June 2025

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2025 NBA Draft: Picks and grades for every team that made selections — Who earned the highest marks?

The Dallas Mavericks took Duke star Cooper Flagg at No. 1 overall as expected, and a whole host of picks changed hands over the two days of the NBA Draft.

The Utah Jazz took a gamble by selecting Ace Bailey at No. 5, Duke had three players go in the top 10, and the Brooklyn Nets did, in fact, use all five of their first-round picks.

How did your team grade out? We’ve got you covered.

Jump to a division or team section by clicking on the links below

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

(Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports illustration)
(Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports illustration)

Grade: B+

Draft picks

  • Rd 1, Pk. 28: Hugo González, Wing, Real Madrid

  • Rd 2, Pk. 16: Amari Williams, Big, Kentucky

  • Rd 2, Pk. 27: Max Shulga, Guard, VCU

González fits nicely in the Celtics’ culture. He plays hard, but is more than a hustler and strong defender. He’s a high-motor wing with great defensive tools and a slashing style on offense. If his jumper and handle develop, he could be a versatile two-way starter, though he didn’t get a lot of playing time overseas. 

Williams is a massive, smart-passing center with good instincts around the rim and legitimate size to defend the paint. These playmaking instincts make him a nice fit for Boston’s offensive system. But while he develops as a two-way player for Boston, he needs to add perimeter mobility to defend in the modern game.

Shulga is a poised, versatile shooter with a passing feel. But he’s a jack of all trades with no great strengths and a below-average athlete with no clear NBA position. Boston’s positionless style could end up being a good thing for him since he’ll largely be asked to stroke 3s. 

Grade: C+

Draft picks

  • Rd 2, Pk. 21: B Mohamed Diawara, Forward, Cholet Basket

Diawara has physical dimensions that you can’t teach with a 7-foot-4 wingspan that highlights his massive frame. But he also hasn’t produced much in his overseas career, meaning the Knicks are just taking a big swing at this point of the draft rather than going with one of the players who projects more realistically as a role player.

Grade: A

Draft picks

  • Rd 1, Pk. 9: Collin Murray-Boyles, Forward, South Carolina

  • Rd 2, Pk. 9: Alijah Martin, Wing, Florida

Murray-Boyles has a chance to be one of the steals of this draft, so I can see why the Raptors took a big, big swing on him. He operates like a defensive savant the way he locks down every position, uses his ninja-quick hands to swipe at the ball, and inhales rebounds. He’s the closest prospect to Draymond Green because he’s such a special defensive presence, and offensively he’s a finisher with a playmaking feel. Improving his jumper would move him out of tweener territory and into All-Star status, and ultimately that’s the big question for him in Toronto. Can he fit next to Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram?

Martin is a hyper-athletic, high-energy guard who plays bigger than his size and impacts the game with his toughness, rebounding and defensive grit. But his positional tweener status, streaky shooting, and limited creation ability made him a second-round talent. Still, Martin just knows how to ball.

Grade: B-

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 8: Egor Demin, Guard, BYU

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 19: Nolan Traoré, Guard, Saint-Quentin BB

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 22: Drake Powell, Wing, North Carolina

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 26: Ben Saraf, Guard, Ratiopharm Ulm

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 27: Danny Wolf, Big, Michigan

If you have lots of picks, some have to hit … right? 

This is undoubtedly a huge swing for the Nets here. Demin has a rare ability at his size to make dazzling passes, which would give Brooklyn a jumbo-sized ball handler. But he’s also struggled to shoot and create his own shot against lengthy defenders, making him more of a love-him or hate-him prospect than a sure thing. Whether he becomes a point guard in the NBA will depend on the development of his jumper. The upside for Demin: he has time to develop, and doesn’t have to fit right away.

Traoré is the fastest player in this draft class. This is a good situation for him because it’s a clean slate roster. The best comparison is an early version of Dejounte Murray. All speed, but inefficient shooting across the floor.

Powell has a chiseled frame that he uses to barrel into defenders at the rim and to contain opponents when he’s on defense. He’s a switch-everything defender who plays with a high motor, and if his spot-up jumper translates he checks all the boxes to be a 3-and-D role player at a minimum for the Nets.

