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Live 2016 NBA Draft Grades: Round 1 – Picks 1-15
2016 NBA Mock Draft | 2017 NBA Mock Draft
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Memphis Grizzlies: Deyonta Davis, PF, Michigan State –
The Grizzlies acquire this pick and No. 35 for a 2019 first-round pick owned by the Clippers. Davis was a potential late lottery pick so this is great value here. Memphis does have Zach Randolph, who is entering the final year of his contract, but also has a couple of young power forwards already. Regardless, tremendous value this late. -
Los Angeles Lakers: Ivica Zubac, C, Croatia – A- Grade
The Lakers have a huge hole in the middle, and the 7-1 Croatian could plug some of those minutes, if he comes over right away. -
New Orleans Hornets: Cheick Diallo, F, Kansas – A- Grade
Diallo is raw and a project big with an incredible motor; dangerous but intriguing words to describe a prospect. He could develop into a nice role player in a year or two for the Pelicans, who acquired this pick from the Clippers. -
Phoenix Suns: Tyler Ulis, PG, Kentucky – A Grade
Phoenix has a recent history of loving point guards. Ulis is skilled enough to make an impact at the next level and could work his way into a reserve role. -
Memphis Grizzlies: Rade Zagorac, F, Serbia – B- Grade
A skilled 6-9 combo forward, Zagorac is a likely draft and stash for Memphis, who acquired this pick along with No. 31 from Boston. -
Milwaukee Bucks: Malcolm Brogdon, G, Virginia – A+ Grade
Brogdon isn’t the ideal NBA athlete but has enough intangibles to become a role player at the next level. The Bucks have a few free agent guards so he could crack their rotation this year. -
Houston Rockets: Chinanu Onuaku, C, Louisville – C+ Grade
HEY!!! I got this mock draft pick right. For the record, it’s extremely difficult to correctly predict second-round picks. With Dwight Howard hitting the free agent market, Onuaku could be a defensive/rebounding presence for the Rockets. -
Golden State Warriors: Patrick McCaw, G, UNLV – A Grade
Golden State acquired this pick from Milwaukee. I had the Warriors selecting McCaw at No. 30 in my mock draft so this makes a lot of sense since he is a scoring wing who could help eat up some minutes if Harrison Barnes leaves via free agency. -
Los Angeles Clippers: David Michineau, PG, France – C Grade
The Clippers acquired Nos. 39 and 40 from New Orleans for No. 33. This dude is from Guadeloupe. That has to be a first in the NBA right? -
Los Angeles Clippers: Diamond Stone, C, Maryland – A- Grade
This is a good value for a guy who was a top-10 player coming out of high school last year. He isn’t the most mobile guy, but could develop into a backup big. -
Orlando Magic: Stephen Zimmerman, F, UNLV – B- Grade
To me, Zimmerman is a poor man’s Cody Zeller… and that’s not a compliment since I am super anti-Zeller. He is skilled for a seven-footer but needs to add some strength. He could one day be Nikola Vucevic’s backup. -
Brooklyn Nets: Isaiah Whitehead, G, Seton Hall – B Grade
The Nets acquired this pick from Utah for No. 55 and cash. The Nets sorely need guard help and Whitehead is capable of running the point or playing off the ball. He really matured during his sophomore year at Seton Hall and that’s a good sign. -
Houston Rockets: Zhou Qi, F, China – C Grade
It was destiny that the Rockets were going to draft the Chinese center. Yao Ming made them how much money? Keep him on the roster for a few years, sell millions of jerseys in China, and this is a huge win for Houston even if the dude never sees the floor. -
Atlanta Hawks: Isaia Cordinier, G, France – B- Grade
With four picks, Atlanta was bound to take at least one foreign guy. He’s a versatile wing who might play in a couple of years. I just want to hear his French accent after listening to Luwawu’s interview earlier. -
Boston Celtics: Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame – B+ Grade
Boston already has several point guards, but to get a once mid-first-round prospect in the mid-second round for a team that entered the night with eight picks? Sure. -
Dallas Mavericks: A.J. Hammonds, C, Purdue – B Grade
