There are probably 1000 posts about “draft grades” or team winners and losers, so I’m going to try to mix it up by talking about individuals. Here’s a list of my winners, in concert with a post about draft losers
DRAFT WINNERS
Brooklyn GM Sean Marks
Clearly, the Brooklyn rebuild is still a long, long term project, but Nets fans should have swelling confidence in their navigators on that journey. Coach Kenny Atkinson is one of the best young coaches in the league, and GM Sean Marks is quickly establishing himself as one of the best young execs as well.
Taking on a bad contract for D’Angelo Russell was a great move, given the fact that they weren’t going to use that cap space anyway. Whether he plays PG or SG, Russell is going to be a high-volume scorer for the Nets going forward and should only get better and better from here. He may have his flaws, but it’s not easy to find big guards with a shooting ability like he has.
I also love the pick of Texas C Jarrett Allen at #22. Allen may not be a “stretch 5” like Atkinson may want, but he’s a fluid rim-protector with great length. Personally, I had him ranked as my #10 prospect in the class. That’s higher than most, but we have to remember the history here. Allen was a top 10 high school recruit who underwhelmed in one season in college like most big men do. Other blue chip big men who fit that profile (super recruit, underwhelmed in college, get under-drafted) include: Myles Turner (pick #11), Steven Adams (#12), and Skal Labissiere (#28).
Lonzo Ball
Say what you will about LaVar Ball (personally I think he’s just a harmless carnival barker/promoter like Don King), but Lonzo Ball will make or break his NBA legend based on his own on-court play.
And with the Lakers at #2, he has every opportunity to shine. Some Lakers fans were talking themselves into the Lonzo Ball – D’Angelo Russell pairing, but there’s no need to share the spotlight or ball-handling duties anymore. Ball will be the man, even as a rookie, considering that Paul George isn’t on the team (yet) and Brandon Ingram isn’t ready (yet).
With a clear path to playing time and stats in front of him, Ball’s in a prime position to contend for Rookie of the Year. He’s probably the only rookie in the class who’s going to be the marquee star of his team right away.
Phoenix Suns fans
I’m alone on an island on this one (and I don’t expect anyone to agree with me yet), but I have Josh Jackson as the #1 player in this entire draft.
It’s less debatable that he went to a team that fits him better than any other in this entire draft. Josh Jackson and Devin Booker are ideal complements to each other, given Jackson’s athleticism/defense and Booker’s shooting. You couldn’t ask for a better yin-yang as a wingman combination.
Jackson’s also more than an athlete. He has passing skills, a high basketball IQ, good energy, and leadership and intensity on the court. He’ll bring out the best in all his teammates. The Andre Iguodala comp is a fair one, but I have a gut feeling that Josh Jackson will keep improving his offensive skill set and become the signature star of this class after a few years.
Fred Hoiberg
“Fit” is so important, for players and for coaches as well. Allegedly Bulls GM Gar Forman is good buddies with Fred Hoiberg, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he constructed his roster. While Hoiberg’s Iowa State teams thrived with pace and space, Forman clogged the court with non-shooters like Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade.
That clash of styles was inevitably going to come to a head. We all presumed it’d be Hoiberg’s noggin on the chopping block, but it turned out to be Jimmy Butler‘s instead. Say what you want about the trade (probably a poor one), but it empowers Hoiberg and gives him the opportunity to succeed (or fail) on his own merits and with his own style.
I know most fans are skeptical about #7 pick Lauri Markkanen, but you couldn’t ask for a better fit for this Fin than Hoiberg and the new-look Bulls. Markkanen’s defense is a MAJOR question mark, but he’ll have a good defender/rebounder in Robin Lopez to protect him down low. In Hoiberg, he’ll have a coach who will encourage him to fire away (and not bench him for defensive lapses). If Markkanen is going to become a star (which is an “if” with any pick), he’ll have his best chance to do it with this squad.
Kevin Pritchard
Allegedly, Paul George and his management’s declaration that he was going to leave Indiana was an effort to be “fair” to the Pacers organization. Maybe. But there’s also a good chance that it was designed to lower his trade value and weaken the Pacers’ leverage, with the intention of making them trade George to Los Angeles in a way that wouldn’t gut the Lakers in the process.
In a way, that worked. The offers for Paul George got worse. The ones discussed publicly were bad ones, in my mind, and not worth pursuing. But rather than panic and accept 25 cents on the dollar for George, Pritchard is holding firm — for now. I have a feeling he’ll be able to get a better deal than the ones being floated around now.
And don’t look now, but maybe there’s a path forward to salvaging this relationship after all. If they keep George, the Pacers have a genuine chance to be solid this season. In my mind, the Pacers’ 2016-17 season was plagued by bad coaching and bad rotations, including way too much playing time for guys like Monta Ellis. With some adjustments, this could be a 45+ win team.
To that end, I like the pick of T.J. Leaf at #18. Leaf offers more spacing than current PF Thaddeus Young, which could make them a good combo. He’s also well paired with big man Myles Turner who’s more of a shot blocker. If the team re-signs Jeff Teague and C.J. Miles, that’s a solid lineup: Teague, Miles, Paul George, Young/Leaf, and Myles Turner. If the team can win a first round series (and pay George more than anyone else) staying in Indiana will start to look more appealing.
Look, going for 45-50 wins isn’t the best approach for your franchise — but it’s an option. And having multiple options allows Pritchard and the Pacers more leverage to avoid taking a bad deal.
