Apr 17, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Milwauee Bucks guard Monta Ellis (11) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jeremy Lamb (11) during the first half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

When looking back and evaluating the James Harden trade, one of the disappointing things is that we haven’t seen yet what Jeremy Lamb can do on the NBA court.

Lamb killed it in the D-League this season but got very few opportunities with the Thunder.

One of the reasons the Harden trade made at least a little bit of sense at the time was that Lamb, who was the 12th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, looked like he could possibly emerge into a star one day.

Obviously, it’s early but it’s still worrisome that Lamb didn’t get a chance at all in his rookie season.

There has been some talk that Lamb wasn’t able to give the same intensity during practices that has become commonplace with the Thunder organization. We also know that Scott Brooks will not play you if you are unproven on the defensive end and not totally committed to contribute on that end of the floor.

Will the Thunder think about trading Lamb on the day of the NBA Draft before even giving him a shot in the NBA?

We have to think this is a possibility. The Thunder will have the 12th overall pick in the upcoming draft. I’ve been saying all along that if they see someone they like in the draft, they have the tools to move up and go after him. One of the tools is Lamb and the idea of trading him.

A player like Victor Oladipo is an intriguing one. He looks like a player who can come in and play right away. We know he is an elite athlete that should be able to become a very solid defender quickly in the NBA, meaning he could see more early playing time than most of the recent Thunder rookies.

Right now, there are some mocks out there that have Oladipo going around pick number five which would be tough for the Thunder to move up that high. But if Oladipo is still around a few picks later, don’t be surprised if the Thunder think about moving up to get him.

We saw how much Reggie Jackson improved from his rookie season and how he broke out in the playoffs this year. Should we expect Lamb to make the same jump?

Lamb isn’t Jackson and it’s still pretty unknown if he has shown the same signs Jackson did this season with the Thunder.

If he hasn’t, then don’t be surprised if the Thunder decide to cut ties with Lamb on the day of the draft.

We should start to hear a little bit more about who the Thunder are interested in drafting in the coming weeks. That will tell us a lot more about the potential trading of Lamb.

Mar 20, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) and Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. Memphis Grizzlies defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime with a score of 90-89. Mandatory Credit: Spruce DerdenUSA TODAY Sports

The word “panic” and the regular season don’t go well together in Oklahoma City. In the NBA, teams can get the 8^th seed for the playoffs; get hot during the playoffs, and the next thing you know, they are receiving their ring. Especially for the Thunder, this team will only be judged on what they do in the postseason.

However, lets panic and worry a little bit, because hey, there’s something to panic about. It seems as if this Oklahoma City team has no identity after all. Back to back losses, at home against a hot Nuggets team, and in Memphis. Neither of those teams are contenders in the first place. So, why? What’s going on? Is it time to panic?

             1.       Derek Fisher taking up quality minutes

Scott Brooks always talking about having a veteran in locker room with pure experience and leadership. But, does that untimely mean he has to get big time minutes? Think about this for a second: If Oklahoma City’s “identity” is to run and get out in transition, why have Fisher in the minutes? He is clearly being overmatched night in and night out. Plus, I would definitely rather  have Brewer, Lamb, or Liggins on the floor.

        2.  Poor Shooting

The Thunder is 11 for 64 from beyond the arc in their last few games. Specifically, they shot an atrocious 5-21 against Dallas, 4 of 25 in a loss to Denver, and 2 for 18 in a loss to Memphis last night.

        3.  Inconsistency

One possession you can say to yourself, “This team is unstoppable, and unguardable ” and then the next possession Westbrook will drive and take a low percentage shot or it will just become isolation basketball. That can’t happen.

Lets see what others are saying:

Matt Moore of CBSSports.com on Oklahoma City’s lost to Memphis and recent woes: “Like I said, they almost did enough to win this game. But it’s not enough, and that’s now losses to Denver and Memphis inside of a week. They need better late-game execution and better consistency in their sets. They have some things to work on.”

Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman: “This could totally be a reactionary question. I’m willing to admit that. But what is the Thunder’s identity? Does this team have one? We know it has two all-league players in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and wins a lot of games. But what exactly is this team’s hallmark beyond that? Defense? We’ve seen enough this season to know that’s closer to a dream than a reality. Offense? Then why such struggles when it matters most? Teamwork? That’s laughable. Inside? Outside? What is it? I can’t really tell you at the moment. But, hey, all these regular season wins sure look nice.”

