Original Grades and Breakdowns: https://phenomhoopreport.com/post-summer-league-nba-draft-grades/
(#1) San Antonio Spurs
Selection: Victor Wembanyama
Original Grade: A+
Updated Grade: A+
After concluding one of the best rookie seasons in NBA history, it’s quite clear that Wembanyama is already becoming a dominant force in the league. At 7-foot-4 with unbelievable length and fluidity, he’s basically an alien who already rebounds and protects the rim at an elite level. He sees the floor extremely well for a big man and displays the ability to score from anywhere on the court. His efficiency will continue to climb, but the fact that he’s averaging 21.3 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 3.6 BPG, and 1.2 SPG in under 30 MPG is legitimately insane. Wembanyama is leading the league in blocks, yet isn’t receiving real DPOY consideration because his team is bad. However, he’s now only the second rookie to lead the NBA in blocks (since being tracked in 1973-74), joining Manute Bol in 1985-86. The difference is Bol averaged 3.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 5.0 BPG in 26.1 MPG. Wembanyama is doing unprecedented things on the basketball court, and looks to be trending as the new face of the NBA.
(#2) Charlotte Hornets
Selection: Brandon Miller
Original Grade: B
Updated Grade: A
Listen, there are no issues admitting my undervaluing of Miller. While it was expected that he would still be a very good player, he’s already exceeded what I envisioned—especially as a rookie. He was the lone bright spot for a disastrous Hornets squad with zero direction. Miller’s blend of shooting, passing, athleticism, and shot-creation already makes him a legitimate asset and one of the better younger players in the league. He’s notched three consecutive Rookie of the Month awards, accompanied by impressive numbers. This season, Miller is averaging 17.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 2.5 APG with 44/37/82 splits. However, those numbers have continued to climb as he gets more comfortable. In his last 40 games (since January 19), those numbers increase to 19.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 SPG with similar efficiency across the board. It’s pretty apparent that Miller is going to be a meaningful player for a long time, but could he become the top player on Charlotte’s roster?
(#3) Portland Trailblazers
Selection: Scoot Henderson
Original Grade: A
Updated Grade: B
Although it’s been a rough start, there’s still a ton of optimism for Henderson to become a noteworthy floor general. Look, his shooting has been horrendous, shot-selection has been questionable, and the turnovers are a real concern. The metrics are downright awful. Having two of the three lowest plus/minus games in NBA history (whether his fault or not) is a terrible look. Henderson plays for a team with a weird mix of veterans who should be on playoff teams (Malcolm Brogdan, Jerami Grant, Robert Williams) and countless young guys who are still figuring it out. It’s not an ideal situation, but folks (myself included) definitely anticipated his arrival to be franchise-altering. It’s been a rocky road throughout the season, but the last month should give hope to the Henderson believers. Since March 9, he’s averaging 15.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 6.8 APG, and 1.2 SPG with 40/32/83 shooting splits. It’ll be interesting to see what he looks like next season, as he has ample things to address during the offseason.
(#4) Houston Rockets
Selection: Amen Thompson
Original Grade: C+
Updated Grade: C
There was so much buzz surrounding the Thompson twins that it was going to be impossible for either guy to really meet expectations. In a draft with no clear-cut stars outside of the top grouping, the Rockets opted to take Amen with the fourth pick. The long, freaky athlete and defensive terror has shown some flashes of ability as a rookie. Unfortunately, the shooting is even worse than anticipated. Maybe 20 years ago Thompson could’ve gotten away with shooting 14.3% from beyond the arc on less than one attempt per game, but that’s not happening in today’s league. We’ve seen it with several guys where you will not pan out it if you cannot shoot as a perimeter player. Matisse Thybulle being a great recent example of this notion, and he shoots nearly 34% from distance. Thompson will have to become a respectable shooter or he will be out of the NBA sooner than later.
