The 2025 NBA draft came and went in a whirlwind. We barely had time to take a deep breath after the Finals ended before the big night was upon us. Now, the dust has settled and we can evaluate all the picks. Here are my initial grades and thoughts on how each team did.
Atlanta Hawks
Draftee: Asa Newell (23rd)
Newell was mocked as a lottery pick for a large part of the draft cycle, but his stock slipped in the last two months. He’s not as concrete of a product as other bigs in the class, but he looks the part of a pro with his 6’10” frame. The Georgia product will bring hustle, defensive versatility, and stretch big upside to Atlanta, but it might be a while before he sees real playing time after the Kristaps Porzingis trade. Perhaps he’ll be able to follow the Jalen Johnson developmental track.
Grade: B-
Boston Celtics
Draftees: Hugo Gonzalez (28th), Amari Williams (46th), Max Shulga (57th)
Boston is on the precipice of a major retooling season. The Porzingis and Holiday trades made that clear, but drafting Hugo Gonzalez truly cemented it. Gonzalez is a toolsy project pick who will need patience and reps for his potential to be actualized. However, even if the Celtics afford him those things, he still may completely flame out due to his lack of a true NBA skill.
Amari Williams and Max Shulga feel like classic Celtic role players. Williams is a rugged big man with high IQ and Shulga is an efficient movement shooter with playmaking chops. As the team searches for a new rotation next season, one of their two second-rounders may sneak in there.
Grade: C+
Brooklyn Nets
Draftees: Egor Demin (8th), Nolan Traore (19th), Drake Powell (22nd), Ben Saraf (26th), Danny Wolf (27th)
This is definitely the wildest draft class an individual team has brought in this decade. Brooklyn had five first rounders and used every single one of them. No trade-up, no consolidation, no nothing. Even crazier is the fact that each member of the new Nets quintet is a project pick, making the haul both incredibly exciting and terrifying.
My preferred swing from this group is actually Ben Saraf, but it’s tough to picture any of the three guards really succeeding when they’re all lead ball handlers with streaky jumpshots. Egor Demin may end up looking like 2023-24 Josh Giddey out there if he’s forced to spot up next to Traore and Saraf. Traore might be a worse version of Killian Hayes. It’s not that these guys are bad prospects on their own, it’s just putting them all together on one team is a recipe for complete unpredictability.
That said, the Nets have essentially zero real core pieces and their roster is about as wide-open as it gets. Throwing a bunch of darts at the board and seeing what sticks is the right move for this franchise, although they probably should have aimed in a couple different places.
Grade: B-
Charlotte Hornets
Draftees: Kon Knueppel (4th), Liam McNeeley (29th), Sion James (33rd), Ryan Kalkbrenner (34th)
The Hornets have been painfully mediocre for too long. This draft class could change that. All four guys have the type of complementary play styles that help win games. Kon Knueppel isn’t the typical upside swing you see in the top five, but he’s a 19-year-old with remarkable IQ and a stunning three-point stroke who can be a calming complement to the wildness of LaMelo Ball. James (Knueppel’s Duke teammate) and Kalkbrenner are two really solid role player bets. Kalkbrenner especially seems likely to succeed; the second round has been a treasure trove of frontcourt value in recent years and the four-time Big East DPOY checks a lot of boxes.
Grade: A-
Chicago Bulls
Draftees: Noa Essengue (12th), Lachlan Olbrich (55th)
No team on draft night took a bigger upside swing than the Bulls did with Noa Essengue. The Frenchman has all the parts required to build a star (youth, insane positional size, tantalizing defensive potential, willingness to shoot, etc), but I’m not sure if I trust Chicago to piece them together the right way. But, if Essengue does pan out, the team will have a formidable forward tandem for the future with him and Matas Buzelis.
Lachlan Olbrich is a fun play finisher with quality scoring touch and feel for the game at the center spot. He should be a nice fit in Chicago’s uptempo scheme if he sees the floor.
Grade: C+
Cleveland Cavaliers
Draftees: Tyrese Proctor (49th), Saliou Niang (58th)
This is a respectable late-draft haul for Cleveland. Proctor used to be considered a first-round-level prospect, and his secondary scoring and playmaking skills could make him a replacement for Ty Jerome if the 2025 6MOY candidate leaves in free agency. Saliou Niang is a super exciting athlete, but it feels like he’ll probably be stashed for now.
