Four players have decided to sign with teams in China during the lockout.  None of those players will have an out clause in the event that the lockout ends while the season in China is being played.  26-year old shooting guard J.R. Smith and 24-year old SG/SF Wilson Chandler are the best players leaving the USA.  Smith has played in 503 games (129 starts) in his first 7 years in the NBA and he has averaged 23.9 minutes, 12.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.  Chandler has played in 254 games (199 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he has averaged 32.1 minutes, 13.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.  I am surprised that Smith and Chandler have decided to play in China as they were set to be two of the better free agents in the NBA this year.  28-year old Josh Powell and 23-year old Earl Clark have also left for China and I can understand the thinking behind these power forwards’ decisions.  Powell has been sitting at the end of NBA benches for six years now and this will give him an opportunity for big minutes and a paycheck.  Powell has played in 315 games (28 starts) in his first six years in the NBA and he is averaging 12.5 minutes, 3.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  Earl Clark has also been nailed to the bench in his NBA career.  He has played in 93 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 9.1 minutes, 3.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  I am stunned that Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith are leaving the NBA to play in China this year as I think they would have been better served to play anywhere else.

Everyone always wants to see a grade put by their favorite team’s draft whether it being the NBA or the NFL.  So, you have come to the right place today.  Here is how I see every team doing last Thursday in the NBA Draft:

Teams receiving an A:

Only one team fit this category as far as I’m concerned and it was the Washington Wizards.  The Wizards snagged two forward in the first round (Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton) who are going to improve the team at both ends of the court.  On draft night, Jan Vesely called Blake Griffin the American version of him!  The Wizards also snared guard Shelvin Mack in the 2nd round and he should have little trouble making the team and helping out off the bench.

Teams receiving an A-:

The New Jersey Nets did a great job on draft night.  It all started when they sent a 2014 second round pick plus their own first round pick (#27) to move up and snare SG MarShon Brooks out of Providence.  He could be the starting shooting guard for the Nets in 2011-12 as he can really score.  The Nets also bought the contract of SG Bojan Bogdanovic from the Timberwolves at the top of the second round.  He is a interesting prospect.  The Nets finished up their night by taking PF/C Jordan Williams, who is a banger in the paint.

The Denver Nuggets had a good night on Thursday.  The Nuggets dealt Raymond Felton to the Trailblazers as part of the three team deal involving the Trailblazers too.  The Nuggets netted veteran point guard Andre Miller and forward Jordan Hamilton who was the first round pick (#26 overall) of the Mavericks.  The Nuggets didn’t stop there as they snagged the best rebounder in the NBA Draft, power forward Kenneth Faried in the first round.  The Nuggets finished up by dealing a future second round pick to the Lakers for forward Chukwudiebere Madabum.

The Utah Jazz had an incredible draft as they had two first round picks.  With the first one they took the best center in the draft, Enes Kanter.  He will be brought along slowly behind Al Jefferson and Mehmet Okur, be he has the talent to be a very productive starter down the road.  Shooting guard Alec Burks came later in the first round and the Jazz are desperate for help at shooting guard.  Burks could force his was into the starting lineup as early as the first game of his NBA career.

Teams earning a B+:

The Philadelphia 76ers wanted to get bigger and that they did on Thursday.  In the first round they took center Nikola Vucecic who could be a starter very early in his NBA career.  Power forward Lavoy Allen was in the neighborhood anyway (playing at Temple) so the Sixers used their second round pick to keep him around.

The Detroit Pistons were looking for big guys in the draft until the second best point guard (Brandon Knight) fell all the way to #8.  The Pistons couldn’t resist as Knight will probably be the starting point guard from Day #1 for the Pistons.  The second round brought SF Kyle Singler who was also supposed to be long gone by the Pistons’ pick.  PF Vernon Macklin gives the Pistons another big body to work with.

The Golden State Warriors cleaned up in this draft.  It all started when SG Klay Thompson fell to them at #11.  If Monta Ellis gets traded before the 2011-12 season starts, Thompson could be the starting shooting guard.  If not, he will be the first guard off the bench for the Warriors.  The Warriors then bought PF/C Jeremy Tyler from the Bobcats.  He is a good young project for the Warriors to develop.  The Warriors took combo guard Charles Jenkins out of Hofstra in the second round and he’s a very solid offensive player.

