2017 NBA Draft Grades (Lottery)

It'll take at least three to five years to really evaluate this year's draft and how it went down, but who doesn't love some knee-jerk reactions and way too soon grades for picks?

1. Philadelphia 76ers - Markelle Fultz - A

Fultz was pretty much the unanimous #1 overall pick, and the Sixers needed a point guard, so this is an easy grade. Philly filled their need and probably got the best player available, win-win.

2. Los Angeles Lakers - Lonzo Ball - B+

Josh Jackson was the second best player in this draft, and the Lakers had D'Angelo Russell. But, after turning Russell and Mozgov into Brook Lopez, this is far from a bad pick. Lonzo's ceiling is high, but the Lakers better hope he pans out and makes the Staples Center the place to be for free agents in years to come.

3. Boston Celtics - Jayson Tatum - B+

Again, Josh Jackson is the better prospect, but having drafted Jaylen Brown last year, and still having Jae Crowder on the roster (at least for now), Tatum's ability to play the 4 for the Celtics is a good get. Tatum may also have the highest floor of the top 5 picks, even if his ceiling is lower.

4. Phoenix Suns - Josh Jackson - A

If Fultz is the best player now in the draft (not my words), then Jackson has the chance to become the best player from this draft (my words). 

5. Sacramento Kings - De'Aaron Fox - A

The Kings best pick in years. Sacramento finally showed some life in the front office this year, even if Fox was a no-brainer at #5. 

6. Orlando Magic - Jonathan Isaac - B-

Following the top 5 in this draft is tough, and Isaac is a wild card right now, but the Magic are pretty committed already at the guard and post positions, so taking a chance on a high risk-high reward wing isn't a bad move for the Magic.

7. Chicago Bulls (via Timberwolves) - Lauri Markkanen - B+

Saying goodbye to Jimmy Butler and any chance at contending in the East will be tough for Bulls fans, but adding Zach Lavine and Lauri Markkanen isn't the worst thing if they're going to go all-in on tanking. Chicago now has Lavine, Kris Dunn, Cameron Payne, Denzel Valentine, Bobby Portis, and Markkanen to experiment with.

8. New York Knicks - Frank Ntilinkina - B-

Ntilinkina has promise, but if the Knicks wanted a point guard, Dennis Smith was still on the board. The Knicks claim to not want to tank with Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis still on the team, but drafting the project of a point guard over an electric, ready to play now guy is certainly a move in the opposite direction.

9. Dallas Mavericks - Dennis Smith - A

This may be the steal of the draft. Mark Cuban should be ecstatic about this pick, with Seth Curry as a fall back, Smith will be given a chance to take the reigns of a solid roster in Dallas, and jump start the post-Dirk Nowitzki era.

10. Portland Trail Blazers (via Kings) - Zach Collins - C

Why? Just, why? The Blazers must know something we don't if they were willing to pass up on taking chances on two bigs at 15 and 20 for the chance to get Collins at #10.

11. Charlotte Hornets - Malik Monk - A

This may also be the steal of the draft. Monk will get to step in next to Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum for a team that desperately needs outside shooting, and has quite the interesting roster. Plus, who doesn't want a Jordan Brand sponsorship?

12. Detroit Pistons - Luke Kennard - A

For a couple minutes Pistons fans may have thought they had a chance to steal Monk here, but Kennard is a great consolation prize. With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope set to make the big bucks as a restricted free agent, Detroit can now save their money by adding Kennard's shooting ability.

13. Utah Jazz (via Nuggets) - Donovan Mitchell - C-

This just doesn't make much sense with Joe Johnson, Alec Burks, Rodney Hood, Dante Exum, and maybe Gordon Hayward all still on the roster next year. The only possibility here is that Utah sees Mitchell as an option at point guard if George Hill leaves in free agency.

14. Miami Heat - Bam Adebayo - B-

Not much to say here, this is where the draft is up in the air, and the Heat don't have much as far as returning players go.

NBA Comparisons For This Year's Top Prospects

Let me preface this post by saying that these comparisons are in terms of the players physical traits, and play style, and NOT that these prospects will become the annual all-star caliber players that they are being compared to. That mistake mentioned above is one of my biggest gripes with the NBA draft these days, players like Lebron, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, or Dirk Nowitzki are once in a lifetime players, and it's incredibly unfair to expect a player like Andrew Wiggins to be "the next Lebron James".