Saraf is a crafty lefty playmaker who relies on guile, footwork and body control. Limited shooting and athleticism could cap his upside, but his positional size and skill could be hard to pass up.

Wolf’s a unique, funky ball-handler. It’s clear in the Nets’ draft that they want players of all sizes to be able to handle the rock. Wolf is 6-foot-11 but ran point for Michigan, playing a slick style with risky passes and step-back jumpers that made him a highlight factory. But he’s also a turnover machine and his shooting numbers are shaky, making him more of a raw bet who needs time to prove he can match his flash with substance.

Grade: A-

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 3: VJ Edgecombe, Wing, Baylor

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 5: Johni Broome, Big, Auburn

Edgecombe makes total sense for the Sixers. He is an explosive, high-motor wing who flies out of nowhere for poster dunks and chase-down blocks. He pairs his elite athleticism with a knockdown, spot-up jumper and fearless slashing. Though he needs to improve his shot creation to become more of a primary creator, the Sixers have enough in that department as is, so Edgecombe should get time to develop on his own timeline.

Could Broome be the best backup center of the Joel Embiid era? Perhaps so, because he brings a ready-made game as an interior finisher with a passing feel and tone-setting defense. Though his jumper hasn’t progressed as much as NBA teams would hope, Embiid’s ability to space the floor could make for intriguing two-big lineups this season. In Philadelphia, it’s more important that Broome progresses moving laterally on the perimeter.

Grade: B-

Draft picks

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 19: Tyrese Proctor, Guard, Duke

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 28: Saliou Niang, Wing, Dolomiti Energia Trento

Proctor might be Cleveland’s Ty Jerome replacement, since Jerome is an unrestricted free agent. Proctor is a tall combo guard with great passing vision who was expected to go one-and-done, but he took until his junior year to look ready for the NBA. He sharpened his jumper and became an even better defender, making him an appealing short-term piece for the Cavaliers.

Niang is a high-energy wing with the athleticism to finish at the rim and make a versatile defensive impact. But he’s incredibly raw physically and needs to improve both his shooting and decision-making to ever become a key figure on the Cavaliers.

Grade: A-

Draft picks

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 8: Kam Jones, Guard, Marquette

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 25: Taelon Peter, Guard, Liberty

Tyrese Haliburton will be out for all of next season, but Jones could help handle some of the shot-creation responsibilities. Jones offers crafty combo guard skills with advanced shot creation and a blossoming playmaking feel. But his so-so athleticism and streaky shooting paint him as just a cog rather than the rare star upperclassman set to enter the league.

Peter is a true sleeper who played three seasons in Division II at Arkansas Tech before transferring to Liberty, where he led the NCAA in true shooting percentage. He’s a knockdown shooter from 3, and a crafty finisher around the rim. He wasn’t expected to get drafted after not receiving an invite to any pre-draft competitions, yet here he is going to the Pacers.

Grade: A+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 17: Bogoljub Marković, Forward, Mega Basket

Marković was a first-rounder on my personal big board, so I consider him a steal at this point of the draft. And he makes sense for the Bucks, regardless of what happens with Giannis Antetokounmpo since he’s a high upside stretch forward who also offers skill as a passer and post scorer. But to handle the rigors of the NBA and become a positive defender, Marković needs to add a ton of muscle, so he’d benefit from being draft-and-stashed for another year.

Grade: A+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 7: Chaz Lanier, Wing, Tennessee

Perfect pick for Detroit. Wanna know why? Just look at the comparison for Lanier: Malik Beasley. Much like Beasley, Lanier is a knockdown shooter with shot-making creativity. Without great size or playmaking at his age, he’s a second-rounder for good reason. But the Pistons needed more shooting and now they got it.

