2016 NBA Draft Live Thread

The 2016 NBA Draft is here! For many, tonight is the culmination of thousands of hours of dedication, hard work and sacrifice for 60 players in particular. The Upside & Motor crew is here to provide instant reaction and analysis for each and every pick.

Follow along as we delve into the minds of NBA general managers in real-time, and of course provide funny draft content along the way. Jake Fischer gives us an interesting tidbit to remember below. So, when you see Utah select 12th overall, it will be for Atlanta but technically it’s still the Jazz’ pick.

Chris Reichert (@Chris_Reichert) — Wait, wait, wait I was gonna help you up man, but this text was SUPER important! Stunned he looked him off like that. #GOAT

Chris Stone —  (@cstonehoops): Ben Simmons already practicing his best Allen Iverson impression for Philly.

7:00p — PreDraft Show Starts

Chris R —  I’m confused about what Charlotte is doing here. Need to re-sign a lot of free agents this summer and adding that salary isn’t helping. Also — can we stop saying #KANGZ after this good move by Sacramento?!

Chris Stone — Milwaukee’s just looking for an experienced veteran to help out right away. Get it? Because Thon is actually 30-years old.

Jonah Jordan (@_JonahJordan) — I have no idea how old Thon Maker is, I do know that if he gets picked No. 10 it’s because of the mixtape. I’m going to have to go make one.

Peter Nygaard (@RetepAdam) — Surprising development, considering Thon Maker is two years away from being two years away from retirement.

Trevor Magnotti (@IllegalScreens) — So how many trades are we expecting during the actual draft? The last two years have been heavy on speculation and low on execution of any of that speculation.

7:30p — Draft Begins!

7:37p — The Philadelphia 76ers take Ben Simmons No. 1!!

Cole Zwicker (@colezwicker) — Philly makes the easy choice, taking the most talented player in the draft regardless of fit. Simmons has top-shelf fluid athleticism and generational basketball intelligence/passing for his size, rendering him the ideal playmaking 4 in the modern game. The Sixers finally have a primary initiator on offense and are now armed with two ceiling outcome franchise players moving forward. The Hinkie Cult rejoices dancing in the flames.

7:44p — The Los Angeles Lakers take Brandon Ingram No. 2!!

Chip Williams (@chipwilliamsjr) — The Lakers go with the player I rank the highest in the draft. Ingram has a slight build, but he’s super long and a super-skilled scorer. Of all the prospects in this draft, it’s easiest to envision Ingram as a 20 point-per-game scorer. The Lakers get a nice building block to pair with D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle.

7:51p — The Boston Celtics take Jaylen Brown No. 3!!

Trevor Magnotti — Wow. No one was expecting this. The Celtics, who have been fielding trades all day from the 76ers and Bulls, and were linked to Kris Dunn, just swerved everyone. Brown’s an interesting fit in Boston due to his athleticism and defensive potential, and he seems to fit the mold of what they want from their wing players. He doesn’t shoot, though, and that’s a major reason I don’t like this if Brown stays in Boston. We’ll see if Brad Stevens can get the most out of Brown’s sky-high potential, but this is definitely not a move that helps them in the short-term, as Brown needs plenty of seasoning to be able to make an impact.

7:59p — The Phoenix Suns take Dragan Bender at No. 4!!

Chris S. — After most of the pre-draft coverage seemed to indicate that Phoenix would take a flyer on Washington’s Marquese Chriss, the Suns do the right thing here by selecting Dragan Bender. They get a replacement stretch four for Markieff Morris and an impressively versatile defender. Bender is probably going to take a couple of years to really develop, but he’s the most talented player on the board and fits well on Phoenix’s roster.

8:04p — The Minnesota Timberwolves take Kris Dunn at No. 5!!

Jonah J. — Kris Dunn is the best point guard in this draft and exactly the type of player Tom Thibodeau loves. He’s tough as nails and plays some intense defense. The lack of a reliable jumper is a problem, but that can be fixed with time. Philadelphia and Chicago both seem to want him so a trade could still be made. As of right now Wiggins, KAT and Dunn is fantastic going forward.

8:14p — The New Orleans Pelicans take Buddy Hield No. 6!!

Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) — For a franchise seemingly always going in two directions at once, this draft became presented a real crossroads for the New Orleans Pelicans. They had been linked to Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield since the beginning of the draft process, and as it became clear the team would have a high pick this year. He will step in right waand replace outgoing shooting guard Eric Gordon, but unfortunately this is a pick that signals a present-mindedness for New Orleans that likely shouldn’t be there.

8:20p — The Denver Nuggets take Jamal Murray No. 7!!

Evan Wheeler (@EvanWheelz) — Jamal Murray was the third best player in this class on my board and like the year prior, the Nuggets once again get a steal by staying patient at 7. Murray fits perfect next to Emmanuel Mudiay, given his shooting and ball handling ability. Denver has been a franchise and city starving for a star and they might’ve found it in Murray. The Kentucky star is a C.J. McCollum type who has a underrated handle, so much craftiness as a scorer and might be the best shot maker in this class. The Nuggets continue to build their young core and add the premier scorer they’ve so desperately needed.

8:27p — The Sacramento Kings take Marquese Chriss at No. 8!!

Jonah J. — A high risk-high reward pick for a team that doesn’t do well with guys like this. His incredible athleticism helped him jump up boards since the NBA Draft Combine. This is going to be an interesting fit as he needs to be brought along slowly and he needs time. Coach Dave Joerger hasn’t handled young players well in his time at Memphis. This could be an absolute disaster.

The Phoenix Suns have reportedly traded number 13 overall and Bogdan Bogdanovic so the Kings will take Marquese Chriss for the Suns. This is still high risk-high reward for the Suns. He is going to be an interesting fit next to Bender.

8:34p — The Toronto Raptors take Jakob Poeltl at No. 9!!

Peter Nygaard — This pick went to Toronto as part of the Andrea Bargnani trade. Let’s just all take a moment to get that out of our system. Poeltl is widely considered the top center in this draft, though he represents the first player off the board from the next tier of prospects below the first eight off the board. A strong, somewhat no-frills player with surprising mobility, Poeltl will likely slot in behind Jonas Valanciunas as the replacement for Bismack Biyombo. Take that, Masai Ujiri.

8:40p — The Milwaukee Bucks take Thon Maker at No. 10!!

Cole Z. — This is pretty insane. Maker was so raw and uncoordinated at the Hoop Summit he was barely playable.  He has horrible hands and doesn’t know how to play basketball yet.  The plus physical tools and fluid athleticism with a high motor is apparent, but the skill-set and feel floor is sorely lacking.  Maker benefited from not being exposed a la Skal, and was a second round upside play at best.  Not someone you take at 10.

8:47p — The Orlando Magic take Domantas Sabonis at No. 11!!

Chris S. — Rumors were swirling all week that Gonzaga’s Domantas Sabonis was moving up draft boards. He’s an old school talent who flashed excellent rebounding skills and a developing post game in Spokane. He might eventually be able to stretch the floor on offense as well as he knocked down a few threes this season. Sabonis is an interesting defensive fit because he won’t offer Orlando much rim protection, but his toughness and high basketball IQ will be welcome on the Magic’s roster.

Update: It sounds like Sabonis is headed to Oklahoma City as part of a package to bring Serge Ibaka to Orlando. The Thunder will also get Victor Oladipo as part of the deal. It’s an interesting move to break up a successful core for an Oklahoma City team that is focused on trying to keep Kevin Durant this summer.

8:47P — TRADE!!

8:57p — The Utah Jazz take Taurean Prince No. 12 (for Atlanta)

Brendon K. — Hawks gonna Hawk. With the world literally melting into a pit of WOJ BOMB fire around them, the Hawks take the next guy to succeed the throne of plug-and-play 3 and Ders. At least they’ll have Bird Rights on this one. Prince can defend, has the size to potentially move up a position in a pinch, and space the floor. Of course, the hair is perfect and something the team was lacking without former SF DeMarre Carroll, and if any of the Atlanta media needs a breakdown of how a rebound works, Prince will be their guy.

9:03p — The Phoenix Suns take Georgios Papagiannis No. 13!! (for Sacramento)

Chris S. — This pick is reportedly headed to Sacramento as part of Phoenix’s package to land Marquese Chriss, but it looks like the Kings will go with another high-risk pick in Georgios Papagiannis out of Greece. At 7-2, he’s an intriguing center prospect, but he doesn’t fit well with the way the league is heading and is joining a roster already filled with talented big men. Unless Sacramento is planning to make another trade, this selection doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

9:09p — The Chicago Bulls take Denzel Valentine at No. 14!!

