My evaluation of the 2025 NBA Draft, which concluded Thursday night, focuses purely on the *process* behind each team`s selections, not the unpredictable *results*. Factors beyond a team`s control – particularly player health and development – significantly influence outcomes. Even teams with multiple picks cannot guarantee results in a single draft class.
Therefore, these grades assess draft picks based on the information and analysis available at the time they were made, considering prospect value and fit. I rely heavily on my statistics-based prospect projections, along with insights from ESPN`s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo.
Trades are also a critical component of this evaluation. Teams often overpay to move up in the draft, driven by overconfidence in their ability to scout prospects better than others. By these standards, the trade by the New Orleans Pelicans to jump from No. 23 to No. 13 was exceptionally risky. Consequently, the Pelicans received the lowest grade, while the Atlanta Hawks, their trade partner, are tied for the highest.
Here are my grades for all 30 teams:
Atlanta Hawks: A
Round 1: Asa Newell (No. 23)
The Atlanta Hawks earned an `A` grade primarily for their trade with the Pelicans, acquiring an unprotected 2026 first-round pick (the better of Milwaukee`s or New Orleans`) to move down 10 spots. This return was so favorable, the pick they ultimately made at No. 23, Asa Newell, felt like a bonus. Newell was ranked 13th in my statistical projections, representing excellent value at that pick position.
Whether Newell integrates quickly enough to complement recent acquisition Kristaps Porzingis remains to be seen. However, the potential fit is promising, as Porzingis`s strengths could effectively mitigate Newell`s weaknesses as a forward/center hybrid.
Boston Celtics: C+
Round 1: Hugo Gonzalez (No. 28)
Round 2: Amari Williams (No. 46), Max Shulga (No. 57)
Hugo Gonzalez might have been a more strategic selection for Boston as a stash player to develop overseas before joining the NBA. Instead, Brad Stevens indicated the Celtics plan to bring him over next season.
While compared to Denver`s Christian Braun on the broadcast, a key difference is shooting. Braun hit 38% of his 3s in college, whereas Gonzalez shot only 27% at Real Madrid.
Amari Williams is an interesting prospect with strengths in rebounding, rim protection, and elbow facilitation. However, his career 2-point percentage was just 54%, which is low for a non-shooting center. Max Shulga, Boston`s final pick, projected best in my model due to his strong 39% career 3-point shooting.
Brooklyn Nets: C+
Round 1: Egor Demin (No. 8), Nolan Traore (No. 19), Drake Powell (No. 22), Ben Saraf (No. 26), Danny Wolf (No. 27)
The Brooklyn Nets` unprecedented number of first-round picks is arguably more significant for their long-term strategic flexibility than the individual players chosen. This volume is why I rated their trades to acquire these picks highly.
Brooklyn is committing to developing a large group of young players, many of whom possess similar skill sets. Demin and Traore, for example, are both large playmakers whose shooting and scoring efficiency require improvement. While they can defend together, floor spacing could be a challenge with such lineups.
Drafting so many developing prospects should aid the Nets` goal of landing in the lottery again in 2026, the final year they control their own first-round pick before it conveys to Houston in 2027.
Charlotte Hornets: B
Round 1: Kon Knueppel (No. 4), Liam McNeeley (No. 29)
Round 2: Sion James (No. 33), Ryan Kalkbrenner (No. 34)
While jokes about the Hornets` focus on local players are inevitable, Kon Knueppel, ranked second in my projections, perfectly addresses Charlotte`s need for a shooting guard.
Although Tre Johnson also fit this profile, Knueppel was a more efficient scorer at Duke and rated higher in my metrics for his larger on-ball role in the Nike EYBL circuit.
Selecting Liam McNeeley, who fits a similar archetype, was likely a best-available pick after he surprisingly fell below his expected range in the early 20s. I am less enthusiastic about the Hornets taking Sion James, another Duke player, high in the second round. James was strictly a role player over five college seasons, with a career-high usage rate of just 17.1%.
Following the trade of starting center Mark Williams, there might be an immediate opportunity for Ryan Kalkbrenner to contribute if his pick-and-roll defense is ready for the NBA level.