Hammons should have been more dominant in college than he was because he is a skilled low post threat and also has a nice jumper. Sometimes, he looked like he was sleepwalking through games. If he plays with more energy at the next level, he could be a valuable backup big man. -
Portland Trailblazers: Jake Layman, F, Maryland – C+ Grade
Portland acquired this pick from Orlando. I actually mocked Layman at 47, so that’s two right second-round projections. My second round has somehow actually been better than the first round. Layman is “meh” to me. He’s a poor, poor man’s Chandler Parsons due to his versatility. -
Chicago Bulls: Paul Zipser, F, Germany – C Grade
My quick take on the Bulls post-Derrick Rose trade; they seem like a franchise that isn’t sure what they are doing. I feel bad for Jimmy Butler. He deserves better. They would have been better off letting Rose play out the final year of his contract, trying to sign a big name this offseason, and then entering next summer with a ton of cap space. Fred Hoiberg will be lucky to make it through this season with a job. -
Detroit Pistons: Michael Gbinije, F, Syracuse – A- Grade
The Pistons have had a nice draft, getting good value with both of their picks. They need depth at guard, and Gbinije is versatile enough to play and defend a couple of positions. He could stick on the roster. -
Indiana Pacers: Georges Niang, F, Iowa State – C- Grade
Good for Niang. He was a really good college player and I enjoyed watching him play. Despite his versatility, I don’t think his game translates to the next level so he will probably end up overseas. But hey, at least he got drafted? -
Boston Celtics: Ben Bentil, F, Providence – A+ Grade
Of their five selections, this is my favorite Celtics pick of the draft. Bentil is a bit undersized but can stretch defenses with his outside shooting and score from all over the floor. In the NBA these days, guys like Bentil are valuable in that small-ball lineup. I had him as a first-round prospect. -
Utah Jazz: Joel Bolomboy, F, Weber State – B Grade
The Weber State product stays in Utah and could stick on their roster as a rebounding, physical energy player off the bench. -
Denver Nuggets: Petr Cornelie, F, France – A Grade
The Nuggets already have a plethora of young foreign big guys, so why not add another? I thought Cornelie could slide into the early first round so this is a real nice draft-and-stash option this late. -
Atlanta Hawks: Kay Felder, PG, Oakland – B Grade
Hey, another second round pick – that’s three! Felder put up monster numbers last season and thanks to Isaiah Thomas, gets drafted despite barely standing 5-10. With Matthew Dellavedova a free agent, the Cavs need options at the point behind Kyrie Irving. -
Marcus Paige: – C- Grade
Utah traded down from No. 42 and selected the Carolina point guard here. The Jazz have like four point guards since acquiring George Hill, so I’m not sure Paige makes the cut. -
Oklahoma City Thunder: Daniel Hamilton, F, Connecticut – B- Grade
Oklahoma City bought this pick from Denver and finds its replacement for Kevin Durant. Kidding… Hamilton is versatile as heck but cannot shoot worth a lick. He possesses a lot of intriguing characteristics, especially for a player taken this late. -
Memphis Grizzlies: Wang Zhelin, C, China – D+ Grade
Everybody Wang Chung tonight! That was awful. I can’t believe I actually typed that. That’s what happens when 98 of the first 57 picks of this draft were foreign dudes. -
Boston Celtics: Abdel Nader, F, Iowa State – D Grade
Nader wasn’t anywhere on my draft radar. He can shoot it pretty well, but doesn’t have NBA-level athleticism to stick in the league. -
Sacramento Kings: Isaiah Cousins, G, Oklahoma – A- Grade
Cousins can play either guard spot and knock down shots. The type of skill set gives him a chance to find a home in the league. -
Utah Jazz: Tyrone Wallace, PG, California – B Grade
Another combo guard who does multiple things on the floor. The Jazz now have about 16 point guards after acquiring George Hill and taking Paige and Wallace in the second round. A trade must be on the horizon.
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Back to Live 2016 NBA Draft Grades: Round 1
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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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