2025 NBA draft grades: Winners, losers for all 30 groups
My staff grades for the 2025 NBA draft, accomplished Thursday night time, are the one ones you will learn that are not involved with outcomes.
After the groups name of their picks, elements outdoors their management — and even maybe outdoors the participant’s management, significantly well being — will decide the outcomes. No staff, not even the Brooklyn Nets with their 5 first-round picks, drafts sufficient gamers in a single 12 months for that to even out.
Maintaining that in thoughts, we’re evaluating picks primarily based on the data accessible to us on the time they have been made by way of worth and match. I am relying closely on my stats-based projections for prospects, in addition to evaluation from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo.
Trades are additionally thought of. On the whole, groups overpay to maneuver up within the draft, overestimating their potential to guage prospects higher than their friends. Even by these requirements, this 12 months’s commerce up from No. 23 to No. 13 by the New Orleans Pelicans stands out as particularly dangerous. Because of this, the Pelicans acquired the worst grade of any staff, and the Atlanta Hawks (who handled New Orleans) are tied for one of the best.
Let’s run by way of my grades for each staff.
It virtually did not matter whom the Hawks took after getting an unprotected 2026 first-round decide — the higher of these from Milwaukee and New Orleans — through the Pelicans to maneuver down 10 spots. I may need made that commerce straight up with out getting No. 23. All the higher that Atlanta took a prospect ranked thirteenth in my projections.
Time will inform if Newell cracks the rotation rapidly sufficient to pair with newly acquired Kristaps Porzingis, however I like that match as a result of Porzingis’ strengths match completely with the shortcomings that make Newell a ahead/heart tweener.
Gonzalez would have made extra sense for Boston as a stash decide who would come over later in his growth. As a substitute, Brad Stevens indicated the Celtics plan to carry him to the NBA subsequent season.
On the printed, Gonzalez was in comparison with Denver Nuggets wing Christian Braun. One key distinction: Braun, although not considered a shooter, hit 38% of his 3s in faculty. Gonzalez shot 27% at Actual Madrid.
Williams is an intriguing prospect with a number of strengths as a rebounder, rim protector and facilitator on the elbow. However he shot simply 54% profession on 2s, very poor for a middle who does not stretch the ground. Shulga, the final of Boston’s three picks, projected greatest in my mannequin due to his 39% profession 3-point taking pictures.
The Nets’ record-setting quantity of first-round choices is sort of extra vital from a course of standpoint than the picks, one cause I gave excessive marks to the trades to accumulate them.
Brooklyn is betting on growing a outstanding variety of youngsters, lots of them with overlapping ability units. Demin and Traore share loads of traits as sturdy playmakers with measurement whose taking pictures and scoring effectivity want work. They’ll play collectively defensively, however spacing the ground with these teams may show difficult.
Drafting so many uncooked gamers ought to assist the Nets’ efforts to land within the lottery once more in 2026, the final 12 months they management their first-round decide earlier than the Houston Rockets get it in 2027.
Cue the jokes in regards to the Hornets’ penchant for drafting gamers from the Analysis Triangle, however Knueppel was second in my projections and completely fills Charlotte’s void at taking pictures guard.
Though the identical was true of Tre Johnson, Knueppel was a much more environment friendly scorer at Duke and rated higher by my metrics than Johnson in a bigger on-ball position within the Nike EYBL.
Choosing McNeeley, who suits the same mould, was most likely a best-available decide after he dropped properly under his anticipated vary within the early 20s. I am much less enamored with the Hornets taking James, one other Blue Satan, excessive within the second spherical. Strictly a task participant in 5 faculty seasons, James by no means had a utilization charge larger than 17.1%.
After Charlotte traded beginning heart Mark Williams, there is perhaps a gap for Kalkbrenner to contribute instantly if his pick-and-roll protection is on top of things.
Spherical 1: Noa Essengue (No. 12)
Spherical 2: Lachlan Olbrich (No. 55)
I am intrigued by how Essengue will match with 2024 lottery decide Matas Buzelis, one other younger combo ahead. In the event that they shoot properly sufficient to play collectively at ahead or Buzelis bulks up sufficient to play heart at occasions, they’d give Chicago mixed strengths of size and athleticism.
