National Basketball Association

Complete 2017 NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:30 p.m. ET

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2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the stage before the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Now that the 2017 NBA Draft is in the books, it's time to take a look at what everyone in the association did with grades for all 30 teams.

The 2017 NBA Draft is in the books!

The Philadelphia 76ers took Markelle Fultz No. 1 overall, the Los Angeles Lakers found their new point guard in Lonzo Ball, the Boston Celtics went with Jayson Tatum after being unable to land a blockbuster deal and the Phoenix Suns got their guy with a perfect fit in Josh Jackson.

But after an eventful night that was full of pick-swapping, surprising selections and one blockbuster trade we're still scratching our heads over, how did everyone fare in the 2017 NBA Draft?

There were clear winners and losers, as is the case in every draft. Some teams addressed positions of need, some took wild leaps while reaching for picks and still others straddled the line between both.

In order to sort it all out, here's a look at complete 2017 NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams in the association.

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; John Collins (Wake Forest) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number nineteen overall pick to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Hawks

John Collins (No.19), Tyler Dorsey (No. 41), Alpha Kaba (No. 60)

The biggest draft move for the Atlanta Hawks came a few days earlier, when the team unceremoniously dumped Dwight Howard in a deal with the Charlotte Hornets for Marco Belinelli, Miles Plumlee's ugly contract and the chance to move 10 spots back in the draft.

That move barely deserved a passing grade considering it was meant for nothing more than getting rid of D-12. Drafting Wake Forest's John Collins provides a potential replacement down the line, but he's more of an offensively inclined player.

Collins has a solid base as a scorer and a pick-and-roll partner with Dennis Schroder, but he doesn't have much upside. He can't pass, was knocked for his defense in college and doesn't stretch the floor — all staples of Mike Budenholzer's offense. Atlanta will have to coach him up — a legitimate possibility — for him to become a good fit.

Tyler Dorsey provides a nice two-way threat as a potential 3-and-D prospect, while Alpha Kaba is a likely draft-and-stash. The rebuild is coming, and with a largely unsexy draft soon to be followed by Paul Millsap's free agency, it's probably not going to be pretty.

Grade: C-

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Jayson Tatum (Duke) is interviewed after being selected as the number three overall pick to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum (No. 3), Semi Ojeleye (No. 37), Kadeem Allen (No. 53), Jabari Bird (No. 56)

Once again, the Boston Celtics emerged from draft night without the blockbuster trade fans have been clamoring for — a disappointment after trading down from the No. 1 pick and posturing themselves for another move. But they didn't land Jimmy Butler. They didn't walk away with Paul George, and in the end, glimpses of the unicorn Kristaps Porzingis were just a mirage.

However, Boston still found very good value in the draft, particularly with its first three picks. Jayson Tatum is, on paper, a perfect fit for a roster that needs an additional scoring punch to take the pressure off Isaiah Thomas to do everything.

He'll need to work on his perimeter shot and his defense, but his size and his length could make him passable on that end and he has the instincts of a scorer.

Semi Ojeleye is a fiery defender who used his brute strength to bully people in college. That won't fly at the next level, but he has an NBA body already and if his excellent shooting splits from college translate into a reliable three-point shot at the next level, the Celtics just picked up some serious wing depth with a player some expected to go in the first round.

Arizona's Kadeem Allen is another great pick considering he might be one of the best perimeter defenders in this draft class, though he's already 24 years old. California's Jabari Bird rounded out Boston's draft with a former teammate of Jaylen Brown. Plus, the last time the Celtics had a guy named Bird, he did pretty well for himself.

It was a nice haul for Boston overall, but not a single one of those rookies moves the needle against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East. It's possible Danny Ainge is playing the long game and simply liked Tatum better than Fultz, but after all those trade rumors, this feels like another year of being unable to turn that mountain of assets into anything more than the promise of tomorrow.

Grade: C+

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Jarrett Allen (Texas) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number twenty-two overall pick to the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Brooklyn Nets

Jarrett Allen (No. 22), Aleksandar Vezenkov (No. 57)

In the span of a week, the Brooklyn Nets managed to trade away Brook Lopez's expiring deal, land a potential franchise point guard in D'Angelo Russell AND draft a potential center to replace Lopez. Sure, they had to take on Timofey Mozgov's albatross of a contract and surrender the No. 27 overall pick, but general manager Sean Marks once again prove his worth.

In that excellent deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Nets added a combo guard who can play alongside Jeremy Lin and eventually take the wheel. Brooklyn also keeps all of its 2017 cap space, even with Mozgov on the books.

Oh and yeah, Jarrett Allen — the Nets' pick at No. 22 — also just so happened to throw down one of the most wicked dunks in the NCAA this year:

The seven-foot big man out of Texas may never be a star, but he's clearly athletic and has plenty of upside. With a patient coaching staff that can coax out his love for the game and shot-blocking ability, Allen's offensive game will eventually follow. That's more than enough considering he wasn't expected to fall that far in the pecking order.

In the second round, the Nets got a draft-and-stash candidate in Aleksandar Vezenkov, a big man from Cyprus who can stroke the basketball but may struggle defensively whenever he comes stateside.

