2016 NBA Draft Grades: Complete Results and Scores for Each Team
It's clear we don't know exactly how each draft will turn out for a few years, but we do know some teams had a better night than others at the 2016 NBA draft.
Some players we thought would be stars will turn into busts. However, the organizations that succeeded Thursday night are the ones that picked players who could potentially help them either next year or in the future.
Not every squad accomplished that feat.
While a few teams got what they needed with only one pick, others chose multiple prospects who might never make contributions in the NBA.
Here is a full look at the results from both rounds, as well as grades based on the selections:
| Atlanta Hawks | B+ | Added some solid rotational pieces, and DeAndre' Bembry could end up being a steal, but they could have gotten more of an impact player at No. 12. |
| Boston Celtics | A- | Fans hated the draft because they wanted a trade and bigger names, but the picks weren't bad. Jaylen Brown has as much upside as anyone in the class. Ante Zizic, Ben Bentil and Demetrius Jackson were all great values as well. Abdel Nader was the only bad pick. |
| Brooklyn Nets | B+ | Could have used that No. 3 pick but got some quality scorers in Isaiah Whitehead and Caris LeVert, if he can stay healthy. |
| Chicago Bulls | B- | The Bulls appear ready for a rebuild but picked a low-ceiling player to help right now. This is the team that should have taken a bigger risk. |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | A- | Just one pick at No. 54, but it was a good one in Kay Felder, who will provide some much-needed depth in the backcourt and could star off the bench. |
| Dallas Mavericks | A- | Another team that made one solid pick in A.J. Hammons, a late second-round pick who could become a starter at center. |
| Denver Nuggets | A+ | Jamal Murray and Malik Beasley add some major firepower in the backcourt, while Juan Hernangomez will pay off sooner than later. |
| Detroit Pistons | A | Henry Ellenson could end up being the biggest steal in the class and the perfect fit for Detroit. Michael Gbinije will also be useful in the rotation. |
| Golden State Warriors | B+ | Nothing flashy, but they got two solid players who can try to make an impact on an already deep rotation. |
| Houston Rockets | B- | Chinanu Onuaku and Zhou Qi both have athleticism and defensive potential, but it would be surprising if either makes an offensive contribution this decade. |
| Indiana Pacers | C+ | Georges Niang was a fun player to watch in college but really doesn't fit in the NBA. At least the Pacers upgraded with Jeff Teague. |
| Los Angeles Clippers | B+ | Got one safe pick in Brice Johnson and a few high-upside prospects in Diamond Stone and David Michineau. Just what is needed for an already contending team. |
| Los Angeles Lakers | A | Brandon Ingram might have been a no-brainer, but the Lakers made the right choice. Ivica Zubac could also be a perfect fit at center. |
| Memphis Grizzlies | A+ | Wade Baldwin and Deyonta Davis both could have been lottery picks, but Memphis was able to snag them later, as well as some European talent. |
| Milwaukee Bucks | C | Thon Maker can prove me wrong in a few years, but there is too much of a risk on a raw player without much of a feel for the game at No. 10 overall. |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | A- | We don't know the future for Ricky Rubio, but a core of Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns looks like a good one. |
| New Orleans Pelicans | A | Buddy Hield will be able to help as a scorer right away, while Cheick Diallo has the type of potential you love from a second-round pick. |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | B | The trade for Victor Oladipo and others was a major win for the Thunder, but the draft picks themselves were just solid additions. If Kevin Durant stays, though, that's all you need. |
| Orlando Magic | C | Ended the night without arguably their best young talent, without a lottery pick and a center in Stephen Zimmerman who is a long way from contributing. Serge Ibaka better be worth it. |
| Philadelphia 76ers | A | Not only did they get a potential superstar in Ben Simmons, but they added two of the better international players in this class, including Timothe Luwawu, who can help immediately. It would have been nice to get a true point guard, however. |
| Phoenix Suns | A- | Either Dragan Bender or Marquese Chriss has to live up to expectations, right? At least you know Tyler Ulis will make a contribution as a solid backup point guard. |
| Portland Trail Blazers | B+ | They sneaked into the second round to get Jake Layman, who could be a valuable piece of the rotation as a solid defender who can guard multiple positions. |
| Sacramento Kings | C- | Used a lottery pick on a Greek center who plainly isn't that good. Some might find value in Malachi Richardson and Skal Labissiere, but it would be surprising if either made an impact in the NBA. |
| San Antonio Spurs | A | Dejounte Murray is far from a sure thing, but he was too good to fall to the Spurs at No. 29. And we wonder how this organization is able to stay in contention for so long. |
| Toronto Raptors | B | Jakob Poeltl might be the safest player in the draft, although not as exciting. The selection of Pascal Siakam was a bit of a mystery with better players still on the board. |
| Utah Jazz | B | It's hard to complain about the last few players in the draft, but Marcus Paige and Tyrone Wallace are long shots to even make the team. Joel Bolomboy does have some value at least. |
Best Drafts
Denver Nuggets
After Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram, there was a clear second tier of players without much separation between them. This means while Jamal Murray ended up going No. 7 to the Denver Nuggets, he easily could have gone as high as No. 3.