Grade: B

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 12: Noa Essengue, Forward, Ratiopharm Ulm

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 25: Lachlan Olbrich, Big, Illawarra Hawks

A lot of people thought Essengue would go No. 7 or No. 8. Downhill attacking is his biggest asset. He went from someone to hack and put on the free-throw line to an improved FT shooter. He was was also a 3-point shooting liability who improved from there as well. Sometimes he looks like Giannis Antetokounmpo with the way he unfolds his long arms for scoop layups. Plus, he lives at the line: he had seven games with more than 10 free throws.

Olbrich is a high-motor Aussie big who projects as a screen-and-dive reserve and plays with a tone-setting level of toughness that could keep him in a rotation. Good for the Bulls to find another guy with these qualities after acquiring Noa Essengue with their lottery pick.

Grade: A-

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 25: Jase Richardson, Guard, Michigan State

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 2: Noah Penda, Forward, Le Mans Sarthe Basket

Richardson ends up with the same team his father, Jason Richardson, played part of his career for. The younger Richardson is a skilled combo guard with a lethal midrange game and a poised pick-and-roll feel, looking like he downloaded the experience of his NBA veteran father. Jase didn’t inherit his father’s height or dunk contest athleticism, though, so his smaller stature could cap his upside.

Penda plays with a veteran’s mind and a winning mentality, offering connective playmaking, switchable defense and high-level feel. It’s a bit of a risk for Orlando though since Penda needs to improve his jumper to shine on the long-term. But his unselfish game and defensive utility give him a strong foundation to build on.

Grade: A+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 23: Asa Newell, Big, Georgia

It feels like a foundation is starting to build in Atlanta. Newell is a modern big who can pair nicely with the Hawks’ pair of wings. If they keep Trae Young, he’s got a lob threat with Newell, who is a dunk machine. This looks like a perfect prospect/team match. Even though he needs to improve his fouling habits, his energetic style is overall a positive on defense. The real question is what he becomes offensively: Will he ever develop his jumper? Or is he just a finisher?

Grade: D+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 20: Kasparas Jakučionis, Guard, Illinois

The Heat were probably hoping for Walter Clayton Jr. with this pick. For every beautiful assist Jakučionis had as a freshman, there’s an equally ugly bone-headed turnover. He had 11 games this past season with more turnovers than made shots. As a primary creator, he’s not a Tyrese Haliburton type. Think more along the lines of Spencer Dinwiddie; he’s one of your guys on the roster, but he’s not the guy.

Grade: A

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 4: Kon Knueppel, Wing, Duke

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 29: Liam McNeeley, Wing, Connecticut

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 3: Sion James, Wing, Duke

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 4: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Big, Creighton

Knueppel has a sharpshooter’s stroke, brainy pick-and-roll playmaking, and crafty scoring feel. He’s the type of player who can come in right away and fit on any team, including perfectly between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. He’s got a slick midrange bag and strength scoring inside, but to become a player who takes over games he’ll need to overcome his average athleticism, particularly shooting off the dribble. This would matter a bit less playing in Charlotte, since he could be one of multiple ball-handlers on the team.

McNeeley is a sharpshooting wing with superb instincts moving without the ball, and the touch to splash from deep ranges. Though he doesn’t project as a primary shot creator, his feel as a connective passer gives him the skill to fit into any type of offense, including Charlotte’s.

Fans who happen to root for both Duke and Charlotte know that James has role-player qualities that can fit next to the Hornets’ core pieces. James is a versatile defender who sets a tone with his hustle, and after years of laying bricks he worked hard to become a dead-eye, spot-up shooter.

A ton of teams were hoping that Kalkbrenner would fall to them in the second round, but the Hornets land him here after trading away center Mark Williams on Day 1 of this draft. Kalkbrenner is a throwback 7-footer who owns the paint, swatting shots with his giant wingspan and dunking everything in sight. It’s a bit strange he isn’t a better rebounder.

Grade: B+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 6: Tre Johnson, Guard, Texas

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 21: Will Riley, Forward, Illinois

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 13: Jamir Watkins, Wing, Florida St.

Johnson is a clutch shot-maker who can catch fire from all over the floor, drilling step-backs and off-screen jumpers with ease. The Wizards are getting the best overall shooter in the class. He made 40.8% of catch-and-shoot 3s, over 50% of 3s off screens and 38.4% of dribble jumper 3s. But he needs to continue developing his point guard skills while also honing his shot selection since only 17% of his shots came at the rim in the half court. Plus, he must dramatically improve his defense to show he’s more than just a one-way player.

