NBA draft grades 2025: Who earned an A for their first round picks?
With the No. 1 pick, the Dallas Mavericks did not botch the 2025 NBA draft, taking Cooper Flagg No. 1, and the Brooklyn Nets were active with five first-round picks.
Several teams did not have a first-round pick, trading it in moves that helped produce a championship. There's also teams like Houston and Golden State that gave up first-round picks recently in hopes of winning a title soon.
There was only one real surprise – Portland using the No. 16 pick to take Yang Hansen.
Who fared well in the draft? Who is set up for the present and the future?
Here are USA TODAY Sports' 2025 NBA draft grades:
2025 NBA draft grades
Atlanta Hawks: B+
The Hawks traded for Kristaps Porzingis and then acquired Asa Newell with the No. 23 pick.
Boston Celtics: B
At No. 28, Boston landed Spain's Hugo Gonzalez, who is one of Europe's top prospects. But he may not be ready to contribute immediately.
Brooklyn Nets: A
The Nets accumulated five first-round draft picks ahead of the draft and got: BYU's Egor Demin at No. 8, France's Nolan Traore at No. 19, North Carolina's Drake Powell at No. 22, Israel's Ben Saraf at No. 26 and Michigan's Danny Wolf at No. 27.
Charlotte Hornets: B
The Hornets need shooting. They were 28th in 3-point shooting percentage, 30th in field goal percentage and 30th in effective field goal percentage. Duke's Kon Knueppel can help a massive shortcoming on Charlotte's roster.
Chicago Bulls: B
France is in a nice run of producing NBA players, and Noa Essengue, the No. 12 pick, will give the Bulls another interior option.
Cleveland Cavaliers: B
Did not have a first-round pick; traded to Utah as part of the Donovan Mitchell deal, which has worked out for the Cavs. They signed him to a three-year, $150.3 million contract that keeps him with the Cavs through at least 2026-27.
Dallas Mavericks: A
The Mavericks needed luck to get the No. 1 pick – just a 1.8% chance to win the lottery and that's what happened, allowing them to select Cooper Flagg, who brings talent, maturity and an NBA-ready game to a team looking to compete for a title.
Denver Nuggets: A
Did not have a first-round pick. The Nuggets traded it to Orlando in 2021 in a deal that sent Aaron Gordon to the Nuggets. It helped Denver win a title in 2023.
Detroit Pistons: Incomplete
Detroit's selection was sent away as part of the 2020 trade that brought Isaiah Stewart to the Pistons.
Golden State Warriors: Incomplete
As part of the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Golden State, the Warriors shipped the No. 20 selection to Miami that became Kasparas Jakucionis. While Butler infused defense, veteran experience and more competitiveness to the Warriors, they were eventually eliminated in the second round.
Houston Rockets: A-
The Rockets did not have a first-round pick ... because they traded the No. 10 pick to Phoenix for Kevin Durant, putting them in position to contend for a title after going 52-30 last season and earning the No. 2 seed in the West.
Indiana Pacers: Incomplete
The Pacers did not have a first-round pick, trading the No. 23 overall selection to the Pelicans, as well as the rights to guard Mojave King. In exchange, the Pacers received their own 2026 first-round selection, which they had originally shipped to Toronto in the deal that brought Pascal Siakam to Indiana.
Los Angeles Clippers: B
With the final pick of the night, the Clippers bolstered their interior presence, taking forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser out of Penn State. He's still a bit raw, but he should be an excellent developmental backup to center Ivica Zubac. Niederhauser should get plenty of burn as a low block defender — he ranked 12th in the country in blocks per game (2.31) — and should be a lob threat as a finisher.
Los Angeles Lakers: Incomplete
The No. 22 overall selection was part of the package the Lakers sent the Pelicans in the deal that brought center Anthony Davis to Los Angeles.
