2025 NBA draft: Worth picks, dangerous strikes, ROY predictions

The 2025 NBA draft is a wrap, with Cooper Flagg (No. 1 to the Dallas Mavericks) and Dylan Harper (No. 2 to the San Antonio Spurs) the headliners of what turned out to be a primary spherical stuffed with twists.

Ace Bailey got here off the board at No. 5 to the Utah Jazz, a group that wasn’t one in all his deliberate locations, however could possibly be a superb touchdown spot. The New Orleans Pelicans made an aggressive play to pair Jeremiah Fears (No. 7) with Derik Queen (No. 13), transferring beneficial draft capital to make it occur. The Portland Trail Blazers made probably the most shocking choose of the primary spherical by choosing Yang Hansen (ranked No. 35 in our closing High 100 huge board). And the Brooklyn Nets, who managed 5 first-round picks, drafted all 5 to jump-start a youth motion.

What was the perfect value pick? Which group drafted the perfect class? And which gamers could possibly be named first-team All-Rookie? Now we have spent years finding out the prospects within the 2025 class, and listed below are the strikes we favored, the strikes that shocked us and we’ll share a couple of long-term predictions.

Let’s dig into the fallout of this draft by answering 15 questions.

Leap to a subject:
Favorite pick | Ideal situation | Best value
Biggest surprise | Class pick | In-draft trades
Surprise faller | ROY candidates | All-Rookie players
G-league hitter | Undrafted underdog
Predictions | Overall takeaways

What was your favourite choose of the complete draft?

Givony: Kasparas Jakucionis to the Miami Heat at No. 20. Not solely did the Warmth get the No. 10 participant on my huge board, in addition they obtained a participant who fills a roster void and matches their tradition and magnificence of play completely. Jakucionis (6-foot-6, 205 kilos) has the ballhandling and playmaking means to supply much-needed shot creation within the backcourt, however he is also large enough to function off the ball alongside All-Star combo guard Tyler Herro.

With Davion Mitchell (restricted free agent) coming off a robust playoff displaying, the three may actually play in the identical lineup at instances, because of Jakucionis’ dimension, energy and perimeter taking pictures prowess — positional versatility that’s ideally suited for the fashionable NBA.

Of their draft room and after consuming perogies (an Jap European staple) on Thursday, the Miami Heat entrance workplace secured Russian middle Vlad Goldin, the No. 2 ranked undrafted free agent prospect on the ESPN Top 100 big board (No. 49). He provides to the Warmth’s rising roster of worldwide performer lately, together with Lithuanian and Russian gamers. The Warmth even have Sweden’s Pelle Larsson and Serbia’s Nikola Jovic on their roster.

Woo: Khaman Maluach to the Phoenix Suns at No. 10. I can not let you know whether or not the Suns might be any good subsequent season. However I can say they did a superb job of addressing a few of final season’s issues, significantly by drafting Maluach, who’s the precise kind of jumbo paint protector Phoenix was sorely lacking.

I do not assume it is an exaggeration to say the Suns had zero defensive id final season, and Maluach (in tandem with new addition Mark Williams) ought to assist change that tone. He ought to be capable of thrive complementing the Suns’ ball dominant perimeter group.

Which participant landed within the ideally suited scenario to maximise his expertise?

Givony: Bailey to the Utah Jazz at No. 5. Regardless of the drama round Bailey’s most well-liked draft vacation spot (Washington?) and his agent’s alleged menace to a top-five group earlier than the draft to probably not report back to camp, it wasn’t shocking to see this example amicably resolved, possible in no small half because of Bailey’s lack of leverage due to the NBA’s collective bargaining settlement and the general public relations backlash this transfer generated.

When Bailey arrives in Utah on Saturday and sees how lucky he’s to land in a scenario with an ample alternative, an absence of star energy, an impressive teaching workers and a extremely passionate fan base, he ought to rapidly notice he’s within the good place to succeed in All-Star potential.

Woo: Egor Demin to the Brooklyn Nets at No. 8. I am extra optimistic on Demin’s future than some appear to be — there’ll all the time be a premium positioned on prospects in his mould as a jumbo playmaker, and I perceive why the Nets believed he was definitely worth the dive that early within the draft. Going to a group the place he’ll get an opportunity to play instantly with loads of on-ball reps, pair with the opposite gifted passers in Brooklyn’s draft class and likewise hone his taking pictures is right.

