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

25. New York Knicks: Quentin Grimes, Wing, Houston

Grade: B+

After trading away No. 19, and back from No. 21, this probably wasn’t the splashy selection Knicks fans wanted. But with Reggie Bullock and Alec Burks set to enter unrestricted free agency, it’s a move that makes sense. Grimes is an easy plug-and-play three-and-D wing. He’s a bit undersized but should be able to guard twos and threes. Grimes shot over 40% from deep last season, signaling he’ll be able to space the floor for R.J. Barrett and Julius Randle.

The Knicks could have elected for a shot-creating guard here like Bones Hyland, Miles McBride, Cam Thomas, Sharife Cooper, or Jaden Springer, but with a drop-off in wings coming, this was a logical pick.

26. Denver Nuggets: Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland, Guard, VCU

Grade: B

The Nuggets had been linked to a bunch of guards here and ultimately settled on Hyland. Despite an electric shooting season in the Atlantic 10, Hyland wasn’t receiving a ton of buzz initially. That changed when he lit up a scrimmage at the NBA Combine, working himself squarely into the first round.

I’m not a huge Hyland fan given he’s a bit of a tweener and frail, but this is actually a terrific fit. The Nuggets already have two primary creators in Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray and they have Monte Morris to run the bench unit, so Hyland’s off-ball shooting can be utilized. Austin Rivers and Markus Howard (who both enter free agency this offseason) found success in that role, so that makes me optimistic Hyland can.

27. Brooklyn Nets: Cam Thomas, Guard, LSU

Grade: B

The Nets strategy of “try and outscore everyone to death” continued with this selection. Thomas is one of the best pure scorers in this class, leading all freshmen with 23 points per game. He’s a known chucker, but playing alongside three superstars should theoretically end that tendency. Thomas’ three-point percentage wasn’t great, but he was tasked to take a lot of tough shots. I’m fascinated to see what that number looks like next year with all the open looks he’ll get. If he is truly a good shooter, that will return value here.

Thomas is a negative on defense, but the Nets needed players to contribute right away and I have confidence he can do that. Besides, who’s outscoring these guys at full health anyway.