(#5) Detroit Pistons
Selection: Ausar Thompson
Original Grade: B-
Updated Grade: C+
While Ausar hasn’t been drastically better than his brother, there should be more optimism about what he’s shown throughout the season. Similarly, he’s a long, freaky athlete and plus defensively. Also in the same vein, he cannot shoot at all. Thompson is currently sitting at 18.6% from beyond the arc while taking double the attempts of his brother (1.8). Between his defense, cutting, and flashes of playmaking, there are fragments of a useful player. Thompson problem, like his brother, lies directly in whether he’ll ever force defenses to even step out of the paint or put a hand in his direction to contest. If that happens, then one or both brothers could carve out meaningful roles. Otherwise, their NBA careers are a foregone conclusion.
(#6) Orlando Magic
Selection: Anthony Black
Original Grade: B
Updated Grade: C+
It’s tough to drop the grade for Black, who has actually been pretty solid in 17 MPG for a much-improved Magic squad. However, there’s no certainty that he’ll ever become more than just a good role player. Black is currently sporting a -3.0 BPM, the fifth lowest figure on the roster and worst among those who have logged at least 800 minutes. Outside of free throw rate, Black ranks poorly in basically every metric or statistical measure. This could just be a byproduct of a young guy playing for a veteran team in win-now mode. He has shown some positive flashes through the eye test, but there are still plenty of questions surrounding Black’s path to success.
(#7) Washington Wizards
Selection: Bilal Coulibaly
Original Grade: C
Updated Grade: B
Many were unsure (myself included) of what Coulibaly’s abilities would be as a rookie, but he’s shown a lot of enticing flashes. As a developing 19-year-old, he’s still a net negative in most categories. That being said, Coulibaly has natural tools and is generating an understanding of how to utilize them at the NBA level. He currently averages the third-highest combined blocks and steals across his draft class (trailing only Wembanyama and Dereck Lively). Everything is still coming together for Coulibaly, but he’s shown enough appeal to warrant excitement for his future in Washington.
(#8) Indiana Pacers
Selection: Jarace Walker
Original Grade: C+
Updated Grade: C-
While it’s not his fault for getting drafted to a roster with a logjam at his position and over a dozen guys who logged at least 700 minutes, the jury is still out on Walker. He simply hasn’t received enough opportunities for us to make any real conclusions. However, it’s not super encouraging that his fellow rookie, Ben Sheppard, has already played double the minutes despite being drafted 18 spots later. Between the emergence of Aaron Nesmith and acquiring Pascal Siakam, it’s been a challenging season for Walker to find his stride. Though his advanced numbers shed some positive light, it’s difficult to find anything meaningful given his lack of sample size.
(#9) Utah Jazz
Selection: Taylor Hendricks
Original Grade: B-
Updated Grade: B
The Jazz have been caught in no-man’s land again, where they were not good enough to make a playoff push but not bad enough to actually secure a top pick. However, coming to this realization has allowed Hendricks to receive some quality reps. Over the last month, Hendricks has appeared in 13 straight games while averaging 9.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.1 BPG while shooting 41.3% from distance on 4.5 attempts per game. He fits into Utah’s system quite well, it’s merely a matter of getting comfortable. Hendricks will likely still struggle to take away minutes from Lauri Markkanen or John Collins, but there should still be plenty of optimism about his upside going forward.
(#10) Oklahoma City Thunder
Selection: Cason Wallace
Original Grade: B+
Updated Grade: A-
It didn’t take long to recognize that Wallace was going to be a seamless addition with the Thunder, both from a talent and mentality standpoint. Already sliding into a sixth-man role and starting alternate, he’s been incredibly solid for one of the best teams in the NBA. Wallace is simply a smart, rugged, adaptable player who does everything at an above-average level on the court. His shooting, defense, and well-rounded game makes him a perfect fit for an Oklahoma City squad who wants every player on their roster to be comfortable without the ball or making decisions with the ball in their hands. Wallace’s 41.2% three-point percentage (on 2.9 attempts per game) is easily the highest among qualified players. The closest of anyone who has logged meaningful minutes is Brandin Podziemski at 38.8%. All signs point to Wallace being selected to one of the All-Rookie Teams.