Memphis Grizzlies: B+
This was all about replacing Desmond Bane, whom Memphis just shipped to the Orlando Magic, but on a budget. Bane had been signed to a max extension in July 2023, so he was going to become pricey. Guard Cedric Coward, a late riser in the draft process, was picked at No. 11. He has ample experience and should play right away. Memphis has a pretty solid track record in recent years of drafting. His size and shooting ability should translate instantly.
Miami Heat: B
Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis was projected as a lottery pick in several mock drafts, and the Heat got him at No. 20.
Milwaukee Bucks: A
Did not have a first-round pick; the Bucks traded this pick to New Orleans in 2020, acquiring Jrue Holiday, who helped the Bucks win a title in 2021. Yes, the Bucks are trying to stay competitive with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it's hard to complain about a title.
Minnesota Timberwolves: C
The issue with Rudy Gobert is that his offensive game can be inconsistent. And Minnesota's consecutive trips to the Western Conference finals proved that the Timberwolves need more scoring, particularly when teams game plan to take Anthony Edwards out of rhythm. Joan Beringer is only 18, so he's a project and doesn't necessarily help Minnesota get over the hump in the short term. He's explosive and full of potential. Minnesota's window to win, however, is now, and plenty of plug-and-play prospects were available at 17.
New Orleans Pelicans: B-
In a vacuum, both Jeremiah Fears (guard, No. 7) and Derik Queen (center, No. 13) are solid players. But they're also both at positions where the Pelicans have established players, which could mean New Orleans will be looking to sell off veterans like point guard Dejounte Murray and power forward Zion Williamson. Queen's skill set — his ball handling, vision, passing and touch — should make him too valuable to sit. The same, frankly, goes for Fears. The Pelicans have very nice pieces; the fit is a little cumbersome.
New York Knicks: B-
Did not have a first-round pick; the Knicks have traded significant draft capital (no first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031) to build this team. Back-to-back 50-win seasons and an Eastern Conference finals appearance this season are the results so far.
Oklahoma City Thunder: B
Given it's the Thunder front office led by executive VP/GM Sam Presti and the track record of the Thunder acing the draft, it's a safe bet to say the Thunder found value with the No. 15 pick (Georgetown's Thomas Sorber).
Orlando Magic: B
At one point during the draft process, Michigan State's Jase Richardson was a projected lottery pick and the Magic got him at No. 25.
Philadelphia 76ers: B
The Sixers passed on Ace Bailey and took defensive-minded guard VJ Edgecombe at No. 3. He will be able to guard multiple positions.
Phoenix Suns: C-
There's no question: the Suns have wanted a center for a long time. They traded Jusuf Nurkić to the Hornets in the middle of the season and struggled to find a presence down low. Duke's Khaman Maluach at No. 10 — part of the trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston — is actually great value. But, minutes prior, the Suns also reportedly completed a trade to get another former Duke center, Mark Williams, from the Hornets. This reeks of a team that didn't think Maluach would be available, got impatient, and fired off a trade. Now, Phoenix has the opposite issue: it has one big too many.
Portland Trail Blazers: C
This is another curious move. Clearly, Portland loved Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 center from China with fluid athleticism and superb passing ability. But the Trail Blazers now have three centers: Hansen, Robert Williams (who is entering the final year of his contract) and Donovan Clingan (last year's No. 7 overall selection). Even if Portland packages Williams in a salary-shedding move, Hansen, who turned 20 on Thursday, June 26, is only one year younger than Clingan. Despite his impressive skill set, he also might need time to assimilate from the Chinese Basketball Association.
Sacramento Kings: B
The Kings did not have a first round pick to start the night but traded into the first round, acquiring the No. 24 pick from Oklahoma City and drafting Nique Clifford from Colorado State.
San Antonio Spurs: A
The Spurs have the past two rookies of the year (Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle) and just picked Rutgers' Dylan Harper at No. 2 and Arizona's Carter Bryant at No. 14. The Spurs are on their way.