Aren’t the Thunder lucky they play a poor Magic team on Friday? Phew.

Oklahoma City Thunder rookies Perry Jones, III and Jeremy Lamb have not played much this year in the NBA.

Thunder head coach Scott Brooks has stuck with his veterans and essentially the players that were a big part last year of the Thunder’s NBA Finals run.

Last night, both Jones and Lamb looked good, on different teams however.

Jones played with the Thunder last night and got a lot of burn thanks to Hasheem Thabeet’s sore lower back. Jones made his first four shots and finished with eight points and five rebounds in the game.

Jones was moving well within the offense and his teammates found him twice inside with nice passes that resulted in highly athletic flushes by PJ3.

Lamb was sent down earlier in the week to the Thunder’s D-League affiliate Tulsa 66ers and had another great game for them last night.

In their 110-95 win over the Idaho Stampede, Lamb scored 29 points in just under 27 minutes of action on 13-for-15 shooting from the field and 3-for-4 shooting from behind the three-point line.

It just looks so easy for Lamb when he’s out there which can be a good thing and a bad thing. When his jump shot is on fire like it was last night, it’s a very good thing.

The potential shown by Jones and Lamb last night and other instances this season has to have Thunder fans excited about the future of this team (as if they weren’t already).

Jones is such a great athlete that should perfectly fit in with the style the Thunder are looking to embody down the road. Lamb is the same way and would definitely be playing the NBA a lot more this season if he was on any other team.

Jeremy Lamb has been doing work in the D-League all season long. The highlights here are from the Tulsa 66ers game last Friday night vs. the Reno Bighorns in which they won 92-88 thanks to some late-game heroics from Lamb.

Lamb finished with 23 points, six rebounds and three assists in the game and hit two big-time three-pointers late to help lift the 66ers to victory.

Watching these highlights, you can see the kind of talent that Lamb has and it’s a little disappointing that he hasn’t gotten a shot with the Oklahoma City Thunder this season.

Lamb is very talented offensively. He has a midrange game, can easily shoot it from deep and has the length and athleticism to finish around the rim.

What’s held him back from getting playing time for the Thunder this season has been the depth of the Thunder and defense. Head coach Scott Brooks demands a lot defensively from his players and if you aren’t ready to commit on the defensive end and you are young, you’re not going to get a lot of run.

The cool thing about the Thunder’s D-League affiliate is that they run the same offense that OKC does. You can tell just from these highlights that Lamb is scoring on plays we are used to seeing Kevin Durant score from.

So when the time does come for Lamb, or anyone else, to be called upon by the Thunder, they are more than ready to step in and start running the offense.

The Thunder will have a big decision to make after this season whether or not they will try and re-sign Kevin Martin. With Lamb waiting in the wings, it might make it easier to let Martin walk.

June 4, 2012; Westwego, LA, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Jeremy Lamb talks with the media following a pre-draft workout with the New Orleans Hornets at the Alario Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie guard Jeremy Lamb was set to play in the 2013 NBA D-League All-Star Game but now that won’t happen.

Lamb was recalled by the Thunder and is therefore ineligible for the game now because you have to be an active member on a D-League roster to participate in the game.

Lamb has been playing a lot for the Thunder D-League affiliate Tulsa 66ers this season. Lamb is averaging 21.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game for the 66ers in 14 games this year.

Lamb has only played in 16 games for the Thunder this season. He’s averaging 4.0 minutes and 1.7 points per in those games.

With the trade deadline coming up next Thursday and Lamb, the No. 12 overall pick from the 2013 NBA Draft, having played so little for the Thunder, there has been some thought that he might be dealt if the Thunder choose to make a move.

Lamb would have been the only Thunder player in this All-Star Game. Daniel Orton, DeAndre Liggins and Reggie Jackson have all spent some time playing with the 66ers this season.

The 6th annual D-League All-Star Game will tip-off at 3 p.m. EST time today and air nationally on NBATV.

July 18, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jeremy Lamb (1) handles the ball during the first half of the game against the Chicago Bulls at Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

One of the valuable pieces the Oklahoma City Thunder received from the Houston Rockets in the James Harden trade was the No. 12 overall pick from the 2012 NBA Draft, Jeremy Lamb.