Grade: B-
Dallas Mavericks
Draftee: Cooper Flagg (1st)
Not much needs to be said here. Nico Harrison got bailed out, and the Mavericks now have a kid who could become the face of their franchise one day in Cooper Flagg.
Grade: A+
Detroit Pistons
Draftee: Chaz Lanier (37th)
The Pistons did well for themselves here by nabbing one of college basketball’s elite shooters early in the second. Lanier is a flat-out flamethrower. Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. showed us last season how valuable having shooting next to Cade Cunningham is, and now Detroit has another sniper in their arsenal.
Grade: B
Golden State Warriors
Draftees: Alex Toohey (52nd), Will Richard (56th)
These weren’t exciting picks, but the Warriors got two guys who have a shot at fitting in their system. Toohey is a strong shooting forward from down under and Richard is a versatile off-guard who just won a championship at Florida. We saw Steve Kerr extract value from end-of-bench guys like Gui Santos and Pat Spencer last season, and maybe he can do the same with Toohey and Richard. Still, there were probably better options available for the Dubs here, even though they picked in the 50s.
Grade: C+
Indiana Pacers
Draftees: Kam Jones (38th), Taelon Peter (54th)
The Pacers have a type. They like quick decision makers who can play in the open floor and knock down triples. Kam Jones and Taelon Peter both fit that bill. Jones is a crafty combo guard out of Marquette who can take on some ball handling responsibility from day one with Tyrese Haliburton set to miss the 2025-26 season. Peter was one of the more unknown names in the class, but he might be a picture-perfect Pacer. The 6’5” guard from Liberty is a good athlete and he led the entire nation in true shooting percentage (72.4%) as a senior.
Grade: A-
Los Angeles Clippers
Draftees: Yanic Konan Niederhauser (30th), Kobe Sanders (50th)
Many mocks predicted the Clippers bringing in a backup center, and that’s exactly what they did. Yanic Konan Niederhauser will be a phenomenal fit next to James Harden as a rim-running lob threat and excellent shot blocker. He may end up being one the more impactful rookies next season. Kobe Sanders is a point forward who has the dribble-pass-shoot skillset teams covet, but he’ll probably be buried in the depth chart in year one.
Grade: B+
Los Angeles Lakers
Draftee: Adou Thiero (36th)
Los Angeles smartly moved up on Thursday night to snag one of the top-rated prospects on the board in the second round. Adou Thiero must have been made in the same lab as the Thompson twins, as he’s an insane functional athlete with a nonstop motor. He’ll be able to run the floor in transition with LeBron and Luka and cover up some of their flaws on the defensive end. Thiero isn’t a beautiful fit in Los Angeles (he can’t really shoot), but this was a really nice value grab regardless.
Grade: B
Memphis Grizzlies
Draftees: Cedric Coward (11th), Javon Small (48th), Jahmai Mashack (59th)
The Grizzlies traded up to grab Cedric Coward, so he’s clearly their guy and I love the fit. In fact, I mocked him going to Memphis at 16 prior to the draft. Coward is a knockdown shooter on the wing with an impressive frame. In many ways, he’s Desmond Bane-esque. However, I don’t think he’s the safe prospect everyone thinks he is. He only played six games at Washington State last season, and before that he was playing at Eastern Washington, a small school. We haven’t seen this guy against a lot of real professional talent. His intrigue is drawn from mystique more than anything. For that reason, I feel giving up an additional first round pick and two seconds to move up and grab him at 11 was excessive.
Memphis’ second-rounders will fit their gritty culture exceptionally. Javon Small is a downhill guard who plays bigger than his 6’2” height, and Jahmai Maschak is one of the better backcourt defenders in the class.
Grade: B
Miami Heat
Draftee: Kasparas Jakucionis (20th)
This may end up being the biggest steal of the draft. A nearly-conensus lottery pick, Jakucionis somehow slipped all the way down to 20 and ended up with one of the best player development staffs in the league. The Illinois product is the lead guard the Heat need and could look like a star for the team in three years. Great pick from Miami.
