NBA Draft Grades

2011 NBA Draft

48. Keith Benson, C, Oakland
Grade: D

The gangly, 6’11” Golden Grizzly doesn’t have the upside of golden-locked former A-Town Dancer Briana. But at least the Hawks didn’t trade Josh Smith on draft night.
 

2011 NBA Draft

27. JaJuan Johnson, F, Purdue (via Nets)
55. E’Twaun Moore, G, Purdue
Grade: C

After trading MarShon Brooks to the Nets for Johnson and drafting Moore, it’s only a matter of time before the C’s bring in Robbie Hummel as an undrafted free-agent, effectively reuniting Purdue’s “Big Three.”
 

2011 NBA Draft

7. Bismack Biyombo, F/C, Congo (via Kings)
9. Kemba Walker, G, Connecticut
TR. Corey Maggette, G/F (via Bucks)
Grade: A

Michael Jordan lit a victory cigar after this haul — drafting Congolese shot-“Smack”-ing center Biyombo and 2010-11 Triple Crown Tourney champion (Maui, Big East and NCAA) point guard Walker, while also trading cancers in a three-team deal that netted Corey Maggette and sent Stephen Jackson packing.
 

2011 NBA Draft

23. Nikola Mirotic, F, Montenegro (via Rockets)
30. Jimmy Butler, F, Marquette
Grade: B +

Da Bulls will stash Real Madrid’s Mirotic overseas for a year or three. Butler snagged the last guaranteed contract of the draft as the final pick of the first round and brings his Michael Oher-style — or “Michael O’Hair” as ESPN’s Andy Katz prefers — rags-to-riches story to Chi-town.
 

2011 NBA Draft

1. Kyrie Irving, G, Duke
4. Tristan Thompson, F, Texas
54. Milan Macvan, F, Serbia
Grade: A

Dan Gilbert still has a shot an winning a title before LeBron James. The Lottery-winning, Comic Sans-writing owner brought in two solid building blocks in the first two one-and-dones (Kanter was a none-and-done) off the board — an 11-game college veteran and Canadian lefty who shot 48 percent from the free throw line last year.
 

2011 NBA Draft

31. Bojan Bogdanovic, F, Croatia (via Heat)
TR. Rudy Fernandez, G (via Blazers)
Grade: C –

Draft? What draft? Dirk Nowitzki and Lil Wayne kicked it at Club LIV on South Beach earlier this month after the Mavs “drafted” the Larry O’Brien Trophy and a three-foot bottle of champagne.
 

2011 NBA Draft

22. Kenneth Faried, F, Morehead State
26. Jordan Hamilton, G/F, Texas (via Mavericks)
56. Chukwudiebere Maduabum, F, NBDL (via Lakers)
TR. Andre Miller, G (via Blazers)
Grade: B

There was a rare Chupacabra, er Chukwudiebere, sighting on draft night. But only after the Mile High City landed arguably the two longest free-fallers of the night, Faried and Hamilton — who, come to think of it, should provide plenty of rebounds for Faried.
 

2011 NBA Draft

8. Brandon Knight, G, Kentucky
33. Kyle Singler, F, Duke
52. Vernon Macklin, F, Florida
Grade: B –

Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall… and Knight. If Joe Dumars is basing this pick solely on John Calipari’s track record with NBA point guards, he could do much worse — although it could be argued that only one of the Fab Four is truly a true point guard.
 

2011 NBA Draft

11. Klay Thompson, G, Washington State
39. Jeremy Tyler, F/C, San Diego H.S. (via Bobcats)
44. Charles Jenkins, G, Hofstra
Grade: C +

“Mama, there goes that man!” shouted new coach Mark Jackson. He was either talking about Mychal’s sharpshooter son, the Tokyo Apache big man who skipped his senior year of high school or the first Hofstra player drafted since Speedy Claxton. Who knows?
 