All in all, walking out of the 2017 NBA Draft with Russell, Allen and a promising draft-and-stash guy made this another success for the Brooklyn Nets' once bare cupboard of assets.

Grade: A-

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Malik Monk (Kentucky) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number eleven overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Charlotte Hornets

Malik Monk (No. 11), Dwayne Bacon (No. 40)

During draft week, the Charlotte Hornets got Dwight Howard for practically nothing, moved up 10 spots in the draft and got rid of Miles Plumlee's contract. That alone made it a success.

However, they weren't done there. Though the Hornets traded the No. 31 overall pick on draft night (to the New Orleans Pelicans for No. 40 and cash), they got one of the steals of the first round thanks to Malik Monk somehow falling all the way to No. 11.

Donovan Mitchell was the name that kept popping up all week for the Hornets, but when a pure shooter and dynamic scorer with microwave potential was still on the board, nobody could blame them for bolstering their bench with additional firepower. Monk should be one of the best players in the draft; him falling that far made this an easy pick.

At No. 40, the Hornets also scooped up another potential walking heat check in Florida State's Dwayne Bacon, who could become a sort of Dion Waiters, Lance Stephenson, irrational confidence kind of guy. What more do you need to know?

Charlotte had limited cap space to work with this summer, but thanks to Monk falling, smart second round drafting and the Howard trade that reunites him with his old assistant coach Steve Clifford, the Hornets brought the buzz back this week.

Grade: A

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Lauri Markkanen (Arizona) shows off the inside of his suit jacket as he is introduced as the number seven overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bulls

Lauri Markkanen (No. 7)

The Chicago Bulls don't get the flak they deserve for being one of the NBA's most poorly run organizations, but that should change after the Jimmy Butler trade that's more appropriately graded as a fleecing.

In a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Bulls were somehow coerced into thinking a guy coming off an ACL tear (Zach LaVine), a point guard with serious bust potential (Kris Dunn) and a one-dimensional shooter (Lauri Markkanen at No. 7) were somehow worth a borderline top-10 player in his prime and under contract for two more seasons.

Oh, and top it all off, Chicago even threw in its own pick at No. 16. WATER U DOIN, BULLS?

To be fair, LaVine is better than people give him credit for. He's an explosive athlete, yes, but he's more than just a dunker. He can shoot the three-ball, he's only 22 and he's an exciting player. It's too soon to call Dunn a bust after only one NBA season and Markkanen truly is an elite shooter.

But all of those assets have question marks. Can LaVine come back healthy and be the same? Will the 23-year-old Dunn be any better than Cameron Payne or Jerian Grant? Can Markkanen stay on the floor defensively? And do these assets combined measure up to a two-way superstar like Butler, especially without a single future first-rounder included?

Chicago got robbed, pure and simple. This return would've made sense in, say, a Paul George trade where his team had zero leverage because everyone knew he'll be Laker-bound in free agency. But not so with Butler, whose price should've been way higher considering his preferable contract situation. This rebuild is going to rough, and it's going to take a very long time.

Oh and to make matters worse, just when everyone thought the Bulls might have done something right by taking Jordan Bell at No. 38…they let the Warriors buy him away. Face palm, Bulls. Face palm.

Grade: D-

2017 NBA Draft

March 19, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Channing Frye (8) shoots a basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers

N/A

In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers dumped Anderson Varejao's contract on the Portland Trail Blazers at the cost of their 2018 first round pick. The Cavs were able to get it back in a separate deal with Rip City, but only upon surrendering their 2017 first-rounder — No. 26 in this year's draft.

When Cleveland dumped poor Andy V, they did so in order to make room for Channing Frye, who has been an excellent bench piece and floor-spacer during the regular season, but almost entirely absent from the rotation during the 2016 and 2017 NBA Finals.

Regular season depth is always good, especially for a team that relies on Herculean feats and superhuman endurance from LeBron James every postseason, but Frye hasn't made much of an impact in winning or losing the last two titles.

Compared to Caleb Swanigan, Frye's contributions to an Eastern Conference power are probably enough to justify the loss of a late first-rounder, but as some point, the Cavs are going to need to replenish a bare cupboard with young talent again.

Grade: B-

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Dennis Smith, Jr. (NC State) is interviewed after being introduced as the number nine overall pick to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Mavericks

Dennis Smith Jr. (No. 9)

No offense to Seth Curry, Yogi Ferrell or free agency fantasies about Jrue Holiday, but the Dallas Mavericks needed a franchise point guard with legitimate star potential. After selecting a point guard with perhaps the highest ceiling in this year's draft class, they may have found that player in Dennis Smith Jr.

There were questions about his attitude in college, especially with his body language when his NC State Wolfpack were in the throes of a very underwhelming season.

But DSJ's offensive potential and athleticism are off the charts, giving the Mavs yet another dynamic piece to build around as they prepare for life after Dirk Nowitzki. He's the piece Dallas wanted, and now the fun can begin.

His defense needs work and there are still lingering fears about his ACL tear in high school, but what Smith showed in college should put those concerns to rest since he still has plenty of bounce.

This pick may go unnoticed by the outside world, but it might not be long before Dennis Smith Jr. bursts onto the NBA scene like he was shot out of a cannon with a fuse lit by lightning.

