NBA Draft 2011 Grades: Grading Teams' 2011 Draft Compared to 2010

The 2011 NBA draft has come and gone. Now, experts from around the nation will give their analysis on which teams gained and which teams lost.

Teams going into the draft know their needs and create multiple scenarios to get the best player possible. In some cases last night, we didn't see it.

This slideshow will grade teams' 2011 draft compared to 2010.

Owners, prepare to be criticized.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics needed to address some needs after a second-round loss to the Miami Heat in the playoffs.

Look for Boston to return a core nucleus of veteran players and Doc Rivers to the coaching bench. The addition of JuJuan Johnson is a big trade in terms of athleticism and offensive scoring. If he can stay healthy, look for him to contribute off the bench providing a spark.

Moore had this to say to the Indianapolis Star: "I'm definitely eager to get started. I'm so happy to have the opportunity to play some basketball again. I definitely understand that this is my opportunity of a lifetime. I'm so glad I'm going to be able to do this."

2011 Picks

Marshon Brooks (traded to Nets)

E'Twaun Moore

Grade: B 

2010 Picks

Avery Bradley

Luke Harangody

Grade: A

New Jersey Nets

Sure he looks good with the Celtics hat on, but there there was a trade early into last night. The Nets acquired Brooks from the Celtics for JuJuan Brooks. Look for him to be a complement to point guard Deron Williams.  

2011 Picks

JuJuan Brooks

Grade: B 

2010 Picks

Derrick Favors

Jordan Crawford (traded to Atlanta Hawks)

Tibor Pleiss (traded to Oklahoma City Thunder) 

Grade: B

New York Knicks

Iman Shumpert is a local product and has great athletic ability to get to the hoop. Still a questionable pick in how he will contribute to the offense. This is a huge step up for the Knicks after spending two back-to-back picks in the second round.  

2011 Picks

Iman Shumpert

Grade: C 

2010 Picks

Andrew Rautins

Landry Fields

Grade: D

Photo Courtesy of StarNewsOnline.com

Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers just picked up the largest man in the draft in Nikola Vucevic. Look for him to contribute immediately offensively inside of the paint. The 76ers grading will be reduced a year after picking up Evan Turner at No. 2 in 2010.  

2011 Picks

Nikola Vucevic

Lavoy Allen

Grade: B-

2010 Picks

Evan Turner

Grade: B

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors spent their fifth pick on a Lithuanian 19-year-old prospect. A terrific pick-and-roll guy who has a lot of touch with the basketball, Jonas Valanciunas will provide an offensive spark to a team that lost 60 games last season...60.

After drafting Ed Davis at No. 13 in 2010, there may be a slight drop-off considering Valanciunas won't be ready for a year or two.  

2011 Picks

Jonas Valanciunas

Grade: B

2010 Picks

Ed Davis

Solomon Alabi

Grade: B+

Photo Courtesy of SwishScout.com

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs traded their pick of Jordan Hamilton for Rudy Fernandez. Look for him to contribute to a shooting rotation for the Dallas Mavericks immediately behind Jason Terry. After a disastrous 2010 draft trading for Dominique Jones, the Mavs seem to have made a correct decision this time.

2011 Picks

Jordan Hamilton (traded)

Grade: B

2010 Picks

Dominique Jones

Solomon Alabi

Grade: C-

Memphis Grizzles

Still recovering from foot and knee issues, the Memphis Grizzlies picked up Josh Selby in the second round. Once he continues to work and improve the polish on his perimeter shooting game, he will become an outside threat for Zach Randolph's offense.

This year's grade drops due to Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez being picked up both in the first round.

2011 Picks

Josh Selby

Grade: C+

2010 Picks

Xavier Henry

Greivis Vasquez

Dominique Jones (traded)

Grade: B

New Orleans Hornets

No picks were used here, except for the trading of Josh Harrelson for cash considerations. New Orleans must do something soon if they are to keep the presence of Chris Paul in the Bayou.  

2011 Picks

Josh Harrelson (traded)

Grade: C 

2010 Picks

Cole Aldrich

Craig Brackins

Quincy Pondexter

Grade: B-

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs traded for the rights to Kahwi Leonard in exchange for George Hill. Newly added guard Cory Joseph can be also be an offensive threat shooting the basketball from many places on the court.  

2011 Picks

Cory Joseph

Grade: B

2010 Picks

James Anderson

Ryan Richards

Grade: B+

Chicago Bulls

The addition of Jimmy Butler will fit perfectly into their fast-paced style of offense led by Derrick Rose. Bulls' grade improves here considering they traded Kirk Hinrich for PF Kevin Seraphin.

