2016 NBA Draft: 1st Round Grades

Here are my grades for the first round picks of the 2016 NBA Draft.

1. Philadelphia 76ers- Ben Simmons, Power Forward, LSU: Simmons projects to be a cornerstone player and the Sixers did no wrong in selecting Simmons. Philly is finally heading in the right direction after being the leagues worst team the last three seasons.
Grade: A

2. Los Angeles Lakers- Brandon Ingram, Small Forward, Duke: Ingram also projects to be a cornerstone player for years to come. The Lakers should be pleased with their pick.
Grade: A

3. Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn Nets)- Jaylen Brown, Small Forward, California: Boston seemed poised to move this pick for an established star, but it never happened. I would have gone with Kris Dunn here but the Celtics took Brown, who I felt they reached for here.
Grade: B-

4. Phoenix Suns- Dragan Bender, Power Forward/Center, Croatia: No, Bender is not the next Kristaps Porzingis, but he is worth taking here fourth. He would fit nicely with the Suns.
Grade: B+

5. Minnesota Timberwolves- Kris Dunn, Point Guard, Providence: Dunn fell into the lap of Tom Thibodeau and Thibs must be very happy, although reports out there suggested that he tried to use this pick to pry away Jimmy Butler from Chicago. Either way, great pick by the Wolves.
Grade: A

6. New Orleans Pelicans- Buddy Hield, Shooting Guard, Oklahoma: With Eric Gordon heading for free agency, the Pels drafted a position of need. Hield and Anthony Davis together should be fun to watch.
Grade: A-

7. Denver Nuggets (via New York Knicks)- Jamal Murray, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Murray is a nice combo guard that would fit nicely with Emmanuel Mudiay in the backcourt. Denver may have got a steal here.
Grade: A

8. Phoenix Suns (via Sacramento Kings)- Marquese Chriss, Power Forward, Washington: Chriss was who the Suns wanted originally and now they have both him Bender. It will be interesting to see if these two play together or not.
Grade: B+

9. Toronto Raptors (via Denver Nuggets)- Jakob Poetl, Center, Utah: Not a bad selection for the Raptors, who need to potentially replace Bismack Biyombo this summer. Poetl could also be a starter down the road.
Grade: B

10. Milwaukee Bucks- Thon Maker, Center, Australia: This was definitely a reach for Milwaukee. The Bucks could have traded down to the twenties perhaps to select Maker and gain more assets.
Grade: D+

11. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Orlando Magic)- Damontas Sabonis, Power Forward/Center, Gonzaga: What a trade for the Thunder. Sabonis will come off the bench on a team that will be a favorite to win it all assuming Kevin Durant doesn't leave. I don't mind the trade for the Magic, either.
Grade: A-

12. Atlanta Hawks (via Utah Jazz)- Taurean Prince, Small Forward, Baylor: I thought Prince at this spot was a bit of a reach, but he may have been gone by the time the Hawks picked again at 21. This was such a Hawks-esq pick because they like young wings that can play both ways.
Grade: B-

13. Sacramento Kings (from Phoenix Suns via Washington Wizards)- Georgios Papigiannis, Center, Greece: This pick was confusing and no one had Papigiannis in the lottery, let alone the first round. The Kings had other options with this pick for sure.
Grade: D-

14. Chicago Bulls- Denzel Valentine, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Michigan State: Most thought Chicago would take a point guard here after the trading of Derrick Rose, but nope they take Valentine, who should turn into a solid NBA player someday.
Grade: B+

15. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets)- Juan Hernangomez, Power Forward, Spain: Here's a draft-and-stash prospect that is intriguing. I like this pick for Denver.
Grade: B

16. Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)- Guerschon Yabusele, Power Forward, France: This was an absolute reach by the Celtics, even though it's a draft-and-stash prospect. Yabusele could have still been there in the second round.
Grade: D

17. Memphis Grizzlies- Wade Baldwin IV, Point Guard, Vanderbilt: This was a fine selection for Memphis, who can lose Mike Conley this summer in free agency. I thought the Bulls would potentially take Baldwin to replace Rose, but he fell to Memphis.
Grade: B

18. Detroit Pistons- Henry Ellenson, Power Forward, Marquette: This was a steal for the Pistons. He'll be a nice piece off the bench for a team that should be a playoff team in the East next season.
Grade: A-

19. Denver Nuggets (via Portland Trail Blazers)- Malik Beasley, Shooting Guard, Florida State: Beasley was a nice pick for Denver here. He would provide a nice spark off the bench.
Grade: B+

20. Brooklyn Nets (via Indiana Pacers)- Caris LaVert, Shooting Guard, Michigan: I don't mind this pick for Brooklyn, although there were some better players on the board. LaVert is coming off an injury so there is some concern here.
Grade: C+

21. Atlanta Hawks- D'Andre Bembry, Small Forward, Saint Joseph's: Yet another wing taken by the Hawks and I really like the pick. Stacking up on a position of need perhaps if Kent Bazemore leaves this summer.
Grade: B+

22. Sacramento Kings (via Charlotte Hornets)- Malachi Richardson, Shooting Guard, Syracuse: I like this pick for Sacramento and he could come off the bench and get some minutes. I do think Charlotte might regret trading this pick, though.
Grade: B+

23. Boston Celtics- Ante Zizic, Center, Croatia: The Celtics probably should have taken Zizic at 16 and somebody else here other than Yabusele. But Zizic will be a draft-and-stash prospect that might work out down the road.
Grade: B

24. Philadelphia 76ers (from Miami Heat via Cleveland Cavaliers)- Timothe Luwawu, Shooting Guard, France: The Sixers got a steal here with Luwawu, who probably should have been a lottery pick.
Grade: B+

25. Los Angeles Clippers- Brice Johnson, Power Forward, North Carolina: What a great pick by the Clippers. He'll play valuable minutes for them off the bench and Johnson is NBA ready.
Grade: A

26. Philadelphia 76ers (from Oklahoma City Thunder via Cleveland Cavaliers/Denver Nuggets)- Furkan Komoraz, Shooting Guard, Turkey: This was a steal for the Sixers yet again, and both he and Luwawu will improve their perimeter situation big time.
Grade: A-

27. Toronto Raptors- Pascal Siakam, Power Forward, New Mexico State: Siakam was a reach here at 27 and I feel there were better options here for Toronto at this position most notably, Michigan States Deyonta Davis, who would have been an absolute steal.
Grade: C-

28. Sacramento Kings (from Phoenix Suns via Cleveland Cavaliers/Boston Celtics)- Skal Labissiere, Power Forward/Center, Kentucky: Everyone pretty much had Labissiere as a lottery pick. The Kings should have taken Labissiere 13 and a draft-and-stash here. Anyway, this is a steal for Sacramento.
Grade: B+

29. San Antonio Spurs- Dejounte Murray, Point Guard, Washington: There was buzz that Murray could have been a lottery pick but nope, he falls into the lap of Gregg Popovich. Go figure. What a steal and this is so Spurs.
Grade: A

30. Golden State Warriors- Damian Jones, Center, Vanderbilt: This was a good selection for the Dubs, who will likely lose Festus Ezeli this summer. Jones would provide some good bench minutes.
Grade: B+