2025 NBA Draft Grades
Now that I finally have figured out where almost everyone is going, I have my draft grades for this year! The grades are completed by team, and while my evaluation of a player does play a role, I also grade based on fit, role, and how high the draft pick is. Free agency moves were not included in my grades, as I finished several before the start of free agency.
Atlanta
Hawks
Drafted
- Asa Newell (23)
Acquired
- Kristaps Porzingis
- 2026 1st round pick (Best of MIL/NOP)
- Future 2nd Round Pick
Traded
- 13th pick (Derik Queen)
- 22nd pick (Drake Powell)
- Georges Niang
- Terance Mann
- Future 2nd round pick
Atlanta has had a busy time leading up to the end of draft
night, but I kind of like what they did.
Prior to the draft, they took on Kristaps Porzingis in a trade where
they gave up the 22nd pick, Terance Mann, and Georges Niang while
also swapping picks. When healthy, Porzingis
is an awesome and versatile offensive talent who can score from anywhere on the
court while also being a good rim protector.
The issue with him is that the fit might be clunky given that Porzingis enjoys
post ups and Trae Young typically likes having the ball in his hand; that said,
it is worth a shot. This trade also allowed
them to get off of Mann’s contract, which they clearly wanted to move; while he’s
a solid player, he is on a contract that is likely too big for him. They could afford to give up the 22nd
pick. They then traded down from 13 to
23 while also acquiring a first-round pick for next year that could be
valuable, as it is the best of Milwaukee and New Orleans, both of which have
questions (Milwaukee being what happens with Giannis, New Orleans being how
their injuries and general incompetence will impact their season). Even if it doesn’t turn out to be an amazing pick,
they got Asa Newell, who they reportedly were seriously considering if they
drafted 13th. While some have
concerns about his size, but while he’s raw, he’s a freak athlete who could
develop into a rim-running center. While
some would wonder why they made this selection after acquiring Porzingis, there
are two main reasons it makes sense: Newell
will need time to develop, so he makes sense for the future, and Porzingis is
injury prone, meaning that Newell should be able to get some minutes. I was also very high on Newell, as I had him 8th
on my board. I love the moves that they
made in this process. Grade: A+
Boston
Celtics
Drafted
- Hugo Gonzalez (28)
- Amari Williams (46)
- Max Shulga (57)
Acquired
- Georges Niang
- 2026 2nd round pick
- 2027 2nd round pick
- Future 2nd round pick
Traded
- 32nd pick (Noah Penda)
- Kristaps Porzingis
- Future 2nd round pick
It was expected that Boston was going to have an offseason
full of trades, so the moves weren’t shocking, though it could still be
disappointing for fans. Once Tatum got
injured, it was expected that Boston was going to try to cut salary, making it
not surprising that Porzingis was traded after Jrue Holiday was prior. The return wasn’t great for his skill, but
Porzingis had injury and health concerns, which is unfortunate that he has
dealt with so many injuries throughout his career as he is a talented player. Niang is a really good shooter and appears to
be good teammate, so you could do worse.
I love the selection of Gonzalez at 28, especially since I had him 15th
on my board. He is raw and didn’t play
much with Real Madrid, but that team (like many in Europe) doesn’t typically
play younger players; had he played in college or in a situation where he had
played more, I think he would have been a top-10 pick (that’s what held him
back from being top-10 on my board). He
has shown glimpses of so many skills and absolutely dominated when playing
against his age group, so I am bullish on him.
They traded the 32nd pick for picks 46 and 57, as well as 2
future second-round picks; it sounded like they wanted Rasheer Fleming, so I
don’t blame them for trading this pick after he was gone, especially since that
is a big return. With pick 46, they
selected Williams; I’m a little lower on him (I had him 60th on my
board) due to his struggles with athleticism and scoring, but he is a good
rebounder and passer. I think him on a
2-way deal is good because at worst he can contribute to the G-League
team. I loved the Shulga pick, as I had
him 31st on my board. While
there are questions about his finishing and athleticism, he is a great shooter
and playmaker with nice size and competitiveness; I think he could end up being
converted to an NBA contract from a 2-way deal before the end of it. It’s not what fans want to see with
Porzingis, but they did what they needed to do, and also got some solid
picks. Grade: B+
Brooklyn
Nets
Drafted
- Egor Demin (8)
- Nolan Traore (19)
- Drake Powell (22)
- Ben Saraf (26)
- Danny Wolf (27)
Acquired
- Terence Mann
- 2 2nd round picks
Traded
- 36th pick (Adou Theiro)
Brooklyn’s draft was busy and polarizing, but I personally
liked it despite them drafting almost all guards and playmakers. Prior to the draft, they got involved in the Kristaps
Porzingis trade by taking on Mann’s contract and taking back the 22nd
pick; while I’ve always liked Mann due to his versatility as an off-ball two-way
wing with some playmaking ability, but he is on a contract that is too big for
what he provides. Brooklyn had the
salary room to take back Mann, so I don’t blame them for taking the pick while
also taking a chance on reclaiming some of Mann’s value later. With the 8th pick, they took
Demin, which is a bit of a risk and a little bit surprising, though I had him
10th on my board. Demin is
not a good shooter, is resistant to shoot, and hasn’t been a good defender, but
I love him because I think he is the second-best playmaker in the class (after Ryan
Nembhard) while also being 6’9 with shoes; he also is a good off-ball mover,
which I think raises his ceiling. With
the 19th pick, they took another playmaker with Traore, who is an
amazing athlete with shooting and playmaking upside, though he is raw and inconsistent
on both ends of the court; even with all of those, I had him 16th on
my board, so I don’t blame them taking him.
