Grading the 2025 NBA Draft 1st Round!

 The 2025 NBA draft has come to a close! We now have a better idea of the direction each organization is going during this offseason. Here are some of my thoughts and reactions to the first round of this draft class. Comment your thoughts on this draft below!

1. Dallas Mavericks - Cooper Flagg: A+

We've known who was going #1 for months now. Operation "Capture the Flagg" has officially been completed and Flagg looks to be the first number overall pick since Markelle Fultz to make the playoffs in their rookie season.

2. San Antonio Spurs - Dylan Harper: A

Similar to Flagg, Harper has long been the consensus choice at #2. The Spurs did good to not overthink fit and just go best player available. I think Harper has a higher ceiling than any player not named Wemby in San Antonio.

3. Philadelphia 76ers - VJ Edgecombe: B+

Edgecombe seemed to be the guy that Daryl Morey wanted. I have a few questions about how rotations might look with Maxey, McCain, and Grimes also in the backcourt, but Edgecombe is an elite athlete who just bring competitiveness and defense to a 76ers team who will aim to compete in the East. If he can improve his handle and spot up shooting, Edgecombe will be a fantastic connective piece in Philadelphia.

4. Charlotte Hornets - Kon Knueppel: A

This is one of my absolute favorite fits in this entire class. I think Kon slides in perfectly in between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Kon is someone who can play any role offensively and should be able to attack the second side of defenses playing off Ball and Miller.

5. Utah Jazz - Ace Bailey: A

Bailey and his camp notably tried to dictate where he landed, but Austin Ainge and the Jazz did not care. Bailey has been mostly thought of as a top 3 player in this class for lots of the cycle. The Jazz went with who they thought was the best player available, and I think Bailey could end up being their go to scorer sooner than later. He has the highest ceiling of any player on their roster and if he buys into the organization, I think we will look back on this pick as a very good selection.

6. Washington Wizards - Tre Johnson: B+

Johnson maybe is a little bit of clunky fit with him playing a slightly similar role to both CJ McCollum and Bub Carrington. However, I am higher on Johnson's ceiling and would not be surprised if he is the leading scorer this year or next, and is the go-to option for the young core that Washington is building.

7. New Orleans Pelicans - Jeremiah Fears: B

Pelicans addressed their need for backcourt help. Fears is a very young prospect and is a great facilitator in the PnR. He is aggressive getting downhill, but has a small frame and needs to improve his finishing and outside shooting. If he can improve as an off ball player, playing off of Zion, I think this will be a contributing player in New Orleans for years to come. The only knock on this selection is that I believe Fears needs the ball to be the most effective and I am unsure of how much of the ball he will get with guys like Zion, Jordan Poole, and Trey Murphy presumably having scoring and ball-handling priority if NOLA is looking to compete for the playoffs.

8. Brooklyn Nets - Egor Demin: D+

This felt like a huge reach by Brooklyn. They likely could have waited to select Demin later with one of their other selections or moved up into the teens later. There were many players that I had ranked above Demin available. Demin is a huge project player and the Nets are banking on his upside. Demin was very inefficient against good competition in his freshman season at BYU, struggles against physicality, and cannot shoot well. He is a great passer and showed flashes of self creation. If they can maximize his potential this rating might look silly, but I am just not certain Demin will be able to address all his question marks.

9. Toronto Raptors - Collin Murray-Boyles: C+

I was a little bit lower on CMB than consensus, which is why this rating might seem a little lower than others you may read. CMB is a long and versatile defender who can create fun lineups in Toronto. I just have so many hesitations about his shooting. He is a smart passer and capable interior which will be valuable for the Raptors. His shooting might be the biggest swing skill of any draft pick in this class. I thought the Raptors could have addressed some center depth needs with this pick which ultimately knocks this draft pick rating down a little. That being said, I will not be uber surprised if CMB is one of the more impactful players from this class.

10. Phoenix Suns - Khaman Maluach: A

I was shocked the Raptors passed on Maluach. Getting Maluach also makes the KD trade haul seem a lot more valuable for Phoenix. They badly needed center help, and they addressed it with the #10 pick (and a trade with Charlotte for Mark Williams). Maluach was the #6 player on my draft board and think he will be a good defensive presence and lob threat for Devin Booker and company.

11. Memphis Grizzlies - Cedric Coward: B

Back to back years that Memphis selected a wing out of Washington State. The Grizzlies clearly wanted to add length and defense in this draft. Coward certainly addresses these needs as he boasts a 7'2" wingspan. I did feel like the Grizzlies might have given up a little much to trade up, but in the end if this is your guy, you do what is needed to get him!

12. Chicago Bulls - Noa Essengue: B+

A fluid athlete, I like this pick for Chicago. Essengue and Buzelis is a very fun wing/forward duo for the future. If Essengue continues to progress I think he will be a building block for the Chicago franchise adding versatility and athleticism on offense while being a great defender.

13. New Orleans Pelicans - Derik Queen: B-

In a vacuum, I like both rookies that New Orleans selected. I am, like most others, just question the direction that Dumars is trying to go. Both Fears and Queen need on ball reps to best develop in my opinion, but I am just not sure they get the opportunity. I actually like the fit of Queen and Zion offensively, although there are lots of defensive question marks that tandem will have. The biggest knock on this selection is the steep price they paid to move up. Not only did they swap the #23 pick, but they gave up the most favorable pick in 2026 between Milwaukee and NOLA. With the fact that there is a good chance either the Bucks or Pelicans are lottery teams, combined with the fact that is looks to be a loaded 2026 draft class, New Orleans may regret giving up that draft capital.

14. San Antonio Spurs - Carter Bryant: B

The Spurs added a great 3&D wing archetype with this selection. Bryant offers defensive upside and does not need the ball offensively to be most effective. If he can be a good spot up shooter for the Spurs I really like his fit with Fox, Castle, Wemby, and Harper.

