NBA Lottery Recap and Grades

#1 Chicago Bulls (Derrick Rose, G)
Hometown high school star and hands down the best player in this year's draft, Rose will be a perennial all star for the Bulls. He has tremendous leadership ability, leading a veteran-laden Memphis team to seconds away from an NCAA championship. Combine that with the ability to score from anywhere on the court and great court vision and you have an elite guard for years to come.
Pick Grade: A

#2 Miami Heat (Michael Beasley, F)
Although they would have preferred Rose, Beasley will fit in nicely with Wade and Marion. He was a scoring machine at Kansas State and his size and skills remind me a lot of Carmelo Anthony. The Heat would have liked to draft a guard here, but managed to pick up Kansas guard Mario Chalmers later on, giving them arguably the best overall draft class.
Pick Grade: B+

#3 Memphis Grizzlies (OJ Mayo, G)
Mayo is a steal at number 3 overall. Memphis needed a true 2 guard to match up with Conley in the backcourt and Mayo may well be the best player of this draft 5 years from now.
Pick Grade: A-

#4 Seattle Sonics (Russell Westbrook, G)
After drafting Durant and Green last year and struggling to find an effective backcourt this season, Westbrook is the point guard the Sonics need. It's hard to say how well his skills will translate into the NBA, but having a potent scorer like KD will help the transition.
Pick Grade: B

#5 Minnesota Timberwolves (Kevin Love, F)
Kevin Love = Luke Walton, which is bad news if you're the Timberwolves. Love isn't big enough to be a dominant player down low and isn't quick enough to play the 3. However, he has all the intangibles to be a solid contributor but I would want more from my top 5 pick.
Pick Grade: F

#6 New York Knicks (Danilo Gallinari, F)
Eric Gordon or Jerryd Bayless would have been great picks here, especially if the Knicks plan on rebuilding. By passing up the chance to rebuild the backcourt and selecting Danilo Gallinari, the Knicks add an athletic swingman to D'Antoni's fast paced offense and give Marbury some job security.
Pick Grade: C+

#7 Los Angeles Clippers (Eric Gordon, G)
One of the most hyped players coming out of high school, Eric Gordon got off to a fast start at Indiana. After an overblown coaching scandal and a minor wrist injury, Gordon's lack of polish and experience started to show and he struggled down the stretch. Talent-wise, Gordon is at the top of this year's class, but it will take some time for him to develop.
Pick Grade: B

#8 Milwaukee Bucks (Joe Alexander, G/F)
Joe Alexander projects as an ideal small forward in the NBA, combing good size (6'8", 220) with freakish athleticism and solid shooting.
Pick Grade: B+

#9 Charlotte Bobcats (DJ Augustin, G)
Although standing only 6'0", DJ Augustin is probably the best true point guard in this draft after Rose. Although it's hard to say where he'll fit in with the Bobcats right away, with the right collection of scorers around him he can develop into a championship caliber PG.
Pick Grade: A-

#10 New Jersey Nets (Brook Lopez, C)
Although Brook Lopez is probably the best center in this year's draft, he lacks the offensive aggressiveness and athleticism necessary to become a dominant center in the NBA. However, he is a defensive beast, setting the all-time Stanford block record in just two seasons. All in all, he is a solid pick for the Nets here.
Pick Grade: B

#11Portland Trailblazers (Jerryd Bayless, G)
I honestly feel that Jerryd Bayless will be the best player from this draft class. He has all the tools of a top 5 pick and I am shocked that he fell this low. Bayless should shine alongside former Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy and last year's #1 overall pick Greg Oden.
Pick Grade: A

#12 Sacramento Kings (Jason Thompson, C/F)
Thompson was a force this year, leading Rider University to the MAAC championship game. He is a great combination of size, athleticism and scoring touch and may very well develop into a better center than fellow lottery pick Brook Lopez.
Pick Grade: B-

#13 Indiana Pacers (Brandon Rush, G/F)
At 6'6", 210 Brandon Rush has the size and skills to play either the 2 or 3 in the NBA. He has great scoring touch, rebounds well for his size, and is an outstanding defender. Great pick for the Pacers.
Pick Grade: B+

#14 Golden State Warriors (Anthony Randolph, F)
One of the sleepers in this years draft, Anthony Randolph is a freakishly athletic SF/PF out of Louisiana State. His NBA success depends on how quickly he can add muscle to his 6'10", 200 frame (yes, 6'10" 200 lbs) and how he matures as a player. Of all the players in this year's draft, Randolph could have benefited the most from another year in college.
Pick Grade: B-

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