The Sacramento Kings came out of this draft smelling like a rose.  Before the draft even started the Kings dealt Beno Udrih (to the Bucks) and the #7 overall pick (to the Bobcats) for SF/SG John Salmons and the #10 overall pick (Jimmer Fredette).  Salmons will likely be the Kings’ starting SF this season.  Fredette will have a shot of winning a starting job with the Kings.  But, if they re-sign Marcus Thornton (which they want to), then he will likely be the first guard off the bench.  The second round brough SF Tyler Honeycutt who was projected to be picked in the late first round.  He will give the Kings solid minutes off the bench.  G Isaiah Thomas was the last pick in the NBA Draft and he will likely be brought along slowly.

Teams earning a B:

The Atlanta Hawks only had 1 pick in the NBA Draft and it was in the second round.  They nailed it though by picking center Keith Benson.  Benson is a very good defensive player which is something the Hawks really lacked in the paint last year.

The Boston Celtics did a solid job.  They moved down two picks in the first round, which got them the Nets’ 2nd round pick in 2014.  The Celtics then picked PF JaJuan Johnson.  Johnson was the Big Ten Player of the Year last season for Purdue.  He gives the Celtics a nice big guy, who is talented at both ends of the court.  In the second round, they took Johnson’s teammate at SG, E’Twaun Moore.  Moore was a very consistent player and he should be able to help the Celtics off the bench in 2011-12.

The Toronto Raptors only had 1 pick in the NBA Draft.  I thought they should have taken a player who could help them right away, but they didn’t.  Instead, they took center Jonas Valanciunas who is said to be part Pau Gasol and part Zydrunas Ilgauskas.  The Raptors quickly worked a buyout with his team in Lithuania which will allow him to play with the Raptors in 2012-13.

The Milwaukee Bucks committed highway robbery on draft night.  They sent the #10 overall pick to the Kings and SF/SG Corey Maggette to the Bobcats.  In return, the Bucks netted SG/SF Stephen Jackson, PG/SG Beno Udrih, PG Shaun Livingston and the #19 pick (forward Tobias Harris).  Jackson is going to give the Bucks a lot of firepower offensively.  Udrih is also a solid guard who can player either position.  Livingston is little more than a backup point guard.  Tobias Harris is a very young player who the Bucks like a lot but will bring along slowly.  PF Jon Leuer of Wisconsin was added in the second round by the Bucks.

The Portland Trailblazers made a big splash on draft night.  They sent Andre Miller to the Nuggets and Rudy Fernandez to the Mavericks in a big three team deal.  In return, the Blazers acquired point guard Raymond Felton who should juice up the offense in 2011-12 and beyond.  The Trailblazers picked SG/PG Nolan Smith in the first round of the draft and he could be the first guard off the bench this year.  Sharpshooting SG Jon Diebler came to the Blazers in the 2nd round of the draft.

The Minnesota Timberwolves made so many trades on draft night that it was dizzying.  But somehow they came out on top.  The Timberwolves took PF/SF Derrick Williams in the first round of the NBA Draft and he has a huge upside.  The Timberwolves also worked out a deal sending Jonny Flynn to the Rockets and they got center Brad Miller in return.  The trade also involved the Rockets moving up in the first round.  SG Malcolm Lee came to the Timberwolves in the second round and he has a nice upside.  The Timberwolves also bought forward Tanguy Ngombo from the Trailblazers. 

The San Antonio Spurs did a great job last Thursday.  They dealt SG/PG George Hill to the Pacers for the rights to first round pick Kawhi Leonard (SF) and second round pick Davis Bertans (forward).  They then took SG/PG Cory Joseph in the first round and SG Adam Hanga out of Hungary in the second round.  Kawhi Leonard has a huge upside and he might push Richard Jefferson right to the bench in 2012-13.

