2025 NBA Draft Grades: How did each team fare?

With the 2025 draft complete, theScore's Dane Belbeck and Chicco Nacion hand out initial grades for each team's incoming rookies.

The Hawks' grade was sealed even before they made a pick Wednesday thanks to one of the weirdest draft trades in recent memory. Atlanta somehow convinced the Pelicans to part with an unprotected first-round pick next year to move up 10 spots to No. 13. The same Pelicans that went 22-60 last year and posted the fourth-worst record in the league. A similar performance this year for New Orleans would gift the Hawks a top-five selection. Newell's energy on the offensive glass should make him an immediate contributor.

Boston is looking for an infusion of young, affordable talent after trading away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to cut down its payroll. Gonzalez is a big wing that can handle the rock and works extremely hard on the defensive end. However, his jumper will need to improve if he hopes to earn consistent playing time in Joe Mazzulla's 3-point-heavy shooting system. Facing some uncertainty at the center position, the Celtics added Kentucky big man Williams, who can protect the rim and create for his teammates.

Would you rather have five sets of $20 low-quality jeans that require constant replacing, or one $100 pair that maintains its condition for years? We know the Nets' answer after the club broke the NBA record by making five first-round picks on Wednesday. Demin and Traore are strong facilitators, but neither shoots better than 30% from beyond the arc - a serious concern for two perimeter players. However, clearly the Nets see the quintet as a long-term plan, given that Wolf is the only one over the age of 19.

The Hornets took Duke freshman Knueppel with the No. 4 pick. The 6-foot-7 wing gives the team a much-needed floor spacer and a secondary facilitator to take some of the playmaking duties off LaMelo Ball's plate. Charlotte later acquired the 29th selection from the Phoenix Suns and drafted UConn sharpshooter McNeeley. The Hornets addressed their defense in the second round with 3-and-D wing James and towering center Kalkbrenner, a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year winner.

This is a major bet on upside as Essengue just turned 18 in December. While he's very raw, the French big is a great athlete that should thrive in Chicago's transition-heavy attack. Olbrich is another big who is a project and likely multiple years away from making the jump to the NBA from Australia.

The Cavs waited a long time to make their pair of selections. Proctor played a key role in Duke's Final Four run this past season, averaging 12.4 points and knocking down 40.5% of his attempts from downtown. He'll quickly find a role off the bench if Cleveland can't retain Ty Jerome or Sam Merrill. The Cavs then took a flier on Senegal guard Niang with the No. 58 selection and will stash him with EuroLeague club Virtus Bologna in hopes of further developing him.

It's tough to grade the Mavericks given they already had the answer to the test in Flagg at No. 1. He's the best all-around prospect to enter the draft since Zion Williamson and should be the franchise cornerstone in Dallas for the next 10-15 years - provided a rogue GM doesn't decide to deal him to a conference rival in the prime of his career.

Detroit used its only draft pick on Tennessee star Lanier. The 6-foot-4 guard transferred to the Volunteers for his fifth collegiate campaign and didn't look out of place in the highly competitive SEC. He averaged 18 points and drilled the fourth-most triples (123) in the NCAA en route to earning the Jerry West Award as the top shooting guard in college basketball. Lanier's 3-point efficiency and ability to shoot off movement will complement Cade Cunningham's skills well.

Toohey is a well-rounded forward who can step back and keep the defense honest from beyond the arc. He'll have to add size to hold his own in the NBA, but he has the skill set to be a solid contributor off the bench. Richard brings some championship pedigree and 3-point shooting from Florida and could be a depth shooter in the second rotation for the Warriors.

Jones gives the Pacers a plug-and-play guard as they look to build on last season's Finals appearance. The Marquette product took the reins from Tyler Kolek and excelled in his first campaign running the point, posting the seventh-best assist-to-turnover ratio (3.17) and placing 16th in assists (200). With Tyrese Haliburton expected to miss all of next season, Jones gives Indiana another steady hand at the point.