Lamb has not gotten a chance with the Thunder this season yet playing just 64 minutes for them while spending most of his time with their D-League affiliate Tulsa 66ers.

Are the Thunder planning to trade Lamb?

The question is whether that will happen with the Thunder, which may be better off resigning the efficient Martin after the season and using Lamb in a deal for a center. Phoenix could be a good trade partner, since it has the prized big man to offer — Marcin Gortat — and a big need at the shooting guard position.

Via Joe Kaiser/ESPN (Insider)

It will be hard for the Thunder to tell this early if they are going to be able to sign Martin after the season. He is in the last year of his contract making $12 million this season and would have to take a significant pay-cut to stay in OKC.

If the Thunder decide that they cannot keep Martin then Lamb becomes a nice backup plan. Lamb is showing that he can score in his time in the D-League and he could blossom into a more versatile version of Martin in a few years.

The Thunder are in the business of winning now. Waiting on Lamb to develop over sticking with the proven Martin could cost them a chance at winning a title.

If the Thunder were to trade Lamb Phoenix’s way for Gortat, they would be taking on some money. Gortat is due $15 million this year and the next. The Thunder would basically have to choose between Martin, Gortat and Kendrick Perkins.

Many people will scream to let Perkins go and whether or not that would be the right move, it just doesn’t seem like the Thunder would. They value Perkins so much with what he brings them on the defensive end.

One of the reasons the Thunder made the James Harden trade was to become more flexible with their roster forming for the future. It wasn’t to acquire Lamb and right now Lamb resembles a trade chip than anything else.

The trade deadline is Feb. 21, expect Lamb’s name to come up a few more times.

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie guard Jeremy Lamb has been spending most of his time this season in the NBA D-League playing for the Tulsa 66ers.

Lamb has played in 14 games for the 66ers this season and is averaging 21.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

Lamb’s play has earned him a spot in the D-League All-Star Game. Lamb was among 20 players selected by the 16 head coaches in the league.

Lamb has only appeared in 16 games for the Thunder so far this season. He’s scored 27 total points in 64 minutes. He has made 6-of-14 threes in those games.

The Thunder continue to shuffle players back-and-forth between the 66ers and OKC to try and keep the players fresh and ready to contribute at any time. We have already seen this be a success with DeAndre Liggins stepping into the rotation recently and playing very well.

The D-League All-Star Game will be Feb. 16 at the NBA All-Star Jam Session in Houston and will air on NBATV at 2 p.m. EST.

Here are the full rosters for the game via RealGM:

Future All-Star roster are Micah Downs, Courtney Fortson, Ron Howard, Jerome Jordan, Jeremy Lamb, Marcus Landry, Shelvin Mack, Arinze Onuaku, DaJuan Summers and Chris Wright.

Prospects All-Star roster are Andrew Goudelock, Damion James, Terrence Jones, Cory Joseph, D.J. Kennedy, James Mays, Jerel McNeal, Demetric Nichols, Tim Ohlbrecht and Henry Sims.

Jeremy Lamb has been killing it for the Oklahoma City Thunder D-League affiliate Tulsa 66ers. Lamb is averaging 21.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game which has earned him a spot on the First Team of the All-NBA D-League Showcase.

Lamb was selected 12th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets and acquired by the Thunder as part of the James Harden trade before the start of this season.

Usually, a player selected that high in the NBA Draft gets a chance to prove himself in the NBA as a rookie. Lamb hasn’t really gotten that chance yet as Thunder head coach Scott Brooks has gone with his veteran rotation for most of the season.

Lamb can obviously fill it up which he is proving in the D-League. He is great at coming off down screens, can knock down shots from three or midrange and drive to the rim finishing athletically or with his floater.

It feels like only a matter of time before Lamb gets a shot with the Thunder. We’ve already seen this season Brooks give young players like Reggie Jackson and DeAndre Liggins a chance to prove themselves.

The Thunder could really use an unconscious scorer like Lamb coming off their bench, which has struggled at times this season finding ways to score. Lamb appears to already have the confidence to do so and probably just needs to improve a little defensively before getting an opportunity.

Lamb will likely continue to play a lot in the D-League this season barring some kind of injury or trade made by the Thunder.

