Draft time has come and gone! Draftmas as some called it, lol! It indeed is my favorite time of the year because it is full of hope and activity around the league. This draft class has a strong lottery (talent level drops after the first 12 picks). All in all, I’d say the rest of the draft will provide a lot of solid role players, specialist guys with a certain skill set or filled with raw potential. In the long term, who really knows what these guys are, so let’s all take it easy. ;) Note: I will not be giving grades to anyone that traded their picks away and have no rookie rights. I am only going to grade the teams, based on the picks they have right now. Without further ado:

	B	Justise Winslow (#6) After shopping the #2 deal at length, GM RyanChiasson finally struck a deal to his liking when a trade with the Clippers was agreed upon. After picking the phenom PG D’Angelo Russel from Ohio State at the #2 slot, Ryan offered the PG to LAC in exchange for Dario Saric, a former lottery guy, and Winslow. So Atlanta ended up with a guy they rated higher, and then some. Personally, I love Russell’s game, but I like the trade for both teams. Time will tell. Oh and he also picked up Luka Mitrovic with the last pick of the draft, so…who?
	N/A	No players.
	B+	Tuys Jones (#24), Cedi Osman (#39) Oh how far the Nets have come in such short time, props to GM Wizkid for that. After trading the #1 for an established star in Demarcus Cousins, this team is already starting to look like a franchise again. Wizkid also selected the player who probably has the coldest blood running through his veins in Tyus Jones. A proven winner who’s clutch and has that “it” factor. In the second round, Cedi Osman was the first pick of the second round in the NBA and slid to them here. Cedi could turn into a good role player for the future. Heart and hustle define his game. Not a lot of potential but a rock solid draft by the Nets.
	A+	Mario Hezonja (#5), Kristaps Porzingis (#8), Myles Turner (#11) Few guys are happier than GM Digeze is after this draft. This franchise managed to get out of this draft with 2 predicted top 5 picks, the prospect with arguably the highest ceiling and a PF who is a prolific scorer. Hezonja, Porzingis and Turner, are you kidding me? Not even in his best dreams could GM Digeze have foreseen this. Hezonja is a player wiith a great blend of skill and athleticism who might have that “killer instinct” only the great ones have. Kristaps is said to have the highest ceiling in the whole draft. As a big who can put the ball on the floor being a legit 7 footer, and on top of it all, he ceiling is sky high. Turner is easily looking like a man among boys in summer league. In the end, all-star potential for all 3 guys, A+
	C	Chris McCullough (#26), J.P. Tokoto (#46) The Bulls! First, GM Daz picked up a prospect that has a good amount of ceiling in Chris McCullough, who probably would have been picked in the teens had it not been for his ACL tear. May not be sexy, but the pick may pay off for a late first round pick. In the second round, Tokoto is a player who can defend when he’s locked in and is super athletic, and that pretty much sums it up, because he can’t shoot.
	D	Juan Pablo Vaulet (#45), Arturas Gudaitis (#59) Cleveland got into the draft rather late, and got two stash prospect. Vaulet is somewhat of a surprise in the NBA after not being in expert’s mock drafts. Gudaitis is a long, long shot, but what a happy day for the Gudaitis family, kudos!!
	A-	Emmanuel Mudiay (#4), Trey Lyles (#12) Dallas continues to add quality assets to its roster. Smokey pulled somewhat of a shocker and snatching Mudiay, who’s athletic as they come. A dynamic player who would have received serious consideration for the top pick had he played in the U.S.. Could turn into a steal, even if it is at #4 slot for the Mavs. Following that, the team went the safe route, with one of the safest players in the draft, as Lyles is one of the players with the most amount of developed skill, who’s ready to contribute with an array of moves. Trey plays like a veteran already, however the lack of athleticism lowers his ceiling considerably.
