SOUTHEAST DIVISION

Atlanta
The biggest move for the Hawks was not selecting Wake Forest point guard Jeff Teague at No. 19, but acquiring Jamal Crawford from the Warriors for little more than afterthought point guards Speedy Claxton and Acie Law. Factor in Teague's speed and ability to create for himself and others at the point, and time appears to be growing short in Atlanta for both Mike Bibby and Flip Murray. With Joe Johnson, Atlanta has created quite the backcourt.
Grade: B

Charlotte
Larry Brown went for the Larry Brown-type player. Although he might not excel at a particular facet, Duke guard Gerald Henderson carries the complete type of skill set demanded by Brown. At No. 12, the Bobcats landed a player who should be an instant contributor. He shoots, he can score in the paint, he rebounds, he contains his man. He should fit right in and might actually earn the occasional bit of praise from Brown. Possibly.
Grade: B-plus

Miami
This was not about the Heat landing LSU guard Marcus Thornton at No. 43 and then trading him to New Orleans or trading for Lakers second-round pick Patrick Beverley or closing the draft with the inspired selection of Memphis forward Robert Dozier at No. 60. No, this was about how the Heat relinquished its first-round draft choice, the No. 18 selection the Timberwolves used on Ty Lawson -- by trading it in 2007 for Ricky Davis. There are many ways to mortgage a future in the NBA, Ricky Davis should never be one of them. Ty Lawson or Ricky Davis? You make the call.
Grade: C-

Orlando
The Magic was without a draft choice, but not without a mission on draft day. The acquisition of Vince Carter offers insurance in the eventuality that Hedo Turkoglu cannot be retained in free agency. While the Carter acquisition would appear a slam dunk, and an A-plus move, the Magic actually would take a step back if the addition of Vince is paired with the loss of both Courtney Lee, who was included in the trade with the Nets, and Turkoglu.
Grade: B-plus

Washington
And with their first-round selection, the Washington Wizards select: Mike Miller and Randy Foye. Going into the draft, the goal was a veteran upgrade. That mission was accomplished with the trade of No. 5 to Minnesota. Miller and Foye provide more of an upgrade on DeShawn Stevenson that any pick outside of the top three would have supplied in a draft mostly devoid at shooting guard. Finally, there is legitimate 3-point shooting in place.
Grade: B-plus

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

Dallas
Donnie Nelson long has been a fan of non-domestic prospects and chose that path again, trading for Oklahoma City No. 25 selection Rodrigue Beaubois, a 6-foot point guard out of Guadeloupe who has played the past three seasons in France. A replacement for Jason Kidd? Not likely. But there now is depth at the position. Beaubois is long, athletic and quick, while still developing his offensive game. He should fit in well in the Western Conference.
Grade: C

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Houston
Like the Magic, the Rockets sat idly by at the draft, having dealt each of its two picks. Considering the picks were spent on Ron Artest and Luis Scola, there could be little arguing the losses of those Nos. 23 and 53 selections. Artest essentially saved this past season, while Scola has proven nothing short of a revelation with his contributions the past two seasons. The draft might not have been a total loss. Jermaine Taylor, the guard taken out of Central Florida with the No. 32 overall pick by Washington and dealt to the Rockets, has NBA scoring skills.
Grade: A-minus

Memphis
Perhaps the Grizzlies' first selection, as much as any, defined the 2009 NBA draft, with the No. 2 overall pick a center who may never become an NBA scorer. That said, UConn center Hasheem Thabeet will definitely be an NBA-level shot-blocker. The rebounding remains to be seen, with such a slight build. If nothing else, the Grizzlies have a goaltender, as well as a center more active than Marc Gasol. It might have been a safe pick, but it is one that comes with tangible NBA skills. The Grizzlies followed that up with the selection of Missouri forward DeMarre Carroll, who, if he truly is beyond his health concerns, can be a contributor with his aggressive interior play. Even Pitt forward Sam Young, who was taken at No. 36 after falling from his first-round projection, has a chance.
Grade: B-plus

New Orleans
A team with limited finances and an even more limited bench got exactly what it needed in a ready-made prospect in UCLA senior point guard Darren Collison at No. 21. While the upside might be limited, Collison can get into the lane and create for himself and his teammates. It could wind up being a seamless transition when Chris Paul steps aside during games. A smart, win-now pick.
Grade: B-plus

San Antonio
This isn't about the Spurs' second-round picks, it is the way R.C. Buford and Gregg Popovich maximized the possibilities during draft week. Instead of rebuilding, the Spurs reloaded with the gamble on Richard Jefferson's oversized contract. Considering the move came at the cost of the expiring contracts of Bruce Brown, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas, it's hard to find a downside. Duncan, Ginobili and Parker now have solid support at the three. In fact, the Spurs might have found an immediate replacement for Thomas with the selection at No. 37 of Pitt power forward DeJuan Blair, who fell sharply because of concerns about previous knee surgeries.
Grade: A

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