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder have settled on a 9-man rotation this season. Everyone else will be spending at least sometime in the D-League this season with the Thunder affiliate Tulsa 66ers.

The Thunder announced yesterday that they would be assigning Jeremy Lamb, Daniel Orton and now Reggie Jackson to the 66ers.

Lamb and Orton have already had short stints in Tulsa this season and it appears they will be bouncing back and forth for the time being.

This is the first occasion Jackson has been sent down and it is a little surprising. Before the start of the season head coach Scott Brooks said the backup point guard job was up for grabs between Jackson and Eric Maynor. Everyone was so impressed by Jackson too but now 20 games into the season he’s only played in half the games with just about all the minutes coming in garbage time.

Clearly, the Thunder just want to get these guys on the court for some actual game time instead of having them ride the end of the bench. And it seems that barring an injury, none of these guys will really get a shot to come in and shine this season.

Jackson was sent down to the D-League just once last season and for only one game where he dropped 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

Lamb played three games for the 66ers last week and averaged 26.0 points per game. Orton started in five for the 66ers averaging over 10 per game.

Rookie Perry Jones III was not sent down this time because he suffered an ankle injury a few nights ago with Tulsa.

The Thunder will play the Indiana Pacers tonight at home and will have only 10 players ready to play in the game.

Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

It was a short stint in the D-League and the Oklahoma City Thunder have already recalled Jeremy Lamb, Perry Jones III and Daniel Orton back up from the Tulsa 66ers.

This looks like something that will be happening a lot for these Thunder players, getting sent down from time to time for short periods.

Lamb was the most impressive playing in three games and averaging 26.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He clearly has talent and it’s easy to forget he was a lottery pick because the Thunder didn’t draft him.

Lamb seems the most likely to find a place in the Thunder rotation this season especially if he’s capable of putting up these kinds of numbers in the D-League. The Thunder could use another backup wing instead of playing Sefolosha so many minutes, especially one who can score.

Jones III played in two games and averaged 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He’s been pretty passive so far this season and the hype around him possibly getting big minutes as a rookie now looks pretty silly.

Orton started in five games for the 66ers averaging 10.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. You can always use big man depth and if the Thunder ever are in need, Orton looks like he could be a solid option. But with Hasheem Thabeet playing so well, it’s unlikely Orton will get much of a chance this season barring an injury.

Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

The Oklahoma City Thunder are sending rookie shooting guard Jeremy Lamb to their D-League affiliate Tulsa 66ers.

Lamb has played in eight games this season averaging 2.1 points and 4.3 minutes per game.

Lamb was selected 12th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets and came to the Thunder via the James Harden trade.

Lamb was seen as a lottery-level talent after his freshman season at the University of Connecticut and then fell off a little due to a deep draft class.

Lamb hasn’t gotten much of an opportunity to prove his worth for the Thunder this season. He wasn’t around for training camp which may be part of the reason he isn’t getting any run.

Lamb is a very talented player with the potential to be a very good scorer in this league. He strokes it with ease from distance and has a variety of finishing moves he uses to score when driving to the hoops.

The Thunder have a deep roster and head coach Scott Brooks has elected to give Thabo Sefolosha more minutes this season rather than giving a player like Lamb playing time.

Lamb will join Daniel Orton and DeAndre Liggins in Tulsa with the 66ers, both of whom were sent down earlier in the week.

Peter G. Aiken US PRESSWIRE

The Oklahoma City Thunder have started the year well winning 10 of their first 14 games which puts them first in their division and third in the Western Conference.

The Thunder have a new look this season since trading away James Harden and they are learning to play together on the fly, especially in the case of new sixth man Kevin Martin. We are seeing some different lineups than we expected and some rotation changes from head coach Scott Brooks as well.

Noticeable absences to the Thunder rotation so far this season are rookies Perry Jones III and Jeremy Lamb. Jones and Lamb have each appeared in only six games this season with their minutes mostly made up of garbage time.

The Thunder selected Jones 28th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft and received Lamb in the trade with Houston. Lamb was picked 12th overall in the Draft.

Despite both rookies being extremely talented and good things being said about each all the time, Brooks has elected not to insert them into the rotation so far this season. Instead we are seeing more minutes from Kevin Durant and Thabo Sefolosha. Durant is averaging 40.0 minutes per game and Sefolosha is at 27.8.

