11)
PG Stevie Clark (#63)
SG Keith Frazier (#9)
PG Billy Garrett Jr (#62) - DePaul
SF Kuran Iverson (#81)
SF Justin Jackson (#9) 2014
PG Parker Jackson-Cartwright (#29) 2014
SF Rondae Jefferson (#23)
C Dakari Johnson (#6) 2014
SG JaJuan Johnson (#54)
SG Matt Jones (#19) - Duke
SF Nick King (#15)
PF Marcus Lee (#27)
SF Marc Loving (#39)- Ohio State
PF Jarrell Martin (#17)
SF Theo Pinson (#13) 2014
PF Bobby Portis (#12) - Arkansas
PF Julius Randle (#2)
SG Shane Rector
SG Sindarius Thornwell (#24)
PF Kyle Washington
PF Jonathan Williams (#16)
SG Kameron Williams (#69)
SF Troy Williams (#43)
PG Nigel Williams-Goss (#58) Washington
PG Duane Wilson (#59) Marquette
C Dominic Woodson (#57)
SG James Young (#5)

NBA Draft Grades (Part 3)

Oklahoma City Thunder - Perry Jones (28)

Grade: A


One of the best organizations were able to land a huge talent all the way down at the end of the first round. Jones has knee concerns, but as a player, he is definitely a top 20 pick. He may not be what everyone expected him to be, but he has the ability to be a nice role player. He gives the Thunder a stretch four and another long, athlete to play on defense. I would have made this exact pick if I were Presti.

Orlando Magic - Andrew Nicholson (19), Kyle O'Quinn (49)

Grade: B-


The Magic took two solid small school big men who might be able to turn some heads in Central Florida. Nicholson has a nice scoring arsenal and will be asked to use it from Day One on what will likely be a watered down Magic line up.

Philadelphia 76ers - Maurice Harkless (15), Arnett Moultrie (27)

Grade: B


Maurice Harkless is a coachable player that should take well to Doug Collins' critical ways. He has a lot he needs to work on and Collins will be able to help him. They had some options at the 4 position at #15, but chose to trade up later to #28 to get Moultrie, who they liked. Moultrie adds some athleticism to the position and was a good value pick, despite the fact that Im not a huge fan of him. He can give them some scoring a la Marresse Speights. I thought Draymond Green would have been a nice fit in the late first, but its personal preference at that point.


Phoenix Suns - Kendall Marshall (13)

Grade: B-


Unfortunately for them, they were unable to get their hands on any of the top wings available in the draft. The last hope was Jeremy Lamb, who went one spot ahead at 12. Phoenix might have tipped their hand a bit much, causing Morey and the Rockets to trade up two spots to get ahead of them. Marshall was a guy they also really liked though, as they brought him in twice to workout and raved about him after the selection. He was the sensible pick here, but it would have been nice to have Lamb. Marshall can't be forced into action too quickly.

Portland Trailblazers - Damian Lillard (6), Meyers Leonard (11), Will Barton (40)

Grade: TBD


There were two directions Portland could have went in to fill the void at PG and C. They could have taken Drummond and then Marshall or went in the direction they ended up going. It was obvious before the draft which way they would go, but time will tell if it was the right move. To make it more interesting, Barnes was sitting there at #6 too. Portland was definitely put in some tough spots where your scouting department and decision making is key so I can see us looking back at this in a few years and either completely bashing or applauding the front offices decisions. New GM Neil Olshey definitely put his head out there with this one, but youve got to take some risk and trust your instincts, and I like what he ended up with. Lillard looks like a nice player. Leonard is boom or bust and I wouldnt be surprised if he did bust, but hes much better value than Zeller. Barton also has some decent potential for a second rounder - that was a good pick for sure. If I had to grade this now, Id give it a C+.