Cole Z. — Now we’re talking. This is an outstanding personnel fit for Valentine sliding in next to Butler, where he can play off ball and be covered by Butler on both ends, lessening his athleticism concerns.  Valentine is one of the smartest players in the draft, blessed with lead guard instincts at an off-ball spot.  He’s a hand in glove schematic fit in Hoiberg’s motion offense with his passing and shooting, and can kick over to run the offense in the second unit.

9:17p — The Denver Nuggets take Juan Hernangomez at No. 15!!

Chip — The Nuggets grab another foreign big who can theoretically play either forward position in Juan Hernangomez. He averaged double figures in the second best league in the world at just 20 years old. He’s got good athleticism, shooting ability and can competently make plays. He fits perfectly with the bruising big the Nuggets already have. THEY HAVE ALL THE FOREIGN BIGS.

9:24p — The Boston Celtics take Guerschon Yabusele at No. 16!!

Jonah J. — Danny Ainge has spent the first hour and a half of the draft trying to make a deal. Now, he’s reaching a bit for his first international pick who was projected to go in the late first-early second round. This is kind of surprising considering Skal Labissiere is still on the board. He’s an intriguing prospect that has some athleticism and shooting midrange shooting ability.

9:32p — The Memphis Grizzlies take Wade Baldwin IV at No. 17!!

Evan — I thought Baldwin was worthy of a top ten pick and think he’s a great selection at 17 for Memphis. He gives them insurance in case Mike Conley leaves in Free Agency and could be the next Russell Westbrook. His playmaking and decision making are very raw, but he’s a great athlete who has phenomenal length and quickness on defense. Baldwin will allow Memphis to speed it up at times and will also provide them with some more 3-point shooting right away. Patience should pay off for Memphis as Baldwin could be one of the steals of this class.

9:37p — The Detroit Pistons take Henry Ellenson at No. 18!!

Trevor M. — Ellenson makes sense on paper for the Pistons. He’s a shooter who also gives the Pistons an imposing rebounder, and, perhaps most importantly, a credible post presence to take pressure off of Andre Drummond. Ellenson has major defensive concerns, but when you’ve got the most athletic five in the league behind you, that takes some pressure off of him defensively. If the Pistons bring Ellenson along slowly, and he can resolve some of his shooting struggles from Marquette, he’s a solid choice for a third big in the Motor City.

9:45p — The Denver Nuggets take Malik Beasley at No. 19!!

Chris S. — Denver picks up another wing scoring option to go with Jamal Murray with the 19th pick. Florida State’s Malik Beasley was one of the most efficient freshmen scorers in the country last season. He’s a capable three-point shooter and can play fast in transition. There are some medical concerns after Beasley revealed he had a metal rod implanted in his leg, but the talent is there for him to be an effective bench scorer at the next level.

9:52p — The Indiana Pacers take Caris LeVert at No. 20!! (for Brooklyn)

Peter — Having traded into this spot earlier today in the Thad Young deal, the Nets cash in on LeVert, who some viewed as a lottery talent before injuries wiped away about two-thirds of his season. At 100%, LeVert projects as a quality defender with some catch-and-shoot potential. Alongside Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, he should help give the Nets a tough perimeter duo on one end of the court. The big question right now is who’s going to provide a scoring punch?

10:00p – The Atlanta Hawks take DeAndre’ Bembry at No. 21!!

Jonah — The Atlanta Hawks are picking the players with the coolest hair. First, Prince who has some killer dreads and now it’s Bembry who has an insane afro. Since DeMarre Carroll left for the Toronto Raptors the Hawks missed that wing could guard multiple positions and make plays on the wings. Bembry is a great athlete who just relentlessly takes the ball to the basket. The Hawks have like 30 guys who can shoot threes so they’ll be able to make up for Bembry’s weaker jump shot.

10:04p — The Charlotte Hornets take Malachi Richardson at No. 22!! (for Kings)

Cole — As part of the trade that landed Marco Belinelli in Charlotte (the first trade win for the Kings in recent memory), they immediately regressed back into KANNNGGGZZZZZ territory selecting Richardson (after selection ANOTHER center).  Richardson meets the height/length benchmarks of an NBA wing, but was insanely inefficient at the college level and doesn’t have a plus feel for the game.  There were vastly superior options on the board that didn’t just make high-degree-of-difficulty shots in the tournament to unjustifiably vault into the first round.