With the Thunder second unit struggling as of late, one wonders if Brooks will give the rookies a shot sometime soon. Or will it take an injury before we see either of these guys getting significant minutes?

The situation in OKC is that they are a well-established team with experienced players getting all of the minutes right now. It’s not exactly a situation where you need to play your rookies. At least, that’s not what it seems like.

The Thunder have some issues right now though and Jones or Lamb definitely seem like two players that could help out instead of just wasting away on the bench.

What we’ve seen so far from Jones isn’t much. He was great in the preseason but in the regular season hasn’t been playing with the same kind of confidence and has been very passive overall.

Lamb hasn’t really gotten any minutes but when he’s been out there, he’s always looking to shoot and appears extremely confident.

Jones and Lamb are both great athletes who have the potential to play good individual defense pretty much right away. They may take some time to become better help defenders but you would think they need a little bit more of a chance to crack the rotation so far this season.

Their potential as scorers is higher than Sefolosha or Hasheem Thabeet too. With Eric Maynor also struggling on the second unit, someone like Lamb might be due for a shot to come in and get some shots up and see what happens. Jones developed great chemistry with Maynor in the preseason in the pick-and-roll and if used like that now could also break out and start helping the Thunder score more.

They need to be given more of a shot this season. It’s still very early but Brooks has already been going with a shorter rotation of just nine players. You don’t want to have to do that all season and keep playing Durant so many minutes.

The rookies can help with this if given some more playing time. A perfect chance for this will be the Thunder’s next game Monday night at home vs. the Charlotte Bobcats.

Here are draft grades for every team:

New Orleans Hornets
No. 1 overall – Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
No. 10 overall – Austin Rivers, G, Duke
No. 46 overall – Darius Miller, G/F, Kentucky

The Hornets really couldn’t go wrong possessing the first overall pick in the draft and chance to take Anthony Davis. Davis has a chance to be a franchise changer and playing alongside Eric Gordon in New Orleans is a good start. The Hornets took Rivers 10th overall which is what they wanted to do. The Hornets believe Rivers can play some point for them although he is a scoring guard at heart. Gordon is a good playmaker himself though so the two may be able to share ball handling duties a la Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. The Darius Miller pick is nice too. He is an athlete that could make it in the NBA and was a teammate of Davis’ at Kentucky.

Grade: A+

Oklahoma City Thunder
No. 28 overall – Perry Jones, III, F, Baylor

To win a championship, sometimes it takes a little luck. The Thunder got the steal of the 2012 NBA Draft with the No. 28 pick. Perry Jones III we knew was going to fall because of concerns mainly surrounding his knee but sliding this far to a franchise that is perfect for him just seems unfair to the rest of the league. It was a Spurs-like snag for OKC and they know it already. Jones III has lottery talent and top-5 pick potential. One knock on him is that he never really stepped up and dominated and was more of a supporting role type of mindset and player. Well, come on down to OKC that sounds just fine!

Grade: A+

Charlotte Bobcats
No. 2 overall – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
No. 31 overall – Jeffrey Taylor, G/F, Vanderbilt

The Bobcats were supposed to either trade the No. 2 pick or take Thomas Robinson if they couldn’t. Instead, they shocked everyone selecting Michael Kidd-Gilchrist second overall. MKG is a player that will shine no matter where he plays, even in Charlotte. He has the potential to be the second best player in this draft class and it was a wise choice to make here by Michael Jordan. Jeffrey Taylor is a good pick too in the second round. Taylor was projected to go a little earlier in the draft and is a nice value find at 31.

Grade: A

Washington Wizards
No. 3 overall – Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
No. 32 overall – Tomas Satoransky, G, Czech Republic

The Wizards got the man they wanted at No. 3 but had to hold their breath and pray before doing so. As the Bobcats were shopping the No. 2 pick, any team that may have gotten it was probably going to take Bradley Beal second overall. The Wizards desperately wanted an elite shooter and wing to place alongside John Wall and they believe Beal is that guy. Beal measured just under 6-foot-5 so he’s not huge but he is physical and can do a lot of things on a basketball court. Tomas Satoranksy in the second round apparently is friends with Jan Vesely which makes that pick awesome too.

