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Draft Grades for all NBA teams in the 2025 NBA draft. RotoBaller's Kevin Larson analyzes every NBA Team and assess how well they did in the draft.
NBA 2025 Draft Report Card: Grades For Every Team
With about a week under our belt after the NBA Draft, and in the midst of free agency moves flying, let’s take a second to recollect ourselves and look back at how each NBA team did during this year’s draft. Who surpassed expectations? Who’s flunking? And who didn’t even show up? We’ll tell you everything in this article.
Atlanta Hawks: A
Asa Newell is staying in state. After averaging 15.4 PPG and 6.9 RPG in his freshman year at Georgia, he’ll head down the road to Atlanta and join the Hawks. He’s ideally going to be a great fit in Atlanta’s system and should be able to help provide stability off the bench. His size, scoring and rebounding abilities should help get guys like Jalen Johnson, Kristaps Porzingis and Zaccharie Risacher some much needed rest on the bench to keep them fresh. Additionally, Atlanta was able to trade down with the Pelicans and still were able to receive him. Though this was their only pick of the draft, it looks to be a great one for Atlanta.
Boston Celtics: B
The trajectory of Boston’s 2025-2026 season changed dramatically when Jayson Tatum went down with an Achilles injury in the playoffs. In total they took three players after trading back from the #32 spot with Orlando: Huge Gonzalez, Amari Williams and Max Shulga. Gonzalez was drafted out of Spain and has been a great off-ball talent, fitting the Celtics’ style that’s generally star dominant. Williams comes out of Kentucky and has been regarded as one of the better passing bigs to come out of the draft, fitting Brad Stevens’ focus on trying to get more ball movement to keep the offense from becoming stagnant. Shulga comes out of VCU and is a bit more of a raw talent but should get a good chance to develop off Boston’s bench this season.
Brooklyn Nets: B-
Brooklyn came into the draft with five first round draft picks and chose to make picks with all five of them rather than try to trade any for value. They’re taking the route of development as they just traded away Cameron Johnson. The hope will be that these five can develop around Cam Thomas, who they extended a qualifying offer to this week. Their draft picks were mostly guards: Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf. While each will get time to develop, it’s a bit surprising Brooklyn couldn’t get any other teams to bite on one or two of these picks so that the Nets could collect more value for future drafts.
Charlotte Hornets: A
With four draft picks in this year’s draft, Charlotte looks to have done a lot to improve their roster. They took Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeeley, Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner. Each provide their own strengths from Knueppel’s shooting abilities to Kalkbrenner’s blocking skills. With Knueppel and James both being teammates at Duke, there’s familiarity with their games that can translate in Charlotte. The Hornets did very well this draft and their trajectory looks to be pointed upwards for the coming seasons.
Chicago Bulls: B
As Chicago looks to find it’s identity, it still appears that it will be a work in progress. Their first round draft pick represents that mentality as they took Noa Essengue at number 12. He’s a very athletically gifted talent, but certainly has his downsides and may not quite be NBA ready yet. He’s got defensive upside, which is certainly a need for the Bulls, but there’s a lot of volatility to his game. Chicago also drafted Lachlan Olbrich, a big out of Australia. Maybe this is a proactive pick knowing that the Nikola Vucevic trade rumors are consistently flying? Time will tell, but Chicago’s team identity isn’t much closer to being discovered than it was midseason.
Cleveland Cavaliers: B-
It’s hard to do well in a draft when you best pick comes in at number 49. But that was the situation for the Cavs this year. They took point guard Tyrese Proctor at 49 and forward Saliou Niang at 58. Proctor is most likely to be a presence on Cleveland’s bench this year while Niang may need a bit more development before playing in the association. Proctor was less focused on at Duke this season, thanks to guys like Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, but he fits what Cleveland needs off its bench. And that’s a guy who can facilitate well while shooting decently from deep. It’s not overwhelming, but Cleveland did what it could.
