My workforce grades for the 2025 NBA draft, accomplished Thursday evening, are the one ones you will learn that are not involved with outcomes.
After the groups name of their picks, components exterior their management — and even maybe exterior the participant’s management, notably well being — will decide the outcomes. No workforce, not even the Brooklyn Nets with their 5 first-round picks, drafts sufficient gamers in a single yr for that to even out.
Holding that in thoughts, we’re evaluating picks based mostly solely on the knowledge out there to us on the time they had been made when it comes to worth and match. Naturally, 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. Basically, groups are likely to overpay to maneuver up within the draft, overestimating their potential to guage prospects higher than their friends. Even by these requirements, this yr’s commerce up from No. 23 to No. 13 by the New Orleans Pelicans stands out as particularly dangerous. Because of this, the Pelicans received the worst grade of any workforce whereas the Atlanta Hawks (who handled New Orleans) are tied for the most effective.
Let’s run by way of my grades for each workforce.
It virtually did not matter who the Hawks took after getting an unprotected 2026 first-round choose — the higher of these from Milwaukee and New Orleans — through the Pelicans to maneuver down 10 spots. I might need made that commerce straight up with out getting No. 23. All the higher that Atlanta did take a prospect ranked thirteenth in my projections.
Time will inform if Newell cracks the rotation shortly sufficient to pair with newly acquired Kristaps Porzingis, however I really like that match since Porzingis’ strengths match completely with the shortcomings that make Newell one thing of a ahead/middle tweener.
Gonzalez would have made extra sense for Boston as a stash choose, to come back over later in his growth. As a substitute, Brad Stevens indicated the Celtics plan to deliver him to the NBA subsequent season.
On the published, Gonzalez was in comparison with Denver Nuggets wing Christian Braun. One key distinction: Braun, although not regarded as 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. Nevertheless, 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, truly projected finest my mannequin due to his 39% profession 3-point capturing.
The record-setting quantity of first-round picks the Nets made is sort of extra necessary from a course of standpoint than the picks themselves, one purpose I graded the trades to amass them nicely.
That mentioned, Brooklyn is betting on creating a exceptional variety of youngsters, lots of them with overlapping ability units. Particularly, Demin and Traore share numerous traits as sturdy playmakers with measurement whose capturing and scoring effectivity want work. They will play collectively defensively, however spacing the ground with these teams may show difficult.
Drafting so many initiatives ought to assist the Nets’ efforts to land within the lottery once more in 2026, the final yr they management their first-round choose earlier than the Houston Rockets get it in 2027.
Cue the jokes concerning the Hornets’ penchant for drafting gamers from the Analysis Triangle, however Knueppel was second in my projections and completely suits a void for Charlotte at capturing 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 function within the Nike EYBL.
Since McNeeley suits an analogous mildew, that was possible a best-available choose after the UConn product dropped nicely under his anticipated vary within the early 20s. I am much less enamored with the Hornets going again to the Blue Devils nicely for James excessive within the second spherical. Strictly a job participant in 5 faculty seasons, James by no means had a utilization price increased than 17.1%.
After Charlotte traded beginning middle Mark Williams, there could also be a gap for Kalkbrenner to contribute instantly if his pick-and-roll protection is up to the mark.
Spherical 1: Noa Essengue (No. 12)
Spherical 2: Lachlan Olbrich (No. 55)
I am intrigued by how Essengue will match with 2024 lottery choose Matas Buzelis, one other younger combo ahead. In the event that they two shoot nicely sufficient to play collectively at ahead or Buzelis bulks up sufficient to play middle at instances, they’d give Chicago mixed strengths of size and athleticism.
Credit score to the Bulls for taking the most effective participant out there and persevering with to draft younger, regardless of their resistance to bottoming out and choosing increased within the lottery.
Spherical 2: Tyrese Proctor (No. 49), Saliou Niang (No. 58)
The Cavaliers did not get on the clock till nicely into evening two of the draft and landed an fascinating prospect in Proctor, who continued to develop post-one-and-done hype. Proctor shot 40.5% on 3s final season and reveals promise as an on-ball defender, although he may stand to enhance his steal price. Niang, a stash choose, faces longer odds on account of his capturing: 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 suppose the Mavericks’ entrance workplace spent debating this choose? From the second Dallas’ combination unexpectedly came up No. 1 in the draft lottery, we knew Flagg was the choose, and rightfully so.
From a course of standpoint, they do not get credit score for profitable the lottery, just for not screwing it up.
Get used to seeing the Nuggets graded “incomplete.” They did not management any future second-round choose earlier than gaining access to 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 Tennessee predecessor Dalton Knecht, Lanier bloomed late, going from 4.7 PPG at North Florida in 2022-23 to 18 PPG within the SEC final season. He is a big-time shooter (40% profession on 3s) with measurement who offers the Pistons some insurance coverage if they cannot re-sign free brokers Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Spherical 2: Alex Toohey (No. 52), Will Richard (No. 56)
Toohey’s capturing continues to be a piece in progress after he hit 31% within the Australian NBL final season, however his defensive exercise stood out when it comes to steal and block charges. I’ve lengthy appreciated Richard, who ranked within the prime 30 of my projections by advantage of his excessive 2-point proportion.
