The long build-up to the NBA Draft is behind us, and the pomp and circumstance of the league-changing night has arrived. 30 of the soon-to-be rookies will have their professional paths decided and learn which organization they will represent. Hope will be in the air for the NBA’s upcoming talent pool and teams alike as every organization looks to catapult their franchise in the right direction.
Plenty of player props are offered on DraftKings Sportsbook, depending on your state’s legality.
As the draft unfolds in front of us, here are my live grades for each respective draft pick as the 2025 NBA Draft gets underway. This article will continually be updated as selections are made throughout the night.
2025 NBA Live Draft Grades
Pick 1: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks, A
A pick that could have been penciled in since before we knew who was making it, there is no surprise that Cooper Flagg is the first overall pick. The Dallas Mavericks received a lifeline as a franchise by climbing to the number one pick in the lottery following a turbulent season that maddened the fan base. Flagg is the right pick for whichever team made this selection. In contrast to many number one picks, you don’t have to commit to a specific brand of basketball, and he can fit with any four other players around him. He is just 18 years old and reclassified to play college basketball this year. Despite this, he looked like a man amongst boys, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game during his lone season at Duke. Flagg earned AP Player of the Year, Wooden Award, ACC Player of the Year, and All-American honors, with the best surely yet to come.
If you want to split hairs, there are some fair doubts about Flagg ever being capable of being the number one scoring option on a true contender. But he impacts the game in so many ways that this almost doesn’t matter. It sounds crazy to say about a player with as impressive outputs as he has, but the stats don’t tell the full story of his on-court impact. The Dallas Mavericks have hung their hats on the mantra that “Defense Wins Championships,” and Flagg will help them chase this hypothesis.
Unsurprisingly, Cooper Flagg held -20,000 odds of being the number one pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Pick 2: Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs, B+
After weeks of trade rumors surrounding the likes of Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the San Antonio Spurs elected to sit at the second pick and draft Dylan Harper. The Rutgers product is the fairly consensus second-best player in the class, with plenty looking at this year as a “two-player draft.” Harper stands 6-foot-5 with a feel for the game well beyond his years. He averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game during his one-and-done season. Son of five-time NBA Champion Ron Harper, the shooting percentages will be the swing skill for the 19-year-old. He shot just 33.3% from beyond the arc this season and had some sporadic misses beyond what you hope to see from a shooter. With the barrier of entry for star guards so high around the NBA, this is worth keeping in mind. But there are plenty of fair gripes with Rutgers’ system and the talent he had surrounding him. There are some intriguing off-ball flashes he showed in small doses, which are especially valuable as he joins a team with De’Aaron Fox and Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. The fit questions knock this grade down a bit, but I commend the Spurs for seeing the long view and adding the best talent now while figuring the rest out down the line. They accomplished this by selecting Dylan Harper.
Heading into the draft, Harper held -8000 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook of being selected with the No. 2 pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Pick 3: V.J. Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers, B-
The Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in an interesting spot as a franchise with over $100 million annually committed to Joel Embiid and Paul George over the next three seasons while quietly turning the page to the youth movement led by Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain. With the East as wide open as ever, an ideal pick provides win-now impact with a future to grow, and they accomplished this by selecting V.J. Edgecombe. The Baylor product averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 34.0% from beyond the three-point arc. Edgecombe will be an elite athlete even by NBA standards and will look to stake his claim as the best perimeter defender on the Sixers roster on day one. His upside may not be high enough to be a true franchise cornerstone in the long term, but count on Edgecombe making an impact right from day one.
If he can improve his handle, the ceiling conversations could change, and it is fair to assess that he showed more layers to his game when representing the Bahamas in the Olympic Qualifiers. The Big 12 Freshman of the Year checks all the proper boxes from a personality and professionalism standpoint and is the lone prospect the Sixers brought in for a workout. This is the right decision to attempt to split the timelines and benefit both sides of the conversation, and Philadelphia’s outlook for this season is far more dependent on the availability and level of play from Embiid and George. But, expect Edgecombe to carve out a clear niche for himself on this team and be the exact type of defensive player that Nick Nurse salivates about having in his system.