Grade: A
Milwaukee Bucks
Draftee: Bogoljub Markovič (47th)
Markovič is one of the most intriguing international players in this draft. He’s a product of Mega Basket, a Serbian club that has produced a number of successful NBA players, including Nikola Jokic. The lanky big man has fantastic feel for the game, a crisp shooting stroke, and no shortage of confidence. The issue is that Markovič is way behind the curve right now in terms of strength, which is why it’s rumored that he may be stashed in Europe next season. If that’s the case, this was a wasted pick, regardless of how awesome Markovič is. The Bucks need guys who can help the team right now.
Grade: B (D if Markovic gets stashed)
Minnesota Timberwolves
Draftees: Joan Beringer (17th), Rocco Zikarsky (45th)
Minnesota is clearly preparing for the end of the Rudy Gobert era (whenever that will be), as they brought in two defensive-minded giants in Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky. Both guys are really raw right now, which won’t help the Wolves continue to compete in the short term, but all it will take is one of the two to pop in the future for this to look like a smart draft for the team.
Grade: B-
New Orleans Pelicans
Draftees: Jeremiah Fears (7th), Derik Queen (13th), Micah Peavy (40th)
Brooklyn had the wildest draft of any team, but New Orleans’ decisions were the most confusing. They recently traded for a youngish star guard in Jordan Poole, and they already had Dejounte Murray, and yet they brought in a 18-year-old project guard who can’t effectively play off the ball right now with the 7th pick. They also traded their 2026 first round pick, despite the odds being stacked against them to make the playoffs next year, and in return they got a raw jumbo power forward who might fit awfully next to Zion Williamson.
Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen are both fun high-upside prospects, and this grade doesn’t reflect them as players. Instead, it reflects the fact that they should be on rebuilding teams, not a directionless Pelicans franchise who has big money wrapped up in a core that isn’t good enough to legitimately compete.
Grade: C
New York Knicks
Draftee: Mohamed Diawara (51st)
In Diawara, the Knicks are getting an unrefined athletic forward with intruiging defensive potential. He may be a stash guy, but if he can come over to the NBA right away, he could help New York restore the defensive identity they lost last season. However, the team could have really used a shooter, and Diawara is not that.
Grade: C
Oklahoma City Thunder
Draftees: Thomas Sorber (15th), Brooks Barnhizer (44th)
With extensions for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams looming, the Thunder won’t be able to pay Isaiah Hartenstein the big bucks forever. Luckily, they found his long-term replacement with the 15th pick. Sorber plays extremely hard and has some of the highest defensive upside in the class. He has some feel and finesse to his game, too. Even if Sorber ends up being a career backup for OKC, he’ll probably be a very good one.
Brooks Barnhizer was widely projected to go undrated, but he has the makings of a successful NBA role player, as long as he can find consistency from beyond the arc. Luckily, the Thunder have a renowned shooting coach in Chip Engelland.
Grade: B
Orlando Magic
Draftees: Jase Richardson (25th), Noah Penda (32nd)
Orlando continues to make smart moves and they keep ascending because of it. Jase Richardson may be small, but he’s a superb shooter and decision maker who can play on and off the ball. Noah Penda is a burly and versatile defensive stopper who fits the mold of player Orlando likes. Both of these guys compete and know their roles, making them ideal picks for an up-and-coming playoff team.
Grade: B+
Philadelphia 76ers
Draftees: VJ Edgecombe (3rd), Johni Broome (35th)
The Sixers have quietly assembled an exciting young core. Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Justin Edwards, and Adem Bona are now being joined by electric athlete and potential two-way star VJ Edgecombe. The former Baylor Bear has so many impressive traits and Philly will be able to mold him into whatever type of player they’d like him to be. Issues may arise when trying to fit him in a backcourt rotation with Maxey and McCain, but that’s the only nit to be picked here.
Johni Broome was one of college basketball’s best players last year. He’s a winner and a junkyard dog and will be ready for some backup five minutes as a rookie if they’re available for him.
