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Live 2016 NBA Draft Grades: Round 1 – Picks 1-15 | Grades for Round 2
2016 NBA Mock Draft | 2017 NBA Mock Draft
Updated: June 23, 2016.
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Boston Celtics: Guerschon Yabusele, F, France – C Grade
These 10-19 picks might go down as the craziest in NBA history. Do NBA teams really hate the guys coming out of college that much since foreign guys keep getting picked? I mean, the Celtics do have 271 picks tonight so you knew they were going to grab some foreign guys, but there are a number of college prospects with better potential than these foreign guys. -
Memphis Grizzlies: Wade Baldwin, G, Vanderbilt – C+ Grade
I am not that high on Baldwin, but this fits a need for the Grizzlies who could be losing Mike Conley in free agency. Baldwin can play either guard spot, but I was higher on Dejuonte Murray, another combo guard, or a shooter like Malachi Richardson. -
Detroit Pistons: Henry Ellenson, F, Marquette – A- Grade
Terrific value for Detroit and a terrific fit for Ellenson. He is extremely skilled for his size and the Pistons could use a versatile power forward of the future to pair alongside Andre Drummond. Ellenson is a liability on defense, but having Drummond protecting the rim behind him alleviates that concern. He was once considered a top-10 pick so this is a great get for SVG and Detroit. -
Denver Nuggets: Malik Beasley, G, Florida State – C Grade
Denver already took Jamal Murray and has Gary Harris, so I’m not sure how Beasley fits into the equation. I do like Beasley’s game though and think he will be a solid scorer one day at the next level. I just don’t love the fit here. -
Brooklyn Nets: Caris LeVert, G, Michigan – D- Grade
The Nets acquired this pick from Indiana for Thaddeus Young. LeVert worries me because he was banged up the past two years. If he can ever get healthy, he can score and has good size for an NBA wing. However, there were higher value guards available, so this is a stretch for a guy who I had as a mid-second-round pick. -
Atlanta Hawks: DeAndre Bembry, F, St. Joseph’s – D+ Grade
Not sure what Atlanta is doing since I had both Bembry and Prince as borderline first-round picks, and they are both wings. The Hawks should have used one of their picks to draft some size (Davis? Labissiere?) since Al Horford is a free agent. -
Sacramento Kings: Malachi Richardson, G, Syracuse – A+ Grade
The Kings acquired this pick from Charlotte for Marco Belinelli. I like Richardson A LOT. I think he could end up being one of the top ten players in the draft. Richardson is a shooter who can replace what the team lost in Belinelli. This semi makes up for the Kings disastrous lottery pick. -
Boston Celtics: Ante Zizic, C, Croatia – B+ Grade
Damn it, I mocked the wrong international big guy here; I had Zubac not Zizic. Zizic could actually play right away for the Celtics who have a few free agents in their frontcourt. He will bring some needed toughness inside for Boston. -
Philadelphia 76ers: Timothe Luwawu, F, France – A Grade
Philly gets great value on a guy who projects as a three-and-D type player in the NBA. He was one of the top guys available and for a team just needing talent all over, this is a good pick. If he can plug some minutes at the two, it’s an even better selection. -
Los Angeles Clippers: Brice Johnson, F, North Carolina – B Grade
Hey, I got a pick right… it’s been a while (stupid crazy draft.) The Clippers need depth up front, and Johnson should be able to fill in some minutes right away. I may have rolled the dice though on more of a young talent like Labissiere, Deyonta Davis, or Cheick Diallo, who have higher ceilings. -
Philadelphia 76ers: Furkan Korkmaz, F, Turkey – B Grade
This foreign thing is out of control. Like Luwawu two picks earlier, Korkmaz is another versatile wing who adds a needed injection of talent in Philly. Whenever he comes over, he’ll be a nice player as he projected as a mid-teens pick. I just wonder if the 76ers wouldn’t have been better off adding a point guard like Murray or Demetrious Jackson at this stage instead of adding another wing. -
Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam, F, New Mexico State – D+ Grade
The Raptors need depth at power forward, but I’m still shocked that Skal and Davis aren’t selected here since they have more upside. Siakam was a double-double machine in a the low-major WAC, so at the very least, can be a rebounder off the bench. -
Sacramento Kings: Skal Labissiere, F, Kentucky – A+ Grade
The Kings acquired this pick from Phoenix, so this was Sacramento’s third first-rounder of the night. I mean, they already drafted a huge Greek guy, have Boogie and Willie Cauley-Stein, but to get a guy who a year ago was considered a top-three pick? Why wouldn’t you? This is two selections in a row that I actually like from the Kings. I sort of hope Labissiere turns out to be a really good player in the NBA. He has looked so sad in the green room with that gaudy purple suit. -
San Antonio Spurs: Dejounte Murray, PG, Washington – A Grade
Hey, the Spurs get a great value pick who will probably turn out to be a really valuable role player. Weird. Murray is a versatile combo guard and the Spurs could use guard depth especially with Manu Ginobli likely entering his swan-song season. -
Golden State Warriors: Damian Jones, C, Vanderbilt – C+ Grade
The Warriors need some size inside since they have a couple free agent big men. Jones looks the part, but wasn’t as dominant at Vanderbilt as he should have been. He is skilled offensively and could develop into a nice role player in Golden State.
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Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: [email protected].
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