This draft wasn’t top heavy in talent, but it did provide for some interesting prospects for some teams and some blockbuster deals.

The report cards are in.

Here are the winners, losers, and everyone in between.

 

Los Angeles Clippers – B+

F Blake Griffin

The Clippers had the easiest decision of the night and took the consensus top prospect in this draft.

He won’t be the best player from this draft in ten years, but he’s a solid player who could average a double-double for a long time.

Now the Clippers have to trade either Chris Kaman or Marcus Camby to make room for Griffin. There is more interest in Camby because of his versatility and his contract.

Since Camby is the likely casualty of this selection, the Clippers fall short of a top grade.

 

Memphis Grizzlies – A

C Hasheem Thabeet, F DeMarre Carroll, F Sam Young, G/F Quentin Richardson

When Darko Milicic and Kwame Brown are in your front-court rotation, you need help.

Thabeet will be a shot blocking presence from day one. If the Grizzlies focus his efforts on becoming a great defender, he should fare better than Greg Oden in Portland.

With no power forward prospects in this spot, Thabeet was the only smart pick for them to make.

Carroll was a stretch but the Grizzlies made up for it by stealing Sam Young in the second round. He will be a major contributor off their bench.

Getting a productive player for Milicic is also a plus.

Q-Rich should help mentor their young core of players and will especially help the development of O.J. Mayo.

 

Oklahoma City Thunder – A+

G James Harden, C B.J. Mullens, G Robert Vaden

Harden is a perfect fit to play alongside Kevin Durant. He can shoot and drive into the lane. He complements Durant perfectly.

Also, he isn’t someone who can lead an NBA team and be the primary creator of offense. However, as a supporting facilitator, he’s the best available in this draft.

The only spot in their starting lineup which isn’t set in stone for the next five years is center. Mullens is athletic and could develop into that guy.

Right now he’s an upgrade over Robert Swift.

Vaden can flat out shoot it from the perimeter, and that’s his trump card to earn a roster spot.

 

Sacramento Kings – A

G Tyreke Evans, F Omri Casspi, F Jon Brockman, G Sergio Rodriguez

Evans can play either guard position and could develop into the next Brandon Roy if everything clicks for him. He walks in as the best player on the team.

Casspi is the first Israeli player taken in the first round and will be the first to play in the NBA.

He is a tough player with a little more offensive skill than most are giving him credit for. He should develop into a consistent contributor off the bench.

Brockman should be able to get rebounds for a team lacking interior toughness. Realistically, that’s about all he’ll consistently provide at this level.

“Spanish Chocolate” will remind fans of the Jayson Williams days of exciting and erratic basketball. He puts some pressure on Beno Udrih.

 

Minnesota Timberwolves – B-

G Ricky Rubio, G Jonny Flynn, G Wayne Ellington, F Henk Norel, F/C Etan Thomas, F Darius Songailia, Oleksiy Pecherov,

The T-Wolves didn’t have to move up to get who was supposed to be their guy in Rubio. He is Steve Nash reincarnated and will be a perennial all-star in this league.

Flynn isn’t the flashiest player but has the toughness and the “it” factor to lead the Wolves for the foreseeable future.

Flynn, at No. 6, was the most puzzling selection of the night. T-Wolves president David Kahn says he wants both point guards to play together.

This would be a complete disaster as opposing back courts destroy the duo defensively. Flynn is undersized and Rubio physically is no match for most NBA guards.

If Kahn is serious about playing them both at the same time, he might have to go Kevin McHale and coach the team himself because no legit NBA coach is going to sign off on the idea.

If Minnesota wants to keep both players, the smart solution is to use Rubio as an insurance policy. They can save money and let him stay in Spain next year while playing Flynn as the primary point guard.

If Flynn becomes the floor general of the future, they can then trade Rubio next year for a great player or a high lottery pick.

There are already reports that Rubio isn’t pleased with the idea of playing in Minnesota and that he might prefer to stay in Spain. The situation could work in the T-Wolves' favor if they play their cards right.