2011 Picks

Jimmy Butler

Malcolm Lee

Grade: B+

2011 Picks

Kevin Seraphin (trade in)

Grade: C

Cleveland Cavaliers

If you listen to some fan reactions, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a productive draft in terms of obtaining players they needed to move forward from the James era.

But were they the right ones?

Tristan Thompson and Irving undoubtedly have the athleticism to fill the void. Expect more wins this season driven by these NBA freshmen.

2011 Picks

Kyrie Irving

Tristan Thompson

Justin Harper

Milan Macvan

Grade: C+ 

2010 Picks

None

Grade: N/A

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons had a nice addition of guard Brandon Knight and athletic forward Kyle Singler. At Duke, Singler obtained a national championship, improved his points average up to 17.1 points per game and has the athletic skills to play multiple positions.

The grade goes up here because the Pistons built on last year's additions of Greg Monroe and Terico White. Detroit still has a lot of work to do in terms of continuing to build a team nucleus.

2011 Picks

Brandon Knight

Kyle Singler

Grade: A-

2010 Picks

Greg Monroe

Terrico White

Grade B+

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers traded away two of their draft picks for explosive Spurs guard George Hill. The grade improves here due to the fact Paul George was the same type of player as Danny Granger.

2011 Picks

Kahwi Leonard (traded to Spurs)

Davis Bertans (traded to Spurs)

Grade: B+

2010 Picks

Paul George

Lance Stephenson

Ryan Reid

Grade: B

Milwaukee Bucks

Stephen Jackson and Beno Udrih were one of the biggest trades on draft night. Add in a bunch of money saved and this grade improves on last year's.  

2011 Picks

Jimmer Fredette (traded to Kings)

Jon Leuer

Grade: A- 

2010 Picks

Larry Sanders

Darington Hobson

Tiny Gallon

Jerome Jordan

Grade: B

Denver Nuggets

After breaking Tim Duncan's Division 1-A record for rebounds, the Nuggets have a great pickup in Kenneth Faried. His rebounding skills will be essential for Denver defensively in a tight Western Conference. The addition of Andre Miller also won't hurt either.



2011 Picks

Kenneth Faried

Grade: A 

2010 Picks

None

Minnesota Timberwolves

Depending on the person you ask, Derrick Williams is an important person to the Timberwolves offense. But did it really make sense to get another inside presence when you have Kevin Love scoring 20 points a game inside?

I will increase the grade for the Timberwolves this year because we would like to forget what they did last season. How do you spoil the No. 4 draft choice on Wesley Johnson?   

2011 Picks

Derrick Williams

Donatas Motiejunas (traded from Rockets)

Chandler Parsons (traded from Rockets)

Grade: B+

2010 Picks

Wesley Johnson

Grade: D+

Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers picked up combo guard Nolan Smith. Smith obtained ACC Player of the Year honors and has great ball-handling skills. After putting Andre Miller on the trading block, was it a silly move to get rid of Rudy Fernandez for pick No. 26? 

2011 Picks

Nolan Smith

Jon Diebler

Grade: B 

2010 Picks

Luke Babbit

Armon Johnson

Grade: B-

Oklahoma City Thunder

The acquisition of Reggie Jackson was a smart move by the Oklahoma City Thunder. His presence off the bench will indeed be a spark Oklahoma City needs when Westbrook and Durant are resting.

2011 Picks

Reggie Jackson

Grade: B+

2010 Picks

Craig Brackins (traded to Hornets)

Quincy Pondexter (traded to Hornets)

Grade: B

Utah Jazz

Enes Kanter is a large, 6'11" center looking to come in and provide immediate help inside. Add in Colorado shooter Alec Burks and you have an A draft grade improving on last year's terrible draft performance.

“He is that versatile,” Utah Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said to the Kansas City Star of Burks. “He can play the two, some one at times, and he can play three if we go small." 

2011 Picks

Enes Kanter

Alec Burks

Grade: A- 

2010 Picks

Gordon Hayward

Jeremy Evans

Grade: D+

Atlanta Hawks

Only pick for the Hawks is Oakland University power forward Keith Benson. That's not a bad pick, but the grade drops here considering the Hawks picked up project Pape Sy and traded Damion James.

2011 Picks

Keith Benson

Grade: C

2010 Picks

Damion James (traded to Nets)

Pape Sy

Grade: B-

Charlotte Bobcats

Kemba Walker to the Bobcats make sense, but America is still trying to figure out the Bismack Biyombo pick. Michael Jordan seems to have the Bobcats on the right track after zero picks in 2010.

