USA TODAY International Edition
Assessing the 2020 NBA draft, from picks to trades
Scott Gleeson grades all 30 teams on what they did, from the Hornets to the Suns.
With the NBA draft officially in the rearview mirror, we take a look at how each team fared based on their selections, trades and overall progress.
1. Hornets ( A+). With the Timberwolves and Warriors picking conservatively with Anthony Edwards and James Wiseman at Nos. 1 and 2, that left the Hornets with LaMelo Ball, a 6- 7 point guard who can immediately bring star power. They also capitalized on big man Vernon Carey Jr. falling with the 32nd pick. They also nabbed point guard Grant Riller, another borderline first- round talent, at 56.
2. Kings ( A). The steal of this draft might be point guard Tyrese Haliburton at No. 12. Then they hauled in Robert Woodard ( No. 40) and Jahmi’us Ramsey ( No. 43), all who could’ve easily been first- rounders.
3. Heat ( A). Attaining Memphis power forward Precious Achiuwa, a top- 10 talent, at No. 20 is a steal. He’s the ideal player to mesh with Bam Adebayo and Miami’s young nucleus.
4. Spurs ( A). Florida State’s Devin Vassell staying on the board helped the Spurs draft a 3- and- D player who can fit in with solid outside shooting and perimeter defense. Drafting All- American Tre Jones of Duke at No. 41 follows the savvy selections of franchise icons Tony Parker at No. 28 and Manu Ginobili at No. 57. Jones is an elite defender who is arguably better than his brother, Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones.
5. Knicks ( A-). Much can be made about New York passing up on several elite guards, especially when there’s a logjam in the frontcourt. But general manager Scott Perry made the right call in picking national college basketball player of the year Obi Toppin at No. 8. He was a top- four talent and he’s the ideal fit for the lights of Madison Square Garden – a New York native, a highlightreel dunker and a hard- working player who can play 38 minutes a game right away. New York’s other pick, Immanuel Quickley of Kentucky at No. 25 ( after a trade), wasn’t a home run. But not many are that late in the draft.
6. Pistons ( A-). New GM Troy Weaver went to work, making a smart pick at No. 7 for Killian Hayes and trading to get Isaiah Stewart of Washington at No. 16 and Saddiq Bey of Villanova at No. 19.
7. Magic ( A-). The Magic had one pick and they made a good one. Cole Anthony was arguably a top- eight talent The 6- 3 guard shows flashes of an inhis- prime Derrick Rose and could pair with ( or replace) former No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz in the backcourt.
8. Celtics ( A-). Aaron Nesmith, arguably the best shooter in the draft, was taken at No. 14. That selection gives the C’s a volume shooter who can make an immediate impact. Picking Pac- 12 player of the year Payton Prichard at No. 26 was a shocker considering the other point guards on the board, but it’s a Brad Stevens pick in fitting a heady floor general into his system. Then they went with Yam Madar of Israel at No. 47.
9. 76ers ( B). Trading Al Horford, a bad fit on the roster, to acquire a band of solid guards was the right call for new coach Doc Rivers’ squad. Kentucky’s Tyrese Maxey isn’t a potent shooter, but he has a knack for scoring. Arkansas’ Isaiah Joe was one of the best shooters in the NCAA ranks.
10. Nuggets ( B+). Not a bad draft day, going with R. J. Hampton at No. 24 after the top- tier talent fell out of the top 20 as his decision to play in Australia over the NCAA did not pay off. They nabbed Arizona 7- footer Zeke Nnaji, an underrated big who can space the floor andrebound well, at No. 22.
11. Timberwolves ( B). Picking Anthony Edwards at No. 1 was the safe bet. But they didn’t take LaMelo Ball, a riskier player who could bring a huge reward. Minnesota also was positioned to trade the pick. Still, Edwards is a dynamic offensive talent with score- at- will ability. Acquiring Leandro Bolmaro from Argentina was a nice pickup, but Bolmaro is planning to stay overseas for at least another season. Trading to get Jaden McDaniels at No. 28 was a solid move.
12. Warriors ( B). The news of Klay Thompson suffering a season- ending leg injury certainly shook things up, but securing 7- footer James Wiseman at No. 2 was a solid move for the franchise looking to rebound in 2020- 21. Wiseman has 20- and- 10 capability and AllStar potential.
