NBA 2021 'a little too late' Offseason Recap: The Draft

 So this is my 'a little too late' 2021 offseason recap. I had taken a break but I am back!

The 2021 Draft:

Even before the draft, in the morning, a BLOCKBUSTER trade happened. It seemed likely that the Lakers would trade for a shooter like Buddy Hield, but they traded for Russell Westbrook! Now, I am not a fan of this trade, but don't despise it either. This could create spacing issues, but this trade might just work out with their FA additions. Let's see. The trade was:

Russell Westbrook, 2024 second-round pick, 2028 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and pick 22

Now for the draft, the Pistons had the no. 1 overall pick, and made the obvious decision by picking Cade. This gets an A, because they did what they were predicted to, but not necessarily better than that. Next was Jalen Green picked by the Houston Rockets, gets an A+ because of the FANTASTIC performance by Green in the summer league. Up next was Mobley, same grade and story as Cade. But for the first surprise, the Raptors selected Scottie Barnes at No.4 over the expected Suggs. This gets an A, because Barnes has played well in his time of action but doesn't tell about his future. Next, the Orlando Magic took advantage of Suggs fall and took him. I think he is a great player, good leader, defender, just needs to work on his shot. So this gets an A+. The rest of the lottery had some surprises too, with Josh Giddey at 6 and Primo at 12. The Warriors picked Kuminga at 7(A), Magic took Wagner at 8(B+), Kings took Davion at 9(B-, don't like the fit), Ziaire by Memphis at 10(C+), Both are young players who still have a long way to go, though. I believe the Warriors had a great draft picking up a project in Kuminga and a win-now guy in Moody. The Rockets also had a good draft, with Green, Sengun, who was amazing in his summer league actions, a great defender in Garuba, and a former projected lottery pick in Josh Christopher. The 2021-22 Season will tell how the rest pans out.

Late picks that might be steals:

Jalen Johnson, Pick 20:

He was a projected top-5 pick at one point, but did not play well at college, neither were his off-court actions good.. Even though he was projected in most mock drafts to go in the lottery, he went at 20 to the Hawks. In Summer League, he displayed his potential game and played really well.

Sharife Cooper, pick 48 to Hawks:

Another steal for the Hawks. He was projected to go in the 20s as a playmaking point guard, who needed to work on his jumpshot. He slipped to 48, and proved every team wrong by shooting really well in summer league.

Alperen Sengun, pick 16 to Rockets:

This pick isn't that far out of the lottery, but I believe Sengun is a big steal here, because he is a traditional post big man, and has a shooting touch, so he can develop a 3 point shot soon.

I am not going to post anything about the rest though.