Instant Reaction Draft Grades: Round 2
For my full big board, click here
Full prospect write-ups (where applicable) are linked to the player/team name
Toronto (via Detroit): F/C Jonathan Mogbo / San Francisco
Mogbo was one of my favorite sleepers in this draft, as although he’s undersized, he’s a phenomenal rebounder, versatile defender, and underrated playmaker as a roll man. I might have preferred he land on a roster with more shooting, but Toronto is getting a good basketball player whom I believe will find a way to contribute.
GRADE: B+
Utah (via Washington): F/C Kyle Filipowski / Duke
One of my comps for Filipowski was Kelly Olynyk, so it makes sense that Utah is a fan of his game. I have concerns about his lack of athleticism and length, but Filipowski brings a lot of skill on the offensive end, and quicker lateral movement on defense than you might expect.
GRADE: B
Milwaukee (via Portland): F/C Tyler Smith / G-League Ignite
As long as the Bucks are built around Giannis Antetokounmpo, acquiring big men who can shoot is a priority. Smith is far closer to Bobby Portis than Brook Lopez on the defensive side of the ball, but he’s a legitimate floor spacer, and young enough that there’s plenty of room for his game to grow.
GRADE: A-
New York (via Portland): G Tyler Kolek / Marquette
Kolek is an excellent passer and a ferocious competitor who was one of the best college point guards in the country this past season. There are a lot of similarities between how he and Jalen Brunson command the floor, which makes him a natural fit to run the show for the Knicks second unit. I have concerns about Kolek’s off-ball functionality and defensive limitations, but this is a good landing spot for him.
GRADE: C+
Indiana (via San Antonio): F Johnny Furphy / Kansas
This is significantly lower than I think most people expected Furphy to be taken, and I love his fit with the Pacers. Furphy gives Indiana more size and shooting on the wing, and some of his best plays at Kansas came in transition.
GRADE: A
San Antonio (via Indiana): G Juan Núñez / Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
Núñez is a terrific passer, and there is highlight reel potential for the pick-and-roll game between him and Victor Wembanyama. However, his shot needs continued development, which seems to be true for most of the Spurs’ roster.
GRADE: C
Detroit (via Minnesota): F Bobi Klintman / Cairns Taipans (Australia/New Zealand)
Klintman is raw and hasn’t consistently produced to this point in his pre-NBA career, but he’s good in transition and has legitimate ball skills for his size. This is a worthy flier to take for Detroit, even if it takes a year before he’s ready to contribute to winning.
GRADE: B
Oklahoma City (via New York): G Ajay Mitchell / UC Santa Barbara
Oklahoma City has now added three on-ball creators with size in this draft, clearly attempting to address what they feel is a need on their roster. Mitchell is a player I’m a good deal higher than consensus on, as I had him ranked 18th on my big board. I think he has a legitimate chance to run the show for the Thunder’s second unit within the next couple seasons, and I love his fit next to both Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needs a rest.
GRADE: A
Memphis (via Brooklyn): F/G Jaylen Wells / Washington St.
Wells offers the ability to shoot off the catch, which is definitely a need in Memphis. However, I see him as extremely limited elsewhere offensively, and on defense, I think he might be stuck between being too slow to stay with guards, and too small to hang with wings.
GRADE: C-
Phoenix (via New York): C/F Oso Ighodaro / Marquette
Ighodaro is a high-IQ big, and I like his explosiveness as a lob catcher, and ability to finish out of the short roll. Playing next to Kevin Durant should help mitigate some concerns about his length and size at the basket, but I worry that Phoenix may ask him to step in right away and handle a traditional backup center role, which may not be the best use of his skill set.
GRADE: B
Philadelphia (via Chicago): C Adem Bona / UCLA
I had Bona ranked outside the top 60 on my big board, as I’m worried about his lack of size at center, and limited feel for the game. He plays very hard and is a plus athlete, but there’s other players I would have taken here as Philly.
GRADE: D
Charlotte (via Houston): G KJ Simpson / Colorado
Simpson is undersized, but he competes, shoots it well from outside, and can operate both on and off the ball. I like his theoretical fit next to LaMelo Ball, as he can save Ball from defending at the point of attack, and then slide to a complementary role on the offensive end.
GRADE: B+
Atlanta (via Miami): F Nikola Đjurišić / KK Mega Basket (Serbia)
Đjurišić is a fascinating prospect, as he is a wing who played a primary on-ball creator role this past season in Serbia. He needs to develop as a shooter, and he can be prone to both turnvers and questionable shot selection, but his ceiling is higher than most players available for the 43rd pick.