Credit score to the Bulls for taking one of the best participant accessible and persevering with to draft younger, regardless of their resistance to bottoming out and choosing larger within the lottery.
Spherical 2: Tyrese Proctor (No. 49), Saliou Niang (No. 58)
The Cavaliers did not get on the clock till properly into Evening 2 of the draft and landed an fascinating prospect in Proctor, who continued to develop after the one-and-done hype. Proctor shot 40.5% on 3s final season and reveals promise as an on-ball defender, although he may enhance his steal charge. Niang, a stash decide, faces longer odds due to his taking pictures: 26% profession on 3s and 71% from the foul line.
1:17
What are the rookie expectations for Cooper Flagg?
Tim MacMahon and Tim Bontemps share their lofty expectations for Cooper Flagg’s rookie season with the Mavericks.
Spherical 1: Cooper Flagg (No. 1)
How lengthy do you assume the Mavericks’ entrance workplace debated this decide? From the second Dallas’ mixture unexpectedly got here up No. 1 within the draft lottery, we knew Flagg was the decide, and rightfully so.
From a course of standpoint, the Mavericks do not get credit score for successful the lottery, just for not screwing it up.
Get used to seeing the Nuggets graded “incomplete.” They did not management any future second-round decide earlier than getting their 2032 second-rounder when the draft concluded and nonetheless owe a pair of protected first-round picks, beginning in 2027.
Spherical 2: Chaz Lanier (No. 37)
Very like fellow former Tennessee star Dalton Knecht, Lanier bloomed late, going from 4.7 factors at North Florida in 2022-23 to averaging 18 factors within the SEC final season. He is a big-time shooter (40% profession on 3s) with measurement who provides the Pistons some insurance coverage if they can not re-sign free brokers Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Spherical 2: Alex Toohey (No. 52), Will Richard (No. 56)
Toohey’s taking pictures continues to be a piece in progress after he hit 31% within the Australian NBL final season, however his defensive exercise stood out in steal and block charges. I’ve lengthy preferred Richard, who ranked within the high 30 of my projections due to his excessive 2-point proportion.
The Rockets used each of this 12 months’s picks to accumulate Kevin Durant in a commerce that may’t be accomplished till July 6. Because of this, contemplate them a winner regardless of their sturdy observe document within the draft.
Spherical 2: Kam Jones (No. 38), Taelon Peter (No. 54)
The Pacers have made certainly one of my favourite second-round picks two years in a row. In contrast to 2024 second-rounder Johnny Furphy, who performed sparingly as a rookie at age 20, Jones, 23, has extra potential to contribute instantly. Indiana may use the guard assist with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined after his Achilles rupture throughout Sport 7 of the NBA Finals
Peter, who spent the majority of his faculty profession at Division II Arkansas Tech, is an enchanting swing. He is a guard who averaged simply 1.0 help as a fifth-year senior at Liberty, however why move whenever you shoot 76% on 2s and 45% on 3s? I am unsure that can translate, however on the No. 54 decide, there is no draw back for Indiana.
Spherical 1: Yanic Konan Niederhauser (No. 30)
Spherical 2: Kobe Sanders (No. 50)
As a second-round decide, I may purchase the worth proposition on the late-blooming Niederhauser, an excellent shot blocker who grew right into a scoring menace after transferring to Penn State.
Taking him within the first spherical is a harder promote, on condition that Niederhauser is a below-average defensive rebounder and posted greater than twice as many assists as turnovers. The general profile is much like Daniel Oturu, drafted No. 33 by the Clippers in 2020.
Sanders was a late bloomer as properly, not having averaged double-figure scoring till his fourth 12 months in faculty. My projections put extra weight on earlier faculty seasons as a result of standing out early has usually been a greater indicator.
Spherical 2: Adou Thiero (No. 36)
Kudos to the Lakers for utilizing money to maneuver up from No. 55 to No. 36 after making a pair of trades. Thiero’s steal and block charges recommend defensive potential if he could make sufficient outdoors pictures to remain on the court docket. Thiero was a profession 28% faculty 3-point shooter.
