June 26, 2025
The Miami Heat selected guard Kasparas Jakucionis on Wednesday with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Jakucionis played for FC Barcelona before making his way to Illinois. As a freshman, he averaged 31.9 minutes per game, finishing with 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists across 33 contests during the 2024-2025 season, leading the Illini to a 22-13 overall record and a 12-8 mark in the Big Ten. He is a strong passer but struggled with turnovers at the collegiate level.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
June 26, 2025
The Brooklyn Nets drafted 19-year-old guard Nolan Traore with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday. Traore averaged 11.7 points and 5.1 assists in 22.8 minutes per contest in France last season. He is an athletic guard who possesses strong playmaking abilities. However, the 19-year-old struggled from three points during the previous two campaigns, shooting 30 percent. Traore will join a crowded backcourt in Brooklyn and will have to compete for minutes with guards
Cam Thomas,
Keon Johnson and Egor Demin.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
June 26, 2025
The 18th draft selection was originally the Washington Wizards' pick, resulting in the selection of guard Walter Clayton Jr. However, he was traded to the Utah Jazz for the No. 21 overall pick and multiple second-round picks. The guard was a part of the Florida Gators' 2024-2025 title-winning team, averaging 18.3 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three-point land during 39 contests. At 22, Clayton will join former Rutgers star Ace Bailey in Salt Lake City next season. Bailey was taken by the Jazz earlier on Wednesday with the No. 5 pick.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
June 26, 2025
The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted center Joan Beringer with the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday. The 18-year-old French forward played in Slovenia last season, posting averages of 5.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 18.2 minutes per contest across 54 outings. He helped Cedevita Olimpija win the Slovenian Basketball Cup during the 2024-2025 campaign. Beringer will have the opportunity to suit up alongside fellow Frenchman Ruby Gobert, but will likely have a limited role in Minnesota's frontcourt during his first season in Minneapolis.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
June 26, 2025
Technically, the Memphis Grizzlies made the selection but traded the No. 16 pick, center Yang Hansen, a 2028 first-round pick, and two second-round picks to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Cedric Coward. Hansen is a 7-foot-1, 20-year-old who suited up for the Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association, posting averages of 16.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game. He is a gifted player-maker and a solid shooter who may struggle defensively in the NBA due to his slow footwork.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
With the No. 15 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected center Thomas Sorber from Georgetown. As a freshman, the 19-year-old averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.5 steals in 24 contests with the Hoyas last season. An elite defender will be a part of a stellar frontcourt playing alongside
Chet Holmgren and
Isaiah Hartenstein.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
With the No. 14 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs selected Arizona forward Carter Bryant. Bryant provides the Spurs a strong defensive asset that could develop as a solid offensive contributor on the wing. The 19-year-old played in 37 games for the Wildcats last season, finishing with averages of 6.5 points, 1,0 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks during 19.3 minutes per contest.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
The New Orleans Pelicans acquired center Derik Queen from Atlanta for the rights to the 23rd overall pick and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick. A 6-foot-9 center, Queen averaged 16.5 points, nine rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 30.3 minutes per contest across 36 games as a freshman at Maryland. The 20-year-old is a solid passer and an excellent rebounder who will likely serve as a backup to starting center
Yves Missi in his rookie season.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
The Chicago Bulls drafted forward Noa Essengue with the 12th selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. The second-youngest player in the draft at 18 years old spent last season with Ratiopharm Ulm in Europe, averaging 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 assists while shooting 56.0 percent over 18 contests. Essengue is a gifted playmaker and excels defensively. With his speed and athleticism, the French forward will have the opportunity to develop in the Windy City, playing alongside 2024 first-round pick 20-year-old
Matas Buzelis.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
With the No. 11 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Washington State guard/forward Cedric Coward, who will be traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. The 21-year-old began his collegiate journey at Willamette University, a Division III school, before moving on to Eastern Washington and eventually Washington State. He averaged 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds with the Cougars. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, limiting him to only six games. Coward is still a work in progress concerning his development. Although he should get some minutes for the Grizzlies, he may have trouble finding consistent work throughout his rookie campaign.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
The Phoenix Suns have acquired center
Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets, according to Shams Charania. ESPN's Insider says Phoenix is sending back the 29th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and a 2029 first-round selection for the 23-year-old. Williams was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers at the trade deadline last season, only for a failed physical to send him back to Charlotte. The Suns struggled with interior defense and size in the 2024-25 season and now have Williams and the 10th overall pick, Khaman Maluach, manning the middle. Williams is coming off his best statistical season, averaging 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in his third professional season.
--Andrew BallSource: Shams Charania - ESPN
June 25, 2025
The Phoenix Suns drafted center Khaman Maluach with the 10th selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. Technically, the Duke center was selected by the Houston Rockets. However, the pick is part of the
Kevin Durant trade, which can't be officially processed until the new league year begins on July 6th. Phoenix was in desperate need of an interior presence and found a lob threat and defensive anchor in Maluach. Moments before the selection, reports emerged that Phoenix was trading for Charlotte Hornets center
Mark Williams. Williams and Maluach now form a new center rotation in the Valley of the Sun, with the veteran Williams likely to earn the opening night starting nod.
--Andrew BallSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
The Toronto Raptors selected forward Collin Murray-Boyles with the ninth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Murray-Boyles can almost do it all: He has a strong basketball IQ, tenacious defensive attributes, and is a bully when finishing in the paint. However, he's a tweener (6'6") and shot just 23.1 percent from three in his two seasons in South Carolina. Still, Toronto executive Masai Ujiri has a type. The Toronto roster is full of Swiss Army Knife wings who can play anywhere from the one to the five. CMB will need a creator to set him up on the scoring end, but he could turn into one of the best on-ball defenders in the league.
--Andrew BallSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Utah Jazz forward/center
John Collins exercised his $26.5 million player option. The 27-year-old averaged 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals last season. He also shot 39.9% from behind the arc. However, Collins was limited to only 40 games due to various injuries. The Jazz have a developing roster, so the team may prioritize giving their young players the most minutes. That's not to say Collins won't have a role, but fantasy managers may not see consistent production from him during the 2025 campaign. He's also had issues staying off the injury report over the years, which is another red flag.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June 25, 2025
The Brooklyn Nets drafted guard Egor Demin with the eighth selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. Many mock drafts had Demin outside of the lottery, but there were rumors the BYU product was rising late in the pre-draft process. Demin may be the best passer in this class, whether he's playing on or off the ball, and at 6'8" can easily see over smaller defenders. One of the flaws to his game, however, is an inconsistent shooting touch (18.6% from three in his freshman season at BYU). The Brooklyn Nets have five first-round picks in this draft and may add several more rookies to the roster alongside Demin.
--Andrew BallSource: ESPN
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