NBA Draft Grades: Western Conference

The NBA Draft feels like Christmas for NBA fans. The anticipation of not knowing which young player your team will be gifted but knowing that an influx of young talent and potential will grace your favorite franchise is thrilling. Now that the draft has passed, I examined the picks made by each Western Conference team and gave each team a very early draft grade.

Los Angeles Lakers N/A

The Lakers traded their pick in the deal to acquire Dennis Schrӧder. They did not have a pick in the 2020 draft and for that reason were ineligible for a draft grade. The defending champions made the right decision by trading a pick in the late 20’s for a player who is ready to come in and make an immediate impact.

Los Angeles Clippers C+

Pick 33- Daniel Oturu

Pick 55- Jay Scrubb

The Clippers have less pressure on themselves and can afford to take a flier in the second round. Scrubb at 55 is a good value pick. Without many picks as a result of the Paul George trade, the Clippers will hope that at least a few of their second round picks pan out.

Golden State Warriors A

2- James Wiseman

48- Nico Mannion

51- Justinian Jessup

Wiseman might be a bit of an unknown in terms of how he projects to the NBA, but his ceiling was too high to pass on. Mannion late in the second round is also a great pick. With some thorough development, this Warriors draft class may look even more impressive down the line.

Phoenix Suns B+

10- Jalen Smith

Jalen Smith was viewed as a bit of a reach for the Suns at pick 10. However, there is no denying his talent. Smith has the tools that make a modern NBA center so successful, so this “reach” of a pick might be viewed as a steal down the line.

Sacramento Kings A-

12- Tyrese Haliburton

40- Robert Woodard II

43- Jahmi’us Ramsey

The Kings got a steal in Haliburton. He was projected as a top seven pick, while being as high as four in some mock drafts. With uncertainties around the future of Buddy Hield in Sacramento, Haliburton provides a guard who can do a little bit of everything on the floor.

Dallas Mavericks A-

18- Josh Green

31- Tyrell Terry

36- Tyler Bey

Especially considering where they were drafting, the Mavericks had a great draft. Josh Green can be the perimeter defender they desperately needed last season and Tyrell Terry is a guard with deep range who can play well in a system that feeds him open looks off Luka passes.

Houston Rockets C

52- Kenyon Martin Jr.

A quiet draft from the Rockets, but they did take a chance on Kenyon Martin Jr., the son of former #1 overall pick Kenyon Martin. Martin will most likely start the year off in the G-League but is a player with potential down the line.

San Antonio Spurs A-

11- Devin Vassell

41- Tre Jones

Vassell is one of the best defenders in this class. The Spurs’ first lottery pick of the millennium will get to develop under a San Antonio development team that has a history of turning later picks into budding stars. Add to this Tre Jones, a guard who is composed and plays a mature game, and the Spurs had a very solid draft.

New Orleans Pelicans B+

13- Kira Lewis Jr.

Lewis Jr. is a blur with the ball in his hands. Envisioning what he can do on a Fastbreak with Lonzo Ball and Zion Williamson is enticing. He will join a young Pelicans nucleus and seems like a great fit in their young lineup in a prominent bench role.

Memphis Grizzlies B+

30- Desmond Bane

35- Xavier Tillman

Desmond Bane was mocked to many contenders in the twenties and even in the late teens. Memphis managing to get him with the last pick in the first round is cause for celebration. Bane is a knockdown shooter who will open driving lanes for Ja Morant.

Oklahoma City Thunder C

17- Aleksej Pokusevski

34- Theo Maledon

37- Vit Krejci

The Thunder are taking a long-term approach with their drafting techniques. This year, we saw the Thunder swing for upside with players like Pokusevski and Maledon, talented youngsters who are not quite ready to immediately contribute at the NBA level. That being said, these picks may end up as steals down the line and OKC has an overflowing cupboard of first round picks over the next five years.

Denver Nuggets B+

22- Zeke Nnaji

24- RJ Hampton

Before the season, RJ Hampton was viewed as a top 10 pick. His decision to play overseas in Australia against grown men and fierce competition might have hurt his draft stock a bit. Hampton struggled shooting but showed flashes of dazzling skill. The Nuggets always find a way to get one of the best talents in the draft that seems to slide on draft night. We saw this last year with Bol Bol and the year prior with Michael Porter Jr.

Portland Trail Blazers C

46- CJ Elleby

Elleby will struggle cracking a deep Portland rotation, but at pick 46, there are no complaints about the pick. It is always beneficial to think long-term when you’re a team ready to win sooner rather than later.

Utah Jazz C+

27- Udoka Azubuike

39- Elijah Hughes

The Jazz don’t have many glaring weaknesses so taking a safer pick such as Azubuike will likely play out well. Two more young players to learn from Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, two elite All-Stars at their positions.

Minnesota Timberwolves A

1-Anthony Edwards

23- Leandro Bolmaro

28- Jaden McDaniels

It’s easy to give the team with the first overall pick a high grade, but the Timberwolves did well. Edwards will fit in with Russell and Towns and make Minnesota one of the more exciting young teams in the league. Jaden McDaniels is a talented scorer who can benefit from thorough NBA development and experience.