1:58
Why the Grizzlies chosen Cedric Coward
Take a look at the performs that led Cedric Coward to the Grizzlies within the first spherical of the NBA Draft.
Spherical 1: Cedric Coward (No. 11)
Spherical 2: Javon Small (No. 48), Jahmai Mashack (No. 59)
It would not be a Grizzlies draft with out a commerce up, their fourth within the first spherical since 2019. Going up two spots for Brandon Clarke labored out. Giving up extra worth to get Jake LaRavia and Ziaire Williams didn’t.
On this case, Memphis despatched one of many unprotected Orlando first-round picks acquired within the Desmond Bane commerce to maneuver up 5 picks, which is questionable worth, at greatest. Do not take this as an indictment of Coward, who ranked thirteenth within the stats-only model of my projections. However I’d have waited at the very least till both Coward or Carter Bryant (No. 14) was off the board earlier than transferring up.
I preferred the Grizzlies’ worth with Small, who’s — fittingly — undersized however scored effectively, contemplating his 28% utilization charge as a senior at West Virginia. Mashack, who topped out at 6.0 PPG as a senior at Tennessee, would have match the Grit n’ Grind Grizzlies together with his lively protection.
Spherical 1: Kasparas Jakucionis (No. 20)
Jakucionis is an imperfect prospect. His steal and block charges are troublingly low, and he additionally struggled with turnovers in his lone season at Illinois.
This nonetheless looks like an overcorrection for a participant who was ranked within the high 10 a lot of the 12 months, and Miami took benefit with one of many draft’s higher worth picks.
Spherical 2: Bogoljub Markovic (No. 47)
No prospect the Bucks may have drafted on the forty seventh decide was going to change Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee. Markovic scored effectively in his first full season within the Adriatic League, taking pictures 61% on 2s and 37% on 3s, although low steal and block charges increase defensive questions.
Spherical 1: Joan Beringer (No. 17)
Spherical 2: Rocco Zikarsky (No. 45)
The Timberwolves can envision how Beringer, a low-usage heart who was a premier rim protector enjoying in Slovenia, will match of their system. It is unrealistic to anticipate Beringer to turn into Rudy Gobert, a premier finisher with a wingspan measured 4 inches larger on the NBA draft mix.
However as Gobert ages, Minnesota will want a substitute and Beringer has the potential to fill that void.
Within the second spherical, the Timberwolves doubled down on that position by taking the 7-foot-3 Zikarsky. The 2 gamers have remarkably comparable projections, and it is going to be fascinating to see how Minnesota handles their simultaneous growth.
Spherical 1: Jeremiah Fears (No. 7), Derik Queen (No. 13)
Spherical 2: Micah Peavy (No. 40)
It is attainable for a commerce just like the Pelicans made to take Queen at No. 13 to work out. The Phoenix Suns gave up an unprotected future first-rounder in 2018 to maneuver up six spots and by no means regretted touchdown Mikal Bridges.
Nonetheless, New Orleans is betting closely on its analysis that Queen is much less helpful than Fears and nonetheless value transferring as much as get. And the draw back is larger as a result of the Pelicans’ personal 2026 decide is doubtlessly a part of the deal. No less than Bridges was a prospect who rated sixth general in my projections. Queen was outdoors the highest 30.
I preferred New Orleans eschewing the necessity to take Fears at No. 7, when he was the consensus greatest prospect on the board. However with hindsight, the Pelicans could be higher off having drafted Queen with their very own decide than touchdown each prospects.
Peavy broke out as a fifth-year senior at Georgetown, averaging 17.2 factors and a couple of.3 steals. The soar to 40% 3-point taking pictures provides Peavy a shot at a 3-and-D position, although he did not present the identical enchancment on the foul line (66%).
Spherical 2: Mohamed Diawara (No. 51)
Diawara hasn’t developed into an influence participant in his native France, having averaged simply 5.8 factors for Cholet final season. Stashing Diawara abroad may make extra sense than having him take up a roster spot.