2011 Picks

Kemba Walker

Bismack Biyombo

Grade: A-

2010 Picks
 
None

Miami Heat

::insert media Miami Heat joke here::

Look, I know many still want to knock LeBron James, but expect for the Miami Heat to make another run to an NBA championship. The addition of Bojan Bogdanovic here indicates they are determined to bring in more depth to an average bench. It's a no-lose situation when you add a player for a cheap price.

2011 Picks

Bogan Bogdanovic

Grade: B 

2010 Picks

Dexter Pittman

De'Sean Butler

Jarvas Varnado

Grade: B

Orlando Magic

Not much to see here other than the Orlando Magic picking up Justin Harper in a trade from the Cavs. Harper is a special talent that has yet to develop his position.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, he’s stuck between the two forward spots, mostly because his lack of lateral quickness limits him at the 3.

Even with the draft additions, Dwight Howard still is missing one more piece to the puzzle. Once this piece is found, the Magic have a chance to break into the top three of the Eastern Conference.  

2011 Picks

DeAndre Liggins (traded in)

Justin Harper (traded in)

Grade: B 

2010 Picks

Daniel Orton

Grade: B-

Washington Wizards

Surprisingly, the Washington Wizards picked up three good players in last night's draft. The grade here surprisingly goes up considering they picked up John Wall No. 1 and wasted gobbles of money on Kirk Hinrich.  

2011 Picks:

Shelvin Mack

Jan Vesley

Chris Singleton

Grade: A-  

2010 Picks:

John Wall

Kevin Seraphin

Trevor Booker

Grade: B-

Golden State Warriors

Former Washington State guard Klay Thompson looks to complement the likes of Monta Ellis on the offensive end (if he isn't traded first). The grade increases because they took a player in Ekpe Udoh who should have been drafted close to the end of the first round in 2010.

Also, did anyone cringe when Mark Jackson stated the Warriors would make the playoffs? Momma, that man shouldn't have said that.  

2011 Picks

Klay Thompson

Jeremy Tyler

Grade: B+ 

2010 Picks

Ekpe Udoh

Grade: C-

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers didn't make many moves other than picking up second-rounders Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie. Compared to 2010, the grade drops just a tad bit. Last year, the Clippers picked up Al-Farouq Aminu at No. 8 and Eric Bledsoe from Oklahoma City.  

2011 Picks

Trey Thompkins

Travis Leslie

Grade: B  

2010 Picks

Willie Warren

Al-Farouq Aminu

Grade: B-

Los Angeles Lakers

The Fab Five would be proud.

With an aging point guard in Derek Fisher, the Lakers took a chance on second-rounder Darius Morris out of Michigan. With Morris' skills, look for L.A. to have a new guard soon. When making multiple picks in the second round for back-to-back years, you can't ask for too much more.  

2011 Picks

Darius Morris

Andrew Goudelock

Chukwudiebere Maduabum

Ater Majok

Grade: B 

2010 Picks

Devin Ebanks

Derrick Caracter

Grade: B-

Phoenix Suns

I'm very surprised he went before his brother Marcus. Markieff Morris has the excellent rebounding skills the Suns have lacked since the departure of Amar'e Stoudemire and look for him to contribute on the offensive side.

With only one pick here, expect a downgrade. Last year, the Suns picked up Gani Lawal from Georgia Tech and Dwayne Collins out of Miami in the second round. 

2011 Picks

Markieff Morris

Grade: B- 

2010 Picks:

Dwayne Collins

Gani Lawal

Grade: B

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings had a great draft offensively, picking up Jimmer Fredette from BYU and Tyler Honeycutt from UCLA. Yes, these are nice additions to complement Tyreke Evans, but this draft grade in 2011 decreases due to DeMarcus Cousins and Hassan Whiteside being taken in 2010. 

2011 Picks

Tyler Honeycutt

Jimmer Fredette (traded from Milwaukee)

Grade: B+ 

2010 Picks

DeMarcus Cousins

Hassan Whitehead

Grade: A-

Houston Rockets

I admit that I did get kinda choked up when I saw Marcus Morris cry. Ironically, the two Morris twins were born seven minutes apart and were drafted almost seven minutes apart.

While the Houston Rockets needed an inside playmaker like Morris, you can't ignore the fact they picked up legit rotation player, Patrick Patterson, in 2010.  

2011 Picks

Nikola Mirotic (traded to Timberwolves)

Marcus Morris

Chandler Parsons (traded to Timberwolves)

Grade: B 

2010 Picks

Patrick Patterson

Grade: A

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For more 2011 NBA draft coverage, stay tuned to Bleacher Report for NBA draft results and NBA draft grades.