His rookie season could possibly be one thing of a crucible, however his unselfish model of play falls in step with how the Nets clearly need their group to look. Touchdown in a clean slate scenario like this could possibly be large for Demin, versus having to struggle for minutes on a deeper roster which may have restricted the chance to unfold his wings.

What was the perfect worth choose?

Givony: Liam McNeeley to the Charlotte Hornets at No. 29. I am nonetheless shocked McNeeley (ranked No. 17 on our prime 100 huge board) fell to the tip of the primary spherical. Identified for his taking pictures prowess for many of his profession, McNeeley hit solely 32% of his 3s at UConn this season. He had a number of exercises the place he struggled to shoot as successfully in personal settings as NBA groups had hoped.

I’ve seen McNeeley shoot lights-out in many various settings and firmly consider he’ll thrive with NBA spacing in a smaller offensive position than he was requested to shoulder at UConn. He additionally brings extra to the desk together with his dimension (6-foot-8 in footwear), toughness, really feel for the sport and general ability degree. It is not simple to search out such a participant, so I consider the Hornets will find yourself getting a steal with this choose.

Woo: Jakucionis to the Warmth. Miami benefited from a number of the sudden selections forward of it by drafting a participant who some (me included) seen as a top-10 prospect — and one who additionally matches the Warmth’s want for a playmaking guard. He was in the end a bit extra polarizing than we anticipated, however my guess is that this one will age higher for the Warmth than it should for the groups that handed on him.

Which choose most shocked you?

Givony: Demin to the Nets. Lots of people had a tough time understanding why we saved Demin in our prime 10 all yr, particularly as he was struggling badly in Huge 12 play. Nonetheless, I used to be a bit shocked to see him chosen forward of Khaman Maluach and Jakucionis, who I had in entrance of him on our High 100 huge board. We had heard the Nets needed to return out of this draft with a place to begin guard, and so they now have three candidates for that place: Demin, Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf (and possibly Danny Wolf too).

I like the actual fact Demin might be empowered to succeed in his full potential in an outsized position (much like BYU), the place he’ll be capable of play by means of errors, however will even have playmakers alongside him. Ideally, there can be a bit extra taking pictures to be discovered on this group, however that is one thing the Nets can work by means of long run, probably with one other excessive choose in subsequent yr’s loaded draft, the place A.J. Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer or Nate Ament all appear like excellent matches.

Woo: Yang Hansen to the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 16. My response was nearer to fascination than shock. Yang has an intriguing ability set for a teenage huge who was going to be value somebody rolling the cube on. I favored what I noticed from him on the mix, however there was no expectation that he would wind up inside the highest 20, and it is a huge gamble on his offensive expertise in the end translating from a low degree in China.

The one group that was broadly tied to Yang was the Nets, who held 4 picks behind the Path Blazers within the first spherical. I perceive why Portland took him the place it did, as a blanket assertion on draft technique. When you love a man, simply take him, do not danger it. Buying and selling again was most likely a problem, however even with that rationale, the considered Yang going that prime by no means crossed my thoughts in any state of affairs.

Which group has your favourite class as a complete?

Givony: Charlotte Hornets. I already wrote about McNeeley above, however I additionally just like the additions of Kon Knueppel (No. 4) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (No. 34) fairly a bit. Knueppel’s really feel for the sport, selfless model of play, energy and toughness ought to make him simple to play with, particularly alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, who he may complement fairly effectively. I used to be an enormous fan of Knueppel all season and was not shocked to see him go within the prime 5.

With Kalkbrenner, the Hornets obtained a plug-and-play huge who seems to be able to play rotation minutes instantly on an affordable rookie-scale deal. Charlotte wanted somebody NBA-ready after buying and selling Mark Williams for the choose that obtained them McNeeley and a 2029 first-rounder, which I assumed was an important transfer as effectively.

Woo: San Antonio Spurs. Lucking into Harper was one factor, however the Spurs have been proper to not lean into any temptation to commerce him and fast-track their aggressive window. I perceive the match issues, and it might be less complicated have been De’Aaron Fox not within the combine already, however the thought of letting Harper jell with Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle makes quite a lot of sense.

