NBA Draft 2021: Grades for all 30 draft picks from the first round
28. Philadelphia 76ers: Jaden Springer, Guard, Tennessee
Guard: C+
This is a “good value, bad fit pick” for me. Springer finished top 20 on my board. He’s incredibly young, is already a plus defender, and had flashes of playmaking and shooting. But for the 76ers, who want to win now, I’m not sure an 18-year-old was the best decision. They have some menacing defenders with Springer, Matisse Thybulle, and Ben Simmons (if he’s on the team next year).
The biggest question now for Springer is how can he contribute off the ball. He shot 43.5% from deep but was pretty unwilling to shoot at just 46 attempts. Playing off of Joel Embiid’s double-teams, he’ll need to shoot.
If Simmons does get traded, this pick will make more sense to me, so it’s kind of hard to grade right now. There is some overlap between Springer and Tyrese Maxey that I don’t love. It looked like Philly was always going to go guard here, but the more veteran Miles McBride would have been my choice.
29. Brooklyn Nets: Day’Ron Sharpe, Forward, North Carolina
Grade: A+
The Nets swapped Landry Shamet for this pick and improved their front-court instantly. Sharpe is a first-round talent, who provides some different skills than Nic Claxton. He’s a plus passer, who should make a killing in the short role with all the gravity Brooklyn’s stars demand. He is a high-character, low-maintenance player who will play hard and can give them key minutes in a playoff series. He needs to improve his body and isn’t a reliable shooter yet, but those are correctable. Do those things and Sharpe is a starting center in the NBA, which is terrific value.
30. Memphis Grizzlies: Santi Aldama, Forward, Loyola Maryland
Grade: F
The ultimate “what the heck?” pick of the night, Aldama winding up in the first round was a complete stunner, especially when you consider the Grizzlies traded up. Aldama did not attend either the NBA or G-League combine (which in hindsight, probably meant his camp felt good about his range) and was projected to go in the ’50s, if that, on mock drafts.
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Aldama dominated the lowly Patriot League in his abbreviated season. He does have some skills as a shooter and passer, but is a non-athlete and lacks strength at this stage. He may be a potential draft-and-stash candidate, which would make more sense, but I’m still puzzled why he went this early. The Grizzlies have a solid young core that wants to contend now, and they could have added to that here. But Aldama is miles away from being a meaningful NBA player.