I give it an A. Here's my evaluation of each pick we made.
- Zion Williamson: A++++ Pick. It was the obvious pick, there was no other choice: it was can't miss, just like Duncan was can't miss when he entered the draft. Still, you have to give it the A+ marks despite how obvious it was because it's just so perfect. First pick too the clear best prospect.
- Jaxson Hayes: B+ Pick. I can't give it an A, because Hayes isn't clearly superior to some of the other options who were around at that point. There were a few names who you can argue may have been just as good. But he does get the B+ grade because despite that lack of clear cut superiority, he is an extremely promising young big. Projects incredibly well as a rim protector, as a rim runner, as a switchable defender who can work out to the perimeter, and he shot well enough from the line that, combined with his super fluid movement, I believe he can possibly develop a jumper as time goes on. Even if that doesn't work out, he easily projects as a Clint Capela+ type guy, and a fantastic compliment to Zion.
- Nickiel Alexander-Walker: C Pick. I can't give it a D or an E or anything because it's not a bad pick. He's a fine player. He shot very well from three both years he spent in college, he's a reasonable defender, and while his vision and passing aren't extraordinary, it's all perfectly competent. He's that good, solid, reliable style combo guard that can be so valuable for a lot of teams. That reliability comes with a downside: he's got very little star potential, and that steady, reliable presence is probably all he will be. Again, that's fine and it's not a bad pick, because teams need good solid reliable shooting combo guards who can capably run an offense. But it can't be higher than a C for those reasons.
- Didi, Marcos Louzada Silva: Wingdings Letter Pick. I can't grade it because I know nothing about him. He was apparently a good three point shooter and defender, so that's nice. I trust Trajan Langdon knew what he was doing here.
So, our night was an A. We had the best draft of anyone.
Second place goes to Memphis, for securing Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke, yowzer.