NBA Draft: Regrading all 30 teams for the 2020 NBA Draft

Regrading all 30 teams for the 2020 NBA Draft: B+ Grades

Charlotte Hornets: B+

LaMelo Ball, 3; Vernon Carey Jr., 32; Nick Richards, 42; Grant Riller, 46

The Charlotte Hornets took the best player in the draft with the third pick, an incredible value even if it ended up a no-brainer for the Hornets with a clear “top 3” heading into the NBA Draft. Would the Hornets have chosen Ball over James Wiseman if they had the second pick? It’s unclear, but they were saved from that choice and made the right one to take Ball.

Unfortunately for the Hornets and their fans, Charlotte appears to have gone 0-for-3 in the second round. Desperate to find a center they took two in Vernon Carey Jr. and Nick Richards, both ground-bound and somewhat relics of an NBA that doesn’t exist anymore; they played Bismack Biyombo in games instead of either player. Grant Riller could still become something, but he played just 27 minutes as a rookie.

Minnesota Timberwolves: B+

Anthony Edwards, 1; Leandro Bolmaro, 23; Jaden McDaniels, 28

With the first overall pick, a few different paths were available to the Minnesota Timberwolves. They could have taken LaMelo Ball with the pick, who is clearly the best player from this draft. They could also have taken James Wiseman, a poor fit with their current star and someone who has an unclear future. Instead, they took the middle ground, taking the wrong player in Anthony Edwards but still getting a top-5 player.

What props up this grade even more is what they did later in the draft. They took draft-and-stash guard Leandro Bolmaro who looks even better now than he did at the draft. Then at 28, they took combo forward Jaden McDaniels, who is still raw but has a high ceiling on both ends of the court and played well as a rookie. If both players pop, which is a distinct possibility, this grade will only go up.