Usually talking, we like to assign a way of rapid title urgency to each group lucky sufficient to make use of superstar-caliber expertise however one has to recollect Wembanyama is 21 years previous. In my thoughts, there was by no means any want for San Antonio to do something however choose and see how these gamers develop collectively. Consider No. 14 choose Carter Bryant, who ought to complement his extra ball dominant teammates with taking pictures and perimeter protection over time, and the Spurs may have a superb factor going.

Which group has your least favourite class as a complete?

Givony: There is not one group that stands out, although I’d have beloved to have seen the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets bounce into the motion in both spherical, nevertheless it’s comprehensible why each groups are prioritizing their playoff home windows proper now.

Woo: New Orleans Hornets. That is much less concerning the expertise of gamers they drafted and extra about how the Pelicans invited danger and match issues with their string of current transactions. Fears is an actual expertise, however him maximizing it in what could possibly be a crowded backcourt with Jordan Poole now within the combine is a priority.

And I battle to see how Queen can share the ground with Zion Williamson in a successful context — neither can shoot from the perimeter or shield the paint at a excessive degree, and so they would possibly in the end get in one another’s method. I am involved concerning the possibilities both lottery choose will get to make use of their abilities within the scenario.

In fact, I perceive a brand new entrance workplace focusing on the fellows they like, placing their stamp on the group and determining different issues later. It might all be a bit extra palatable had the Pelicans not offered off their very own draft choose subsequent yr to make it work — a transfer that locations strain on their present group to take an enormous collective step ahead.

What was your favourite in-draft commerce?

Givony: The Atlanta Hawks buying and selling all the way down to in the end draft Asa Newell at No. 23. Woo recapped the New Orleans aspect of the Queen deal, however a shoutout to the brand new Hawks entrance workplace (led by Onsi Saleh) is so as. The Hawks secured what I mission to be the No. 8 choose within the 2026 NBA draft, only for transferring down 10 spots on this draft. I had Queen rated 23 spots forward of Newell on my private huge board, so there is definitely room to quibble about worth.

Nevertheless it’s honest to query the method New Orleans went by means of, clearly telegraphing its curiosity in Queen so strongly within the lead-up to the draft that it harm its negotiating leverage. It led to giving up a probably excessive draft choose in 2026, which ought to have netted New Orleans much more than what it did.

Woo: The Jazz buying and selling as much as draft Walter Clayton Jr. at No. 18 I admittedly was not an enormous Clayton proponent in the course of the season, however the extra I evaluated him, the extra I began to purchase his shotmaking expertise as an intriguing wager in a draft class that was fairly mild on level guards. The Jazz did not need to pay a lot to do it, and whereas he might need to struggle for minutes, there is a affordable likelihood Clayton turns into a beneficial contributor.

What was your least favourite in-draft commerce?

Givony: Memphis buying and selling up 5 spots with Portland from No. 16 to No. 11, giving up an unprotected first-round choose from the Orlando Magic in 2028 and two second-round picks (2027 by way of Atlanta and 2028 from Orlando). That seems like an awfully huge haul to maneuver up simply 5 spots, even when there have been quite a lot of rumblings that the Oklahoma City Thunder (selecting No. 15) have been additionally making an attempt to maneuver up for Cedric Coward. I wasn’t particularly offered on Coward being picked that prime, so we’ll need to see how this performs out.

I’d have favored to have seen Portland transfer down one other five-to-10 picks for Yang, and maybe choose up extra property within the course of, nevertheless it appears the commerce market softened fairly a bit outdoors the highest 15, with minimal motion within the second half of the primary spherical.

Woo: New Orleans mortgaging the longer term for Queen. Contemplating all of the circumstances, regardless of how badly you consider within the Maryland middle (or regardless of who you assume ought to have been the thirteenth choose as an alternative), buying and selling away a 2026 first-round choose to maneuver up 10 spots on this draft was onerous for me to rationalize. It is much less concerning the participant and extra concerning the course of.

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The performs that Derik Queen is bringing to the Pelicans

Take a look at some prime highlights from Derik Queen because the Pelicans commerce as much as take him.

In 5 years, we’re all going to marvel why ____ fell within the draft?