Grade: A

2017 NBA Draft

Dec 21, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange forward Tyler Lydon (20) shoots the ball against the St. John's Red Storm during the second half at the Carrier Dome. St. John's won 93-60. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Nuggets

Tyler Lydon (No. 24), Vlatko Cancar (No. 49), Monte Morris (No. 51)

No offense to poor Tyler Lydon and his one-sided potential as a stretch-4, but what on earth happened to the Denver Nuggets Thursday night?

Not only did Tim Connelly miss out on a prime opportunity to land Jimmy Butler, but the team made a downright silly move trading down from No. 13 (Donovan Mitchell) to No. 24 (Lydon), even with Trey Lyles thrown in.

Lyles may not be a draft bust just yet and showed signs of being a stretch-4 as a rookie, but he completely fell off the map in his second season, losing minutes to an injured Derrick Favors, Joe Ingles and an over-the-hill-until-the-playoffs Joe Johnson.

Vlatko Cancar is a draft-and-stash, Monte Morris does little to unclutter a crowded backcourt that already cut Emmanuel Mudiay from its rotation and the power forward spot is even worse with Kenneth Faried, Juan Hernangomez, Lyles, Lydon and Darrell Arthur.

The Nuggets needed to either make a trade (which they tried) or draft a project player. They did neither. Hell, dumping Mudiay and drafting Mitchell or OG Anunoby at 13 would've been preferable to this.

Grade: D

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Luke Kennard (Duke) puts on a cap as he is introduced as the number twelve overall pick to the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Pistons

Luke Kennard (No. 12)

Not much to get excited about for the Detroit Pistons, especially after weeks of speculation about Andre Drummond or Reggie Jackson trades.

Still, Luke Kennard is a solid, albeit ho-hum pick in that he brings three-point shooting to Stan Van Gundy's squad. He's a bit limited outside out that, contrary to all the talk about his playmaking skills, and he may struggle to defend at the next level.

That being said, shooting always translates. The biggest obstacle Detroit has encountered in its attempts to replicate the success Van Gundy found in Orlando is the lack of perimeter shooting. Kennard fills that need, even if he doesn't come with the excitement of a Donovan Mitchell.

If Kennard can just be passable defensively (big "if"), he'll be a decent role player for whatever squad the Pistons trot out there for the next few years. He's just not going to be a star, or even a two-way player in this league.

Grade: C+

2017 NBA Draft

Mar 23, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Jordan Bell (1) reacts during the second half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the semifinals of the midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Oregon defeated Michigan 69-68. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Golden State Warriors

Jordan Bell (No. 38)

The freaking Golden State Warriors, man.

Let's start with the history behind their lack of a pick entering the 2017 NBA Draft, shall we? In a 2013 salary dump with the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets, the Warriors cleared out Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins and Brandon Rush to create enough space for Andre Iguodala.

The move cost them a first-rounder in 2014 (Rodney Hood) and 2017 (Josh Hart at No. 30), plus second-rounders in 2016 (Tyrone Wallace), 2017 (Alpha Kaba at No. 60) and 2018, but considering where the Dubs are now, it's pretty obvious they'd make that move again in a heartbeat.

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Iguodala has been a crucial part of the most dominant three-year stretch in NBA history. He's accepted a sixth man role, helped the team win two championships and an NBA-record 73 regular season games, and earned Finals MVP honors in the process.

With the Warriors now looking like perhaps the greatest team of all time and poised to rule the league for the next half-decade, that's more than worth missing out on Hood, Hart, a draft-and-stash named after a fraternity and a guy who never played a single NBA game.

But rather than sit back and feel content about being the richest of the rich, the Dubs went full reverse-Robin Hood when they snagged Oregon's Jordan Bell from Chicago at No. 38. It cost them $3.5 million, sure, but that might wind up being one of the biggest steals of the draft.

Bell may be limited offensively, but he's a freak athlete whose shot-blocking instincts, rebounding, toughness and defensive versatility will be a scary good addition for a defensive powerhouse like the Warriors.

The Dubs exude a winning culture, and Bell's untapped potential is heading there. It's unfair for the rest of the league, since he has the capability of being a small-ball 5 in this league and switching out onto the perimeter.

Oh, and there's this little tidbit too:

Sleep well, children! Just try not to think about the NBA Boogeyman that's going to be living under the bed for the next 5-10 years.

Grade: A+

2017 NBA Draft

May 11, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni talks with media after the Rockets lost to the San Antonio Spurs in game six of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Rockets

Isaiah Hartenstein (No. 43)

After trading their first-rounder (Tony Bradley at No. 28) to the Lakers in the Lou Williams deal, then letting the Grizzlies swoop in at No. 45 for Dillon Brooks, the Houston Rockets left the 2017 NBA Draft with only one selection.

That selection, however, was a good one for a team expected to be aggressive in free agency this summer and in need of as much cap space as possible. Not only was Isaiah Hartenstein not expected to fall all the way to No. 43, but the seven-foot German is a prime draft-and-stash candidate who may be able to actually contribute by the time he joins the team.

