2012 NBA Draft Grades: Hornets Select Austin Rivers

The 2012 NBA Draft is underway and FanSided has assembled a panel of our NBA experts to grade the picks and provide reactions live as the picks come in.

New Orleans Hornets
Pick 10 Austin Rivers

Jack Winter-Saving the Skyhook

Rivers is the most overrated player in the draft. He is convinced he’s an All-Star talent in the mold of Kobe Bryant, but in reality lacks the size and explosive athleticism that makes Kobe and the few like him so special. Rivers is a great ballhandler, has deep shooting range, and a knack for scoring, but it simply won’t be enough against this level of competition. If he adjusts his attitude when it comes to the game and realizes his limitations, he could be an undeniably effective player in the league. By all accounts, though, he’s unlikely to do so, and thus unworthy of being selected this highly.

Grade: D

Bryan Rosa – A Royal Pain

Hard to have a better draft (at least through two picks) then the Hornets have had with Anthony Davis and now Austin Rivers. Pairing a franchise big with an excellent, knock down shooter gives the Hornets an eventual inside-out presence that so many teams long for. Austin, like his father Doc, should have a very solid NBA career.

Grade: A

Bryan Wendland-Roberto Gato

I like Rivers, but I’m not sold on him… as a point guard in the NBA. He’s got a solid offensive game, he’s got a brass set of stones, and he’s not going to back down to anyone when the ball is in his hands. He needs to improve defensively, and if New Orleans drafted him to be their future point guard, he’s going to need to get better at passing and seeing the floor.

Grade: B

Quixem Ramirez- Air Alamo

A lot of draft pundits are skeptical of Rivers’ mindset and reportedly over confidence. He is an elite scorer though he is remarkably deficient in catch-and-shoot situations. If he develops that facet of the game, that will make New Orleans’ offense that much more potent. I don’t think Rivers can handle point duties as he turned the ball over at a higher rate than his assists.

Grade: B