That being said, comparisons like these can be a good way of predicting the type of player these prospects will become, and can serve as a type of abstract or summary for the more casual basketball fans out there.

Markelle Fultz - Kyle Lowry

Yes, I know Fultz is listed at 6'4" and Lowry is one of the smaller guards at 6'0", but this is why this comparison is actually one that Fultz could outgrow. Fultz is deadly in the pick and roll, and has good size and athleticism for his position. If he can continue to shoot the ball well from beyond the arc at the next level, Fultz could basically be Kyle Lowry 2.0, bigger, faster, stronger, and, better.

Josh Jackson - Paul George

Let's be clear here, the more likely result for Jackson is his fellow one-and-done Jayhawk Andrew Wiggins, but in his one year at Kansas, Jackson already showed more willingness to impose his will on games. Jackson's big "flaw" is his inability to consistently make free throws, which many people take as an indication that he struggles shooting the ball. However, that assumption is false, while Jackson doesn't let it fly from deep as often as someone like Malik Monk, he hit 44% of his shots from deep during Big12 play last season. Realistically, Jackson should end up somewhere between Wiggins and George, but only time will tell.

Lonzo Ball - Russell Westbrook

Now before you immediately click off of this post because I just compared Lonzo to the reigning MVP/Triple-Double machine, let me explain. Do I think Lonzo will be a 30+ ppg scorer? No, I'm not his dad. BUT, Lonzo's size and skill-set are unique for his position, and his ability to speed up the game while still seeing the floor in slow motion is uncanny. To sum it up, Lonzo is Russell Westbrook with a three-point shot, and the will to do what's best for the team, not the MVP race. (@ me Westbrook fans, I'd love to have this debate).

De'Aaron Fox - John Wall

This is likely the least surprising comparison on this list. Both Fox and Wall are one-and-done Kentucky/Calipari products with elite speed and play-making ability, they even both came out of college with an unproven jump shot. Fox isn't quite the physical specimen Wall was coming out of college, but his numbers are almost identical. Fox's floor is probably more of a Jeff Teague or Dennis Scrhoeder, maybe Reggie Jackson at worst, but is that so bad?

Jayson Tatum - Tobias Harris

This is probably the most modest comparison here, but that's because Tatum was often playing third-fiddle to Grayson Allen and Luke Kennard, and when he did get more shots, was less efficient. That being said, Tatum was fantastic when he was able to get to the line, and shot 85% from the stripe. Tatum has the potential to be a top-10 small-forward in the league if he becomes more consistently aggressive and efficient when doing so.

In conclusion, it's really hard to tell which of these five guys will be the best in five years, or if it will be someone from this draft not even in the lottery. Fultz and Jackson appear to be the most reliable picks, but it's very possible that Ball, Fox, or Tatum out-perform them throughout their careers.

This makes this draft an exciting one to follow down the road, not because it will be one where we look back and say "wow, that guy drafted in the 20s should've been a top-5 pick", but because the top end is so loaded, that it'll be fun to watch how they all pan out.

2017 NBA Lottery Mock Draft

With the Lottery set, and the draft less than a week away, it's time to look at what each team should do Thursday night to avoid an uproar from their fan base (unless, of course, you're the Knicks drafting Kristaps Porzingis, then do you, New York).

Last season's draft pool featured a number of players poised to have long careers, but seemed to lack the potential All Stars that this year's draft holds (to be determined, of course). This brings more intrigue to this year's draft, especially after last year's top 2 picks didn't exactly impress during their first year in the league, Ben Simmons sitting out the entire season due to injury (and/or The Process), and Brandon Ingram posting one of the worst rookie seasons in league history.

Also unlike last year, this year's player pool features a number of guards with sky-high ceilings, in what has become a very guard dominant league. While the Markelle Fultz Lonzo Ball debate seems to be all but decided at this point, Ball appears to be dropping to the next tier of guards in the draft, and may not even be the second point guard off the board.