With the 22nd pick, they selected Powell, who is more of an
off-ball guard; he is an amazing athlete with defensive and playmaking upside,
though he is very raw and I don’t think will be a good shooter. I think it’s worth a shot, as I had him 27th
on my board due to concerns about what his offensive game will be if the shot
never comes. With pick 26, they took a
shot on another playmaker with Saraf, who is one of the best pick-and-roll
playmakers in the class while also having nice size and a high IQ; despite concerns
about his shooting and athleticism, I had him 22nd on my board, and
even that felt a tiny bit low. With the
27th pick, they selected Danny Wolf, who is a big…who loves to
pass. Wolf is a chaotic ride, as he has
passing, rebounding, and shooting ability, though he also is a poor defender
and athlete while also being totally reckless with the ball (I think the best
description of him is how my dad described one pitcher I played baseball with
who had a wild arm, which was saying that “the pitch could go anywhere between
first base and third base”); I had him 42nd on my board due to my
concerns about his recklessness and fit with a team, though I don’t blame
Brooklyn for taking him. Since they’re
signing all 5 players they selected, they traded the 36th pick for 2
future second-rounders, which makes sense because it already is lunacy to have
5 newly drafted rookies. While there are
questions about how so many playmakers will fit, I never got the vibe that they
are high on Cam Thomas (even if he resigns with the team, I wouldn’t be shocked
if he’s traded within the next couple years), and from there I think they could
get away with 2 playmaking guards at a time, even if the shooting isn’t stellar. It will be difficult, but I think there are
ways to make it work. Either way, it can
be a crapshoot which non-lottery guys end up making it in most drafts, so at
least they took multiple bites at the apple.
Grade: A-
Chicago
Bulls
Drafted
- Noa Essengue (12)
- Lachlan Olbrich (55)
Acquired
- Cash
Traded
- 45th pick (Rocco Zikarsky)
Chicago’s draft has gotten a lot of criticism, and I
genuinely just think it’s because of their reputation instead of the actual
moves that they made. With the 12th
pick, they selected Essengue, who I am high on and had 7th on my
board. He is polarizing due to his rough
jumper and how raw and inconsistent he is, but his athleticism, finishing, and
rebounding are all so good. On top of
that, I think there is playmaking upside, which will pair nicely with the defensive
ability that he has shown. As for the
fit, I don’t think Chicago should worry too much about the fit, especially
since there aren’t too many players who are clear parts of their future. They moved down from the 45th pick
for the 55th pick and cash; while I saw some criticism from fans, it
makes sense to trade down if the guy they want is still going to be there. That said, I’m very low on Olbrich, as he is
super raw for his age, can’t shoot, and can’t defend; that said, he isn’t the
worst choice to own the draft rights for an international player, especially
since he’s a good finisher and is pretty crafty. I thought their first round pick was awesome,
and while I don’t like their second round pick, it’s not a big deal since very
few people make it at that point in the draft anyways. Grade:
B+
Charlotte
Hornets
Drafted
- Kon Knueppel (4)
- Liam McNeeley (29)
- Sion James (33)
- Ryan Kalkbrenner (34)
Acquired
- Vasilje Micic
- 2029 first-round draft pick (PHO)
Traded
- Mark Williams
Charlotte had a busy night and clearly went in with the goal
to get guys they thought were high character players, though it felt like a bit
of a downer. With their 4th
pick, they took Knueppel, who is a great shooter and has a high IQ while being
one of the most popular players leading up to the draft; that said, I think he’s
a bit overrated since he’s not a good athlete, and I don’t think he’ll be a
good defender. I have him 11th
on my board, which is lower than most because most players who are not great
athletes in the modern era need to be elite at several skills in order to be a
starting level player (think Joe Ingles or Kyle Anderson); the only reason I
have him as high as I do is because he’s a great shooter. They ended up trading Mark Williams, which
wasn’t surprising considering that they traded him last season but failed the
physical; the return was interesting, especially seeing as they got a 2029
pick, which could be intriguing since Phoenix appears to be in a bit of disarray. They also got the 29th pick with
which they selected McNeely, who I think will be better as a role player in the
NBA than as a star in college. He is a
good catch-and-shoot shooter with nice size and decent strength, so I think he
could find success if he is played like Bojan Bogdanovic; he isn’t a great
athlete and defender, so there could be some struggles. I thought James being selected at 33rd
was an absolute steal, since I had him 18th on my board (I was
definitely higher than many on him). I
think he’ll be able to slide in as a good role player due to his size and
athleticism; while he’s an inconsistent shooter right now, I think he has
upside as a shooter and playmaker. As
for Kalkbrenner being drafted 34th, I thought that was a solid pick
(coincidentally, I had him 34th on my board). I think he could be a solid drop defender and
has some intriguing upside as a passer, though his game is very limited outside
of the paint; I’m not sure what his upside is, but I could definitely see him
being a backup center at worst. This
draft included a bunch of role players, which is fine for a competitive team,
but a bit underwhelming for a bad team; that said, I can’t say it was bad,
especially since I think picks 29 and 33 could be a steal. Grade:
B-
Cleveland
Cavaliers
Drafted
- Tyrese Proctor (49)
- Saliou Niang (58)
Cleveland only had 2 second round picks, but made some
interesting moves. While some would
argue that Proctor fell to them and should have gone higher (I had a first-round
grade on him, as I had him 17th on my board), I think it could be
mutually beneficial for both sides. As
Cleveland will have some free agents that they likely won’t be able to resign,
they will need role players, especially those who can shoot and create plays
when needed, which is how Proctor can help.
Even if he signs a 2-way contract to start, I could see his contract
being converted and him playing a role with the team. As for Niang, he’s an athletic player with
some intriguing traits, so I don’t blame them for taking him; he’s almost
certainly going to be a draft-and-stash prospect, but it’s worth a shot
drafting someone as athletic as him with the penultimate pick in the draft, as
these picks almost never pan out, making it worth taking a shot on him. I love this draft mainly because I think they
got a steal on Proctor who could be a great fit. Grade:
A+
Dallas
Mavericks
Drafted
- Cooper Flagg (1)
I hate giving Dallas a good grade in this because they only
got this pick due to their own incompetence (for those who claimed it was
rigged, remember that they had to fall into lottery range to begin with after
the Luka Doncic trade), but they made the right pick. Flagg has the highest floor and ceiling in
this draft, as he should be a great defender pretty quickly into the league
while also having some offensive upside.