Leading into the draft, Edgecombe held -900 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to be selected with the third pick.
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Pick 4: Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets, B+
Perhaps the safest non-Cooper Flagg prospect in the draft, the Charlotte Hornets select Kon Knueppel with the No. 4 pick. Standing 6-foot-5 with the highest IQ off-ball movement in the draft, Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 40.6% on three-point attempts and leading the ACC with a 91.4% free-throw percentage. He showcased some intriguing upside when Flagg was sidelined and will be a low-usage guy that can fit with anyone on the floor. His usage rate went from 20.9% to 23.1% when Flagg was off the floor with his assist rate growing from 12.6% to 23.7%, hinting at some intriguing upside as a passer.
Despite concerns about his athleticism and defense, he tested well in workouts and was effective defensively at Duke. While having Flagg and Khaman Maluach behind him is as great of a safety net as a player could ask for, the results were fairly strong. Knueppel processes the game at a rapid rate and plays with an admirable physicality and intensity. He can fit alongside the strong talent already collected in Charlotte and will not need the ball much to be effective. A good pick to continue building the culture they desire, and another example of the Hornets moving in the right direction as an organization.
Knueppel held -550 odds of being selected with the fourth pick on DraftKings Sportsbook before the draft.
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Pick 5: Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz, B-
The most polarizing player in the draft hears his name called with the fifth overall pick and will make his way to Utah to represent the Jazz. A strange pre-draft process in which Ace Bailey’s team did not publicly work out for any team, the only American prospect to do so, and steered their way to his desired destination, where he could walk into a clear day-one role. Don’t let this overshadow what he can do on the floor with Bailey coming off a one-and-done season at Rutgers in which he averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. Standing 6-foot-7.5, Bailey is a tough shot-maker who will get a chance to grow into the franchise centerpiece.
Despite the strange pre-draft process, you will hear plenty around Bailey quick to rave about who he is as a person and teammate. There will be some serious things to work through from a shot selection and decision-making standpoint, with the 18-year-old also needing to add some significant weight to his frame. Recording just 1.3 assists per game and a negative assist/turnover ratio is discouraging, but the talent level is clear. Utah is still sorting through its franchise cornerstones, and Bailey has a chance to jump right to the front of the line. This is a lottery-ticket type of pick in which there is a high variance for who he will end up being at the NBA level. Still, the Jazz are in a spot where they can be patient in his development and may end up being rewarded in the long haul.
Bailey held +425 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook of being selected fifth before the draft.
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Pick 6: Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards, B+
The Washington Wizards have assembled a youthful core of high-level athletes and defenders. They have now found the guy to pour in points to complement this. Tre Johnson averaged 19.9 points per game during his lone year at Texas while adding 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The 6-foot-5 guard shot 39.7% from beyond the three-point line and can score in a variety of ways. Texas ran its offense by creating looks for the SEC Rookie of the Year, with him capable of shooting off screens, pin-downs, off-the-dribble, and any other way he can possibly get a shot off.
You do not break scoring records set by Kevin Durant by accident, and Johnson did exactly this during his brief time in college. His defense leaves plenty to be desired with both motor and skillset a problem. However, he has a near 6-foot-11 wingspan that should translate down the line, and Washington has the infrastructure to make up for these shortcomings. Don’t rule out him being the leading scorer on the Wizards soon, especially following the Jordan Poole trade, and expect Washington to have a clear plan to have him playing a significant role in the offense.
Before the draft, Tre Johnson held +600 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to be selected with the sixth pick.
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Pick 7: Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans, C-
The New Orleans Pelicans are in a difficult spot as a franchise with Zion Williamson playing just 214 of a possible 492 games through his first six years in the league. This pick suggests a long-term view with Jeremiah Fears being one of the youngest players in the draft and not set to turn 19 until October. During his lone season at Oklahoma, Fears logged the highest usage rate of any freshman in the country, and both good and bad came from this. He averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 3.4 turnovers per game. Fears shot just 28.4% from beyond the three-point arc, and this will need to improve for there to be a role in the NBA for him.