(#11) Orlando Magic
Selection: Jett Howard
Original Grade: D
Updated Grade: F
Although Howard was widely considered a terrible pick at the time, it somehow looks even worse in hindsight. He only appeared in 18 games and totaled 67 minutes for the Magic this season, each figure ranking in the bottom three of first-round picks from the current rookie class. Among all players drafted (including those who logged zero minutes), Howard’s overall minutes ranks 45 out of 58. The whole situation is just perplexing, especially for a team who needed shooting and deliberately reached with Gradey Dick and Jordan Hawkins still on the board. It’s still early in the process, but Howard is clearly behind the rest of his first-round cohorts right now.
(#12) Dallas Mavericks
Selection: Dereck Lively
Original Grade: C+
Updated Grade: A
Despite originally giving Lively an average grade, it was mainly due to his immediate impact rather than his archetype or clear path to being a key piece for Dallas. However, it’s clear that the big man was much farther along than anticipated—especially on defense. In 23.5 MPG, Lively averaged 8.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.4 BPG, and 0.7 SPG while shooting a robust 74.7% from the floor. The more we dive into the advanced numbers, the more Lively stands out. Across his draft class, he ranks first in win shares, fifth in BPM, and sixth in VORP. While some of these are subject to change as others progress, Lively’s floor is already extremely high as a reliable rebounder, rim-protector, and lob threat who can make a read with the ball in his hands.
(#13) Toronto Raptors
Selection: Gradey Dick
Original Grade: C
Updated Grade: C+
While I still feel strongly that Hawkins was the better choice here, Dick has performed quite well following the Raptors decision to trade OG Anunoby and essentially punt on the season. After only appearing in 21 of the team’s first 42 games, he played in 39 of their last 40. During that stretch (25.9 MPG), Dick is averaging 11.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.2 APG while shooting 38.9% from three-point territory on 4.9 attempts per game. His defensive numbers are all pretty atrocious, but some of that can be credited to Toronto’s roster structure (in addition to their desire to tank). There’s no telling if Dick can ever be more than a league-average defender, but his shooting should earn him opportunities for this transitioning Raptors squad.
(#14) New Orleans Pelicans
Selection: Jordan Hawkins
Original Grade: B
Updated Grade: B
After receiving a lot of playing time to start the season, the return of Trey Murphy directly cut into Hawkins’ minutes (understandably so). Since the beginning of March, Hawkins has only appeared in 13 games and logged 7.3 MPG. The overall three-point shooting percentage (36.6%) is still pretty encouraging, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see how he finds additional minutes when the Pelicans are at full health. New Orleans’ rotation of Murphy, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Dyson Daniels, Jose Alvarado, Naji Marshall, and Jonas Valanciunas/Larry Nance is the preferred group for Willie Green. Hawkins simply isn’t one of their better players right now. He’s not anywhere in the top twenty combinations for two-man, three-man, or four-man lineups (and doesn’t appear until tenth (only 40 total minutes played) on the five-man lineups. Hawkins’ shooting should ultimately prevail, but it’ll require a change of scenery for someone involved.
(#15) Atlanta Hawks
Selection: Kobe Bufkin
Original Grade: B+
Updated Grade: C+
In hindsight, this pick appears much worse than folks expected. However, roster composition and playing opportunities were already two factors working against Bufkin. We anticipated this in our initial grade, stating there would be a constant logjam at his position, but the upside and general long-term appeal is still there. None of the numbers, traditional or advanced, offer any signs of positivity. He played in the second-lowest number of games and received the fourth-lowest minutes among last year’s first-round picks. Anyone who is currently buying Bufkin stock almost certainly expects him to emerge down the road.