I think he will have difficulties for the first month or two due to the
adjustment to the league and the fact that he will likely have to do too much
at first, especially since right now I don’t view him as an All-Star level offensive
player at this time (I think he’ll get there), but he’ll be a good offensive
player. He can fit on any team in the
league, so Dallas didn’t mess up and pass on him. Grade:
A+
Denver
Nuggets
Denver had no Draft activity and does not get a grade. Grade:
N/A
Detroit
Pistons
Drafted
- Chaz Lanier (37)
With only one second-round pick, Detroit drafted an older
player who has a chance to help them with his skillset. Lanier is a great athlete and shooter, which
makes him slide into a role with the team very well, especially since he makes
more sense off the ball than on it.
Despite some questions about his consistency with effort on defense and
rebounding, I think it was worth a shot to take him due to the fit. I had him ranked 35th on my board,
so I don’t find this to be a reach at all.
Overall, I think it is a fair selection that makes sense. Grade:
B+
Golden
State Warriors
Drafted
- Alex Toohey (52)
- Will Richard (56)
Traded
- 41st pick (Koby Brea)
- 2032 top-50 protected pick (GSW)
- Draft rights to Justinian Jessup (2020, 51st pick)
Golden State didn’t have the loudest draft night, but still
made a couple of moves. First, they
traded the 41st pick for the 52nd and 59th
picks, which is fine, especially if they favored a guy later in the draft. With the 52nd pick, they selected
Toohey, who is raw, but is a good playmaker and defender. It’s possible that he doesn’t make it in the
NBA and stays in Australia, but he is still worth a shot; I had him 32nd
on my board, so I think that’s solid.
They traded the 59th pick to Memphis along with a protected
pick and draft rights to move up to the 56th pick, which they used
to draft Richard. Richard was a good
college player who could be a solid contributor in the G-League with nice size,
shooting ability, and finishing, so it’s worth a shot on him with a 2-Way
spot. They didn’t even give up that much
to move up either. Overall, it was a
solid draft. Grade: B
Houston
Rockets
Acquired
- Kevin Durant
Traded
- 10th pick (Khaman Maluach)
- 59th pick (Jahmai Mashack)
- Jalen Green
- Dillon Brooks
- 2 2026 second-round picks
- 2030 second-round pick (BOS)
- 2032 second-round pick (HOU)
Houston did not end up doing anything on draft night itself
due to trading for Kevin Durant a few days before. Durant is an amazing fit with a Houston team
that is so good but doesn’t have a clutch late-game scorer that they could
use. With their depth and roster construction,
Houston doesn’t need Durant to do a ton (which was part of the issue in
Phoenix), but he is still going to be able to help as an elite offensive player
and good defender. This return isn’t a
ton for Houston to give up considering how deep they already are. While a solid player for them, Brooks was expendable
in Houston as several young players are talented enough to fill the role. Green is polarizing due to his inconsistent
playing style and inefficient scoring, but he is still a talented scorer. Houston can survive without Green on the
court, especially with Durant, who is a better scorer. As for the pick, a rookie would be unlikely
to get playing time in Houston, especially since multiple young players who
would be better than current rookies can barely get on the court. The second-round picks are fine to lose. I think Houston is the perfect team for Kevin
Durant and that the trade was totally fair.
Grade: A+
Indiana
Pacers
Drafted
- Kam Jones (38)
- Taelon Peter (54)
Acquired
- 2026 first-round pick (IND)
Traded
- 23rd pick (Asa Newell)
- Future second-round pick
- Draft rights to Mojave King (2023, 47th pick)
Indiana had an interesting draft where the outcome totally
shifted based on Tyrese Haliburton’s injury.
Prior to Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Indiana flipped the 23rd pick
and the draft rights to King to get back their own pick next year in a move
that was clearly made to save some cap space next season. Now that Haliburton is injured, they own
their own pick for next year, so it’s not the end of the world if they struggle
and get a high pick instead. They traded
for the 38th pick to select Jones, who was likely was selected as
another guard option with Haliburton injured.
I’m lower on Jones (I had him 52nd on my board) because I
have concerns about his shooting, athleticism, and size (particularly from a
strength standpoint), but he is a great playmaker who is a creative scorer and
impressive finisher. I don’t think he’ll
be the starting point guard (I would bet on Ben Sheppard starting and Andrew
Nembhard bringing the ball up more), but he should be able to provide some
backup minutes. The biggest surprise of
the draft was Taelon Peter being drafted, especially since he came off the
bench at Liberty last season; I didn’t even have him on my list of players who had
a chance of being drafted since it didn’t seem likely. That said, he is a good shooter and creative
finisher, and you can do worse on a 2-way contract than that. I thought their draft night wasn’t
spectacular, but filled some needs. Grade: B
Los
Angeles Clippers
Drafted
- Yanic Konan Niederhauser (30)
- Kobe Sanders (50)
Traded
- 51st pick (Mohamed Diawara)
The Clippers drafted too players who were rapid risers,
although I wasn’t too high on either player.
