Magic Gets Surprising Boost With Latest NBA Trades originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

NBA free agency has been full of wild moves with stars changing teams, surprising cuts and impactful signings. The Orlando Magic have been one of the early headliners during the NBA offseason shakeup.

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While Orlando didn’t go all-out in free agency after the Desmond Bane trade, the Magic’s calculated signings have earned the front office high praise. Bleacher Report lauded Orlando with an A-minus grade for their NBA free agency moves, and for good reason.

The biggest win? Prying veteran point guard Tyus Jones away from the Phoenix Suns. The Magic badly needed a steady hand at the point, and Jones fits the bill perfectly.

Jones averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 assists to just one turnover per game last season.

“We pegged the Orlando Magic as the best fit of any team for Jones’ services going into free agency, as this offense desperately needed his playmaking and three-point shooting,” wrote Bleacher Report.

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Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley during game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD GardenDavid Butler II-Imagn Images

Even better, the Magic landed Jones on a bargain $7 million deal. Jones isn’t expected to start, with Bane and Jalen Suggs locked in as the lead guards.

But he’s a perfect candidate to emerge as the team’s sixth man, potentially helping replace the production lost by including point guard Cole Anthony in the trade with the Memphis Grizzlies to acquire Bane.

The Magic also made a savvy move with Moe Wagner. After declining his $11 million option, Orlando re-signed the big man for just $5 million saving cap space while keeping key frontcourt depth. Wagner played in just 30 games during 2024-25 as the center sustained a season-ending ACL injury.

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The Magic lost Gary Harris, but the new additions bring balance, including first-round pick sharpshooter Jase Richardson.

With 14 players under contract, Orlando is staying below the first tax apron and are quietly building one of the deepest, most well-rounded squads in the Eastern Conference.

Related: Surprising Jayson Tatum News Emerges as Celtics Tilt More for Damian Lillard

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.

Desmond Bane’s Surprising Move to Orlando

In a stunning turn of events, the Memphis Grizzlies have traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic, shaking up the landscape of the NBA. Known for his sharpshooting and tenacity on the court, Bane’s departure marks a significant shift for the Grizzlies as they look to reshape their roster.

Bane’s Impact in Memphis

During his time with the Grizzlies, Bane established himself as a key player, contributing both as a scorer and a playmaker. His ability to stretch the floor with his three-point shooting made him a vital asset to the team’s offensive scheme. Over the past seasons, he averaged impressive numbers, showcasing his growth and potential as a rising star in the league. His chemistry with teammates, particularly star player Ja Morant, had fans excited about the future in Memphis.

The Trade Details

The decision to trade Bane came as a surprise to many, especially considering his pivotal role in the Grizzlies’ recent success. The terms of the trade indicate that Memphis is looking to acquire assets that align more closely with their long-term vision. While the specifics of the trade package have not been fully disclosed, it is clear that the Grizzlies are aiming to build a more versatile roster moving forward.

A New Chapter in Orlando

For Bane, joining the Orlando Magic presents a fresh opportunity to further develop his skills and take on a leadership role. The Magic, who have been in a rebuilding phase, see Bane as a cornerstone for their future. His experience and competitive spirit are expected to invigorate a young roster that is eager to make its mark in the Eastern Conference.

Fan Reactions and Future Implications

The trade has elicited a mixed response from fans in both Memphis and Orlando. Grizzlies supporters are left wondering how the team will adjust without one of its standout performers, while Magic fans are buzzing with excitement over the addition of a player with Bane’s caliber. As the NBA season unfolds, all eyes will be on how this trade impacts both franchises and their respective trajectories in the league.

Conclusion

Desmond Bane’s unexpected move to the Orlando Magic not only alters the dynamics of the Grizzlies but also sets the stage for a new chapter in his career. As he dons the Magic jersey, the basketball world will be watching closely to see how he adapts to his new environment and what this trade means for the future of both teams.

With the 2024-25 season in the books, our latest NBA power rankings offer an evaluation of all 30 clubs heading into the summer. Without further ado, let’s review how every club is or should approach this offseason to improve their rosters for next season.

Also Read: Ranking the 50 best players in the NBA right now

10 best NBA teams heading into the 2025 playoffs

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder were the best team throughout the regular season as they posted an impressive 68 wins. But there were doubters if this young team could really overcome the deep veteran contenders in the West. While they met serious resistance in the postseason, OKC’s defense and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved not only were they the best team in 2024-25, but they have the makings of the NBA’s next dynasty.

2. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets were one of the best stories in the NBA this season. After showing some very nice growth under Ime Udoka in 2023-24, they continued that momentum and evolved into an elite team in the West. This spring, they got the ultimate test in the Warriors. However, they could not overcome the experience gap with their future Hall of Famer foes.

The team responded to the move by making the biggest trade of the year so far by acquiring league legend Kevin Durant. The hope is that the 15-time All-Star is the missing ingredient to a championship team. While he should be, it is a big risk to rely so heavily on a 37-year-old. They also brought back former star Clint Capela to further bolster their frontcourt after re-signing Steven Adams.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers were a surprisingly dominant team this past season. New head coach Kenny Atkinson was given one of the league’s better defenses and added the offensive efficiency they lacked. Unfortunately, once again, when push came to shove in the playoffs, the Cavs could not get passed the semifinals. The big question this summer will be do they make a big move or go another season with this current roster. Well, that was answered early in the offseason when they further added to their bench depth with former first-round pick Lonzo Ball.

4. Golden State Warriors

Entering this year’s NBA playoffs, the Golden State Warriors were considered a serious dark horse to go all the way. And after storming through the Play-In tourney and beating the two-seeded Rockets, they looked like they could be the team to beat out West. However, Stephen Curry’s first-ever hamstring injury came at the worst possible time.

His absence for much of the series, unsurprisingly, was a massive void the Warriors could not overcome. They lost Games 2 through 5 and were sent home for the summer earlier than many expected. Nevertheless, while their top stars are in the final years of their career, Golden State should be elite in the West next season — if they can stay healthy.

5. New York Knicks

The New York Knicks were tested throughout the postseason. They had a very tough test in the Pistons in Round 1 and were chin-checked during a very tough and physical series. Then they were sizable underdogs against the defending champs and showed the front office was successful in building a team specifically to beat the Celtics. Unfortunately, they couldn’t overcome the Pacers for a second straight year, and it likely cost coach Tom Thibodeau his job.

Replacing him will be former Cavs and Kings head coach Mike Brown. He will have an absurd amount of pressure on his shoulders. However, the front office did a solid job of improving the roster in free agency by bolstering their bench with veteran scoring guard Jordan Clarkson and French powerhouse Guerschon Yabusele.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves

Despite the concerns that the Minnesota Timberwolves would not be able to match what the 2023-24 team did by reaching the West finals, Minny was one of the best teams in the league over the final month of the season. They smashed through popular dark horse choice, the Lakers in Round 1, and got a big break with Stephen Curry suffering a hamstring injury. Unfortunately, the eventual champion Thunder was insurmountable.

In the offseason, they were able to lock both Naz Reid and Julius Randle into new long-term deals. Solidifying their talented frontcourt for a few more seasons. However, Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s departure in NBA free agency will sting.

