NBA Draft 2014: Team-by-Team Analysis and Grades for Round 1 Results

Despite the 2014 NBA draft featuring the best class since 2003, some teams still found a way to screw up.

And other teams took advantage of those screwups.

Here is a team-by-team breakdown of Round 1.

Cleveland Cavaliers

1. SG Andrew Wiggins, Kansas

19 years old, 6’8”, 200 pounds

Freshman stats: 17.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game

Grade: A

Cleveland picked the prospect with the highest ceiling who also doesn't have potential to be the next Greg Oden. The Cavaliers could have chosen the most pro-ready player available in Jabari Parker, which would have helped them contend faster. But they looked at the big picture and made the right pick.

Milwaukee Bucks

2. SF Jabari Parker, Duke

19 years old, 6’8”, 241 pounds

Freshman stats: 19.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game

Grade: A

Milwaukee's job was easy: Select whoever Cleveland didn't take between Wiggins and Parker. The Bucks did their job. And if Parker doesn't win Rookie of the Year, it'll almost be as shocking as who the Toronto Raptors drafted at 20th overall. 

Philadelphia 76ers

3. C Joel Embiid, Kansas

20 years old, 7’0”, 250 pounds

Freshman stats: 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game

Grade: A+

When you can pick the best player in the draft at third overall, you grab him, no matter how risky. Embiid may not impact the 76ers until next season, but this isn't a problem because they're not ready to contend right away. When Embiid is healthy, Philadelphia will have the most physically gifted pair of 7-footers in the league.

10. PG Elfrid Payton, Louisiana-Lafayette 

20 years old, 6’4”, 185 pounds

Junior stats: 19.2 points, 5.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game

Grade: A++

This pick was going to get a D because Payton couldn't coexist with Michael Carter-Williams, but then Yahoo Sports Adrian Wojnarowski reported this:

Philadelphia traded down for two extra draft picks to acquire a prospect worthy of the No. 10 selection anyway—freaking brilliant. And the 76ers will be horrendous again next season because Embiid and Dario Saric won't see the floor, so add another top-three pick to their bright future.

Orlando Magic

4. PF Aaron Gordon, Arizona

18 years old, 6’9”, 220 pounds

Freshman stats: 12.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game

Grade: C+

Dante Exum fell. He wasn't supposed to fall after Embiid's injury, but he did and Orlando still passed on him. This isn't about the Magic failing to fill their greatest need at point guard because they landed one eventually. Nevertheless, drafting a freak athlete who can't shoot over a freak athlete who could ultimately become the best scorer in the class was foolish.

12. PF Dario Saric, Croatia

20 years old, 6’10”, 223 pounds

Croatian A-1 Liga 2013-14 stats: 16.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game

Grade: B

Again, Saric is Philadelphia-bound (in a year or two), and the Magic netted Payton. Orlando could have filled its need at point guard with Zach LaVine or Tyler Ennis, though, without surrendering future picks. If Payton doesn't develop into the best of that trio, Orlando screwed up (again).

Utah Jazz

5. PG Dante Exum, Australia

18 years old, 6’6”, 196 pounds

U-19 World Championships stats: 18.2 points, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game

Grade: A+

Utah general manager Dennis Lindsey probably had to slap himself in the face a couple of times when Orlando passed on Exum to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Not only did the Jazz land one of the best four prospects in the draft at No. 5, but he filled a need. Utah needed a longer point guard with Trey Burke standing at 6'1", 190 pounds, and Exum, being a combo guard, can play alongside him.

23. SG Rodney Hood, Duke

21 years old, 6’9”, 208 pounds

Sophomore stats: 16.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game

Grade: A+

This pick is brilliant: Exum's one weakness is shooting, so Utah responds by drafting one of the best shooters in the class in Hood. Only one team scored fewer points than the Jazz in the regular season this year, but that won't happen again. They walked away as one of the biggest winners in the draft.

Boston Celtics

6. PG Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State

20 years old, 6’3”, 227 pounds

Sophomore stats: 18.0 points, 4.8 assists and 2.9 steals per game

Grade: A

Rajon Rondo's name is in the rumor mill, and Avery Bradley is a free agent. Even if both of them will be back this year, Boston was desperate for guard depth. But there's a high probability at least one won't be back, so the Celtics just solved a desperate need for a starting guard. 