The Houston Rockets added a lot of talent last Thursday.  They acquired PG Jonny Flynn and first round pick Donatas Motiejunas (PF) in a deal with the T-Wolves that sent veteran center Brad Miller and 3 draft picks to them.  Motiejunas has a huge upside as long as he keeps motivated.  I’m sure that Kevin McHale will be on his back, pushing him to get the best out of his ability.  SF Marcus Moore came to the Rockets in the first round and he will push Chase Budinger for his starting job.  PF Chandler Parsons gives the Rockets another big body to develop.

The Clippers are probaby still shell shocked from dealing the #1 overall pick to the Cavs in the Mo Williams deal.  But, they did a good job with the picks they did have on draft night.  PF Trey Tompkins was the best player available when the Clippers turn came up so they took him.  He will back up Blake Griffin.  The Clippers then took SG Travis Leslie with their next pick and he played at the same college as Tompkins (Georgia).  Both Tompkins and Leslie were projected to be late first round picks, so the Clippers got nice value.

The Phoenix Suns only had one pick but they made it count.  The Suns are a really soft team inside.  That might start to change as the Suns picked PF Markieff Morris in the first round.  If he can beat out Channing Frye for the starting job at PF, the Suns will have a solid pair in the paint with Morris at PF and Marcin Gortat at center.

The Indiana Pacers traded both of their draft picks (Kawhi Leonard and Davis Bertans) to the Spurs for SG/PG George Hill.  I think the Pacers are going to start Hill at shooting guard and he will form a nice tandem with Darren Collison.

The Dallas Mavericks traded both of their draft picks (Jordan Hamilton to Denver and Tanguy Ngombo to Minnesota) in exchange for SG Rudy Fernandez and the draft rights to SG Petteri Koponen.  Fernandez will likely step right into the starting lineup at SG for the Mavericks in 2011-12.

Teams earning a C+: 

The Orlando Magic decided to trade two future second round picks to the Cleveland Cavaliers for PF Justin Harper.  Harper will give the Magic a legit big body to help them off the bench in 2011-12.  They also picked SG DeAndre Liggins in the second round.  His game is defense.

The Miami Heat decided to deal their 2nd round pick, a future 2nd round pick and cash to the Timberwolves for PG Norris Cole of Cleveland State.  LeBron James must have checked him out when they were both in Cleveland.  Cole fills a huge need for the Heat.

The Cleveland Cavaliers could have hit a homer in this draft, but they fell short.  I like the pick of Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick but the pick at #4 was a little bit puzzling.  The Cavs took PF Tristan Thompson with the 4th overall pick after the Jazz took center Enes Kanter (who they really wanted).  I don’t have a problem with Thompson, just the fact that the Cavs already have J.J. Hickson and Antawn Jamison ahead of him on the depth chart.  The Cavs then dealt PF Justin Harper to the Magic for two future second round picks and they took forward Milan Macvan with their other second round pick.  Macvan might never play in the states and the Cavs should have kept Harper or picked someone else.

Teams earning a C:

The Chicago Bulls had a puzzling draft.  They traded up for forward Nikola Mirotic who has a long contract in Europe.  He has a huge upside but it doesn’t matter if he never comes to the states.  I do like the second pick the Bulls made though as small forward Jimmy Butler should fit right in.

The Oklahoma City Thunder promised SG/PG Reggie Jackson that they would pick him and then they did it.  I can’t see where Jackson fits in with the Thunder as he will start out behind Russell Westbrook and Eric Maynor at the point and James Harden and Thabo Sefolosha at SG.  That is unless the Thunder are going to wheel and deal in the trade market.

The Memphis Grizzlies picked SG Josh Selby in the second round of the draft.  They will bring him along slowly as they have a lot of quality depth ahead of him.

Team earning a C-:

The New York Knicks had a puzzling draft.  First they took a defensive minded shooting guard in Iman Shumpert in the first round.  But, Shumpert is a terrible offensive player because he just can’t shoot the ball.  The Knicks also bought center Josh Harrellson from the Hornets but he doesn’t have much of an upside.

