Grading 2020 NBA Draft: OKC Thunder are active and aggressive
The Underachievers:
This group failed to draft to fill a specific need or left a better prospect on the board with their pick and in this narrator’s opinion were the worst performers of the night.
Jazz
- Udoka Azubuike (27th), C, Kansas
- Elijah Hughes (39th), SF, Syracuse
The Azubuike selection is head-scratching. Sure Donovan Mitchell isn’t the biggest guard in the world – – but how the heck do you leave Tyrell Terry or Desmond Bane on the board and pick Azubuike over them?
It’s understandable the Jazz wants to add depth at the center position, but that’s the least expensive rotational position to fill with free agents. Why not pick a prospect with a tangible skill set like shooting or playmaking instead?
Grade: D
Rockets
- Kenyon Martin Jr. (52nd), SF, IMG Academy
Whether Jr. ends up developing into a talent on par with his father’s ability isn’t the point here. Martin Jr. is young, athletic, and clearly comes from great NBA DNA.
The grade for the Rockets is more a testament to the fact former GM Daryl Morey gave away their picks and the new front office crew did nothing to get into the mix via drafts or trades. The impact and negative score fall more on the old regime (Morey) than the new regime (Rafael Stone) but ownership also has to accept part of the responsibility.
Houston is truly ensconced in a dramatic situation with both Russell Westbrook and James Harden wanting out and the franchise wanting to run things back. The problem is the team has few assets to bolster the existing squad and already sent out one of their most marketable players (Robert Covington).