1. Philadelphia 76ers

In an apparent attempt to speed up "The Process", the Sixers agreed to terms with the Celtics to swap the third and first picks this year, along with either the Lakers' pick next year (2-5), or the Kings pick the following year. We can only assume that this means Philly is set on taking Markelle Fultz, and rounding out one of the most intriguing young cores in the NBA.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

In part due to Lavar Ball's comments that his son would "only play for the Lakers", and the result that Lonzo did in fact only work out for the Lakers, it seemed inevitable that the Lakers would take the Chino Hills and UCLA standout. Until recently, that is, rumors and reports have been circling that the eldest Ball brother has less than impressed the Lakers in his workouts, and that there is a legitimate possibility that the Lakers could look elsewhere. All of the media stuff aside (it is Hollywood, after all), with D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson showing promise in the back court, the Lakers may be wise to take Josh Jackson, a can't miss athlete, with superstar potential, and at the very least, can be insurance in case Brandon Ingram can't turn it around in year two.

3. Boston Celtics

As always, there's still a chance that Danny Ainge has another move up his sleeve and that this will not be where the Celtics make their first selection Thursday night, but for now, we'll assume that Mr. Ainge will stand pat. If the Lakers do go with Jackson, the Celtics will be left in an interesting position, likely deciding between De'Aaron Fox and Lonzo Ball, the latter of which did not work out for the team. Despite less media attention (due to a certain individual, ironic posting this on Father's Day), Fox has had less hype built up about him, however Fox outplayed Ball in both meetings in college, despite a 1-1 record, averaging 29.5 ppg and 6.5 apg, on 51.5% shooting. If the Celtics retain this pick, De'Aaron Fox seems like the smart pick.

4. Phoenix Suns

The Suns do a great job of leaving NBA fans scratching their heads on draft night pretty much every year, but admittedly, Devin Booker has proven himself, and in more regular minutes Marquese Chriss showed promise at the end of last year. Moving one of Eric Bledsoe or Brandon Knight wouldn't be a surprise, but to justify drafting a point guard with either of them still on the roster would be, well, a Suns move. None the less, Jayson Tatum would be a great fit in Phoenix, and could form a fantastic one-two punch on the wings with Booker in years to come.

5. Sacramento Kings

Now how great would Lonzo Ball to the Kings be? Ball and Boogie would have been the best League Pass duo in the entire league, and probably would have been the best reality show on TV. Who knows if Lavar will even let Lonzo play in Sacramento, but we all want to see it, plus, if he really is the franchise player his dad says he is, maybe he can put out the dumpster fire that is the Kings right now.

6. Orlando Magic

From one confusing franchise to another, perhaps the Magic's biggest problem is not knowing whether or not any of their current players are any good, or just good numbers on a bad team (looking at you, Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier). It's really anyone's guess what the Magic do here, but fit wise Jonathan Isaac seems like the right move.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

Malik Monk. It just has to be. The Wolves would thrive with a knock down shooter to add to their young core, and that's just Monk's floor. The Sixers "Process" might get more publicity, but the chance to run out Zach Lavine, Malik Monk, Andrew Wiggins, Gorgui Dieng, and Karl-Anthony Towns is an opportunity far too good to pass up for Minnesota.

8. New York Knicks

The Knicks roster next year is in question to say the least, with the ever-swirling trade rumors around Carmelo Anthony, Derrrick Rose's free agency, and the more recent question of whether or not Porzingis still wants to remain in the Big Apple. Banking on the fact that both Melo and Porzingis stick around, Dennis Smith would be a nice experiment for New York. Smith had his ups and downs at N.C. State a year ago, but can really put on a show at times, and what better place to get the chance to wow the crowd than MSG?

9. Dallas Mavericks

7 foot tall European who lets it fly from beyond the arc but doesn't neglect his rebounding responsibilities? There might be someone in Dallas who knows a thing or two about that type of skill set. Will Lauri Markkanen turn into Dirk Nowitzki? Doubtful, but Dirk is one of the best of all time, and would be a fantastic mentor to the Finnish prospect during his final season in Dallas. Heck, the Mavs could even play them together and create some ridiculous floor spacing if Markkanen proves ready right away.

10. Sacramento Kings

This is weird, the Kings ended up making a good move? Thanks New Orleans...With tons of roster flexibility and no clear direction, the Kings just need talent, or a diamond in the rough. Whether or not the Kings do get Ball as mentioned above is yet to be seen, but taking a chance on Frank Ntilikina out of France seems like a good opportunity for Sacramento either way.