He stands 6-foot-2.5 with a 6-foot-5 wingspan. To his credit, Fears improved as the season went on and averaged 22.4 points and 5.4 assists with just 2.4 turnovers per game over the final eight games. He is not afraid of the moment, and he is a blast to watch when he gets downhill and attacks while showcasing a willingness to pull up from NBA range throughout the year. Fears is a solid long-term bet and could be the eventual point guard of the future for the Pelicans if things fully click with him, but keep expectations tempered in the short term.
Leading into the draft, Fears held +650 odds of being the number seven pick in the draft on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Pick 8: Egor Demin, Brooklyn Nets, C
The Brooklyn Nets are in a spot as a franchise where they can scratch a lottery ticket. They did exactly this by selecting Egor Demin with the eighth overall pick. The Russian is a terrific passer of the ball who rewards surrounding cutters and has a 6-foot-9 frame. However, he had some struggles during his lone year at BYU, averaging 10.6 points, 5.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds while shooting just 41.2% from the field and 27.3% from beyond the three-point arc. He is a confident shooter, but simply does not connect at a high enough rate for this to be viewed as a positive at this stage of the game.
If his shooting clicks, there is a chance the offense can fully funnel through Demin, but I am skeptical of this occurring. For this style of player to be fully effective, you must leverage your scoring to create passes for others, and Demin’s processing typically occurs in the inverse. He also leaves plenty to be desired on the defensive end despite his size and frame with some struggles to move his feet on the perimeter. It is fair for Brooklyn to want to take the big swing, but this feels incredibly early for Demin to be coming off the board.
Leading up to the draft Demin held +1200 odds of being selected with the number eight pick and +220 odds of being drafted in the top 10.
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Pick 9: Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors, B+
The Toronto Raptors stumbled onto exactly their “type” by selecting Collin Murray-Boyles with the ninth pick in this year’s draft. The South Carolina product fits the same archetype of versatile athletes that they have continually collected. Murray-Boyles spent two seasons in college improving his outputs to 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game this year. Standing 6-foot-6.5 with a wingspan over 7-feet, expect his biggest impact to be on the defensive end. His shooting is a huge work in progress, with him shooting just 9-for-34 from beyond the three-point arc this season after going 0-for-5 his freshman year.
Typically, a non-shooting semi-big man would scare me, but Toronto has had no issues making this work in recent years with Scottie Barnes a success story. Murray-Boyles has some of the quickest hands in the draft and will be a disruptor on this side of the ball. He plays with immense strength and physicality, and this is the exact system he should be thrilled to have a chance to grow in. The Raptors are still sorting through their full vision as a franchise, but Murray-Boyles will add to their intriguing defensive potential.
Before the draft, Collin Murray-Boyles held +1500 of being selected with the ninth pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Pick 10: Khaman Maluach, Phoenix Suns (via Rockets), A-
The Phoenix Suns have been starved for interior production for several seasons, with this being as problematic as some of their underperformance by their stars. But they addressed this by trading for Mark Williams and selecting Khaman Maluach with the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft. The Duke product first picked up a basketball at age 13 and is still raw in his development, but he measures at over seven feet tall with nearly 7-foot-7 wingspan and a 9-foot-6 standing reach. During his lone season at Duke, Maluach averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in just 21.2 minutes per contest. He has flashed some intriguing touch, connecting on 76.6% of his free throw attempts, and shot 4-for-16 on three-point attempts.
Maluach expanded his range as the season progressed, and there are layers to his game that he has not yet discovered. Defense will always be his calling card, so expect Maluach to eventually grow into the foundation of a high-level defense for the team. He will be capable of doing the basic center skills from day one and there is plenty more he can add moving forward. Expectations should be tempered in the short term, but Phoenix has found a long-term solution to its interior problems.
Leading into the draft, Maluach held +1000 odds of being the No. 10 pick.
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Pick 11: Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies, C+
Perhaps the biggest riser of the entire pre-draft process, Cedric Coward was playing at the Division III level in 2021-22 and passed up an offer from Duke to remain in the NBA Draft. He was rewarded by being selected with the 11th pick and will be heading to the Grizzlies. Standing over 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Coward shot 38.8% on three-point attempts across his time in college with a high release point on his jump shot that will translate. Coward also connected on 40.7% of his catch-and-shoot opportunities from deep. He shot an absurd 76% at the rim across his three years in college and can put the ball on the floor to attack a closeout.
