In what was one of the most highly anticipated draft classes in recent memory, the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft provided us with countless surprises and a plethora of talent for teams to pick from. While analysts took their best stab at what was going to happen leading up to the draft, no one came anywhere close to the final results, which were plenty controversial. Here is draft grades for every first round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Cade Cunningham:
Hard to give this anything other than top marks. The Pistons needed an injection of talent and couldn’t have asked for a better prospect than Cunningham. The Luka Doncic comparisons are real, as Cunningham’s well-rounded offensive skill set and spectacular shot reaction off the dribble will be a welcomed sight in Motor City. Cunningham has a real shot of starting Day 1 alongside Pistons 2020 first-round pick, Killian Hayes.
Grade: A+
Jalen Green:
While it wasn’t set in stone until the card was in, the Rockets made a great choice in grabbing Green. A 99th percentile athlete, Greens’ upside as a transition slasher and halfcourt scorer is a beautiful combination for Houston. Sliding Green in alongside Kevin Porter Jr. in the backcourt will instantly give one of the most athletic backcourts in the entire league. Great pick to kick off Houstons’ post-James Harden era.
Grade: A+
Evan Mobley:
With Green and Cunningham gone, Cleveland did a good job of not overcomplicating things and selected the best player available in Mobley. After seeing the success of players like Deandre Ayton and Bam Adebayo, Mobley seems like a good bet to be an impact player at the next level. He couples a wide-ranging offensive skillset with outstanding perimeter and the overall defense standing at 7’0. His selection does cause a bit of a logjam at the center position for the Cavaliers, with Jarrett Allen recently signing an extension with the team. However, Mobleys’ versatility on both ends of the floor means that Cleveland should be able to fit both of the two big men in one lineup together.
Grade: A-
Scottie Barnes:
This was the first surprising pick of the night. Note that it says “surprising”, not “bad”. With Jalen Suggs on the board and Kyle Lowry out of contract, Suggs seemed like the logical heir to the throne in Toronto. Instead, Masai Ujiri and Co. opted for the unicorn in Barnes. A jack of all trades, Barnes does a little bit of everything on both ends. With the ability to guard 1-5 defensively and potential as a transition scorer, you can bet that head coach Nick Nurse has big plans for Barnes headed into next season. Don’t write off Barnes just yet, especially given Toronto’s track record in developing draft picks.
Grade: B+
Jalen Suggs:
Toronto made the choice easy for the Magic, as Orlando couldn’t afford to pass up on a player as talented as Suggs. While the three-ball is still a work in progress, the spectacular playmaking and dribble penetration out of the pick and roll will be a welcomed addition to Orlando. His selection does create an interesting combination of guards on the Magics roster. In addition to Suggs, the team currently has three other former first-round picks rostered at the point guard spot (Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, and R.J Hampton). Suggs will be excellent, it is just unclear as to where he fits in with the Magic at this juncture.
Grade: B+
Josh Giddey:
Now this is the first bad pick of the night. This isn’t hate towards Giddey, but more questionable management by the Thunder. Giddey is a big playmaker off the dribble and excelled in Australia’s top league at just 18 years old. He finishes extremely well at the rim, making 64.1% of his half-court shots at the rim. That is about where the positives end. His jump shot and overall creativity off the dribble are major causes for concern. Giddey has a lot of potential, especially if he can develop a consistent jump shot. However, a top-10 selection seems a bit rich given Giddeys’ current state.
Grade: C+
Jonathan Kuminga:
The Warriors couldn’t have had the draft go any better. They stood their ground at 7th overall and got a top-5 prospect to fall in their laps. Kuminga is the perfect project for the Warriors. The strong supporting cast of the Warriors will allow Kuminga to excel at what he does best: get out in front in transition and finish dunks off cuts. The shot will likely see a drastic improvement due to the offensive spacing provided by Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Perfect fit for player and team.
Grade: A
Franz Wagner:
While the Magic neglected to address the wing position at 5, they were able to do so at 8 with Michigans Wagner. A fantastic off-ball defender, Wagner is exactly what this Magic team needs on the defensive end. He is very smart with his movements and is an excellent team defender. Having him rotate with Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke will give the Magic three competent, two-way wings to compete within the Eastern Conference.
Grade: A-
Davion Mitchell:
If we are just assessing the player and the position he was picked at, this is a great pick. Mitchell can do it on both ends of the floor, as he is a fantastic on-ball defender and a lights-out shooter from three. However, it is unclear where he fits in with Sacramento specifically given their current roster. Both De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield are under contract for the next three years at least and the team just selected guard Tyrese Haliburton with their lottery pick in last year’s draft. With depth along the frontcourt a more pressing need, this pick felt like a waste despite Mitchells’ undeniable talent.