Sacramento Kings - Thomas Robinson (5)

Grade: B


I love the Thomas Robinson pick, but Petrie was put in a situation where it would have been near impossible to mess it up. He did make the correct pick though, so good for him. I wish they would have held onto their second rounder, Doron Lamb would have really topped of the draft for them. Im sure Petrie wasnt the one who wanted to pick up cash for the pick, however.

San Antonio Spurs - Marcus Denmon (59)

Grade: A


As everyone in the second round targeted overseas guys, the Spurs went against conventional wisdom and took Marcus Denmon. The Spurs did it again, getting value out of a late spot. I thought of Denmon as a big sleeper and after the Spurs took him, I feel really good about him being able to contribute in some sort of role. He can be a Gary Neal type of player at the next level.


Toronto Raptors - Terrence Ross (8), Quincy Acy (37), Tomislav Zubcic

Grade: D-


If they get Nash, he may make Ross look a little better, but this draft still reeks of ineptitude. When we look back on it, I think we'll cringe at seeing Ross above Rivers, Lamb, Marshall, and Drummond. Or at least 3 of the 4. I really read Colangelo wrong on this pick. To top it off, both of his second rounders sucked too. Acy is an energy guy that can't rebound. Usually that doesnt go well. DeMarre Carroll and Renaldo Balkman both fit that bill too and they haven't had much success - and they were more versatile and skilled. Zubcic is the kind of guy that looks good in an empty gym, but based on everything else, you can almost already write off this Euro who fits the soft stereotype to the core. Guys who know international basketball thought Zubcic was a joke.

Utah Jazz - Kevin Murphy (47)

Grade: INC


The Jazz didn't do much, opting not to trade into the first round and instead hang onto their lowly selection at 47. Murphy is just your average second rounder who will fight to make the team.

Washington Wizards - Bradley Beal (3), Tomas Satoransky (32)

Grade: A-


Wizards had to be relieved when Beal was available. Hes a perfect fit for them and can be a franchise changer. With their two picks, they were able to get Wall's friend and Vesely's friend which doesn't mean anything, but based on the Irving/Barnes rumors, apparently some people think its a big deal. Satoransky has potential and the Wizards may hope for him to play some PG once he comes over. He's not much of a PG now, however. I thought they needed an upgrade over Mack and Tyshawn Taylor would have been a nice fit, but Satoransky does have more upside.

2012 NBA Draft Undrafted Free Agents

Here is a look at my top undrafted players and the teams that are rumored to be after them...

Drew Gordon (#26 on my Big Board) - Gordon was a first round talent in my opinion. Hes your typical steal in the second round - a hard working guy on the glass, strong, and a good defender. As a bonus, Gordon can even play some offense. He'll be heading to the Dallas Mavericks for summer league.

JaMychal Green (#38) - Green has everything needed to be an NBA role player. He can hit the short jumper, is an effective finisher, and plays good defense. He's surprisingly strong for his weight, but does need to get bigger. He can play a bit of center at the NBA level. No word on where he could be headed. Knicks and Kings both worked him out during the pre-draft and could bring him back on the summer league roster. So do the Bucks, but I dont think they have room for another skinny shot blocker.

Hollis Thompson (#39) - Hollis Thompson played in that Georgetown offense that didt allow him to truly exert himself. He's got James Jones potential and could provide some shooting to any team in need. Heat, Knicks, Sixers, Bulls, Wizards, and Raptors all saw him for workout for them. It'll be tough for him to make a team.

Scott Machado (#40) - I wasnt too high on Machado, but I can see him as a long time back up point guard ala Kevin Ollie. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bobcats, Cavaliers, Hawks, Hornets, Raptors, and Rockets are all interested in his services.

Henry Sims (#46) - Sims has center size and center skills. Hes a very good passer who can operate in the post and has high character. No reason he couldnt be a third center for somebody. Hawks, Clippers, Raptors, and the Hornets are options. Hawks and Hornets make the most sense.