Dallas Mavericks: A
It was impossible to mess this pick up. A “Write your name on the test and simply turn it in” type of assignment. Dallas took Cooper Flagg at number one and that’s all they needed to do. Flagg will look to help revitalize a franchise that lost its fanbase last season and faces an uphill climb without Kyrie Irving. But put Flagg alongside Anthony Davis, the rest of Dallas’ bigs and newly acquired D’Angelo Russell and he may not have to be an overwhelming force out of the gates. That will give him time to figure out the NBA and he should fit in just fine with the Mavs.
Denver Nuggets: INC
Incomplete is the grade as the Nuggets didn’t have any draft picks in this year’s draft. With GM Calvin Booth and Michael Malone both being fired before the regular season ended, the Nuggets needed a new route. Rather than acquiring draft picks they’re focusing on trades and free agency signings. That may be a theme for them in the next few seasons as they only have three draft picks on hand through the 2030 season.
Detroit Pistions: B+
With just one pick in this year’s draft, and it being a second rounder, the Pistons needed to find the best bang for their buck. They may have done that by drafting Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier. He’s a bit ball dependent but can do great things with it, especially from deep as he shot 39.5% from three for the Vols last season. Expect Lanier to be a dynamic presence off the bench for Detroit next season, though he may struggle to defend NBA talent well on a night-to-night basis.
Golden State Warriors: C
The Warriors tried to do what they could with only two second round picks in the draft but they may have fallen a bit short in trying to stabilize the roster. They took Alex Toohey out of Australia and Will Richard out of Florida. The better of the two picks may be Richard, but he may find issues with his lack of size. His three-point shooting ability should help him in Golden State’s offense. But still, there may not have been enough done here to get the team in a better spot as Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler’s ages will soon become major focus points on this roster. It’s hard to accomplish that with two picks in the 50s but it still feels underwhelming for Golden State.
Houston Rockets: INC
Same as the Nuggets, the Rockets had no picks in this draft. That’s only because they traded their pick to Phoenix in the Kevin Durant trade, so they’re not exactly worried here. They’ll instead focus on their win now mentality behind Durant, Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun among others on the roster that will make the Rockets a team to keep an eye on this upcoming season.
Indiana Pacers: C+
Indiana’s draft plans likely took a huge turn when Tyrese Haliburton went down in Game 7. With just two second round picks to play with, Indiana took Kam Jones at 38 and Taelon Peter at 54. Jones, out of Marquette, likely will be the one getting more playing time off the bench. He can be a dynamic shooter and handles the ball well, but he’s got issues with consistency. He also did not perform well from the free throw line at Marquette, nailing just 64.8% of free throws last season. Peter was much more efficient off the bench at Liberty, but at the same time he was efficient off the bench at Liberty. It’s a much tougher ask for him to do the same thing at the NBA level. But Indiana will have to live with whatever these two bring them as 2025-2026 may be anti-climactic without Haliburton active.
Los Angeles Clippers: B
With two picks in this year’s draft, the Clippers’ main focus was finding a big for the bench. They did that in drafting Yanic Konan Niederhauser out of Penn State at the end of the first round. He’s likely to get minutes this year as a solid defensive presence but will need to work on being able to create his own shot rather than relying on others. The Clippers also drafted Kobe Sanders out of Nevada. The forward may be able to find some minutes off the bench, though his impact is very likely to be less than Niederhauser’s.
Los Angeles Lakers: B
The Lakers made an aggressive move up the draft board last Wednesday, making two trades to get them up to the 36th pick to select Arkansas’ Adou Thiero. Thiero is a continuous hustler around the court who still needs a bit of polishing but has a good chance to make an impact for the Lakers. He’s defensive minded and can help fill a defensive void with Dorian Finney-Smith bolting for Houston. There are already lots of expectations on the kid, given the nature of the Lakers and their aggressive move upwards to get him, but it could pay off for them if Thiero stays a team player and fills his role nicely.