Toronto Raptors: B
The Raptors are close to making a move in the East, and Collin Murray-Boyles at No. 9 is the kind of player who fits Toronto's system.
Utah Jazz: A
Danny Ainge struck again. Utah got excellent value at No. 5 with Ace Bailey, an electric player who is built exactly the way teams want their wings. He has effortless athleticism and is a hyper-competitive player who should find easy buckets. And then, in a trade with the Wizards, the Jazz nabbed an experienced guard in Walter Clayton Jr., who has range and the clutch gene.
Washington Wizards: B
The Wizards targeted guards as part of their extensive rebuild and selected Texas' Tre Johnson sixth and acquired Illinois' Will Riley at No. 21.
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New York Times
22 minutes ago
- New York Times
After a lottery gut punch, the Wizards pivoted, solidly, with first-rounder Tre Johnson
Every NBA team — every single one — needs a guy who can put the ball in the basket. Every team needs a Jamal Murray. Or a Devin Booker. And, at the top of that food chain, a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Tre Johnson, taken sixth in a draft that started in gut-wrenching fashion for the Washington Wizards six weeks ago at the lottery in Chicago, finally gets Washington back into that space, almost two years to the day since the Wizards traded Bradley Beal. Johnson is the best shooter in the 2025 draft. And he'll be the Wizards' best young two guard since Washington took Beal third in the 2012 draft. That is pretty good triage for the gaping emotional wound of watching their Cooper Flagg/Dylan Harper dreams perish last month. Advertisement And, for a team still hip-deep into a yearslong rebuild, Tre Johnson — who just turned 19 in March — is both a positional and timeline fit for a still-achingly young core group. Illinois wing Will Riley, taken 21st by the Wizards after they moved back from 18 in a trade with the Utah Jazz, is 19. Bub Carrington turns 20 in a few weeks, five days before Bilal Coulibaly turns 21. Alex Sarr is 20. Kyshawn George will be 22 in December. A.J. Johnson, acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks in the Kyle Kuzma deal, is 20. Justin Champagnie, the senior citizen of the group, is 23. (At 26, Corey Kispert qualifies for Medicare.) A lot — a lot — of Wizards fans wanted Ace Bailey at six, or at five, four or three; whatever Washington had to do to get him. I get it. Bailey's a big name and a big talent. And he could well become a superstar in this league. A lot of others wanted the Wiz to stay local and take Maryland's Derik Queen at six. Which, again, I get. Queen can play. You can run an offense through him. But Utah took Bailey with the fifth pick, one spot ahead of Washington. And, at any rate, neither Bailey nor Queen provides what the Wizards say they value most: positional length and defensive flexibility. If Bailey were actually 6-10, as he'd been advertised to be through his one season at Rutgers, that would be different. He would tower over most wings in the league. But he measured 6-7 1/2 at the Chicago combine. That's still good size. But not difference-making. And Queen, to put it charitably, doesn't provide much defensive presence. Tre Johnson is 6-4 3/4, with a 6-10 3/4 wingspan — the same wingspan as 6-8 1/4 guard Egor Demin, taken two picks later in the first round by the Brooklyn Nets. That is very good size and length for a projected NBA two guard. And Johnson fills a needed position for Washington. Until this week, the Wizards didn't have much perimeter backcourt shooting other than Jordan Poole. And Poole is no longer here. (Yes, Kispert plays some two, but ideally, he's a wing.) Now, Washington will have Tre Johnson, and CJ McCollum, a career .397 shooter from deep, at the two. Tre Johnson's checkin' in with our D.C. fam for the first time 📲 — Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) June 26, 2025 'Tre, when you look at how well he shot off the dribble, and as well as off the catch … that's impressive, at his size,' general manager Will Dawkins said after Round 1. 'I think, pound-for-pound, (he's) if not the best shooter, then one of the best shooters in the draft. But that's not his only skill. He's someone that can make plays, and make plays for others.' Advertisement Still, Tre Johnson's not a great defensive player right now. That might be what he was talking about Wednesday night, as he recalled his pre-draft meeting with Washington. Early, and often, Dawkins showed his pick-to-be plays that Johnson, by his own admission, took off in college. 