The biggest concern will be the lack of experience against top competition with his three seasons of Division I experience coming with Eastern Washington and Washington State. He also did not exactly look the part when facing some of the higher-ranked teams. There will be growing pains, but he is regarded as one of the highest-character players in this class, and there is a void to fill in Memphis following the Desmond Bane trade. The hit rate for wings with this frame and skillset is high, and there is room for him to grow with the Grizzlies. There is a clear pathway for Coward becoming an impactful rotation wing as long as he is ready for the leap in competition at the NBA level, but there likely will be a somewhat steep learning curve.
Coward held +600 odds of being selected with the 11th pick on DraftKings Sportsbook before the draft.
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Pick 12, Noa Essengue, Chicago Bulls, B-
The Chicago Bulls took a swing by adding versatile forward Noa Essengue with the 12th overall pick. Standing 6-foot-10 and a fluid mover, Essengue has the positionless ability that appeals to every team. At 18 years old, he has shown some intriguing flashes and averaged 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game this season with Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany. His high-level athleticism especially stood out against this level of competition and in the style of basketball that is played in Germany. This is also a strong statistical profile at the professional level based on his age, and keep in mind that he logged just 23.7 minutes per game.
Essengue gets to the line at a high level and logged an impressive 5.6 free-throw attempts per game, which is nearly two attempts higher than the next most on the team. There will be some growing pains as a shooter, with him connecting on just 29.4% of his three-point attempts on a low sample size. Essengue fits the up-tempo style of play the Bulls are looking to commit to and there is a pathway to him making an immediate impact on this Bulls team.
Before the draft, Essengue held +650 odds of being selected with the 12th overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Pick 13: Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans, C-
A polarizing player in this draft class, Maryland’s Derik Queen is heading to The Big Easy, where he will look to carve out a role on the Pelicans. The talent level is clear, but his fit within an NBA role is a question. Queen averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while becoming a hero during the NCAA Tournament with a game winner over Colorado State to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year stands 6-foot-10 and is a good passer for a big man. He is an older freshman, set to turn 20 in December, but has some intriguing touch and is crafty in his attack. While his biggest supporters would argue he can be the hub of an offense in the halfcourt, he averaged just 1.9 assists per game with a negative assist-to-turnover ratio and had 19 games with one or fewer assists this year. Queen also cannot space the floor at this stage of the game, with him shooting just 7-for-35 (20.0%) this season from beyond the three-point arc. He has a knack for getting rebounds in contested areas, but his overall fit is a huge question mark to me. Queen struggles when asked to guard on the perimeter and will not be an elite rim protector at the NBA level. The fit alongside Zion Williamson brings on further questions, and it will be interesting to see what the Pelicans’ plan is from here. While you can make the case that this is good value for getting Queen at this stage of the draft, New Orleans is near the top of the list of worst organizational fits I would have listed for him.
Before the draft, Queen held +2800 odds of being the 13th pick, with him also holding -250 odds of being a top 10 pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Pick 14: Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs, B+
The San Antonio Spurs are looking to catapult into contention and made the right pick to do this by selecting Arizona’s Carter Bryant. A clear fit for the three-and-D archetype of player that has become increasingly important in today’s NBA, Bryant knows exactly who he is as a basketball player. The 19-year-old came off the bench for Arizona in his lone year of college and posted modest statistical totals of just 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks in 19.3 minutes per contest. Bryant stands 6-foot-6.5 with a nearly 7-foot wingspan and has great instincts as a cutter. He shot 37.1% from beyond the three-point arc on 2.8 perimeter shots per night, with 59.7% of his shot volume coming from beyond the arc. He has a lower ceiling than plenty of this class, but the Spurs need floor spacing and Bryant can provide this. Bryant has been impactful in a low usage role and makes his minutes count on both sides of the ball. Expect him to slot into the Spurs wing rotation, and there could be more upside than he put on display in his lone season of college if he gets a bit more freedom.
