21. New Orleans Hornets- PF Craig Brackins
Another pick acquired in a trade, Brackins is a solid pick for a Hornets team that needed interior depth. Brackins strikes me as a Channing Frye type player at the next level, not a power guy, but a guy who can hit the 15-18 foot jumper with ease. He might not be the exact type of big man I would have liked to have seen them take, but he gives them depth, he gives them an interesting option on the pick and roll with Chris Paul, and he fits the range.
Grade: B
22. Portland Trailblazers- SG Elliot Williams
Williams gives them a nice combo guard and bench scorer type player, though I think they would have been better off taking a guy like Dominique Jones, Willie Warren, or even Terrico White to fill that need. Plus, I can’t say he filled their biggest need, interior depth. Not best available, not their biggest need, not the best pick.
Grade: C
23. Washington Wizards- SF Trevor Booker
Grading as if they drafted him 23rd, not the Timberwolves who originally drafted him and then traded him, this is still a very bad pick. Booker was not a first round prospect and I can find plenty of people who agree with me. He didn’t even really fill a need as the Wizards still badly need interior help and a shotblocker/rebounder.
Grade: D
24. New Jersey Nets- SF Damion James
Acquired in a trade from Atlanta, the Nets take James. James can compete for the starting small forward job on this team right away and if not, he can fill a role off the bench. James doesn’t need a lot of work and I think he was one of the more underappreciated players in this draft class.
Grade: A
25. Dallas Mavericks- SG Dominique Jones
Jones is a good player fitting of this spot, but with guys like Jason Kidd, Jose Juan Barea, Rodrique Beaubois, Jason Terry, DeShawn Stevenson and Caron Butler all capable of playing guard very well, did they need another guard? I won’t give this a bad grade, because I can see 2 or three of those guys being packaged and shipped somewhere in a sign and trade for a big time star. A package of Caron Butler’s 2011 expiring contract, Jason Terry’s 2012 expiring contract, Beaubois, and Erick Dampier’s 2011 expiring contract could be enticing for a team with a superstar free agent and that would make this pick look genius.
Grade: B
26. New Orleans Hornets- SF Quincy Pondexter
Pondexter gives the Hornets an athletic, long swingman to add some athleticism and defense to their wings. I thought that was their biggest need coming into this draft.
Grade: A
27. Atlanta Hawks- SG Jordan Crawford
It looks like Joe Johnson is leaves and Crawford will help patch that holes in one of two ways. He could start at shooting guard and allow 2010 6th man of the year Jamal Crawford to stay in that 6th man role. Or, he could take over Crawford’s 6th man role and allow Crawford to play shooting guard.
Grade: A
28. Memphis Grizzlies- PG Grievis Vasquez
The Grizzlies needed a good backup point guard and Vazquez was one of the best point guards available, but not the best.
Grade: B
29. Orlando Magic- C Daniel Orton
Nothing wrong with taking Orton 29th. I was glad to see he fell this far. He didn’t play much at Kentucky last year because of his offensive struggles, but if he had stayed another year and worked on his offensive game, and taken the starting center role, he could have been a top 5 pick in 2011. He is a former top recruit. Taking him in the top 15 would have been a big mistake, but 29th is the right range. That being said, if he fulfills his potential in Orlando, he’s still a center. That may be the one position they didn’t need with Superman Dwight Howard and highly paid backup Marcin Gortat. They could have used this pick to get an NBA ready role player (Darington Hobson) who would help them try to win the East next year, but they didn’t.
Grade: D
30. Minnesota Timberwolves- SF Lazar Heyward
Last year, the Timberwolves spent the 5th and 6th picks on point guards. This year, they added three small forwards in the first round, Wesley Johnson (4th) Martell Webster (trade) and now Heyward. Johnson was a good pick at the time as it was a need and Webster I can kind of see, as he is a nice backup who can play some 2 guard, but a 3rd small forward. That doesn’t make sense. They still need a big shot blocking center and a scorer/create your own shot type player. I wouldn’t want any part of this franchise if I was Ricky Rubio.
Grade: D
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