With the 30th pick, they presumably selected Niederhauser to
get an athletic rim-running big with nice size to pair with James Harden and
give an alternative to Ivica Zubac when Zubac is on the bench. That said, I had him 54th on my
board for two big reasons: he is raw for
a 22-year-old and is not skilled outside of finishing, driving, and blocking
shots. This is one of the fits that I
don’t mind even though I was low on him because they don’t need him to do a heck
of a lot. They moved up from 51 to 50
and selected Sanders, who is inconsistent on both ends and might have a big
jump from Nevada, but he has nice size and is a good athlete. While I had him 62nd on my board, I
think giving him a 2-way contract is a fair decision; I thought he was good
enough to be an undrafted 2-way player, so taking him 50th isn’t a
big jump. While I was lower on both
players compared to where they were drafted, I think both are fine
selections. Grade: B-
Los Angeles
Lakers
Drafted
- Adou Thiero (36)
Traded
- 55th pick (Lachlan Olbrich)
- Cash
The Lakers had the 55th pick in the draft to
start the draft, but they made it clear that they wanted to get a contributor, so
they moved up twice. First, they used
cash to move up to the 45th pick, then used more cash to move up to
the 36th pick. With this
pick, they selected Thiero, who could be one of the best defenders in this
class, as he is a great athlete and has impressive size. That said, I am very concerned about his
offense, as I am not confident in his shooting or dribbling ability; I had him
51st on my board due to the offensive concerns and the fact that he
feels a bit raw for his age. Ultimately,
he won’t need to be anything offensively other than taking and making open 3’s,
but I don’t know if he can do that. I
think it’s more of a risk than most people would make it out to be, but it
could work out. Grade: C+
Memphis
Grizzlies
Drafted
- Cedric Coward (11)
- Javon Small (48)
- Jahmai Mashack (59)
Acquired
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Cole Anthony
- 2026 first-round pick (swap rights with PHO or WAS)
- 2029 first-round pick swap (ORL)
- 2030 first-round pick (ORL)
- 2032 top-50 protected pick (GSW)
- Draft rights to Justinian Jessup (2020, 51st pick)
Traded
- 56th pick (Will Richard)
- Desmond Bane
- 2 second-round picks
Memphis had one of the busiest draft days due to different
moves they made, but the start came a few days before with the Desmond Bane trade. It stinks to lose Bane since he is an
excellent player, but they got 4 first-round picks, including the 16th
pick in the draft, and another swap, so they had to make this move, especially
since their roster from the last few seasons wasn’t getting it done. They also got Caldwell-Pope back, which I
think is a nice return; while he had a tough year last season, he is a good
3-and-D wing who has been a valuable contributor on multiple teams. There are reports that they are trying to
move Anthony, but even if they can’t, he is a nice backup guard, especially on
offense. They ended up trading up for
the 11th pick by giving up the 16th pick, one of the
picks they got from Orlando, and 2 second-round picks; it’s a decent amount,
but I don’t expect the pick they gave up from Orlando will end up being that
high of a pick. Upon trading up, they selected
Coward, who was one of the biggest risers in the entire draft process. He has upside due to his skillset, IQ, and
athleticism, but there are questions about how little he played at a high level. I had him 19th on my board, but I
wouldn’t be shocked if he easily exceeds my expectations; if he had been healthy
and played as well as he did prior to his injury, he might have cracked the top-10
on my board. I don’t mind Memphis
trading up for him since I wouldn’t be shocked if he had been gone by the 16th
pick. They selected Small 48th,
and I think that’s a fine pick. While I’m
lower on him due to his size, defensive upside, and finishing, he is a great
athlete, shooter, and playmaker, so I think having him on a 2-way contract is
fine, especially since he could help their G-League team. They ended up trading down from 56 to draft
Mashack at 59. He didn’t do much offensively,
but is a great defensive guard; if he gets more confident in his jumper, which
I think could be league-average, then they could have a nice 3-and-D player on
their hands. I thought their moves were
fine. Grade: B
Miami
Heat
Drafted
- Kasparas Jakucionis (20)
The result of this selection really depends on what Miami’s
goals are. If Miami views this move as
one that will be necessary to be competitive, this pick will be an utter
disaster since Jakucionis is not ready to be a key guard on a winning team. That said, if they’re doing what I believe
Miami should do, which is draft a talented player to develop, then it could be
worth it. I had him 13th on my
board and he was the second best player remaining on my board (I had Asa
Newell, who was drafted 23rd, ahead of him). At this time, he is a reckless passer who turns
the ball over so much; he also isn’t the best athlete and will likely have issues
getting to the rim. That said, he is a
big guard who I believe has the ability to become a playmaker (I think the model
to success would be watching how Cade Cunningham went from turning the ball
over a ton to being an All-NBA point guard, though I don’t think he’s anywhere
near as good as Cunningham). The fit
long-term makes sense due to the lack of a clear future point guard, but I fear
this means that Miami will want to compete and will try to make him play more
than he should. Grade: B+
Minnesota
Timberwolves
Drafted
- Joan Beringer (17)
- Rocco Zikarsky (45)
Acquired
- 2 future second-round picks
- Cash
Traded
- 31st pick (Rasheer Fleming)
This year showed that Minnesota had a type in the draft, as
they ended up selecting two big men. I
personally am low on Beringer (I had him 43rd since I think he falls
into the mold of being two years away from being two years away, which usually
means they flame out because they aren’t NBA ready), but he has great size,
athleticism, and shot-blocking ability. I
will push back on what some people are saying about him being an amazing defender,
in where he is a great defender for someone who has played basketball for a few
years; his defense is strictly based on athleticism, and while that isn’t
uncommon for players of his age, I’m not sure what kind of defensive
fundamentals. Either way, they really
don’t need a starting big now since Rudy Gobert is still an excellent defender
and an amazing fit with the team, so there is absolutely no rush for him to be
ready. They had the 31st
pick, but traded that for 3 second round picks, including the 36th
pick. They then traded the 36th
pick for the 45th pick and cash, where they selected Zikarsky. While some would complain about the latter
trade and consider it a money trade, if they have a guy that they like who is
still available, it makes sense to trade down and get anything for it (think
about when Boston traded down for Jayson Tatum in 2017 or Jordan Walsh in
2023). As for Zikarsky, he has the
potential to be a solid traditional big as a finisher, rebounder, and drop
defender, though I think he will struggle outside the paint, which could cause
him to struggle in the league; even still, I had him 38th on my
board. Ultimately, they’re playing the long
game with bigs and are hoping that at least one of them ends up panning out; I
don’t hate it. Grade: B-
Milwaukee
Bucks
Drafted
- Bogoljub Markovic (47)
While some were focusing on what Milwaukee would do and if it