7. Denver Nuggets

When you have the best player on the planet, Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive squad. They also impressively were able to circle the wagons following Michael Malone’s shocking firing to win a round in the playoffs and push the eventual champion Thunder to their limits in the semis.

After making David Adelman their full-time head coach, they have made several nice moves to improve their overall depth. Fan-favorite Bruce Brown returns, and new additions Tim Hardaway and Jonas Valančiūnas should help the bench. While Cam Johnson will have an opportunity to grow with an elite player next to him.

8. Los Angeles Lakers

At the start of the postseason, the Los Angeles Lakers were a popular dark horse pick in the West. And why not? They have an NBA icon in LeBron James, a top-five player in Luka Doncic, and an impressive young coach in JJ Reddick. Yet, the West’s dark horse pick got matched up with the conference’s sleeper team in the Timberwolves and were ousted in the quarterfinals.

LA should be a force next season with James and Doncic getting a training camp together. That is assuming the NBA icon doesn’t get traded this summer. They got the center they needed when they landed Suns and Trail Blazers Deandre Ayton. On paper, Lake Show should be a contender in 2025-26.

9. Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic dealt with notable injuries throughout the season, but battled through using their elite defense. However, just like last season, scoring — especially from behind the arc — bedeviled them during the year. In the playoffs, they were matched up with the Celtics, and to the surprise of no one, Boston became a challenge they could not overcome.

That is why they gave up so much to get Desmond Bane in June. He gives them both the playmaking and three-point shooting they badly lacked. They also added solid veteran point guard Tyus Jones. The Magic can be a sleeper team in the East next season.

10. Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers were an interesting story in the 2024-25 NBA season. To the surprise of no one, Kawhi Leonard began the season in dress clothes due to another injury. However, in his absence, Norman Powell emerged and earned All-Star honors for the first time. Unfortunately, they came up short in a Game 7 against Denver in the playoffs.

They locked up James Harden to a new deal in NBA free agency and made a very nice bench addition by signing one-time All-Star Brook Lopez.

11. Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks were on a roller-coaster ride all of last season. Late in the campaign, they feared they might be without Damian Lillard in the playoffs. The future Hall of Famer made a miraculous comeback only to tear his Achilles in the opening round. They unsurprisingly were then ousted by the Pacers.

In an attempt to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy, they made one of the boldest moves of the offseason by luring Myles Turner away from Indiana, and waiving Lillard to fit the center on their books. But it is unclear if that will pacify the team great and stop him from asking for a trade.

12. Boston Celtics

Some might suggest Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury in Game 5 was why the Boston Celtics were ousted in the semifinals of the NBA playoffs. But New York surprisingly took a clean 3-1 lead with him healthy, and won twice in Boston. It was a frustrating end to a season that will be the final time this memorable group plays together.

The reason is a salary cap reckoning that will force them to make some huge slashes to their payroll. Jrue Holiday was the first domino to fall as he was sent to Portland, then Kristaps Porzingis was sent to Atlanta. Furthermore, Al Horford is likely on his way out as well. However, getting talented young scorer Anfernee Simons is a nice addition to help the season-long Tatum void they will have.

13. Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons were the worst team in the NBA last season. But this season, they were the feel-good story of the year. Heading to the NBA playoffs, many believed they could score a quarterfinals upset over the Knicks. While they didn’t advance, pushing New York to six games proved that Detroit needs to be taken seriously going forward.

The Pistons have the core pieces of a very competitive team. While they lost key bench stars Tim Hardaway and Dennis Schroder in free agency, Heat veteran Duncan Robinson should make an impact in 2025-26.

14. San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs were much better this year than they were last season. With the help of NBA league legend Chris Paul, the team was around .500 for much of the season. Then they added an All-Star level sidekick for Victor Wembanyama at the deadline in De’Aaron Fox. However, their chances of reaching the postseason were hit with a fatal blow when a blood clot ended Wembanyama’s season.

While they failed to land Durant on the trade market, with 2024-25 ROTY Stephon Castle, San Antonio is set up to take another leap forward next season. Especially after adding Rutgers star Dylan Harper and high-upside 3-and-D forward Carter Bryant in the draft.

15. Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies were expected to be far better this season with superstar Ja Morant back. And they were, for the most part. However, a late-season slump had many wondering if their playoff run would be short-lived. Unfortunately for Grizzlies fans, they got the worst matchup in Round 1 against Oklahoma City. An elite squad that smashed its way through Memphis in just four games.

They then began their offseason with the offseason’s first blockbuster when they traded guard Desmond Bane to the Magic. They got an impressive haul in the deal that includes Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and four first-round picks. Adding Ty Jerome in NBA free agency further rounded out a rock-solid roster around Morant and Jackson.

16. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers were the biggest disappointment in the NBA this season. Injuries destroyed any plans to be an NBA Finals contender. But the organization and its fanbase can’t be surprised. They entered the season hoping their top two players — Joel Embiid and Paul George — could buck their recent trends and stay healthy. They couldn’t.

The only positive from this season was that Tyrese Maxey confirmed he is a legitimate star in the league and worth building around. One player that could be part of that long-term rebuild is first-round pick VJ Edgecombe. He is a major project that won’t help them win now, but could be a star in three years.

17. Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks‘ decision to shockingly trade Luka Doncic before this year’s deadline led to some serious bad luck for the team. The top player they got back in the deal, Anthony Davis, suffered an ab injury that sidelined him for a couple of months. Then, Kyrie Irving’s season ended early after incurring a torn ACL. It was not the team the front office envisioned when they made the Doncic trade.

However, they are set up to still be competitive next season after landing the No. 1 pick in the draft and selecting generational talent Cooper Flag. Once Irving returns in the second half, Dallas could be a dark horse out West. While they wait, D’Angelo Russell should be a solid placeholder as the starting point guard.

18. Sacramento Kings

This was a wild season for the Sacramento Kings. There were high hopes when they added DeMar DeRozan in the summer. When they got off to a slow start, the front office took the bold step of firing head coach Mike Brown. Then, they decided De’Aaron Fox was not in their long-term plans and traded him to the Bulls.

In the deal, they landed two-time All-Star Zach LaVine. In adding the former Bulls star, DeRozan seems expendable, is likely to be moved this offseason. In NBA free agency and the trade market, they made a pair of solid veteran additions in Dennis Schroder and Dario Saric.

19. Phoenix Suns

Outside of the 76ers, the Phoenix Suns were the league’s biggest letdown in 2024-25. The team embarrassed itself despite having a pair of elite talents on the roster. Is this a perfect team? Not at all. But Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and head coach Mike Budenholzer should have been far better than a team that missed the playoffs.

That is why trading Durant was a must to begin the offseason. In the deal, they get back talented young scorer Jalen Green and glue-guy Dillon Brooks. Then, in the draft, they used the No. 10 pick they got from Houston to take Khaman Maluach. A player in the mold of Rudy Gobert but with more athleticism. Furthermore, trading for center Mark Williams helps give them the rock-solid frontcourt they lacked last season.

20. Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks were a handful for opposing defenses. Led by the face of the franchise, Trae Young, the team has been a force on offense. It is why they have had a far better season than many predicted. However, for as good as they were on offense, they were terrible on defense.

However, there is reason for positivity going forward due to the emergence of Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels. Furthermore, they addressed their defensive issues by adding Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Plus, first-round pick Asa Newell could be a great dirty work addition for next season as well.