The Kentucky guard offers the rare combination of high upside with a high floor. He can help right now as an elite shooter who can create his own looks and at least be a contributor off the bench. If he develops well, he could be an above-average starter at either guard position.
Along with Juan Hernangomez, this was a perfect draft to fill Denver's needs, according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress:
Denver proved itself with its overseas scouting, and Hernangomez is another player who could help out early in his NBA career, whenever he does come to the United States.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets weren't done, also grabbing Malik Beasley in the first round. The Florida State product is a quality scorer who also knows how to play defense. In a draft that was thin on outside shooters, two of the best are going to Denver.
Add in a stash candidate in Petr Cornelie, and this team added a lot of talent in one night.
Memphis Grizzlies
Deyonta Davis was a major story on draft night as a prospect sitting in the green room all the way through the first round and into the second, but he finally went to the Grizzlies with the No. 31 pick overall (after a Boston trade).
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo stood with his former player throughout the slide but remained positive after Davis was finally taken.
"He’s struggling," Izzo said of Davis, per Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal. "But at least Memphis was a team that really had an interest in him. I know [general manager Chris Wallace] well, I know how excited he is. I said, 'You should be, because you got a steal.'"
Izzo could be right, since Davis is the type of prospect that front offices usually love in the draft. The 6'10" forward is a quality shot-blocker who also has the ability to step out and make a jump shot. While he is raw, he isn't far behind some other players who went much higher. Memphis might have lucked into a big-time player in the second round.
Meanwhile, the team's first-round pick could be more valuable, especially if Mike Conley Jr. decides to leave in free agency. Wade Baldwin IV has ideal size for a point guard at 6'4" with an incredible 6'11" wingspan. He can get off shot attempts no one will be able to block and should be an above-average defender right out of the gate.
Memphis will stash Rade Zagorac and Wang Zhelin until they are ready, but even if neither pans out, the Grizzlies selected two lottery talents outside the lottery. This equals a good draft.
Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons had been the presumptive first overall pick since before he put on a college jersey, but the Philadelphia 76ers didn't let anyone talk them into doing something different.
The point forward hasn't proved himself as a shooter and doesn't really fit with the current 76ers roster. However, he is a unique talent who can fill up the stat sheet in just about every category. His handle and passing ability are rarely seen from a player his size (6'10"), and if Philly uses him correctly he has almost no ceiling.
ESPN's Chad Ford broke down the two possibilities for Simmons:
While Brandon Ingram is a safer prospect since you know what type of player he will be at the next level, Simmons is the one who can truly be a star.
Meanwhile, the 76ers used the next two picks on international players who don't fit the stereotype. Timothe Luwawu is an athletic wing who can attack the basket as well as play great defense. His biggest flaw might be that he wants to come to the United States right away, ruining the plan for teams who want to stash players. Furkan Korkmaz could also help early after competing in one of the stronger leagues in Europe. He is more of just a shooter at this point, but that is exactly what the 76ers need right now.
There are still questions about Philadelphia heading into next season, but it's clear this is a much better team than it was a few days ago.
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