I’m not Riley’s biggest fan. He’s not a great athlete or a great shooter yet. He has a very lean frame. “What’s he going to be?” was the common question I heard from scouts when talking about Riley’s evaluation. He does have dynamic driving ability and playmaking instincts that scream upside as a jumbo-sized, shot-creating wing.

Watkins can run the show, slash to the paint and switch across positions on defense. In Washington, as long as he continues to set a tone on defense he could become a vital role player.

Grade: A

Draft picks

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 6: F Adou Thiero, Arkansas

The Lakers made multiple aggressive trades to move up within the second round, and Thiero was the perfect target. He’s a slasher with a jacked frame and an explosive first step who last season logged 45 dunks and had six games with 10 or more free throws. He lives in the paint, and that’s despite his limitations as a shooter. If he’s able to figure out the shot then his length and defensive versatility could make him a key player on a contending Lakers team.

Grade: B+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 30: Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Big, Penn State

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 20: Kobe Sanders, Wing, Nevada

The Clippers took a big swing in the first round. Konan Niederhauser is a little bit of a late bloomer, so maybe he’s more than a lob-threat center. He is an elite athlete who lives above the rim as a finisher and shot blocker, and he displays some intriguing upside as a 7-foot shot creator. But he needs to improve his fundamentals to make it all click.

Sanders is a skilled, oversized wing initiator with excellent feel, so he can play the Ben Simmons role for the Clippers. But he actually has an ability to hit some shots off the dribble. He’s limited by a lack of athleticism, but his size, touch and passing acumen give him a chance to stick in the NBA.

Grade: B-

Draft picks

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 22: Alex Toohey, Forward, Sydney Kings

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 26: Will Richard, Guard, Florida

Landing with the Warriors is probably a best-case scenario for Toohey since he’s a jack-of-all-trades forward who grinds on defense and loves to dish the ball around. Playing in Golden State’s motion could only amplify the Australian’s best talents. But his scoring comes and goes with his streaky jumper since he’s not someone who generates many of his own shots. Becoming a more reliable shooter will be the key for Toohey to carve out a consistent role for the Warriors.

Richard was a key player in Florida’s run to the national championship behind his energetic defense and versatile shooting ability off the dribble. In the same way he shared creation responsibilities with Alijah Martin and Walter Clayton Jr., he projects as a strong fit for the Warriors, provided he can find consistency shooting off the catch.

Grade: A+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 24: Nique Clifford, Forward, Colorado State

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 12: Maxime Raynaud, Big, Stanford

Clifford was a late bloomer in high school and in college. Once his jumper clicked, his game took off. He’s not a point guard for the Kings, but he’ll be a playmaker. He’s a tough-as-nails wing who does it all and could fill a number of different roles as a plug-and-play option. He defends multiple positions, crashes the boards, and scores from everywhere. But as a super senior with only Mountain West pedigree, he lacks experience against high-level competition despite his age.

Raynaud leveled up every year at Stanford, turning into a player who pops 3s, slashes to the rim with a smooth handle and makes eye-popping passes. He was ranked 15th on my board, making him a steal in my eyes here for the Kings. He fell to this point in the draft because of his age and concerns about his defense. Still, if he can figure out that end of the floor there’s little reason to think the Frenchman won’t carve out an NBA role.

Grade: A+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 10: Khaman Maluach, Big, Duke

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 1: Rasheer Fleming, Forward, Saint Joseph’s

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 11: W Koby Brea, Wing, Kentucky

Maluach was the highest upside player available on the board. He’s a towering rim protector with switchable mobility, erasing shots at the rim and shadowing quick guards on the perimeter. He logged only 1.3 blocks per game but deterred opponents from even sniffing the basket. Beyond dunking lobs at a frequent rate, he’s a work in progress on offense with a lack of seasoning as a screener, shooter and creator. Such a raw skill set should come as no surprise since the South Sudan native didn’t start playing basketball until he was 13. Maluach’s upside has him ranked in the top two or three on some team draft boards, and perhaps that was the case for the Suns.

