NBA Draft Grades: 2025 First Round Review
The 2025 NBA Draft was a mix of the expected and the unexpected as teams went into the draft with a focus on solidifying their path to the championship. From the expected choice at #1 for Cooper Flagg to the shocking drop of Ace Bailey to Utah, the first round had it all which is great for a in depth NBA draft grades review. With the addition of dramatic trades and lots of out of the blue picks that left experts to quickly change their reports, this year’s draft class is set to transform the state of professional basketball for the years to come.
NBA Draft Grades: Best Choices and Elite Prospects
Dallas Mavericks Secure Cooper Flagg in the First Round
The Dallas Mavericks got unanimous praise for their choice of Duke’s Cooper Flagg with the top overall pick which also saw them receive an A grade from almost all analysts. We see in this 18 year old forward a very well rounded prospect which is rare to come by recently—he brings to the table elite level play on both sides of the ball as well as great basketball IQ and competitiveness.
Flagg’s choice at the top of the draft is the end of a remarkable turnaround for the Mavericks which had just a 1.8% chance of even being in the running after they shocked us all with the trade of Luka Dončić mid season. Social media went wild with celebration as local Dallas sports teams rolled out the welcome mat for our new star, FC Dallas put out “COOP can HOOP” and the Dallas Wings announced “New era of Dallas basketball”.
The Duke freshman put up 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks in his first and only college season which also saw him display the many skills that which make him an attractive prospect. At 18 years and 186 days old, Flagg is the second youngest No. 1 pick in NBA history behind only LeBron James.
San Antonio Spurs Land a Big One in Dylan Harper
The San Antonio Spurs did in fact get an A grade for the choice of Rutgers guard Dylan Harper with the second overall pick which analysts say will prove to be a 15 year base along with Victor Wembanyama. Before the draft even took place San Antonio fans went ahead to commission a mural of the rookie which spoke to how much they were looking forward to Harper’s selection.
Harper put up 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on 48.4% shooting during his first year at Rutgers which was a 4. That also saw him play the role of a big man that brought to the table basketball intelligence and natural playmaking which paired well with Wembanyama’s skills. What the Spurs’ faith in Harper does is mark another step in their methodical rebuild, an organization which sees in him a key piece to turn around and put them in title contentions.
NBA Draft Grades: Controversial Outcomes and Unexpected Results
Ace Bailey’s Great Plunge into the Utah Jazz’ Ranks
In the 2025 draft which saw many controversial stories play out Ace Bailey’s fall to the 5th overall pick was a large one. When it was all said and done the Utah Jazz chose him which at the time of the draft went against what was expected of him. Also a consensus top three prospect going into the season Bailey is reported to have turned down workouts with the Utah and other top 5 teams in an attempt to guide himself towards markets which were more to his preference.
Before the draft which saw a lot of drama, CBS Sports gave Utah an excellent A grade for that choice in which they put forth that we had the best prospect on the board in Bailey who also has a lot of growth in him. Also the Rutgers forward put up 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game to go along with a 34.6% from beyond the arc which showed his ability to score in a variety of ways and that is what made him so much in demand.
The Jazz’s report of Bailey’s bluff is a sign of the organization’s confidence in their talent development which may not always align with a player’s initial preference. Social media response was mixed with some that lauded Utah’s boldness and which questioned the wisdom of taking a possibly discontented player.
Philadelphia 76ers Select VJ Edgecombe
The Philadelphia 76ers went to the podium to select out of Baylor’s program VJ Edgecombe with the 3rd over all pick; he received a solid B grade from draft analysts. We see in Edgecombe that the Sixers have put in a player which is a study in raw talent and defense but at the same time there is issues with his offensive game and growth as a guard.
The selection of the Bahamian player is Philadephia’s calculated risk which they put forth on his physicality and defensive skills and at the same time they are hoping his offense will fall into place. His mother’s emotional reaction which went viral became that night’s most memorable moment which also served as a nice break from the more controversial choices.