10:12p — The Boston Celtics take Ante Zizic at No. 23!!

Brendon — While I think plenty of people guessed Boston would not be keeping all three first-rounders on their roster in 2016-17, I don’t think we imagined we’d get there this way. After selecting Guerschon Yubusele earlier tonight, the Celtics now reach back into the pool of international bigs to take Serbia’s Ante Zizic, a gifted scorer and agile defender who should continue to develop overseas and provide Boston with much needed frontcourt depth when he eventually comes over.

10:17p — The Philadelphia 76ers take Timothe Luwawu at No. 24!!

Austin P. — Luwawu is the perfect pick for the Sixers. Even though the Colangelos are now running the ship, Luwawu represents the type of long, crazy athletic player that the Sixers have been known to fancy in recent drafts. Luwawu has a lot of upside to be a high level 3-and-D wing in the league, something the Sixers will definitely need to put around non shooters like Simmons, Noel, and Okafor.

10:21p — The Los Angeles Clippers take Brice Johnson at No. 25!!

Cole — The Clippers take one of the most ready made and bounciest athletes in the draft who offers high-level floor changing ability, a plus motor and an insane lob catching radius in pick and roll as the dive man. Johnson is pigeon-holed into a backup 4 or 5 role with his body and lacks real skill outside of midrange shooting and finishing, but he can produce immediately, meshing well with the Clippers’ “win now” timeframe.  If he develops a consistent three-point shot (positive indicators there) and refines his technique on defense he could be a real player.

10:28p — The Philadelphia 76ers take Furkan Korkmaz at No. 26!!

Trevor — This is a fantastic pick from all aspects. On the court, Korkmaz brings undeniable shooting ability. He’s one of the most advanced spot-up shooters we’ve seen in the draft in recent years, and when his frame fills out, he should be a capable defender as well. Off the court, it’s perfect because Philly can keep him at Anadolu Efes in Turkey, which, by the way, is where Dario Saric has been. Grabbing Saric’s understudy could convince him to come over, and if that happens, it allows Korkmaz time in a significant role overseas.

10:36p — The Toronto Raptors take Pascal Siakam at No. 27!!

Chris S. — This seems a bit high for Pascal Siakam, but the 6-10 forward is a bundle of potential who could eventually help space the floor on offense for the Raptors. It’s interesting to see Toronto take another front court player after drafting Utah’s Jakob Poeltl in the top 10, but perhaps they are simply planning for the future. Siakam won’t contribute right away.

10:45p — The Phoenix Suns take  at No. 28!! (for Sacramento)

Evan — This pick is headed to the Kings, Skal Labissiere is a steal at 28. The talent is there and honestly, Kentucky and Coach Calipari should be blamed for this fall for Labissiere, they never put him a position to succeed. I’m not sure how he fits in with Sacramento’s front court but he can obviously shoot it very well and reminds me a lot of LaMarcus Aldridge. He needs to gets stronger desperately, but he’s an adequate shot blocker and with NBA coaching who knows how far he can go. I think Labissiere is a steal at 28, but Sacramento is far from an ideal fit for him.

10:52p —  The San Antonio Spurs take Dejounte Murray at No. 29!!

Brendon — The lineage of impressive Spurs point guards to be groomed under Tony Parker and their prestigious coaching staff found its latest incarnation tonight in their selection of Washington guard Dejounte Murray. While his shooting stroke will be a work in progress, there are few places better for improvement in that department. Somehow, the two most impressive regular season teams this year will plug holes at spots 29 and 30 in the draft. Bah.

11:00p — The Golden State Warriors take Damian Jones at No. 30!!

Austin — To end the first round, the Warriors take Vanderbilt’s Damian Jones, and long big man who moves extremely well and has a high ceiling on both ends. Jones has the reputation of having a likable personality, making him a great fit in the culture that the Warriors have built the last few years. Jones end up being a good backup center in this league, holding his own defensively while also dominating the glass and scoring on the block. He can fit Golden State’s style but also brings them some more versatility as well.

We’re all done here folks — enjoy the 2nd round and all it’s glory!!