Carter Bryant held +550 odds of being the 14th overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook before the draft.
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Pick 15: Thomas Sorber, Oklahoma City Thunder, A-
On the heels of the first NBA Championship in franchise history, the Oklahoma City Thunder can seemingly do no wrong. They nailed their 15th overall selection by drafting Georgetown’s Thomas Sorber. Standing 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, Sorber averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. There are some old-school elements to his game, but Sorber is still a fit in the modern NBA. He is an incredible processor of the game on both sides of the floor and can see plays happen on the defensive end before they occur. Sorber’s shot is a work in progress, with him shooting just 6-for-37 (16.2%) from beyond the three-point arc. But expect his calling card to be on the defensive end, with him potentially the Isaiah Hartenstein replacement in the future and a long-term pairing with Chet Holmgren. The Thunder have an abundance of talent, and it will be competitive to crack the rotation, but count on Sorber to make the most of his opportunities whenever he gets them.
Before the draft, Sorber held +700 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook of being selected with the 15th overall pick.
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Pick 16: Hansen Yang, Portland Trail Blazers, F
The first F of this draft goes to the Portland Trail Blazers for walking away with Hansen Yang with the 16th overall pick. Yang was viewed mostly as a fringe first-round pick coming into the draft, and this is already a position of strength on Portland’s roster. With Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams still on the roster and a first-round pick used on Donovan Clingan last year, this is a bit of a head-scratcher. Looking at Yang, there are some things to be encouraged about. In his second season with Qingdao in the Chinese Basketball Association, Yang averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. Standing 7-foot-1 with a fairly filled-out frame, Yang is a traditional center who relies on his interior production and has a good passing feel. He did shoot 16-for-48 (33.3%) from beyond the three-point arc, but this sample size wasn’t large enough to command respect from opposing defenses and his 64.7% free-throw rate in his two seasons as a professional is not overly encouraging. Yang struggles when he is asked to guard in space, and the pace of the NBA has a real chance of overwhelming him. The skills are there, but the 20-year-old is a tough fit in today’s NBA, and there will have to be a specific style of defense when he is on the floor. I expected to be writing about Yang as a good value pick in the later stages, but this is too high and a poor overall fit in Portland.
Before the draft, Yang held +115 odds of being a first-round pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Pick 17: Joan Beringer, Minnesota Timberwolves, C+
Another big man off the board at 17 as the Minnesota Timberwolves walk away with 6-foot-11 Joan Beringer, originally born in France. He will enter the NBA with a decorated overseas resume that includes winning the Slovenian League title and the Slovenian Cup during his time with Cedevita Olimpija. He stands 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. Beringer played just 18.3 minutes per game this season and averaged 4.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He is an explosive athlete for his size and plays with a high motor. When he is at his best, his presence is all over the defensive end, and he led the ABA League in blocks last season despite the limited minutes. Beringer has a wide catch radius and is successful in dunking just about anything in his vicinity when it is up for grabs. He has little touch and should not be asked to do much outside of the basic center skills of blocking shots and catching lobs, at least in the short term. Berginer shot just 56.5% at the free throw line across his two seasons as a professional, which brings in the concern of teams willingly putting him on the line. But there is a clear path to this still being effective in this minimized role, and Minnesota may be preparing for life beyond Rudy Gobert. This isn’t a bad spot for Beringer with Gobert being a guy he should be looking to follow in his footsteps, but a bit higher off the board than he probably should be going.
Joan Beringer held +900 odds of being the 17th pick before the draft on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Pick 18: Walter Clayton Jr, Utah Jazz, B-
A pure bucket-getter who helped his NBA Draft stock more than anyone in the NCAA Tournament as he led Florida to a National Championship, Walter Clayton Jr lands with the Jazz with the 18th pick. The 6-foot-2 guard is capable of getting red-hot and does not need much space to get his shot off. He averaged 18.3 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 38.6% from beyond the three-point arc on 7.8 perimeter shots per game. There is also a bit more to be intrigued by as a playmaker than was consistently on display at Florida, where he operated with a score-first mindset. He will likely always have his defensive concerns, but Utah needs scoring, and Clayton Jr can provide this. His NBA role may end up being more of a scoring spark off the bench, but there will be plenty of shots for Clayton Jr in the short term, and he will be worth the price of admission in Utah.