The Rockets used each of this yr’s picks to amass Kevin Durant in a commerce that may’t formally be accomplished till July 6. Because of this, think about them a winner regardless of their sturdy monitor file within the draft.
Spherical 2: Kam Jones (No. 38), Taelon Peter (No. 54)
The Pacers have made considered one of my favourite second-round picks two years in a row. Not like 2024 second-rounder Johnny Furphy, who performed sparingly as a rookie at age 20, the 23-year-old Jones has extra potential to contribute instantly. Indiana may use the guard assist with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined after his heartbreaking Achilles rupture throughout Recreation 7 of the NBA Finals
Peter, who spent the majority of his faculty profession at D-II Arkansas Tech, is a captivating swing. He is a guard who averaged simply 1.0 APG as a fifth-year senior at Liberty, however why cross once you shoot 76% on 2s and 45% on 3s? I am undecided that may translate, however on the 54th choose, there isn’t any draw back for Indiana.
Spherical 1: Yanic Konan Niederhauser (No. 30)
Spherical 2: Kobe Sanders (No. 50)
As a second-round choose, I may purchase the worth proposition on the late-blooming Niederhauser, an excellent shot blocker who grew right into a scoring risk after transferring to Penn State.
Taking him within the first spherical is a harder promote, given Niederhauser is a below-average defensive rebounder and posted greater than twice as many assists as turnovers. The general profile is just like Daniel Oturu, drafted No. 33 by the Clippers in 2020.
Sanders was a late bloomer as nicely, not having averaged double-figure scoring till his fourth yr in faculty. My projections put extra weight on earlier faculty seasons based mostly on how 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 all the way in which to 36 after making a pair of trades. Thiero’s steal and block charges counsel defensive potential if he could make sufficient exterior 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, questionable worth at finest. Do not take this as an indictment of Coward, who ranked thirteenth within the stats-only model of my projections. However I might have been content material to attend no less than till considered one of Coward or Carter Bryant (No. 14) was off the board to look into shifting up.
I appreciated the Grizzlies’ worth with Small, who’s — fittingly — undersized however scored effectively contemplating his 28% utilization price 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)
Definitely 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 prime 10 a lot of the yr, 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 choose was going to change Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future in Milwaukee. Markovic scored effectively in his first full season within the Adriatic League, capturing 61% on 2s and 37% on 3s, although low steal and block charges elevate defensive questions.
Spherical 1: Joan Beringer (No. 17)
Spherical 2: Rocco Zikarsky (No. 45)
The Timberwolves can certainly envision how Beringer, a low-usage middle who was a premier rim protector taking part in in Slovenia, will match of their system. It is unrealistic to count on Beringer to grow to be Rudy Gobert, a premier finisher with a wingspan measured 4 inches increased on the NBA Draft mix.
However as Gobert ages, Minnesota will want a alternative and Beringer has the potential to fill that void.
Within the second spherical, the Timberwolves doubled down on that function by taking the 7-foot-3 Zikarsky. The 2 gamers have remarkably related projections and it will likely 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 potential 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 each much less priceless than Fears and nonetheless price shifting as much as get. And the draw back is increased as a result of the Pelicans’ personal 2026 choose is doubtlessly a part of the deal. Not less than Bridges was a prospect who rated sixth overall in my projections. Queen was exterior the highest 30.
I did like New Orleans eschewing must take Fears at No. 7, when he was the consensus finest prospect on the board. With hindsight, nonetheless, the Pelicans could be higher off having drafted Queen with their very own choose than touchdown each prospects.
Peavy broke out as a fifth-year senior at Georgetown, averaging 17.2 PPG and a couple of.3 SPG. The leap to 40% 3-point capturing offers Peavy a shot at a 3-and-D function, although he did not present the identical enchancment on the foul line (66%).
Spherical 2: Mohamed Diawara (No. 51)
Diawara hasn’t but developed into an affect participant in his native France, having averaged simply 5.8 PPG for Cholet final season. Stashing Diawara abroad would possibly 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 middle, recording extra assists than turnovers.
Squint and you’ll see the define of Isaiah Hartenstein, prone to be an odd man out as Oklahoma Metropolis’s core grows dearer.
Missing roster spots for a number of first-round picks, the Thunder pushed the No. 24 choose down the street in a cope with Sacramento that lacks upside (Oklahoma Metropolis cannot choose increased than No. 17), however higher suits the timeline for the champs.
Barnhizer will likely be on a two-way contract, per Givony. He was an inefficient faculty scorer (.500 true capturing 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 considered one of his father Jason Richardson’s 4 NBA groups, and I like the worth too.
Richardson was projected within the lottery earlier than measuring in at 6-foot and a half in naked toes within the NBA Draft mix. Such dramatic shifts at all times confuse me. Richardson nonetheless produced what he did 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 amass Bane.