21. Miami Heat

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra again showed why he is among the best in the sport during the regular season. Despite the dark cloud that Jimmy Butler created over the team with his contract drama, the Heat remained competitive for much of the year.

They tried to land Durant in June but came up short. Jonathan Kuminga or DeMar DeRozan could be Miami’s Plan B this summer.

22. Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers were one of the best teams in the league in the second half, and they continued that impressive play in the postseason. They needed just five games to send Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks packing. And five more to punch a ticket to the East Finals for the second straight year. They again beat New York in the playoffs and forced an outstanding Thunder team to Game 7 in the Finals.

One can only wonder what might have happened if Tyrese Haliburton were available. Now, a torn Achilles will likely sideline him all of next season. Making matters worse, division rivals the Bucks lured Myles Turner away in NBA free agency. Indiana is sure to take a huge step back in 2025-26.

23. New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans will go down as one of the biggest “what if” stories of last season. On paper, they had a very talented roster that could have been a force in the West. However, injuries absolutely decimated them all year before they eventually traded Brandon Ingram and waved the white flag on the season.

The organization is not going to move on from coach Willie Green, and likely will hold on to Zion Williamson for at least another season. In June, they moved veteran CJ McCollum for a younger but inconsistent version in Jordan Poole. They will hope he can recapture the potential he showed in Golden State three years ago.

24. Chicago Bulls

On offense, the Chicago Bulls were one of the league’s best and a headache for opponents. However, after trading Zach LaVine at the deadline, there was reason to expect a sharp decline. However, youngsters Josh Giddey and Coby White elevated their games in the second half. They must re-sign Giddey this summer. And if they can add another impact player, the Bulls should be a playoff contender in 2025-26. They freed up a bit of cash by moving Lonzo Ball to the Cavs in June.

25. Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors were a disappointment this season. Sure, injuries hurt them at times, but there was enough talent on the roster to have a better record in what was a very weak Eastern Conference. Yet, there is hope for the future after they added Brandon Ingram in a February trade. On paper, the combination of him and Scottie Barnes could make them a playoff contender next season.

In the draft, they used their top pick on Collin Murray-Boyles, a player with the ceiling of being another Scottie Barnes.

26. Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers had a roster that should have been able to contend for a play-in spot this season. However, Chauncey Billups’ team was inconsistent all season. While they played better in the second half, it was too little, too late in a very good Western Conference. Fortunately for Billups, the improved play saved him from being ousted in the offseason.

In June, they made a notable move by shipping out Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holliday. Then, in the draft, they made the most baffling move of Round 1 by using the 16th pick overall on Chinese center Yang Hansen, a year after using their top pick on fellow center Donovan Clingan. However, they cleared out the center logjam by buying out the final year in Deandre Ayton’s contract.

27. Charlotte Hornets

While LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller put up some pretty good scoring numbers this season, it did not help to make the Charlotte Hornets a competitive team. Despite having three 20-point scorers, the Hornets were among the worst-scoring teams in the league this season. It is why there have been surprising rumors about the team potentially trading Ball this summer. With him battling injuries again this season, moving him and his max contract is something Charlotte might seriously consider this summer.

In the draft, they used the fourth overall pick on Duke star Kon Knueppel. Of the various draft prospects, outside of college teammate Cooper Flagg, Knueppel is the most ready to make an impact despite his athletic limitations. They will also hope veteran additions Spencer Dinwiddie, Mason Plumlee, and Collin Sexton can help mature their locker room.

28. Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets were the first team this season to punt on the campaign and look ahead to the summer. While this was another losing season for Brooklyn, there is hope for an immediate turnaround next season. They have solid pieces like Cam Thomas and entered the offseason with a lot of salary cap and a boatload of draft picks.

In June’s draft, BK had four first-round picks. But opinions on who they took are mixed. However, BYU’s Egor Demin has the potential to be an even better version of Ben Simmons at his best, and France’s Nolan Traore is an exciting playmaker Nets fans could quickly grow to love. They also moved Cam Johnson for versatile veteran forward Michael Porter Jr..

29. Washington Wizards

Despite a head coach change to begin the season, the Washington Wizards were again a laughing stock. They ended up with the second-worst record in the league again this season, but they got bad luck in the draft lottery and will pick sixth in round one of the draft. There was very little to take from this season besides the hope that former lottery picks Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly got the meaningful experience needed to be a part of their potential turnaround.

In June, they shipped out Jordan Poole for aging but still good scorer CJ McCollum. With their top pick in the draft, they added Texas star Tre Johnson. A skilled offensive player who can make an impact in DC right away.

30. Utah Jazz

In year three as head coach, Will Hardy and his team took another step back. While they were among the worst teams in the league last season, the Jazz finished dead last in the 2024-25 NBA standings. Making matters worse, they didn’t land the top overall pick and the chance to get Cooper Flagg in June.

In the draft, they selected talented but troublesome Rutgers star Ace Bailey with their top pick. Then, with selection 18, they added the best shooter in this year’s class, Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. They also added veteran big Jusuf Nurkić via a trade to backup Walker Kessler.

Open Extended Reactions

The 2025 NBA draft is a wrap, with Cooper Flagg (No. 1 to the Dallas Mavericks) and Dylan Harper (No. 2 to the San Antonio Spurs) the headliners of what turned out to be a first round full of twists.

Ace Bailey came off the board at No. 5 to the Utah Jazz, a team that wasn’t one of his planned destinations, but could be an excellent landing spot. The New Orleans Pelicans made an aggressive play to pair Jeremiah Fears (No. 7) with Derik Queen (No. 13), moving valuable draft capital to make it happen. The Portland Trail Blazers made the most surprising pick of the first round by selecting Yang Hansen (ranked No. 35 in our final Top 100 big board). And the Brooklyn Nets, who controlled five first-round picks, drafted all five to jump-start a youth movement.

What was the best value pick? Which team drafted the best class? And which players could be named first-team All-Rookie? We have spent years studying the prospects in the 2025 class, and here are the moves we liked, the moves that surprised us and we’ll share a few long-term predictions.

Let’s dig into the fallout of this draft by answering 15 questions.

Jump to a topic:

Favorite pick | Ideal situation | Best value

Biggest surprise | Class pick | In-draft trades

Surprise faller | ROY candidates | All-Rookie players

G-league hitter | Undrafted underdog

Predictions | Overall takeaways

What was your favorite pick of the entire draft?

Givony: Kasparas Jakucionis to the Miami Heat at No. 20. Not only did the Heat get the No. 10 player on my big board, they also got a player who fills a roster void and fits their culture and style of play perfectly. Jakucionis (6-foot-6, 205 pounds) has the ballhandling and playmaking ability to offer much-needed shot creation in the backcourt, but he also is big enough to operate off the ball alongside All-Star combo guard Tyler Herro.

With Davion Mitchell (restricted free agent) coming off a strong playoff showing, the three could certainly play in the same lineup at times, thanks to Jakucionis’ size, strength and perimeter shooting prowess — positional versatility that is ideal for the modern NBA.

In their draft room and after eating perogies (an Eastern European staple) on Thursday, the Miami Heat front office secured Russian center Vlad Goldin, the No. 2-ranked undrafted free agent prospect on the ESPN Top 100 big board (No. 49). He adds to the Heat’s growing roster of international performer in recent years, including Lithuanian and Russian players. The Heat also have Sweden’s Pelle Larsson and Serbia’s Nikola Jovic on their roster.

Woo: Khaman Maluach to the Phoenix Suns at No. 10. I can’t tell you whether the Suns will be any good next season. But I can say they did a good job of addressing some of last season’s problems, particularly by drafting Maluach, who is the exact type of jumbo paint protector Phoenix was sorely missing.

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say the Suns had zero defensive identity last season, and Maluach (in tandem with new addition Mark Williams) should help change that tone. He should be able to thrive complementing the Suns’ ball dominant perimeter group.

Which player landed in the ideal situation to maximize his talent?

Givony: Bailey to the Utah Jazz at No. 5. Despite the drama around Bailey’s preferred draft destination (Washington?) and his agent’s alleged threat to a top-five team before the draft to potentially not report to camp, it wasn’t surprising to see this situation amicably resolved, likely in no small part due to Bailey’s lack of leverage because of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement and the public relations backlash this move generated.

When Bailey arrives in Utah on Saturday and sees how fortunate he is to land in a situation with an ample opportunity, a lack of star power, an outstanding coaching staff and a highly passionate fan base, he should quickly realize he is in the perfect place to reach All-Star potential.

Ace Bailey, the No. 3 prospect on ESPN’s big board, was a hotly debated prospect among NBA teams all season. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Woo: Egor Demin to the Brooklyn Nets at No. 8. I’m more optimistic on Demin’s future than some seem to be — there will always be a premium placed on prospects in his mold as a jumbo playmaker, and I understand why the Nets believed he was worth the dive that early in the draft. Going to a team where he’ll get a chance to play right away with plenty of on-ball reps, pair with the other talented passers in Brooklyn’s draft class and also hone his shooting is ideal.

His rookie season could be something of a crucible, but his unselfish style of play falls in line with how the Nets clearly want their team to look. Landing in a blank slate situation like this could be huge for Demin, as opposed to having to fight for minutes on a deeper roster that might have limited the opportunity to spread his wings.

What was the best value pick?

Givony: Liam McNeeley to the Charlotte Hornets at No. 29. I’m still surprised McNeeley (ranked No. 17 on our top 100 big board) fell to the end of the first round. Known for his shooting prowess for most of his career, McNeeley hit only 32% of his 3s at UConn this season. He had several workouts where he struggled to shoot as effectively in private settings as NBA teams had hoped.

I’ve seen McNeeley shoot lights-out in many different settings and firmly believe he will thrive with NBA spacing in a smaller offensive role than he was asked to shoulder at UConn. He also brings more to the table with his size (6-foot-8 in shoes), toughness, feel for the game and overall skill level. It’s not easy to find this type of player, so I believe the Hornets will end up getting a steal with this pick.

Woo: Jakucionis to the Heat. Miami benefited from some of the unexpected decisions ahead of it by drafting a player who some (me included) viewed as a top-10 prospect — and one who also fits the Heat’s need for a playmaking guard. He was ultimately a little more polarizing than we expected, but my guess is this one will age better for the Heat than it will for the teams that passed on him.

Which pick most surprised you?

Givony: Demin to the Nets. A lot of people had a hard time understanding why we kept Demin in our top 10 all year, especially as he was struggling badly in Big 12 play. Still, I was a little surprised to see him selected ahead of Khaman Maluach and Jakucionis, who I had in front of him on our Top 100 big board. We had heard the Nets wanted to come out of this draft with a starting point guard, and they now have three candidates for that position: Demin, Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf (and maybe Danny Wolf too).

I love the fact Demin will be empowered to reach his full potential in an outsized role (similar to BYU), where he’ll be able to play through mistakes, but will also have playmakers alongside him. Ideally, there would be a little more shooting to be found in this group, but that’s something the Nets can work through long term, potentially with another high pick in next year’s loaded draft, where A.J. Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer or Nate Ament all look like outstanding fits.

Woo: Yang Hansen to the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 16. My reaction was closer to fascination than shock. Yang has an intriguing skill set for a teenage big who was going to be worth someone rolling the dice on. I liked what I saw from him at the combine, but there was no expectation that he would wind up inside the top 20, and it’s a big gamble on his offensive talent ultimately translating from a low level in China.

The only team that was widely tied to Yang was the Nets, who held four picks behind the Trail Blazers in the first round. I understand why Portland took him where it did, as a blanket statement on draft strategy. If you love a guy, just take him, don’t risk it. Trading back was probably a challenge, but even with that rationale, the thought of Yang going that high never crossed my mind in any scenario.

Which team has your favorite class as a whole?

Givony: Charlotte Hornets. I already wrote about McNeeley above, but I also like the additions of Kon Knueppel (No. 4) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (No. 34) quite a bit. Knueppel’s feel for the game, selfless style of play, strength and toughness should make him easy to play with, especially alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, who he could complement quite well. I was a huge fan of Knueppel all season and was not surprised to see him go in the top five.

With Kalkbrenner, the Hornets got a plug-and-play big who looks ready to play rotation minutes right away on a cheap rookie-scale deal. Charlotte needed someone NBA-ready after trading Mark Williams for the pick that got them McNeeley and a 2029 first-rounder, which I thought was a great move as well.

Woo: San Antonio Spurs. Lucking into Harper was one thing, but the Spurs were right not to lean into any temptation to trade him and fast-track their competitive window. I understand the fit concerns, and it would be simpler were De’Aaron Fox not in the mix already, but the idea of letting Harper jell with Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle makes a lot of sense.

Generally speaking, we love to assign a sense of immediate title urgency to every team fortunate enough to employ superstar-caliber talent but one has to remember Wembanyama is 21 years old. In my mind, there was never any need for San Antonio to do anything but select and see how these players grow together. Factor in No. 14 pick Carter Bryant, who should complement his more ball dominant teammates with shooting and perimeter defense over time, and the Spurs could have an excellent thing going.

Which team has your least favorite class as a whole?

Givony: There isn’t one team that stands out, though I would have loved to have seen the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets jump into the action in either round, but it’s understandable why both teams are prioritizing their playoff windows right now.

Woo: New Orleans Pelicans. This is less about the talent of players they drafted and more about how the Pelicans invited risk and fit concerns with their string of recent transactions. Fears is a real talent, but him maximizing it in what could be a crowded backcourt with Jordan Poole now in the mix is a concern.

And I struggle to see how Queen can share the floor with Zion Williamson in a winning context — neither can shoot from the perimeter or protect the paint at a high level, and they might ultimately get in each other’s way. I’m concerned about the chances either lottery pick gets to use their talents in the situation.

Of course, I understand a new front office targeting the guys they like, putting their stamp on the team and figuring out other things later. It would all be a little more palatable had the Pelicans not sold off their own draft pick next year to make it work — a move that places pressure on their current group to take a huge collective step forward.

What was your favorite in-draft trade?

Givony: The Atlanta Hawks trading down to ultimately draft Asa Newell at No. 23. Woo recapped the New Orleans side of the Queen deal, but a shoutout to the new Hawks front office (led by Onsi Saleh) is in order. The Hawks secured what I project to be the No. 8 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, just for moving down 10 spots in this draft. I had Queen rated 23 spots ahead of Newell on my personal big board, so there’s certainly room to quibble about value.

