2017 Eastern Conference NBA draft grades: Philadelphia 76ers generate buzz with Fultz

NBA Draft Grades

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.

June 26, 2017

The NBA Draft Grades for the Eastern Conference is finished, and the dust has settled on a night with multiple trades. Jimmy Butler was sent to the Timberwolves in a deal that wasn’t good for the Chicago Bulls. The 76’ers got Markelle Fultz, Celtics got their shooter in Jayson Tatum, and Magic drafted enormous potential in Jonathan Isaac.

Let’s see how I graded the draft for each NBA Eastern Conference team.

Atlanta Hawks: B-

John Collins (19)
Tyler Dorsey (41)
Alpha Kaba (60)

The Atlanta Hawks are retooling this roster after the last couple years. The Hawks had Paul Millsap opt out. Al Horford went to the Boston Celtics in free agency. Kyle Korver shipped to Cleveland via trade. This NBA Draft was a fresh start for Atlanta, and they got John Collins in a steal. Collins is 6-10 and big enough to replace Dwight Howard plus he is a good athletic player around the rim. You don’t get an All-Star at number nineteen, but he was a nice pickup if he adds range to his jump shot. Tyler Dorsey doesn’t have one skill set that stands out to me. I know that he lead the Oregon Ducks to the Final Four, but I don’t think his game will translate to the NBA. The Hawks would have gotten a high grade if they took Harry Giles or Jarret Allen at #19. Giles and Allen have more upside than Collins. The Hawks went safely in this pick. Let’s check out more NBA draft grades.

Boston Celtics: D

Jayson Tatum (3)
Semi Ojeleye (37)
Kadeem Allen (53)
Jabari Bird (56)

Danny Ainge says that Jayson Tatum was his guy all the way long and would have taken him at Number one overall if he kept that pick. I like Jayson Tatum as a player, but if you could have gotten Jimmy Butler for the third pick, then that is a no-brainer. Butler is a proven player in the NBA. I know that Celtics are going to make a run at Gordon Hayward in free agency, but I don’t know if he can put them over Cleveland or Golden State.

Ainge is picking up good players in spots reserved for elite players. They chose Jaylen Brown with the third pick last year, and Marcus Smart at the sixth pick two years ago. Neither are elite players, but they are contributors. The Celtics will take a lot of heat for Markelle Fultz if he turns into an All-star since they could have taken him.

Brooklyn Nets: A

Jarrett Allen (22)
Aleksandar Vezekov (57)

You are in SHOCK, right! The Nets get an “A”? I think that they do. They sent Brook Lopez to the Lakers and got D’Angelo Russell for the 27th pick where the guy was the second pick just two years ago. It gives Russell a fresh start and an absolute steal. I don’t care if Russell doesn’t live up to the number two pick. I would measure him with the number twenty-seven pick. I thought that Nets got a steal of Jarrett Allen at the twenty-second pick. Yes, he needs to sharpen his skills, but the kid is just 19 years old. Jarrett Allen could be a lottery type player. Let us know on Twitter about the NBA draft grades: Men’s Basketball Hoop Scoop Twitter!

Charlotte Hornets: B

Malik Monk (11)
Dwayne Bacon (40, via Pacers)

Most experts had Monk higher than number eleven pick, but I thought that the Hornets made the right pick. He is a fantastic athlete that can shoot the basketball. I believe that his defense and rebounding will improve with Steve Clifford on him. Monk has more upside that Luke Kennard that went one pick later. Monk reminds me of J.R. Smith, but without his defense. Monk doesn’t do much else unless he is scoring, but he can get better.

Chicago Bulls: C
Lauri Markannen (7, via Timberwolves)

The Chicago Bulls are getting killed for letting Butler for next to nothing. Chicago got Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and the number seven pick that turned out to be Lauri Markannen. Fred Hoiberg is bringing in his type of players which are shooters to make his system work. It’s not a horrible pick for a seven footer that is one of the best shooters in the draft. Dunn was a hot name in the draft last year so a change of scenery could be good for him. LaVine has been injury prone and needed a change of scenery too. I didn’t like the trade at all and was very disappointed in the Chicago Bulls for selling their pick to the Golden State Warriors. The Bulls lead attendance, and they needed money? I hear that 3.5 million is the buyout for Rondo, but I still didn’t like the move.

