NBA Draft 2025 Live Tracker: Updates & Grades For Every Pick In Round 1

The 2025 NBA Draft is here and Basketball Insiders will have you covered from start to finish of the first round.

This year’s draft class has been highly touted for a couple years now, and their moment in the spotlight has arrived. The workouts are complete, as are the interviews. Now, it’s time to sit back and bear the fruit of all that labor.

Hang tight right here while we grade every pick live as it comes in. We’ll let you know the scoop on why or why not the pick makes sense. There aren’t expected to be any surprises with the first two picks but what about after that?

Will Ace Bailey’s puzzling pre-draft strategy pay off? How much has Cedric Coward and Joan Beringer’s stock really risen? We’re about to find out very shortly.

No. 1: Dallas Mavericks Select Cooper Flagg

What a shocker. The worst-kept secret since the draft lottery is out, as the Mavs picked Flagg first overall. Now, the hard part begins for general manager Nico Harrison. How long will he keep Flagg around?

Jokes aside, Flagg will come in with high expectations and look to contribute immediately alongside Anthony Davis. The Mavs will aim to stay in the playoff hunt through January or February, when Kyrie Irving is expected to return from a torn ACL. With those three players in tow, Dallas will hope to push for a deep playoff run.

Grade: A

No. 2: San Antonio Spurs Select Dylan Harper

There was some speculation the Spurs would at least listen to offers from Philadelphia for an exchange involving the third pick. Ultimately, the clear-cut second-best player in the Draft finds a new home in San Antonio.

Harper joins a busy backcourt, with Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and newly acquired De’Aaron Fox as likely starters. It should allow Harper the opportunity to ease into the NBA, but the Spurs also have playoff expectations this season.

Grade: A

No. 3: Philadelphia 76ers Select VJ Edgecombe

Edgecombe has been moving up draft boards over the last couple weeks, and this seemed the likely pick as long as the Sixers didn’t trade it.

With Quentin Grimes a restricted free agent, this gives Philadelphia a bit of security in the backcourt and Edgecombe should be a solid fit. The Sixers have been lacking in depth and if Tyrese Maxey is indeed alongside Grimes in the backcourt, Edgecombe will provide real pop off the bench.

Grade: A

No. 4: Charlotte Hornets Select Kon Knueppel

Knueppel has been viewed as a safe pick who has what should be a reliable floor and perhaps not a high ceiling.

I’m not a fan of this pick for Charlotte. He will slot in beside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller as a very good shooter, but there isn’t enough off the bounce or on the defensive end for me. The braver move would’ve been to bring in Khaman Maluach, as center is also a position of need. More importantly, defense is a huge need.

Grade: D

No. 5: Utah Jazz Select Ace Bailey

Bailey and his team seemed to be doing everything possible to go to a very specific couple of destinations. He did not get his wish.

Utah has decided to take the best talent available. There is no questioning the talent but there are certainly doubts over his mindset and approach. The Jazz needed to take this type of swing. Now, it’s about how they can unearth Bailey’s huge upside.

Grade: B+

No. 6: Washington Wizards Select Tre Johnson

Johnson can and will score at the NBA level, there are little doubts over that. The Wizards’ young core now includes Johnson, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr.

There are vets in place with CJ McCollum and Marcus Smart to help bring them along, but this is still a team firmly in the rebuild phase. Washington finished 30th in offensive rating last season, so the only way is up.

Johnson could end up being a microwave scorer like Jordan Clarkson, so his defense will ultimately determine his ceiling.

Grade: B

No. 7: New Orleans Pelicans Select Jeremiah Fears

All signs were pointing toward Fears ending up with the Pelicans. It is certainly a position of need, despite the talent on hand.

It’s quite plausible the franchise trades Dejounte Murray when it fully embraces changes direction and Jordan Poole is a likely short-term solution as well.

Fears’ best trait is his ability to get into the paint and he loves to be in attack mode. If he can develop a jumper, there’s a potential star here.

Grade: A

No. 8: Brooklyn Nets Select Egor Demin

This is a logical pick for the Nets, even if it isn’t the biggest swing. Demin is the best passer in the class and the Nets don’t have a point guard.

Demin is a 6-foot-8 point guard, and he uses that size exceedingly well to find and create amazing passing angles. The jumper is going to be the biggest determining factor in whether he’s a decent bench rotation piece or a surefire starter.

Carter Bryant and Khaman Maluach would have also been worthwhile considerations here.

Grade: B

No. 9: Toronto Raptors Select Collin Murray-Boyles

Murray-Boyles is a solid prospect who plays hard, has versatility as a defender and competes on the interior.