would please Giannis Antetokounmpo, the honest truth is that picks in the 40’s
and 50’s are almost always guys who are either on 2-way deals or are
draft-and-stash players. I expect
Markovic will play internationally this year, but I like the selection as I had
a first-round grade on him. While I have
questions about his defense and athleticism, Markovic is a nice shooter at his
size and has playmaking upside. I could
see him being a nice role player if he comes into the league. This was a good pick for this spot in the
draft. Grade: A
New
Orleans Pelicans
Drafted
- Jeremiah Fears (7)
- Derik Queen (13)
- Micah Peavy (40)
Acquired
- Jordan Poole
- Saddiq Bey
- Draft rights to Mojave King (2023, 47th pick)
Traded
- 23rd pick
- CJ McCollum
- Kelly Olynyk
- 2026 1st round pick (best of MIL/NOP)
- 2026 1st round pick (IND)
- Future 2nd round pick
I tried pushing this off for a little while writing these
grades because I really don’t understand the moves that they made, but here we
are. Prior to the draft, they made two trades. First, they gave up Indiana’s first round
pick for next year in exchange for the 23rd pick in the draft and
the draft rights to Mojave King. It was
bad luck that the pick they gave up could have more value once Haliburton got
injured after the trade, but King could be an interesting prospect, especially
since he’s only 23 and still has some interesting tools and upside. Next, they traded CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk,
and a future 2nd round pick in exchange for Jordan Poole, Saddiq
Bey, and the 40th pick. I get
the idea of wanting to move McCollum and Olynyk, especially since they saved
some money in the trade, but I don’t fully get doing this for Poole. He is an aggressive scorer who provides value
off the bench, but Washington was trading him since he wasn’t a good player to
have for a rebuild with young players; I know New Orleans is trying to compete,
but they’re built around multiple guys who either are injured or could break
their foot by stepping on a pea (for a fun fact, my uncle played basketball in
college, but was so injury prone that my dad taught me this expression when
describing him; unfortunately for my uncle, he didn’t complete his eligibility due
to injuries adding up). I just don’t see
New Orleans being particularly competitive, and will have troubles when Poole
is starting for the injured Dejounte Murray until Murray comes back since he is
a score first guard. I kind of like acquiring
Bey though; he’s coming off an injury and struggled in Atlanta, but he was a
nice shooter in Detroit; it’s at least worth a shot. To move on to their picks, I like the
selection of Fears. While it could take
a year or two to be ready, Fears is a great athlete who is someone who will
likely be a better shooter than he displayed in college (the fit of someone who
projects to be a better shooter in the NBA than in college reminds me a bit of
Tyrese Maxey, who was drafted by a team that also needed shooting). I could see his rookie year being clunky, but
I don’t hate the pick, especially since I had Fears 9th on my board. After that, it got a little weird, as they
traded up to get the 13th pick.
The first issue with the move is that they gave up the best of their own
and Milwaukee’s pick next year, either of which has the potential to be a
really good pick, which is a high price to pay to move up 10 spots. What’s worse is that they paid a premium for
a player who doesn’t quite fit. Derik
Queen is a skilled big who has upside as a passer, finisher, and post player
(there’s also glimpses of shooting upside), but there are concerns about his
current shooting, defense, and there are reported concerns about his
conditioning…sound familiar? I don’t
know how Queen and Zion Williamson would be able to play on the court at the
same time, as there isn’t enough defense or shooting between the two to make it
work, so I’m not sure why they would make that move, even if I had Queen 14th
on my board. With Peavy, I think the pick
is fine on a 2-way deal; he’s competitive, has nice size, and could be a decent
shooter, so you could do worse (I had him 39th on my board). I am just so confused about multiple
moves. Grade: D
New York
Knicks
Drafted
- Mohamed Diawara (51)
Acquired
- Draft rights to Luka Mitrovic (2015, 60th pick)
Traded
- 50th pick (Kobe Sanders)
New York had the 50th pick in the draft but
traded down to get 51st while also getting the draft rights to Mitrovic,
who is unlikely to come over now that he is 32, but they’ll probably move again
(these draft rights have been a popular addition in trades). I’m not insanely high on either Sanders or
Diawara, but I don’t hate the Diawara pick due to his size and
athleticism. He is incredibly raw
offensively and is a few years away from being able to do anything on that end,
but there is some defensive upside. He
will likely be a draft-and-stash selection, which he really needs to do to
develop. At this point in the draft,
almost all the picks are either draft-and-stash or 2-way deals, so they didn’t
use up a 2-way spot by acquiring him; that said, I’m not sure we’ll ever see
him in the NBA. Grade: C+
Oklahoma
City Thunder
Drafted
- Thomas Sorber (15)
- Brooks Barnhizer (44)
Acquired
- 2027 1st round pick (SAN, top-16 protected)
Traded
- 24th pick (Nique Clifford)
While OKC really doesn’t have the roster spots to sign any
players, they still kept one of their first round picks and selected Sorber,
who makes sense for the roster long-term.
Eventually, this team will get too expensive to retain, meaning that Isaiah
Hartenstein will be difficult to retain.
Sorber has the upside of being a skilled finisher, drop defender, and
post player while being an easy fit with the offense. I was high on him (I had him 12th
on my board), so I think he could develop into a rim protecting big that the
team will need. They traded their other
first for a future pick, which is an asset that could be used in the future. As for Barnhizer, I’m sure he will be a 2-way
player. I question what he will do in
the NBA given that he is an inefficient shooter and scorer, but he is a solid
defender and playmaker. At that point, I
don’t blame them for taking him if he agreed to sign a 2-way contract. I like this draft though mainly due to the
first round. Grade: A-
Orlando
Magic
Drafted
- Jase Richardson (25)
- Noah Penda (32)
Acquired
- Desmond Bane
Traded
- 16th pick (Yang Hansen)
- 46th pick (Amari Williams)
- 57th pick (Max Shulga)
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Cole Anthony
- 2026 first-round pick swap (PHO or WAS)
- 2028 first-round pick
- 2029 first-round pick swap
- 2030 first-round pick
- 2026 second-round pick
- 2027 second-round pick
Orlando had a busy draft night, but their biggest move came
before when they traded for Bane. I get
the mindset that this is a risky trade because of how much they gave up for
him, but the fit is too good, and the picks shouldn’t be horrible. Most of the picks they gave up are when Paolo
Banchero and Franz Wagner are both still under contract, and I think they’ll
both be special players for Orlando. As
for Bane, he is a great shooter, but he is more than that, despite many fans
claiming otherwise; he is at least good at finishing, playmaking, defending, rebounding,
and moving off the ball. I love the fit
of him alongside Banchero and Wagner as a shooter and secondary playmaker, but
I think what he can do off the court is even more special given that they need
someone to run the offense in that scenario.