Teams earning a D:

The Charlotte Bobcats need to get Michael Jordan out of the War Room on Draft Night.  The Bobcats dealt Stephen Jackson, Shaun Livingston and the #19 overall pick (Tobias Harris) to the Bucks in part of a three team deal also including the Kings.  In return the Bobcats got SF/SG Corey Maggette from the Bucks and the #7 overall pick from the Kings.  With the 7th overall pick the Bobcats took PF Bismack Biyombo.  Biyombo says that he will win the NBA rebounding and blocked shots titles in the near future.  If he falls short of his own expectations, the Bobcats might wish they never took him.  The Bobcats also picked PG Kemba Walker in the first round of the NBA Draft.  If the Bobcats didn’t already have D.J. Augustin at the point, I would have liked this pick.

The Los Angeles Lakers looked like they didn’t want to be bothered with the NBA Draft last Thursday Night.  They picked point guard Darius Morris, SG Andrew Guedelock and forward Ajer Majok in the second round.  They also picked Chukwudiebere Madabum out of the D-League and they then dealt him to the Nuggets for a future second round pick.

Team earning an F:

Thursday Night was an utter waste of time for the New Orleans Hornets.  They picked center Josh Harrellson with the 45th overall pick and then they sold him to the Knicks.

It seems like there could be a flurry of deals in the first round of the NBA Draft involving veteran players as well as picks.  But, for the purpose of my mock draft, I’m not going to consider any of that.  Here is how I see the first round of the NBA Draft on Thursday Night:

 1. Cleveland Cavaliers - Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke - Irving is the top player in this draft without a doubt.  The Cavaliers will try to deal Ramon Sessions or Baron Davis on draft night to add a pick or some players and to clear the way for Irving to start from Day #1. 

 2. Minnesota Timberwolves - Derrick Williams, SF, Arizona - This is the pick that everyone wants.  Trade rumors are running rampant about this pick, but if the T-Wolves keep it…..Williams is the pick.

 3. Utah Jazz - Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky - The Jazz view Knight as a future star.  They are already trying to deal current point guard Devin Harris so that Knight can start from Day #1 for the now rebuilding Jazz.

 4. Cleveland Cavaliers - Enes Kanter, C, Turkey - If the Cavaliers stay at #4, they will pick Kanter if he’s still on the board.  Kanter is a big man with a huge upside.  The Cavaliers have enough frontcourt depth to bring Kanter along slowly.

 5. Toronto Raptors - Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego State - The Raptors have a need at small forward and Leonard is good enough to step right into the starting lineup.

 6. Washington Wizards - Jonas Valanciunas, C, Lithuania - The Wizards likely won’t be able to pass on this young center, even if they have to wait a year for him to put on their uniform.

 7. Sacramento Kings - Jan Vesely, PF, Serbia - The Kings will likely switch DeMarcus Cousins to center in order to make room for Vesely at power forward.

 8. Detroit Pistons - Kemba Walker, PG, Connecticut - The Pistons won’t pass on Walker if he slides to them.  If the Pistons pick Walker, they will likely let Rodney Stuckey leave as a restricted free agent.

 9. Charlotte Bobcats - Alec Burks, SG, Colorado  - The Bobcats need offensive players and Alec Burks can fill it up.  He would immediately bump Gerald Henderson back to the bench.

10. Milwaukee Bucks - Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas - The Bucks need rebounding and toughness under the basket.  Thompson will provide them with both of those attributes very early in his NBA career.

11. Golden State Warriors - Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State - The Warriors are looking to deal Monta Ellis and if they do, they are going to need a replacement for him.  Thompson is a flat out shooter, who can put the ball in the basket.

12. Utah Jazz - Jimmer Fredette, PG/SG, BYU - The Jazz will make the home folks happy by bringing in Fredette from BYU.  Fredette would help boost the Jazz’ offense.

13. Phoenix Suns - Bismark Biyombo, PF, Spain - The Suns don’t have much rebounding or shot blocking on the team.  They solve both of those problems by picking Biyombo in the first round.

14. Houston Rockets - Nikola Vucevic, C, USC -The Rockets are desperate to improve at center and Vucevic could be just what the doctor ordered.

15. Indiana Pacers - Malcolm Lee, SG, UCLA - The Pacers really could use a big man that can rebound.  But, they aren’t likely going to reach for one, so look for Lee to be the pick.

