{"numbering":"no_numbering","slides":[{"title":"WINNER: Philadelphia 76ers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Morey_D_USATSI_11891153.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports","published":1605797067,"caption":"

New Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey wasted no time making moves to improve his team's roster.

He got rid of Al Horford's contract (three years and more $70 million remaining) in a trade with the Thunder. Philly had to give up a 2025 first-rounder and a 2020 second-rounder to make the move, but it also got an excellent shooter in Danny Green and a young forward in Terrance Ferguson in return.

The Sixers also traded an overrated Josh Richardson, who's about to enter the final year of his contract, to the Mavericks for sharpshooter Seth Curry. Curry has three more years left on his deal at about $8.2 million per season -- making it one of the most team-friendly deals in the league.

Philly selected Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey at No. 21 in the first round, giving new head coach Doc Rivers another excellent perimeter defender.

The 76ers badly needed more shooting and better defense entering next season and Morey already has upgraded these areas in a meaningful way before free agency. He also got rid of a ton of salary by shipping out Horford and Richardson.

"},{"title":"LOSER: Charlotte Hornets","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Ball_LaMelo_Getty_1229675789_0.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1605797008,"caption":"

LaMelo Ball is perhaps the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the 2020 draft class. That's not the type of player a struggling Hornets franchise that's failed to be relevant for most of its history should be taking with the No. 3 overall pick.

Ball is a tremendous playmaker but his outside shooting ability is a concern and he's never played against real competition. He didn't compete in any of the top European leagues and never played NCAA basketball.

The Hornets didn't even need another ball-dominant guard with Devonte' Graham and Terry Rozier (who signed in free agency last summer) already in the backcourt.

Hornets owner Michael Jordan has an abysmal draft history as an executive, and Ball could be another one of his failures.

"},{"title":"WINNER: Sacramento Kings","video":"qgUIEIkHyzuH","thumbnail":{"uri":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/short_form_video/hero/Iowa_State_-_Tyrese_Haliburton.jpg","alt":"2020 NBA Draft Highlights: Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State","title":"2020 NBA Draft Highlights: Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State"},"credit":"","published":1605799250,"caption":"

The Kings probably never thought they'd have a chance to select Iowa State wing Tyrese Haliburton at No. 12 in the first round, but he was available and they smartly pounced. He was projected to go several picks higher in most mock drafts.

Haliburton is one of the most NBA-ready prospects in this draft class as a quality playmaker and a very good perimeter defender, which is good for a Kings team that needs to take a leap and reach the playoffs next season.

The Kings have made many bad picks over the years -- most recently Marvin Bagley over Luka Doncic at No. 2 in 2018 -- but they likely nailed this selection.

"},{"title":"LOSER: Traditional powerhouse programs","video":"ZESxYcji5_7H","thumbnail":{"uri":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/short_form_video/hero/2020_NBA_Draft_Highlights_-_TYRESE_MAXEY_1920x1080_1780872771692.jpg","alt":"2020 NBA Draft Highlights: Tyrese Maxey","title":"2020 NBA Draft Highlights: Tyrese Maxey"},"credit":"","published":1605799220,"caption":"

The top half of the first round usually is full of players from traditional powerhouses such as Kansas, Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina.

In fact, Kentucky entered Wednesday night with one of their players taken in the lottery in 10 consecutive drafts.

That streak ended in 2020 when zero players from Kentucky, Kansas, Duke and UNC went in the lottery for the first time since 2000.

The lack of high picks from these schools probably isn't going to impact their recruiting at all, but it was pretty rare for them to not be involved in the lottery.

"},{"title":"WINNER: LaVar Ball","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Ball_Lavar_Getty_1189732950_1.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1605799316,"caption":"

You might not like some of the things LaVar Ball says, but you cannot deny that he did a great job raising his sons and developing their skills on the basketball court.

His oldest son Lonzo was drafted No. 2 overall by the Lakers in 2017, and his youngest son LaMelo went No. 3 overall to the Hornets on Wednesday night.

Two sons in the top three is quite impressive.

"},{"title":"LOSER: Golden State Warriors","video":"YLfsPeSylaNj","thumbnail":{"uri":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/short_form_video/hero/JAMES_WISEMAN_1920x1080_1780875843510.jpg","alt":"2020 NBA Draft Highlights: James Wiseman","title":"2020 NBA Draft Highlights: James Wiseman"},"credit":"","published":1605799276,"caption":"

Wednesday was a difficult one for the Warriors with the news that star shooting guard Klay Thompson suffered a lower right leg injury. According to Yahoo! Sports' Chris Haynes, the "fear" is Thompson has "suffered a significant Achilles injury."

This would be a devastating blow to the Warriors' chances of winning the title next season. Thompson missed all of the 2019-20 campaign recovering from a torn ACL in his other leg.

Golden State addressed a huge need at center by selecting Memphis big man James Wiseman with the No. 2 overall pick, but now it has to find a way to replace an elite shooter and defender in Thompson.