Grade: B-
Ziare Willaims:
The Grizzlies continue to kill the draft process with another value pick at ten. A lot of people were scared off by Williams’s underwhelming numbers during his lone season at Stanford. Limited training camp and a myriad of injuries can explain that to a degree, and there is a lot to like about Williams upside at the next level. His spot-up shooting and secondary playmaking ability will fit perfectly with the Grizzlies. Williams’s high floor makes him a safe bet for the Grizzlies at 10.
Grade: A-
James Bouknight:
Great value pick by the Hornets. Some analysts strongly linked Bouknight to the Thunder at sixth but instead, he falls all the way to Charlotte at 11. One of the craftiest scorers in the draft, Bouknight loves to weave and twist his way through traffic for emphatic or delicate finishes at the rim. His selection also gave the front office financial flexibility, as the team was able to let Devonte Graham leave to the Pelicans in free agency. Pairing him with LaMelo Ball in the backcourt will give the Hornets a lot of versatility offensively.
Grade: A-
Josh Primo:
It is between this one and Giddey for “Worst Pick of the Lottery”. Again, this isn’t hate directed at the player. Primo is a fantastic shooter and has the tools to be a plus defender at the next level, all while still being 18 years old. But at 12th overall? Primo was projected to go in the late first – early second-round range and the Spurs made him a lottery pick. The value just isn’t justifiable.
Grade: C-
Chris Duarte:
Strong move by the Pacers to add the drafts’ most pro-ready prospect. Duarte is already a seasoned veteran and will contribute for Indiana on Day 1 with his stellar perimeter shooting. Duarte is a floor raiser, not a ceiling raiser, but that’s exactly what a fringe-contender team like Indiana needs to add.
Grade: A-
Moses Moody:
Another home run for the Warriors. No one would’ve looked at the Warriors funny had they added Moody with their pick at 7, but instead, they add him plus Kuminga with their two lottery picks. Moody is a prototypical three and D wing and will be put in a role with Golden State that he will be able to contribute in from Day 1. Especially with the max contracts of Curry, Thompson, Green, and Wiggins on the books, adding two rookies on cheap contracts will be huge for this team.
Grade: A
Corey Kispert:
Curious pick by Washington here. Kispert is one of the best shooters in the draft, finishing in the 93rd percentile on jump shots in the half-court according to Synergy. The Joe Harris comparisons are real, as Kispert will almost certainly enjoy a long and successful career in the NBA. All of that to say the pick doesn’t make sense for the wizards. Kispert is one of the older players in the draft and the indication from the Westbrook trade is that the Wizards are looking to go into a rebuild. A higher upside prospect seemed like the more logical move here.
Grade: B
Alperen Sengun:
Rockets continue their great run on picks with Sengun at 16. The traditional, back-to-the-basket big man will be a project for Houston, but his potential is sky-high. The Turkish big man achieved one of the highest PER efficiency ratings in Euroleague history at just 18 years old. He is an intriguing prospect to watch for the next few years as he develops. Great high risk, high reward pick for a rebuilding team.
Grade: A
Trey Murphy:
Great move by the Pelicans. Not only did they acquire more draft capital in a trade down to get to this pick, but Murphy also fits perfectly alongside franchise cornerstone Zion Williamson. Wings who can shoot threes at an efficient rate and have length to defend on the perimeter are invaluable in today’s NBA and that’s exactly what Murphy brings to New Orleans. Murphy doesn’t have superstar potential, but he is perfect for the Pelicans.
Grade: A-
Tre Mann:
Another curious pick from the Thunder. They already have a primary ball-handler in Shai Gilegeous-Alexander, and then they go and use their top two picks on similarly ball-dominant guards. Mann is an explosive scorer who possesses great contact balance and explosion off the dribble. His talent is undeniable, his fit with the team is questionable.
Grade: B-
Kai Jones:
How the Hornets were able to get Bouknight and Jones without having a top-10 pick is shocking. After getting the UConn wing at 11, they traded back into the top-20 and stopped Jones’s fall. A uber-athletic big man, Jones flashed a little bit of everything during his lone season at Texas. He has a long way to go before he is a productive big man in the league, but his perimeter shooting, defensive mobility, and versatile offensive skill set suggest he was well worth the risk at 19th overall.
Grade: A+
Jalen Johnson:
A bit of an interesting pick here but worth the risk at 20th overall. Johnson was getting lottery buzz early in the process due to his intriguing playmaking skills and defensive upside. However, after a mysterious departure from Duke midseason, he sees himself fall to the Hawks late in the first. He fits around Trae Young and has a real chance to flourish in a secondary creator role with the Hawks. Solid upside pick from Atlanta.