Otherwise this could be Yi Jianlian with Milwaukee all over again.

Ellington is a pure shooter who will replace the departed Mike Miller.

Thomas and Songailia give Minnesota some versatility for their second team front-court.

Pecherov is famous for his role as Stewie Griffin in Family Guy and for getting dunked on by Andres Nocioni:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbxzfVl_7c4

 

Warriors – INCOMPLETE

G Stephen Curry, G Acie Law, G Speedy Claxton

Law never found himself in Atlanta and could resurrect his career in Golden State in the same way as current Warriors G Kelenna Azubuike.

The Warriors don’t have a grade yet because Curry might be part of a trade package to bring in Suns F/C Amar’e Stoudemire. The rumored trade proposal would send Curry, G Marco Belinelli, F/C Andris Biedrins, and F Brandan Wright to Phoenix.

If the trade goes through, the Warriors get an A+. Amar’e isn’t even in the prime of his career yet and is a major upgrade over Biedrins.

Golden State already has plenty of scoring guards and Belinelli and Wright aren’t the greatest prospects on the planet.

Getting Stoudemire makes the Warriors a playoff team.

 

New York Knicks – B+

F Jordan Hill, G Toney Douglas, C Darko Milicic

The Knicks got the short end of the stick when both Flynn and Curry were taken ahead of them. Hill was the only pick they could make given the circumstances.

With that said, Hill is a solid player who could develop into a well balanced machine.

In the short term he will replace David Lee when he’s traded or gets the big contract he deserves in free agency.

Douglas is a tough guard who can get his shot up and drill it from almost anywhere on the court. He isn’t afraid to play defense either and his efforts are contagious.

If Douglas played for a high-profile program, he easily could’ve landed in the lottery.

Milicic saves the Knicks around eight million dollars in 2010. He’s useful for once.

 

Toronto Raptors – D

G DeMar DeRozan

DeRozan didn’t show anything at USC to warrant a top ten selection. There has to be a bust in the top ten and he’s the most likely candidate.

The Raptors needed a long term answer at the two-guard. They’ll need to find it in whatever they get back in the inevitable Chris Bosh trade.

 

Milwaukee Bucks – C+

G Brandon Jennings, G Jodie Meeks, F Bruce Bowen, F/C Kurt Thomas, F Amir Johnson

Jennings is a player with a ton of upside who accelerated his maturity curve by going to Italy for a year and learning about real life and responsibility. He isn’t the same person he was in high school and that’s a positive.

With the rumored departure of Like Ridnour, there should be a good chunk of playing time for Jennings.

Meeks can score but will struggle in the NBA unless he learns how to separate from defenders.

I know moving Richard Jefferson was purely a salary cap move, but to get absolutely no major future value in return for his talents is a waste.

 

New Jersey Nets – A+

F Terrence Williams, G Rafer Alston, G Courtney Lee, F/C Tony Battie

The Nets were finally able to move the huge burden of Vince Carter’s contract, and unlike some other teams trading away big name players, they got some talent back in return.

Courtney Lee will continue to develop and will become much more of a scorer in New Jersey as he gets a lot more touches. He is a slasher with some range and creates a quick back court with Devin Harris.

Alston solidifies the point guard position off the bench and provides a nice marketing chip as Skip to My Lou when the Nets move to Brooklyn if they keep him.

Battie gives them some much needed depth and veteran know-how behind C Brook Lopez.

Williams is an outstanding selection. He has point guard passing ability and lock down defense. He can get to the rim and is simply a winner.

The Nets are planning for the future but should be a perennial playoff contender in a few years.

 

Charlotte Bobcats – B

G Gerald Henderson, F Derrick Brown

The Bobcats didn’t hit a home run with either pick but picked up two athletic players to work into the rotation at some point in the future.

Charlotte basically has its major rotation in place, so they didn’t need an impact player in this draft.

This is the year the Bobcats make the playoffs.