Caldwell-Pope had a tough year last year and Anthony’s role shrunk last
season, so both were expendable in Orlando.
While I am torn on Jase Richardson (I have him 29th, as I
love his shooting and IQ, though I am concerned with his size, athleticism, and
playmaking), I think he is a solid fit in Orlando. They won’t need him to be a lead playmaker
since they have a few bigger guys who can fill the role, which allows a smaller
guy to play more off-ball. They traded
up to the 32nd pick to select Penda, who I am high on (I had him 21st
on my board). The fit is imperfect, as his
shot is inconsistent and he isn’t the most athletic, but I think he is a good
player due to his size, IQ, and passing ability. The bigger question is if the amount they
gave up was worth it; while I think it is, they gave up 2 second-rounders in
2-way range and 2 future second-rounders, which is a lot for a second rounder. Overall I liked Orlando’s draft, though the
biggest part was the Bane trade. Grade: A-
Philadelphia
76ers
Drafted
- V. J. Edgecombe (3)
- Johni Broome (35)
As the draft approached, it became clear that Ace Bailey was
not a lock to be selected third and that Edgecombe was a likely target by
Philadelphia. While there are questions
about the fit, I don’t believe that Philadelphia should worry about the fit
since they can’t bank on Joel Embiid being healthy, Paul George looking like a
star, or a rookie being a massive playoff piece (unpopular opinion, especially
for someone who loves the draft: most
NBA rookies are not ready to be key NBA players on winning teams, and the
majority of rookies are not good by NBA standards, but the league doesn’t want
to admit that because nobody would watch the draft otherwise). I think Edgecombe has a clear path to success
in the NBA due to his athleticism and defensive ability; I also think there is upside
as a shooter and that he is a good enough ball handler to survive with the ball
in his hands. That said, I had him 6th
on my board compared to other players (in addition to the popular choices of Cooper
Flagg and Dylan Harper ahead of him, I had Bailey, Tre Johnson, and Khaman
Maluach ahead of him) because I’m a little hesitant about his offensive upside;
while there is shooting upside, his shot is a bit streaky. He also is a bit skinnier and has struggled
with finishing in contact, so I worry that he could struggle to generate his
own looks in the league. The good news
is that they don’t necessarily need him to be an offensive star at any point as
long as they have Embiid, George, and Tyrese Maxey in the present, and Maxey in
the future (Jared McCain also looked very good before he was injured, so he
could end up making that easier). I don’t
quite understand the Broome fit unless they are looking at a long-term
consistent backup center. He’s
competitive, physical, strong, and could end up being a solid backup center,
but I think his lack of athleticism, offense, and defensive skill outside the
paint could limit his potential in the league.
I wouldn’t have made the selections they did, but they were fine. Grade:
B-
Phoenix
Suns
Drafted
- Khaman Maluach (10)
- Rasheer Fleming (31)
- Koby Brea (41)
Acquired
- Mark Williams
- Jalen Green
- Dillon Brooks
- 2 2026 second-round picks
- 2030 second-round pick (BOS)
- 2032 second-round pick (HOU)
Traded
- 29th pick (Liam McNeeley)
- Kevin Durant
- Vasilije Micic
- 2029 first-round pick
- 2 future second-round picks
Phoenix had by far the busiest night of the draft, which is
why I pushed their analysis off to the end, which ultimately included mixed
results. Prior to the night, they traded
Kevin Durant, which was expected after they botched the situation with him
during the season (I know many fans would say you don’t have to reach out to
him prior to trading him, but teams should at least alert their best player,
which I think he was last year, to the fact that they could be traded, which
Phoenix didn’t do). I wasn’t expecting them
to get a ton back for him, so the fact that they got a lottery pick, so solid
starters, and a bunch of second-rounders is a great return, which worked out
because they happened to be negotiating with the team that could afford to give
that up without any drop off. Dillon
Brooks is a nice player for where Phoenix is at because he can raise the floor
of a team due to his competitiveness, especially on the defensive end. Green is going to be a clunky fit as long as
Bradley Beal is also in Phoenix (I don’t expect he’ll be there for too long
though) since he, Beal, and Devin Booker all operate with the ball in their
hands a lot, and each of them are likely too small to play the 3, but he has
shown glimpses of being a very good player, so it’s fine that they got him
back. The pick return is nice, though it’s
worth noting that second-rounders can really vary in quality, especially considering
that one of the picks they got was the 59th pick in the draft. With the 10th pick, they select Maluach,
who I am very high on (I have him 5th on my board). While he is raw, I have his floor as a
starting level big (which sounds weird, but I thought the same thing about Alex
Sarr last season, since I think both will naturally improve certain aspects of
their game to be starters). His size and
defensive ability are already very strong for his age, especially his ability being
able to switch; there are also several possible paths for success, even if his
jumper doesn’t end up developing as expected.
Around the same time, it was announced that Phoenix had also traded for
Mark Williams, which was odd to get another big who is still a bit raw; it is especially
weird since they also have Nick Richards, and I don’t think any of their three
bigs will be able to play alongside each other.