William Buford (#47) - Buford has been a good player for years on the Ohio State teams and can really shoot it. He's improved other areas of his game too and has good size. Magic, Grizzlies, or Kings could be landing spots - the first two being better choices.

Dee Bost (#54) - Bost flashes ability all the time with great scoring instincts. He has good size too, the only problem is he isnt a true point guard. He could be one of the sleepers that nobody is talking about as a sleeper. Knicks or Raptors would be a nice landing spot. Grizzlies and Hornets also worked him out.

John Shurna (#57) - I thought Shurna could be this years Jon Leuer. His ugly jumper is very effective and he's a tough player from the Big Ten. Ive heard he already has plenty of summer league options, Id just recommend that he doesnt go to Houston. The Blazers or Clippers both look like good options.

Maalik Wayns (#58) -  Wayns made my rankings based on potential. A Philly point guard with a good body that can get to the hoop and has no real character questions isn't a bad bet. He could be a starter down the road. Jazz and Timberwolves had him in for workouts.



Honorable mentions go to Cameron Moore and Kevin Jones.

2012 NBA Draft Grades (Part Two)

Houston Rockets - Jeremy Lamb (12), Royce White (16), Terrence Jones (18)

Grade: B+


The Rockets swapping picks with Milwaukee might have gotten them Lamb. No way of knowing, but the Suns could have easily taken him at 13. Lamb was a great pick here and could develop into a good starter.

With the other two picks, the Rockets added to their logjam of forwards, but it wasnt without adding even more talent to their roster. By now they have such a large crop at forward that they can pick and choose whatever style they want. Motiejunas, Patterson, Morris, White, Jones, Scola, Adrien, Leuer, and Brockman bring the total to 9 power forwards. The Rockets obviously have to make a few trades, but both of the picks are solid. Im not a huge fan of either guy, but good value was obtained here. Now they need to turn that value into something.

I think the Rockets might have intended of flipping White to the Celtics, but once Sullinger slipped, Ainge was fine staying put. Otherwise, I cant really explain why they'd go with White over Zeller.

Indiana Pacers - Miles Plumlee (27), Orlando Johnson (36)

Grade: D-


Larry Bird had announced that he would stay on for the draft before stepping down as team president and its funny to think about Miles Plumlee being his last mark on the organization. Unless you are a Pacers fan. Plumlee is a fourth big IF he turns out. Thats not what you target in the first round of a deep draft. Seems like the Pacers were going with their old "best white guy available strategy" but they even failed on that - passing on Shurna to get Plumlee.

Orlando Johnson just seems like one of those names that we won't remember in three years. With Doron Lamb and Tyshawn Taylor on the board, I cant support this selection.

Los Angeles Clippers - Furkan Aldemir (53)

Grade: B-


Clippers only had a late draft pick and used it on a Euro. Aldemir is a solid player overseas, but he isnt super skilled or very athletic. Good basetball player, not necessarily a good NBA guy.

Los Angeles Lakers - Darius Johnson-Odom (55), Robert Sacre (60)

Grade: B+


During the run of international prospects, Lakers stay American looking for potential quick fixes for next year. They traded the Mavericks for Odom, whom they hope will have the reverse affect Lamar Odom had when he was traded from Los Angeles to Dallas. Really though, DJO is a nice value pick here.

Sacre is worth a flyer on too. He's tough, can hit free throws, is a 7fter, and would have been a better player in the old NBA. I see no reason why this guy couldnt be a 3rd center on a NBA roster.

Memphis Grizzlies -  Tony Wroten (25)

Grade: C


Memphis swings for the fences for the second straight year after taking Selby in the 2011 draft. Selby and Wroten, if they both pan out, could actually complement each other pretty well. They are both combo guard types, but Wroten is more of the passer while Selby is a shooter. Selby would be an undersized 2 guard, but with Wroten, they could switch on defense to allow Selby to cover the PG.