'It was, really, Will just talking to me about the kind of player I want to be,' Johnson said. Washington is getting a knockdown shooter, the SEC's Rookie of the Year and an all-conference selection. At 18 during most of the season, Johnson led a Power 4 conference in scoring (19.9 ppg), shot nearly 40 percent from deep overall and almost 41 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s. That came on high usage (29.3 percent) in Austin, which won't be the case with the Wizards. Also, he will have to get better at putting the ball on the deck. But, post-Poole, the Wizards expect and hope to spray the ball around more. This isn't a diss of Poole. He was the only guy who could go get a bucket last season. And off the swing-swing pass, Johnson should make defenses pay. 'During the workout, we'd throw him in positions, on offense, plays that we run, and see how quickly he picks up on it. And the guy's a sponge. He has a high IQ,' Dawkins said. One can appreciate what Poole did last season in Washington — genuinely. He was a great teammate. He was a much more efficient player on offense. He shot a very good percentage, considering he was the one guy on the team who could get his own shot, and every opponent knew it. He gave much better and more consistent effort on defense. But the Wizards needed to move him. That they were able to do so and take two expiring contracts back in McCollum and Kelly Olynyk was an especially deft work of future cap management. The reasoning is simple. Washington can't depend, anymore, on ping-pong balls. Advertisement Its quickest path to rebuilding the roster, it hoped, would be taking top-three picks in 2025 and 2026. The first part of that plan went up in flames. The Wizards certainly are planning to be a bottom-eight team in 2025-26, to keep their first-round pick. But they can't count, anymore, on hoping that they'll be bad enough to get one of AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer, the expected-for-now top three picks in '26. They have to have a Plan B to improve the roster further next year. 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They can hotwire their roster by being able to take an expensive, but talented, player that better teams can no longer afford. But until then, the Wizards will take their lumps. Again. But now, it's all in with the kids. Carrington, Tre Johnson and A.J. Johnson in the backcourt — though McCollum, as long as he's here, certainly will get minutes. George, Coulibaly, Kispert, Champagnie and Riley on the wings — though Khris Middleton, as long as he's here, certainly will get minutes, and would probably start. Sarr will play the middle — though Olynyk, as long as he's here, will get some minutes. And it's time to take the training wheels off. I suspect Marcus Smart will not be on the roster opening night. There just isn't any point, for him or the team, to spend any more time here. And there are too many teams (the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings — and, now, unfortunately, the Indiana Pacers) that could use a veteran floor general. I don't know that a lot of Middleton makes a whole lot of sense, either, but get that he might have to show other teams, at least up until the trade deadline, that he's healthy again. Advertisement For sure, Washington has to find out whether Coulibaly can get through a season without breaking down, and if he can make enough 3s to really be a part of this team's future. Time to see whether Sarr can take a big jump in Year 2. Time to see whether A.J. Johnson can be a real change-of-pace scorer off the bench. But, most importantly, it's time to give Carrington the ball for 30-34 minutes a night and see what you have. Time to see what a Carrington-Tre Johnson backcourt can really do for 24-28 minutes a night, with McCollum filling in at both guard spots and mentoring, something he did to great effect while with the New Orleans Pelicans. This is Washington's backcourt of the future. 'We feel confident where Bub has the ball,' Dawkins said. 'And we want to make sure that we're playing a style where everybody touches it. But he's going to take a step this summer. He's been in the gym, with Ky, with Alex, with Justin, with A.J. These guys have been back since May 1. It's pretty impressive, the work they've been putting in. And they're ready for the challenge and ready for more opportunity.' Dawkins and president of Monumental Basketball Michael Winger have had three drafts to show what they value in young players, and who they think has the kind of upside to take early in the first round. It's time to find out whether they're right.
