The Draft has come and gone and we are left to look at which teams improved and which were left holding the bag. Without further ado here are our NBA draft winners and losers.

Winners:

Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks got a young superstar in Trae Young and a very solid 3 and D wing in Kevin Huerter.  The future is bright in hotlanta.
A+

Charlotte Hornets
Adding a promising young combo forward in Miles Bridges who has All star potential is a huge get. Also they added a solid young backup PG  for Kemba Walker.
A

Sacramento Kings
Bagley has superstar potential and they added two future seconds to the asset cupboard.
B+


San Antonio Spurs
Lonnie Walker at the 18th pick is an absolute act of theft. He has superstar potential and who else to harvest it but the Spurs.
A+


Losers:

Orlando Magic
They have no starting caliber back court pieces yet draft a C? Does anyone know what they are doing?
F


Memphis Grizzlies
Mike Conley is aging and coming off a major injury. Gasol is a pending FA. They have no starting caliber wing talent so they draft a project PF makes perfect sense.
F

Some quick notes this is our final mock before the draft.
​Big man talent is easier to come by which is why we have a couple very talented bigs falling on draft day. Porter Jr if he doesn't go at 4 could realistically fall out of the lottery from what we are hearing. 


1 .DeAndre Ayton
7-0
260
C
Arizona
Fr.


2. Marvin Bagley
6-11
235
PF
Duke
Fr.
​
3. Trae Young
6-2
180
PG
Oklahoma
Fr.

4.  Michael Porter
6-11
210
SF
Missouri
Fr.



5. Wendell Carter
6-10
250
PF/C
Duke
Fr.

6. Luka Doncic
6-8
225
SG/SF
Real Madrid
1999


7. Mikal Bridges
6-7
210
SG/SF
Villanova
Jr.

8. Collin Sexton
6-2
185
PG
Alabama
Fr.


9. Kevin Knox
6-9
215
SF/PF
Kentucky
Fr.

10. Jaren Jackson Jr.
6-11
235
PF
Michigan St.
Fr.

11.  Mohamed Bamba
7-0
225
C
Texas
Fr.

12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
6-6
180
PG
Kentucky
Fr.

13. Robert Williams
6-9
240
PF/C
Texas A&M
So.

14. Zhaire Smith
6-4
200
SG
Texas Tech
Fr.

15. Lonnie Walker
6-5
195
SG
Miami
Fr.



16. Anfernee Simons
6-3
185
PG/SG
Undecided
HSSr.

17. Gary Trent Jr.
6-5
205
SG
Duke
Fr.

18. Donte DiVincenzo
6-5
200
SG
Villanova
So.

19. Kevin Huerter
6-7
195
SG
Maryland
So.

20. Troy Brown
6-7
210
PG/SG
Oregon
Fr.

21.  Mitchell Robinson
7-1
225
C
USA
Fr.

22. Omari Spellman
6-9
255
PF/C
Villanova
Fr.

23. Landry Shamet
6-5
190
PG/SG
Wichita State
So.



24. Miles Bridges
6-6
220
SF/PF
Michigan St.
So.

25. Khyri Thomas
6-4
200
SG
Creighton
Jr.

26. Jalen Brunson
6-2
200
PG
Villanova
Jr.

27. Aaron Holiday
6-1
185
PG
UCLA
Jr.

28. Elie Okobo
6-2
180
PG
Pau-Lacq-Orthez
1997

29. Brandon McCoy
7-1
250
C
UNLV
Fr.

30. Chandler Hutchison
6-7
195
SG/SF
Boise State
Sr.

According to my sources Michael Porter Jr is favorite to land in Memphis at pick 4. If Memphis passes he could fall out of the lottery as most teams have taken him off their draft boards. The Kings, Hawks and Mavericks are all actively looking to trade down for the right package. The Kings favor Luka Doncic at the 2nd pick if they stay put. 

 In a draft headlined by Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley and Michael Porter Jr this sentence looks like blasphemy but being a good or great NBA player is decided by more than freak physical tools or jaw dropping raw athleticism.

​Too often we ignore basketball IQ, intangibles, work ethic and character when evaluating a prospect. Now I am not saying talent doesn't matter merely that it is only part of the formula for finding a good or great NBA player.

​Deandre Ayton is the best pure talent in this draft and his ceiling could be a star or even superstar level. However I worry that he doesn't really care if he reaches his ceiling. His demeanor and work ethic make me worry he will get paid and stop trying to improve. Against a Buffalo team that he had huge physical advantages over he completely disappeared. In the NBA with his subpar defense if he starts taking nights off  he will quickly become a net negative and a liability.


​Marvin Bagley has superstar talent and elite physical tools but his poor understanding of defensive concepts is a huge hurdle. He also will need to refine his offensive game as his advantages will be less pronounced at the next level.  Unlike Ayton it's not for lack of effort but poor execution so the hope remains that the right coaching staff can fix this.


​Michael Porter Jr makes this list because I think he is better suited as a PF.
​He seems to not really care about defense, his handle is average at best and this was against mostly High School competition. On top of these gaping flaws , he has had a lingering back injury and chronic hip issues we are supposed to believe are  not a long term problem. I would not let my worst enemy waste a 1st round pick on him.

​Wendell Carter Jr is not perfect by any means but here are his flaws. He is not an elite athlete and at six foot ten he is a bit short for the center position that is it. He possess an elite basketball IQ, strong passing ability for a big, solid rim protection ability and an array of post moves as well as a jump shot out to the 3 point line. He rebounds well at 13 per 40 minutes and the tape looks like a love child of Zach Randolph, Al Horford and Marc Gasol. Wendell Carter will be a perennial all star and probably a star without much growth and a top 10 center. The other bigs you have to do some hoping and quite a bit of projecting to think they will get there.

Normally NBA Stars are found in the top 5. However these are some players who have been less hyped but we feel have star potential. 

Trae Young
Even after putting up video game like numbers in college the doubts still exist. His small stature, short wingspan and lack of elite size or athleticism make people question whether he can translate. We believe he can and will. Elite shooting ability, handles and  a supreme basketball IQ more than make up for these questions. The Steph Curry comparisons are pretty accurate in our opinion.

Wendell Carter Jr
​Carter is not an elite athlete or a flashy physical specimen, however despite this he is a great basketball player. His high understanding of the game, strong passing skills and defensive IQ all project to make him a valuable two player. He could very easily be an Al Horford type at the next level.

Kevin Knox
​Knox is inconsistent on defense, isn't a great 3 point shooter and doesn't do much at a high level but score. The thing being missed is high level scoring ability still translates. Knox with some refinement could be a dangerous offensive weapon and 20 point scorer in the Paul George mold at the next level.

Anfernee Simons
​Simons is a project with clear flaws. He needs to improve his 3 point shot and get better at scoring with his other hand. If he plays PG he will also need to work on his playmaking.  Despite these questions he flashes high level scoring ability with an elite handle and tantalizing athleticism. He reminds me a lot of a young Dwayne Wade.

Lonnie Walker
Walker flashes high level scoring ability, elite physical tools and is a pure shotmaker. 
His basketball IQ and defensive awareness must improve but the raw tools for stardom exist.
​He also reminds me a lot of Dwayne Wade.


​Only time will tell if these 5 who are projected outside the top 5 in this years NBA draft are bound to become stars.