I think our grade is a "B-". It would've been an "A" had we traded down to grab an additional asset and still gotten Jerian Grant.
For the record, I don't mind Porzingis the player but I don't like Porzingis aka the 4th pick in the draft. There is simply too much risk associated with him for me to ever feel comfortable taking him that high, with so many other capable players still on the board WITH upside. And the reality is, Kristaps would've probably slipped had we not taken him at 4, which begs the question WHY NOT TRADE DOWN?!?!?!
Orlando was rumored to have been after Prozingis but their management is an extension of the Spurs/Thunder tree. Those franchises are known to be very secretive about their picks and have a tendency to buck conventional thinkings. Just last year, EVERYONE and their mother thought the Magic would be taking Dante Exum with the 4th pick and instead they went with Aaron Gordon, a reach by everyone's standards. There is, however, a theme that emerges with their picks: they ALL are skilled, gritty defense-first players that are ready to contribute immediately in the league (see Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, etc.). KrisP is skilled but he is none of the other things that one expects of a Magic player. Knowing that, I don't think they pick Porzingis and go with the player they went with on draft night: Mario Hezonja.
The Kings are dumb and dysfunction, so I think they'd still pick Stein aka the best bust candidate of the draft. George Karl is also old school and seems to prefer American players, so I doubt the Kings would add yet another player that Karl can have a beef with.
The Nuggets probably would've taken Kristaps at this point. They play an uptempo system, which is something Kristaps would flourish in. They also have an affinity for European players, so it's difficult for me to see him falling past here (though if he did, man, what a long drop he'd be on because the Pistons, Hornets and Heat definitely wouldn't take him). With all signs pointing to the Nuggets taking him, I'd then try to figure out what it is that they'd want in a trade. And the reality is, that they wanted Mudiay more than anyone not in the top 3. He's a far safer pick, has more star potential and plays a position that is absolutely pivotal to being a good team. They've clearly soured on Lawson, which had only helped to make Mudiay all the more appealing. Because of this, I would've looked to take Mudiay at 4, then traded him, cash and Calderon to the Nuggets for their Afflalo trade exception and the 7th.
