NBA Draft Winners and Losers: Biggest Flops and Successes of Top 10
The Sacramento Kings made out like the royalty their name suggests when Thomas Robinson slid to them at No. 5.
They walk away as the big winners of the first round, but certainly not the only ones involved in the top 10 of the draft to score big.
To ensure that the balance of order is maintained, there were also some big losers. So, let's take a look at the biggest winners and losers of the top 10.
Winners
Sacramento Kings
Thomas Robinson falling to No. 5 was some much needed good news for a franchise embroiled in turmoil. No one can say where this franchise will be located in the coming seasons, but we can now say they will have an excellent frontcourt.
Robinson will now slide into that front line with center DeMarcus Cousins, and they will be an imposing duo. Cousins averaged 18.1 points and 11 rebounds last year, and now they are adding another player that could very well be a double-double guy as a rookie.
Robinson is an excellent rebounder and a solid low-post scorer with a mid-range jumper—and it is that mid-range shot that will really help him pair with Cousins.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons took Connecticut center Andre Drummond with the ninth pick, and they now have one of the most physically imposing frontcourt duos ever, as he will pair with Greg Monroe.
That is a bold statement, but these are two beasts. Now, that said, Drummond has a lot of work to do to turn in his massive body and freakish athleticism into talent.
The Pistons can now move Monroe to his more natural power forward position—and he is going to be able to overpower plenty of power forwards in this league.
Losers
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors made the biggest reach of the top 10 when they selected Washington shooting guard Terrence Ross with the ninth selection.
The Raptors had a definite need at shooting guard. I like Ross because he is a well-rounded player, but this was just far too big of a reach. The Raptors likely could have traded back at least six picks and still taken Ross.
When you have a lottery selection, it is important to maximize your value, and no team did a worse job of that than the Raptors.
The Hornets took this young Duke guard with the 10th pick, and I don't get it—but it is Austin Rivers who really suffers from this head-scratcher.
Rivers has some serious developing to do before he is ready to run the point in the NBA. His fastest way onto the court is going to be as a shooting guard, but the Hornets have Eric Gordon.
Now, Gordon is an unrestricted free agent and it certainly is not a guarantee that he will come back—but it is likely. Frankly, the Hornets would be foolish to let him get away.
This would leave Rivers behind the 23-year-old Gordon at his more natural position of shooting guard. This is going to force him into action as a point guard, where he simply is not suited to succeed for the time being.
Rivers is going to have a hard time finding a role on this team, and he is going to have a hard time developing because of it.