 

Indiana Pacers – C-

F Tyler Hansbrough, G A.J. Price

Hansbrough is a gritty player who will earn his paycheck in the league for many years. But the Pacers had bigger needs.

They needed someone athletic in the front court with some range for the future. James Johnson was still available.

They also could’ve taken the point guard of the future as it doesn’t seem T.J. Ford or Jarrett Jack provides a long term solution.

Price gives the Pacers decent value but isn’t something they don’t already have at point guard.

If the goal of the draft is to improve the quality of your team, the Pacers didn’t help themselves much.

 

Phoenix Suns – INCOMPLETE

F Earl Clark, F Taylor Griffin, F Emir Preldzic, G/F Sasha Pavlovic, F/C Ben Wallace

Clark is a very talented player who just couldn’t take his game to the next level at Louisville. If he can utilize his skills and play consistently, he has all star potential. He can do a little bit of everything.

The other Griffin is a novelty pick. The fact that he could make the team tells you a lot about the depth on the Suns.

Pavlovic and Wallace are cap savers. Neither will be a major factor as players for this franchise.

The incomplete grade stems from the potential Stoudemire deal. In that case, the Suns would get an F. They would be trading a big man with immense skills for a couple of solid role players and a couple scrubs.

The Shaq trade was understandable. That experiment was a failure. They needed to just unload his contract.

If the Suns just waste Amar’e, they’re making the type of move which haunts a franchise for at least a decade.

Curry would be a nice addition but there’s no evidence to show he can actually play the point in the NBA. He didn’t make his supporting cast at Davidson any better and they had experienced players who should’ve progressed.

It’s no accident Davidson was an elite eight in 2008 with point guard Jason Richards, who led the country in assists.

With a veteran squad, Curry didn’t even make the big dance running the offense.

If Curry plays shooting guard, then you have a major defensive liability on the floor and no plan behind an aging Steve Nash.

Biedrins is a great rebounder but is very limited offensively.

The Suns need to try and trade Stoudemire for a proven star if they insist on moving on without him.

Otherwise Steve Kerr will continue to murder the Suns.

 

Detroit Pistons – B-

F Austin Daye, F DaJuan Summers, F Jonas Jerebko, C Fabricio Oberto

The Pistons don’t receive a great grade for a couple of reasons.

Daye is the primary one. He’s a toothpick and is easily the softest player in the draft. He has great potential and range, but doesn’t have the mentality to capitalize on his skills.

He’s the next Channing Frye. And just like Frye, Daye will find himself in NBA obscurity in four years.

Summers can get after the ball and knock down a jump shot. He should develop into a consistent scorer and gives the Pistons second unit a different dimension.

Jerebko is a developmental talent who could evolve into a Trevor Ariza type, so he’s worth a shot at some point.

The other reason for the low grade is that all three of these picks address the same position.

If rumors about the Pistons moving Richard Hamilton and/or Tayshaun Prince are true, the Pistons could have covered themselves a little by drafting a shooting guard.

 

Chicago Bulls – B

F James Johnson, F Taj Gibson

Johnson is an excellent selection as the Bulls finally take a front court player who can score from outside ten feet.

He gives them great depth at the three or four, and with the uncertainty surrounding Luol Deng, he’s a solid insurance policy who should develop into a starter down the road.

Gibson can make an NBA team but didn’t make much sense for the Bulls in the late first round. They needed guard depth and will now have to either resign Ben Gordon or find that player for Kirk Hinrich.

 

Philadelphia 76ers – B+

G Jrue Holiday

The Sixers needed a point guard prospect for the future.

As long as they keep Andre Miller, they can wait on Holiday to mature and develop while staying with Miller and backup Louis Williams.

 

Denver Nuggets – A

G Ty Lawson

The Nuggets needed a better backup behind Chauncey Billups.

Lawson loves to push the ball up the floor and fits in perfectly with the likes of J.R. Smith and Chris “Birdman” Andersen on Denver’s second unit.

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