2025 NBA Draft grades: First-round pick-by-pick analysis — Mavs get A+ for Cooper Flagg, what about Ace Bailey to Utah?

Yahoo

6 hours ago

How are teams performing in the 2025 NBA Draft? We're handing out grades for every first-round pick.
Grade: A+
Hard to believe this is actually happening just five months after the Mavericks shockingly traded Luka Dončić. Yet here we are. Flagg is officially a Mav, and he has a chance to be great enough to win back the fans. He can help Dallas in both the short term and long term as a do-it-all forward who hustles like a madman, makes his teammates better as a passer and has dialed in a knockdown jumper. He's both the best offensive and defensive prospect in this draft class, making him the safest No. 1 pick in ages. As long as his jumper continues to fall like it did during his freshman year at Duke, he could play as a small forward next to Anthony Davis and another big. And with his size and versatility, he could play power forward in other lineups, too. There's no doubt he's going to produce. It's his growth as a shot creator that will decide if he reaches his All-Star floor or soars to his Hall of Fame ceiling.
Grade: B
If Cooper Flagg had never reclassified, Harper would be the consensus top pick with star upside because he's a big-bodied lefty combo guard who has a high floor with the skill, poise and playmaking instincts to dictate the game at his pace. Now that he'll be sharing shot-creation responsibilities in San Antonio, he'll be able to use his 6-foot-11 wingspan to greater effect on the defensive end and also utilize his bruising interior finishing as a cutter on offense. But he made only 36.8% of his catch-and-shoot 3s and just 28.7% of his dribble jumpers, so his fit with De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle is a question. All of them are more interior-focused guards, and so is Jeremy Sochan in the frontcourt. How many shaky shooters can the Spurs really put around Victor Wembanyama? It appears the Spurs will just take Harper, bank on his massive upside, and figure out team fit later.
Grade: A-
Edgecombe makes total sense for the Sixers. He is an explosive, high-motor wing who flies out of nowhere for poster dunks and chase-down blocks. He pairs his elite athleticism with a knockdown, spot-up jumper and fearless slashing. Though he needs to improve his shot creation to become more of a primary creator, the Sixers have enough in that department as is, so Edgecombe should get time to develop on his own timeline. It sure would've been nice for Philadelphia to get an opportunity to meet face-to-face with Ace Bailey, but odds are Edgecombe would've been the better choice anyway since he can help both in the short-term as a role player and in the long-term due to his high upside.
Grade: A
Knueppel has a sharpshooter's stroke, brainy pick-and-roll playmaking, and crafty scoring feel. He's the type of player who can come in right away and fit on any team, including perfectly between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. He's got a slick midrange bag and strength scoring inside, but to become a player that takes over games he'll need to overcome his average athleticism. This would matter a bit less playing in Charlotte, since he could be one of multiple ball-handlers on the team.
Grade: B
Well, Bailey didn't get what he wanted by landing with the Jazz. There's a reason why he fell to No. 5. This is a huge upside swing for the Jazz, but Bailey is a ridiculous shot-making machine, capable of splashing contested jumpers from every spot on the floor and with the swagger of a throwback bucket-getter. He had 39 points against Indiana, 37 against Northwestern, and 30 against Penn State, showing an ability to have masterful performances in which he can't be stopped. But his raw edges as a shot creator and defender need sanding down to turn him into a full-on star. Over half of his half court shots came in the midrange, and yet he made only 36.4% of his pull-up 2s. He can catch fire, but he needs to prove he can be consistent on top of doing all the other things it takes to win. Maybe with Utah, he will learn.
Grade: A
Johnson is a clutch shot-maker who can catch fire from all over the floor, drilling step-backs and off-screen jumpers with ease. The Wizards are getting the best overall shooter in the class. He made 40.8% of catch-and-shoot 3s, over 50% of 3s off screens and 38.4% of dribble jumper 3s. But he needs to continue developing his point guard skills while also honing his shot selection since only 17% of his shots came at the rim in the half court. Plus, he must dramatically improve his defense to show he's more than just a one-way player.
Grade: A-
Fears is a dynamic guard with a twitchy attacking style and a knack for coming through as a clutch shooter. He's the best ball-handler in this draft class, giving him a runway to become New Orleans' long-term primary shot-creator. But he was one of college basketball's youngest freshmen, and it showed with his shaky decision-making as a shooter and passer. So he needs time to grow. All that said, he's a lottery pick because he has a feel for shot creation and a handle that lets him get anywhere on the floor, so he may only need time to emerge as a star.
Grade: C+
This is undoubtedly a huge swing for the Nets here. Demin has a rare ability at his size to make dazzling passes, which would give Brooklyn a jumbo-sized ball-handler. But he's also struggled to shoot and create his own shot against lengthy defenders, making him more of a love-him or hate-him prospect than a sure thing. Whether he becomes a point guard in the NBA will depend on the development of his jumper.
Grade: A-
Murray-Boyles has a chance to be one of the steals of this draft. He operates like a defensive savant the way he locks down every position, uses his ninja-quick hands to swipe at the ball, and inhales rebounds. He's the closest prospect to Draymond Green because he's such a special defensive presence, and offensively he's a finisher with a playmaking feel. Improving his jumper would move him out of tweener territory and into All-Star status, and ultimately that's the big question for him in Toronto. Can he fit next to Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram? CMB missed 30 of his 39 3-point attempts in two collegiate seasons, and made a tick under 70% of his free throws.
Grade: A+
Maluach was the highest upside player available on the board. He's a towering rim protector with switchable mobility, erasing shots at the rim and shadowing quick guards on the perimeter. He only logged 1.3 blocks per game but deterred opponents from even sniffing the basket. Beyond dunking lobs at a frequent rate, he's a work in progress on offense with a lack of seasoning as a screener, shooter, and creator. Such a raw skill set should come as no surprise since the South Sudan native didn't start playing basketball until he was 13. Maluach's upside has him ranked in the top two or three on some team draft boards, and perhaps that was the case for the Suns.
12. Chicago Bulls:
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14. San Antonio Spurs:
15. Oklahoma City Thunder:
16. Memphis Grizzlies:
17. Minnesota Timberwolves:
18. Washington Wizards:
19. Brooklyn Nets:
20. Miami Heat:
21. Utah Jazz:
22. Brooklyn Nets:
23. New Orleans Pelicans:
24. Oklahoma City Thunder:
25. Orlando Magic:
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27. Brooklyn Nets:
28. Boston Celtics:
29. Charlotte Hornets:
30. Los Angeles Clippers: