NBA Draft 2021: Grades for all 30 draft picks from the first round

13. Indiana Pacers: Chris Duarte, Shooting Guard, Oregon

Grade: B

Another pre-draft riser, Duarte was getting lottery buzz despite being 24 years old. He’s arguably the most ready-now wing in the entire draft. This is another move that signals direction; the Pacers want to remain competitive.

Duarte should easily fill in for Doug McDermott on the wing, and he’s an upgrade defensively. Given he’s 24, he needs to be good right away but I think that’s doable. They could have gone with Moses Moody for the youth here, but Duarte is better today. It’s not a sexy pick, but it’s not a bad one either.

14. Golden State Warriors: Moses Moody, Guard/Forward, Arkansas

Grade: A

After going upside with their first pick, the Warriors added a more polished wing in Moody. They were linked to Duarte for a while, but he went a pick too early and Moody seemed to fall right into their lap.

Moody is a bit undersized for a wing, but is a good shooter and can guard. His off-ball skills will be maximized playing along with elite shooters and passers. He’s a great fit for the timeline given his youth and ability to help now. The Warriors have their backcourt set, so stockpiling wings was wise.

15. Washington Wizards: Corey Kispert, Forward, Gonzaga

Grade: B

Another veteran pick that had me saying “eh”. Kispert is arguably the best shooter in the class, with legitimate versatility. After adding Montrezl Harrell in a draft-day deal with the Lakers, point guard and wing seemed like the next biggest needs. Kispert adds shooting to a, surprisingly, good offensive team and should help their “re-tool”, post-Russell Westbrook. I do worry about his defense and how this team guards, but I’m not sure there was a better option after Duarte and Moody were taken.

Point guard felt like a bigger need, but there weren’t many in this range I would have felt comfortable taking. The Wizards want to stay competitive to keep Bradley Beal happy, and this pick does that in theory.