1. Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, center, Arizona
Ayton offers the Suns everything except for a true rim protector. He can be an elite scoring big man in the NBA. He’s a terrific rebounder and is a great athlete and imposing presence. He’s ready to play instantly with high upside. There are other arguments to be made, but Ayton was probably the best argument for the top pick. Grade: A-
2. Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III, forward, Duke
Bagley should be a 20-point, 10-rebound per game guy for a good portion of his career. But the Kings should’ve picked Luka Doncic. Bagley is a good talent — but the Kings already have Harry Giles at the same position. And Doncic is the kind of dynamic perimeter talent that thrives in the NBA. Grade: C+
3. Atlanta Hawks: Luka Doncic, forward, Slovenia
Doncic is going to Dallas in a trade that will send Trae Young to the Hawks. Doncic is the best player in the draft, a 6-foot-8 do-everything type. He can play four positions and will fit in well with Rick Carlisle and the Mavericks. Dallas pulls off the first big win of the draft. Grade: A
4. Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr., forward, Michigan State
Jackson may be the best defensive big man to come into the NBA in a long time. He projects as a rim protector who can also guard on the perimeter. He was a 39 percent 3-point shooter at Michigan State. He’s young and athletic, and has room to add significant strength. Jackson can be tutored by Marc Gasol. Grade: A
5. Dallas Mavericks: Trae Young, guard, Oklahoma
Young will be going to the Atlanta Hawks, which puts incumbent point guard Dennis Schroder on the trade block. It remains to be seen whether Young can win a team a title. But he is a tremendous draw, and the Hawks need all the fan support they can get. He’ll be a good player at the highest level for a long time. Grade: B+
6. Orlando Magic: Mo Bamba, center, Texas
The defense-poor Magic get the best defensive rim protector in the draft. Bamba has the chance to be an elite rim protector, and he has more offensive chops than many give credit for. He, along with Aaron Gordon and Johnathan Isaac, will form a very athletic frontcourt. Grade: A-
7. Chicago Bulls: Wendell Carter, forward, Duke
This is a safe pick for the Bulls, who could’ve swung for the fences with Michael Porter. Carter will be a good player for a long time, but he probably won’t be a star. He also probably won’t be a bust. At this point, that may be what the Bulls need. Grade: B
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Collin Sexton, guard, Alabama
The Cavs, not knowing what LeBron James will do in free agency, need a functional point guard in the worst way, and Sexton may be the best point guard in the draft. He’s a relentless competitor. He’s athletic, can get to the basket at will off the dribble and is dogged defensively. Grade: B+
9. N.Y. Knicks: Kevin Knox, forward, Kentucky
Michael Porter’s medicals must be really bad, because he’s unquestionably the best player on the board. Knox is a good player, athletic with a bunch of upside. Porter, if healthy, has the chance to be an all-star. He must not be healthy. Grade: C+
10. Philadelphia 76ers: Mikal Bridges, forward, Villanova
A tough turn of events for Bridges, who thought he was going to be able to play for his hometown team, only to be traded to Phoenix. Welcome to the business side of the NBA. His fit with the Suns is a good one as a versatile defender who can shoot. He’s the best 3-and-D prospect in the draft. Grade: A-
11. Charlotte Hornets: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, guard, Kentucky
Good point guard with length and versatility. He improved significantly over the course of his freshman season. This pick is going to the Clippers, with Miles Bridges coming back in return. Grade: B
12. L.A. Clippers: Miles Bridges, forward, Michigan State
Good pickup for the Hornets. A good character kid who can shoot, play multiple positions and is athletic. Bridges isn’t going to be a superstar, but he’s the kind of player you win titles with. Good value pick for Charlotte, who swapped picks with the Clippers. Grade: B+
13. L.A. Clippers: Jerome Robinson, guard, Boston College
With Austin Rivers entering a contract season, Robinson can learn for a year and be ready to take off by year two. Robinson can score with the best of then and was one of the highest rising prospects in the draft process. He will help the Clippers off the bench right away. Grade: B
14. Denver Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr., forward, Missouri
It’s seldom a team can get a talent like Porter this deep in the draft, but here we are. Porter has No. 1 pick talent, but fell amid health concerns. He’s a natural roster fit with the Nuggets, who need a small forward in the worst way. And he’s the kind of talent you have to take at No. 14, no matter the risk. Grade: A
15. Washington Wizards: Troy Brown, guard, Oregon