They gave up Micic, the 29th pick, and a 2029 pick, the
latter of which could end up being valuable if Phoenix continues on the
self-destructive path that they’ve been on over the last few years. They were just as busy in the second round
(if not busier) right from the start, as they first traded 2 picks to get the
36th pick, then traded that pick along with 2 future picks to get
Fleming, likely to make sure that they were able to select him before Boston
could (Boston was reportedly interested in him). I’m a little lower than him on most (I had
him 33rd on my board) due to poor handle, playmaking, and
shot-creation ability while also making the jump from a mid-major, but I think
he fits well in Phoenix as a low-maintenance 3-and-D player who doesn’t need
the ball in his hands a lot. Lastly, they traded picks 52 and 59 to move up
to pick 41, which I thought was a solid move no matter whether they were
trading up to fill a roster spot or a 2-way spot. Either way, they took Brea, who I had 37th
on my board. While he does have some
playmaking upside, the big prize with him is that he is possibly the best
catch-and-shoot shooter in the class. Even
if his defensive struggles that I expect are proven true, amazing shooters can
find a role in the NBA. Their draft was
all over the place, but some highs and some lows resulted in an average
draft. Grade: B-
Portland
Trail Blazers
Drafted
- Yang Hansen (16)
Note: I previously referred to him as Hansen
Yang. Since he was drafted, I learned
that he prefers his name be referred to in the traditional Chinese manner,
where the last name is listed first.
Acquired
- 2028 1st round pick (ORL)
- 2 future 2nd round picks
Traded
- Cedric Coward (11)
Portland had probably the strangest draft of the night, highlighted
by the most surprising selection of the first round. They first moved the 11th pick of
the draft to trade down for the 16th pick, in which they received a
future first of Orlando’s and 2 future second-round picks. The Orlando pick might not be too valuable if
their young guys develop as well as I expect by 2028, but it’s an asset at
worst. With the 11th pick, they
took Yang Hansen, a guy who I had as an early second-round pick in my final
mock draft, though he was rising enough that I thought he would be drafted in the
20’s. I don’t mind them taking him this
early, especially if they like their guy and are afraid that someone else would
consider taking him not long after. In
general, I’m a little lower on him, as I had him 36th on my board; while
the passing and finishing is enticing, I think he will be a poor shooter and
defender while also struggling with the jump from China to the U.S. The bigger issue I have is that he makes no
sense with the team since they just selected Donovan Clingan last year, who
played well for a rookie and showed upside.
I don’t think Clingan and Yang will be able to play alongside each other
in the NBA, and I think Clingan is much better than Yang, meaning that they
just used the 16th pick on a backup center who might not make it in
the league since the CBA is such a big jump.
If he pans out (which is possible), they’ll look like geniuses; that said,
I don’t think it is the best idea. Grade: C
Sacramento
Kings
Drafted
- Nique Clifford (24)
- Maxime Raynaud (42)
Traded
- 2027 first-round pick (SAN, top-16 protected)
I thought Sacramento’s draft was solid. They traded into the first round to get the
24th pick, in which they gave up a 2027 first-round pick. Initially, I thought it was their own pick,
but it looks like it is a top-16 San Antonio pick, which makes the trade much
less risky than I initially believed. As
for Clifford, I think it’s a fair pick, as I had him 26th on my
board; while he has a low ceiling and could have a tough jump from Colorado
State, he is a skilled player who can do a lot on and off the ball while likely
being able to easily slide into a complimentary role. With their second-round pick, I thought their
selection, Raynaud, has the potential to be a steal, as I had him 28th
on my board with the mindset that he could have been higher. He is a good shooter and rebounder with great
size, though he isn’t as good of a jumper, finisher, or defender as I would like
at his size. At that point in the draft,
he is worth a shot given his skillset, even if he doesn’t pan out. It wasn’t an obvious home run in my opinion,
but I thought it got the job done. Grade: B
San
Antonio Spurs
Drafted
- Dylan Harper (2)
- Carter Bryant (14)
Acquired
- Future second-round pick
Traded
- 38th pick (Kam Jones)
While San Antonio has gotten a lot of praise for their
draft, I’m a little more muted due to one of their selections. While some might argue that the fit of Dylan
Harper is a little clunky due to the number of guards the team already has, he
was the best player remaining in the draft (I had him 2nd on my
board), and you have to use that mindset when you are bad enough to be in the lottery. While he likely will need at least one season
to be fully NBA-ready, he is a skilled playmaker and finisher with nice size
and strength. The big question is how
his shot will develop; while I think he’s a better shooter than many make him
out to be since he is a good off-ball shooter, he really struggled off the
dribble, which could limit his offensive game as long as he struggles with
that. The issue that I have with their
draft is what they did with the 14th pick; while many have praised
the Bryant selection due to his impact as a 3-and-D player, I am very low on
him (I had him 53rd on my board).
First off, he is really raw for a guy who doesn’t have a high upside, as
I think it will be a couple years before he is ready as a defender (this is a
combination of his current skillset and the fact that most rookies struggle
defensively due to the jump from college or non-NBA pro leagues to the NBA). My bigger question is whether he will be
willing to shoot; he shot fewer than 5 attempts per game in college, and while
part of that is because he played alongside more aggressive shooters, defenders
of him are acting like he played 9 MPG, not 19.3 MPG. My fear is that he is as passive as 2024
lottery pick Cody Williams, who I think is more skilled. The good news for San Antonio is that they
have a bunch of interesting players, so it isn’t the worst thing in the world
if this pick doesn’t work. They traded
the 38th pick for a future pick, which makes sense because there
were going to be limits in roster spaces.