11. Charlotte Hornets

If Michael Jordan had an aversion to Duke players, he wouldn't have signed Miles Plumlee to a 4-year $50 million contract (yes, you read that right). With that being cleared up, Luke Kennard would be a great fit for the Hornets, bringing shooting and play-making to a team that lacks spacing at times and can rely a bit too much on Kemba Walker.

12. Detroit Pistons

Most Detroit fans are probably hoping Kennard will fall to them at 12, and that they won't have to match whatever absurd offer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope receives as a restricted free agent, but with Kennard and Monk off the board, the Pistons will have to look elsewhere. It's no secret that Detroit has been looking to move Andre Drummond, and whether or not that happens, Zach Collins would be a good insurance pick up, either as Drummond's backup, or as a potential replacement.

13. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggest find themselves in no-man's land here, with a lack of help for budding star Nikola Jokic on roster if Danilo Gallinari departs in free agency, and no sure thing prospect left at this point of the draft. Taking Bam Adebayo here would allow the Nuggets to potentially shop Kenneth Faried for more perimeter help.

14. Miami Heat

Somehow, Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra almost turned last year's Miami Heat roster into a playoff team (honorable mention to Dion Waiters and his efforts), but now similar to the Nuggets the Heat find themselves in an awkward position. It may seem a bit high according to a lot of other Mocks, but T.J. Leaf's ability to score from all areas would be a nice compliment to Hassan Whiteside (if he sticks around).

What We've Learned From March Madness

Now that the Final Four is set, and many people are calling it a "bad" Final Four, it's time to look back on the assumptions that we had entering the tournament.

Gonzaga is a pretender

This has become an annual presumption when it comes to filling out brackets, Gonzaga enters the tournament with somewhere between three and six to seven losses, often as a top-5 seed. Then, the Bulldogs are "upset" earlier than a team with their record "should", having reached the Elite Eight only once since 2000, despite making the tournament in every season.

This year though, the Zags entered March with only one loss, and with wins over tournament teams including Arizona, Iowa State, Florida, and St. Mary's. Even with the better than usual resume, much of the basketball community still did not believe in Mark Few and Gonzaga. Now, the Zags are in the Final Four, and have proved that this team is more than just the best team in a sub-par conference.

The SEC is just a football conference

The SEC only got five teams into the tournament, two of which were 8 and 9 seeds, including Vanderbilt, the only 15 loss team to ever make it into the field of 64. Fast forward two weekends, and three of the SEC's teams are in the Elite Eight. The other two didn't just roll over either, Vanderbilt was a last minute brain fart away from a second round matchup with Gonzaga, and Arkansas took North Carolina down to the wire.

As for Kentucky, South Carolina, and Florida, all three showed that they were legitimate contenders, combining to knock off Duke, Baylor, Virginia, and UCLA. Only South Carolina made it to the final weekend, defeating Florida, while Kentucky fell in the final seconds to North Carolina. However, the SEC was the only conference with more than one team in the Elite Eight.

The more important thing here is that Florida is back, and South Carolina could be a force to be reckoned with under Frank Martin in years to come. While this is great for college basketball as a whole, it could be quite annoying in years to come if the rest of the country has to hear it from SEC fans about football AND basketball.

The ACC is the best conference in basketball

This one is tough, because while most of the ACC teams bowed out early, North Carolina is still standing as we near the final weekend, and the favorite to avenge their last second loss in the National Championship a year ago.

It's hard to justify the ACC being the premier college basketball conference after only one of their nine teams made it past the first weekend, but with only the SEC having multiple representatives in the Elite Eight, it might not quite be time to dethrone the ACC just yet.

Two of the ACC's losses (Duke and Virginia) came to Elite Eight teams in Florida and South Carolina, while Louisville fell to a Michigan team that came within seconds of beating Final Four bound Oregon. So, the ACC may not have the most elite teams in the country, but top to bottom it's hard to argue that the ACC remains the toughest and strongest conference.

The B1G had a down year

Entering the second weekend, it seemed like this one was wrong, with five of the seven B1G teams winning their first round matchups (Maryland fell to Elite Eight finalist Xavier), and three advancing to the sweet sixteen. Then, the B1G ended up with no teams in the Elite Eight, with Wisconsin, Purdue, and Michigan all falling in the Sweet Sixteen.