(#16) Utah Jazz
Selection: Keyonte George
Original Grade: A-
Updated Grade: A
Likely to receive All-Rookie First Team honors, to say George was one of the best values in the draft would be a massive understatement. He posted strong per-game averages of 13.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 4.4 APG with shaky 39/33/85 splits. Although the inefficiency hasn’t really improved, George has taken advantage of the uptick in playing time. That being said, the Jazz were bad and the rookie represented some semblance of optimism. Growing George alongside a core of Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, John Collins, and several intriguing young pieces, and it’s easy to see a path to the playoffs. Although Jordan Clarkson has really improved as a playmaker while maintaining his usual scoring prowess, it feels like he and George are somewhat redundant. Don’t be surprised if they decide to get involved in trade discussions over the next twelve months, as it’ll only create more chances for their young guard.
(#17) Los Angeles Lakers
Selection: Jalen Hood-Schifino
Original Grade: C+
Updated Grade: D
It’s important to note that the original grade was accompanied by the following, “Let’s be clear: this grade is due to fit, not Hood-Schifino’s ability as a player. Getting the Indiana product with the 17th pick is fantastic value, but it’s uncertain how he fits within the Lakers structure. For starters, it’s still LeBron James’ (and Anthony Davis’) team. This means numerous things. It means that the Lakers (generally speaking) want to have a roster with battle-tested veterans and guys who complement LeBron. Unfortunately, Hood-Schifino doesn’t really fit either of those qualifications. His lack of spot-up ability from beyond the arc does pose some concerns. However, Hood-Schifino’s array of IQ, defense, toughness, versatility, and fairly low-maintenance identity should allow him to find opportunities. Should LeBron retire after the next season or two, the value of this selection would increase.” Unfortunately for Hood-Schifino, that assessment was quite accurate. He’s a non-shooter who simply doesn’t fit with LeBron. Outside of Anthony Davis, each of the Lakers’ top seven in minutes per game shot at least 36.7% or higher from beyond the arc. It’s honestly just a tough situation for Hood-Schifino, who likely would’ve been a useful piece elsewhere.
(#18) Miami Heat
Selection: Jamie Jacquez
Original Grade: A
Updated Grade: A
Nothing too exciting to see here. It was widely acknowledged that Jacquez would be an immediate contributor, and things unfolded exactly as anticipated. Where his age would’ve been a deterrent for most teams leading up to this selection, his intangibles made him a perfect pick for the Heat. For all the folks (specifically Lakers fans) who were outraged at him falling this low: he wouldn’t have been this impactful for majority of teams. However, it’s difficult to say anything other than positives about what he’s brought to Miami. In 28.2 MPG (75 games, 20 starts), Jacquez averaged 11.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, and 1.0 SPG with 49/32/81 splits. He should be a pretty clear choice for the All-Rookie First Team.
(#19) Golden State Warriors
Selection: Brandin Podziemski
Original Grade: C+
Updated Grade: A
Without a massive rookie season from Podziemski, it’s unclear if the Warriors would’ve even made the play-in games (now eliminated). The original grade was due to a logjam of veterans and young guys at his position, but Podziemski was simply better and quickly emerged as a key piece. The shooting, off-ball success, and understanding of how to mesh with this group was expected, but the toughness and elite rebounding ability made him impossible to take off the court. In 26.6 MPG, Podziemski averaged 9.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 3.7 APG with 45/39/63 splits. To further explain his unbelievable instincts on the glass, he posted a total rebounding percentage of 11.7%. Josh Hart posted 12.3% in the same category, and Podziemski already shoots and passes the ball at a much higher level. The pick value, especially as an immediate contributor, makes him one of the best selections from this draft.
(#20) Houston Rockets
Selection: Cam Whitmore
Original Grade: B
Updated Grade: A
This is another original grade that requires context, “Arguably the most impressive pick value of the entire draft, Houston takes a top-tier talent in Whitmore. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a player unexpectedly fall way too far in the draft, even in the recent years. However, it doesn’t seem like Whitmore will be presented with the same opportunities as someone like Michael Porter Jr. The Rockets’ roster is full of young, talented prospects—so there is cause for concern that Whitmore will eventually get lost in the shuffle. Should he earn a fair shake, expect him to far outperform this draft position.” There was never any doubt surrounding Whitmore’s talent level or ability to contribute, but rather the Rockets’ willingness to give him opportunities. Well, he earned chances and now looks like a major building block for this franchise. The scoring is undeniably impressive, as he’s second in the entire rookie class in points per minute (trailing only Victor Wembanyama) at 0.66. Among all NBA players who played at least 47 games, that figure ranks between Karl Anthony-Towns and Pascal Siakam for 33rd in the League. In 18.7 MPG (47 games, 2 starts), he averaged 12.3 PPG and 3.8 RPG with 45/36/68 splits. Don’t be surprised if he ends up as Houston’s best pick from this draft.