15. Oklahoma City Thunder - Thomas Sorber: A

There were rumors that the Thunder might try to move into the lottery but they ultimately did not need to in order to get their guy. I love Sorber's upside as a roller and rim protector. We saw that the Thunder lacked a little bit of front court depth when there was some injuries, causing Jalen Williams to even have to play some center! Sorber can play some spot minutes as a rookie and also will likely be the Isaiah Hartenstein replacement as it is unlikely the Thunder will be able to resign him in the future with JDub and Chet having extensions looming. The Thunder not only drafted for immediate need, but intelligently drafted with the future in mind. 

16. Portland Trail Blazers - Hansen Yang: D+

This pick is easily the biggest shocked of the draft. Apparently the Blazers have long been intrigued by Yang. He worked out with them, they've scouted him in previous seasons, but ultimately this is the biggest reach in this class. Yang likely would have been available later in the draft, there were better players available, and the Blazers just drafted Donovan Clingan with the 7th overall pick a year ago. Now Yang does have intriguing offensive upside, but he has a long ways to go in terms of development. Some people call him the "Chinese Jokic" and if this is true then we will look back on this draft pick as absolute genius. But for now, this just seems like a reach by the Blazers.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves - Joan Beringer: B-

The Timberwolves drafted their future Rudy Gobert replacement with this selection. Beringer showed rapid development this season and I think projects to be an impact role player in the league. I would have thought the Wolves wanted backcourt depth or more NBA ready players with this pick, but ultimately I like the potential of Beringer in Minnesota.

18. Utah Jazz - Walter Clayton Jr: B-

I like Clayton as a player, but the fit in Utah is a little bit funky to me. I do think he is more polished offensively than a lot of their recent picks which could translate to a little more immediate benefits from Clayton. I think it is likely that one or both of Sexton and Clarkson are dealt this offseason which means Clayton could be a large contributor as a rookie.

19. Brooklyn Nets - Nolan Traore: C+

I am a big fan of Traore as a player, but this pick is puzzling with their selection of Demin. Both need the ball in their hands to best be utilized. We will see what the Nets do but another somewhat puzzling selection by Brooklyn here.

20. Miami Heat - Kasparas Jakucionis: A

Jakucionis surprisingly slid in this draft and the Heat were quick to snag him. He offers size and playmaking at the guard position, two things that Miami needed badly. I think he pairs well with both Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell. I have seen people compare Jakucionis to Goran Dragic, and if Jakucionis can replicate the years Dragic had in Miami, then this is a home run pick.

21. Washington Wizards - Will Riley: B-

I have long been a known Khris Middleton fan, and I think he is the perfect mentor for someone like Riley. Riley will need some time to develop but I can see a path for him to eventually be an important wing scorer for the Wizards franchise in the future.

22. Brooklyn Nets - Drake Powell: C-

Compared to my draft big board this was a huge reach, but I am not surprised that a team took a chance on Powell. A raw offensive prospect, but a player with tons of physical tools and athletic promise. The Nets took another really big project here but Powell could eventually turn into a good wing player. Personally I think he is too far behind offensively to return great value, but then again a young player with his athleticism could be worth taking a chance on. I do think there were plenty of better players available that could help the Nets more immediately as well as players who have a higher ceiling.

23. Atlanta Hawks - Asa Newell: A+

To me, this is the best value in the first round. Newell was my 9th ranked prospect in this class. I think he would have been a great selection by Atlanta if they had stayed at 13. Newell will be able to operate as a lob threat for Trae Young, finishes well in transition, offers defensive upside, and has potential to be a capable NBA shooter. Great value for Atlanta here.

24. Sacramento Kings - Nique Clifford: B

I like this pick for Sacramento. A player that can fit into a variety of roles for the Kings. He may not have the highest upside but he is a good player that can contribute in Sacramento. If he can continue to improve his consistency from three point range I think he will be quite a fan favorite.

25. Orlando Magic - Jase Richardson: A-

I really like the fit here between Orlando and Richardson. I think the Magic still needed some shooting and guard depth, even with the Desmond Bane trade, and I think Richardson will be able to return immediate value as a bench scorer as a rookie. Going to a team where he will not be forced to have a very high usage will help his long term development.

26. Brooklyn Nets - Ben Saraf: C+

This is a tough one for me, because I have been very vocal about how I was on Saraf as a prospect, but his fit in Brooklyn is just straight up poor. This is now the third guard in this round they selected, who needs to ball to most be effective, and who has questions surrounding their shooting ability. The Nets clearly wanted guys who have a high feel for the game, but questions remain about how they can best utilize all of these rookies.

27. Brooklyn Nets - Danny Wolf: B

Another guy who probably needs the ball to be super effective, but I like the fit of Wolf in Brooklyn better than any of their other picks. He offers a change of pace in their front court and does add to the obvious desire of creative players that Jordi Fernandez and Sean Marks targeted in this draft.

28. Boston Celtics - Hugo Gonzalez: D

Simply put I think Gonzalez is a long ways away from being a contributing factor in the NBA. There were many available players that I felt were better fits in Boston.

29. Charlotte Hornets - Liam McNeeley: B+

A wing player with shooting upside was something Charlotte needed. McNeeley will offer lots of offball shooting potential and I love the addition of McNeeley alongside Knueppel in this draft class.

30. Los Angeles Clippers - Yanic Konan Niederhauser: D+

I do not love this pick. There were other centers that I think would have returned far greater value for the Clippers at this point. I think Niederhauser's ceiling is something similar to a Jaxson Hayes type player. He will likely not get many minutes and if he can give LA high energy minutes when given the opportunity, then maybe this pick will not look so much of a reach.