Portland Trail Blazer Draft Grades

Taking a look around the league I've found some very differing opinions on how well Portland did in the 2009 NBA draft.I will add more throughout the day but here's what I found so far:

Chad Ford, ESPN - Grade: B-

Analysis: I love the aggressive way Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard approaches the draft -- even before it began this year, he made two trades to reposition his team.

But I'm not in love with his picks this time around. Claver has real upside and could be a good pick down the road, but he isn't exactly Rudy Fernandez, and he's going to have to make a big leap to make it. Pendergraph is solid but stiff, while Cunningham is talented but undersized and Mills is fast as lightning and a good scorer but small and not a great distributor.

NBADraft.Net - Grade: A-

The Blazers already had a loaded roster, so they weren't looking to add much right now. Claver has a lot of talent and won't require a contract for a few years. Pendergraph and Cunningham are both solid value prospects to stow away in the NBDL. Mills should have been taken 20 spots higher.

NBA Fanhouse - Grade: B

Claver and Pendergraph have the potential to give the Blazers some scrappiness and athleticism up front (that is, once Claver arrives; he's already stated his intentions to stay in Europe one more year). They also run the floor well enough to help the Blazers in transition. Mills could end up being the steal of the draft.

NBC Sports - Grade: C

The Blazers traded up to the No. 22 pick to select Spanish power forward Victor Claver, the second overseas prospect to be taken. Claver is expected to remain with his team in Valencia, which helps a team that already carries a loaded roster. Claver is long and athletic and runs the floor well. Like many European players, he moves well without the ball and sees the floor. Based on the Blazers' draft resume, there is little reason to doubt their overseas selections. Even No. 31 pick, Arizona State forward Jeff Pendergraph could contribute, as could No. 33 pick Dante Cunningham, the inside-scoring forward from Villanova.

Dave Del Grande CBS Sportsline - Grade: F

(On the Claver pick) Analysis: Will take Spanish star a few years to find Portland, which doesn't help club move up anytime soon ... In year of point guard, hard to believe team that needs one wouldn't go that direction.

Ball Don't Lie - Grade: 8/10

The Trail Blazers didn't disappoint by not putting together 12 Draft-night trades, so let's just lose that idea. I don't like dumping Sergio Rodriguez, not at his age, and am not sold on any of the players Pritchard picked up. But that's because I don't know much about them, and each of the guys (save for Mills) had gotten good marks entering Thursday's Draft. And only one (Claver) will get a guaranteed deal.