NBA: Rockets, Nets headline draft winners and losers

Winner #1: Houston Rockets grab high-flyer Jalen Green, international prospects Alperen Şengün and Usman Garuba

Houston not only drafted Jalen Green (17.9 points per game in the G-League) with the 2nd overall pick but also traded up to get Alperen Şengün (7th ranked prospect), Usman Garuba, and Josh Christopher (24th pick). That’s four prospects ranked among our top-17 including three lottery-projected players. Şengün and Garuba combined to average 24.8 points and 14.7 rebounds while playing professionals at 19-years-old. I’m confident at least two Rockets draft picks will turn into regular starters next season and beyond. Rafael Stone somehow drafted the top ranked shooting guard and the two highest rated power forwards. The Pistons might have gotten the best player in Cade Cunningham but Houston was the biggest winner on Thursday.

Winner #2: Los Angeles Clippers complete a trio of trades to move up and acquire Keon Johnson, Jason Preston, and BJ Boston

Lawrence Frank was busy on Thursday night, making three deals including trading the 25th pick to the New York Knicks for the 21st pick, where the Clippers took Keon Johnson (3rd ranked shooting guard). Los Angeles later traded into the second round to pick up Jason Preston (39th ranked prospect) and BJ Boston. All three players had a chance to go in the first round tonight, and either Boston or Johnson will likely get a shot to play right away with Kawhi Leonard set to miss significant time rehabbing a partially torn ACL. Frank told the Fresno Bee why they moved up to draft Johnson: “We felt good about the opportunity to get him. He’s one of the highest-level athletes in the draft."

Winner #3: Brooklyn Nets boost title hopes with addition of Cameron Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe late in the first round

Sean Marks was very active on draft night, dealing Landry Shamet for Jevon Carter and the 29th pick which turned out to be North Carolina big man Day’Ron Sharpe (4th ranked center). Two picks earlier, Brooklyn drafted LSU-product Cameron Thomas (25th ranked prospect). He scored 23.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in his freshman season a year ago. The Nets also drafted Kessler Edwards, Marcus Zegarowski (49th pick), and RaiQuan Gray. Brooklyn filled their biggest needs with a 6’11 center Sharpe and scoring depth headlined by Thomas. Marks told Nets Daily “I give our scouts a lot of credit because they did a heck of a job this year and the workload was immense.”

Winner #4: Charlotte Hornets land UConn-product James Bouknight in late lottery, trade for Kai Jones and Mason Plumlee

Orlando’s draft deserves a shoutout after adding two top-10 prospects in Jalen Suggs (5th pick) and Franz Wagner but our last winner goes to division-foe Charlotte. Mitch Kupchak and Michael Jordan picked up James Bouknight (6th ranked prospect) and Texas forward Kai Jones, as well as JT Thor and Scottie Lewis in the second round. I’m not thrilled with the fit for Bouknight since Charlotte’s backcourt is pretty loaded but he will be able to play well off LaMelo Ball. Jones and Lewis are high-energy defenders and aggressive attacking off the dribble. The Hornets, who also traded Detroit for Mason Plumlee this week, are big winners for a second straight draft and will hope to turn a talented core into a playoff team in 2022.

Loser #1: Boston Celtics trade out of first round, select France shooting guard Juhann Begarin in mid-second round

Boston has undergone a ton of overturn this offseason with Brad Stevens replacing Danny Ainge as team president, Ime Udoka being hired as a head coach for the first time, and Kemba Walker getting traded to Oklahoma City for Al Horford. Unfortunately, that deal also included their 2021 first rounder, which was the 16th pick on Thursday night. Boston could have drafted someone like Şengün, who was drafted by the Rockets with that pick. The Celtics went onto draft Juhann Begarin but he’s likely going to remain playing professionally in France for at least a year. Begarin has a chance to turn into a role player down the road but this is another draft that Boston failed to improve their roster. For what it’s worth, Stevens did trade for Josh Richardson today.

Loser #2: Milwaukee Bucks pass on early second rounder, trade back to draft Sandro Mamukelashvili and Georgios Kalaitzakis

There’s nothing particularly wrong with what Milwaukee did in the recent draft but they didn’t get better and that’s going to be necessary with both the Lakers and Nets healthy and improved. Los Angeles traded for Russell Westbrook which will upgrade their starting lineup and add a much-needed third scorer, while Brooklyn drafted the aforementioned first rounders to secure more depth. Meanwhile, the Bucks took a couple of prospects that have shown promise but are unlikely to play meaningful minutes anytime soon. Sandro Mamukelashvili (6th ranked center) and Georgios Kalaitzakis are decent additions but the Bucks have to be a loser because the other main title favorites made splashes while Milwaukee seems content to wait for free agency.

Loser #3: San Antonio Spurs select Joshua Primo and Joe Wieskamp, refuse to address true needs for another year

San Antonio is in a soft rebuild so it’s reasonable for them to tread water for the time being but it’d be nice if they at least had a clear direction. Gregg Popovich and Brian Wright have hand picked a handful of solid players over the last few years including Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Lonnie Walker, and Derrick White, but haven’t addressed an almost completely bare frontcourt. The Spurs only compounded that problem by drafting guards Joshua Primo (36th ranked prospect) and Joe Wieskamp. Wright told SB Nation “We want to continue to add shooting. We also need to get bigger, solidify the frontcourt.” Both draftees are great shooters but it’s obvious the Spurs didn't solidify the frontcourt once again.

Loser #4: Golden State Warriors get wings Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody as the front office continues to field trade offers

According to CBS Sports, the Warriors (+700) have the third best title odds heading into next season, just ahead of the defending champion Bucks (+750). Golden State certainly has a chance as Klay Thompson returns but I’m not so sure they capitalized on the draft as much as possible. Does drafting Jonathan Kuminga (5th ranked prospect) and Moses Moody (14th pick) push them over them top in 2021-22? Bob Myers would like to land another elite player like Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard, or even Pascal Siakam, but it’s becoming harder to trust a deal will happen. Kuminga put up 15.8 points per game in the G-League last year so hopefully he’ll be able to contribute immediately but I don’t think they’ve done enough to put themselves back in the top tier yet.

Highest draft grades:

1. Rockets (A)

2. Hornets (A-)

3. Magic (A-)

4. Clippers (B+)

5. Pacers (B+)

Lowest draft grades:

1. Heat (F)

2. Mavericks (F)

3. Timberwolves (F)

4. Celtics (C-)

5. Bucks (C)

Photo Credit: SB Nation.