NBC Sports
23 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
2025 NBA Draft grades for every team in the first round
This was a wild first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. We had the expected — Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper going 1-2 — but there were no trades in the top 10, when we expected a lot. Then, after 10, the trades started raining down, as did the unexpected picks. Here are the grades for every team in the first round. Atlanta Hawks: A Asa Newell (23, from trade Pelicans) This was good work by the Hawks, who traded back 10 spots with the Pelicans, picked up a 2026 unprotected first rounder for their trouble, and still drafted an Atlanta native not expected to fall to them. Newell has a high motor and averaged 15.4 points and 6.9 rebounds a game for the Georgia Bulldogs last season. The problem he faces at the next level is this: He's not quite big and strong enough to play the five in the NBA, but he doesn't have the shooting (29.3% on 3-pointers last season) or ball handling to be a modern four. Quin Snyder and his staff have to figure out how to utilize him, but he's a great addition at 23. Boston Celtics: B Hugo Gonzalez (28) A Real Madrid product, Gonzalez has good size and feel for the game as a center, and shows real promise as a defender, but the question is his shot. He hit just 29% from 3 last season (which is less than ideal in a Joe Mazzulla system). Gonzalez is seen as a bit of a project, and if he can develop a steady shot the rest of his game would fit well with the Celtics. Brooklyn Nets: C+ Egor Demin (8), Nolan Traoré (19), Drake Powell (22), Ben Saraf (26), Danny Wolf (27) One of the biggest surprises of the first round: The Nets kept and used all five of their first-round picks. This feels like a numbers game for the rebuilding Nets: draft a bunch of players, and hope a couple of them work out. Demin is the big swing by Brooklyn. He is a polarizing figure among scouts, but the Nets have bet on his upside. Denim is the best passer in this class, has a good feel for the game and has fantastic positional size as a 6'8" point guard. The question is his shot and ability to score in general, but if that part of his game can be developed then this is going to look like a steal. If not… well, the Nets are rebuilding and it's going to take time. Egor Demin is selected 8th overall by the @BrooklynNets in the 2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm! Watch on ABC & ESPN. Another gamble by the Nets. Traoré was the lead ball handler and shot creator for a French professional team at the age of 19 last season, and struggled at first in that role but improved as the season progressed. This is a good roll of the dice by Brooklyn. Powell is an excellent defender, which will give Jordi Fernandez a reason to play him while Powell and the coaching staff work on his offensive game. Notice a theme here about drafting players who need help with their offensive games in Brooklyn? Saraf is a big guard with real creativity, the feel and skill to run an offense, and he plays hard on defense. That said, he has a funky shot and hit 29.4% from 3 last season. He fits the theme. Wolf is the most stable of the Nets' picks. He's not an explosive athlete or a good defender, but he has NBA center size, a great feel for the game, a good basketball IQ, and he's a quality passer. He can be a backup NBA big this coming season. Charlotte Hornets: A- Kon Knueppel (4), Liam McNeeley (29, trade from Phoenix) It was a good day for the Hornets. First, you can never go wrong taking the best shooter on the board, which Knueppel was. It's an especially smart pick when he can spread the floor for LaMelo Ball and knock down 3-pointers. He is also a quality defender (which they need next to Ball). He's going to be a good fit with the Hornets between Ball and Brandon Miller on the wing. McNeeley is a steal at 29. He came out of Montverde Academy playing alongside Flagg and Queen, and he impressed by shooting well while playing off the ball. However, he was forced to be a primary shot creator for Dan Hurley and the Huskies, shooting 31.7% from 3-point range. The Hornets are betting he can return to his high school form, working more off the ball. Chicago Bulls: B+ Noa Essengue (12) The Bulls played the long game here, which is a good sign for them (and is kind of what they did with Matas Buzelis a year ago). Essengue's fluid athleticism and high motor means he could be the guy in a few years where everyone says, 'How did he fall to 12th?' The French