But it’s fair to question the process New Orleans went through, clearly telegraphing its interest in Queen so strongly in the lead-up to the draft that it hurt its negotiating leverage. It led to giving up a potentially high draft pick in 2026, which should have netted New Orleans a lot more than what it did.

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Woo: The Jazz trading up to draft Walter Clayton Jr. at No. 18 I admittedly was not a huge Clayton proponent during the season, but the more I evaluated him, the more I started to buy his shotmaking talent as an intriguing bet in a draft class that was pretty light on point guards. The Jazz didn’t have to pay much to do it, and while he might have to fight for minutes, there’s a reasonable chance Clayton becomes a valuable contributor.

What was your least favorite in-draft trade?

Givony: Memphis trading up five spots with Portland from No. 16 to No. 11, giving up an unprotected first-round pick from the Orlando Magic in 2028 and two second-round picks (2027 via Atlanta and 2028 from Orlando). That feels like an awfully big haul to move up just five spots, even if there were a lot of rumblings that the Oklahoma City Thunder (picking No. 15) were also trying to move up for Cedric Coward. I wasn’t especially sold on Coward being picked that high, so we’ll have to see how this plays out.

I would have liked to have seen Portland move down another five-to-10 picks for Yang, and perhaps pick up more assets in the process, but it seems the trade market softened quite a bit outside the top 15, with minimal movement in the second half of the first round.

Woo: New Orleans mortgaging the future for Queen. Considering all the circumstances, no matter how badly you believe in the Maryland center (or no matter who you think should have been the 13th pick instead), trading away a 2026 first-round pick to move up 10 spots in this draft was hard for me to rationalize. It’s less about the player and more about the process.

play 1:26 The plays that Derik Queen is bringing to the Pelicans Check out some top highlights from Derik Queen as the Pelicans trade up to take him.

In five years, we’re all going to wonder why ____ fell in the draft?

Givony: Hugo Gonzalez to the Boston Celtics at No. 28. I had him rated as the No. 15 player on my personal big board, 13 spots ahead of where he was drafted. He started the process as a projected top-10 pick, but it’s not hard to understand why his stock fell, as he struggled to get on the floor for a loaded Real Madrid team. Had Gonzalez played for Ratiopharm Ulm, went to BYU (which recruited him heavily prior to signing Demin), or spent a season with the NBL Next Stars program in Australia … he would have been a clear lottery pick in my view.

He built an impeccable résumé as one of the top prospects in international basketball in FIBA youth competitions and junior club competition prior to this season.

I also love his fit in Boston, where he’s certain to emerge as a fan favorite due to the frenetic intensity level he brings defensively. I was told Boston was telling agents it planned to sign whichever rookie it took with this pick for 80% of the rookie scale, but due to Gonzalez’s significant buyout with Real Madrid ($1.4 million), that won’t be viable, as Gonzalez will already need to cover a significant portion of that out of his pocket.

Woo: Will Riley to the Washington Wizards at No. 21. I probably saw more of him up close than anyone, as I saw Illinois live many times last season. I’m a big believer in Riley’s talent and think there’s a chance he rises to the top on a Wizards team that is going to give a lot of opportunities to their young talent. He’s going to have to work hard at his physical development to make it happen — Riley is 6-foot-8, 180 pounds — but how many wings with legitimate size and offensive talent have ever been too skinny to make it in the NBA?

Riley isn’t lacking for actual game, and I think he’ll surprise some people over time.

Call it now: Who will win NBA Rookie of the Year?

Givony: Flagg. He is the best player in this class and will be asked to play a significant role for the Mavs immediately, as they have very little shot creation on their roster currently and will need him to be a star from day one. They’ll need him to essentially keep them afloat in the brutal Western Conference as they wait for Kyrie Irving’s return from a knee injury.

Woo: Anyone other than Flagg? Um, no. That’s not to discredit any player in this draft, but I don’t think this is a particularly bold call. He’s walking into an excellent opportunity to stand out right away, and I suspect we’ll see him figure the NBA out on the fly, and rather quickly.

Call it now: Which five players will be named to the NBA All-Rookie first team?

Givony: Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Knueppel, Tre Johnson (Wizards).

Woo: Flagg, Harper, Johnson, Knueppel — and primarily so we don’t pick the exact same players, I’ll go with the other Jazz rookie, Clayton Jr.

Which player is most likely to light up the G League in 2025-26?

Givony: Javon Small, No. 48 pick by Memphis. A first-team all-conference player in the loaded Big 12, Small carried an undermanned West Virginia team to the cusp of a NCAA tournament berth with steady shot creation and shotmaking while bringing major toughness on both ends of the floor, things that typically translate well to the G League.

He’ll be a handful to deal with in transition and should thrive in the wide-open nature of that league, likely putting up points in bunches while making winning plays on both ends of the floor. I would not be surprised to see him emerge as another Scotty Pippen Jr.-type gem for Memphis in the coming years.

Woo: Ryan Nembhard, undrafted. Nembhard will sign a two-way deal with the Mavericks, and the caveat here is that I could see him getting fast-tracked to a roster spot and NBA utility purely due to the Mavs’ lack of point guard depth. I love Nembhard’s feel for playmaking and involving teammates and believe he can transcend his size limitations (6-foot, 180 pounds). He’ll be among the top guards in the G League whenever he’s assigned there.

Which undrafted player are you most interested to follow?

Givony: Eric Dixon with the Los Angeles Lakers. The former Villanova guard was the No. 1 scorer in college basketball this season, averaging 23 points and shooting 41% from 3. He’s not just a spot-up shooter though, he can hit tough side-step and iso pull-ups, and attacks closeouts to draw fouls at a strong rate. He stands 6-foot-8 with a powerful 260-pound frame, making him a true inside-out mismatch in the Guerschon Yabusele mold. Dixon, 24, will need to prove he can hold his own defensively, but he’s got some real toughness and physicality on top of his ability to stretch the floor. I like this addition quite a bit for the Lakers.

I heard Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka spent time with Dixon after his predraft workout with the team. Apparently, Pelinka told Dixon the story of Kobe Bryant’s visit to the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, which was cleared out for them. Pelinka said the first thing Bryant noticed was the lack of lighting and how Michelangelo was forced to do much of his work by candlelight, which demonstrated his attention to detail and the focus required to master his craft under tough conditions. Bryant related this to his work on the basketball court, imagining what Michelangelo’s mindset might have been like at the time, in terms of perfecting his craft and creating a world-renowned masterpiece, despite less-than-ideal circumstances.

Woo: John Poulakidas with the LA Clippers. The former Yale guard was one of the deep sleepers I grew to like over the course of the season. Poulakidas (6-foot-6, 205 pounds) has strong proportions for a wing, he’s a very good shooter already, and if he can step up his defensive contributions, there’s a path for him to make it onto a roster through the backdoor (he’s reportedly signing an exhibit-10 with the Clippers). Quality 3-point marksmen with NBA size often get to skip the line more so than any other role archetype.