That'd be a fun backcourt to watch if they were to work out, but the chances arent very high. Memphis has been taking risks in hopes of finding starter quality players to take over for some of their big contracts in their starting 5. They can't afford to pay them forever, so theyre hoping guys like Wroten and Selby can take over while in their rookie deals. However, Im just not sure Wroten ever realizes how to play. He certainly isn't ready to contribute now, especially to a team without the shooters to space the floor for him (and their post guys need shooters around them too). Marquis Teague would have been a better pick here as would a few others.

Miami Heat - Justin Hamilton (45)

Grade: F


Trading back from 27 can't be blamed on the front office, as Arison most likely just wanted to save money, but this draft looks terrible on paper. At 27 they had Perry Jones and Festus Ezeli on the board. They trade back and allow the Thunder to take Perry Jones, which definitely could come back to haunt them.

The actual pick at 45 was a waste as well. Justin Hamilton wasn't even a good player in college. Teams are suddenly looking for role players in college to fill role playing roles in the NBA just like when NFL teams draft pure special teamers (not talking kickers and punters. talking gunners, etc). Yes, Hamilton is fit for being a role player, but he is fit for being an NBA player. He's like a guy I wrote about here except he was never any good at any level. I dont understand why teams are suddenly taking these guys when just a few years ago Brian Zoubek couldn't get drafted.

Milwaukee Bucks - John Henson (14), Doron Lamb (42)

Grade: C+


I have no problem with Henson in the late lottery, but the only thing the Bucks didnt need was another skinny shot blocker. They now have Dalembert, Sanders, Udoh, and now Henson under contract. None of them can score, none of them are very strong, yet all of them can block shots. Bucks seem OK with being mediocre for the next ten years to come.

This grade gets bumped up because Henson might have been the last guy in that third tier and they took Doron Lamb in round 2. Lamb was my best player available at the time and he can mesh with both Jennings and Ellis in a backcourt. He gives the Bucks some versatility, shooting, and defense. All three things they need out of their two guard.

Minnesota Timberwolves - Robbie Hummel (58)

Grade: C+


I don't think much of Hummel as an NBA player, but its hard to be critical of the 58th overall pick. Hummel can actually bring something to a team, which you can't say about other picks around this area. Hummel will provide an example of toughness, hard work, and leadership while playing smart basketball. He's a practice player that every team would love to have wearing their pennies.

New Orleans Hornets - Anthony Davis (1), Austin Rivers (10), Darius Miller (46)

Grade: A+


Davis was obviously going to be the pick even if the most incompetent of all GMs was on the clock. I love pairing Austin Rivers with Davis. Davis does everything great but score, while Rivers is a great scorer who struggles elsewhere. Rivers gives the Hornets a face to their second unit and an alpha dog type. They got two cornerstones in this draft who were also the #1 and #2 high school players last year. Talent.

Adding Darius Miller, Davis' teammate, was another solid move. He fits the Lance Thomas equation where he has learned to play a role his entire college career, but has NBA talent dating back to his days in high school. He should have no problem making the 2012 New Orleans Hornets roster.


New York Knicks - Kostas Papanikolau (48)

Grade: B


Lots of Knicks fans were clamoring for a point guard, but looking at how the rest of the draft went, not a single point guard was taken. That should tell you that the talent wasn't there. Knicks got a good talent in Papanikolau who should stay overseas and develop for a few seasons. It would have been nice to get a contributor now, but thats just not the reality at #48. Knicks fans have been spoiled in recent years. Simply getting a NBA talent is good enough.

2012 NBA Draft Grades (Part One)

Atlanta Hawks - John Jenkins (23), Mike Scott (43)

Grade: D+


Atlanta helped start the run on questionable picks in the late first round. Jenkins was bad, but it got progressively worse. Jenkins is a great shooter, perhaps the best in the draft, but cant play a lick of defense. Some scouts believe he can be the next Redick, but even if he turns out, Im not sure thats what the doctor ordered for Atlanta. I would bust them more if Fab Melo didnt go the pick before, but there wasnt a center available in a whole separate tier from Jenkins.