Grade: A

Sacramento Kings
No. 5 overall – Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

It was impossible not to fall in love with Thomas Robinson watching him break down after being selected fifth overall by the Kings. He won over a lot of fans with that reaction. Robinson is touted as one of the surest things at the top of this draft. The Kings wanted him bad too at No. 5, more than anybody else. Sacramento was going to pull off a trade with this pick with Houston if Robinson was off the board but obviously that didn’t happen. Robinson and DeMarcus Cousins are going to be able to get a lot of rebounds playing together.

Grade: A

Detroit Pistons
No. 9 overall – Andre Drummond, PF/C, Connecticut
No. 39 overall – Khris Middleton, SF, Texas A&M

The Pistons are extremely happy that Andre Drummond fell to them. Before the draft, they were hoping for this but planning to settle on John Henson. Drummond has as much upside as anyone in this draft. There are questions surrounding him but he is very young. It was the right pick here for Detroit without question. Khris Middleton isn’t someone that jumps out as a great pick here but at No. 39, there’s not a lot to expect.

Grade: A

Milwaukee Bucks
No. 14 overall – John Henson, PF, North Carolina
No. 42 overall – Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

The Bucks were pretty happy to see John Henson at No. 14 especially after trading down from 12 with Houston. Henson is the kind of guy Milwaukee wanted and someone who will block a lot of shots and grab some rebounds but really needs to put on some weight first. Doron Lamb is another player they were happy to see at No. 42. He could have gone in the first round and is an irrational confidence guy who can shoot and play some D too.

Grade: B+

Cleveland Cavaliers
No. 4 overall – Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
No. 17 overall – Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

It wasn’t a huge shocker that Cleveland took Dion Waiters No. 4. They were planning on possibly doing so and after being unable to trade up to No. 2 and take Beal, Waiters was the next guy on their list, probably just ahead of Harrison Barnes. It wasn’t an overly popular pick but Waiters has an NBA-ready body and next to Kyrie Irving should do well. With Tyler Zeller sliding in the draft, the Cavaliers pulled the trigger on a trade with Dallas to get to No. 17 and take the North Carolina center. They gave up three picks for Zeller so they must really like him. Now with a core of Irving, Waiters, Thompson and Zeller, Cleveland’s future looks kind of alright.

Grade: B

Portland Trailblazers
No. 6 overall – Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
No. 11 overall – Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
No. 40 overall – Will Barton, SG, Memphis

Before the Draft, Portland was intent on keeping their 6th and 11th picks and they also loved Damian Lillard. Six may sound high for Lillard but Portland did something smart: picking their favorite guy and not caring where they did it. They then filled a need at 11 with Meyers Leonard, the center from Illinois. Portland was projected in some mocks to take Andre Drummond and either Austin Rivers or Jeremy Lamb. That sounds a little better than what they ended up with. They get Will Barton at No. 40 which is another solid value pick as he was projected late-first by many.

Grade: B

Golden State Warriors
No. 7 overall – Harrison Barnes, G/F, North Carolina
No. 30 overall – Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt
No. 35 overall – Draymond Green, F, Michigan State
No. 52 overall – Ognjen Kuzmic, C, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Despite his overall disappointing feeling, many still feel Harrison Barnes can be an All-Star in the NBA. Getting him at No. 7 was a pretty solid pick for the Warriors, who are starting new next year post-Monta Ellis and with Andrew Bogut. Festus Ezeli with the last pick of the first round is understandable too and he is a high-character guy who will work hard for them. Draymond Green is another good pick to get in the second round. The Warriors didn’t have a flashy draft but they made some value picks and that’s always a good strategy.

Grade: B

Houston Rockets
No. 12 overall – Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut
No. 16 overall – Royce White, F, Iowa State
No. 18 overall – Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky

The Rockets were stockpiling draft picks with one thing on their mind: Dwight Howard. That hasn’t happened yet and now feels like it won’t. They were hoping to move up to No. 5 to take Andre Drummond but since Thomas Robinson fell to the Kings there, they weren’t trading that pick. The Rockets will settle for three pretty solid players starting with Jeremy Lamb at No. 12 who has a lot of pro potential as a scorer. When they took Royce White at No. 16, you knew they weren’t trading their picks anymore. White has gotten a lot of buzz this draft as a more athletic Boris Diaw who plays a little like Charles Barkley too. Terrence Jones two picks later is another talented forward that can do a variety of things. You always feel players Daryl Morey drafts are guys who can find a spot in the NBA. The Rockets just had bigger sights for this draft than this.

Grade: B

Phoenix Suns
No. 13 overall – Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

It’s just about official now that Steve Nash is on his way out in Phoenix. Kendall Marshall is their point guard of the future. Marshall was one of the best assists men in college the past two seasons and has drawn comparisons to Mark Jackson and Andre Miller so yeah, he’s not quick. He’s fun to play with and will make the players around him better. They like that in Phoenix.

Grade: B

Chicago Bulls
No. 29 overall – Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

The Bulls were either going backup point here or combo-guard shooter. Marquis Teague is a talented player with this pick and someone who may be able to play alongside Derrick Rose some. It’s nothing special for the Bulls but a good pick nonetheless. Bulls fans were dying for Perry Jones III to slip one more pick into their laps.

Grade: B

Toronto Raptors
No. 8 overall – Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
No. 37 overall – Quincy Acy, PF, Baylor
No. 56 overall – Tomislav Zubcic, PF, Croatia

The Raptors would have loved to see Harrison Barnes fall one more pick into their laps. They would have loved even more to move up and snag Dion Waiters. They settle for Terrence Ross who can do things that will make him have a solid NBA career: shoot threes and defend. Quincy Acy in Round 2 could be a Reggie Evans type which is something this franchise has experience with. Tomislav Zubcic will not come over right away. If Toronto gets Steve Nash, a lot of their problems will appear solved.

Grade: C+

Orlando Magic
No. 19 overall – Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
No. 49 overall – Kyle O’Quinn, C, Norfolk State

The Magic are in a weird situation and have been ever since Dwight Howard started pouting. Howard ran their head coach and GM out of town and still wants out himself. He hasn’t gotten it yet but it’s really only a matter of time. Orlando’s picks of Andrew Nicholson and Kyle O’Quinn may have been logical, but they won’t make their fans feel better yet

Grade: C+

Boston Celtics
No. 21 overall – Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
No. 22 overall – Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
No. 51 overall – Kris Joseph, SF, Syracuse

We knew Jared Sullinger would drop, we just didn’t know how far. The Celtics are in a rebuilding stage now and looking to bulk up their front court with Sullinger and Fab Melo. The Celtics were hoping for Royce White here or to trade up and take Doc Rivers’ son Austin Rivers in the lottery. The best case scenario for Kris Joseph (taken No. 51 overall) is Gary Forbes, according to DraftExpress.

Grade: C+

Philadelphia 76ers
No. 15 overall – Maurice Harkless, SF, St. John’s
No. 27 overall – Arnett Moultrie, PF/C, Mississippi State

Philadelphia fans are not happy with the decision to take Maurice “don’t call me Moe” Harkless 15th overall. When you draft a guy who plays the same position as your best player at No. 15, it never feels like it makes sense. Harkless came out after just one year at St. John’s and is said to have some pro potential but he’s nothing special. The 76ers traded up with Miami to get Arnett Moultrie at No. 27. It’s just another lateral move here for Philly. Their fans want more than that.

Grade: C

Denver Nuggets
No. 20 overall – Evan Fournier, SG, France
No. 38 overall – Quincy Miller, G/F, Baylor
No. 50 overall – Izzet Turkyilmaz, PF, Turkey

The Nuggets surprisingly went with Evan Fournier at No. 20 despite some talent sitting on the board. Fournier will not come over to the NBA next season but was the highest rated international prospect of the draft. The Nuggets clearly weren’t looking to try and strike gold with late first round picks this year. They’ve already accomplished that with Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried. Their pick at No. 38 felt a little better. Some fans wanted Quincy Miller with the 20th pick so getting him this late is a win in that sense. Miller is young with a ton of potential but has the usual question marks. Denver went with another international product late in the second round that we won’t see in the NBA right away.

Grade: C

Atlanta Hawks
No. 23 overall – John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
No. 43 overall – Mike Scott, F, Virginia

Nothing special here for Atlanta. John Jenkins could be decent but he won’t turn any heads. He can really shoot it though and might get some run for the Hawks where Josh Smith is on the way out. It would have been great if Atlanta had decided to draft Marquis Teague here and run an all-Teague backcourt with his brother Jeff. Love the Mike Scott pick.