The big issue here — and the reason he dropped — is a back condition that had ESPN's Fran Fraschilla ranting on the broadcast about how he might have been a lottery pick in next year's draft had he just waited another year.

In any case, if this back condition isn't the second coming of Donatas Motiejunas, Hartenstein is a skilled bit who may even have stretch-5 potential one day. He's only 19 years old and is a mobile big who could strengthen Houston's frontcourt depth behind Clint Capela.

The Lou Williams deal was probably worth missing out on UNC's Bradley, especially since the Rockets may have found value in the second round. Not a great draft, but not a bad one either.

Grade: B-

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; T.J. Leaf (UCLA) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number eighteen overall pick to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana Pacers

T.J. Leaf (No. 18), Ike Anigbogu (No. 47), Edmond Sumner (No. 52)

There will still be plenty of opportunities to move Paul George in the coming months, but by not being able to do so on draft night, the Indiana Pacers may have missed out on their best opportunity to jumpstart a rebuild.

As happy a story as two UCLA teammates playing together in Indiana might be, that's the overwhelming takeaway from the Pacers' draft night. Trading PG-13 is an uphill battle with no leverage since everyone fears he'll only be a one-year rental, but the Celtics were on the line for awhile. Not being able to reel them in hurts, especially with all of Boston's assets to choose from.

At No. 18, the Pacers took a stretch-4 with very limited defensive ability in T.J. Leaf. They later scored Ike Anigbogu — who was projected to go somewhere in the latter half of the first round — at No. 47.

Leaf is a nice young piece who will help with the rebuild, while Anigbogu will provide depth and athleticism at the 5…assuming his health doesn't get in the way.

In any case, at least T.J. Leaf will spread the floor. Xavier's Edmond Sumner was acquired from the Pelicans at No. 52, and he may well be worth it thanks to his versatility and physical gifts.

No one really moves the needle here though. These aren't your typical high-upside picks with potential, nor would they feel at home on a win-now kind of team. Anigbogu is simply raw, Leaf is flawed and Sumner will be challenged to make an impact. Couple that with the lack of a Paul George trade and this was a less than exciting haul.

Grade: C-

2017 NBA Draft

Feb 28, 2017; Ames, IA, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) plays defense against the Iowa State Cyclones at James H. Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones beat the Cowboys 86 to 83. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Clippers

Jawun Evans (No. 39), Sindarius Thornwell (No. 48)

Unlike the Warriors and Cavs, the deal that cost the Los Angeles Clippers their 2017 first round pick (No. 23) was a stinker in retrospect.

In 2014, the Clippers were looking to unload what was left of Jared Dudley's contract and attached a protected first round pick in a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, receiving Carlos Delfino, Miroslav Raduljica and a 2015 second-rounder in return. None of those players played a single game for the Clippers.

Only time will tell how good OG Anunoby (No. 23) turns out to be, but either way, this was yet another shortsighted move that cost them a chance at having a player with upside on a cheap contract to fall back on in the event their stars leave. The fact that he'd be a perfect fit for this roster stings even worse.

Luckily, the front office (somewhat) made up for past mistakes by buying into the second round at opportune moments.

The Clippers used cash to snag point guard Jawun Evans at No. 39 — far below where he was expected to fall. Evans is a second round steal with legitimate potential, especially if Chris Paul re-signs and provides him with a daily example as one of the NBA's elite floor generals.

Thornwell is older at nearly 23 years old, but he's an accomplished scorer who helped lead South Carolina to the Final Four. A little experience and NBA-readiness is exactly what Lob City's bench needs.

Neither one measures up to Anunoby, but Evans is a potential steal and Thornwell is a solid addition. For a team entering the night with no picks, that's a pretty impressive haul.

Grade: C+

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Lonzo Ball (UCLA) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Lakers

Lonzo Ball (No. 2), Kyle Kuzma (No. 27), Josh Hart (No. 30), Thomas Bryant (No. 42)

The D'Angelo Russell trade was a Mozgov salary dump that was hard to defend. The Los Angeles Lakers gave up on a No. 2 overall pick (who had shown flashes of potential) WAY too soon, and it was all in the service of clearing a contract that could've been moved down the line…just on the outside chance LeBron James might actually want to come to L.A in 2018.

Signing Paul George and the King would be well worth the risk, but it was a hard deal to defend in and of itself.

In the actual draft, however, the Lakers did a pretty exceptional job landing their next potential franchise point guard in Lonzo Ball. Forget about the dad; this kid can play. His pass-first mentality is exactly what this young core — and a future team possibly featuring PG-13 and LeBron — needs to move forward.

Kyle Kuzma at No. 27 provides a combo forward who can shoot the three-ball and also help the Lakers cover their bases in the event of further dealings down the road.

Josh Hart at No. 30 is a stellar pick. The Villanova product is a proven winner who can shoot and play excellent defense. He's older, but also more experienced and brings a winner's mentality to the locker room.

Finally, Thomas Bryant from Indiana is a great pick at No. 42, giving Los Angeles some depth and even three-point shoooting at the 5 behind Brook Lopez and Ivica Zubac. With Lopez coming off the books next summer, the frontcourt is about to get a whole lot younger, and potentially more exciting.