Fleming is a hustler who drains spot-up jumpers and brings energy on defense, swatting shots and snagging boards. But he has some real warts as a ball-handler with a lack of experience against high-level competition, so the Suns must feel confident in his ability to translate to the NBA.

Brea drilled 43.4% of his 3s over five college seasons on 4.9 attempts per game; he projects as a shooting specialist who has a clear path to becoming a rotation player because of his highly sought skill. In order to avoid being a weak link on defense, he’ll need to make improvements to his athleticism, but his shooting is enough to keep him on the floor.

Grade: N/A

Draft picks: None

Grade: A

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 11: Cedric Coward, Wing, Washington State

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 18: Javon Small, Guard, West Virginia

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 29: Jahmai Mashack, Guard, Tennessee

What a way to replace Desmond Bane after he was traded away earlier this month. Coward has gone from a Division III player to a lottery pick in just a few years behind his rapid development into a prospect with a valued 3-and-D skill-set. He made 41% of his catch-and-shoot 3s in three DI seasons, while also developing a versatile scoring skill set with post fadeaways and midrange pull-ups. But he brings even higher upside thanks to his passing vision, versatile defense, and mature approach to the game that makes him the potential steal of the draft for the Grizzlies.

Small is an undersized guard who plays bigger than his body, thanks to his excellent athleticism and gritty nature. He’s a knockdown shooter off the catch and a solid lead guard, though his lack of size puts a natural cap on his upside. Consider Small a point guard who can play alongside Ja Morant, or help fill the gaps alongside Scotty Pippen Jr. if Morant misses time again.

Mashack is an excellent perimeter defender who does everything in his power to win games, plus he has the length to defend some wings. He’s not a primary creator and he needs to improve his jumper. But his hard-nosed defense is enough for him to receive countless chances for the new age Grit and Grind Grizzlies.

Grade: A+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 1: Cooper Flagg, Forward, Duke

Flagg is officially a Mav, and he has a chance to be great enough to win back the fans. He can help Dallas in both the short-term and long-term as a do-it-all forward who hustles like a madman, makes his teammates better as a passer and has dialed in a knockdown jumper. He’s both the best offensive and defensive prospect in this draft class, making him the safest No. 1 pick in ages. As long as his jumper continues to fall like it did during his freshman year at Duke, he could play as a small forward next to Anthony Davis and another big. And with his size and versatility, he could play power forward in other lineups, too. There’s no doubt he’s going to produce. It’s his growth as a shot creator that will decide if he reaches his All-Star floor or soars to his Hall of Fame ceiling.

Grade: B+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 2: Dylan Harper, Guard, Rutgers

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 14: Carter Bryant, Forward, Arizona

If Cooper Flagg had never reclassified, Harper would be the consensus top pick with star upside because he’s a big-bodied lefty combo guard who has a high floor with the skill, poise and playmaking instincts to dictate the game at his pace. Now that he’ll be sharing shot-creation responsibilities in San Antonio, he’ll be able to use his 6-foot-11 wingspan to greater effect on the defensive end and also utilize his bruising interior finishing as a cutter on offense. But he made only 36.8% of his catch-and-shoot 3s and just 28.7% of his dribble jumpers, so his fit with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle is a question.

San Antonio is just about the perfect fit for Carter Bryant. He hits spot-up 3s, attacks closeouts, makes the right play, and busts his ass on defense. He’ll have a simple role with room to grow over the years and will be a nasty frontcourt fit with Victor Wembanyama.

Grade: C+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 7: Jeremiah Fears, Guard, Oklahoma

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 13: Derik Queen, Big, Maryland

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 10: Micah Peavy, Wing, Georgetown

Fears is a dynamic guard with a twitchy attacking style and a knack for coming through as a clutch shooter. He’s the best ball handler in this draft class, giving him a runway to become New Orleans’ long-term primary shot-creator. But he was one of college basketball’s youngest freshmen, and it showed with his shaky decision-making as a shooter and passer. So he needs time to grow. All that said, he’s a lottery pick because he has a feel for shot creation and a handle that lets him get anywhere on the floor, so he may only need time to emerge as a star.