This doesn't mean that the B1G has fallen from the elite conferences in college basketball, but that this year the conference just didn't have the elite caliber teams that they have in past years, with Michigan State struggling through injuries, and Wisconsin struggling late in the season.

That being said, the B1G is primed for a rebound year next season, with very few guaranteed departures, and a plethora of returning talent. Miles Bridges, Melo Trimble, and Caleb Swanigan are all likely to declare early for the NBA, and Derrick Walton Jr., Nigel Hayes, and Bronson Koenig are all graduating. 

However, the B1G will be loaded in the front court next season with Nick Ward, Ethan Happ, Moritz Wagner, D.J. Wilson, Nicholas Baer, and Jordan Murphy returning. Those returners will lead five of the conferences top teams (Michigan State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Minnesota), while the other two (Maryland and Purdue) will hope for their stars to return to school to lead their returning supporting cast.

As we come to the conclusion of the tournament, it seems like most of the assumptions going into the tournament remain intact (assuming UNC can at least make the title game to save the ACC).

More importantly, the basketball world needs to realize that this Final Four isn't bad, it just doesn't have the full slate of big name programs that we're used to. Oregon, and Gonzaga are better than people think or want to believe, South Carolina may have the best defense in the country, and North Carolina was a lot of peoples' favorites going into the season and are looking to avenge last season's heartbreaking loss.

Finally, enjoy the last weekend of college basketball until November.

The Mystery of the 2013 NBA Draft

The 2013 draft is now well known as one of the worst drafts in recent history, but what was really so bad about it? Nearing four years removed the 2013 draft, it's starting to seem like the problem was the teams drafting, not the players available.

For starters, Giannis Antetokounmpo has turned into the type of player any team in the league would love to have drafted. In a five year span of drafts that included #1 draft picks Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl-Anthony Towns, it's certainly debatable that the Greek Freak has developed into arguably an equal to even the best of those former #1 picks. Obviously, it's crazy to say that a team could have known that Giannis would develop into the All-Star caliber player that he is now, but given the other players in the draft, his potential alone certainly could have put him much higher that the 15th pick where he landed.

Following the Greek Freak is the Robin to Damian Lillard's Batman, the pride of Lehigh, C.J. McCollum. Like Giannis, it took a couple of years for McCollum to really get going (in his case due to injury), but McCollum is now the third highest scoring shooting guard in the league. Not only has McCollum's scoring increased every year (now up to 23.3 points per game), but so has his efficiency (48% FG, and 55% effective FG). It's understandable that injury worries could cause teams to be hesitant on draft night, but given McCollum's ability to shoot and create, putting him on par with the four guards taken ahead of him would not have been unheard of.

Think Giannis is long and athletic? What if there was a player in the same draft class who was just five inches from the rim, without jumping? Enter Rudy Gobert, or, the Stifle Tower. At the combine, Gobert's standing reach was measured at 9 feet 7 inches, and a wingspan of 7 feet 8 inches. Granted, it's impossible to assume a prospect will become the best defensive center in the league based on physical attributes only, but Gobert's height (7'2") and reach combined with his 29 inch max vertical jump should've been enough for teams to take a flyer on him higher than the 27th pick. Gobert currently ranks 1st in the NBA in blocks (2.5 bpg) and defensive rating (97.8), and is 3rd in FG% (64%) and offensive rating (126.8).

The foreign theme continued in this draft with Dennis Schroder. The German was taken 17th by the Atlanta Hawks, as a backup to Jeff Teague. Now with Teague's departure, Schroder is averaging 17.4 ppg to go along with 6.3 apg, ranking 14th and 8th among point guards. Simply put, this means that at least 16 NBA teams are kicking themselves (in draft order and his current production).

This draft also brought the NBA's leader in 3-point percentage this year, with the #3 pick, Otto Porter Jr.. Like the other players listed here, it took Porter Jr. a couple of years to find his footing, but he is now averaging just over 14 ppg, on 46% from beyond the arc, fitting in perfectly with fellow top-3 picks John Wall and Bradley Beal in the nation's capital.

So given these five players, who would actually make a pretty solid starting five, and a unique one at that, it's time to reconsider bashing the 2013 draft class. In fact, it was one of the best drafts for international players, with Giannis and Schroder ranking 2nd and 7th in scoring, and 6th and 2nd in assists respectively, while Gobert, Giannis, Steven Adams, and Gorgui Dieng all rank in the top-10 in international rebounders.