With Mike Scott, the Hawks got a talented college player who doesnt translate great to the NBA. I could bust on every team for passing on Drew Gordon, but that wouldnt make this fun. For the players picked around Scott, its not a noteworthy pick. Scott went right after the talent crop started to get thinner.

Boston Celtics - Jared Sullinger (21), Fab Melo (22), Kris Joseph (51)

Grade: A+


I like all of these picks. Sullinger very well could be the steal of the night. The Celtics got a top ten talent with a pick outside the top 20. I think the Celtics would have been willing to trade up for him, but instead all those knocks that were leaked about Jared allowed him to fall right into Ainge's lap. I liked the idea of staying put in a deep draft. Melo complements Sullinger well with his defense and is another definite first round talent.

Getting Kris Joseph at 51 is about all you can ask for. He was Melo's teammate at Cuse. Ideal scenario for him. And he gets to play behind Pierce and watch Garnett work. Joseph has talent and is really good at getting to the line, he could become something.

Brooklyn Nets - Tyshawn Taylor (41), Tornike Shengelia (54), Ilkan Karaman (57)

Grade: B-


If we were to consider the fact that they traded their lottery pick (which became Harrison Barnes) for Gerald Wallace, then the grade would be much lower. Still, lets not look at the grade and believe Billy King is competent GM.

At 41, they bought Tyshawn Taylor from Portland. He would have been a good pick from the late first round on, so it was good value here. Brooklyn needs major help at the PG position and Taylor could push Farmar for his spot. They are kind of similar players, a little turnover prone but Tyshawn brings great defense to the table. With their international guys, they stayed on the board and took two guys that were actually on pundits' radars. They don't have that mythical immense potential that they won't ever live up to, but they do have quality playing experience.

Charlotte Bobcats - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2), Jeff Taylor (31)

Grade: B


The Bobcats set the tone for the rest of the draft at number two, surprising people by neither trading the pick or taking Thomas Robinson. Instead they took Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who can immediately change the culture of that team defensively. Bobcats were a good defensive team not too long ago with Gerald Wallace and MGK has been compared to the former Cat. Bobcats will certainly jump up from their league worst 107.8 defensive efficiency.

The worry about this pick though, is the pressure Kidd-Gilchrist will have offensively. Its good they brought in Gordon, and perhaps in retrospect, they may have made that trade knowing they were going to take Kidd-Gilchrist. But still, the #2 overall selection isn't a very good offensive player and a bad team could force him into bad habits. I wouldnt be surprised if he shoots under 40% this year.

Their second pick was Jeff Taylor. He reinforces their defensive philosophy for this draft. Him and Kidd-Gilchrist might be the two best wing defenders in the draft. He can back up both wing positions and provides some shooting that Kidd-Gilchrist can't. Good to see the Bobcats getting more athletic and not having to play Matt Carroll, but I think Thomas Robinson and Jeff Taylor would have looked better on paper. Still, Id be satisfied as a Charlotte fan.


Chicago Bulls - Marquis Teague (29)

Grade: A


The Bulls stayed put despite trade rumors circulating around the Chi city winds and were elated to find Teague still available. They desperately need ball handlers for next year and Teague brings that along with a ton of upside. I thought Tyshawn Taylor would have been a nice pick here because he could transform into a nice role player once Derrick Rose comes back, but Teague will make a nice trade chip if Chicago can develop yet another talent.


Cleveland Cavaliers - Dion Waiters (4), Tyler Zeller (17)

Grade: C-


Both of these players have talent and could end up making this grade look silly. Waiters, however, didn't deserve to go #4. The Cavs reached hard for a guy who didnt even workout for them. He basically rose all the way up to their spot on pure allure. He's got potential and can be a nice scorer, but he needs the ball in his hands and the Cavs should be focused on getting the right pieces around Kyrie. Waiters is not it.