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Pick 19: Nolan Traore, Brooklyn Nets, B+
With their second pick in the first round, the Brooklyn Nets selected Nolan Traore with the 19th overall pick. Attacking the international market once again, Traore is a do-everything guard with great size and athleticism. Standing 6-foot-3, Traore thrives in transition with an elite burst that will translate at the NBA level. He averaged 11.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 1.7 rebounds across his 22.6 minutes per game. His three-point shot will be a swing skill with the 19-year-old shooting just 30.4% from beyond the arc on 4.2 perimeter shots per game. Traore’s work rate and motor are notable, and he is physical in the way he attacks the rim with an array of finishes he relies on. While he has gotten some positive results, his defensive technique needs to be cleaned up as he can be a bit too overactive on this side of the floor. Expect the playmaking to translate and for there to be a chance that Traore ends up the primary guard of the Nets moving forward.
Before the draft, Nolan Traore held +600 odds of being the 19th overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Pick 20: Kasparas Jakucionis, Miami Heat, A-
The biggest faller of the draft to this point, the Miami Heat got a steal in Kasparas Jakucionis. Born in Lithuania, Jakucionis originally played professionally for Barcelona before taking a one-and-done season at Illinois. Across his 31.8 minutes per game, he averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Jakucionis shot just 31.8% from beyond the arc on 5.2 perimeter shots per game and has a case for the best playmaker in this draft. He had some struggles turning the ball over, recording the second-highest turnover percentage of the 164 players to attempt more than 150 pick-and-rolls this season. Jakucionis plays at his own pace and can play both on and off the ball. Miami has some bigger picture questions to answer regarding their roster, but he leaves them with some flexibility and could be the primary playmaker depending on how the roster shakes out. If he can improve his shooting and clean up the turnovers, there is a pathway to Jakucionis being the lead guard of the future for the Heat.
Kasparas Jakucionis held a draft position of over/under 11.5 picks on DraftKings Sportsbook before the draft.
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Pick 21: Will Riley, Washington Wizards, B+
Will Riley should be viewed as one of the safer selections in this year’s draft. Standing 6-foot-8 and listed at 185 pounds, Riley has a slender frame but is not afraid of contact. He averaged 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 32.6% from beyond the three-point arc during his one-and-done season at Illinois. The 19-year-old showed flashes throughout the season but especially came on strong in the late stages of the season, averaging 15.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 34.4% from beyond the three-point arc over the final 15 games. He is a better shooter than the raw numbers fully show, with his high school numbers backing this up. Riley needs to add some weight, and the shooting numbers need to grow at the NBA level, but expect him to fill in as a nice floor spacing wing with a bit more to him than this. There are some doubts about him on the defensive end, largely due to his slender frame, and registering just nine steals and 10 total blocks all season isn’t a great sign. Even still, there is enough there offensively that Riley should be able to fill a minimized role right away and expect there to be a higher ceiling than some are acknowledging. Washington needs help scoring the basketball, and count on Riley to help supply this.
Will Riley held +600 odds of being the 21st pick in the draft on DraftKings Sportsbook before the draft kicked off.
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22: Drake Powell, Brooklyn Nets, B+
A high-pedigree prospect who underwhelmed during his one-and-done season at North Carolina, Drake Powell’s draft stock was a bit of a mystery leading into the night. The Brooklyn Nets ended up being the team to take a chance by selecting him with the 22nd pick. Powell was the 11th-ranked recruit in last year’s recruiting class per 247 Sports, but never truly found his footing at the collegiate level. Across his 25.6 minutes of action, Powell averaged 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 37.9% from beyond the three-point arc. Standing 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot wingspan, Powell projects as a pugnacious defender. He has not shown much as a creator and is dependent on the surrounding playmaking around him, but is a good cutter and can space the floor. The 19-year-old also shot 44% on guarded three-pointers this season. The team-wide issues at North Carolina likely prevented us from seeing the best version of Powell as a basketball player this season, and Brooklyn will seek to find it.