Chicago Bulls: A-
Round 1: Noa Essengue (No. 12)
Round 2: Lachlan Olbrich (No. 55)
The potential pairing of Noa Essengue with 2024 lottery pick Matas Buzelis, another young combo forward, is intriguing. If they both develop consistent shooting or if Buzelis can occasionally play center after adding strength, their combined length and athleticism could benefit Chicago.
The Bulls deserve credit for selecting the best available player and continuing to draft young talent, despite their apparent reluctance to fully rebuild and secure higher lottery picks.
Cleveland Cavaliers: B
Round 2: Tyrese Proctor (No. 49), Saliou Niang (No. 58)
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn`t make a selection until late on the second night of the draft but landed an interesting prospect in Tyrese Proctor, who continued to develop after initially being projected as a one-and-done player. Proctor shot 40.5% from three last season and shows promise as an on-ball defender, although his steal rate could improve. Saliou Niang, a stash pick, faces longer odds due to his shooting struggles: 26% career from three and 71% from the free-throw line.
Dallas Mavericks: B
Round 1: Cooper Flagg (No. 1)
How long do you think the Mavericks` front office debated this pick? From the moment Dallas unexpectedly secured the No. 1 spot in the lottery, Cooper Flagg was the obvious and correct selection.
From a strategic standpoint, the Mavericks don`t receive credit for winning the lottery itself, only for successfully making the clear and correct pick.
Denver Nuggets: Incomplete
Expect to see the Denver Nuggets graded `incomplete` often. They controlled no future second-round picks until gaining their 2032 second-rounder when the draft concluded, and they still owe a pair of protected first-round picks, starting in 2027.
Detroit Pistons: B
Round 2: Chaz Lanier (No. 37)
Similar to fellow former Tennessee player Dalton Knecht, Chaz Lanier developed late, improving from averaging 4.7 points at North Florida in 2022-23 to 18 points in the SEC last season. He`s a skilled shooter (40% career from three) with good size, providing the Pistons with potential insurance if they cannot re-sign free agents Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Golden State Warriors: B
Round 2: Alex Toohey (No. 52), Will Richard (No. 56)
Alex Toohey`s shooting is still developing after hitting 31% in the Australian NBL last season, but his defensive engagement was notable in his steal and block rates. I`ve long favored Will Richard, who ranked in the top 30 of my projections due to his high 2-point shooting percentage.
Houston Rockets: Incomplete
The Houston Rockets used both of their 2025 draft picks to acquire Kevin Durant in a trade that will be finalized after July 6. As a result, despite their generally strong drafting history, they are considered winners purely based on this significant transaction.
Indiana Pacers: A
Round 2: Kam Jones (No. 38), Taelon Peter (No. 54)
The Indiana Pacers have made one of my favorite second-round selections for the second consecutive year. Unlike 2024 second-rounder Johnny Furphy, who played sparingly as a rookie at age 20, the 23-year-old Kam Jones has greater potential for immediate contribution. Indiana could use backcourt depth, especially with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined after his Achilles injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Taelon Peter, who primarily played at Division II Arkansas Tech, is an intriguing late-round swing. He`s a guard who averaged only 1.0 assist as a fifth-year senior at Liberty, but his impressive 76% on 2-pointers and 45% on 3-pointers make passing less necessary. While it`s uncertain if his unique production will translate, there`s no downside for Indiana taking this chance at the No. 54 pick.
LA Clippers: C-
Round 1: Yanic Konan Niederhauser (No. 30)
Round 2: Kobe Sanders (No. 50)
As a second-round selection, the value proposition for the late-blooming Yanic Konan Niederhauser, an excellent shot blocker who developed into a scoring threat after transferring to Penn State, would be easier to justify.
However, drafting him in the first round is a tougher sell, considering Niederhauser`s below-average defensive rebounding and more than twice as many assists as turnovers. His overall profile is somewhat similar to Daniel Oturu, whom the Clippers drafted at No. 33 in 2020.
Kobe Sanders also developed late, not averaging double-digit scoring until his fourth college year. My projections assign more weight to earlier college seasons, as early standout performance is typically a better predictor of NBA success.