With Zeller, he's obviously good value at 17. And hes a good fit. But look at what they traded. They gave up the 24th pick, 33rd, and 34th. In a deep draft, they could have added plenty of depth on a roster that needs it. Zeller arguably was the last guy available in his tier, especially if you are a team worried about injuries to Sullinger and Perry Jones, so I understand why the Cavs chose to play it safe at 17.

Dallas Mavericks - Jared Cunningham (24), Bernard James (33), Jae Crowder (34)

Grade: C+ (Actual Picks) B+ (turning pick #17 into 3 draft picks plus the draft picks)


The Mavericks added some solid depth to their team by trading back from 17 to 24. I think they were hoping Fournier would still be on the board, because when the 24th pick came back up they were said to be trying to trade back again. Instead, they had to settle for taking Jared Cunningham too high. He's got nice potential, but he's yet another combo guard on a team full of them (Beaubois, West, Terry, Jones, Calathes, even Kidd). So they reached for a player that doesnt even fill a need.

They came back strong in the second round with the two other picks they got in the Zeller trade. James and Crowder are both mature, hard working guys who will be great NBA defenders. They'll approach the game with a business-like attitude and do all the little things. Both are NBA ready and good value at their slots.  I dont think there is any question that they'll be on the opening day roster.

They also sold Darius Johnson-Odom for cash.

Denver Nuggets - Evan Fournier (20), Quincy Miller (38)

Grade: A-


Nuggets already have a full roster so getting an overseas player in the first round was a good bet. Fournier was good value at that spot and could come off the bench in a year and provide a change up to Afflalo's game. Nuggets have been good at drafting in the 20s lately and could have found another solid find here. Their second round pick may have fans even more exciting, getting the former #1 high school player in the country in Quincy Miller. Miller has fallen off since then due to injuries, but if he gets his legs back hes a steal. He was my best player available on the board for awhile during the draft. A very good reward possibility here with absolutely no risk. Great pick.

Detroit Pistons - Andre Drummond (9), Khris Middleton (39), Kim English (44)

Grade: C-


Dumars made the obvious selection when Drummond was on the board at 9. Can't really fault or credit him for that one. They needed a big man and get the BPA. Everyone sees this as a perfect fit at first glance. Im worried. For one, this isnt a great situation for Drummond to play in. Detroit has no quality veterans to show Andre the way. They haven't been great at developing talent (Afflalo, Milicic, Daye) and play a slowed down offense centered around Monroe. This is going to force one guy out of position and will diminish any defensive advantage they would seem to have picked up. Im being a little harsh, but the Drummond/Monroe frontcourt is no simple slam dunk.

In the second, they took Middleton who has a nice offensive repertoire. At one point he was viewed as a potential first rounder and then underwent a coaching change this season. He also had nagging injuries. He's able to get his shot off, the only problem is he was one of the worst jump shooters among drafted wings. If he fixes that, he could be a nice little player.

Middleton, along with Kim English were picked a little too high. But its semantics. English will be the only spot up shooting guard on the roster. Hes a hard worker and will be determined to make the team.

Golden State Warriors - Harrison Barnes (7), Festus Ezeli (30), Draymond Green (35), Ognjen Kuzmic (52)

Grade: B


Warriors caught a break with Barnes falling to them. They got one of the top tier talents in the draft and sewed up their need at small forward. He'll join other rookies Ezeli and Green on the roster.

Ezeli was the final pick of the first round so the Warriors were able to lock up a potential back up center for cheap. Backup centers on the open market go for way to much so its a decent pick, even though I dont think Ezeli will ever be a starter.

Draymond Green at 35 fits in well and gives the team a true competitor. He'll have no problem carving out a role on the Warriors roster.

Kuzmic is one of those mythological potential guys. Nothing wrong with going in that direction when you have four draft picks.