2011 NBA Draft

14. Marcus Morris, F, Kansas
20. Donatas Motiejunas, F, Lithuania (via T-Wolves)
TR. Jonny Flynn, G (via T-Wolves)
Grade: B –

Split for the first time in their lives, Marcus’ twin brother Markeiff joked he will “probably send him some flowers or fruit or something.” Meanwhile, Flynn is just happy to be out of Minnesota’s point guard purgatory.
 

2011 NBA Draft

TR. George Hill, G (via Spurs)
Grade: C

After trading for Darren Collison last year, Larry Legend made a move for George Hill this year. Sooner or later, the Pacers will find a point guard.
 

2011 NBA Draft

37. Trey Thompkins, F, Georgia
47. Travis Leslie, G, Georgia
Grade: D

After trading away the pick that ultimately became the No. 1 overall lucky Lottery powerball, the Clips drafted a pair of Bulldogs who led UGA to a fourth-place finish in the SEC East. Sweet.
 

2011 NBA Draft

41. Darius Morris, G, Michigan
46. Andrew Goudelock, G, College of Charleston
58. Ater Majok, F, Sudan
Grade: C

On draft night, Ron Artest announced his intentions to change his name to “Metta World Peace” — which is still not as strange as the playoff pairing of mystery superfan James Goldstein and Danish ubermodel Amalie Wichmann.
 

2011 NBA Draft

49. Josh Selby, G, Kansas
Grade: B

Kate and Will’s favorite club went for a prospect with Pippa upside and Harry risk.
 

2011 NBA Draft

28. Norris Cole, G, Cleveland State (via T-Wolves)
Grade: B +

Don’t cry, Chris. Smile, hot Heat dancer. Cole will bring the high-top fade back to South Beach, even if Pat Riley claims he’s never bringing his Gordon Gecko look back to the sideline.
 

2011 NBA Draft

19. Tobias Harris, F, Tennessee (via Bobcats)
40. Jon Leuer, F, Wisconsin
TR. Stephen Jackson, G/F (via Bobcats)
TR. Shaun Livingston, G (via Bobcats)
TR. Beno Udrih, G (via Kings)
Grade: C –

The real fear is that none of these players will ever make an impact in Milwaukee.
 

2011 NBA Draft

2. Derrick Williams, F, Arizona
31. Bojan Bogdanovic, G, Croatia (via Heat)
38. Chandler Parsons, F, Florida (via Rockets)
43. Malcolm Lee, G, UCLA (via Bulls)
57. Targuy Ngombo, F, Qatar (via Blazers)
TR. Brad Miller, C (via Rockets)
Grade: B

Counting Ricky Rubio — the No. 5 overall pick of 2009 — as a rookie improves this year’s incoming class. Trading Kevin Love and Derrick Williams for Pau Gasol (then adding younger bro Marc in free agency), as was rumored, would have been the type of Spanish blockbuster only David Kahn could make happen. Or not.
 

2011 NBA Draft

25. MarShon Brooks, G, Providence (via Celtics)
36. Jordan Williams, F, Maryland
Grade: B –

Shawn Carter and Mikhail Prokhorov have a blueprint for success. When asked why Brooks and Williams, Prokhorov simply said, “Just Cause.” Please, no Kremlin jokes. Then, Jay-Z chimed in, “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business… man.” Neither answered the question.
 

2011 NBA Draft

Grade: DNP-CD

Not much to cheer about, Honeybee baby. The Hornets logged the dreaded “did not play, coach’s decision” at this year’s draft. Only ESPN got less value — with Jon Barry and Stuart Scott — on draft night.
 

2011 NBA Draft

17. Iman Shumpert, G, Georgia Tech
45. Josh Harrellson, F, Kentucky (via Hornets)
Grade: C +

Spike Lee “didn’t know who Landry Fields was, either,” the director claimed during a lukewarm endorsement of the Shumpert selection. More important, be on the look out for a Spike Lee “Jorts” joint about Harrellson — who went from being locked in the bathroom by Billy Gillespie to becoming a folk hero in Big Blue Nation for John Calipari after Ene Kanter’s suspension.
 