I loved the Harper pick but hated the Bryant pick; I guess that means it
was an okay draft. Grade: B-
Toronto
Raptors
Drafted
- Collin Murray-Boyles (9)
- Alijah Martin (39)
Toronto’s draft was interesting, to say the least. While Murray-Boyles has his supporters,
especially in the analytics community (which I am big on given my background
and mindset), there are several concerns that I have, including his size, fit
with a team, playing style, lack of a jumper if he’s not a star, and position he
will play with Toronto. In my opinion, he
doesn’t fill a need with the team (they need shooting and a big in case Jakob
Poeltl leaves after his contract expires) and wasn’t even close to the best
player available (I had him 20th on my board). I do think there is a clean fit to success
with him if he plays more like Aaron Gordon with the off-ball cutting, but that
is such a drastic change in style that I don’t think he would pull it off. As for Martin, he’s competitive and is a good
shooter and defender for college, but he is too small to play the 2 and not a
good enough playmaker to play the 1 (as it is, he undersized as a guard in the
NBA already). I personally didn’t have
him ranked in the top-60 on my big board because I believe that small guards
are the easiest to find a replacement for, especially since I don’t think he’s
a good enough playmaker or shooter to make it in the league. The only justification I can give for this
pick is that they think he can help their G-League team (which he is good enough
to play a role there), but I believe this is too high of a pick to bank on a
2-way signing. It’s possible they work,
but I’m pessimistic about both selections.
Grade: D+
Utah Jazz
Drafted
- Ace Bailey (5)
- Walter Clayton Jr. (18)
- John Tonje (53)
Traded
- 21st pick (Will Riley)
- 43rd pick (Jamir Watkins)
- 2031 2nd round pick
- 2032 2nd round pick
Utah had a draft that was praised by a lot of people, though
I am a bit tepid of one pick. They
shocked a lot of people by selecting Bailey 5th despite him making
it clear that this wasn’t his preferred location. I love the selection, since I thought he was
the best player remaining (I had him 3rd on my board). He has impressive scoring ability, is a good
shooter, has nice size, and has upside as a defender as well. While there are some concerns with his consistency,
shot selection, and shot creation ability, I think the claims that he is raw
are really overblown, as I believe that he is more polished offensively right
now than V.J. Edgecombe, who has a reputation for being one of the most NBA
ready prospects in the draft. While a
lot was made about the fact that Bailey didn’t do any workouts, I don’t think those
are as important because realistically teams have already scouted these players
for years; I believe these only serve to allow the owner to start meddling
(something you see happen with players on teams that go far in the
tournament). Speaking of which, I think
this is why Clayton rose rapidly this season, as he was the star of a Florida team
that won the championship; Utah even had to trade up to get him, in which they
gave up the 21st pick, the 43rd pick, and 2 future
second-round picks, which is a standard value for this type of trade. Clayton is an excellent shooter and scorer
who isn’t afraid to have the ball in his hands in the clutch. That said, I am possibly the lowest person out
there regarding Clayton’s NBA potential, as I had him 59th on my
board (this isn’t to say he isn’t a good player; this relates to how I think he’ll
translate in the NBA). Clayton is small
and a poor defender while also not being a good enough playmaker to ever be a
lead guard in the NBA, which could limit his potential to being a bench
player. While a better athlete and
handler, my nervous comparison regarding him is Kyle Guy, who was a 6’2 shooting
guard who thrived in college while starring on a championship Virginia team; for
those who don’t remember the name in the NBA, he was the 55th pick
in 2019 and played 53 games in the NBA, while also playing in the G-League and
internationally, before retiring before last season to become an assistant
coach. It’s possible that I am wrong,
and I hope that I am, but I’m not bullish.
The good news for Utah and Clayton is that Utah is not competitive, so
they can afford to give Clayton some minutes to try to develop. Lastly, they took Tonje 53rd,
which I thought was a solid pick since I had him 45th on my
board. He’s a great shooter who did a
good job finishing in college; while not the best athlete or defender, you
could certainly do worse on a 2-way deal.
If they had selected somebody different 18th, I would have their
grade very high; even as it is, I didn’t mind it. Grade:
B
Washington
Wizards
Drafted
- Tre Johnson (6)
- Will Riley (21)
- Jamir Watkins (43)
Acquired
- CJ McCollum
- Kelly Olynyk
- 2031 second-round pick (UTA)
- 2032 second-round pick (UTA)
Traded
- 18th pick (Walter Clayton Jr.)
- 40th pick (Micah Peavy)
- Jordan Poole
- Saddiq Bey
Washington ended up having a bit of a busy draft, beginning
with a surprising trade that they made prior to the draft. They first started by flipping Poole, Bey,
and the 40th pick for McCollum, Olynyk, and a future second-round
pick. While it might sound weird to
trade two guys who are still pretty young for two guys who are not, they
clearly traded Poole because they didn’t want him around their young guys (not
that he is a bad person or anything like that, but he doesn’t play a winning
style of basketball, like how they traded Kyle Kuzma last season); I think Bey
was just added to make the trade work.
McCollum and Olynyk will help the young guys out, and could also be
traded later for assets. With the 6th
pick, they took the guy who I thought was the best available in Johnson (I had
him 4th on my board). He is a
natural scorer and shot creator who is a good shooter and underrated passer and
athlete; while there are questions about his defense, consistency, and
willingness to not be a star, I think he will be a high-level bench scorer at
worst, which is still a good result with the 6th pick in the
draft. They traded down from the 18th
pick to get the 21st pick, 43rd pick, and 2 future
second-round picks, which is a fair return and makes sense if the guy they
wanted to take at 18 would still be available at 21. They took Riley 21st, which is a
little bit of a risk since he’s raw, but Washington can afford to take risks
with where they are in their rebuild. While
he has upside as a shooter and playmaker, he has value due to his driving
ability, size, and movement off the ball, which can be harnessed into something
special; despite his skinniness and unspectacular defensive fundamentals, I
still had him 30th on my board since there is intriguing upside that
he could provide. They used their final
pick to select Watkins, who I’m lower on, but I didn’t hate the pick. Despite his struggles as a shooter, finisher,
and playmaker, he is a solid athlete who is a good defender and has a nice
handle with good size; that’s a fair choice for a 2-way guy. While their draft was good, I think the
Johnson pick was a home run. Grade: B+
What picks did you like in this draft? Any you were surprised by? Let me know in the comments!
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