Make one prediction about this class for five years from now:

Givony: Joan Beringer (No. 17 to the Minnesota Timberwolves) will be an All-Defensive team candidate in five years. He’s getting a rare opportunity to learn from four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert in practice every day. Beringer, who grew an inch and a half over the past year, had never touched a basketball until summer 2021, as he was focused on soccer until a late growth spurt allowed him to outgrow the sport.

He proved to be the top shot blocker in the Adriatic League during his first season of professional basketball, demonstrating exceptional instincts and agility as a drop defender and rim protector, giving him huge potential to grow into long term on that end of the floor.

The Nets’ first pick of their 2025 NBA draft began by taking BYU’s Egor Demin at No. 8. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Woo: The Nets’ draft ages better than expected. There’s a clear vision for what Brooklyn was trying to do: It bought low on Nolan Traore (No. 19) and Drake Powell (No. 22) coming off of down seasons and it loaded up on high-IQ passers with above-average size with Demin, Ben Saraf (No. 26) and Wolf (No. 27). Clearly, the Nets want to build an unselfish team that shares the ball. I’m not as concerned about these guys getting in each other’s way developmentally as some people seem to be.

All of these players need to improve their perimeter shooting — which is a fair critique and major variable. Still, I worry less about skill set overlap when you’re bringing together guys who love to pass. Letting them all start their careers together, build chemistry and play a distinct style should facilitate easier looks all around. The Nets appear to have minutes for everybody as they prepare to spin the lottery wheel again next season — and I think at least a few of these players will outkick expectations.

What is your top overarching takeaway from this draft?

Givony: College basketball is back and not going away anytime soon. After the top two picks in last year’s draft came from France (Zaccharie Risacher) and via Australia (Alex Sarr), there were zero non-collegiate international players selected in the top 10 this year, and only six chosen in the first round. These are historically low numbers, but they could decrease even further next year, as we currently only project four non-collegiate international players to be picked in the first and second rounds, which will likely be the lowest we’ve seen in some time.

The appeal of large NIL-related paydays in college has led many players to remain in school and has attracted more international players to the U.S., similar to what we saw with Demin and Jakucionis. Time will tell if revenue-sharing restrictions from the House settlement reduces the high NIL salaries we’re seeing now, which might cause some international players to stay home and develop through the traditional European basketball path.

Woo: Consensus is just a concept. Nearly all the first-round surprises we saw were by-products of teams simply trusting their boards and evaluation process above all else. Whether it was Memphis ensuring it snagged Coward, New Orleans going in big for Queen, Portland taking Yang higher than anyone expected or the Nets seeing value in making all five first-round picks, the draft is always in the eye of the beholder, and that’s why mock drafts tend to go off the rails at a certain point.

This draft was an entertaining reminder of how many teams are willing to select with conviction and forgo whatever the public’s notion of value might be.

My team grades for the 2025 NBA draft, completed Thursday night, are the only ones you’ll read that aren’t concerned with results.

After the teams call in their picks, factors outside their control — and even perhaps outside the player’s control, particularly health — will determine the results. No team, not even the Brooklyn Nets with their five first-round picks, drafts enough players in one year for that to even out.

Keeping that in mind, we’re evaluating picks based on the information available to us at the time they were made in terms of value and fit. I’m relying heavily on my stats-based projections for prospects, as well as analysis from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo.

Trades are also considered. In general, teams overpay to move up in the draft, overestimating their ability to evaluate prospects better than their peers. Even by those standards, this year’s trade up from No. 23 to No. 13 by the New Orleans Pelicans stands out as especially risky. As a result, the Pelicans got the worst grade of any team, and the Atlanta Hawks (who dealt with New Orleans) are tied for the best.

Let’s run through my grades for every team.

Jump to a team:

ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE

DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND

LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN

NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX

POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS

Round 1: Asa Newell (No. 23)

It almost didn’t matter whom the Hawks took after getting an unprotected 2026 first-round pick — the better of those from Milwaukee and New Orleans — via the Pelicans to move down 10 spots. I might have made that trade straight up without getting No. 23. All the better that Atlanta took a prospect ranked 13th in my projections.

Time will tell if Newell cracks the rotation quickly enough to pair with newly acquired Kristaps Porzingis, but I love that fit because Porzingis’ strengths fit perfectly with the shortcomings that make Newell a forward/center tweener.

Round 1: Hugo Gonzalez (No. 28)

Round 2: Amari Williams(No. 46), Max Shulga (No. 57)

Gonzalez would have made more sense for Boston as a stash pick who would come over later in his development. Instead, Brad Stevens indicated the Celtics plan to bring him to the NBA next season.

On the broadcast, Gonzalez was compared to Denver Nuggets wing Christian Braun. One key difference: Braun, though not thought of as a shooter, hit 38% of his 3s in college. Gonzalez shot 27% at Real Madrid.

Williams is an intriguing prospect with multiple strengths as a rebounder, rim protector and facilitator at the elbow. But he shot just 54% career on 2s, very poor for a center who doesn’t stretch the floor. Shulga, the last of Boston’s three picks, projected best in my model because of his 39% career 3-point shooting.

Round 1: Egor Demin (No. 8), Nolan Traore (No. 19), Drake Powell (No. 22), Ben Saraf (No. 26), Danny Wolf (No. 27)

The Nets’ record-setting volume of first-round selections is almost more important from a process standpoint than the picks, one reason I gave high marks to the trades to acquire them.

Brooklyn is betting on developing a remarkable number of teenagers, many of them with overlapping skill sets. Demin and Traore share a lot of traits as strong playmakers with size whose shooting and scoring efficiency need work. They can play together defensively, but spacing the floor with those groups could prove challenging.

Drafting so many raw players should help the Nets’ efforts to land in the lottery again in 2026, the last year they control their first-round pick before the Houston Rockets get it in 2027.

Check out some of Kon Knueppel’s top plays at Duke as he heads to the Hornets with the fourth overall pick.

Round 1: Kon Knueppel (No. 4), Liam McNeeley (No. 29)

Round 2: Sion James (No. 33), Ryan Kalkbrenner (No. 34)

Cue the jokes about the Hornets’ penchant for drafting players from the Research Triangle, but Knueppel was second in my projections and perfectly fills Charlotte’s void at shooting guard.

Although the same was true of Tre Johnson, Knueppel was a far more efficient scorer at Duke and rated better by my metrics than Johnson in a larger on-ball role in the Nike EYBL.

Selecting McNeeley, who fits a similar mold, was probably a best-available pick after he dropped well below his expected range in the early 20s. I’m less enamored with the Hornets taking James, another Blue Devil, high in the second round. Strictly a role player in five college seasons, James never had a usage rate higher than 17.1%.

After Charlotte traded starting center Mark Williams, there might be an opening for Kalkbrenner to contribute immediately if his pick-and-roll defense is up to speed.

Round 1: Noa Essengue (No. 12)

Round 2: Lachlan Olbrich (No. 55)

I’m intrigued by how Essengue will fit with 2024 lottery pick Matas Buzelis, another young combo forward. If they shoot well enough to play together at forward or Buzelis bulks up enough to play center at times, they’d give Chicago combined strengths of length and athleticism.

Credit to the Bulls for taking the best player available and continuing to draft young, despite their resistance to bottoming out and picking higher in the lottery.