Conditioning is a concern for Queen. New Orleans is not the place I’d want to end up. He’s got to figure out the jump shot as well. Unless he improves defensively, he could also be a matchup problem on that end of the floor. Queen is a burly big with guard-like handles who dazzles with spin moves, and crafty finishes.

Peavy is a switchable wing stopper with NBA-ready defense, instincts and passing feel. Pair him with Herb Jones and Trey Murphy, and the Pelicans could have quite the trio of gritty wing defenders. If his improved jumper proves as real as it seemed during his senior season, he’s a rotation-level player for a decade.

Grade: A

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 15: Thomas Sorber, Big, Georgetown

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 14: Brooks Barnhizer, Wing, Northwestern

I think Sorber was the best overall big in this draft class who moved up to that spot late in the talent evaluation process. Sorber has a brick-house frame and the throwback skill set to match with strong screens, soft-touch finishes, and gritty drop-coverage instincts. But to be more than a role player, he needs to tap into the flashes he shows as a shooter while also improving his perimeter defense. As is, he’s the best overall big in the draft.

Barnhizer is a smart, physical wing with disruptive defensive instincts. Offensively, he needs to improve his jump shot but passes the ball and finishes at the rim at a high level. If Thunder assistant coach Chip Engelland can have as much success turning Barnhizer into a reliable shooter as he has with his past projects as a shot doctor, then the Thunder may have a second-round steal here.

Grade: N/A

Draft picks: None

Grade: C+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 17: Joan Beringer, Big, Cedevita Olímpija

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 15: Rocco Zikarsky, Big, Brisbane Bullets

Joan Beringer in the first round, Rocco Zikarsky in the second round. What are the Timberwolves cooking up in the frontcourt behind Rudy Gobert? Or maybe … in place of Rudy Gobert? After Gobert was involved in trade discussions with the Suns for Kevin Durant, perhaps this is a signal that Minnesota is prepared to move on from the four-time Defensive Player of the Year. 

Beringer is one of the rawest projects in the entire draft. He dunks everything around the basket. He’s a rim protector and has shown improvement in other aspects of his defense. An area he’ll need to improve on is he was a hackable player you didn’t fear sending to the free-throw line. He’s a worker, though, and wants to get better.

Zikarsky is a big Australian center who plays a traditional role as an interior finisher and rim protector. He doesn’t offer much else at this stage of his career.

Grade: C+

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 16: B Hansen Yang, Qingdao Eagles

This is the biggest shock of the draft. WOW. It’s a fascinating pick from a fit standpoint: What does a Donovan Clingan/Hansen Yang frontcourt look like in Portland? Yang is a massive Chinese 7-footer who scores with old-school craft, passes well and cleans the glass. But how much his slow feet and lack of shooting range can be improved will determine whether he can stick in the pros.

Grade: B+ (or INCOMPLETE)

Draft picks

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 5: Ace Bailey, Forward, Rutgers

  • Rd. 1, Pk. 18: Walter Clayton Jr., Guard, Florida

  • Rd. 2, Pk. 23: John Tonje, Wing, Wisconsin

Well, Bailey didn’t get what he wanted by landing with the Jazz. There’s a reason why he fell to No. 5. This is a huge upside swing, but Bailey is a ridiculous shot-making machine, capable of splashing contested jumpers from every spot on the floor and with the swagger of a throwback bucket-getter. He had 39 points against Indiana, 37 against Northwestern, and 30 against Penn State, showing an ability to have masterful performances in which he can’t be stopped. But his raw edges as a shot creator and defender need sanding down to turn him into a full-on star.

Along with Bailey, the addition of Clayton makes the Jazz look like the funnest League Pass team next season. Clayton is clutch and looked like Steph Curry at times. He’s also a culture creator. I’m very intrigued with what the Ainges are doing in Utah’s front office. Clayton is a fearless shooter with the versatility to take any shot at any moment, as we saw with him fueling the Gators to a national championship.