17. SF James Young, Kentucky

18 years old, 6’8”, 213 pounds

Freshman stats: 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game

Grade: A

Young could have heard his name called as early as No. 13 to the Timberwolves, and he should have gone at No. 15 to the Hawks. This is a high-upside pick that an established franchise like the Celtics is sure to cash in on. He and Smart could form one of the top perimeter scoring duos for years to come.

Los Angeles Lakers

7. PF Julius Randle, Kentucky

19 years old, 6’9”, 234 pounds

Freshman stats: 15.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game

Grade: A

Despite the sorry state of its roster, Los Angeles is in win-now mode because Kobe Bryant is 35 years old and overpaid. If the Lakers kept the pick, they had to take a pro-ready player, and that's what they found in Randle. He'll start from Day 1, and there will be no complaints about his toughness or motor like Pau Gasol.

Sacramento Kings

8. SG Nik Stauskas, Michigan

20 years old, 6’7”, 207 pounds

Sophomore stats: 17.5 points, 3.3 assists and 0.6 steals per game

Grade: C

Sacramento had huge needs at point guard and power forward. Elfrid Payton and Noah Vonleh were available. Instead, Sacramento drafted a shooting guard for the second straight year (after taking Ben McLemore in 2013)—one of them better be trade bait.

Charlotte Hornets

9. PF Noah Vonleh, Indiana

18 years old, 6’10”, 247 pounds

Freshman stats: 11.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game

Grade: A+

Charlotte may have just landed the steal of the draft. Vonleh could have gone third overall, and he has a higher ceiling than Gordon and Randle. The Hornets needed a power forward with Josh McRoberts opting out, and they arguably got the best in the draft at No. 9. 

24. PG Shabazz Napier, Connecticut

22 years old, 6’1”, 175 pounds

Senior stats: 18.0 points, 4.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Grade: A+

This pick would have earned an A grade even if the Hornets had kept Napier, but they didn't, according to the Miami Heat:

When is the last time Charlotte walked away a huge winner in the draft? The Hornets could have just drafted Hairston at No. 24 because he's arguably the better prospect who also fills their huge need for shooting, but they also wisely schemed other assets out of it.

Denver Nuggets

11. SF Doug McDermott, Creighton

22 years old, 6’8”, 218 pounds

Senior stats: 26.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 0.2 steals per game

Grade: A+++

This pick wasn't going to get an F, but its grade would have been low because McDermott is the American version of Danilo Gallinari, but then ESPN's Jeff Goodman reported this:

This means the Nuggets landed Jusuf Nurkic and Gary Harris in the first round. If they just drafted Harris at No. 11, it would have earned an A grade, but they somehow, someway stole Nurkic too—brilliant.

Minnesota Timberwolves

13. PG Zach LaVine, UCLA

19 years old, 6’6”, 181 pounds

Freshman stats: 9.4 points, 1.8 assists and 0.9 steals per game

Grade: A

With Kevin Love's days in Minnesota numbered, the Timberwolves need a new face of the franchise. LaVine is a gamble, but he's worth it because he could become that face. He's a freak athlete who could develop into one of the top five players in the draft.

Phoenix Suns

14. SF T.J. Warren, N.C. State

20 years old, 6’8”, 220 pounds

Sophomore stats: 24.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game

Grade: A-

Phoenix boasted the seventh-best offense in the league this year. Couple a healthy Eric Bledsoe with one of the best pure scorers in the draft in Warren, and the Suns should shoot up into the top five. They also needed more size on the wing, and Warren comes with that included. 

18. PG Tyler Ennis, Syracuse

19 years old, 6’3”, 182 pounds

Freshman stats: 12.9 points, 5.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game

Grade: A

Ennis could have also heard his name much earlier, as high as No. 12 to Orlando. Phoenix needed a backup for Goran Dragic. It found one who will be able to step in and compete immediately. Ennis is arguably the most pro-ready point guard in the class.

27. SG Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia

21 years old, 6'6", 200 pounds

Adriatic League 2013-14 stats: 15.0 points, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals

Grade: C

Phoenix must not have faith in its ability to re-sign Bledsoe or Gerald Green to a long-term deal, because with them in the fold, there's no spot in the rotation for Bogdanovic. Of course, perhaps the Suns just wanted an asset to stash overseas. But if that's the case, there were better overseas prospects on the board like Damien Inglis, Nikola Jokic and Walter Tavares.