Orlando then paid a heavy worth — No. 46 and No. 57, plus two future second-rounders — to commerce up and take Penda. Penda’s capturing is a piece in progress. He hit underneath 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 a little bit forward in my projections, I most likely would have taken Edgecombe right here too. I like his mixture of a defensive base to construct from with a sky-high steal price at Baylor and the athleticism to grow to be a shot creator in time.
Knueppel might need match extra cleanly with Joel Embiid, however given the state of Embiid’s well being, I am undecided that must be Philadelphia’s major timeline anymore.
A consensus first workforce All-America choose 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 middle falling within the laps of the frontcourt-needy Suns made it a bit extra complicated they concurrently traded to amass former Duke middle Mark Williams in a deal graded separately.
It is price questioning, notably in that context, whether or not Phoenix may have gotten the dear trades down that groups simply behind them made. As Maluach was the highest prospect on the board, nonetheless, standing pat made extra sense for the Suns.
Lively within the second spherical, Phoenix used future picks to maneuver as much as the highest choose and No. 41. Groups had been competing to take Saint Joseph’s ahead Rasheer Fleming, twelfth in my stats-only projections. Fleming offers the Suns one other high quality shot blocker, this time with extra vary. Although Brea is yet one more capturing guard on a workforce overloaded with them, Phoenix may use his capturing — he has the best ability projection as a shooter of any participant in my database — notably if Grayson Allen will get traded elsewhere.
Spherical 1: Yang Hansen (No. 16)
Hansen could show an All-Star. He may lead the Blazers into championship rivalry. None of that’s knowable now. What we do know is different groups did not appear to worth Hansen as a lot as Portland, that means the workforce is betting on its potential to beat the market.
To the Blazers’ credit score, they did choose up an additional first-round choose by shifting down. Nevertheless, they’d have been much better off making the identical commerce the Hawks did if out there.
Spherical 1: Nique Clifford (No. 24)
Spherical 2: Maxime Raynaud (No. 42)
Having despatched the No. 13 choose 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 potential draw back of the transfer by placing top-16 safety on the choose, 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 critical NBA prospect till his fifth yr of faculty 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 had been additionally increased on Raynaud, largely due to his subpar block price for a middle. Nevertheless, my mannequin missed on Quinten Post final yr, and Raynaud brings an analogous ability set after hitting 67 3-pointers as a senior.
Spherical 1: Dylan Harper (No. 2), Carter Bryant (No. 14)
Harper was at all times the consensus No. 2 choose, so apart from contemplating potential blockbuster trades, San Antonio’s work there was accomplished early.
The Spurs get extra credit score from a course of standpoint for his or her different lottery choose, the place they waited out Bryant falling to them. I am excessive on Bryant’s 3-and-D potential, making him a really perfect match on a workforce 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 essentially a really perfect touchdown spot.
If he will succeed as an influence ahead, Murray-Boyles wants capturing round him, and the Raptors have a non-shooting middle in Jakob Poeltl and solely ample perimeter capturing.
If 2024 second-round choose Jonathan Mogbo can develop 3-point vary after capturing 24% as a rookie, the 2 undersized huge males may an fascinating frontcourt pairing that is excessive on affect defensive performs.
Martin is undersized for a capturing 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 choice to draft Ace Bailey
Jazz proprietor Ryan Smith talks to Pat McAfee about why the workforce drafted Ace Bailey with the fifth choose.
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 faculty when it comes to the profit to him going to a contending workforce, the place he’d be requested to refine his shot choice.
That comparability seems particularly related with the identical executives who took these wings (Austin and Danny Ainge) taking Bailey to hitch an Utah workforce that is nonetheless removed from profitable. The worth proposition for Bailey, fifth in my mannequin, is sensible right here. And I am not notably fearful that Bailey did not wish to land right here.
However the Jazz must fastidiously handle his growth to show Bailey into a fringe star just like the Celtics did with Brown and Tatum. Including Clayton, an NCAA champion and harmful exterior shooter, may assist that course of. Utah has a crowded backcourt, however veterans Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton is probably not a part of that for lengthy, creating alternative for Clayton.
At 24, Tonje was the oldest participant chosen, so his potential to get to the foul line practically seven instances per sport at Wisconsin as a sixth-year senior is price discounting. However Tonje hitting them at 91% clip and 38% of his 3s profession ought to translate higher to the NBA.
Spherical 1: Tre Johnson (No. 6), Will Riley (No. 20)
Spherical 2: Jamir Watkins (No. 43)
Just 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 Johnson as a top-five prospect due to his poor defensive metrics and low 2-point proportion. Outdoors that vary, his potential as a shooter does extra to justify the choose. Riley went a little bit forward of the place I had him and likewise must enhance his defensive playmaking.
Watkins, who will flip 24 in July, brings extra expertise. There is not any questioning Watkins’ defensive potential. Bettering 32.5% profession 3-point capturing will likely be a swing ability.