Memphis Grizzlies: B+
The Grizzlies made a rather aggressive move to trade up with Portland and take Cedric Coward at number 11. Coward was a relatively unknown name to many before the draft as only played in six games for Washington State last year before sitting out the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Memphis needs to fill some of its offensive voids after sending Desmond Bane to Orlando and Coward has a chance to be able to do that, though it may take a bit of time for him to get used to NBA talent. The Grizzlies also selected Javon Small out of West Virginia and Jahmai Mashack out of Tennessee, both late in the second round. Small can provide offensive bursts off the bench while Mashack is much more defensive-minded, though neither will have the impact that Coward is likely to have for Memphis.
Miami Heat: B+
Miami took Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis with their only pick of the draft at number 20. Jakucionis looks to be a bit of a “jack of all trades” type of player as he bring with him some overseas experience along with college. The Heat were in need of offensive production and Jakucionis should be able to provide that off the bench. Miami is generally a pretty good place for players to develop and he should get tons of opportunity in Erik Spoelstra’s system.
Milwaukee Bucks: A-
The Bucks went international in the draft as they took Serbian Bogoljub Markovic. He’s a 6’11” forward that looks to have major upside on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively his skills lack a bit, but he should be a very interesting piece for a Bucks team that now will have fewer expectations with no Damian Lillard or Brook Lopez. However, Markovic may be a very, very interesting piece if he’s playing alongside newly acquired Myles Turner and superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee’s never lacked size and the 20-year-old Serbian certainly fits the bill.
Minnesota Timberwolves: C+
Almost every draft pick is selected based off potential but most have a floor. Minnesota’s strategy is certainly a little more boom-or-bust here. They took Joan Beringer out of France. He’s a defensive-minded big that needs a little more refinement on the offensive side of the ball. Certainly sounds like a Frenchman they already have in Rudy Gobert, which makes him a decent fit on the bench for the Timberwolves. They also took Rocco Zikarsky out of Australia late in the second round, another big (like really big) body that likely would be more of a defensive presence than offense. Both picks carry a bit of volatility with them, making the Timberwolves’ selections a bit risky here.
New Orleans Pelicans: D
The Pelicans are clearly aiming to rebuild, and the talent they drafted isn’t bad, but it’s what they had to give up to get one of those players that’s got a lot of people down on their draft. New Orleans traded up with Atlanta to get the number 13 pick and sent them the number 23 pick along with a 2026 first round pick. With them potentially in rebuild mode, that pick may end up being very good! That means Derik Queen, from Maryland, will likely have a lot of expectations on his shoulders. He was taken at 13 with the controversial pick. Jeremiah Fears, picked number seven, will be alongside him. The talent itself comes in around a B for New Orleans, but what they had to give up knocks it down a few grades.
New York Knicks: B-
The Knicks were down a pick this year due to them forfeiting it from tampering with Jalen Brunson, but that’s likely something they’re completely OK with. Instead they had a late second round pick and they took Mohamed Diawara out of France. The 20-year-old looks to be a very solid ball-handler for his size, though he’s not yet a consistent offensive player. As a big forward, he fits New York’s current build. But without a head coach hired there’s no telling how he’ll fit into the offensive system. They’ve got themselves a tool to build with but they’re going to have to figure out how to best optimize it.
Oklahoma City Thunder: A
The rich get richer. As if Oklahoma City didn’t already showcase its depth during this last playoff run, they added more to it this draft. They took Thomas Sorber, a center from Georgetown, with the 15th overall pick. His big frame and ability to score from the interior will help get Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein more rest when they need it, as well as an additional weapon. Brooks Barnhizer was taken in the second round. And while he has a bit more rawness to him, he should be able to find time to work it out as OKC should have many comfortable leads once again this season, leading to more low stress garbage time minutes that lead to further development.
Orlando Magic: A
Orlando looks to have done a pretty good job with their draft capital, taking Jase Richardson in the first round and then trading up to grab Noah Penda in the second round. Richardson, the son of Jason Richardson, looks to be a well-rounded talent that should be able to contribute almost immediately on Orlando’s bench, though his smaller frame may provide some difficulties initially. Penda, on the other hand, fits the Orlando mold and is a strong defensive presence. Orlando did well and their 2025-2026 season now looks to be even more exciting.