native played for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany last season and showed considerable improvement as the season wore on, which is a good sign for his development. He needs to add muscle and improve his shot, but it's good to see the Bulls thinking about the long term. Dallas Mavericks: A+ Cooper Flagg (1) Making this pick was a no-brainer, but when you get the best player in the draft, a guy who can help you win now — or, at least when Kyrie Irving gets healthy — and can be the bridge to the future, then you get an A+. It doesn't matter that it was an open-book test, the Mavericks aced it. Flagg is an elite defender, plays with a high motor, can shoot the three or drive the rim, has handles and… what else do you want? Great player, great fit. Cooper Flagg is selected 1st overall by the @dallasmavs in the 2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm! Watch on ABC & ESPN. LA Clippers: A- Yanic Konan Niederhauser (30) One of the standouts at the NBA Draft Combine, the Swiss native who played at Penn State last year is massive — 6'11" with 7'3" wingspan — and an impressive athlete for his size. He led the big 10 in blocks last season. He is a rim-running big who isn't giving the Clippers much offense outside of the restricted area, and there are questions about his hands. Still, for the last pick in the first round, this is a great roll of the dice by the Clippers. Memphis Grizzlies B Cedric Coward (11, via Portland) Coward is a bet on a player with all the tools but who is a bit raw. It's also a bet on the Grizzlies' player development program. Coward could grow into the replacement for Desmond Bane on the wing: He's 6-5 with a 7-2 wingspan, showed off a 32.5-inch standing vertical leap at the NBA Draft Combine, and shot 38.8% from 3 in his college career. He has all the tools to be a good fit next to Ja Morant. This was their guy, and the Grizzlies went and got him. Miami Heat: A- Kasparas Jakucionis (20) This high grade is based on the fact that this is a quality pickup this late in the first round. The Lithuanian who came to Illinois via FC Barcelona is a strong floor general who understands how to run an offense and is a creative passer. He averaged 15.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists a game last season. He slipped down draft boards after a rough Big 10 season with concerns about his shot (32.6% from 3) and defense. That said, coming off the bench as a secondary shot creator alongside players like Tyler Herro, he could find a role where he thrives. Minnesota Timberwolves: B Joan Beringer (17) This was the Timberwolves picking the best player they saw on the board rather than thinking fit — Minnesota doesn't really have a need for another center right now. Beringer is a bit of a project, but he showed potential as a shot-blocking, rim-running big in the Adriatic League last season. He has good athleticism and the Timberwolves can play the long game with him and give him time to develop. New Orleans Pelicans: C- Jeremiah Fears (7), Derik Queen (13, from trade with Atlanta) With Dejounte Murray out for at least half the season (torn Achilles), the Pelicans have been hunting playmaking and scoring. That's why they traded for Jordan Poole just before the draft. It's why they took Fears with the No. 7 pick — the Pelicans see his quick attack, quality handles and ability to get to the rim (with some spectacular finishes) and believe they have another scorer and playmaker. He averaged 17.1 points and 4.1 assists a game in his year at Oklahoma. However, he shot 28.4% from 3-point range, his finishing at the rim is inconsistent, and he turned the ball over on 18.3% of his possessions. Can Willie Green and company turn those bad habits around? I get picking Fears. However, they traded up 10 spots with Atlanta, giving up their 2026 unprotected first, to get Queen. That is why they have the grade they do from me. Queen is the most skilled center in this draft, but after a rough Draft Combine (where his physical testing was unimpressive), the question was how far he would fall. Not past New Orleans. The Pelicans have Yves Missi but did they move up to get him a backup, or do they think Queen can be better than Missi? Queen has potential, but the cost of a 2026 pick was a lot. Oklahoma City Thunder: B Thomas Sorber (15) Anyone the Thunder picked here was going to have a hard time cracking the rotation next season, this is the deepest team in the league. This gives the Thunder some time to figure out how to maximize one of the more unique players in the