If anything, the 2013 draft should serve as a warning for NBA teams in the draft process, where seven of the top-10 picks came from high-profile programs that receive lots of media attention over the course of the year. Whereas the only major college program player on this list of what might be the redrafted top-5 was Porter Jr.. Or, if you're one for conspiracies, maybe Cleveland was a step ahead of everybody in the "Riggin' for Wiggins" (as Bill Simmons called it) tanking campaign, and that's why they inexplicably took Anthony Bennett #1 overall.

Why Not To Count Out The ACC

The "best conference in the country", might not have a 1-seed come selection Sunday, but here are all the reasons why the ACC will still have success in March.

Every year, the B1G-ACC Challenge gives college basketball fans a three day slate of matchups of the two premier conferences in college basketball, often resulting in the winner being crowned the best conference in the country. The ACC won the first 10 challenges, but had not won since 2008, and since then the B1G had been considered at the very least on par with the ACC as the best conference in the country. Then the ACC dropped the hammer on the B1G this year, winning the challenge nine games to five, for their first win in eight years.

The ACC's victory this year could easily be understood as the B1G having a down year (they are), but in matchups of likely tournament teams, the ACC went 4-1 (4-2 if you count Indiana's win before they turned into a pretender).

So this begs the questions: Is the ACC just the best conference top to bottom? Or will they dominate the tournament too?

The way the season has played out, it's tough to pick out a favorite, or even a likely Final Four, and because of the parity in the ACC, the conference is unlikely to receive a 1-seed come selection Sunday after Virginia's upset of #5 North Carolina Monday night. But the parity also suggests that the ACC is loaded with good teams. According to ESPN's Joe Lunardi, the ACC would have five teams as 5-seeds or better, with Virginia and Notre Dame (currently both 5-seeds) both on the rise.

Despite UNC's loss Monday night, the Tar Heels along with Louisville will both likely be 1 or 2-seeds, but they aren't the only teams from the ACC poised to make a run in March. Florida State, Duke, Notre Dame, and maybe even Virginia after Monday night's performance are all teams that other top seeds will not look forward to facing once the Madness begins.

While the Pac12 has three top-10 teams (arguably top-5), no conference has the depth that the ACC has, and we haven't even mentioned Miami, Virginia Tech, and Syracuse who all have a shot at making the dance. ESPN's BPI (basketball power index) rankings show four ACC teams in the top-10, double the amount of any other conference.

Another thing the ACC has is balanced scoring from all of their contending teams, even likely ACC Player of the Year Luke Kennard of Duke has back court mates Grayson Allen and Jayson Tatum each averaging at least 15 points per game. If we've learned anything from the past five years or so, it's not about having one elite player in March, even the Kentucky and Duke teams that have won titles did so with balanced scoring from a handful of contributors.

The two top teams (Louisville and UNC), fit that mold. Louisville as usual relies on their defense and quick back court duo of Donovan Mitchell (16.1 ppg) and Quentin Snider (12.1 ppg), along with a revolving door of big men (four bigs averaging at least 6 ppg and 4 rpg). Carolina relies a bit more heavily on their starters, primarily Justin Jackson (18.4 ppg, 39% 3pt), Joel Berry (14.7 ppg, 40% 3pt), and the two-headed post monster of Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks (combined 24 ppg, 57% FG).

So what does this all mean for the ACC as we enter March? It means that while the conference may not have a 1-seed come selection Sunday, it would be foolish not to pick at least a couple ACC teams to make the Elite Eight in your brackets.

After all, the ACC had four teams make the Elite Eight last year, two of which made the Final Four, with Carolina ultimately making it within seconds of a National Title.

The Best and Worst of NBA Trade Deadline Day 2017

Despite the likes of Jimmy Butler, Paul George, and Andre Drummond staying put this trade deadline, a handful of contenders made good moves, and some non-contenders made some not so good moves.