Spherical 1: Thomas Sorber (No. 15)
Spherical 2: Brooks Barnhizer (No. 44)
As with Beringer, the imaginative and prescient right here is obvious. Sorber posted terrific defensive numbers at Georgetown and was a robust passer for a freshman heart, recording extra assists than turnovers.
Squint and you may see the define of Isaiah Hartenstein, prone to be an odd man out as Oklahoma Metropolis’s core grows costlier.
Missing roster spots for a number of first-round picks, the Thunder pushed the No. 24 decide down the highway in a cope with Sacramento that lacks upside (Oklahoma Metropolis cannot decide larger than No. 17), however higher suits the timeline for the champs.
Barnhizer might be on a two-way contract, per Givony. He was an inefficient faculty scorer (.500 true taking pictures proportion) who racked up steals and blocks at Northwestern.
Spherical 1: Jase Richardson (No. 25)
Spherical 2: Noah Penda (No. 32)
There’s enjoyable symmetry in Richardson going to certainly one of his father Jason Richardson’s 4 NBA groups, and I additionally like the worth.
Richardson was projected within the lottery earlier than measuring in at somewhat over 6 ft in naked ft within the NBA draft mix. Such dramatic shifts all the time confuse me. Richardson nonetheless produced at Michigan State.
Orlando does not want Richardson to contribute now, however he can develop right into a rotation participant when the Magic are feeling the impact of giving up 4 first-rounders to accumulate Bane.
Orlando then paid a heavy value — No. 46 and No. 57, plus two future second-rounders — to commerce as much as take Penda. Penda’s taking pictures is a piece in progress. He hit beneath 70% of his free throws final season.
1:22
V.J. Edgecombe’s household emotional after draft choice
V.J. Edgecombe, alongside together with his mom and brother, get emotional whereas recounting their story from the Bahamas to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Spherical 1: VJ Edgecombe (No. 3)
Spherical 2: Johni Broome (No. 35)
Though Knueppel was somewhat forward in my projections, I most likely would have taken Edgecombe right here, too. I like his defensive base, with a sky-high steal charge at Baylor, and athleticism to turn into a shot creator.
Knueppel may need match extra cleanly with Joel Embiid, however given the state of Embiid’s well being, I am unsure that must be Philadelphia’s main timeline anymore.
A consensus first-team All-America decide final season, Broome may assist the Sixers instantly. He brings extra ability to the middle spot than the backups (Andre Drummond and Adem Bona) who struggled to fill in for Embiid final season.
Spherical 1: Khaman Maluach (No. 10)
Spherical 2: Rasheer Fleming (No. 31), Koby Brea (No. 41)
A Duke heart fell to the frontcourt-needy Suns, who additionally unusually traded to accumulate former Duke heart Mark Williams in a deal graded individually.
It is value questioning, significantly in that context, whether or not Phoenix may have gotten the precious trades down that groups simply behind them made. However as Maluach was the highest prospect on the board, standing pat made extra sense for the Suns.
Phoenix used future picks to maneuver as much as the highest decide within the second spherical and No. 41. Groups have been competing to take Saint Joseph’s ahead Rasheer Fleming, twelfth in my stats-only projections. Fleming provides the Suns one other high quality shot blocker, this time with extra vary. Although Brea is one other taking pictures guard on a staff overloaded with them, Phoenix may use his taking pictures — he has the best ability projection as a shooter of any participant in my database — significantly if Grayson Allen is traded.
Spherical 1: Yang Hansen (No. 16)
Hansen may turn into an All-Star. He could lead on the Blazers into championship competition. What we do know is that different groups did not worth Hansen as a lot as Portland, which means the staff is betting on its potential to beat the market.
To the Blazers’ credit score, they picked up an additional first-round decide by transferring down. However they might have been much better off making the identical commerce the Hawks did, if it have been accessible.
Spherical 1: Nique Clifford (No. 24)
Spherical 2: Maxime Raynaud (No. 42)
Having despatched the No. 13 decide to Atlanta to finish the Kevin Huerter commerce, the Kings tapped into the additional first-rounders coming from the De’Aaron Fox deal to get again within the first spherical. Sacramento restricted the attainable draw back of the transfer by placing top-16 safety on the decide, which has solely a one-year window to convey.