draft: A 6'9 center with a 7'6" wingspan and a strong NBA build that will let him play in the paint at the next level. He's got a good feel for the game and touch at the rim. There isn't a better franchise in the league at finding and developing talent, maybe we're underestimating how good he can be. Orlando Magic: A- Jase Richardson (25) This is a quality pick this late in the first round and a good fit with the roster. Jase is the son of 13-year NBA veteran Jason Richardson, but nobody is going to confuse the two on the court. Jase is a smaller point guard who plays with pace, has a great feel for the game and can get into the lane and break down defenses. He's undersized, which raises defensive concerns, but he can be a quality reserve guard for the Magic and potentially develop into more. Philadelphia 76ers: A- VJ Edgecombe (3) The 76ers decided not to trade the pick (they didn't get an offer Daryl Morey liked enough), and that may be the wise move. Edgecombe could be a good fit in Philly, starting next season. He's an elite defender and athlete, who has developed a shot (36.4% from 3 last season at Baylor).. He knows how to use his athleticism as a cutter or in transition to get buckets, which should be a good fit playing off Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. Phoenix Suns: A Khaman Maluach (10, via Rockets), Mark Williams (trade with Hornets) The Suns lined up two young centers in a matter of minutes on Wednesday night and did some good work with that. Williams' talent isn't in question, it's simply his ability to stay healthy (which is why the Lakers pulled out of a trade for him at the deadline). However, for what the Suns gave up it's a risk worth taking. Maluach has NBA center size and a 7'6" wingspan, and he showed at Duke he could anchor their defense and moves his feet well. He's got a long way to go to contribute much of anything on the offensive end at the NBA level, but this is a good bet by Phoenix at 10. Portland Trail Blazers: D- Hansen Yang (16, traded from Memphis) The biggest head-scratcher in this draft. It's not that the 7'1" big bodied center from China doesn't have some skills, he is a terrific passer and shot better at the NBA Draft Combine than expected. However, most teams had him as a second-round pick, maybe a draft-and-stash player, because he's not an explosive (or even average) NBA-level athlete, not stronger than his NBA competition, not a great defender when outside the paint, and he's mostly been a post-up scorer in China, something that will not fly in the NBA. Perhaps he will develop into an NBA rotation player, but in the short term, there is a lot of work to be done to get him there. Can the Trail Blazers pull that off? Sacramento Kings: B Nique Clifford (24, from Oklahoma City) Clifford is part of a growing NBA trend: Drafting seniors who can step in now and help teams. He is a plug-and-play guard who can score, pass, and defend, a player who averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game last season and shot 37.7% from 3-point range. He can be a backup guard for the Kings next season. San Antonio Spurs: A Dylan Harper (2), Carter Bryant (14) With Harper, the Spurs did the right thing: Take the best player on the board regardless of position. It doesn't matter if they already have De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle — since when is having too much talent a bad thing? Harper receives many comparisons to Cade Cunningham, and with good reason, it's easy to see the similarities in their style of play. If Harper and Wemby develop a strong chemistry then this is a home run, the Spurs can figure the rest of the rotation out later. Bryant is a classic Spurs pick — a good player who fits right into a role for them. Bryant fills the archetype of an NBA 3&D wing: He has good size for the position, was a defensive monster in college (largely off the bench) and shot 37.1% on 3-pointers. It's easy to see him spacing the floor while Harper and Victor Wembanyama suck in the defense with a pick-and-roll Toronto Raptors: C Collin Murray-Boyles (9) Another 6'7" wing in Toronto just seems fitting, they have quite the collection going (Grady Dick, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Ochai Agbaji are all between 6'6" and 6'8"). Murray-Boyles is the ultimate 'if we can develop his shot' player in this draft. He's a good defender, both in the paint and on the perimeter because of his quick hands. He plays a high-IQ game. But if he can't shoot, there isn't much of a role. Utah Jazz: B Ace Bailey (5), Walter