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23: Asa Newell, Atlanta Hawks, B+
A Montverde product who played on the same high school team as Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen, and Liam McNeeley, there were hopes that there were layers to Asa Newell’s game that he could showcase without such a star-studded frontcourt. This did not truly prove to be the case during his lone season at Georgia, with Newell still a bit of a work-in-progress at this stage of his development. Even still, he averaged 15.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals this season and cracked the SEC All-Freshman team. Standing 6-foot-9 with a wingspan just shy of 7-feet, Newell is one of the best offensive rebounders in this class. He struggles to space the floor, connecting on just 29.2% of his three-point attempts, but still hoisted 2.7 perimeter shots per game. He is a good lob catcher and has nice instincts as a roller and cutter, but he projects as a bit of a tweener as either a big wing or a smaller big man. His activity and athleticism can pop at times, and he is a fluid mover all over the floor. While the positional concerns are legitimate, Atlanta has found an identity surrounding Trae Young with high-level, athletic defenders. Newell fits this vision and should be right in the mix for minutes.
Asa Newell held +900 odds of being the 23rd pick before the draft on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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24: Nique Clifford, Sacramento Kings, A+
After entering the day without a draft pick, the Sacramento Kings traded their way into the first round and walked away with an impact talent in Nique Clifford. A do-everything guard who is coming off his fifth season of college basketball, in which he averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 37.7% from beyond the three-point arc at Colorado State. Clifford is among the highest IQ players in this draft who can fill a variety of roles. Standing 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, Clifford is a solid defender who is effective at getting in passing lanes and should be able to guard above his size at the NBA level. While being 23 years old is often looked at as a blemish on prospects, Clifford will be an impact player from day one and should immediately find a role on this Sacramento team. He is the type of player who you can drop on any roster, and he will make an impact on winning. Don’t expect him to have any trouble with this on the Kings.
Before the draft, Nique Clifford held +450 odds of being selected at the 24th pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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25. Jase Richardson, Orlando Magic, A+
Another huge draft steal falls to the 25th pick as the Orlando Magic selected Michigan State’s Jase Richardson. The 19-year-old averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game during his one-and-done season while shooting 41.2% from beyond the three-point arc. If he had chosen another college, there likely would be even more impressive statistical outputs. But Richardson followed in his father’s footsteps to go to Michigan State, where Tom Izzo made him earn every minute on the floor. Richardson started just 15 of the 36 games and averaged 25.3 minutes per game. But as the season continued on, it became clear he was the best offensive option on Michigan State with a skillset that works on and off the ball. He was picking up some lottery momentum, but measured at under 6-foot-1 at the combine, limiting his NBA role. The Magic took a huge step in addressing their 31.8% team three-point percentage by trading for Desmond Bane, but they still have work to do. Richardson is another great step in this direction, and there are minutes available at the guard spot for him right away. Expect this to be a name we circle back to in re-drafts to come, and for Richardson to vastly outplay his draft slot of the 25th pick.
Jase Richardson held +425 odds of being the 25th pick on DraftKings Sportsbook before the draft.
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26. Ben Saraf, Brooklyn Nets, C+
With their final pick in the first round of the NBA Draft, the Brooklyn Nets went right back to the international market to select Ben Saraf. A teammate of the 12th-overall pick Noa Essengue at Ratiopharm Ulm, Saraf stands 6-foot-6 with a sweet lefty stroke and began his professional career at the age of 16. Across his 24.4 minutes of action this season, Saraf has averaged 12.8 points, 4.6 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. His efficiency needs to improve with the 19-year-old connecting on just 22.2% of his three-point shots. But he is one of the better passers in the draft class and does a nice job changing pace on the dribble to create separation. Saraf does not blow you away with his athleticism, but is effective with this stop-and-start, and he has shown some nice flashes with his off-ball movement that will be called on more at the NBA level. With the volume of picks they had in mind, Brooklyn seems content with bringing in plenty of talent and letting them compete it out. Don’t be surprised if Saraf finds himself in the mix quicker than the names taken ahead of him with maturity and feel to his game that is impressive for his age.