16. Philadelphia 76ers - Chris Singleton, SF, Florida State - With the Sixers likely to deal Andre Iguodala, they will need to find a replacement.  Chris Singleton is more than talented enough to be that guy.

17. New York Knicks - Travis Leslie, SG, Georgia - The Knicks recently have thrown Landry Fields under the bus, saying that they don’t like him as the starting SG.  Leslie would give Fields a lot of competition for that starting job.

18. Washington Wizards - Josh Selby, SG, Kansas - The Wizards will go with the best player available and that will be Selby.

19. Charlotte Bobcats - Kenneth Faried, PF, Morehead State - The Bobcats won’t be able to pass on Faried as they need rebounding.  Michael Jordan will see a lot of Dennis Rodman (minus the flakiness) in Kenneth Faried.

20. Minnesota Timberwolves - Marshon Brooks, SG, Providence - The Timberwolves need some offensive firepower at shooting guard and Brooks can provide that.

21. Portland Trailblazers - Nolan Smith, PG, Duke - The Trailblazers are trying to deal Andre Miller, which would leave a hole on the team.  Smith has the potential to eventually run the point for the Blazers.

22. Denver Nuggets - Jordan Hamilton, SF, Texas - The Nuggets will go with the best player available with their pick and that will be Hamilton.  They would probably have liked a big man instead but they will decide not to reach for one.

23. Houston Rockets - Tobias Harris, SF, Tennessee - The Rockets could use some help at small forward, so picking Harris here makes perfect sense.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder - Tyler Honeycutt, SF, UCLA - The Thunder will finally get a player they can trust when Kevin Durant needs a break. 

25. Boston Celtics - Marcus Morris, SF, Kansas - The Celtics are going to take the best player available that’s not a point guard, as they are getting old everywhere.

26. Dallas Mavericks - Jordan Williams, C, Maryland - The Mavericks could use another big guy for the paint and Williams could be just what the doctor ordered.

27. New Jersey Nets - Trey Tompkins, PF, Georgia - The Nets need some muscle inside with Kris Humphries hitting free agency.  Tompkins could help them with that.

28. Chicago Bulls - LaceDarius Dunn, SG, Baylor - The Bulls need help at shooting guard, so Dunn would be a perfect fit for them.

29. San Antonio Spurs - Jeremy Tyler, C, Tokyo Apache - The Spurs need more size inside and Tyler fits the bill.

30. Chicago Bulls - Jimmy Butler, SF, Marquette - The Bulls could use a player to give Luol Deng a break once in a while.

39-year old center Shaquille O’Neal has decided to retire from the NBA.  O’Neal was one of the best centers in the history of the game.  He played in 1,207 games (1,197 starts) in his NBA career and he averaged 34.7 minutes, 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 blocked shots per game.  Shaq shot better from the floor (58.2%) than from the free-throw line (52.7%) in his NBA career and that doesn’t happy very often in the NBA.  Free throw shooting was really the only weakness in Shaq’s game.  He finishes his career as the #5 all-time scorer with 28,596 points.  He also is #23 in games played (1,207), #12 in rebounds (13,099), #171 in assists (3,026), #7 in blocked shots (2,732) and #17 in free throws made (5,935).  O’Neal will go directly into the Basketball Hall of Fame when he becomes elgible as he was the best center of his generation.

34-year old power forward Robert “Tractor” Traylor was found dead earlier today in his Puerto Rico apartment.  He was playing professionally in Puerto Rico but he was rehabbing an injury at his time of death.  Robert Traylor was picked #6 overall (first round) of the 1998 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks.  Traylor was then dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks for Pat Garrity and Dirk Nowitzki!  It was one of the best trades in NBA history as Nowitzki has turned into one of the best players in the NBA, while, Traylor never really lived up to his “ability”.  Traylor played in 438 games (73 starts) in 7 years in the NBA (Bucks, Cavaliers and Hornets) and he averaged 14.3 minutes, 4.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.  This is a very sad end to Robert Traylor’s life and I think every sports fan should say a prayer for him and his family.