June 25, 2025 | Brooklyn, NY — The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft is officially in the books, and as expected, it was a night filled with talent, surprises, and major trades that could reshape several franchises for years to come.
Held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the draft opened with the Dallas Mavericks selecting Cooper Flagg at No. 1 overall. While the top of the draft followed most projections, several unexpected moves throughout the first round—including Portland’s selection of Yang Hansen and multiple swaps by the Nets and Hawks—kept fans and analysts on their toes.
Below is a full breakdown of every first-round pick, trade, and notable draft-day moment, along with early draft grades based on value, fit, and upside.
✅ Complete First-Round Picks and Trade Recap (Picks 1–30)
1. Dallas Mavericks – Cooper Flagg (Duke)
Grade: A+
The Mavs go with the expected No. 1 pick. Flagg is a franchise-changing forward with elite two-way potential. A no-brainer selection that gives Dallas its cornerstone for the future.
2. San Antonio Spurs – Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
Grade: A
Pairing Harper with Victor Wembanyama gives the Spurs a dynamic guard-big duo. Harper’s feel for the game and strength in pick-and-roll sets make this a powerful combo.
Read Also: Trail Blazers Shock NBA With Yang Hansen Pick in 2025 Draft
3. Philadelphia 76ers – VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Grade: A-
Edgecombe’s athleticism and versatility make him a great fit in Philly. His slashing and perimeter defense complement Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey nicely.
4. Charlotte Hornets – Kon Knueppel (Duke)
Grade: B+
A strong shooter and high-IQ player, Knueppel adds skill to Charlotte’s developing roster. The fit next to LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller is intriguing.
5. Utah Jazz – Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
Grade: A
Bailey is one of the most dynamic wings in the draft. The Jazz get a high-upside player with star potential, filling a major need on the perimeter.
6. Washington Wizards – Tre Johnson (Texas)
Grade: A-
Johnson is a volume scorer who gives the Wizards another young piece to build around. He fits well alongside Bilal Coulibaly and Jordan Poole in their rebuild.
7. New Orleans Pelicans – Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
Grade: B
Fears is a shot-creator who could eventually replace CJ McCollum. Slightly high for some boards, but he has the tools to become a starting-level guard.
8. Brooklyn Nets – Egor Demin (BYU)
Grade: B+
Brooklyn surprises slightly with Demin, a big playmaking guard. He brings versatility and fits the Nets’ international-friendly scouting approach.
9. Toronto Raptors – Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
Grade: B
A raw, athletic forward with defensive upside. Toronto is betting on player development again, but his ceiling is real if he figures it out.
10. Houston Rockets – Khaman Maluach (Duke)
Traded to Phoenix Suns
Grade (Suns): A
Phoenix pulls off a potential steal. Maluach is a mobile shot-blocker with elite size and verticality. He could be the defensive anchor they’ve needed.
11. Portland Trail Blazers – Cedric Coward (Washington State)
Traded to Memphis Grizzlies
Grade (Grizzlies): A-
Coward was a riser in the process, and Memphis may have found a high-upside wing who can contribute early. Portland traded him to move down.
12. Chicago Bulls – Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Grade: B+
Essengue is raw but physically gifted. The Bulls bet on upside with a versatile forward who could blossom with the right coaching.
13. Atlanta Hawks – Derik Queen (Maryland)
Traded to New Orleans Pelicans
Grade (Pelicans): B+
Queen brings post scoring and high-level rebounding. Fit with Zion Williamson may be awkward, but this is a solid value pick.
14. San Antonio Spurs – Carter Bryant (Arizona)
Grade: A-
The Spurs walk away with two top-10 talents. Bryant is a long, switchable forward who could thrive in San Antonio’s developmental system.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder – Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)
Grade: B
A physical big man who adds muscle to OKC’s front line. Not flashy, but solid. Should contribute quickly behind Chet Holmgren.
