Instant grades for every 2021 NBA Draft first round pick

Let’s grade every first round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

The Detroit Pistons are on the clock with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft, and there is zero suspense this year on who will be the first pick.

Cade Cunningham leads a draft class that is defined by star-power at the top. While Cunningham will be Detroit’s choice with the first pick, both USC center Evan Mobley and G League Ignite shooting guard Jalen Green are talented enough to go No. 1 overall in a vacuum. With Jalen Suggs also establishing himself as a terrific prospect during his freshman year at Gonzaga, the 2021 NBA Draft will be remembered for the excellent quartet of players taken with the first four picks.

The intrigue in this draft class starts at No. 5. Florida State forward Scottie Barnes, Michigan forward Franz Wagner, and Australian guard Josh Giddey have become hot names in the pre-draft process. The Memphis Grizzlies have already made a move into the top-10 by agreeing to a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. You can find our full top-30 player rankings for this draft class here.

Now that draft day has finally arrived, it’s time to grade every pick in the first round. We’ll be updating this post throughout the night.

1. Detroit Pistons - Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State

Cunningham has been considered the top player in this class for more than two years. He maintained that status with a tremendous freshman campaign at Oklahoma State that saw him named as a consensus First Team All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year. The Texas native is a 6’8 ball handler who can run the pick-and-roll, hit pull-up three-pointers, and defend both on the perimeter and in the paint. Cunningham lacks elite burst with the ball, but his strong frame, 7-foot wingspan, and well-rounded skill set makes him the type of prospect that has very few apparent weaknesses in his game.

Cunningham is simply an ideal fit in the modern NBA. The Pistons have their new face of the franchise.

Grade: A

2. Houston Rockets - Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite

Green is a 6’6 shooting guard with elite athleticism and the scoring chops to one day flirt with averaging 30 points per game. He has the best standstill burst in this class combined with ridiculous leaping ability and immense body control near the basket. He shot the ball well during his stint on the inaugural G League Ignite team, hitting nearly 37 percent of his threes and bouncing into step-back and side-step attempts with ease. He’s a relatively safe pick at No. 2 overall because it’s almost certain he’ll be a big time scoring threat in the league.

For as talented as Green is as a bucket-getter, he sometimes struggles to read the floor and isn’t a polished passer. He also projects to likely be a below-average defender at the start of his career. Evan Mobley was our choice for the second best player in this class (we have Green ranked third), but it was hard to go wrong either way for Houston.

Grade: B+

3. Cleveland Cavaliers - Evan Mobley, C, USC

This pick is a home run for the Cavaliers. Mobley is the most versatile big man in this draft class as a 7-footer with long arms (7’5 wingspan), quick feet, and the ability to play any type of pick-and-roll coverage defensively. While he lacks an aggressive scoring mindset, Mobley can still make an impact offensively as a tremendous passer and lob target early in his career. He’s also just starting to scratch the surface of his shooting potential.

Mobley is a perfect fit with the Cavs’ young core. He can play next to Jarrett Allen at the four in some lineups while also sliding to the five in small ball looks. He can cover any defensive mistakes from Cleveland’s smaller guards, while also acting as a potential floor spacer around defensive-minded wing Isaac Okoro. Getting Mobley with the No. 3 pick is incredible value for the Cavs.

Grade: A

4. Toronto Raptors - Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State

This is the first big shock of the draft. The Raptors were widely projected to select Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs, but instead Barnes is the pick.

Barnes is a 6’9 forward with a 7’3 wingspan who stands out for his motor, defensive versatility, length, and playmaking potential. He raised the level of intensity on the floor every time he entered the game for Florida State. While he’s a shaky outside shooter who can’t be counted on to space the floor in the halfcourt, Barnes provides offensive value with his passing ability. The 31.7 percent assist rate he posted at FSU is extremely impressive for a player his size. There’s a lot to like about Barnes’ competitive mindset, but this selection does feel like a slight reach. Suggs was the clear No. 4 player on our board, with Barnes ranked No. 7. It’s hard to question the Raptors given their outstanding history of player development, but we are a little skeptical of this pick.

Grade: B-

5. Orlando Magic - Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga