Draft: 2023 RD1 Grades

Up to the minute draft grades and analysis! The content team is coming in hot this season—despite not articling anything about our last champion (yet)! [ 2023 Draft Recap ]

RD1.1 CHMK - Jabari Smith, Jr.

After a Toilet Bowl win, it seemed like this would be the best time to do some research on the rookies. Instead, GM Evan looked at the consensus top three prospects and took the 6’10" Rockets forward based on this reasoning: “I don’t know crap about the rookies. I just saw a big who shoots threes, [and] I draft.“That’s an owner who’s overpaying his scouting staff! (Or too cheap to have a scouting staff?)

The good news is that the nineteen-year-old rookie should add some offensive punch to the young CHMK frontcourt that also features defensive aces Bam Adebayo and Robert Williams.

Rumors are that James Harden is now on the move as he is now sorely miscast on a rebuilding team.

Grade: A-, hard to fault any of the top three picks

RD1.2 SPDE - Chet Holmgren

As an organization, Spade has always been unafraid to take injured players. So while it was a bit of a shock to see Holmgren still go number two, it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise.

GM Randall loves to roll the dice on upside and Holmgren has a lot of it. He could break the NBA!—at least until Victor Wembanyama arrives next season. SPDE now has a fully future-forward roster, as Holmgren can grow alongside last year’s rookie, current OKC teammate Josh Giddey.

After finishing with the second worst record in Slam last season, we’re likely looking at another tank year for SPDE. Note: Should a contender go get Kawhi Leonard?!

Grade: A, love the upside reach!

RD1.3 ILCN - Paolo Banchero

The semi-surpris first overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft falls into Frank’s lap, a bit unexpectedly. While Jabari Smith Jr. and Chet Holmgren could both turn out to be exceptional, Banchero will be given the reins in Orlando immediately. This pick has shades of Luka Doncic falling into ILCN’s lap a few years ago.

With a young roster that really blossomed last season—Darius Garland, Jaren Jackson Jr., all put it together—ILCN was already on the verge of contention. Getting an impact rookie like Panchero is going to accelerate their path toward a title even further. Wow!

Grade: A+

RD1.4 TRUO - Keegan Murray

Last year’s second overall pick, Jalen Green, is looking like a future star and TRUO’s keeper core was a churning this offseason as they inserted four new keepers.

Sophomores Green and Scottie Barnes will be a wonderful foundation to build on, while Dillon Brooks and Cole Anthony can provide scoring from the backcourt. Now the 6’8” Murray—who projects as a well-rounded and versatile asset— will join the TRUO youth movement, to be mentored by Jimmy Butler and Julius Randle.

Grade: A, next best rookie and a perfect fit for this team

RD1.5 BUFF - Collin Sexton

The first owner to deviate from taking rookies at the top of the draft, Roger had his sights set on Sexton, whose new role in Utah will be to get plenty of shots up—which he will, with aplomb!

With a roster that is already offense-heavy—Anthony Edwards, Brandon Ingram, Domantas Sabonis, Klay Thompson, Kyle Kuzma—we’re not sure if a different pick would have been more useful here, but Sexton is still quite young and has an outstanding opportunity on his new team. This was definitely “player over fit” pick.

Grade: B, young and productive, even if not the ideal player for this team

RD1.6 FOBS - Jaden Ivey

Tabbed as “the best guard in the draft,” Ivey will slot in on FOBS as Damian Lillard’s understudy perfectly. Both are highly explosive players who play no defense, but it seems like GM Jimmy is encourages that.

Jamal Murray, Keldon Johnson, Saddiq Bey are all score-first players, and it’ll be huge task for Jarrett Allen to give this team some semblance of defense. Still, drafting Ivey was a no-brainer here, as there was even some early talks of him going in the top-three.

Grade: A, easy obvious pick

RD1.7 MELO - Kevin Porter, Jr.

Chances are that the twenty-two year old Porter will outperform almost all of the players drafted above him, and especially the rookies. Despite some sub-par shooting percentages, Porter flashed great upside as a scorer and passer toward the tail end of last season—and is projected to post 16.9 PTS, 6.3 AST, and 4.5 REB. (For reference, Porter Jr. is less than a year older than Keegan Murray.)

MELO needed to add talent to this team—especially after the disastrous De’Aaron Fox for Kemba Walker trade—and it looks like Porter Jr. will be a huge value for them.

Grade: A, great pick!

RD1.8 KSKT - D’Angelo Russell

Ah D’Angelo…nobody wants him, everyone would love the potential of him. At twenty-seven years old and just hitting his prime, it can be safely said that what Russell is now is what you’ll get in the future: terrible FG%, nice points, seven assists, a bunch of 3PT, and one-fourth of the season missed (at least).

For a team that is already fielding injury risks like Zion Williamson, Michael Porter, Jr. and Kristaps Porzingis, what’s one more right?!

Nobody will be counting on Russell to be a fantasy star this season—not behind sophomore Cade Cunningham, shocking projected top-ten fantasy pick Tyrese Haliburton, and Anfernee Simons—so maybe D’Angelo is in the perfect situation as the fourth guard here.