Los Angeles Lakers: B+
Round 2: Adou Thiero (No. 36)
Credit to the Los Angeles Lakers for utilizing cash to move up from No. 55 to No. 36 following a couple of prior trades. Adou Thiero`s steal and block rates indicate significant defensive potential, provided he can develop a consistent outside shot to stay on the floor. Thiero was a career 28% three-point shooter in college.
Memphis Grizzlies: C-
Round 1: Cedric Coward (No. 11)
Round 2: Javon Small (No. 48), Jahmai Mashack (No. 59)
It wouldn`t feel like a Grizzlies draft without a trade-up; this is their fourth in the first round since 2019. Their move up two spots for Brandon Clarke worked out, but giving up more value for Jake LaRavia and Ziaire Williams did not.
In this draft, Memphis sent one of the unprotected Orlando first-round picks acquired in the Desmond Bane trade to move up five spots, which represents questionable value at best. This is not an indictment of Cedric Coward, who ranked 13th in my stats-only projections. However, waiting to see if either Coward or Carter Bryant (No. 14) would be available later would have been a less costly approach.
I liked the value Memphis found with Javon Small, who is fittingly undersized but scored efficiently given his 28% usage rate as a senior at West Virginia. Jahmai Mashack, who peaked at 6.0 PPG as a senior at Tennessee, would have fit the old “Grit n` Grind” Grizzlies style with his active defense.
Miami Heat: A-
Round 1: Kasparas Jakucionis (No. 20)
Kasparas Jakucionis is an imperfect prospect. His steal and block rates are notably low, and he also struggled with turnovers during his single season at Illinois.
However, his fall to No. 20 feels like an overcorrection for a player who was ranked among the top 10 by many for much of the year. Miami took advantage with one of the draft`s better value picks.
Milwaukee Bucks: B
Round 2: Bogoljub Markovic (No. 47)
No prospect the Milwaukee Bucks could have selected at pick 47 was going to fundamentally alter Giannis Antetokounmpo`s future in Milwaukee. Bogoljub Markovic scored efficiently in his first full season in the Adriatic League, shooting 61% on 2s and 37% on 3s, although low steal and block rates raise defensive questions.
Minnesota Timberwolves: B-
Round 1: Joan Beringer (No. 17)
Round 2: Rocco Zikarsky (No. 45)
The Minnesota Timberwolves can clearly envision how Joan Beringer, a low-usage center who was a standout rim protector in Slovenia, might fit into their system. While it`s unrealistic to expect him to become Rudy Gobert, a premier finisher with a significantly longer wingspan, Beringer has the potential to fill a similar defensive role as Gobert ages.
In the second round, the Timberwolves reinforced this strategy by selecting the 7-foot-3 Rocco Zikarsky. These two players have remarkably similar projections, and it will be interesting to observe how Minnesota manages their parallel development.
New Orleans Pelicans: F
Round 1: Jeremiah Fears (No. 7), Derik Queen (No. 13)
Round 2: Micah Peavy (No. 40)
It is theoretically possible for a trade like the Pelicans made for Derik Queen at No. 13 to succeed. The Phoenix Suns gave up an unprotected future first-rounder in 2018 to move up six spots and never regretted drafting Mikal Bridges.
However, New Orleans is making a significant bet on their evaluation that Queen, despite being projected outside the top 30 by my model, is less valuable than Jeremiah Fears but still worth trading up for. The downside is substantial, especially since the Pelicans` own 2026 pick is potentially part of the deal. At least Bridges was a prospect who rated sixth overall in my projections.
I initially appreciated New Orleans not feeling pressured to take Fears at No. 7, where he was considered the consensus best prospect available by some. Yet, with hindsight, the Pelicans would have been better off drafting Queen with their original pick than acquiring both prospects through this trade. Micah Peavy had a breakout season as a fifth-year senior at Georgetown, averaging 17.2 points and 2.3 steals. His jump to 40% three-point shooting provides a chance at a 3-and-D role, though he didn`t show similar improvement at the foul line (66%).