Konan Niederhauser won't be a star, but athletic 7-footers who can run the floor aren't just lying around. Sanders is a massive point guard at 6-foot-9 who has a strong all-around game and is worth the swing at No. 50.

The Lakers didn't make their lone selection until pick No. 36, but they landed one of the draft's best athletes in Thiero. The Arkansas product has gradually developed into a two-way impact player over three collegiate seasons. Thiero can power through defenders on drives with his 218-pound frame and consistently forces turnovers with his length and lateral quickness.

Coward is a bit of an unknown commodity after playing just six contests for Washington State last year. Before that, he was a game-wrecker for Eastern Washington and at the Division III level, but the jump to the NBA is massive from that level of competition. His frame and skill set suggest he's more than capable of making that leap, with strong outside shooting helping to lessen the blow from the Desmond Bane trade. He's also already 23, so it will be a brief honeymoon before he's expected to contribute. Small is a depth piece in the backcourt who will immediately be a fan favorite in Memphis with his aggressive style of play.

Miami got great value when Illinois guard Jakucionis fell into its lap at No. 20. The Lithuanian floor general was a projected lottery pick and has drawn comparisons to former Heat guard Goran Dragic. Jakucionis isn't without his flaws - he was very turnover-prone last season and lacked the explosiveness to blow by defenders off the bounce. But he's undoubtedly one of the most gifted passers in this year's class, and the Heat need a long-term answer at the point.

Due to several trades, the Bucks didn't call their first selection until No. 47. Markovic is likely to be stashed in Europe for another season before making the jump to the NBA. He's a talented big from Serbia that could be a great pairing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo (if he's still in Milwaukee).

Beringer could be the T-Wolves' future starting center. The French teenager certainly needs some time to develop offensively, but he made an instant impact defensively during his first year as a pro. Beringer showed mobility defending guards in open space and averaged 1.4 blocks over 47 appearances last season for Slovenian club Cedevita Olimpija. The mentorship of countryman Rudy Gobert is an added bonus for Beringer and should ease his transition to the NBA. Minnesota took another gamble later on with 7-foot-4 Aussie center Zikarsky. Both moves could pay off in the long run, but the T-Wolves might've been better served taking at least one NBA-ready talent.

Nobody made more noise in the opening round Wednesday than the Pelicans. Whether that's a compliment or not is largely based upon your opinion of Fears and Queen and whether they can immediately contribute. Fears is an electric guard who gets to the hoop at will, but struggled greatly from beyond the arc in his lone college season. It will also be a major adjustment to go from the highest usage rate in the country as a freshman to playing with the ball-dominant Zion Williamson. Queen is a throwback post player who rose to the big moment time and again for Maryland. However, his fit in today's NBA is questionable given his average athleticism, and the fact Joe Dumars dealt an unprotected first-round pick next year to get him has the alarm bells going off.

New York took French forward Diawara with its lone selection. The 20-year-old averaged only 5.8 points on 38.3% shooting over 27 appearances last season with French club Cholet. Diawara has all the physical traits to become an impact defender. However, he'll need some time to develop and won't have a meaningful impact this upcoming season.

Sorber might be the best non-Cooper Flagg fit of anybody in the first round. He gives the Thunder a young big they can stash on the bench for a year before making roster moves and giving him a larger role. Barnhizer is a depth piece for the champions, who are returning every significant player from last year's team.

Orlando needed to replenish some of its backcourt depth after sending Cole Anthony to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Desmond Bane trade. Richardson will likely slide into Anthony's spot off the bench, and he provides insurance for the oft-injured Jalen Suggs. The Michigan State product's 3-point shooting and off-ball movement should help a Magic offense in need of some extra juice. Orlando also traded up to No. 32 to secure Penda, a versatile defender who should fit seamlessly into the Magic's tenacious unit.

