(#11) Charlotte Hornets
Selection: James Bouknight (UConn)
Grade: B
Like multiple others taken in the top ten, Bouknight steadily climbed draft boards throughout the last six months. The general public seems pretty excited about the dynamic pairing of Bouknight and Lamelo Ball, and rightfully so. Although he’s not a reliable shooter, the UConn product’s ability to hit jumpers in workouts left optimism for numerous teams. It’ll be interesting to see if his shooting can drastically improve, especially given how guys like Miles Bridges and Malik Monk both shot career-highs from beyond the arc.
(#12) San Antonio Spurs
Selection: Josh Primo (Alabama)
Grade: C
Although it felt high, folks should’ve learned by now to never, under any circumstance, question the San Antonio Spurs. Sure, their success has seen a slight dip after the departure of Kawhi Leonard, but this front office is almost guaranteed to restore glory to the most successful franchise in Texas. Drafting Primo represents the Spurs betting on themselves and their development team to harness his phenomenal tools.
(#13) Indiana Pacers
Selection: Chris Duarte (Oregon)
Grade: B
The Indiana Pacers have somehow managed to stay afloat and competitive over the recent years, and Duarte gives them another piece to fight for a playoff spot. It seems like everyone has accepted the notion that he’s a quality player, and getting drafted this high shows his talent level overrides the fact that he’s pretty old (24) compared to most prospects. Duarte should be able to contribute right away.
(#14) Golden State Warriors
Selection: Moses Moody (Arkansas)
Grade: C+
Similar to their earlier choice with Kuminga, there is little to no risk associated with drafting someone like Moody into the Warriors’ organization. Like so many others, his upside as a tough, athletic, 6-foot-6 wing will ultimately be determined by his ability to defend and hit shots.
(#15) Washington Wizards
Selection: Corey Kispert (Gonzaga)
Grade: D+
Bizarre selection by Washington. In order to keep their star (Bradley Beal) happy, they choose to add shooting with Kispert. Alright then. Doesn’t seem like there is much upside or potential to move the needle for the Wizards, but they will undoubtedly be able to knock down shots.
(#16) Houston Rockets (via OKC)
Selection: Alperen Segun (Turkey)
Grade: B+
Prior to the big night, various mock drafts had Segun going anywhere from the top ten to late lottery. The selection from Houston is actually quite intriguing, especially given their barren roster and ability to go nowhere but up from this point forward. Remember Jan Vesley and how he was dubbed the “Turkish Blake Griffin'” Well, Segun might be what folks wanted out of Vesley. He’s an explosive, fairly skilled big with toughness and definite upside as a floor-spacer. Segun could be a flop, but one has to appreciate the Rockets’ willingness to swing for the fences.
(#17) New Orleans Pelicans (via Memphis)
Selection: Trey Murphy (Rice/Virginia)
Grade: A-
We discussed the idea of Murphy being a lottery-worthy selection prior to the draft, but New Orleans was fortunate enough to get him three picks later. The clear appeal with him' Three-point shooting. Add in his IQ, smooth mechanics, and the fact that he grew five inches upon joining the college ranks. His baseline is a knockdown shooter, but it still feels like there is more to unlock with Murphy.
(#18) Oklahoma City Thunder
Selection: Tre Mann (Florida)
Grade: D+
While this personally feels like a throw-away pick, there’s nothing preventing Mann from becoming a useful guard off the bench. Perhaps the bigger issue is Sam Presti’s lack of direction after accumulating all of these first-round choices. However, if any GM has earned the right to disregard what others think—it’s Presti.
(#19) Charlotte Hornets (via New York)
Selection: Kai Jones (Texas)
Grade: A-
After using the eleventh pick to take a chance on Bouknight, the Hornets get rewarded with Jones—who many projected Charlotte taking in the lottery. It’s not necessarily a homerun pick, but they did address the obvious need for an interior piece. He’s a long, bouncy, athlete with favorable physical tools and upside as a rim-runner. Their “A-“ grade comes directly through draft position value, rather than the idea that Jones will be a franchise-changing presence.
(#20) Atlanta Hawks
Selection: Jalen Johnson (Duke)
Grade: B+
Plenty of folks have uttered the “potential gets you fired” statement over the last few weeks, but neglect to realize the Hawks have literally drafted incredibly well under Travis Schlenk since his hiring in 2017. To save you the time, we have his first-round choices right here: John Collins, Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Omari Spellman, Cam Reddish, and Onyeka Okongwu. Given Johnson’s ridiculous arsenal of tools and all-around ability, folks should be excited about this selection. NBA Draft Coverage: Grades and Analysis