2009 NBA Draft Grades

Atlanta Hawks -- B

Picks: Jeff Teague (Pick 19), Sergiy Gladyr (Pick 49)

Bibby most likely won't be returning to the Hawks next year, so the Hawks loaded up their backcourt with scoring guards. Jeff Teague will be a very good value for where Atlanta drafted him at 19. He'll develop into a better passer, but look for him to create some exciting plays with his quickness alone, especially in his first year as he learns to play Point in the NBA. Sergiy Gladyr was a bit unnecessary, even at 49, seeing how Atlanta doesn't need another undersized Guard. Besides, he won't be playing right away, as he'll spend some time in Europe first.

Boston Celtics -- B-

Picks: Lester Hudson (Pick 58)

The Celtics needed size and Jeff Adrien was still available. Though undersized, Adrien would have been a solid backup if there ever was a time again where they lost so many bigs come playoff time. Regardless, Hudson was a legitimate selection. If he makes the team, he'll be a seasoned rookie with four years of college ball under his belt, where he proved to be a prolific scorer. The only knock I have is that he wasn't facing the best of competition.

Charlotte Bobcats -- A-

Picks: Gerald Henderson (Pick 12), Derrick Brown (Pick 40)

As surprising as it was that Michael Jordan drafted a Duke player, Gerald Henderson will at least be playing professional basketball in the same state he played his last three years of collegiate basketball at. The culture shock can sometimes get to first-year players and Henderson shouldn't have to make any big adjustments on the court or off. This paired with Larry Brown's admiration for the Duke star makes for an excellent first round choice for the the Bobcats. Derrick Brown will give Charlotte another player like Gerald Wallace, who's versatility is unparalleled in the draft. You can always make room for players who can play multiple positions well. Another steal in the second round.

Chicago Bulls -- B+

Picks: James Johnson (Pick 16), Taj Gibson (Pick 26)

I think James Johnson has only one thing to prove in order to be a successful NBA player, his toughness. He's a former martial arts champion, so maybe the sport has taught him to reserve his inner physicality. Nonetheless, Chicago made a good pick here and found a good replacement for Andres Nocioni. Sooner or later, someone will tap into his brute nature. When that happens, Bulls fans will appreciate him that much more. Taj Gibson, on the other hand, complements Chicago's front court very well. He's an aggressive defender who, at 6-10, has the ability to step out all the way to the perimeter to guard smaller players. Wasn't that Chicago's problem in the playoffs against the Celtics? Do Ray Allen and Paul Pierce ring a bell?

Cleveland Cavaliers -- C-

Picks: Christian Eyenga (Pick 30), Danny Green (Pick 46)

Cleveland would have a much higher grade in my book if they had made better use of their 1st Round Pick. There's simply no excuse for picking Christian Eyenga with the 30th pick knowing very well that the team needs to win now. Had the Cavs not redeemed themselves with Danny Green, this would have been a complete and utter failure for the Cleveland selection committee. Green shouldn't have a problem finding a spot on the roster and could even prove to be a valuable role player, much like Luke Walton for the Lakers. As for Eyenga, I'm not quite sure what the Cavs were thinking. If anything, I'd flip the two picks and it'd make more sense.

Dallas Mavericks - C

Picks: Rodrigue Beaubois (Pick 25), Nick Calathes (Pick 45), Ahmad Nivins (Pick 56)

If you didn't know any better, you'd think the Mavs selected all foreign players with their draft picks. However, only one player is actually foreign born, Rodrique Beaubois. Nonetheless, they're all foreign in the sense of relevance to an NBA fan, much less the Mavericks. I'm still not sold on BJ Mullens, but he could have at least given Dallas fans some assurance. Beaubois is a project, so don't expect to hear from him any time soon. Calathes and Nivins were reasonable picks in the second round and could potentially be impact players if they make the cut. That's a pretty big if.

Denver Nuggets - B

Picks: Ty Lawson (Pick 18)

Lawson left one Point Guard-flooded team and joined another. The good news is he will have more opportunity in Denver. The bad news is he left Minnesota where he would have been competing against fellow rookies, Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn. Lawson won't take Billups' job, but he could take Anthony Carter's reserve role away from him. That sure beats being a third option. Hopefully, we'll get to see more of Lawson at the next level. He's far too talanted to simply be ignored.

Detroit Pistons - A-

Golden State Warriors - A

Houston Rockets - A-

Indiana Pacers - A

Los Angeles Clippers - A

Los Angeles Lakers - B

Memphis Grizzlies - A-

Miami Heat - B

Milwaukee Bucks - A

Minnesota Timberwolves - C

New Jersey Nets - B

New Orleans Hornets - C+

New York Knicks - B+

Oklahoma City Thunder - C-

Orlando Magic - N/A

Philadelphia 76ers - A

Phoenix Suns - B+

Portland Trail Blazers - B-

Sacramento Kings - C

San Antonio Spurs - A

Toronto Raptors - B

Utah Jazz - B

Washington Wizards -- B