Grade: B, good value, no risk

RD1.9 TRUO - RJ Barrett (via SWMP and then SOUR)

So the final trade for De’Aaron Fox to SOUR ends up looking like this: Fox and Jordan Clarkson to SOUR for Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett for TROU. The jury is out on who got the better end of the deal, but the drafting of the still twenty-two year old Barrett is a nice bit of business for Thien.

With RD1.4 Keegan Murray also on board—Murray and Barrett are actually only one month apart in age—TRUO had a hell of a first round.

Grade: A+, lots of upside here!

RD1.10 FOBS - Jalen Smith (via FUNK)

Adding another “Jalen” to the mix—alongside Suggs—will give FOBS some marketing versatility at least. When Jaden Ivey fell into FOBS’ lap at RD1.4, we said that this team needed some defensive and frontcourt options.

Six picks later, third-year pro Jalen Smith could step right in as the new power forward starter for Indiana, and that could mean both BLK and 3PT from the center position for FOBS.

Note: The final trade for John Collins turned out to be John Collins and 2022 FOBS RD4.13 Monte Morris for FUNK 2022 RD1.12 Buddy Hield, FUNK 2022 RD2.7 Saddiq Bey, and 2023 FUNK 2023 1.10 Jalen Smith.

Grade: B+, with lots of big man options available, we like the combination of youth and upside

RD1.11 SCRM - Jakob Poeltl

ESPN had him listed as its next best player and someone had to take him right? GM Jordan was more than happy to grab the Spur’s double-double machine, who will ably fill the role left vacant by this year’s castaway keepers Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Stewart.

The still young-ish Poeltl isn’t a sexy pick, but he’ll be perfectly cast as the backup big man to defensive stalwarts Anthony Davis and Evan Mobley.

Grade: A, just take the best guy available!

RD1.12 FJUBS - P.J. Washington

Honestly, this was just fate. FJUBS has long favored do-it-all defensive players and here is Washington with his one STL, BLK, and (more than one) 3PT per game.

You can go ahead and buy a home here in Juba-land P.J., you ain’t never leaving. Maybe Washington and Robert Covington will become roommates?

Grade: A+, just as expected!

RD1.13 ABCX - Bennedict Mathurin

In desperate need of some young talent, ABCX made the playoffs last year despite dragging the corpses of Derrick Rose, Evan Fournier, and TJ Warren around—and is Russell Westbrook finally ready to move on? This year, ABCX is still a bit questionable at keeper with Harrison Barnes and Kelly Oubre, Jr. but it seems like GM Oliver read the tea leaves and a youth movement is underway.

Mathurin is the next-best rookie and he’ll be a perfect third guard next to Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball, as he’s capable of play off ball and just hitting shots. While Buddy Heild is starting in front of him—for now—in Indiana, the Pacers future backcourt will be Tyrese Haliburton and Mathurin.

Grade: A-, an inspired and appropriate pick for this franchise

RD1.14 KSKT - Buddy Hield (via SQSQ)

With their second first-round draft pick, KSKT nabbed Buddy Hield, who averaged 18.2 PTS, 5.1 REB, 4.8 AST, and 3.1 3PT in twenty-six games as a Pacer last season. The problem is, Hield is unlikely to stay there for much longer—hello Lakers?!—and Hield is actually about to turn thirty this season.

With D’Angelo Russell and Hield as their first rounders, KSTK is certainly looking to fill up the bucket, but we’re wondering if a non-offensive focused player would’ve been better here. Note: This was one of the picks coming from the Caris LeVert and Kevin Huerter trade—it was Huerter plus this pick (Hield) and a future SQSQ 2024 RD3 selection for LeVert.

Grade: B-, seems redundant with the Russell pick

RD1.15 SOUR - Herbert Jones

Is “Herb” now a “Herbert?” Whatever the case, this defensive ace adds a fair number of steals but may be better on-the-court than on paper. Like many real-life NBA defensive stalwarts, his game is best displayed in-person and not in the boxscore.

However, GM Trieu must see some great (fantasy) things ahead, as using a first rounder on Jones—who currently mainly contributes in one category—could be seen as overreaching, especially with so many veteran win-now options still on the board. It is not for us to question the great Trieu, but this pick was a little surprising. Perhaps Steph Curry demanded a defensive presence alongside him?

Grade: C-

RD1.16 SBUK - Tre Jones

Back-to-back Jones! This Jones is the new starting point guard in San Antonio and there isn’t a whole lot to go on, the Spurs will be tanking team and that usually means great news for fantasy owners.

The defending champs already have a lovely blend of veterans—Joel Embiid, CJ McCollum, Kyrie Irving, Rudy Gobert—and youth, with versatile sophomore Franz Wagner and new Knicks guard Jalen Brunson slated to go up another (statistical) level away from Luka Doncic.

Picking up another young ball distributor certainly won’t hurt SBUK at all and owner Josh can afford to bask in the afterglow of his first championship while tinkering with his core while working on a title defense!

Grade: B, sure why not!