Philadelphia 76ers: A
The Sixers added one of the more exciting prospects in the draft with their first round pick and grabbed VJ Edgecombe with the third overall pick. He’s got an incredibly impressive skillset that gives him the potential to be a very dynamic starter on Philly’s roster, but some of his game is still a work in progress. They also took Auburn’s Johnni Broome, who’s maturity should give him a decent edge off Philly’s bench. Broome may not become a dynamic starter, but Edgecombe steals the spotlight in this draft for the Sixers.
Phoenix Suns: B+
The Suns had three picks in this year’s draft and had high expectations with the number 10 pick after trading Kevin Durant. With that pick they took Khaman Maluach. He’s a defensive force that will block tons of shots and can score easily on lobs, but he may have a few other question marks that can hold him back on offense. Rasheer Fleming may be a steal in this year’s draft and easily is Phoenix’s best fit for the value and he’s the most sure thing they drafted. They also selected Koby Brea, who won’t be afraid to get any shot up when he’s on the court.
Portland Trail Blazers: C
Portland ended up finding itself a decent talent at number 16 in Hansen Yang, but many are going to question whether this pick was a reach when other better options were there. Yang is 7’2″ big that can pass and spaces out the floor, but may have issues defensively. He seems like he’ll be a good talent, but many had a second round grade on him. This reach gives the Blazers a lower grade.
Sacramento Kings: B
The Kings had to find a way to get into the first round and traded a 2027 first round pick to Oklahoma City in exchange for the rights to Nique Clifford out of Colorado State. Clifford should provide a solid presence at guard off the bench for Sacramento while being able to grab rebounds at a high rate for guards. Sacramento also took Maxime Raynaud, who might be able to snag some minutes at center off the bench. Raynaud is a much more raw product compared to Clifford, though, and his value certainly isn’t as high as Clifford’s.
San Antonio Spurs: A
Another pick at number two that, like Flagg, was going to be impossible to mess up. Dylan Harper was easily the consensus number two pick behind Flagg and he should be a very dynamic fit in the Spurs’ lineup alongside De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama. Might his style clash a bit with Fox? Potentially, but it’s a risk you take with his talent. San Antonion also snagged Carter Bryant at pick 14. His shot blocking abilities will make things incredibly tough for opponents if both him and Wemby are on the floor together. San Antonio gets an A in this draft.
Toronto Raptors: B-
The Raptors aimed to get bigger early in the draft and took South Carolina Gamecock Collin Murray-Boyles with the eighth overall pick. Murray-Boyles has the potential to become a starter soon, but much of that will depend on his offensive development. If he doesn’t develop offensively then he should still be able to drive value off the bench. Toronto also took guard Alijah Martin with the 39th pick. Scoring won’t be an issue for him as that’s embedded in his mentality, but he may find struggles defending at an NBA level.
Utah Jazz: B+
The grade here is dependent on just how much Ace Bailey will buy into playing for Utah. If he’s all in then this is an A+ draft, but he’s brought a lot of question marks upon himself through the draft. Utah also selected Walter Clayton from Florida with the 18th overall pick and he should be able to provide a winning mentality in Utah after winning the championship as a Gator this season. John Tonje was taken in the second round and looks like he has the potential to be a very dynamic scorer off the bench. But once again, Utah’s draft all depends on what Bailey does.
Washington Wizards: B
Washington may have gotten one of the best scorers in the draft in Tre Johnson, though he will have to get better at finishing at the rim. His development could be made even easier with the veteran presences that Washington has in its locker room and, if he follows things right, he could develop into a very strong player. The Wizards also snagged Will Riley with the 21st pick and Jamir Watkins with the 43rd pick. Riley has a lot of confidence in himself with his shooter’s mentality but he’ll need to be more selective with his shot process in the NBA.