Grade: A-
Phoenix Suns
Draftees: Khaman Maluach (10th), Rasheer Fleming (31st), Koby Brea (41st)
Phoenix is clearly committed to revamping their roster and heading in a positive direction after trading Kevin Durant. They made a number of smart moves on draft night, headlined by the selection of Khaman Maluach at 10, who can be their center of the future. Rasheer Fleming was a projected first-round lock and may end up looking like a huge steal. He and Ryan Dunn will terrify offensive players on the wing. Koby Brea is an all-world shooter who could replace Grayson Allen should he get traded. Importantly, everything the Suns are doing is helping them save money and move below the imposing second apron.
In addition to their draft selections, Phoenix traded for Mark Williams, which isn’t included in this grade but was a good move. He’s better than any big man they’ve had since Deandre Ayton was traded and he’s still young.
Grade: A
Portland Trail Blazers
Draftee: Hansen Yang (16th)
The single most surprising pick of the night was Hansen Yang going to Portland just outside the lottery. Like Noa Essengue, Yang is an ultimate lottery ticket with both a tremendous ceiling and a significant chance of failure. I’d honestly love the swing if they didn’t already have Donovan Clingan and Deandre Ayton on the roster, as Yang probably won’t get a ton of developmental minutes early on. This pick gets a slightly above average grade for now, but that will likely change dramatically for better or worse in the future.
Grade: C+
Sacramento Kings
Draftees: Nique Clifford (24th), Maxime Raynaud (42nd)
Sacramento probably shouldn’t want to compete, but they do, and that goal heavily influenced these selections. Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud are both plug-and-play older prospects with versatile skillsets. You can’t fault the Kings for targeting good basketball players, but trying to build a young core with higher upside guys probably would have been better.
Grade: B-
San Antonio Spurs
Draftees: Dylan Harper (2nd), Carter Bryant (14th)
The Spurs just keep on absolutely killing it in the team-building deparment. They didn’t overthink their pick at two and brought in a future stud in Dylan Harper. The Rutgers phenom will absolutely be able to share the court with Stephon Castle or De’Aaron Fox, and he could be Wemby’s star running mate for the long haul. At 14, they grabbed one of the class’ premier 3&D guys in Carter Bryant, who fits the winning brand of the the Silver in Black. In three year’s time, this team will probably be running the league.
Grade: A+
Toronto Raptors
Draftees: Collin Murray-Boyles (9th), Alijah Martin (39th)
This draft was so bad it got Masai Ujiri fired.
Ok, in all seriousness, that’s definitely not the reason, but I don’t like this pick. It’s almost too on brand for Toronto. Collin Murray-Boyles in a vacuum was a lottery-tier player with his elite defensive versatility and bully mentality, but I don’t see how this can be the pick when they have an overload at forward already. Scottie Barnes isn’t a good enough shooter to have Murray-Boyles (a non-shooter) next to him for big minutes, especially when their center (Jakob Poeltl) doesn’t space the floor at all. Getting a real center instead, like Maluach, would have made much more sense.
Like with the Pelicans, this grade is bad because of the team context, not because of the player himself.
Grade: C
Utah Jazz
Draftees: Ace Bailey (5th), Walter Clayton Jr. (18th), John Tonje (53rd)
All the weird drama aside, Ace Bailey was the right choice for Utah at five. They need a blue chip prospect to complete their core and the Rutgers wing has the chance to be just that. If Bailey becomes the player he says he can be, the Jazz will have their long-term star.
Clayton and Tonje are pro-ready complementary pieces who will help Utah improve their outside shooting. The team ranked 22nd in the league in three-point percentage last season.
Grade: B+
Washington Wizards
Draftees: Tre Johnson (6th), Will Riley (21st), Jamir Watkins (43rd)
Like the Jazz, the Wizards have assembled a really cool and well-rounded young core, but they still need a lead scorer/number one option. Tre Johnson is the best pure bucket getter in this draft— he averaged nearly 20 points as a freshman guard in the SEC. With the guidance of Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum, the sky is the limit for this kid.
Will Riley is a 6’8” microwave scorer, but he’s less polished than Johnson. He’ll benefit greatly from the vets on the team. Jamir Watkins will fit like a glove in Washington’s growing defensive identity.
Grade: B+
The Bench Mob Blog 