NBA Draft 2018: Grades for all 30 teams
Handing out grades to all 30 teams for what they were able to accomplish and the prospects they selected in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Teams were tantalized, had lasers on and were locked in on players all throughout the 2018 NBA Draft, but now the dust has settled. All 60 picks have been made and it’s now a waiting game to see how things will ultimately play out. Of course, that doesn’t mean we can’t also make snap-judgments right away about what transpired on Thursday night.
Handing out NBA Draft grades immediately after the fact can be tricky, especially considering that we have no idea what these players’ careers are going to look like — or even if they’ll be on these teams once free agency and trades have played out. Having said that, we can look at team needs, what we see in the prospects currently and the notion of value in a given NBA Draft and assess how teams did.
That’s what we’re doing here, handing out 2018 NBA Draft grades to all 30 teams, starting with the Atlanta Hawks.
Atlanta Hawks
There’s absolutely no question that the Atlanta Hawks were looking for shooting with three picks in the first round of the NBA Draft, landing Trae Young and Kevin Huerter as guards and then Omari Spellman with the 30th-overall pick. What’s more, they landed a future first-round pick by trading back and grabbing Young. However, hand-waving a player like Luka Doncic for a huge gamble on Young is the type of risk that can cost even fresh general managers their jobs.
Grade: B-
Boston Celtics
It’s hard to hate on what the Boston Celtics were able to do in the slightest. Sure, having only one pick in the draft isn’t the ideal scenario, but they got tremendous value at No. 27 with former Texas A&M big man Robert Williams falling to them after being projected as a mid-round selection. He’ll fill a critical depth need in their frontcourt right away, and Danny Ainge keeps loading up.
Grade: A-
Brooklyn Nets
Picking at Nos. 29 and 40, the Brooklyn Nets weren’t about to turn their franchise around immediately in the 2018 NBA Draft. What’s more, they’re clearly looking to make some free agency noise, so the draft is minimally important to them at this point. Still, Dzanan Musa fell to them in the late first round and they nabbed Rodion Kurucs 11 picks later. Musa could be a sleeper in this class, but both could be depth pieces, albeit unexciting ones.
Grade: C+
Charlotte Hornets
This was the most Charlotte Hornets draft imaginable, aside from not taking a big man in the lottery who has questionable NBA potential but was great in college. Charlotte has been mired in mediocrity for some time, and they answered that by trading down one spot and selecting Miles Bridges. He may have one of the highest floors in this class, but certainly doesn’t have as high a ceiling as others. Devonte Graham, however, could be a solid depth addition, but remains unspectacular.
Grade: B
Chicago Bulls
It’s quite clear that the Chicago Bulls weren’t interested in project players to put around last year’s first-round pick, Lauri Markannen. Wendell Carter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison add value to the frontcourt and backcourt, respectively, and should be able to play solid minutes in the Windy City right away to continue their current rebuild.
Grade: B+
Cleveland Cavaliers
It’s hard not to like Collin Sexton coming out of the NBA Draft and what he brings to the Cavaliers as their lone first-round pick. If LeBron James stays, he helps improve their putrid backcourt defense and gives them a bit more of a fire in that department as well. If LeBron decides to leave Cleveland, Sexton has potential on offense to go with his defense, but more importantly the attitude to not let a rebuild affect his development.
Grade: B
Dallas Mavericks
While giving up a future first-round pick is always an at-least-slightly bitter pill to swallow, it was worth it for the Mavericks to land Luka Doncic. Many believe he can be “the guy” from the 2018 NBA Draft class, and Dallas making the move up to get him is an automatic win in my book. Adding intriguing depth and projects with Jalen Brunson, Ray Spalding and Kostas Antetokounmpo only bolsters their class.
Grade: A+
Denver Nuggets
Some people might criticize the Denver Nuggets for being the ones to end the Michael Porter Jr.’s slide, but that seems wrong. Yes, the back is a major concern and who knows how that injury concern plays out. However, at No. 14, you’re in a position where you must take a gamble like that if the opportunity presents itself, especially at a position of need. That pick defines the class, and it’s a win in my book for Denver.
Grade: A
Detroit Pistons
Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown were the two selections for the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night, both taken in the second round. Objectively, those picks are fine for this team as developmental players that do have a great deal of potential. For a team in their current state though, having traded away their first-round pick for Blake Griffin is a black cloud over this draft class.
Grade: C
Golden State Warriors
Making their sole selection in the 2018 NBA Draft at pick No. 28, the back-to-back champions landed a defensive-minded guard in Jacob Evans, and you could foreseeably have him be a role player on this team sooner rather than later. At this point, Golden State isn’t going to be making splash picks, but they keep finding ways to improve in little areas.
Grade: B
Houston Rockets
Both of the Rockets’ selections on Thursday night came in the latter part of the second round, where they took De’Anthony Melton and Vince Edwards. Both are high-upside projects, and that’s never a bad thing to have a team’s disposal. How excited are you supposed to get about mid-to-late second-round picks though?
Grade: B-
Indiana Pacers
Landing Aaron Holiday with the 23rd-overall pick had to feel like a dream for the Indiana Pacers as he’s a scoring point guard that could contribute right away as an energy player. Their second-round pick, Alize Johnson, is one of those project and potential depth players you look for in that spot, but landing Holiday — who by all accounts was their guy — is huge for the Pacers.
Grade: A-
Los Angeles Clippers
Initially picking back-to-back at Nos. 12 and 13 in the NBA Draft, the Clippers moved up one spot from their first pick to take Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and then landed Jerome Robinson with the latter selection. Both players add dimension to the backcourt in Los Angeles with Gilgeous-Alexander being a glue-guy on defense and Robinson providing a potential spark offensively. These were solid additions for this franchise.
