Western Conference 2017 NBA Draft Grades: Kings get an A; Nuggets barely pass with a C-

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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June 25, 2017

All NBA teams selected players who they thought fit their systems. Let’s see what others thought of their selections and how I gave them their 2017 NBA Draft Grades!

The 2017 NBA Draft Grades are out! There was a ton to evaluate this year as it wasn’t a slow draft night at all. The number one pick traded to the Philadelphia 76’ers. Jimmy Butler traded to Minnesota. There was a deep draft class, and several teams added a couple of players each. Some teams saw real progress on their foundation and then there are a couple of busts. Here are my grades for the 2017 NBA Draft class.

Western Conference

Dallas Mavericks: A
Dennis Smith Jr. (9)

This NBA Draft class had a ton of point guards in it. I know that Dennis Smith was going to fall a little bit, I didn’t think he would land at number nine. The Dallas Mavericks got a steal with the athletic point guard that is 6-3 and has an NBA body. He will add offense to the 23rd NBA offense last year. Smith will have an outside chance at Rookie of the Year, so I thought that Dallas Mavericks did as well as they could with their only first round pick. You will need to check out the other 2017 NBA Draft Grades.

Denver Nuggets: C-
Tyler Lydon (24, from Jazz)
Vlatko Cancar (49)
Monte Morris (51)

The Denver Nuggets took a chance to get Donovan Mitchell, but they traded down and took Tyler Lydon, who is a 6-10 stretch-four that can shoot. Some people compare him to a poor man’s Ryan Anderson. I was surprised that the Nuggets took Lydon when they have Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, Juan Hernanogomez, Darrell Arthur, and Wilson Chandler in the frontcourt plus they traded to get Trey Lyles from the Jazz too.

I think that they will stash Vlatko Cancar overseas for this year and Monte Morris has a very slim shot of making this team. I just don’t see the moves to make the Nuggets get in the playoffs this season.

Golden State Warriors: A
Jordan Bell (38, from Bulls)

The Golden State Warriors didn’t have a first-round pick in the draft, but they found the guy that they wanted. They bought the pick from the Chicago Bulls for $3.5 million and took an elite rebounder that can defend almost every position except the point guard. Bell is perfect for the Warriors style of play and will compete for a front court role with the NBA champions.

Houston Rockets: B
Isaiah Hartenstein (43)

So the Houston Rockets have said that they are going all in with free agency to make a splash. I didn’t think that they would do much in the draft. I believe that Hartenstein is a good big man that could have been a lottery pick if he had gone back to school for another year. Hartenstein will be stash overseas if it was my bet.

Los Angeles Clippers: B
Jawun Evans (39, from 76ers)
Sindarius Thornwell (48, from Bucks)

The Los Angeles Clippers traded into the second round to get Jawun Evans and Sindarius Thornwell that both helped their teams to the NCAA Tournament. Evans would have been a first round talent if not for his stature and Thornwell led South Carolina to the Final Four. They both could step in and help out right away. Let’s see how the other 2017 NBA Draft Grades pan out.

Los Angeles Lakers: A
Lonzo Ball (2)
Kyle Kuzma (27, from Nets)
Josh Hart (30, from Jazz)
Thomas Bryant (42, from Jazz)

Magic Johnson had his first draft, and he wanted to make a splash and LaVar Ball made sure of that one. Lonzo Ball is the perfect pass first, athletic point guard that will lead this team. Kuzma is a 6-9 scorer that can step out and hit the three-point shot. They used the number twenty-six pick for Josh Hart and Thomas Bryant. Both of them are long shots to be with the team, but it was a great draft for the Lakers.

Memphis Grizzlies: B-
Ivan Rabb (35, from Magic),
Dillon Brooks (45, from Rockets)

The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t do anything bad here; they just didn’t do anything great either. Ivan Rabb and Dillon Brooks will probably be decent role players in the NBA, but when will the Memphis Grizzlies start looking to the future? They could have tried to get a potential impact guy like Semi Ojeleye, but they got two just decent players instead of a great one.