If not for the Russell trade — and even including the Russell trade that will look dumb if they can't land Paul George and/or LeBron James — the 2017 NBA Draft was a successful debut for Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka.

Grade: A-

2017 NBA Draft

Feb 11, 2017; Tucson, AZ, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) grabs the ball over Arizona Wildcats forward Keanu Pinder (25) during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

Memphis Grizzlies

Ivan Rabb (No. 35), Dillon Brooks (No. 45)

Like the Clippers, the Memphis Grizzlies entered the 2017 NBA Draft with zero picks and emerged with two. Unlike the Clippers, both picks were not met with critical acclaim.

In a trade with Orlando that sent a measly 2019 second-rounder to the Magic, the Grizz moved into the draft to take California's Ivan Rabb at No. 35. He's a bit of a project big, but with Zach Randolph being a free agent this summer, he's worth a shot.

The Grizz got back in on the action at No. 45, jumping in at Houston's spot to take Oregon's Dillon Brooks, a fiery competitor and improved three-point shooter who used his strength and killer instinct to take over against inferior opponents in college.

He's a living embodiment of the Grit-N-Grind mentality, making him a great potential fit if he can hold his own defensively. All it cost to move back into the draft for this accomplished NCAA product was a 2018 second-rounder.

If not for a 2013 trade with the Cavs to acquire Jon Leuer, the Grizzlies would've owned the 20th overall pick (Harry Giles). Missing out on that kind of upside hurts, especially since Leuer only contributed 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game during his three seasons with the Grizz, but such is life sometimes.

Grade: C-

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Bam Adebayo (Kentucky) is introduced as the number fourteen overall pick to the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat

Bam Adebayo (No. 14)

The Miami Heat have always been a team that prefers to build itself up to contender status through trades or free agency, and the 2017 NBA Draft was yet another example of how they have struggled under Pat Riley in this other area of roster construction.

Bam Adebayo's not necessarily a bad pick in and of himself, but at the end of the lottery? When most projected him to go a few picks later and he'd be resigned to backup duty behind Hassan Whiteside in Miami? It makes very little sense.

This was the Heat's only pick of the night, and it was a very underwhelming choice. He's still only 19 years old and could still surprise some people, but as of right now he's a very limited big without much skill to speak of.

That newfound shooting ability he apparently showcased during pre-draft workouts is going to have to transfer to the next level, especially since Miami's biggest need is the 4 and the team might try playing him and Whiteside together.

Grade: D+

2017 NBA Draft

Mar 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) dunks the ball against the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half during the Big Ten Conference Tournament championship game at Verizon Center. The Wolverines won 71-56. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Bucks

D.J. Wilson (No. 18), Sterling Brown (No. 46)

This was the Milwaukee Bucks' first draft without John Hammond, and it showed. Michigan's D.J. Wilson was projected by some mock drafts to go in the first round, but taking him at No. 18 was a major reach for a player who has to get stronger and tougher for the position he'll be playing at the next level.

In fact, there's more to like with the Bucks' second round pick than their first round pick, since SMU's Sterling Brown could very well be one of the biggest steals in the second round. He was a tremendous three-point shooter in college, which definitely addresses an area of need for Milwaukee.

On the bright side, Wilson definitely has the length and wingspan to fit on a team that was already well-stocked in those areas. Some other skills or attributes would be nice at some point though.

Grade: C-

2017 NBA Draft

Dec 13, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) attempts to pass the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves

Justin Patton (No. 16)

Tom Thibodeau and the Minnesota Timberwolves absolutely fleeced the Chicago Bulls in the Jimmy Butler trade that dominated the headlines Thursday night.

While there should be concern (and plenty of jokes) about Thibs running Butler's body into the ground again, the Wolves did very well to spin three shaky assets into a bonafide superstar like Jimmy Buckets, even if he's not quite on the same timeline as Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.

Butler, who averaged a career-high 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals on .455/.367/.865 shooting splits while doubling as one of the league's best wing defenders, is one of the best two-way players in the league and is capable of playing either the 2 or the 3.

This works perfectly with Wiggins, since he's gotten used to sliding back and forth between those positions as well. Adding a skilled and versatile veteran will not only help Minnesota as a team, but should provide a great example for Wiggins as well — even at the cost of LaVine's potential.

Suddenly, the T-Wolves went from a bummer of a situation, waiting for LaVine to recover and wondering if Dunn would ever pan out, to adding a borderline top-10 player. Passing on Lauri Markkanen or Malik Monk in the draft is perfectly acceptable in that scenario, especially since the Wolves were able to get Chicago to see all three of their assets through rose-colored glasses.

Between Butler, Wiggins and KAT, the Timberwolves are finally back on the playoff path, which they were expected to be on this past season. There's legitimate reason for excitement for a fanbase that hasn't seen the postseason since 2004.

The fact that Minnesota was also able to squeeze that No. 16 pick out of Chicago — and use it on Creighton's Justin Patton to address an area of need at center — is just the icing on the cake.

Grade: A

2017 NBA Draft

Jan 28, 2017; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Frank Jackson (15) goes up for a shot in the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Duke defeated Wake 85-83. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Pelicans

Frank Jackson (No. 31)

With all the maneuvering the New Orleans Pelicans did leading up to and on draft night, it's kind of surprising to look back and realize they only added one player to the roster, but here we are.