On a team where his physical attributes and skills are surplus to the likes of Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and Jonathan Mogbo, it’s the fit in Toronto that’s most questionable.

The Raptors had a glaring need at the center position, with Khaman Maluach, Thomas Sorber and Derik Queen all on the board. They elected to pass on all of them.

Grade: D-

No. 10: Houston Rockets Select Khaman Maluach

First things first, the Kevin Durant trade that will be official July 6 means Maluach will then become a member of the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns had been adamant this offseason about the need to acquire a center and now they have one. Maluach will certainly need time to develop but his defensive ceiling is why he was destined to be a top-10 pick.

If Maluach can develop any kind of offensive polish, this could be a home run of a pick.

Grade: A

No. 11: Portland Trail Blazers Select Cedric Coward

Another trade has been reported. The Blazers are sending Coward to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for the No. 16 pick in this Draft, a 2028 first-round pick via the Orlando Magic and two second-rounders.

Coward has been the biggest riser in the draft class over the last several weeks. He has impressed with a terrific shooting stroke and 7-foot-2 wingspan. He has a wiry frame and will certainly need to bulk up to be a star at the NBA level.

For a Grizzlies organization that may be pivoting after the Desmond Bane trade, this is the right type of big swing.

Grade: A-

No. 12: Chicago Bulls Select Noa Essengue

The options here for the Bulls very much felt like Essengue, Thomas Sorber or Kasparas Jakucionis. Chicago elected to bet on the one with a higher ceiling.

Essengue has tantalizing length and mobility, but is rail thin. He may spend next season in Europe once again. There are shades of Pascal Siakam in the way he runs the floor. There’s a long way to go with the jumper, but his defense is encouraging.

This is a big swing that comes with a notable amount of risk as well.

Grade: B-

No. 13: Atlanta Hawks Select Derik Queen

And there’s yet another trade. The Hawks will trade Queen to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for the No. 23 pick and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick.

Queen will have to show that he can be at least a net neutral on the defensive end to have real impact at the NBA level. There is no questioning the offensive skill-set. He is a big man with guard skills. It’s rare to see someone his size with his mobility, handle and polish inside. There is no real outside jumper, though.

Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III are certainly the type of perimeter defenders who can help insulate him. The Pelicans must believe in him a lot.

Grade: C

No. 14: San Antonio Spurs Select Carter Bryant

It makes so much sense the Spurs selected Bryant. This is a player who projects to have a very solid floor as a three-and-D specialist but could also be more.

Bryant has a smooth shooting stroke, good athleticism and an NBA-ready body. His defense is his calling card. He can wreak havoc with his ability to generate deflections and steals.

Grade: A

No. 15: Oklahoma City Thunder Select Thomas Sorber

It was between Sorber and Joan Beringer at this spot for me. Sorber is certainly the more NBA-ready prospect, so it appears that’s what the Thunder opted for.

There’s a chance they would have gone for a big swing with Essengue or Coward if they were available but they’ve preferred solidity.

Sorber may not be great at any one aspect but he is a jack-of-all-trades big man. He’s got really good defensive instincts, offers a bit of playmaking and sprinkles in some inside scoring. He will have to improve his jumper and he doesn’t have strong athleticism.

There will be little pressure on Sorber joining the defending champions, which already tout a strong center room of Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams.

Grade: B

No. 16: Memphis Grizzlies Select Yang Hansen

Remember, this pick is going to the Blazers. This is without a doubt the biggest surprise thus far.

Yang Hansen is a 7-foot-2 big man who possesses a very unique skill-set. He can operate as an offensive hub and pick out cutters to the basket and 3-point line at will.

Hansen was projected to go in the second round, so the Blazers must feel very confident about his ceiling. Considering they already have Donovan Clingan in place, this feels a bit peculiar of a swing.

Grade: C-

No. 17: Minnesota Timberwolves Select Joan Beringer

This is a center pick that makes sense for the Wolves. They have an established big man in Rudy Gobert and also rely on Naz Reid for some small-ball center minutes.

Beringer needs time to develop and having the guidance of his fellow countryman Gobert is a bonus. Beringer is a long, lanky player with really good athleticism.

He runs the floor very well and despite starting to play basketball about five years ago, has already showcased an intriguing reading of the game.

Grade: B-

No. 18: Wizards Select Walter Clayton Jr.

Another trade! Clayton will head to the Jazz in exchange for No. 21 in this Draft and multiple second-round picks.

Utah has Isaiah Collier in place as the starting point guard and he isn’t really much of a perimeter shooting threat. That’s what Clayton Jr.’s biggest strength is expected to be. He can really score from the outside and facilitate as well.

