2013 NBA Draft: Grading All 30 Teams Performance
By Matt Shetler
Now that the 2013 NBA Draft is in the books, now is a good time to reflect and analyze all the moves made by all 30 NBA teams.
Who did the best during the draft and which teams left you scratching you head?
Let’s answer all of that as I hand out draft grades for all 30 NBA teams.
Jun 27, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Lucas Nogueira poses for a photo with NBA commissioner David Stern after being selected as the number sixteen overall pick to the Boston Celtics during the 2013 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Hawks: No. 16 (acquired from the Dallas Mavericks via the Boston Celtics): Lucas Nogueira, C, Brazil; No. 17: Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany; No. 44 (acquired from Dallas Mavericks): Mike Muscala, C, Bucknell; No. 47 Raul Neto PG, Brazil
Danny Ferry did a good job of adding four nice nice pieces during the draft, but it could be a while before they have any impact. Nogueira is a legitimate seven-footer who runs the court as well as any big man. He will need to develop some, but he has the makings of a potential star.
Schroeder at No. 17 will prove to be a steal when we look back at this draft in a few years. He’s ready to play in the NBA now and don’t be surprised if the Hawks make a move with Jeff Teague now. And Muscala is a guy who can both sore and rebound; although he will have to prove he can do it at the NBA level. Neto is a good player who won’t see the NBA for a couple of years. Overall a very good draft for the Hawks. Draft Grade: B
Boston Celtics: No. 13 (acquired from the Dallas Mavericks): Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga; No. 53 (acquired from the Indiana Pacers): Colton Iverson, C, Colorado State
The Celtics paid a price to get the guy they wanted in Olynyk but he’s a seven-footer who can stretch the floor with his offensive game. However it was still a reach at No. 13.
Boston needs size badly which makes the Iverson pick make sense, although he’s likely to have a spot on the bench for a while. But he’s a guy who does the little things that helps teams win. Draft Grade: C
Brooklyn Nets: No. 22: Mason Plumlee, C, Duke
Plumlee at No. 22 was a good value pick for the Nets. He is a good rebounder, a solid defender and can run the floor like a guard and finish in transition. Add to that a blockbuster trade that brought them a pair of future Hall of famers and it turned out to be a pretty god night for Billy King. Draft Grade: B+
Charlotte Bobcats: No. 4: Cody Zeller, PF/C, Indiana
Leave it to Michael Jordan and the Bobcats to make the biggest head scratching move of the lottery. If Zeller was the guy they wanted all along and apparently he was, they could have traded down to get him at No. 11 or 12. Instead they reach on him when both Alex Len and Nerlens Noel were still on the board. Zeller has the chance to be pretty good, but he’s not a true center and there were other better options on the board. Draft Grade: D
Chicago Bulls: No. 20: Tony Snell, SG/SF, New Mexico; No. 49: Erik Murphy, PF, Florida
I am very high on Snell but I don’t know if I like him here to the Bulls, even though that’s where I had him going in my mocks. With Luol Deng on the roster still, it doesn’t free up a lot of minutes for Snell. A backup big man probably made more sense here. That being said, the Bulls got a guy that can potentially do it all once he develops.
As for Murphy, I’m not that high on him as I don’t see him as much more than a role player in the NBA. He can shoot it, but his inability to defend doesn’t make him a good fit with the Bulls. Draft Grade: C