Best

Nets and Wizards swap Bogdanovic for First Round Pick:

The Wizards have been one of the best teams in the new calendar year, going 18-5 since January 1st (three of the losses to the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Rockets). Washington has developed a very talented starting five lead by the dynamic duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal (22 points per game each), along with NBA leader in 3-point percentage Otto Porter Jr. (14.6 ppg), but have lacked bench production this year. That's where Bogdanovic fits in, the third year Bosnian is averaging 14.2 ppg this year for the abysmal Brooklyn Nets, but is a career 37% from beyond the arc, and has the ability to play both the 3 and 4 positions, to give rest to Porter Jr. and Markieff Morris. The pick brings the Nets a little bit closer to being able to rebuild, with two first round picks likely in the 20s this year (Boston and Washington).

Lakers and Rockets swap Lou Williams, Corey Brewer, plus First Round Pick:

Mike D'Antoni has turned the Rockets into an analytical-three-point-shooting-machine this year, led by MVP candidate James Harden and the re-emergence of Eric Gordon (second and fourth in the NBA in made three pointers respectively). Williams gives D'Antoni's squad another perimeter threat, and much needed back court depth to help Harden and Gordon. This deal also came at little cost to the Rockets, with Corey Brewer having a near career worst year in just about every statistic, and giving up what would be the 28th pick in the draft.

Raptors get PJ Tucker and Serge Ibaka:

Toronto has been the opposite of the Wizards since the turn of the year, posting a measly 12-14 record since Jan. 1, including just a 3-5 record in February. Their front office certainly noticed the recent struggles, turning sixth-man Terrance Ross and Jared Sullinger into Serge Ibaka (Magic) and P.J. Tucker (Suns). Ibaka gives the Raptors some depth in the front court and the option to play big, while Tucker provides veteran wing depth to replace Ross. Canada's team will need all the help they can get after dropping to the 4th spot in the Eastern Conference, which could lead to a second round match-up with the Cavs, but this was a good mid-season pair of moves that should lead them in the right direction. While the Raptors improved, the Suns and Magic both continue to make questionable moves.

Thunder get McDermott, Gibson from Bulls:
Cameron Payne was great for entertainment purposes with his elaborate handshake routines with Russell Westbrook, but his performance has taken a step back from what was a relatively promising rookie campaign. That makes this trade even better for the Thunder, who add a versitile shooter in Doug McDermott, and even more front court depth in veteran Taj Gibson. Westbrook's numbers are gaudy as it stands, and that is without much (if any) shooting ability around him, adding McDermott (40% career 3pt) well give the MVP candidate even more room to operate. Gibson gives the Thunder the option to decrease rookie Domantis Sabonis' minutes (just 6 ppg, 3 rpg, on 40% in 21 mpg), and makes for a stout defensive front court when paired with Steven Adams. This trade may even be more one sided than the Boogie deal, but it was extremely important for the Thunder to get Westbrook help as soon as possible. Despite the Thunder's gain, the Bulls' mystery of a season will continue with this move just the most recent in a flurry of newsworthy chapters.

Worst

Kings ship Boogie with little hope of rebuild:

This trade was great for the Pelicans, and if the chemistry works, it'll earn them a playoff spot and the chance to compete next season with a unique front court pairing the likes of which have not been seen since Tim Duncan and David Robinson. However, on the flip side, the Kings received what seems to be much less than full value for Demarcus Cousins. Sacramento received 6th overall pick Buddy Hield, former Kings draft choice Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and the Pelicans first and second round picks this season. In theory, this would give the Kings two lottery picks along with Buddy Hield, effectively three lottery picks in two years. However, if the Kings fall outside the top-10 in this year's draft, they owe their pick to the Bulls, and if they fall inside the top-10, the Sixers have the option to swap picks with them. This makes it unlikely the Kings will have a chance to get one of the elite players in this year's draft, which begs the question, who are the Kings building around now?

Sixers give up Noel for...?
Leading up to the deadline, everyone thought that the Sixers would be dealing a big man, but everyone assumed it would be Jahlil Okafor. Instead, Philly traded Nerlens Noel to the Dallas Mavericks for, well, not much. Officially, the Sixers received Andrew Bogut, Justin Anderson, and a protected (1-18) first round pick from Dallas, but sources say they plan to buy out Bogut to make him a free agent, and with Dallas unlikely to make the playoffs (especially after waiving Deron Williams), the pick will become two second round selections next year. The Sixers do need some wing help, and Anderson can defend, but his inability to shoot efficiently at the NBA level (40%, 29% 3pt) makes this move quite confusing.