Givony: Hugo Gonzalez to the Boston Celtics at No. 28. I had him rated because the No. 15 participant on my private huge board, 13 spots forward of the place he was drafted. He began the method as a projected top-10 choose, nevertheless it’s not onerous to know why his inventory fell, as he struggled to get on the ground for a loaded Actual Madrid group. Had Gonzalez performed for Ratiopharm Ulm, went to BYU (which recruited him closely previous to signing Demin), or spent a season with the NBL Subsequent Stars program in Australia … he would have been a transparent lottery choose in my opinion.

He constructed an impeccable résumé as one of many prime prospects in worldwide basketball in FIBA youth competitions and junior membership competitors previous to this season.

I additionally love his slot in Boston, the place he is sure to emerge as a fan favourite because of the frenetic depth degree he brings defensively. I used to be instructed Boston was telling brokers it deliberate to signal whichever rookie it took with this choose for 80% of the rookie scale, however because of Gonzalez’s vital buyout with Actual Madrid ($1.4 million), that will not be viable, as Gonzalez will already must cowl a good portion of that out of his pocket.

Woo: Will Riley to the Washington Wizards at No. 21. I most likely noticed extra of him up shut than anybody, as I noticed Illinois stay many instances final season. I am a giant believer in Riley’s expertise and assume there’s an opportunity he rises to the highest on a Wizards group that’s going to provide quite a lot of alternatives to their younger expertise. He’ll need to work onerous at his bodily improvement to make it occur — Riley is 6-foot-8, 180 kilos — however what number of wings with reputable dimension and offensive expertise have ever been too skinny to make it within the NBA?

Riley is not missing for precise sport, and I feel he’ll shock some individuals over time.

Name it now: Who will win NBA Rookie of the Yr?

Givony: Flagg. He’s the perfect participant on this class and might be requested to play a major position for the Mavs instantly, as they’ve little or no shot creation on their roster at present and can want him to be a star from day one. They will want him to primarily maintain them afloat within the brutal Western Convention as they watch for Kyrie Irving‘s return from a knee harm.

Woo: Anybody aside from Flagg? Um, no. That is to not discredit any participant on this draft, however I do not assume it is a significantly daring name. He is strolling into a superb alternative to face out instantly, and I believe we’ll see him determine the NBA out on the fly, and relatively rapidly.

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Cooper Flagg excited to study from Mavs veterans

Cooper Flagg lays out his expectations after being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks

Name it now: Which 5 gamers might be named to the NBA All-Rookie first group?

Givony: Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Knueppel, Tre Johnson (Wizards).

Woo: Flagg, Harper, Johnson, Knueppel — and primarily so we do not choose the very same gamers, I will go along with the opposite Jazz rookie, Clayton Jr.

Which participant is more than likely to mild up the G League in 2025-26?

Givony: Javon Small, No. 48 choose by Memphis. A primary-team all-conference participant within the loaded Huge 12, Small carried an undermanned West Virginia group to the cusp of a NCAA event berth with regular shot creation and shotmaking whereas bringing main toughness on each ends of the ground, issues that usually translate effectively to the G League.

He’ll be a handful to cope with in transition and will thrive within the wide-open nature of that league, possible placing up factors in bunches whereas making successful performs on each ends of the ground. I’d not be shocked to see him emerge as one other Scotty Pippen Jr.-type gem for Memphis within the coming years.

Woo: Ryan Nembhard, undrafted. Nembhard will signal a two-way cope with the Mavericks, and the caveat right here is that I may see him getting fast-tracked to a roster spot and NBA utility purely because of the Mavs’ lack of level guard depth. I like Nembhard’s really feel for playmaking and involving teammates and consider he can transcend his dimension limitations (6-foot, 180 kilos). He’ll be among the many prime guards within the G League each time he is assigned there.

Which undrafted participant are you most to comply with?

Givony: Eric Dixon with the Los Angeles Lakers. The previous Villanova guard was the No. 1 scorer in school basketball this season, averaging 23 factors and taking pictures 41% from 3. He isn’t only a spot-up shooter although, he can hit powerful side-step and iso pull-ups, and assaults closeouts to attract fouls at a robust charge. He stands 6-foot-8 with a robust 260-pound body, making him a real inside-out mismatch within the Guerschon Yabusele mould. Dixon, 24, might want to show he can maintain his personal defensively, however he is obtained some actual toughness and physicality on prime of his means to stretch the ground. I like this addition fairly a bit for the Lakers.