Grade: A-
Keon Johnson:
Clippers traded up from 25 to get Johnson, the explosive guard out of Tennessee. With a 48 inch vertical, Johnson’s athleticism is undeniable. His primary offensive contributions come from cuts and finishing strong at the basket. He is a stellar point-of-attack defender and moves well on the perimeter. While the jump shot is a work in progress, the Clippers took a worthwhile gamble on him at 21.
Grade: B+
Isaiah Jackson:
This pick was moved as a part of the Russell Westbrook trade and ultimately ended up with the Pacers once the dust settled. Jackson is intriguing as a player. His ridiculous athleticism and high energy on both ends of the court give him the potential to be a rim-running big at the next level. However, the Pacers frontcourt is already crowded with Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and last year’s first-round selection, Goga Bitadze. This pick doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Pacers, given their current roster makeup.
Grade: C+
Usman Garuba:
With the Rockets’ third selection of the first round, Houston added Real Madrid forward Garuba. With over 80 games of Euroleague and La Liga experience, Garuba is one of the most pro-ready prospects at age 19. While he played primarily center during his time with Madrid, his size projects him more as a wing in the NBA. He plays smart on the defensive end and is developing as a floor spacer offensively. The Rockets got superb value getting him at 23.
Grade: A
Josh Christopher:
After adding Jalen Green at second overall, the team adds a similar explosive scorer in Christopher at 24. Christopher has a versatile offensive skill set and can score with proficiency at all three levels. He will need to use that athleticism to become a more consistent defender and be more disciplined with his shot selection if he is to succeed in the NBA, however. An interesting pick given where most analysts projected Christopher, but certainly not an outrageous selection.
Grade: B-
Quentin Grimes:
The Knicks finally stood in and made their pick, selecting Grimes out of Houston. Grimes is a great two-way guard, showing his shot-creation and strong on-ball defense during a Final Four run with the Cougars last season. Tom Thibodeau loves hard-nosed defenders who can shoot, and Grimes is just that. Just a tad high given his projection, but nothing to lose sleep over for Knick fans.
Grade: B+
Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland:
Along with getting the best-named prospect of the draft, the Nuggets snagged a great role player with their first-round choice. Hyland is a fantastic shot-creator, using his athleticism and contact balance to make tough shots off the dribble and in the pick and roll. After losing Malik Beasley to the Timberwolves in free agency a few years back, the Nuggets have been in desperate need of some pure scoring off the bench. Hyland is mostly a one-way player at this point, but his scoring potential fits well in Denver.
Grade: A-
Cam Thomas:
The Nets make it two offensively versatile players in a row, snagging Thomas at 27. Thomas was one of the best scoring guards in the country last year, scoring at will even when teams would key in on him as LSU’s only threat. He can make shots from way beyond the arc and has fantastic body control when scoring inside. His defense leaves a lot to be desired, but it is fair value for the Nets late in the first round. After dealing Caris LeVert to Indiana in the James Harden deal, Thomas assumed LeVert’s role as the second unit scorer for Brooklyn.
Grade: B+
Jaden Springer:
Fantastic piece of business by the Sixers. Springer was a consensus top-15 prospect on most analysts’ boards and Philly was able to grab him at the 28 spot. Like his former teammate Keon Johnson, Springer is a fantastic athlete that plays above the rim offensively. His lateral movement defensively is lightning quick, making him a plus defender from Day 1. His offensive skill set still needs some serious refinement, but his upside was well-worth the risk for Philly this late in the first round.
Grade: A+
Day’Ron Sharpe:
Nets finish the first round strong with the former UNC big man Sharpe. A traditional back-to-the-basket player, Sharpe fits the Nets mold for a center. He works hard on the offensive glass and has demonstrated very controlled and impressive passing ability out of the post during his lone season with the Tar Heels. It is unclear if he will get any run this season with Nic Claxton and Blake Griffin ahead of him on the depth chart, but an intriguing player to watch going forward.
Grade: B+
Santi Aldama:
An absolute shocker to end the first round, the Grizzlies traded up (yes, traded up) to select Aldama, the forward from Loyola (MD). Aldama was a dominant force, scoring at will and demonstrating a varied offensive skillset. The only issue was that Aldamas’ competition was the Patriot League, which is more comparable to a local YMCA league than it is to the NBA. Aldama has the tools, but with no experience against NBA caliber players plus an absolute reach at 30th overall, this was a rare atrocious pick from Memphis.
Grade: D
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