Clayton (trade from Wizards) I like the Bailey pick for Utah. Who cares if it's what he and his camp want? Do what's best for your team (the buzz has been that Bailey and his agent wanted him to go to Washington and stay on the East Coast, although after the pick he said he was 'blessed' to be drafted, period). The Jazz need talent. Bailey has the second-highest ceiling of any player in this draft, but this feels like a boom or bust pick — and good on the Jazz for taking that swing. At this point in their team building, the Jazz should take big swings. Bailey is a prototypical modern NBA wing: he has great size, is a freak athlete, has a high motor, can create his own shot, can shoot the 3 (36.7% last season), and is a tough shot-maker. The problem is that he made tough shots because of his questionable shot selection, something Utah needs to work on. The Jazz have a very good player development staff, if they can mold Bailey, this swing could be a home run. Clayton was a clutch player for the national champion Florida. He is an impressive catch-and-shoot guy, there's a lot to like (but enough to trade up a few spots for him?). He's also got serious defensive questions. But he should move into the Jazz's guard rotation and could be a quality backup for them (and maybe more eventually). Washington Wizards: B Tre Johnson (6), Will Riley (21) Washington wanted to add some offense, it took some gambles trying to do that. Johnson plays with an undeniable swagger and the Wizards could use some of that. Johnson is arguably the best pure bucket getter in this class — if you need points, he can get them. At Texas last season he averaged 20.9 points a game shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc on a team with terrible spacing. The concern is he doesn't do much outside of scoring, he's not a great playmaker or defender. Still, the swagger is a good thing in Washington. Riley is a bit of a project, but the Wizards are in a position to take on projects. He has good size for an NBA wing and showed stretches where he looked like a guy who could be a knock-down shooter at the next level, but he shot just 32.6% from 3 last season. Still a good choice this late in the first round. Teams without first-round draft picks: Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and Golden State Warriors.
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Everyone Had Same Reaction To Dylan Harper's Mom Tonight
Everyone Had Same Reaction To Dylan Harper's Mom Tonight originally appeared on The Spun. Everyone had the same reaction to seeing Dylan Harper's mom at the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday evening. Advertisement Harper, who starred for one season at Rutgers, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The former five-star recruit is the son of former NBA player Ron Harper. His older brother starred at Rutgers. Dylan Harper played alongside Ace Bailey, a fellow top-five prospect, for one season in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The former Rutgers Scarlet Knights star went No. 2 overall to the San Antonio Spurs. He'll team up with former No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio. Meanwhile, moments after getting drafted, Harper's mom immediately went viral on X, formerly known as Twitter. Dylan Harper's Harper's mom, Maria, is currently trending on X, formerly known as Twitter, for her NBA Draft appearance. Advertisement It's easy to see why. Everyone had the same reaction to seeing his mom on ABC on Wednesday night. "Dylan Harper mom about to gain a million new followers on Instagram," one fan wrote. "Dylan Harper mom!????? Yeah run that. She's so beautiful," one fan added. "Damn I'm seeing more tweets about Dylan Harper's mom than Dylan Harper himself 😂," one fan added. "First person that says something disrespectful about Dylan Harper's beautiful mom has to deal with me!!!!" one fan added. "Dylan Harper's mom…I mean Dylan Harper was taken with the 2nd pick in the NBA Draft," one fan added. Advertisement "Dylan Harper mom. That's it, that's the tweet," one fan added. Harper's dad, Ron Harper, played in the NBA for several seasons, making $35 million. His son just earned an NBA rookie contract worth $56 million. The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft is continuing to air live on ABC on Wednesday evening. Harper's teammate, Ace Bailey, just went No. 5 overall to Utah. Everyone Had Same Reaction To Dylan Harper's Mom Tonight first appeared on The Spun on Jun 26, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