The Pellies started things off by dealing backup point guard Tim Frazier to the Washington Wizards for the No. 52 pick — a risky move considering that pick was pretty late in the second round and New Orleans was looking at either Quinn Cook or Jordan Crawford as the team's backup point guard — and that's before even mentioning Jrue Holiday is set to test free agency as well.

NOLA also had its own pick at No. 40, but traded it along with cash to the Hornets to move up to No. 31, where they selected Duke's Frank Mason — a bigger backup point guard with a higher ceiling than Frazier, though less NBA-ready overall. The Pelicans then allowed the Pacers to buy their newly acquired pick at No. 52.

Again, it was an odd draft, but even the team's lack of a first round pick can be defended by A) The gangbusters DeMarcus Cousins trade that was WELL worth their top-10 selection and B) Being able to snag a potential first round prospect like Jackson at No. 31.

Grade: B+

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Frank Ntilikina of France holds up a team jersey after being introduced as the number eight overall pick to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

New York Knicks

Frank Ntilikina (No. 8), Damyean Dotson (No. 44), Ognjen Jaramaz (No. 58)

The best thing the New York Knicks did during draft week was make their asking price for Kristaps Porzingis so ridiculously high that no one could put together an offer. The second-best thing they did was draft Frank Ntilikina at No. 8. Almost everything else aside from that was a dumpster fire.

With reports pouring in that Phil Jackson might trading one of the most valuable contracts in NBA history — considering KP's age and that the team having him under control for so many years — Knicks fans were just bracing for the senseless trade of a 22-year-old franchise cornerstone.

Whether by cooler heads prevailing or sheer dumb luck, it never came, and New York was able to draft French combo guard Frank Ntilikina and all his wingspan to help usher in a new era of Knicks basketball. He has plenty of things to work on at the next level and may not even be a pure point guard, but he has the tools to be something special in the Big Apple.

Damyean Dotson and Ognjen Jaramaz are less impressive names, but the former is a versatile shooter at the 2 whose stock went up during the pre-draft workout process, while the latter is a 6'4″ point guard who'd be a draft-and-stash option.

The Knicks probably damaged their relationship with Porzingis beyond repair, and at this point, they might have been better off trading him. But unicorns like this don't come around very often, so if there's even a chance he still wants to play for this franchise for the long-term, you take it.

Grade: B

2017 NBA Draft

Mar 26, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds All American guard Terrance Ferguson (6) poses for photos on portrait day at the Marriott Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder

Terrance Ferguson (No. 21)

Terrance Ferguson projects to be one of the better shooters in this draft class, but his shooting percentages for Adelaide (.381/.313/.600) don't really back that up. Like, at all.

He's athletic and can make plays, sure, but for the Oklahoma City Thunder to even come close to justifying this pick, they'd better hope this 19-year-old wing can knock down NBA-range three-pointers.

Even with Andre Roberson being a restricted free agent this summer, Ferguson is a slightly underwhelming form of insurance since he's neither the kind of NBA-ready rookie Russell Westbrook needs, nor is he the swing-for-the-fences pick you'd expect from OKC.

The Thunder drafted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka once upon a time. Striking gold again like that is hard, especially this late in the first round, but it doesn't feel like the Thunder even came close here.

Grade: C

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Jonathan Isaac (Florida State) is introduced as the number six overall pick to the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Orlando Magic

Jonathan Isaac (No. 6), Wesley Iwundu (No. 33)

John Hammond's first draft as Orlando Magic GM was a good but not great one. Though his team didn't necessarily walk away with a sure thing or dynamic franchise player — a definite need for Orlando, whose closest thing to a sure thing is Aaron Gordon — they did make the smart, safe pick on a guy who bottoms out as a useful jack of all trades.

Florida State's Jonathan Isaac may never become a star, but he's the exact kind of two-way glue guy who can potentially do a little bit of everything.

He's a wing trapped in a seven-footer's body, giving him the defensive versatility and rim protection you'd like to see on the defensive end. He'll need to learn to be more aggressive on offense and definitely needs to get stronger, but he has the ability to step out to three-point range and spread the floor.

With so many holes on Orlando's roster, that positional versatility will allow head coach Frank Vogel to plug him in wherever he sees fit. Snagging Wesley Iwundu at No. 33 is another terrific move, giving the Magic a 3-and-D wing with exceptional length.

His improved shooting ability is key, and though he may wind out topping off as nothing more than a bench player, that may be good enough for a Magic roster with needs everywhere.

Adding four rookies to a young and unproven roster may have been unrealistic, but it was a bit odd to see Orlando siphon off two picks — Anzejs Pasecniks at No. 25 and Ivan Rabb at No. 35 — for nothing more than a top-20 protected first-rounder in 2020, a 2020 second-rounder and a 2019 second-rounder.

That's not enough to dock the Magic too many points off their letter grade, but as fundamentally sound as this draft may have been for them, they're still missing that sure thing. Maybe Isaac gets there one day, but it feels more than likely he's a great piece without ever become the centerpiece.