Cleveland Cavaliers: B

Round 2: Tyrese Proctor (No. 49), Saliou Niang (No. 58)

The Cavaliers didn’t get on the clock until well into Night 2 of the draft and landed an interesting prospect in Proctor, who continued to develop after the one-and-done hype. Proctor shot 40.5% on 3s last season and shows promise as an on-ball defender, though he could improve his steal rate. Niang, a stash pick, faces longer odds because of his shooting: 26% career on 3s and 71% from the foul line.

Dallas Mavericks: B

Round 1: Cooper Flagg (No. 1)

How long do you think the Mavericks’ front office debated this pick? From the moment Dallas’ combination unexpectedly came up No. 1 in the draft lottery, we knew Flagg was the pick, and rightfully so.

From a process standpoint, the Mavericks don’t get credit for winning the lottery, only for not screwing it up.

Denver Nuggets: Incomplete

Get used to seeing the Nuggets graded “incomplete.” They didn’t control any future second-round pick before getting their 2032 second-rounder when the draft concluded and still owe a pair of protected first-round picks, starting in 2027.

Detroit Pistons: B

Round 2: Chaz Lanier (No. 37)

Much like fellow former Tennessee star Dalton Knecht, Lanier bloomed late, going from 4.7 points at North Florida in 2022-23 to averaging 18 points in the SEC last season. He’s a big-time shooter (40% career on 3s) with size who gives the Pistons some insurance if they can’t re-sign free agents Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.

Golden State Warriors: B

Round 2: Alex Toohey (No. 52), Will Richard (No. 56)

Toohey’s shooting is still a work in progress after he hit 31% in the Australian NBL last season, but his defensive activity stood out in steal and block rates. I’ve long liked Richard, who ranked in the top 30 of my projections because of his high 2-point percentage.

Houston Rockets: Incomplete

The Rockets used both of this year’s picks to acquire Kevin Durant in a trade that can’t be completed until July 6. As a result, consider them a winner despite their strong track record in the draft.

Indiana Pacers: A

Round 2: Kam Jones (No. 38), Taelon Peter (No. 54)

The Pacers have made one of my favorite second-round picks two years in a row. Unlike 2024 second-rounder Johnny Furphy, who played sparingly as a rookie at age 20, Jones, 23, has more potential to contribute immediately. Indiana could use the guard help with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined after his Achilles rupture during Game 7 of the NBA Finals

Peter, who spent the bulk of his college career at Division II Arkansas Tech, is a fascinating swing. He’s a guard who averaged just 1.0 assist as a fifth-year senior at Liberty, but why pass when you shoot 76% on 2s and 45% on 3s? I’m not sure that will translate, but at the No. 54 pick, there’s no downside for Indiana.

Round 1: Yanic Konan Niederhauser (No. 30)

Round 2: Kobe Sanders (No. 50)

As a second-round pick, I could buy the value proposition on the late-blooming Niederhauser, an outstanding shot blocker who grew into a scoring threat after transferring to Penn State.

Taking him in the first round is a tougher sell, given that Niederhauser is a below-average defensive rebounder and posted more than twice as many assists as turnovers. The overall profile is similar to Daniel Oturu, drafted No. 33 by the Clippers in 2020.

Sanders was a late bloomer as well, not having averaged double-figure scoring until his fourth year in college. My projections put more weight on earlier college seasons because standing out early has typically been a better indicator.

Round 2: Adou Thiero (No. 36)

Kudos to the Lakers for using cash to move up from No. 55 to No. 36 after making a pair of trades. Thiero’s steal and block rates suggest defensive potential if he can make enough outside shots to stay on the court. Thiero was a career 28% college 3-point shooter.

play 1:58 Why the Grizzlies selected Cedric Coward Check out the plays that led Cedric Coward to the Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA Draft.

Round 1: Cedric Coward (No. 11)

Round 2: Javon Small (No. 48), Jahmai Mashack (No. 59)

It wouldn’t be a Grizzlies draft without a trade up, their fourth in the first round since 2019. Going up two spots for Brandon Clarke worked out. Giving up more value to get Jake LaRavia and Ziaire Williams did not.

In this case, Memphis sent one of the unprotected Orlando first-round picks acquired in the Desmond Bane trade to move up five picks, which is questionable value, at best. Don’t take this as an indictment of Coward, who ranked 13th in the stats-only version of my projections. But I would have waited at least until either Coward or Carter Bryant (No. 14) was off the board before moving up.

I liked the Grizzlies’ value with Small, who is — fittingly — undersized but scored efficiently, considering his 28% usage rate as a senior at West Virginia. Mashack, who topped out at 6.0 PPG as a senior at Tennessee, would have fit the Grit n’ Grind Grizzlies with his active defense.

Round 1: Kasparas Jakucionis (No. 20)

Jakucionis is an imperfect prospect. His steal and block rates are troublingly low, and he also struggled with turnovers in his lone season at Illinois.

This still feels like an overcorrection for a player who was ranked in the top 10 much of the year, and Miami took advantage with one of the draft’s better value picks.

Milwaukee Bucks: B

Round 2: Bogoljub Markovic (No. 47)

No prospect the Bucks could have drafted at the 47th pick was going to alter Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee. Markovic scored efficiently in his first full season in the Adriatic League, shooting 61% on 2s and 37% on 3s, though low steal and block rates raise defensive questions.

Round 1: Joan Beringer (No. 17)

Round 2: Rocco Zikarsky (No. 45)

The Timberwolves can envision how Beringer, a low-usage center who was a premier rim protector playing in Slovenia, will fit in their system. It’s unrealistic to expect Beringer to become Rudy Gobert, a premier finisher with a wingspan measured 4 inches higher at the NBA draft combine.

But as Gobert ages, Minnesota will need a replacement and Beringer has the potential to fill that void.

In the second round, the Timberwolves doubled down on that role by taking the 7-foot-3 Zikarsky. The two players have remarkably similar projections, and it will be interesting to see how Minnesota handles their simultaneous development.

New Orleans Pelicans: F

Round 1: Jeremiah Fears (No. 7), Derik Queen (No. 13)

Round 2: Micah Peavy (No. 40)

It’s possible for a trade like the Pelicans made to take Queen at No. 13 to work out. The Phoenix Suns gave up an unprotected future first-rounder in 2018 to move up six spots and never regretted landing Mikal Bridges.

Still, New Orleans is betting heavily on its evaluation that Queen is less valuable than Fears and still worth moving up to get. And the downside is higher because the Pelicans’ own 2026 pick is potentially part of the deal. At least Bridges was a prospect who rated sixth overall in my projections. Queen was outside the top 30.

I liked New Orleans eschewing the need to take Fears at No. 7, when he was the consensus best prospect on the board. But with hindsight, the Pelicans would be better off having drafted Queen with their own pick than landing both prospects.

Peavy broke out as a fifth-year senior at Georgetown, averaging 17.2 points and 2.3 steals. The jump to 40% 3-point shooting gives Peavy a shot at a 3-and-D role, though he didn’t show the same improvement at the foul line (66%).

Round 2: Mohamed Diawara (No. 51)

Diawara hasn’t developed into an impact player in his native France, having averaged just 5.8 points for Cholet last season. Stashing Diawara overseas might make more sense than having him take up a roster spot.