(#21) Brooklyn Nets
Selection: Noah Clowney
Original Grade: C+
Updated Grade: B-
(#22) Brooklyn Nets
Selection: Dariq Whitehead
Original Grade: C+
Updated Grade: C-
On a roster with no clear direction for the future, it’s easy to still commend the Nets on taking chances with high-upside guys like Clowney and Whitehead. Obviously, it’s too early to make any real conclusions since neither guy received many opportunities. The lion’s share of Clowney’s minutes came over the last 12 games of the season, where he averaged 8.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.2 BPG with 53/39/63 splits in 21.8 MPG. The shooting, rebounding, and rim protection are all worth noting. Clowney’s issue lies directly within roster construction, as the Nets have several veteran pieces who get heavy minutes at his position. They should’ve traded Dorian Finney-Smith (30) while his value was still high. Furthermore, The Ben Simmons debacle didn’t offer any clarity for the organization and they wasted potential Clowney/Whitehead reps by keeping Royce O’Neal for so long. Given the lack of any opportunities for Whitehead (24 total minutes), making any assertions on these selections will have to wait a little longer.
(#23) Portland Trailblazers
Selection: Kris Murray
Original Grade: C
Updated Grade: D
This wasn’t an amazing pick then, and it still has a very “whatever” feel now. Everything stated previously still rings true, “Although many people were a fan of this pick and his breakout season at Iowa, it feels like Murray captured a lot of attention due to the success his brother had as a rookie. He’s not his brother. However, Murray still has the makings of a capable NBA contributor. His path to minutes will be similar to his brother as a skilled, shooting forward. On one hand, making this pick allows Portland to have eventual flexibility with Jerami Grant and his rich new contract. The negative side is that Murray fits the same archetype as Grant, but just isn’t as good. It’s unclear who else the Trailblazers could’ve pursued here, but it’ll be interesting to follow Murray’s path.” Unfortunately for Murray, the numbers warrant the pessimism. Among rookies who played at least 40 games and attempted 100 three-pointers, Murray shot the second-lowest percentage from beyond the arc (26.8%), only trailing the Ausar Thompson. Even if we keep it at 40 games and remove the number of attempts, he still has the fifth-lowest percentage. He doesn’t rebound and, like most rookies, is a minus defender. Perhaps someone will trade for Jerami Grant and Murray will be better with increased volume, though it doesn’t appear to be a likely scenario at this point.
(#24) Dallas Mavericks
Selection: Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Original Grade: B
Updated Grade: B-
Although the counting stats don’t necessarily support the argument, there should still be a lot of hope for Prosper as a long-term piece. There was a very real scenario where he would’ve been a useful contributor for Dallas this season, but the team quickly proved to be better than anticipated after their roster teardown to acquire Kyrie Irving. Prosper still has a clear path to being a notable defender, but will have to become a more efficient offensive player in order to justify real minutes.
(#25) Detroit Pistons
Selection: Marcus Sasser
Original Grade: B
Updated Grade: B
There’s really no doubt that Sasser is a useful NBA player. The problem comes into play with his structural fit alongside Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. There were some positive flashes when Sasser and Ivey shared the court, but no such evidence with Cunningham—the team’s clear leader and long-term building block. The Pistons were terrible, so everything Sasser provided was a definite bonus. It’s unclear if his future lies within Detroit or not, but there should be a lot of optimism regarding his ability to hang in the NBA for a long time.