13. Wizards ( B). Washington lucked out and got a player projected to go as a top- four pick for the last several months in Deni Avdija of Israel at No. 9. His versatility as a big will help right away.
14. Thunder ( B). They made deals with the Sixers and Mavericks to come away with a plethora of future picks. GM Sam Presti has stockpiled 17 first round draft picks through 2026. Their big pick, at No. 17 acquired via trade, went to Aleksej Pokusevski. The 7- footer is a raw talent at 18 but there will be ample time to develop.
15. Raptors ( B). They made the most of their two picks, first selecting an undersized guard in All- American Malachi Flynn. Uniquely he shows flashes of Fred VanVleet, once an underrated and undersized crafty guard who also played for a mid- major. Jalen Harris adds bench insurance.
16. Mavericks ( B-). Dallas had better picks it could’ve secured but ultimately filled roster holes with the available picks and that seems smart given where the team’s ascension is right now: Arizona’s Josh Green at No. 18 and Sanford’s Tyrell Terry at No. 31. Both can score in different ways and add shooting to a roster that loves the 3- ball.
17. Pelicans ( B-). This wasn’t a big draft after last year’s splash with Zion Williamson at No. 1. They picked Alabama’s Kira Lewis Jr. at No. 13, and he’ll be a key piece to an already young and budding roster.
18. Grizzlies ( C+). Desmond Bane of TCU is a 6- 6 guard with strength who can defend and drain 3- pointers, making him a steal at No. 30. Michigan State’s Xavier Tillman ( No. 35) was the other pick, acquired in a trade.
19. Cavaliers ( C). They made a solid pick at No. 5, with Isaac Okoro being perhaps the best defender in the draft. Toppin or Avdija would have been better bets at this pick.
20. Bucks ( C). The effort to sway Giannis Antetokounmpo to re- sign will have to be done via trades – and Milwaukee wasn’t successful in that department on draft night. Selecting Louisville’s Jordan Nwora will give coach Mike Budenholzer a needed young weapon. The Bucks also picked Sam Merrill ( via trade), a really solid guard, with the 60th pick.
21. Hawks ( C). Atlanta’s move to pick big man Onyeka Okongwu made sense given the team’s defensive woes last season. This was a good pick, just not a great pick at No. 6. Guard Skylar Mays of LSU at No. 50 isn’t a bad pickup.
22. Lakers ( C). They traded away their No. 28 pick ifor Dennis Schroder from Oklahoma City. Not a bad pickup.
23. Jazz ( C). Utah found its backup for Rudy Gobert in Kansas big man Udoka Azubuike, an underrated 7- footer who blossomed under coach Bill Self. They took Elijah Hughes at No. 39 via a trade.
24. Trail Blazers ( C-). The only major pick was at No. 46 with CJ Elleby of Washington State. Portland landed Robert Covington from Houston in a three- way deal.
25. Pacers ( C-). Their only pick was Cassius Stanley, an athletic and defensive- oriented player from Duke, at 54.
26. Nets ( D). They traded their No. 19 pick for Landry Shamet in a three- way deal with the Clippers and Pistons. Then they added Reggie Perry, a 6- 10 big man.
27. Rockets ( D). Going with the son of former No. 1 pick Kenyon Martin with your only draft pick at No. 52 doesn’t scream out for a high grade. But it will look better if 6- 7 Martin Jr. can develop quickly.
28. Bulls ( D). The Bulls shocked everyone in the draft by selecting Patrick Williams, a 6- 8 wing with loads of upside, at the No. 4 slot. That’s the type of pick a team can make at No. 8, but not No. 4. Marko Simonovic ( No. 44), a 6- 11 Serbian, wasn’t that great of a pick, either.
29. Clippers ( C-). The Clippers made some trades to land Luke Kennard in exchange for Shamet, then ended up with Jay Scrubb, a junior college standout who could become a key bench player, with the No. 55 pick.
30. Suns ( F). After making a big move to acquire Chris Paul, there were plenty of roster voids. The frontcourt wasn’t necessarily one of those holes, however, so drafting forward Jalen Smith at No. 10 – when there were several more talented pieces out there – makes little sense.