Brown can do a bit of everything, and fits with John Wall and Bradley Beal as a blender. He’s a guy who can play and guard multiple positions. He has tremendous upside as well. Grade: B
16. Phoenix Suns: Zhaire Smith, guard, Texas Tech
This selection will be traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for the rights to Mikal Bridges. Smith becomes a nice athlete who can run alongside Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Bridges is a nice fit in Phoenix as a 3-and-D option who can play multiple positions. Guard: B-
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Donte DiVincenzo, guard, Villanova
Good fit with Milwaukee, which needs a backcourt guy that can create his own offense. DiVincenzo was terrific in the NCAA Tournament title game. He’s a dynamic athlete and a good shooter who can help the Bucks off the bench immediately. Grade: B
18. San Antonio Spurs: Lonnie Walker, guard, Miami
Terrific value pick for the Spurs. Walker has lottery talent, but medicals caused his stock to fall a bit on Thursday. He’s the kind of athlete and player that thrives with the Spurs. Walker is a guy who can be an alpha scorer with some seasoning. Grade: A
19. Atlanta Hawks: Kevin Huerter, guard, Maryland
Huerter is perhaps the best pure shooter in the draft, someone who can make perimeter looks in bunches. He can score off catch-and-shoot and off the dribble. He’s got good size at 6-foot-7 and is fearless on the floor. Grade: B-
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Josh Okogie, guard, Georgia Tech
Okogie is one of the better athletes in the draft, and someone who can defend and get out and run in transition. The Wolves are losing Jamal Crawford and are short on wings who can defend beyond Jimmy Butler. Okogie projects as a natural fit there. Grade: B-
21. Utah Jazz: Grayson Allen, guard, Duke
Allen had a terrific pre-draft process and won his draft workout in Salt Lake City with the Jazz, so this isn’t a surprise. Allen can score in bunches and is a good athlete. He impressed the Jazz throughout the pre-draft process. Grade: B
22. Chicago Bulls: Chandler Hutchison, guard, Boise St.
Very good value. Hutchison is a good scorer with positional versatility. A team that had issues scoring last season, the Bulls need someone who can get a bucket. Hutchison does that. Grade: B+
23. Indiana Pacers: Aaron Holiday, guard, UCLA
Holiday will join fellow UCLA alum Darren Collison with the Pacers. He’s one of the best point guards in the draft and plays bigger than his size. Holiday knows how to be a pro, having two older brothers in the league. Good pick for the Pacers. Grade: B
24. Portland Trail Blazers: Anfernee Simons, guard, IMG Academy
Simons will be good … in time. The Blazers need someone who is good now. Maybe they didn’t think an early contributor was on the board. Simons has upside, but he needs to work hard to realize it. Should be interesting to see how his career goes. Grade: C+
25. L.A. Lakers: Mo Wagner, forward, Michigan
Wagner would’ve been a good pick 10 years ago. In today’s NBA, how is he going to defend? He’s not a rim protector, and he will get chewed up on switches by opposing guards. He is offensively talented, and he can shoot. But someone like Jacob Evans, a tough defending wing, would’ve been a better pick. Grade: C-
26. Philadelphia 76ers: Landry Shamet, guard, Wichita State
He’s an NBA shooter with NBA size for his position. What’s unsure is if Shamet has NBA athleticism or if he can defend NBA guards. With the Sixers having Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz and having traded for Zhaire Smith, not sure another guard is what they needed. Grade: C+
27. Boston Celtics: Robert Williams, center, Texas A&M
Williams was projected for the lottery, but concerns about his motor caused him to drop. He’s an elite athlete and projects as a really good run-and-jump big … but so did Stromile Swift back in the day. Williams has to develop his game and improve his motor. The good news? He’s going to a great organization. Grade: B
28. Golden State Warriors: Jacob Evans, forward, Cincinnati
This is why the Warriors are the Warriors. They draft extremely well, and don’t overthink it. Evans was the best player on the board since No. 24, which means the Blazers, Lakers and Sixers all made a mistake in passing him. Only the Celtics drafting Williams gets a pass. Evans is a terrific player who can shoot and defend and play different spots. Grade: A
29. Brooklyn Nets: Dzanan Musa, forward, Bosnia
Very good offensive player who is confident in his abilities. Has great size for his position at 6-foot-9. He’s a great shooter and very good ballhandler. Is only 19 years old. He has to make a commitment to defend, but is smart value this late in the first round. Grade: B
30. Atlanta Hawks: Omari Spellman, center, Villanova
The Hawks have had a terrific draft. They’ve added a bunch of shooting around John Collins, and Spellman will serve as their stretch big man. Spellman improved a bunch over the past year. He’s someone who can make perimeter shots and block shots a bit as well. Grade: B+
