NBA Draft Winners And Losers

We're about a week away from the start of free agency in the NBA, which means one thing. That's right, its time for the Draft. Sixty guys waited around at the Barclays Center to see if their name was going to get called and see their dream come true of playing in the greatest basketball league in the world. Going into the draft, and even during the draft, some major trades were made that helped shape franchises as to how they were going to draft players and what moves they were going to make during free agency. The fact that Derrick Rose got traded to the Knicks helped them out with not having a pick in this years draft. Serge Ibaka was the biggest name moved during the draft, with the Thunder trading him to the Orlando Magic, with the Thunder getting Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and the rights to big man Domantas Sabonis. This move benifits the Magic, getting a three time defensive player of the year, while the Thunder get good players in his place. This deal could be big in determining whether or not Kevin Durant stays in OKC, but we can discuss that next week when free agency kicks off. Lets get back to the draft in Brooklyn last night. I know its early to be able to tell now but we will give it a shot now. Here's some of the winners and losers from last nights NBA Draft!

Winner:
Oklahoma City Thunder
Talk about a team on the move. Kevin Durant is going to be a free agent in a week, something that the team is hoping to change and bring him back into the fold. While that is being taken care of on the side, management did a great job of trying to add pieces to the mix. Remember this is a team who less than a month ago blew a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals to the Warriors, so you know good and well they are going to want to get revenge and make a statement next season. They've already started to do that. Thunder general manager Sam Presti made a stunning trade that also sent a message to the rest of the league that Oklahoma City is serious about not letting go of its best player. They did get rid of three time defensive player of the year in Serge Ibaka, trading him to the Magic. But in return they got younger and more talented. They added a solid prospect in Domantas Sabonis from Gonzaga (he was taken 11th by the Magic). They think that adding size to their team will help against the likes of the Warriors (it did for the Cavs in the finals). Oh yeah, they did also manage to add the ultra-athletic Victor Oladipo (acquired from Orlando) on the wing and the Thunder enter next season as the favorites out West (along with taking Daniel Hamilton from Connecticut in the 2nd round).

Loser:
Orlando Magic
There may be a little bit of a debate here as to whether or not this team is going to be a winner from the draft, based on the trade. They did pick up a player with the 11th overall pick, taking Domantas Sabonis from Gonzaga. Then flipped him for Ibaka, who is a good defender. But they gave up a lot to get him. Orlando finished last in their division this past season. I know they want to try and move up in the East, which is still entirely possible. But by giving up on Oladipo and Sabonis in favor of a big man it may cost them.

Winner:
New York Knicks
I know the Knicks didn't have a draft pick so I'm not really claiming them winners for the actual draft. I'm putting them in the winners bracket for the Derrick Rose pickup and getting a draft pick for next year. There are still some critics of the Knicks for picking up Rose, because the team has a tendency to get players like this in the past. But there is still a positive upside to picking up Rose if he can manage to stay healthy. So I'd still say that the Knicks are winners for being able to manage to get a move like this pulled off. As far as the actual draft goes, then yes they shouldn't be on this list for not making a pick. But still on the whole you could put the Knicks in the winners circle for what they have managed to do.

Loser:
Sacramento Kings
The Kings missing the playoffs had them in a good spot in the draft, as they had the 8th overall pick but vice president Vlade Divac elected to trade down with Phoenix so that he could acquire Bogdan Bogdanovic and two more big men, Georgios Papagiannis from Greece and Kentucky's Skal Labissiere, with picks Nos. 13 and 28, respectively. They had a chance to keep a stud in Marquiss Criss, but the team dropped the ball for a big guy who they may or may not need in the tough Western Conference.

Winner:
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns had their pick of two of the most intriguing players in the draft at No. 4, it was either going to be Dragan Bender or Marquese Chriss, so they had to make a choice. They took Bender with the 4th pick, but before the night was over, they ended up with both of them. First, they took Bender, and 25 minutes later, they put themselves in a position to grab Chriss, which they did in the trade with the Kings. Bender and Chriss both project as versatile power forwards, but they could not be more different players. Bender has great instincts in just about every aspect of the game, and he should at the very least be a playmaking 4 who can switch onto smaller players in the NBA. Chriss is an athletic marvel who has as much upside as anyone in the draft, but did not pass much or show much discipline on defense in college. These two will make Phoenix fun to watch, even if it takes them a few years to figure it out.

Loser:
Boston Celtics
Yes this draft class did seam a little bit weak, but the Celtics had a chance to really build on something. They did make the playoffs last year and had a chance to really build upon that setting. Management hasn't really managed to pull off a huge move at or around the draft since getting the big three of Garnett Pierce and Allen a few years ago. The fans of the Celtics are still waiting. Boston had eight picks during the draft, but didn't really make much nosie with those picks. Boston selected California swingman Jaylen Brown third overall, French power forward Guerschon Yabusele and Croatian center Ante Zizic, those are fine selections, but not the type of players who will have the kind of immediate impact Boston needs to move up in the Eastern Conference. Coach Brad Stevens has proven that he can put a highly competitive team on the court, regardless of the names on the back of those storied uniforms, but the Celtics need stars to be anything more than a first-round flirtation.