My mannequin was decrease on Clifford than scouts as a result of he did not emerge as a severe NBA prospect till his fifth 12 months of school at age 23. Time will inform how a lot of that was Clifford legitimately bettering his ability, versus using an expertise benefit that will not carry over.
Scouts have been additionally larger on Raynaud, largely due to his subpar block charge for a middle. However my mannequin missed on Quinten Put up final 12 months, and Raynaud brings the same ability set after hitting 67 3-pointers as a senior.
Spherical 1: Dylan Harper (No. 2), Carter Bryant (No. 14)
Harper was all the time the consensus No. 2 decide, so apart from contemplating attainable blockbuster trades, San Antonio’s work there was finished early.
The Spurs get extra credit score for his or her different lottery decide, the place they waited out Bryant falling to them. I am excessive on Bryant’s 3-and-D potential, making him an excellent match on a staff that is overflowing with shot creation between Harper, Fox and Victor Wembanyama.
Spherical 1: Collin Murray-Boyles (No. 9)
Spherical 2: Alijah Martin (No. 39)
I am a believer that Murray-Boyles’ unorthodox sport will translate to the NBA, although Toronto wasn’t an excellent touchdown spot.
If he will succeed as an influence ahead, Murray-Boyles wants taking pictures round him, and the Raptors have a nonshooting heart in Jakob Poeltl and solely satisfactory perimeter taking pictures.
If 2024 second-round decide Jonathan Mogbo develops 3-point vary after taking pictures 24% as a rookie, the 2 undersized large males could possibly be an fascinating frontcourt pairing that is excessive on influence defensive performs.
Martin is undersized for a taking pictures guard at 6-foot-2 however productive in faculty. He ranked twenty sixth in my stats-only projections.
2:40
Jazz proprietor tells McAfee about resolution to draft Ace Bailey
Jazz proprietor Ryan Smith talks to Pat McAfee about why the staff drafted Ace Bailey with the fifth decide.
Spherical 1: Ace Bailey (No. 5), Walter Clayton Jr. (No. 18)
Spherical 2: John Tonje (No. 53)
I’ve in contrast Bailey to the Boston Celtics’ duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum popping out of school by way of going to a contending staff, the place he’d be requested to refine his shot choice.
That comparability seems to be particularly related after the identical executives who drafted these wings (Austin and Danny Ainge) took Bailey to hitch a Utah staff that is nonetheless removed from successful. The worth proposition for Bailey, fifth in my mannequin, is sensible right here. And I am not anxious that Bailey did not need to land right here.
However the Jazz must rigorously handle his growth to show Bailey into a fringe star because the Celtics did with Brown and Tatum. Including Clayton, an NCAA champion and potent outdoors shooter, may assist that course of. Utah has a crowded backcourt, however veterans Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton may not be a part of that for lengthy, creating alternative for Clayton.
At 24, Tonje was the oldest participant chosen. He acquired to the foul line almost seven occasions per sport, which is value discounting, at Wisconsin as a sixth-year senior. However Tonje taking pictures 91% from the free throw line and hitting 38% of his 3s ought to translate higher to the NBA.
Spherical 1: Tre Johnson (No. 6), Will Riley (No. 21)
Spherical 2: Jamir Watkins (No. 43)
Much like the Nets, the Wizards are leaning closely into youth, taking two extra youngsters to go along with the 4 they added from the 2024 first spherical. (That features AJ Johnson, acquired on the deadline.)
I used to be skeptical of Tre Johnson as a top-five prospect due to his poor defensive metrics and low 2-point proportion. Exterior that vary, his potential as a shooter justifies the decide. Riley went somewhat forward of the place I had him, and he can even have to enhance his defensive playmaking.
Watkins, who will flip 24 in July, brings extra expertise. There is not any questioning Watkins’ defensive potential, however he wants to enhance his 32.5% profession 3-point taking pictures.