2011 NBA Draft

24. Reggie Jackson, G, Boston College
Grade: C +

The Sonics were a classic franchise that should still exist. Shawn Kemp won’t even accept courtside playoff tickets from OKC. Worse, Seattle was stripped of arguably the best young team in the league — and now the NBA owns the Hornets, who played in OKC not so long ago.
 

2011 NBA Draft

32. Justin Harper, F, Richmond (via Cavaliers)
53. DeAndre Liggins, G/F, Kentucky
Grade: C –

Read you loud and clear, Dwight. Harper, a stretch four with toughness issues, isn’t exactly the Horace Grant sidekick Shaq had. At least Liggins can defend… and take 2.4 threes per game (in ’10-11).
 

2011 NBA Draft

16. Nikola Vucevic, F/C, USC
50. Lavoy Allen, F, Temple
Grade: C –

Vucevic was the tallest player at the Combine (6’11.75”) and Allen is a local Temple product if that floats your boat. No? How about the Sixers dancers’ calendar cover?
 

2011 NBA Draft

13. Markieff Morris, F, Kansas
Grade: C +

Morris joins fellow twin Robin Lopez down low; neither is as exciting as the Gorilla who dunks through a burning ring of fire.
 

2011 NBA Draft

21. Nolan Smith, G, Duke
51. Jon Diebler, G/F, Ohio State
TR. Raymond Felton, G (via Nuggets)
Grade: C

The “other” Duke point guard and 3-bler were solid college players who may be a step slow in the pros. Portland did, however, land Felton, who could be the long-term answer at the point.
 

2011 NBA Draft

10. Jimmer Fredette, G, BYU (via Bucks)
35. Tyler Honeycutt, F, UCLA
60. Isaiah Thomas, G, Washington
TR. John Salmons, F (via Bucks)
Grade: B –

There could be a culture clash for the (Anaheim? Las Vegas?) Kings’ newest young gun. Beloved by the Maloof Brothers, Whitney Wonnacott’s boyfriend is off to Sac-town (for now) to share shots with Tyreke Evans and befriend DeMarcus Cousins.
 

2011 NBA Draft

15. Kawhi Leonard, F, San Diego State (via Pacers)
29. Cory Joseph, G, Texas
42. Davis Bertans, F, Latvia (via Pacers)
59. Adam Hanga, F, Hungary
TR. Erazem Lorbek, F/C (via Pacers)
Grade: A

Tony Parker probably thought he was on his way out of San Antone. Instead, it was young George Hill headed to Indy. The savvy Spurs did it again, landing Leonard — a wing whose huge hands and long arms made Jay Bilas lose it — and Joseph, who fill’s Hill’s shoes as the new “point guard of the future.”
 

2011 NBA Draft

5. Jonas Valanciunas, C, Lithuania
Grade: C +

Reportedly debated taking Bismack Biyombo before pulling the trigger on the tallest Jonas brother.
 

2011 NBA Draft

3. Enes Kanter, F/C, Turkey
12. Alec Burks, G, Colorado
Grade: B

The NCAA may not have loved Kanter, but the coeds at UK sure did. But hey, wait a minute, who’s that other guy? He’s not Jimmer. And no one in Utah will ever forgive Burks for that.
 

2011 NBA Draft

6. Jan Vesely, F, Czech Republic
18. Chris Singleton, F, Florida State
34. Shelvin Mack, G, Butler
Grade: A

The star of draft night, the high-flying, aggressive Vesely took it strong to the hole as soon as his name was announced, kissing 6’3” Czech-one, Czech-two model-type girlfriend Eva Kodouskova for a timely Wizards highlight that immediately overshadowed John Wall’s first pitch for the Nats. Look out, Barack and Michelle, there’s about to be a new tall, good looking power couple and inside-out combo on the hardwood in D.C.