Minnesota Timberwolves: A+
Justin Patton (16, from Bulls)

The Minnesota Timberwolves got an A+, because of the Jimmy Butler trade where they dealt the number seven pick, Zach LaVine, and Kris Dunn to the Chicago Bulls. The deal would have been perfect for the Timberwolves anyway, but they got the number sixteen pick too. Justin Patton is just the icing on the cake. He is a good backup center for them. Patton needs to put some weight on, but he has excellent skills and can knock down the three-point shot. What do you think of the 2017 NBA Draft Grades so far?

New Orleans Pelicans: B
Frank Jackson (31, from Hornets)

The Pelicans got Frank Jackson who is a strong guard from Duke that will get the ball to DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis. Jackson was good value for the number thirty-one pick of the draft. Jackson reminds me of Reggie Jackson from the Detroit Pistons, but he is a better scorer and much better shooter. It could be a real sleeper pick.

Oklahoma City Thunder: B+
Terrance Ferguson (21)

Being that I live in OKC, I know that Russell Westbrook needs help and that usually doesn’t happen with the number twenty-one pick. Ferguson is originally from Oklahoma but moved to Texas. He was going to play at Arizona last year but had transcript issues with the NCAA, so he went to Australia instead. He had to adjust playing with MEN, and his stock dropped when his average did. Ferguson is an explosive 6-7 wing scorer and excellent three point shooter. Something that the OKC Thunder did badly. He does have bust potential, but Sam Presti has done well in the draft, so I will see what happens.

Phoenix Suns: A-
Josh Jackson (4)
Davon Reed (32)
Alec Peters (54)

The Phoenix Suns could have used a more polished scorer like Jayson Tatum in the short term, but Jackson has a much better upside to him. Jackson fell to the Suns when he canceled a workout where the Celtics front office flew cross-country to see him and his “people” canceled when they were in the air. Most likely Jackson will slide into the starting lineup along Devin Booker. The Suns were 28th in the league in defense so being that Jackson is 6-7 and has an enormous wingspan, he will help their defense immensely. He just needs to develop his jump shot. Davon Reed shot the ball at 40 percent from behind the arc, and I doubt that Peters will make the team.

Portland Trail Blazers: C+
Zach Collins (10, from Kings)
Caleb Swanigan (26)

A lot of the talking heads were high on Zach Collins who is a seven footer, but I don’t see where it makes sense at all. They traded for Jusuf Nurkic last season so where does Collins fit? Portland gave up the number fifteen and number twenty pick to select number ten, but they would have been better to get a couple of wings that can play defense and hit the three point shot. Swanigan is a hard worker, but I don’t know if he will stick in the NBA.

Sacramento Kings: A
De’Aaron Fox (5),
Justin Jackson (15, from Blazers)
Harry Giles (20, from Blazers)
Frank Mason (34)

I know that you are in SHOCK! I have an “A” with the Sacramento Kings. They didn’t screw up the draft. I think that De’Aaron Fox is the best player in this NBA Draft. He is the guy that they wanted and will be the best player on that roster. Trading down was a smart move for them to get Justin Jackson who can shoot the three point shot and is an energy guy. Giles would have been the number one pick two years ago in the draft. He has had two knee injuries and didn’t play much at Duke. Frank Mason is a proven leader and will be a great backup point guard for them. Kansas Fans loved him. l loved this pick in the 2017 NBA Draft Grades.

San Antonio Spurs: A
Derrick White (29), Jaron Blossomgame (59)

We know that the Spurs always get an “A” in the Draft each year, but this guy was born to be a San Antonio Spurs player. He played three years at a NCAA Division II school then transferred to Colorado where he became their best scorer. He is a 6-5 wing that can defend, hit the three point shot, and finish at the rim. Blossomgame will give them solid minutes, but nothing special. The Spurs just keep getting better.

Utah Jazz: A-
Picks: Donovan Mitchell (13, from Nuggets)
Tony Bradley (28, from Lakers)
Nigel Williams-Goss (55)

The Utah Jazz traded up to get Donovan Mitchell and Tony Bradley. Donovan Mitchell is a freak athlete that plays bigger than his 6-3 height because he has a 6-10 wingspan. Tony Bradley fits the Jazz defensive scheme being a 6-11 center with a 7-5 wingspan who will be a good rebounder. The Jazz got a starting two guard and backup center with both players. Williams-Goss could develop into their backup point guard and give them a floor general for the second unit. Let me know what you think of the 2017 NBA Draft Grades on twitter!