GRADE: B
Miami (via Atlanta): G Pelle Larsson / Arizona
Larsson is a classic Miami pick, as he’s an experienced college player who might not stand out in any one specific area, but does so many little things well. The Heat should be able to continue to develop his shooting, and I have confidence that Larsson’s IQ and feel for the game will appeal to Erik Spoelstra.
GRADE: B+
Toronto (via Sacramento): G Jamal Shead / Houston
Shead is an absolute pitbull as an on-ball defender, which is clearly something Toronto is looking for, given that they acquired both him and Davion Mitchell on the same day. He’s undersized and not much of a shooter, but if deployed correctly, he might carve out a role as a point-of-attack pest.
GRADE: C
LA Clippers (via Indiana): G Cam Christie / Minnesota
Christie has solid measurables for a shooting guard, and he’s a productive three-point shooter with clean mechanics. He needs to get stronger, both so that he can defend on the wing, and be more efficient as a scorer at the basket.
GRADE: B+
New Orleans (via Orlando): G Antonio Reeves / Kentucky
Reeves was an absolute bucket-getter in college, and he’s a legit movement shooter who knows how to get to his spots. He’s also one of the worst defenders in the draft, and at age 24, it remains to be seen how much room there is left for him to grow.
GRADE: C-
San Antonio (via Los Angeles Lakers): F Harrison Ingram / UNC
Ingram’s length allows him to play a bit bigger than his height, and he’s a high-IQ player who can pass, handle the ball, and make shots off the catch. He may end up being too limited as an athlete to make it in the NBA, but his versatility and feel for the game have clear appeal.
GRADE: B
Indiana (via Cleveland): G Tristen Newton / UConn
Newton’s not an amazing shooter or athlete, but he’s got size, and he’s a creative passer. Indiana’s free-flowing, multiple ball-handler style of offense is as good a place for him as any to find success
GRADE: B-
Indiana (via New Orleans): C/F Enrique Freeman / Akron
Freeman narrowly missed out on my top 60, but he was a really productive college big who is one of the better rebounders and energy guys in the class. He’s both too short and too slim by traditional NBA center measurements, but he’s working to develop his shot and may be able to slide down the positional spectrum in time
GRADE: C+
Dallas (via New York): F/G Melvin Ajinca / Saint Quentin (France)
Ajinca is a developmental prospect who might be a draft-and-stash candidate, but he has theoretical upside as a 3&D wing. Those types of bets will always make sense, as long as Dallas is built around Luka Doncic.
GRADE: B+
Portland (via Oklahoma City): C Quinten Post / Boston College
The 67th ranked player on my board, Post can definitely space the floor from the center position. However, he’s an extremely limited athlete and will turn 25 during his rookie season
GRADE: D
Memphis (via Minnesota): G Cam Spencer / UConn
Spencer can shoot, and he’s a tough competitor who understands how to fit into a winning environment. Lack of athleticism is a major concern, but it makes sense why the Grizzlies would want him around their organization.
GRADE: C+
Boston (via Dallas): F/C Anton Watson / Gonzaga
Watson is an experienced college player who was a key part of Gonzaga’s success in recent seasons. He brings rebounding, toughness and some defensive versatility to Boston’s front court.
GRADE: C
Los Angeles Lakers (via LA Clippers): G Bronny James / USC
Well well. The most anticipated 55th pick in NBA draft history has finally been made, and Bronny will be teammates with his dad in Los Angeles. There’s obviously some nepotism involved here, but I don’t think it’s completely crazy to believe that Bronny’s on-ball defense and athleticism might allow him to carve out a spot in the NBA, provided his shot goes in on a much more regular basis than it did in a limited sample at USC.
GRADE: B-
New York (via Phoenix): F/G Kevin McCullar / Kansas
I’m wondering if McCullar’s medical information is the reason why he fell to the end of the draft, because I had him ranked as the #29 player on my board. I could see his hard-nosed attitude earning him the favor of Tom Thibodeau, and if he can make enough shots off the catch, I don’t see why McCullar can’t become a passable rotation wing.
GRADE: A
Toronto (via Minnesota): C/F Ulrich Chomche / NBA Academy Africa
Chomche is probably multiple years away from being ready for the NBA, but his combination of size, athleticism and shooting ability is tantalizing. The most likely scenario is that this pick leads to nothing, but Chomche’s upside makes it a worthy gamble for Toronto.
Dallas (via Boston): C Ariel Hukporti / Melbourne United (Australia/New Zealand)
I’m a fan of Hukporti, I love the fit in Dallas due to his athleticism around the rim as a lob-catcher. In a best case scenario, Hukporti might be ready to replace Daniel Gafford as a less expensive backup to Dereck Lively in a year or two.
GRADE: A