I heard Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka frolicked with Dixon after his predraft exercise with the group. Apparently, Pelinka instructed Dixon the story of Kobe Bryant’s go to to the Sistine Chapel within the Vatican, which was cleared out for them. Pelinka stated the very first thing Bryant observed was the shortage of lighting and the way Michelangelo was pressured to do a lot of his work by candlelight, which demonstrated his consideration to element and the main focus required to grasp his craft beneath powerful circumstances. Bryant associated this to his work on the basketball court docket, imagining what Michelangelo’s mindset might need been like on the time, when it comes to perfecting his craft and making a world-renowned masterpiece, regardless of less-than-ideal circumstances.

Woo: John Poulakidas with the LA Clippers. The previous Yale guard was one of many deep sleepers I grew to love over the course of the season. Poulakidas (6-foot-6, 205 kilos) has robust proportions for a wing, he is an excellent shooter already, and if he can step up his defensive contributions, there is a path for him to make it onto a roster by means of the backdoor (he is reportedly signing an exhibit-10 with the Clippers). High quality 3-point marksmen with NBA dimension usually get to skip the road extra so than some other position archetype.

Make one prediction about this class for 5 years from now:

Givony: Joan Beringer (No. 17 to the Minnesota Timberwolves) might be an All-Defensive group candidate in 5 years. He is getting a uncommon alternative to study from four-time NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr and fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert in follow on daily basis. Beringer, who grew an inch and a half over the previous yr, had by no means touched a basketball till summer time 2021, as he was centered on soccer till a late progress spurt allowed him to outgrow the game.

He proved to be the highest shot blocker within the Adriatic League throughout his first season {of professional} basketball, demonstrating distinctive instincts and agility as a drop defender and rim protector, giving him large potential to develop into long run on that finish of the ground.

Woo: The Nets’ draft ages higher than anticipated. There is a clear imaginative and prescient for what Brooklyn was making an attempt to do: It purchased low on Nolan Traore (No. 19) and Drake Powell (No. 22) coming off of down seasons and it loaded up on high-IQ passers with above-average dimension with Demin, Ben Saraf (No. 26) and Wolf (No. 27). Clearly, the Nets wish to construct an unselfish group that shares the ball. I am not as involved about these guys getting in one another’s method developmentally as some individuals appear to be.

All of those gamers want to enhance their perimeter taking pictures — which is a good critique and main variable. Nonetheless, I fear much less about ability set overlap once you’re bringing collectively guys who like to move. Letting all of them begin their careers collectively, construct chemistry and play a definite model ought to facilitate simpler seems to be throughout. The Nets seem to have minutes for everyone as they put together to spin the lottery wheel once more subsequent season — and I feel no less than a couple of of those gamers will outkick expectations.

What’s your prime overarching takeaway from this draft?

Givony: School basketball is again and never going away anytime quickly. After the highest two picks in final yr’s draft got here from France (Zaccharie Risacher) and by way of Australia (Alex Sarr), there have been zero non-collegiate worldwide gamers chosen within the prime 10 this yr, and solely six chosen within the first spherical. These are traditionally low numbers, however they may lower even additional subsequent yr, as we at present solely mission 4 non-collegiate worldwide gamers to be picked within the first and second rounds, which is able to possible be the bottom we have seen in a while.

The enchantment of enormous NIL-related paydays in school has led many gamers to stay at school and has attracted extra worldwide gamers to the U.S., much like what we noticed with Demin and Jakucionis. Time will inform if revenue-sharing restrictions from the Home settlement reduces the excessive NIL salaries we’re seeing now, which could trigger some worldwide gamers to remain house and develop by means of the normal European basketball path.

Woo: Consensus is only a idea. Practically all of the first-round surprises we noticed have been by-products of groups merely trusting their boards and analysis course of above all else. Whether or not it was Memphis guaranteeing it snagged Coward, New Orleans stepping into huge for Queen, Portland taking Yang greater than anybody anticipated or the Nets seeing worth in making all 5 first-round picks, the draft is all the time within the eye of the beholder, and that is why mock drafts are likely to go off the rails at a sure level.

This draft was an entertaining reminder of what number of groups are keen to pick with conviction and forgo regardless of the public’s notion of worth may be.