Grade: B+

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Markelle Fultz (Washington) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number one overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia 76ers

Markelle Fultz (No. 1), Anzejs Pasecniks (No. 25), Jonah Bolden (No. 36), Mathias Lessort (No. 50)

The Philadelphia 76ers were automatically big winners in the 2017 NBA Draft when they traded up from No. 3 to secure the No. 1 overall pick. There were no surprises when they used it on Washington's Markelle Fultz, the consensus top prospect in the draft class.

Fultz has superstar potential, and because he can play off the ball and shoot, he figures to be a good fit alongside point forward Ben Simmons. On paper, this is the best young lineup in the East, especially if Joel Embiid can come back healthy.

With a core of Embiid, Simmons, Fultz, Dario Saric, Robert Covington, Timothe Luwawu-Cabbarot, Furkan Korkmaz and more, "The Process" has finally started to become "The Payoff."

However, the Sixers weren't done, trading back into the first round with a 2020 first-rounder from OKC (top-20 protected) to draft-and-stash Anzejs Pasecniks, a 7'2″ Latvian center who is extremely mobile and very skilled.

From there the Sixers added Jonah Bolden and Mathias Lessort in the second round, giving them a guy who can play the 4 or the 5 while also stroking the long ball, plus yet another international addition to the frontcourt.

There's not enough room for everyone at this point, but to be honest, the Sixers deserved an A-grade the moment they traded up to No. 1 — even at the cost of either the Lakers' 2018 first rounder (No. 2-6) or the Kings' 2019 first-rounder.

Grade: A

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Josh Jackson (Kansas) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number four overall pick to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Phoenix Suns

Josh Jackson (No. 4), Davon Reed (No. 32), Alec Peters (No. 54)

The Phoenix Suns didn't land a blockbuster trade for Kristaps Porzingis, but they still found their guy in the draft when Josh Jackson fell to them at No. 4. He's no unicorn, but his defensive skill-set on the wing figures to be a perfect complement to Devin Booker's offensively inclined game.

Jackson is a fiery competitor and fits in perfectly with the Suns' youth movement. His jump shot needs work and could be an area for concern in his NBA career, but he compared similarly to Jayson Tatum in college with their shooting percentages, yet somehow Tatum is picked as the more reliable threat to be a dominant scorer.

In any case, if Jackson can shore up his perimeter jumper and learn to knock down open threes, the sky is the limit for him with a very young core.

The Suns really should've done better at 32, taking Miami's Davon Reed. He could be a useful 3-and-D player but it's  likely he still would've been on the board with the team's third pick of the night at No. 54. With Jordan Bell still available, this one felt like a bit of a reach, even for a useful wing like Reed.

At No. 54, the Suns took Valparaiso's Alec Peters, who suffered a season-ending foot injury in college but probably would've gone much higher otherwise, given his scoring and shooting ability as a stretch-4. Still, even if he and Reed never pan out, Josh Jackson was the best-case scenario for the Suns keeping their No. 4 pick.

Grade: A-

2017 NBA Draft

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Portland Trail Blazers

Zach Collins (No. 10), Caleb Swanigan (No. 26)

The Portland Trail Blazers were unable to package their three first round picks in a deal to shed some unwanted salary, and they still enter the 2017-18 season well into the luxury tax and with two new rookie contracts to account for.

However, trading No. 15 (Justin Jackson) and No. 20 (Harry Giles) to move up to No. 10 and snag Zach Collins for frontcourt depth was an excellent move, salary cap be damned.

Collins shined off the bench for Gonzaga this past season, boasting impressive Per 36 Minutes numbers and displaying the ability to block shots, spread the floor out the three-point range and score around the basket. He's a little raw at this stage, but it might not be long before he's better than Mason Plumlee was, especially in a backup role behind Jusuf Nurkic.

At No. 26, the Blazers bolstered the frontcourt even further with Purdue's Caleb Swanigan, a 6'9″ power forward with elite rebounding and passing ability for a big.

The Blazers probably could've done with packaging their other pick in the draft, but with Collins and Swanigan's skill-sets coming to Rip City, it's hard to complain too much.

Grade: B

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; De'Aaron Fox (Kentucky) is introduced as the number five overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Sacramento Kings

De'Aaron Fox (No. 5), Justin Jackson (No. 15), Harry Giles (No. 20), Frank Masson III (No. 34)

Stay with me here, but the Sacramento Kings actually had a great draft this year. Against all odds, the KANGZ never reared their ugly heads and the team actually has a promising young core to look forward to now.

At No. 5, the Kings got their guy in De'Aaron Fox when the Suns got their guy at No. 4. Fox could legitimately wind up being the best point guard in this draft if he can learn to shoot from the NBA three-point line, though his ugly shooting percentages in college leave room for "Elfrid Payton 2.0" comparisons.

In any case, Fox's incredible defense and lightning fast speed will help him transition to the next level, even as his jump shot tries to catch up.

Rather than use their no. 10 pick, however, Sacramento dealt it to Portland in order to snag No. 15 and No. 20. They used the first on UNC's Justin Jackson before taking Duke's Harry Giles with the second.

Jackson did his draft stock a favor by adding a three-point shot to his arsenal, so although he's older and doesn't have a particularly high ceiling, he's an accomplished player on the wing who led the Tar Heels to a national championship and can help this team right away, especially with a winner's mentality in the locker room.