Grade: C+

No. 19: Nets Select Nolan Traore

Brooklyn has decided to double down on point guards. After selecting Demin early, Traore joins the mix here. They are both very different players, Traore in more of a traditional role while also touting solid size like Demin.

He’s 6 feet 5 inches with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, brings a calming sense you want in a point guard and scores from the midrange as well. The 3-point shot will be a work in progress.

Grade: B-

No. 20: Miami Heat Select Kasparas Jakucionis

With the surprise pick earlier, you knew someone had to fall and that man is Jakucionis.

It’s not entirely shocking Jakucionis is the one to fall. There have been concerns emerging with regard to his ability to break down players off the bounce and if he’ll be able to consistently get his 3-point shot off at the NBA level.

Miami didn’t have much point guard depth, so this pick makes a lot of sense.

Grade: B+

No. 21: Utah Jazz Select Will Riley

Riley will head to the Wizards. He’s a small forward with good feel for the game who can make an impact on both sides of the floor. He will compete with Kyshawn George and Bilal Coulibaly for minutes.

Grabbing a player who’s supposed to have strong feel is never a bad thing.

Grade: B-

No. 22: Atlanta Hawks Select Drake Powell

Powell has been rising up draft boards and it is indeed a bit of a surprise to see him go this high.

As a result of the Durant trade, this pick actually belongs to the Nets. Brooklyn has now made three picks in the draft, adding to Demin and Traore.

It remains to be seen what happens with Cameron Johnson over the summer, so Powell provides a bit of insurance.

Grade: C+

No. 23: New Orleans Pelicans Select Asa Newell

This pick will go to Atlanta. Newell is a player who projects to defend very well but there are offensive gaps. The most enticing aspect of his game is the ability to defend the pick-and-roll as a big man — a high-priced commodity in today’s NBA.

He’s another long and athletic big who figures to need time to develop.

The Hawks will have Kristaps Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu, so there’s no early pressure on Newell, even if Atlanta is aiming for a playoff spot.

Grade: C-

No. 24: Oklahoma City Thunder Select Nique Clifford

Clifford will be traded to the Sacramento Kings. He gives the team a hard-nosed, mature individual for the shooting guard position.

At 6 feet 6 inches with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, he’s got good size for his position and has a reliable 3-point stroke. The Kings may be on the verge of moving on from Malik Monk and DeMar DeRozan, so there could well be opportunity on the way.

The Thunder were happy to offload the pick.

Grade: B+

No. 25: Orlando Magic Select Jase Richardson

Richardson fell down boards after the Draft Combine because of his size and not having a clear position. He plays like a combo guard but is just 6 feet tall.

He certainly has scoring pop but it all comes down to whether he can establish a position for himself. One thing the Magic need is scoring, so they’ll bank on the defense around him making it easier to get off his game. He won’t be expected to contribute right away either.

Grade: C

No. 26: Nets Select Ben Saraf

Another big point guard! Demin, Traore and now, Saraf. This does seem like a bit of surplus but Brooklyn also has most of its roster to fill.

It is a bit surprising the Nets didn’t opt for another position here.

Grade: D+

No. 27: Nets Select Danny Wolf

It appears the Nets are keeping all five of their first-round selections. There was speculation the picks were acquired with the purpose of trying to sneak into the top five of the Draft, but that obviously didn’t materialize.

Wolf is a big man with point guard skills but he didn’t have much creation without screens. The physicality of the NBA may provide further problems and explains his slide.

Perhaps, being in tears as he watched himself slide will be the type of bitter pill that will spur him onto bigger things.

Grade: B

No. 28: Boston Celtics Select Hugo Gonzalez

As the Celtics pivot, this is a solid pick of someone who has professional, as well as international, experience with Spain.

Gonzalez is a good athlete and has decent two-way potential. As with players of his ilk from Europe, he plays within himself and for his team.

Grade: B+

No. 29: Phoenix Suns Select Liam McNeeley

McNeeley slid quite a bit over the last couple of weeks, so it’s no surprise to see him selected this late in the Draft.

He did a little bit of everything at UConn but will possibly find the athleticism and physicality of the NBA a lot to handle.

In yet another trade, McNeeley is headed to Charlotte.

Grade: B-

No. 30: Los Angeles Clippers Select Yanic Konan Niederhauser

He is the inaugural first-round pick in Penn State men’s basketball history. This is a project pick and the type of swing you take at this stage.

Niederhauser is a long, athletic big man from Switzerland with real shot-blocking potential.

The Clippers, of course, have this pick because the Thunder had swap rights.

Grade: C+