	B	Montrezl Harrell (#28), Larry Nance Jr. (#31), Norman Powell (#50), Branden Dawsen (#51) Hustle and motor! That was the theme of this draft for the Nuggets, as seen by this draft focusing on guys who’d run through a wall if you ask them to. Harrell is the posterboy for hustling, has a high motor, great rebounding and still evolving offensive game. Nance Jr. overcame injuries and Chron’s disease on his way to becoming a first-round pick in the NBA, need I say more? Powel is a great defender, the type of guy coaches love, and Dawsen has already been turning heads with his rebounding and energy down in Summer League, but one thing is certain, he does NOT see the rim on FT attempts as he’s currently shooting 33% in SL and that’s quite high for him.
	C+	Jordan Mickey (#32), Aaron White (#54) GM Mavs went for a need here with the athletic Mickey, who struggles to shoot, however he has a high-motor, great rebounding and seems to be all over the floor. He looks like the KJ McDaniels of this draft. After that, Detroit selected White, who can do a little bit of everything but doesn’t wow you with anything. He’s destined for a career bench role, if he sticks.
	C	Pat Connaughton (#40) Golden State selected the athletic Connaughton from Notre Dame, who wasn’t on anybody’s list until he showed up and wowed coaches at the combine with his athleticism, defense and ability to shoot threes. It is as close to a sure thing as you can get in the second round, because you know what you are getting, clearly. If he sticks, it will be because he plays the game the right way. Safe pick.
	N/A	No players.
	C+	Jarell Martin (#30), Sir’Dominic Pointer (#53) GM Sheed had a late first and a late second so, first he addressed what he’d be talking for a while, big man help. Jarell is touted by his coaches as one of the most uncoverable guys in the NCAA last year, because he can do so many things. He already has a face-up game to go with hustle and rebounding, so now it is time to add a post game to that repertoire to have a good chance at maximizing his game. Later, Sheed picked up Pointer, who is a defensive minded player who is a stat sheet stuffer, but doesn’t do anything particularly well besides defense.
	A+	D’Angelo Russell (#2), Stanley Johnson (#7), Devin Booker (#10), Jerian Grant (#17). OMG, so many first rounders! What is this, Milwaukee? #jk Believe it or not, GM Andrew had even more picks when he started this thing, but after a lot of up and down movement, plus the trades, he ended up with 4 high quality guys. Russell is a fantastic player who has a knack for showmanship and will learn more on from with Mr. Bryant. He has the swagger that makes all the cocky players so good in which he’s better than you and he knows it. His vision is amazing and he can score from anywhere, while still being the team’s primary playmaker. To me, he’s a future star. Moving on to the pick who is generating a big buzz around Summer League and who is easily banking on his statement that teams would regret not drafting him higher. Johnson’s making them pay and showing all his repertoire that goes along with that ripped frame that is ready for the NBA already. Now, Devin Booker is the guy we compare to JJ Reddick every year, right? Yes, that’s correct. Elite shooting. Following all these touted guys, the Clippers managed to get one of the most complete players in this draft in Grant. He is a player I really like and is only limited by his age, if we’re talking upside, but he can do it all, from playmaking to scoring or defending, a great selection! Brother of Spurs’ Jerami Grant, but better.
	N/A	No players.
	D	Satnam Singh (#48), Marcus Eriksson (#57) GM Houndy, who is a Mavs fan IRL (so there is bias), made NLL history by drafting the first player in NLL who was actually born in India. I’m afraid this is more of a marketing pick, because this may help the NBA more than it actually does the NBA Mavs or the NLL Mavs, but what a feel good story for Singh, kudos young man! Welcome to history! Eriksson is a Swedish-born player who plays for one of the best teams in Europe in Barcelona. He has good size for the position, but nothing really stands out. Stash guy.
	D-	Marcus Thornton (#49) With the 49th pick, the automated selection provided Miami with a nifty little player who is an SG trapped in a PG’s body, but little Thornton is a scoring machine and if given time with the Celtics in the NBA could turn into that spark off the bench every team is looking for.