The fan base will be fired up anytime you add arguably the most explosive player in the draft, and that's exactly what the 76ers did with Edgecombe at No. 3. He's definitely unpolished on the offensive end, but he's already a menace on the defensive side of the ball and could get serious minutes early due to that skill. If Edgecombe continues to develop as a shooter, there's a chance he ends up as one of the best players from this draft. Broome could not be more different than Edgecombe - a throwback who thrives with the old-man game that wrecks open runs at the local YMCA. Broome was as prolific as any player in college and virtually unguardable in one-on-one situations. That will be tough to translate to the NBA, but Broome should still find a way to be effective on offense.

The Suns went all in on upgrading their frontcourt. Phoenix first landed Duke standout Maluach with the 10th overall selection and then moved up to the top of the second round to select Fleming. That duo gives Phoenix a pair of above-the-rim lob threats that'll also strengthen a weak interior defense. However, getting Mark Williams from the Hornets counteracts their draft selections. Williams and incumbent Suns center Nick Richards were teammates in Charlotte and struggled immensely as defenders despite producing offensively, and it's a questionable decision to reunite them in Phoenix. The Suns rounded out their draft class with the addition of Kentucky 3-point sniper Brea.

Find something you love as much as the Trail Blazers love collecting centers. Just one year after taking Donovan Clingan seventh overall, Portland stunned draft analysts everywhere by reaching for Yang Hansen at No. 16. Most expected the Chinese big to be a second-round selection, so yeah, the pick was a shocker. The Blazers add the rookie to a depth chart that already has Clingan, Robert Williams, and DeAndre Ayton at center, so expect a flurry of moves to follow in the offseason.

Clifford is arguably the most NBA-ready prospect in this year's class. The versatile wing will be able to fill any role that's asked of him. Clifford can serve as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, an off-ball cutter, and a secondary playmaker, and he's willing to mix it up on the glass. Clifford’s ceiling may be limited, but he gives the Kings an immediate contributor in their push to return to the postseason. Sacramento stuck with the same strategy in the second round. Seven-foot-one forward Raynaud gives the team a different look in the frontcourt with his ability to knock down threes and put the ball on the floor.

Provided Victor Wembanyama can stay healthy, the Spurs are going to be a problem for years to come. Adding Harper at No. 2 and Bryant at No. 14 to a young core with Wemby, De'Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle should make San Antonio a real threat in the West immediately. Harper is among the most polished scorers in the draft and Bryant projects as an elite 3-and-D option for the foreseeable future.

Murray-Boyles thrived in arguably the toughest conference in college basketball, earning All-SEC second-team honors last season. The 6-foot-7 forward is undersized for his position, but his 7-foot wingspan and high IQ made him one of the most talented defenders available. Murray-Boyles provides value offensively with his post play and court vision. There are questions about his jumper, but the Raptors have had success developing shooters, including former first-round pick OG Anunoby. Toronto continued to invest in its defense in the second round by selecting Martin. The fifth-year guard was a starter on Florida's national championship squad, providing defensive versatility and consistent floor spacing.

It appears Danny Ainge and Utah's front office don't care if Bailey wants to be in Utah or not. Even though he didn't work out for the Jazz - or anybody, for that matter - picking Bailey at No. 5 gives Utah a top talent with the potential to be the best player in this draft. If Bailey buys into the Utah plan, he's a steal for the Jazz. There aren't many questions about Clayton, the star of Florida's national title-winning run. The comparisons to Steph Curry might be a big over the top, but he's the shotmaker from the perimeter that the Jazz desperately need. Tonje was a prolific scorer in college who could supply some instant offense off the bench.

Washington finished dead last in offensive efficiency last season, tallying only 105.8 points per 100 possessions. The Wizards' struggles from beyond the arc were a big part of the problem - they only made 33.5% of their 3-point attempts. Johnson will breathe new life into Washington's offense as arguably the best pure scorer in the draft. The Texas product averaged an SEC-leading 19.9 points and finished second in the conference in 3-point efficiency (39.7%). Their other first-rounder, Riley, may take a few years to develop, but his size and shooting potential are intriguing. Meanwhile, Watkins is a more polished product and should fight for minutes early on with his excellent perimeter defense.