Cleveland Cavaliers: N/A
No Picks

Detroit Pistons: B-

Luke Kennard (12)

I don’t like the Kennard pick at all. Kennard is a sound player that can shoot and the Pistons need shooting help. Kennard can’t play the defense that Stan Van Gundy wants in his players. I thought that Donovan Mitchell who is a versatile defender would be a great fit as a 3-and-D guy in Van Gundy’s system. Justin Jackson would have been a good pick too for them. Kennard is an ok pick, but he can’t carry the team.

Indiana Pacers: D+

T.J. Leaf (18)
Ike Anigbogu (47)
Edmund Sumner (52)

I think that T.J. Leaf was reliable with the UCLA Bruins and sometimes better than Lonzo Ball in a couple of games, but he isn’t a game changer. He is a stretch four that will be a rotation guy at best. It wasn’t a great draft for the Pacers plus the fact that Paul George wants out. Anigbogu is a project that should have went back to school.

Miami Heat: C-

Bam Adebayo (14)

Bam Adebayo shouldn’t have gone this high in the NBA Draft. He looks like Tarzan but plays like Jane. He is a decent inside scorer, but he should dominate down there. He isn’t a great defender in the paint area. He can’t shoot at all, so it doesn’t make sense to me at all. Let’s keep checking out the NBA draft grades.

Milwaukee Bucks: C

D.J. Wilson (17)
Sterling Brown (46)

I view D.J. Wilson as I did with Tyler Dorsey from Oregon. Wilson is a shooter that can stretch the floor and is a solid defender. The Bucks are on the rise and needed a guy to take less pressure off the “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo. So what do you think about the NBA draft grades right now?

New York Knicks: C

Frank Ntilikina (8)
Damyean Dotson (44)
Ognjen Jaramaz (58)

Phil Jackson didn’t do something dumb with Kristaps Porzingis like trading him, but they did dangle him and didn’t improve their trust with him. Ntilikina will start for the Knicks, but that is because they are bad. The 19-year-old is a project for 6-6, but he plays longer than most point guards. He can guard the 1-3 spots and could be a good 3-and-D guy. I thought they might try to make an impact and trade up for De’Aaron Fox, but they didn’t try. Dotson can shoot the ball, but the Knicks didn’t improve much in the draft. The Ntilikina pick is a project at the number eight spot.

Orlando Magic: A

Jonathan Isaac (6)
Wesley Iwundu (33)

The Magic hit a home run at the sixth number pick with Isaac. He is a 6-11 defensive beast, can guard four spots, incredible athleticism and the highest ceiling of anyone in the draft. He has skills and can create for his size. His versatility means that he could end up being one of the best in this NBA draft. We are almost finished with the NBA draft grades.

Philadelphia 76ers: A

Markelle Fultz (1)
Anzejs Pasecniks (25, via Magic)
Jonah Bolden (36)
Mathias Lessort (50)

All you have to say about the 2017 NBA Draft is Markelle Fultz. This pick will get down to the draft that the 76’ers end the process. They have Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, and Ben Simmons with Fultz. Fultz is a 6-4 point guard that can get to the rim, hit the mid-range and from down deep. Markelle Fultz is a better passer than most people give him credit. The Huskies were bad last year, but don’t hold it against him.

Toronto Raptors: A+

OG Anunoby (23)

I thought that the Raptors had one of the best draft picks with OG Anunoby at the twenty-third pick. Anunoby is coming off a knee injury, but this team is a great team for him. He is a defensive stud, and you are getting a young “Andre Iguodala” type player. To get a player like him is a potential home run for the Raptors. The kid can score and is a great athlete with skill. He could be a diamond in the rough for the Toronto Raptors.

This article wraps up my 2017 NBA Draft Grades for the Eastern Conference. I hope that you have enjoyed my analysis as much as I have enjoyed watching film on them.

If you liked this article then check out our 2017 NBA Draft grades for the Western conference too:

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

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