	A+	Karl-Anthony Towns (#1), Cameron Payne(#14), Rashad Vaughn (#19), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (#22), Delon Wright (#23). Oh boy, GM Badwolf was at it again. Wait, doesn’t it seem like every year this dude has 5 first rounders? Eventually people run out of roster spots, but not Wolfie! No no, he’ll go up and down the board as he wishes and picks up the guys he wants. So after trading Cousins for the right to call the name first, he chose to call up Towns’ name and wait on him to develop into the player we think he can be, which is a two-way player that can scare defenses. As for Payne, who’s an undersized PG with great vision and feel for the game, will need to be groomed for a couple of seasons before he can seriously contribute, but the upside is high. Next is Vaughn, who is an athletic guard who specializes in scoring at will, as he can drain them, another high upside for team rookie. Now as for defense, Rondae is next up after seeing Doug McBuckets pack his bags to Dallas, RHJ is ready to contribute on defense as he is a bulldog that can guard up to 4 positions, maybe even 5? And there’s more!! Delon Wright, the tall PG out of Utah brings distribution skills, and defensive versatility and that rounds out the Milwaukee draft haul.
	C+	Justin Anderson (#21) Alright, so another biased Mavs pick here, although Anderson is a very solid player who was having a career year when he got injured. His future is the 3-and-D type of game, plain and simple. He’ll come in, do his job and get out, no flash or flair. Thing is, he’s gonna do it for 10+ years, because guys like that make it in the NBA/NLL.
	A	Jahlil Okafor (#3) A surprising automated selection netted GM Blackmajestic everything he was wishing for back when he was touted to have the #1 pick overall, Okafor! This behemoth, some people call him a dinosaur, has a preternatural knack for working and maneuvering in the post game. He gets buckets, plain and simple. He’ll be a perfect safety net for the Hornets. I like his game very much. Downside is below average athleticism, however, ceiling is so freaking high!
	A-	Bobby Portis (#20) GM dunandan pulled another clinic, as he always seems to do every year, by picking around that 20-ish spot. Every time (see Faried and Henson)! He’s done it yet again. Portis is a great prospect who compares favorably to almost all of the top Centers in this draft. There is nothing he doesn’t do well for a bigman. Only knock on him is his build, so he will need to bulk up, but that is very doable. Also his NBA situation isn’t ideal for NLL purposes, but the NLL Knicks, unlike the NBA one, can afford to wait. I predict this guy is a starter in 3-4 years.
	C	Nikola Milutinov (#29), Josh Richardson (#34), Nikola Radicevic (#42) The fact of the matter is that Nenjabin likes players called Nikola, as he owns 3 of them and selected 2 more in this very draft. Also, to add insult to injury, he also has a player called Nik (as in Stauskas). First up is Milutinov who is a stretch big who knocks down shots with ease. Has some potential, because Spurs. Josh Richardson was taken with his defense in mind, but of course his shooting stroke also helps a lot. Nikola Radicevic is a player who was targeted by GM Nenjabin for his performances with his current team. Played with and against other top prospects.
	B	Kelly Oubre (#13), Richaun Holmes (#44) So Orlando moves on from the quick Bosh era and moves on to a team based on high potential players, and so their draft reflected that. Oubre has a great wingspan, can make threes and defend but he is still raw. All the tools are there though, he just needs to find someone who can put them together, a very young player. Holmes is a nice surprise as he slid a bit compared to the NBA but you aren’t going to see GM Laddas complaining about that. Haha Holme’s range extends to the 3 point line.
	B+	R.J. Hunter (#25) Kevon Looney (#27), Rakeem Christmas (#33), Andrew Harrison (#41) Based on where they started out, Philly made very good moves in order to get the picks they wanted. Great GMing! Hunter has game breaking potential with his shooting and will need to work on getting better and will need to add a couple of pounds. Then Looney was selected a little later on and possesses a high ceiling, but also a high risk project, alongside Rakeem, who’s as ready as they come, NBA teams love that. Harrison will likely be fighting for his life in Summer league or D-League after being touted as a sure-fire lottery pick just a couple years ago alongside his brother (who went undrafted, btw).
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