By the Numbers: Winners and Losers From the 2017 NBA Draft

Losers

There were a lot more winners than losers on Thursday night, but the losers sure did bomb in one way or another.

Chicago Bulls

We already discussed how the Bulls made out on that Jimmy Butler deal, but could they come back from that with the seventh overall pick? In short, the answer's no.

Don't get me wrong, snatching up Arizona's Lauri Markkanen was a good move. With a seven-foot frame and 1.9 threes per game (on 42.3% shooting) a year ago, Markkanen projects as a stretch-four at the next level, and that's something just about every team (especially the now rebuilding Bulls) could use in today's league.

Nevertheless, the Bulls will have to pull off some crazy stuff if they want to overcome the departure of their best player for the uncertainty of three young players. Furthermore, the possibility of Dwyane Wade asking for a buyout midseason has basically doubled overnight. So the Bulls will have to find a way to fill seats absent any hope of winning in the here and now.

New York Knicks

If Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks really wanted to get "rid" of Kristaps Porzingis, this was the time to do it. A loaded draft class consisting of players like Jayson Tatum, Josh Jackson and Jonathan Isaac was tailor-made for a roster overhaul, but the Knicks' asking price was just too high for Boston and those other teams lined up at the door.

Absent a move, the Knicks stayed put at number eight and awaited the leftovers. There, they tagged French point man Frank Ntilikina. But, while Ntilikina possesses a promising 6'5" frame, there's the possibility that he flames out when thrown into the fire that is the Knicks franchise. Having played just 44 games and 19.2 minutes per, the 18-year-old doesn't have the experience to cope with tough situations and probably won't perform right away.

North Carolina State's Dennis Smith -- the ninth overall pick to Dallas -- probably would've been a better selection at this point. With his skill-set and college production, the 19-year-old might be better prepared for such a situation than the younger, more undeveloped Ntilikina.

Indiana Pacers

In terms of their actual selections, the Indiana Pacers could've done a lot worse than TJ Leaf, Ike Anigbogu and Edmond Sumner.

Sumner -- a 6'5" guard out of Xavier -- will provide backcourt depth in addition to the unique combination of scoring (14.3 points per game in 2016-17) and play-making (4.8) a team like Indiana craves. Their two first-rounders, both UCLA graduates, will do the opposite and attempt to rectify the Pacers' rebounding woes.

This past season, Indiana finished the year 26th with 42.0 rebounds per game on the league's sixth-worst defensive rebounding rate (75.4%). In their time together as Bruins, Leaf and Anigbogu averaged a combined 23.4 rebounds per 40 minutes as they accumulated rebound rates of 14.9% and 16.9%, respectively.

Having said all that, not trading Paul George for more picks (and possibly a player like Julius Randle or Jordan Clarkson) now could lead to George walking into free agency next summer without the Pacers getting anything in return. And there's no excuse for that.

Miami Heat

At pick 14, Kentucky big man Bam Adebayo was only a slight reach, but the real issue with the pick is that it doesn't properly address a need for the Miami Heat.

Having finished this season ranked 29th in free throws per field goal attempt (.177), the Heat brass had the right idea in targeting a guy who attempted .831 free throws per field goal attempt, but Adebayo isn't the penetrating force they need. In his one collegiate season, the 19-year-old attempted just 7.5 field goal attempts and shot just 65.3% when he got to the line. That will do more bad than good for a team ranked dead last in free throw percentage (70.6%) in 2016-17.