The same can be said for Giles, who has the talent to be one of the best prospects in this draft if he can just put it all together. That kind of upside is worth taking a chance on at No. 20, and to top it all off, the Kings got another proven winner with the national player of the year in Kansas' Frank Mason III (No. 34).

Having a quality backup point guard behind Fox is only going to make the Kings more fun. For the first time in a decade, the future actually looks bright in Sacramento.

Grade: A

2017 NBA Draft

Feb 23, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Derrick White (21) reacts during the second half against the Utah Utes at the Coors Events Center. The Utes defeated the Buffaloes 86-81. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

San Antonio Spurs

Derrick White (No. 29), Jaron Blossomgame (No. 59)

This year's San Antonio Spurs draft didn't feel as Spurs-y as it has in the past, with Derrick White being a good but not great pick at No. 29. A 6'5″ point guard/shooting guard out of Colorado, White seems like an insurance pick with Tony Parker entering the season injured and Patty Mills being an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Barring a free agency acquisition like Chris Paul, all the Spurs have at the 1 is second-year guard Dejounte Murray, who is more of a long-term project with high upside than an immediate starter for next season.

However, credit where credit is due: Jaron Blossomgame falling to No. 59 does give the Spurs their annual "How did this guy fall that far? Of course he went to the Spurs!" pick.

For a team with the second-to-last selection in both rounds, the Spurs could've done much worse than they did.

Grade: B

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; OG Anunoby (Indiana) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number twenty-three overall pick to the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Raptors

OG Anunoby (No. 23)

The Toronto Raptors only had one pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, but boy did they make it count. While the future of the team is up in the air with Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, P.J. Tucker and Patrick Patterson all being free agents, one thing that will translate no matter which direction the franchise goes is positional versatility and wing defense.

Indiana's OG Anunoby provides those things in spades, and he probably would've been a top-10 pick if not for that knee injury. In any case, getting a potential top-10 talent at No. 23 is obviously great value if he can stay healthy.

With DeMarre Carroll not living up to expectations and Tucker potentially heading toward a big payday this summer, the Raptors could use all the help on the wing they can get. Anunoby needs to piece his offensive game together, but his defense is NBA-ready right now and will only get better with time and experience.

He has elite defensive potential, so if he can learn to shoot, those unfair, "poor man's Kawhi Leonard" comparisons might not be too far off.

Grade: A

2017 NBA Draft

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Donovan Mitchell (Louisville) is interviewed after being introduced as the number thirteen overall pick to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Utah Jazz

Donovan Mitchell (No. 13), Tony Bradley (No. 28), Nigel Williams-Goss (No. 55)

It was a fairly aggressive draft for the Utah Jazz, who managed to package the underwhelming Trey Lyles and their No. 24 pick to move all the way up to No. 13, where they selected Louisville's Donovan Mitchell.

Though he's a little undersized as a 6'3″ shooting guard, Mitchell should not have fallen as far as he did and was very vocal about his love for Utah during the draft workout process. This is a great fit, especially with George Hill's future up in the air this summer.

Though he's not a direct replacement at the 1, he can function as a secondary playmaker and his 3-and-D skill-set is a perfect match with what the Jazz like to do. Lyles fell off the map in his second NBA season, and even with Derrick Favors' future up in the air, this was a more than acceptable return for cutting the young stretch-4 loose.

The Jazz weren't done yet though, packaging their No. 30 pick and their No. 42 pick to move up to No. 28, where they took UNC's Tony Bradley. It was a bit much to move up only two spots, but Utah apparently really liked Bradley and he'll provide depth at the 5-spot behind Rudy Gobert.

Finally, the Jazz used their final pick late in the second round on a proven NCAA star, Gonzga's Nigel Williams-Goss. It remains to be seen how his game will translate to the next level, but such an accomplished player is worth taking a flier on that late in the draft. Well played, Utah.

Grade: A-

2017 NBA Draft

Dec 20, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Tim Frazier (2) directs action against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. The Pelicans won 108-93. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Wizards

N/A

With only the No. 52 overall pick in this year's draft, the Washington Wizards traded out of the draft completely in a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans for backup point guard Tim Frazier.

Brandon Jennings is unlikely to return as an unrestricted free agent, so the Wizards snagged a decent backup who averaged 7.1 points and 5.2 assists per game last season. In his 35 starts with the Pellies, he put up 8.9 points and 6.9 assists per game, and though he can't shoot, he should be able to spell John Wall on a cheap, expiring $2 million contract.

Washington also lost its first-rounder (No. 22) in a recent trade, sending the pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Bojan Bogdanovic. The jury is still out on this one, depending on what happens with his restricted free agency this summer. Bogdanovic was good in flashes for the Wiz and could help their lackluster bench, but he also disappeared in the team's Eastern Conference semifinal defeat.

Losing No. 52 (Edmond Sumner) for a backup point guard on a cheap contract is not a big loss, nor is No. 22 (Jarrett Allen) for a potential sixth man on a contending team. But with the Wizards strapped for cap space, having one or two young prospects to groom might have been an agreeable path as well.

Grade: B

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