Grade: C

Dallas Mavericks
No. 24 overall – Jared Cunningham, G, Oregon State
No. 33 overall – Bernard James, C, Florida State
No. 34 overall – Jae Crowder, F, Marquette

It doesn’t seem like Dallas was trying to do a ton in this draft. They dealt their 17th overall pick to Cleveland probably because there was no one they were in love with. They got three picks back for it and didn’t do anything crazy with them. One of the cooler moments in the draft though was Bernard James having his name called and walking to the podium. The crowd started chanting “U-S-A” because James served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dallas’ main priority this offseason is wooing Deron Williams and/or Dwight Howard.

Grade: C

Memphis Grizzlies
No. 25 overall – Tony Wroten, Jr., PG, Washington

The Grizzlies wanted a point guard and a lot of mocks had them going with Marquis Teague but they choose Tony Wroten, Jr. instead. Jay Bilas calls Wroten, Jr. a taller Rajon Rondo. That means he’s a good passer and can’t shoot a lick. Maybe it’s what Memphis needs and there is some upside there.

Grade: C

Utah Jazz
No. 47 overall – Kevin Murphy, SG, Tennessee Tech

Utah has enough young players from the last few drafts that they didn’t care too much about this year. Kevin Murphy is the only player from this draft to score 50 or more points in game last year in college. Why not?

Grade: C

Miami Heat
No. 45 overall – Justin Hamilton, C, LSU

Miami could have had Perry Jones III at No. 27 and it would have been just as scary as OKC getting him if not more so. They just didn’t want to have to pay a first rounder this year. Their cap space will be tight the next few seasons. They trade down here and get a 7-footer which they need. Something tells me we won’t see a ton of Justin Hamilton playing for the defending champs.

Grade: C

San Antonio Spurs
No. 59 overall – Marcus Denmon, G, Missouri

The Spurs drafted him so he’ll be an All-Star in four years. Marcus Denmon feels a little Patty Mills/James Anderson. The Spurs probably aren’t expecting too much from Denmon though.

Grade: C

New York Knicks
No. 48 overall – Kostas Papanikolaou, F, Greece

Not doing anything here. The home crowd really loved this pick at least.

Grade: C-

Los Angeles Clippers
No. 53 overall – Furkan Aldemir, PF, Turkey

Love this pick. He may never play in the NBA but he is a great rebounder and can only score on putbacks, according to Fran Fraschilla. What’s not to love?

Grade: C-

Los Angeles Lakers
No. 55 overall – Darius Johnson-Odom, SG, Marquette
No. 60 overall – Robert Sacre, C, Gonzaga

Darius Johnson-Odom plays the wrong sport. He’d be an awesome football player and used that to his advantage in college for Marquette. He will look a lot smaller in the NBA. If Robert Sacre is playing for the Lakers next season, it won’t be a good thing.

Grade: C-

Brooklyn Nets
No. 41 overall – Tyshawn Taylor, PG, Kansas
No. 54 overall – Tornike Shengelia, PF, Georgia
No. 57 overall – Ilkan Karaman, PF, Turkey

Brooklyn not trying to go crazy here. They are just praying for Deron Williams and Dwight Howard to hookup in their new city. Tyshawn Taylor might make it as a backup point in this league but nothing more. Tornike Shengelia goes by “Toko” and is a 6-foot-9 scorer who is good at attacking and can score around the rim well but has no jumper. Ilkan Karamen has a ton of tattoos and may “never play in the NBA” according to Fran Fraschilla.

Grade: C-

Minnesota Timberwolves
No. 58 overall – Robbie Hummel, SF, Purdue

Kevin Love, Chase Budinger and now Robbie Hummel. Good luck rest of league.

Grade: C-

Indiana Pacers
No. 26 overall – Miles Plumlee, PF, Duke
No. 36 overall – Orlando Johnson, SG, UCSB

This may have been the worst draft pick ever, worse than Sam Bowie. With names like Perry Jones III, Draymond Green and Festus Ezeli on the board, Indiana elects to take the worst Plumlee brother, Miles. If they weren’t Indiana and known for their white hoopsters, this would be an even worse pick. It’s still so horrible though words can’t describe it. There’s nothing that could make this pick ever make sense. They get Orlando Johnson from UCSB in the second round who was a 20-point scorer last year and might do something for them.

Grade: F