Oklahoma City Thunder: B

Round 1: Thomas Sorber (No. 15)

Round 2: Brooks Barnhizer (No. 44)

As with Beringer, the vision here is clear. Sorber posted terrific defensive numbers at Georgetown and was a strong passer for a freshman center, recording more assists than turnovers.

Squint and you can see the outline of Isaiah Hartenstein, likely to be an odd man out as Oklahoma City’s core grows more expensive.

Lacking roster spots for multiple first-round picks, the Thunder pushed the No. 24 pick down the road in a deal with Sacramento that lacks upside (Oklahoma City can’t pick higher than No. 17), but better fits the timeline for the champs.

Barnhizer will be on a two-way contract, per Givony. He was an inefficient college scorer (.500 true shooting percentage) who racked up steals and blocks at Northwestern.

Round 1: Jase Richardson (No. 25)

Round 2: Noah Penda (No. 32)

There’s fun symmetry in Richardson going to one of his father Jason Richardson’s four NBA teams, and I also like the value.

Richardson was projected in the lottery before measuring in at a little over 6 feet in bare feet in the NBA draft combine. Such dramatic shifts always confuse me. Richardson still produced at Michigan State.

Orlando doesn’t need Richardson to contribute now, but he can grow into a rotation player when the Magic are feeling the effect of giving up four first-rounders to acquire Bane.

Orlando then paid a heavy price — No. 46 and No. 57, plus two future second-rounders — to trade up to take Penda. Penda’s shooting is a work in progress. He hit under 70% of his free throws last season.

play 1:22 V.J. Edgecombe’s family emotional after draft selection V.J. Edgecombe, along with his mother and brother, get emotional while recounting their story from the Bahamas to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Round 1: VJ Edgecombe (No. 3)

Round 2: Johni Broome (No. 35)

Although Knueppel was a little ahead in my projections, I probably would have taken Edgecombe here, too. I like his defensive base, with a sky-high steal rate at Baylor, and athleticism to become a shot creator.

Knueppel might have fit more cleanly with Joel Embiid, but given the state of Embiid’s health, I’m not sure that should be Philadelphia’s primary timeline anymore.

A consensus first-team All-America pick last season, Broome could help the Sixers immediately. He brings more skill to the center spot than the backups (Andre Drummond and Adem Bona) who struggled to fill in for Embiid last season.

Phoenix Suns: B

Round 1: Khaman Maluach (No. 10)

Round 2: Rasheer Fleming (No. 31), Koby Brea (No. 41)

A Duke center fell to the frontcourt-needy Suns, who also strangely traded to acquire former Duke center Mark Williams in a deal graded separately.

It’s worth wondering, particularly in that context, whether Phoenix could have gotten the valuable trades down that teams just behind them made. But as Maluach was the top prospect on the board, standing pat made more sense for the Suns.

Phoenix used future picks to move up to the top pick in the second round and No. 41. Teams were competing to take Saint Joseph’s forward Rasheer Fleming, 12th in my stats-only projections. Fleming gives the Suns another quality shot blocker, this time with more range. Though Brea is another shooting guard on a team overloaded with them, Phoenix could use his shooting — he has the highest skill projection as a shooter of any player in my database — particularly if Grayson Allen is traded.

Round 1: Yang Hansen (No. 16)

Hansen might become an All-Star. He could lead the Blazers into championship contention. What we do know is that other teams didn’t value Hansen as much as Portland, meaning the team is betting on its ability to beat the market.

To the Blazers’ credit, they picked up an extra first-round pick by moving down. But they would have been far better off making the same trade the Hawks did, if it were available.

Sacramento Kings: C

Round 1: Nique Clifford (No. 24)

Round 2: Maxime Raynaud (No. 42)

Having sent the No. 13 pick to Atlanta to complete the Kevin Huerter trade, the Kings tapped into the extra first-rounders coming from the De’Aaron Fox deal to get back in the first round. Sacramento limited the possible downside of the move by putting top-16 protection on the pick, which has only a one-year window to convey.

My model was lower on Clifford than scouts because he didn’t emerge as a serious NBA prospect until his fifth year of college at age 23. Time will tell how much of that was Clifford legitimately improving his skill, as opposed to utilizing an experience advantage that won’t carry over.

Scouts were also higher on Raynaud, largely because of his subpar block rate for a center. But my model missed on Quinten Post last year, and Raynaud brings a similar skill set after hitting 67 3-pointers as a senior.

San Antonio Spurs: A

Round 1: Dylan Harper (No. 2), Carter Bryant (No. 14)

Harper was always the consensus No. 2 pick, so aside from considering possible blockbuster trades, San Antonio’s work there was done early.

The Spurs get more credit for their other lottery pick, where they waited out Bryant falling to them. I’m high on Bryant’s 3-and-D potential, making him an ideal fit on a team that’s overflowing with shot creation between Harper, Fox and Victor Wembanyama.

Toronto Raptors: B

Round 1: Collin Murray-Boyles (No. 9)

Round 2: Alijah Martin (No. 39)

I’m a believer that Murray-Boyles’ unorthodox game will translate to the NBA, though Toronto wasn’t an ideal landing spot.

If he’s going to succeed as a power forward, Murray-Boyles needs shooting around him, and the Raptors have a nonshooting center in Jakob Poeltl and only adequate perimeter shooting.

If 2024 second-round pick Jonathan Mogbo develops 3-point range after shooting 24% as a rookie, the two undersized big men could be an interesting frontcourt pairing that’s high on impact defensive plays.

Martin is undersized for a shooting guard at 6-foot-2 but productive in college. He ranked 26th in my stats-only projections.

Round 1: Ace Bailey (No. 5), Walter Clayton Jr. (No. 18)

Round 2: John Tonje (No. 53)

I’ve compared Bailey to the Boston Celtics’ duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum coming out of college in terms of going to a contending team, where he’d be asked to refine his shot selection.

That comparison looks especially relevant after the same executives who drafted those wings (Austin and Danny Ainge) took Bailey to join a Utah team that’s still far from winning. The value proposition for Bailey, fifth in my model, makes sense here. And I’m not worried that Bailey didn’t want to land here.

But the Jazz will have to carefully manage his development to turn Bailey into a perimeter star as the Celtics did with Brown and Tatum. Adding Clayton, an NCAA champion and potent outside shooter, could help that process. Utah has a crowded backcourt, but veterans Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton might not be part of that for long, creating opportunity for Clayton.

At 24, Tonje was the oldest player selected. He got to the foul line nearly seven times per game, which is worth discounting, at Wisconsin as a sixth-year senior. But Tonje shooting 91% from the free throw line and hitting 38% of his 3s should translate better to the NBA.

Round 1: Tre Johnson (No. 6), Will Riley (No. 21)

Round 2: Jamir Watkins (No. 43)

Similar to the Nets, the Wizards are leaning heavily into youth, taking two more teenagers to go with the four they added from the 2024 first round. (That includes AJ Johnson, acquired at the deadline.)

I was skeptical of Tre Johnson as a top-five prospect because of his poor defensive metrics and low 2-point percentage. Outside that range, his potential as a shooter justifies the pick. Riley went a little ahead of where I had him, and he will also have to improve his defensive playmaking.

Watkins, who will turn 24 in July, brings more experience. There’s no questioning Watkins’ defensive potential, but he needs to improve his 32.5% career 3-point shooting.