"},{"title":"WINNER: Denver Nuggets","video":"7XbOEOqt_QJj","thumbnail":{"uri":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/short_form_video/hero/04ad676d011a_1920x1080.jpg","alt":"How RJ Hampton evolved and grew from his experience playing in New Zealand","title":"How RJ Hampton evolved and grew from his experience playing in New Zealand"},"credit":"","published":1605799709,"caption":"

The Nuggets have made a habit of getting great value in the draft without owning top 10 picks. They did it in 2018 by getting Michael Porter Jr. at No. 14, and they took a chance on Bol Bol in the second round last year. The Nuggets could get another steal with R.J. Hampton after trading up with the Pelicans to select him at No. 24 overall.

Hampton opted to play in New Zealand instead of NCAA basketball last season, and it hurt his draft stock because he didn't play well. If Hampton went to a big-time college program, he probably goes in the lottery Wednesday with his excellent athleticism and playmaking. Don't forget Hampton was the No. 5 prospect in the ESPN 100 ranking of his high school class and had offers from several elite college teams.

He also went to a great spot because the Nuggets don't need a ton of production from him right away. Denver already has one of the league's best rosters and can afford to take their time and develop Hampton.

"},{"title":"LOSER: Chicago Bulls","video":"kOHWEYX6RNLv","thumbnail":{"uri":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/short_form_video/hero/PATRICKWILLIAMS_FLORIDASTATE_1920x1080_1779271747802.jpg","alt":"2020 NBA Draft Highlights: Patrick Williams","title":"2020 NBA Draft Highlights: Patrick Williams"},"credit":"","published":1605799457,"caption":"

Taking Patrick Williams at No. 4 -- much higher than expected in most mock drafts -- was a huge risk for the Bills.

Williams is a tremendous athlete, but he didn't start at Florida State last season and shot just 32.3 percent from beyond the arc.

He does have amazing upside as a playmaker and defender, but this is a huge swing-for-the-fences type of pick by Chicago.

"},{"title":"WINNER: Brooklyn Nets","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/SHAMET_L_USATSI_14914202%20%281%29.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports","published":1605800409,"caption":"

The Nets are ready to compete right now with superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving coming off injuries.

Instead of adding a rookie unlikely to play a huge role off the bench with the No. 19 pick, Brooklyn traded the selection to the Clippers in exchange for Landry Shamet.

Shamet was a 2018 first-round pick and has averaged 9.2 points with a 40.2 3-point percentage in three seasons. His excellent outside shooting and free throw shooting gives the Nets a valuable player at a low salary for their bench.

"},{"title":"LOSER: Phoenix Suns","video":"vxBjZywIKicw","thumbnail":{"uri":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/short_form_video/hero/Jalen_Smith_1920x1080_1779244099924.jpg","alt":"2020 NBA Draft Highlights: Jalen Smith","title":"2020 NBA Draft Highlights: Jalen Smith"},"credit":"","published":1605800005,"caption":"

The Suns made a great trade to acquire future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul without giving up much earlier this week, but they reached in the first round by taking Maryland center Jalen Smith at No. 10 overall.

Smith was projected to go in the middle to late first round in most mock drafts.

It was an odd choice considering Phoenix already has DeAndre Ayton, the No. 1 pick in 2018, at the center position.

Smith can stretch the floor as a 3-point shooter, but he's not a great athlete and needs to improve on defense. Taking a wing, like Tyrese Haliburton, would have been a better choice for Phoenix.

Maybe the Suns deserve a break here because they reached for Cameron Johnson last year and that looks like it will be a decent pick, but taking a chance at No. 10 when you're close to being a playoff team doesn't make a ton of sense for Phoenix.

"},{"title":"WINNER: Boston Celtics","video":"ry6xYNWa915Q","thumbnail":{"uri":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/short_form_video/hero/2020_NBA_Draft_Highlights_-_Aaron_Nesmith_1920x1080_1810679875701.jpg","alt":"2020 NBA Draft Highlights: Aaron Nesmith","title":"2020 NBA Draft Highlights: Aaron Nesmith"},"credit":"","published":1605795312,"caption":"

The Celtics addressed a huge need in Round 1 by selecting two excellent shooters -- Vanderbilt's Aaron Nesmith at No. 14 and Oregon's Payton Pritchard at No. 26.

Nesmith shot 52.2 percent from 3-point range last season, while Pritchard shot 41.2 percent from beyond the arc as Pac-12 Player of the Year. Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard loved the pick of Pritchard on Twitter.

The C's traded their last first-rounder at No. 30 to the Grizzlies for two future second-round picks, which was another good move because Boston didn't need three more rookies on its roster.

The Celtics still have to add a center in free agency, but they did well to add much-needed shooting to their roster.

Damian Lillard congratulates Pritchard on Twitter

"}]}

2020 NBA Draft winners and losers: Analyzing best, worst picks and trades