New York Knicks: C+
Round 2: Mohamed Diawara (No. 51)
Mohamed Diawara has not yet established himself as an impactful player in his native France, averaging just 5.8 points for Cholet last season. Stashing Diawara overseas for further development might be a more logical approach than immediately using a roster spot on him.
Oklahoma City Thunder: B
Round 1: Thomas Sorber (No. 15)
Round 2: Brooks Barnhizer (No. 44)
As with Beringer in Minnesota, the vision here for Thomas Sorber is clear. Sorber posted excellent defensive statistics at Georgetown and showed strong passing ability for a freshman center, recording more assists than turnovers.
One can envision him potentially filling a role similar to Isaiah Hartenstein, who might become an odd man out as Oklahoma City`s core players become more expensive.
Given their lack of roster spots for multiple first-round picks, the Thunder traded the No. 24 pick to Sacramento for a future pick. This deal lacks significant upside (Oklahoma City cannot pick higher than No. 17 with the acquired pick) but better aligns with the timeline of a championship-contending team.
Brooks Barnhizer is expected to be on a two-way contract. He was an inefficient college scorer (.500 true shooting percentage) but was effective at racking up steals and blocks at Northwestern.
Orlando Magic: B+
Round 1: Jase Richardson (No. 25)
Round 2: Noah Penda (No. 32)
There`s a pleasing symmetry in Jase Richardson joining one of the four NBA teams his father, Jason Richardson, played for. I also view this pick as good value.
Richardson was projected in the lottery before measuring slightly over 6 feet without shoes at the NBA draft combine. Such dramatic shifts in perception based on measurements always puzzle me, especially since Richardson was productive at Michigan State.
Orlando doesn`t need Richardson to contribute immediately, allowing him time to develop into a rotation player as the Magic experience the future costs associated with acquiring Desmond Bane.
Orlando then paid a significant price – No. 46 and No. 57, plus two future second-rounders – to trade up for Noah Penda. Penda`s shooting remains a work in progress; he shot under 70% from the free-throw line last season.
Philadelphia 76ers: B+
Round 1: VJ Edgecombe (No. 3)
Round 2: Johni Broome (No. 35)
Although Kon Knueppel was slightly higher in my projections, I likely would have chosen VJ Edgecombe here as well. I appreciate his strong defensive foundation, evidenced by a high steal rate at Baylor, and his athleticism, which could allow him to develop into a shot creator.
Knueppel might have been a cleaner fit alongside Joel Embiid initially, but given Embiid`s health history, I question whether focusing solely on that timeline is Philadelphia`s primary concern anymore.
Johni Broome, a consensus first-team All-American last season, could provide immediate help for the Sixers. He brings more skill at the center position than the backups (Andre Drummond and Adem Bona) who struggled to fill in for Embiid last season.
Phoenix Suns: B
Round 1: Khaman Maluach (No. 10)
Round 2: Rasheer Fleming (No. 31), Koby Brea (No. 41)
A Duke center fell to the Phoenix Suns, a team in need of frontcourt help, who also made a separate trade to acquire former Duke center Mark Williams. It`s worth questioning, especially in this context, whether Phoenix could have made more favorable trades like teams just behind them did. However, with Khaman Maluach being the top prospect available at No. 10, standing pat made sense for the Suns.
Phoenix used future picks to move up to the first pick in the second round and also acquired pick No. 41. Teams were reportedly eager to draft Saint Joseph`s forward Rasheer Fleming, who ranked 12th in my stats-only projections. Fleming provides the Suns with another quality shot blocker, this time with better shooting range. While Koby Brea is another shooting guard on a team already deep at that position, Phoenix could significantly benefit from his shooting, as he possesses the highest shooting skill projection of any player in my database, particularly if Grayson Allen is traded.
Portland Trail Blazers: C-
Round 1: Yang Hansen (No. 16)
Yang Hansen might one day become an All-Star and lead the Trail Blazers to championship contention. What we *do* know is that other teams did not value Hansen as highly as Portland, meaning the team is betting heavily on their ability to scout better than the market.
To their credit, the Blazers did acquire an extra first-round pick by trading down. However, they would have been much better off executing a trade similar to the one the Hawks made, had it been available.