NBA Draft Grades: Mid Season Report
Charlotte Hornets Choose Duke Chemistry
The Charlotte Hornets got a B for drafting Duke’s Kon Knueppel with the 4th overall pick, in which they favored fit with the team and short term gain which long term potential. Knueppel’s track record of success playing side of star players at Duke and his time as a member of a championship team made him a very appealing choice for a Hornets team wanting to push their improvement timeline.
Washington Wizards Land Tre Johnson
The Washington Wizards did in fact land a gem when they chose Texas guard Tre Johnson 6th overall; they added a star in the making to their restructured team. Johnson’s improved play which was on display during his freshman year and his talent for putting up points from beyond the arc made him the backup plan when we missed out on Bailey.
NBA Draft Grades: Trade Action and Surprise Choices
New Orleans Pelicans’ Stray Moves
The New Orleans Pelicans did not receive a clear grade for their draft night decisions, in which they traded up to choose Maryland center Derik Queen. While Queen was given an A- as a single player for his great hand skills and play making ability, it was the issue of team fit with Zion Williamson and other non shoot out players which raised issues related to the teams’ spacing.
Portland Trail Blazers Surprise with Hansen Yang
The night’s big surprise was the Portland Trail Blazers who went and picked Chinese prospect Hansen Yang 16th overall which they got graded a C for that move which analysts called a “swing of epic proportions”. Although the 19 year old center put up great numbers in the Chinese Basketball Association, his selection out of what was expected left many confused.
NBA Draft Grades: Late First Round Pick Out
Miami Heat May Have Found Their Franchise Player
The Miami Heat did very well to draft Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis with the 20th overall pick—experts had high praise for that choice which saw a future star point guard acquired so late in the first round. Jakucionis’ skill set and basketball IQ were seen as the exactly what Miami was looking for in a player to develop in their system.
Charlotte Hornets Strike Gold Again
The Charlotte Hornets did what was great on draft night by taking in UConn’s Liam McNeeley at the 29th overall pick which they got an A for that which analysts called a steal. With his proven production and shooting skills McNeeley was one of the draft’s best values which has put him at projection of a 10+ year NBA career.
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NBA Draft Grades: Social Media Response and Fan Reaction
In the 2025 NBA Draft which saw great social media response we had fans and analysts sharing in the coverage all night. When it was announced that Cooper Flagg had been chosen we saw Mavs fans react with celebration—they had been dealing with months of criticism which had followed the Luka Dončić trade. The American Airlines Center which was filled with “Fire Nico” chants transformed into a party once Flagg’s name was put forth.
Ace Bailey’s choice by Utah went viral on social media which in turn had many fans question the draft of a player that reports says didn’t want to be drafted. The situation put into focus the issue of player preference versus what is best for the team in today’s NBA draft.
Dylan Harper went in as a favorite which is a far cry from how things were before his arrival—we saw that with the pre existing mural and fan interest in him. Also to boot the Harper family legacy lived on in his selection which sees him follow in the feet of dad Ron Harper and brother Ron Harper Jr.
NBA Draft Grades: Winners and Losers Report
Draft Night Winners
The Dallas Mavericks were the stand out team of the night which saw them land Cooper Flagg and also secured the lottery with only 1.8% odds which they did. Also the Phoenix Suns did in well for getting Duke center Khaman Maluach at No. 10, they filled a key need with what is very talented long term prospect out of that draft class.
The San Antonio Spurs added Harper to their young core which is a piece in what many think of as the base for another championship run. The Miami Heat did very well in selecting Jakucionis which may have them a franchise cornerstone in the 20s.
Draft Night Losers
The New Orleans Pelicans came under fire for what was perceived to be poor trade decisions and bad roster building which included the choice of multiple non shooters which surrounded the star player Zion Williamson. Also the Portland Trail Blazers’ choice of Hansen Yang was a large reach and may have done better to draft more proven talents.
Several reports also noted that which teams turned to what performed in the workouts as against game film also saw push back from those which prefer a more conservative approach to identifying talent.
In 2025 NBA Draft’s we see a night of high stake decisions which will play out for years to come in the league. Some choices which may be the difference between success and failure for a franchise are put forward, while others are risky bets. As these young players begin their pro careers it will be up to time to see if the grades given out that draft night were accurate in which players they identified as future stars or not.
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