Ben Saraf held +2200 odds of being the 26th overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook before the draft with -105 odds of being selected in the first round.
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27. Danny Wolf, Brooklyn Nets, B
In their final pick of the first round, the Brooklyn Nets selected Michigan’s Danny Wolf as the last green-room invite in attendance. Standing a shade under 7-feet tall with legitimate point guard-like skills, Wolf is a bizarre collection of skills that can break a basketball brain. Michigan ran pick-and-rolls with two big men and Wolf serving as the ball-handler at a regular rate this season. The 21-year-old averaged 13.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 33.6% from beyond the three-point arc on 3.1 perimeter shots per game. This comes after he spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Yale where he averaged similar numbers in his final season. There is some level of concern with Wolf connecting on just 59.4% of his free throws this season, but he shot 71.7% the season before at Yale. He has an impressive touch and passing ability, even if there will be some concern on the defensive end. There likely will always be questions about what his best positional fit is and how to maximize Wolf’s skillset, but the talent level is clear, and he should be an immediate contributor.
Danny Wolf held +600 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook of being selected with the 26th pick before the draft.
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28. Hugo Gonzalez, Boston Celtics, C-
With the 28th pick in the draft, the Boston Celtics selected 6-foot-7 forward out of Spain, Hugo Gonzalez. His defensive motor will likely be his calling card at the NBA level, and he received limited opportunities at Real Madrid. Gonzalez played just 14.2 minutes per game this season and posted modest statistical outputs of 5.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game. To put this on a Per 36 scale, his averages would bump to 13.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, but this isn’t always an accurate route to evaluation. He projects as an NBA wing that should be able to guard multiple positions from day one. Gonzalez is a physical defender with a high level of activity, but also shot just 27.1% from beyond the three-point arc this season and has never shot above 30% in a professional season. This is a high-risk risk high-reward type of pick, but Boston is comfortable taking the swing. There are a lot of safer picks that would have been preferable in my mind, based on the uncertainty of next season.
Hugo Gonzalez held +1600 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to be the 28th pick coming into the draft on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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29. Liam McNeeley, Charlotte Hornets, B+
The final Montverde Academy product to be selected in the first round, Liam McNeeley is a bit limited in upside but has a clear vision for who he will be at the NBA level. The 6-foot-7 forward spent his one-and-done season at Connecticut, where he averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 31.7% from beyond the three-point line. While the three-point percentage in itself isn’t great, he shot 43.1% on stand-still catch-and-shoot three-pointers, with his 5-for-33 on pull-up opportunities weighing down his percentages this year. McNeeley is a bit limited athletically, but he sees the game well on the defensive end and should at least be passable on this side of the floor. Corey Kispert is a popular player comparison for McNeeley, and he should be able to slot in immediately as a complementary floor spacer in a low usage role. Beyond this, he showed some nice flashes as a pick-and-roll ball-handler and has a respectable in-between game with some floaters and push shots at his disposal. Charlotte is attempting to build a culture and McNeeley will be a step in this direction with a high character profile and a low usage role on the floor.
Liam McNeeley held +2500 odds of being the 29th overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook before the draft.
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30. Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Los Angeles Clippers, B-
The last pick concludes with Yanic Konan Niederhauser becoming the first ever Penn State player to hear his name called in the first round of the NBA Draft. Standing 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Niederhauser is nimble on his feet and can get up and down the floor well above what you would expect for his size. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at Northern Illinois before transferring to Penn State, where he averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. It was a bit of a surprise he remained in the draft class, but Niederhauser tore it up at the combine and in workouts, which shot him up draft boards. People around the Penn State program rave about him as a personality, and there are playmaking flashes that he has showcased in short doses. The 22-year-old is a long way from being a finished product, but he has some impressive footwork and great instincts as a weak-side shot blocker. He needs to clean up some foul issues, but this is a project big man who could follow in Ivica Zubac’s footsteps in the long term and should have no problem being spoon-fed shot opportunities from James Harden.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser held +750 odds of being the 30th pick on DraftKings Sportsbook before the NBA Draft and -105 odds of being a first-round pick.
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