Sacramento Kings: C
Round 1: Nique Clifford (No. 24)
Round 2: Maxime Raynaud (No. 42)
Having traded the No. 13 pick to Atlanta as part of the Kevin Huerter deal, the Sacramento Kings utilized extra first-rounders acquired from the De`Aaron Fox trade to get back into the first round. Sacramento mitigated the potential downside of this move by placing top-16 protection on the pick, which has only a one-year window to convey.
My model was less optimistic about Nique Clifford than scouts were because he didn`t emerge as a serious NBA prospect until his fifth college year at age 23. Time will reveal how much of this was genuine skill improvement versus leveraging an experience advantage that might not translate.
Scouts also seemed higher on Maxime Raynaud than his statistics suggested, largely due to his subpar block rate for a center. However, my model missed on Quinten Post last year, and Raynaud brings a similar skill set after hitting 67 three-pointers as a senior.
San Antonio Spurs: A
Round 1: Dylan Harper (No. 2), Carter Bryant (No. 14)
Dylan Harper was consistently projected as the consensus No. 2 pick, so aside from considering potential blockbuster trades, San Antonio`s work at the top was straightforward.
The Spurs deserve more credit for their other lottery selection, patiently waiting for Carter Bryant to fall to them. I am high on Bryant`s potential as a 3-and-D player, making him an ideal fit on a team already rich in shot creation with Harper, De`Aaron Fox, and Victor Wembanyama.
Toronto Raptors: B
Round 1: Collin Murray-Boyles (No. 9)
Round 2: Alijah Martin (No. 39)
I believe Collin Murray-Boyles` unconventional game can succeed in the NBA, although Toronto might not be the ideal landing spot. For him to thrive as a power forward, he needs shooting around him, and the Raptors have a non-shooting center in Jakob Poeltl and only adequate perimeter shooting.
If 2024 second-round pick Jonathan Mogbo develops a reliable three-point shot after shooting 24% as a rookie, these two undersized big men could form an interesting, high-impact defensive frontcourt pairing.
Alijah Martin is undersized for a shooting guard at 6-foot-2 but was productive in college, ranking 26th in my stats-only projections.
Utah Jazz: B+
Round 1: Ace Bailey (No. 5), Walter Clayton Jr. (No. 18)
Round 2: John Tonje (No. 53)
I`ve previously compared Ace Bailey to the Boston Celtics` duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum coming out of college, suggesting he`d benefit from joining a contending team where he could refine his shot selection. That comparison seems particularly relevant now, as the same executives who drafted Brown and Tatum (Austin and Danny Ainge) selected Bailey to join a Utah team currently far from contention. The value for Bailey, ranked fifth in my model, makes sense here, and I`m not concerned about reports he preferred not to land in Utah.
However, the Jazz will need to carefully manage his development to help Bailey become a perimeter star, mirroring Boston`s success with Brown and Tatum. Adding Walter Clayton Jr., an NCAA champion and potent outside shooter, could assist this process. While Utah`s backcourt is crowded, veterans like Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton might not be long-term fixtures, potentially creating opportunity for Clayton.
At 24, John Tonje was the oldest player selected. He drew fouls effectively at Wisconsin as a sixth-year senior, getting to the line nearly seven times per game, though this may be discounted. However, Tonje`s 91% free-throw shooting and 38% three-point shooting should translate more reliably to the NBA.
Washington Wizards: B-
Round 1: Tre Johnson (No. 6), Will Riley (No. 21)
Round 2: Jamir Watkins (No. 43)
Similar to the Nets, the Washington Wizards are heavily investing in youth, adding two more teenagers to the four they drafted or acquired from the 2024 first round (including AJ Johnson). I was skeptical of Tre Johnson as a top-five prospect due to his poor defensive metrics and low 2-point percentage. However, outside of that range, his potential as a shooter justifies the pick. Will Riley was selected slightly earlier than my projection, and he also needs to improve his defensive playmaking.
Jamir Watkins, who will turn 24 in July, brings more experience. While his defensive potential is clear, he needs to improve his career 32.5% three-point shooting.