Grade: B+
Los Angeles Lakers
With the specters of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George hanging over the Lakers this summer, it’s hard to truly know how to grade this draft class. However, Mo Wagner can contribute right away as a stretch big man, while Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk gives their backcourt a dead-eye shooter. Still, neither totally move the needle right now, and all could be moved at some point as the Lakers look to land bigger fish this offseason.
Grade: C+
Memphis Grizzlies
Jaren Jackson was a no-brainer pick for the Memphis Grizzlies at the No. 4 spot and his upside gives tremendous hope for the future of the franchise. What’s more, Jevon Carter just seems to have Grizzlies DNA in him already as an all-heart guy who’s also a great defender. These moves alone won’t put them back in the playoffs, but they’re great pieces to have.
Grade: A-
Miami Heat
A low-end playoff team that doesn’t have a draft pick isn’t a great way to take a step forward as a franchise.
Grade: F
Milwaukee Bucks
Watching the Milwaukee Bucks last season, it was hard not to think “man, it’d be great if they had better shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo.” They landed that in Donte DiVincenzo with the No. 17 pick as the Villanova product can light it up on the offensive end of the floor. What’s more, after playing a limited role in college, his potential might just be higher than we think.
Grade: A-
Minnesota Timberwolves
If you had any doubt that the presence of head coach Tom Thibodeau had a say in who the Minnesota Timberwolves would select in the NBA Draft, doubt no more. First-round pick Josh Okogie and second-rounder Keith Bates-Diop both seem to fit the mold of what Thibodeau likes from his players and can add depth to a team in dire need of just that.
Grade: B+
New Orleans Pelicans
Being able to land Tony Carr with the 51st pick is actually solid value as he has upside and could be a contributor for the New Orleans Pelicans. As this team is looking to get over the hump though, it’s difficult to be too over-the-moon about the franchise not having a selection in the top 50.
Grade: C
New York Knicks
The fans in Barclays Center may not have been huge fans of Kevin Knox heading to the New York Knicks at No. 9, but he’s a player that’s been slept on much throughout this process given his ability and upside. Then, to land Mitchell Robinson at No. 36 with his upside — if he can keep his nose clean — made this a really nice little haul for the Knicks.
Grade: B+
Oklahoma City Thunder
Making a late trade up to get Hamidou Diallo makes this a little bit better than a C-graded class for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but not by much. They still only added three second-rounders in Diallo, Devon Hall and Kevin Hervey, and none of the three project as anyone that will be able to help Russell Westbrook and Co. immediately.
Grade: C+
Orlando Magic
From taking Mo Bamba with the sixth-overall pick to their later selections of Melvin Frazier and Justin Jackson (via trade), the Magic weren’t afraid of rolling the dice a little bit, but they’re a team that needs to be doing that. They’ve had concrete strapped to their feet in the standings for some time now and they need to be taking calculated risks to try and turn that around. High-upside guys like Bamba and intriguing projects like Frazier and Jackson are those types of moves.
Grade: A-
Philadelphia 76ers
It boggles the mind why the Philadelphia 76ers were able to land a guy in Mikal Bridges at No. 10 that’s seemingly tailor-made to what they need on their roster, but then trade him away — even if they got an intriguing player in Zhaire Smith and a future first-rounder. Maybe they have bigger plans, which could make this grade change if those play out favorably, but keeping Bridges would’ve been the wiser move in the moment.
Grade: C
Phoenix Suns
Speaking of Bridges, the Phoenix Suns is ultimately where he landed as they made the trade for him by sending Philadelphia Smith and Miami’s 2021 first-round pick. After having already taken DeAndre Ayton at No. 1, the Suns clearly took big strides forward and should see some immediate progress as a team as a direct result of this draft class.
Grade: A+
Portland Trail Blazers
Anfernee Simons was a risk that the Portland Trail Blazers didn’t have to take with the No. 24 pick when they didn’t necessarily have to do so. And while trading to get Gary Trent Jr. in the second round is a nice add for them, the Simons pick just seems like an unnecessary gamble when other players on the board could have provided surer, more immediate help to this team.
Grade: D
Sacramento Kings
Ever the ones to shake things up in the NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings proved rumors true as they passed on Luka Doncic in favor of Marvin Bagley. Bagley is an early Rookie of the Year favorite with the Kings and has tremendous talent. However, he was Sacramento’s lone draft pick in this class, and I can’t give passing on Doncic an A grade.
Grade: B+
San Antonio Spurs
Second-round pick Chimezie Metu has some upside, but the grade for the San Antonio Spurs is mostly contingent upon what they did with the 18th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, selecting Lonnie Walker IV out of Miami. Regardless of what happens with Kawhi Leonard, Walker was tremendous value for the Spurs at that point with lottery-type talent and upside and someone who can contribute for them soon.
Grade: A
Toronto Raptors
You know what doesn’t help you get further in the Eastern Conference Playoffs? Not having any draft picks.
Grade: F
Utah Jazz
Say what you will about Grayson Allen and his all-over-the-place college career at Duke, but he’s a great fit for the Utah Jazz and provides nice value with the 21st-overall selection. He brings them a runner that can score in multiple ways, most importantly with an outside shot. His standing as a defensive liability is even lessened playing with this team, making him a nice get for the Jazz.
Grade: B
Next: Every NBA team's greatest draft pick of all time
Washington Wizards
Troy Brown Jr., the first-round pick of the Washington Wizards in this NBA Draft, could provide a lot of good things for them, but it’s almost assured that he won’t provide anything great. Adding him plus a stash player in Issuf Sanon gives the Wizards some more options, but probably not as many as they need moving forward.
Grade: C+