Atlanta Hawks

15. PF Adreian Payne, Michigan State

23 years old, 6’10”, 239 pounds

Senior stats: 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game

Grade: C

Payne is a solid prospect who fills a need for frontcourt depth on the Hawks. He'll also improve their rotation immediately. However, he doesn't have the ceiling to take them to the next level like Harris or James Young does.

Chicago Bulls

16. C Jusuf Nurkic, Bosnia

19 years old, 6’11”, 280 pounds

Croatian A-1 Liga 2013-14 stats: 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game

19. SG Gary Harris, Michigan State

19 years old, 6’5”, 205 pounds

Sophomore stats: 16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.

Grade: A+

Nurkic and Harris will go to Denver, and McDermott will land in Chicago. And while the Nuggets won the trade, the Bulls definitely aren't losers. They landed one of the most pro-ready prospects in McDermott. He fills their greatest need—scoring—and can help them win right away.

Toronto Raptors

20. SF Bruno Caboclo, Brazil

18 years old, 6'9", 200 pounds

Brazil League 2013-14 stats: 5.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game

Grade: D-

The fact that this is a high-upside pick that could pan out in four years is irrelevant. Imagine Kyle Lowry's face when his playoff team picked a prospect who may be relevant when Lowry is 32 years old over players who could help it win now. Lowry is a free agent, and the Raptors just made his decision easier—he's gone.

Oklahoma City Thunder

21. PF Mitch McGary, Michigan

21 years old, 6’10”, 250 pounds

Sophomore stats: 9.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game

Grade: B

Oklahoma City probably could have traded back and still landed McGary. That's why this pick doesn't earn an A grade. However, the Thunder do bolster their depth down low with Kendrick Perkins and Nick Collison likely on their way out next summer.

29. PF Josh Huestis, Stanford

22 years old, 6'7", 230 pounds

Senior stats: 11.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game

Grade: D-

This is arguably a greater reach than Baboclo who is 66th on Chad Ford of ESPN's big board (subscription needed). Huestis is 91st. Oklahoma City must not realize it could lose up to three perimeter players this offseason (Derek Fisher, Caron Butler and Thabo Sefolosha) and that it shot 32.3 percent from downtown.

Memphis Grizzlies

22. SG Jordan Adams, UCLA

19 years old, 6'5", 209 pounds

Sophomore stats: 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game

Grade C

If Memphis retains Zach Randolph and Adams starts next season, it'll have the least athletic starting five in the league. Adams can score, but he isn't an amazing shooter, hitting just 35.6 percent of his threes this year. He fills a need, but there were several better prospects such as Hood.

Houston Rockets

25. PF Clint Capela, Switzerland

20 years old, 6’11”, 222 pounds

French LNB Pro A 2013-14 Stats: 9.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game

Grade: A+

This pick couldn't have been much more perfect for the Rockets. They can stash Capela in Europe to clear cap room to make a run at Carmelo Anthony. Capela's ceiling is also Serge Ibaka, and when he joins Houston, he'll fill a need at power forward. 

Miami Heat

26. SG P.J. Hairston, North Carolina

21 years old, 6’5”, 229 pounds

Sophomore stats: 14.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. 

Grade: A+ 

Pat Riley is a genius. Needing to impress LeBron James enough to re-sign, Miami managed to draft James' favorite player in the draft and fill its greatest need at point guard.

The Heat somehow managed to make a huge move with little assets.

Los Angeles Clippers

28. SG C.J. Wilcox, Washington

23 years old, 6'5", 201 pounds

Senior stats: 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game

Grade: C

Los Angeles had major needs on its bench at the point and down low. So it drafted shooting guard. This is Wilcox's range, but he doesn't fit in a rotation that already has Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick. 

San Antonio Spurs

30. PF Kyle Anderson, UCLA

20 years old, 6’9”, 230 pounds

Sophomore stats: 14.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game

Grade: A

San Antonio found Boris Diaw 2.0. Diaw was an integral part of its championship run, and he's a free agent. Whether next season or in a couple, Anderson will be able to effortlessly slide into Diaw's point forward role. 

David Daniels is a columnist at Bleacher Report. He tweets, too.

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