16. Memphis Grizzlies – Yang Hansen (Qingdao)
Traded to Portland Trail Blazers
Grade (Blazers): C+
A true wildcard. Hansen is a 7’1 center with skill but lacks mobility. Portland passed on several higher-rated players. Boom or bust.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves – Joan Beringer (Cedevita Olimpija)
Grade: B
A solid stash candidate. Good shooter and smart passer, but may need more time overseas. Smart long-term play by Minnesota.
18. Washington Wizards – Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida)
Traded to Utah Jazz
Grade (Jazz): B
Clayton gives Utah backcourt depth and shot creation. Undersized but crafty. A decent fit next to George and Sexton.
19. Brooklyn Nets – Nolan Traoré (Saint-Quentin BB)
Grade: A-
Traoré is a dynamic scorer and international gem. Nets loading up on versatile guards in hopes one breaks out.
20. Miami Heat – Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
Grade: B+
Jakucionis is a tall, smooth guard with a high ceiling. Miami’s development program could polish his raw tools.
21. Utah Jazz – Will Riley (Illinois)
Traded to Washington Wizards
Grade (Wizards): B
Another scoring guard for Washington. Riley is more of a project, but he can fill it up. Risky, but could pay off.
22. Atlanta Hawks – Drake Powell (North Carolina)
Traded to Brooklyn Nets
Grade (Nets): B
Good defender and slasher. May not be a high-ceiling pick, but fills a need for Brooklyn with toughness on the wing.
23. New Orleans Pelicans – Asa Newell (Georgia)
Traded to Atlanta Hawks
Grade (Hawks): B+
High-motor forward with rebounding and energy. Could be a glue-guy. Doesn’t solve Atlanta’s scoring needs but adds frontcourt depth.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder – Nique Clifford (Colorado State)
Traded to Sacramento Kings
Grade (Kings): B
Do-it-all guard who impressed in workouts. Kings bet on intangibles and motor. May need G-League time.
25. Orlando Magic – Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
Grade: B+
The Magic grab a tough, defensive-minded guard with pro pedigree. Great backcourt depth behind Suggs and Anthony.
26. Brooklyn Nets – Ben Saraf (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Grade: B
Smart, efficient wing. Nets clearly leaning into the international talent pool. Saraf is NBA-ready in a rotation role.
27. Brooklyn Nets – Danny Wolf (Michigan)
Grade: B-
Another skilled big with range. Not overly athletic, but intelligent and versatile. Backup stretch-5 potential.
28. Boston Celtics – Hugo González (Real Madrid)
Grade: A-
Strong value this late. González was once a lottery-projected talent. Great stash or two-way option for a contending team.
29. Phoenix Suns – Liam McNeeley (Connecticut)
Traded to Charlotte Hornets
Grade (Hornets): B
McNeeley’s shooting fits nicely around LaMelo Ball. Solid role player potential. Not flashy, but functional.
30. LA Clippers – Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Penn State)
Grade: C+
Athletic but raw. Clippers are swinging on upside. Will likely be a two-way player early in his career.
📅 What’s Next: Round 2 Begins Thursday
The second round of the 2025 NBA Draft tips off Thursday, June 26 at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN, live from Barclays Center. Many talented players remain on the board, and with more trades expected, Day 2 could be just as eventful.
🏀 Top Undrafted Players to Watch on Day 2:
- Jaquan Tyson (Kansas State)
- Emre Erdem (Turkey)
- Isaiah Evans (Duke)
- Dylan Andrews (UCLA)
- Oumar Ballo (Arizona)
🏁 Final Thoughts
The 2025 NBA Draft’s first round delivered a mix of safe picks, bold trades, and shocking decisions. While Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper brought star power at the top, teams like Portland and Brooklyn took risks that could define their franchises for years. Whether those gambles pay off will only be revealed with time.
For now, all eyes turn to the second round—and the potential steals waiting to be discovered.
*The article first publish on NBA official website