Tonje will enter the NBA at age 24 with some readymade skills as an off-ball movement scorer and shooter. His athletic ceiling and defense will determine if he’s more than just a backup.

Fantasy Basketball Offseason Roundup: Analysis for Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, Kristaps Porziņģis trade, more

NBA games might be on pause, but the offseason is where rosters are built. From trades to the NBA Draft — free agency to workout buzz and Summer League hype, there’s no shortage of news shaping the fantasy basketball landscape. 

Here is your weekly recap of the moves, buzz, and trends that matter most for fantasy hoops. Let’s get into it.

🔄 Trade report

Fantasy take: Porziņģis finished 22nd in per-game value last season for the Celtics. He’s an elite big man in fantasy because of his efficiency, 3-point shooting and high block rate. However, he’s a health risk after playing in 42 games last season and laboring through the playoffs with a mysterious illness. KP’s arrival mainly impacts Onyeka Okongwu, who provided fifth-round value once he became a full-time starter last season. I’d consider drafting KP in the fifth round due to the health concerns.

Phoenix Suns acquired C Mark Williams

Fantasy take: Phoenix is a good landing spot for Williams because the Suns had minimal depth in the frontcourt. Staying healthy remains his biggest flaw. Still, he was one of the few centers who averaged 15 points with 10 rebounds and a block after the seventh round of drafts last season.

Other notable trades:

🏀 The 2025 NBA Draft

The two-day event concluded on Thursday night. I wrote about my winners and losers of the first round, but I wanted to add more context to some landing spots and situations that unfolded this week.

Here’s my fantasy draft grades for every player in the first round:

Word on the street is there was one team on Ace Bailey’s “no-draft list.” That team hasn’t been identified (yet). However, the optics suggest it was Utah because Bailey has reportedly had “minimal contact” with the Jazz since draft night.

It appears those concerns were all overblown. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony is reporting Bailey plans to report to Utah on Saturday. 

Bailey has more potential in his first year than most of his peers in this class. He’s a volume shooter who rebounds decently well for his position. He’ll get minutes from the jump and while I’m not ready to spend a late-round pick on him yet in redraft leagues, he’s a top-5 option in dynasty formats and could emerge as a productive player in deep points leagues by midseason.

Cooper Flagg – F, Dallas Mavericks: I had to mention him because he’ll be ranked the highest of all rookies in the 2025 draft class. I’m targeting him in the fifth round, but the hype likely pushes him to the third or fourth rounds in the preseason.

Ryan Kalkbrenner – C, Charlotte Hornets: Even as a second-round pick, Kalkbrenner has a big opportunity ahead of him with only Moussa Diabate and Jusuf Nurkić in front of him in the pecking order. Kalkbrenner is a true 7-footer who is a force around the rim on both sides of the ball and is willing to step out for 3. There’s a path for him to become a starter at some point next season. Keep an eye on him at the Vegas Summer League.

Khaman Maluach – C, Phoenix Suns: Maluach’s offensive skillset is relatively raw, but Mark Williams gets hurt far too much not to consider Maluach as someone to watch.

Thomas Sorber – C, Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren played in 32 games this season, while Isaiah Hartenstein played in 57. Sorber landed in the perfect spot with the reigning champs. At some point, he could supplant Jaylin Williams as the big off the bench.

He’s recovering from a season-ending foot injury, so we unfortunately won’t see him play at the Vegas Summer League. Yet, I’m intrigued, given his size, defensive potential and the way he reads the game.

Jase Richardson – G, Orlando Magic: The Magic got the exact piece that they needed. Jase Richardson, son of former NBA vet Jason Richardson, played primarily off-ball at Michigan State. However, he has always viewed himself as a point guard with the versatility and skill set to be a primary scorer if needed. I’m excited to see him replace Cole Anthony’s role with an ascending team like the Magic. And knowing how hard Jalen Suggs plays, Richardson could find his way into meaningful minutes before we know it.

💰NBA free agency

Free agency begins on Monday, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET. My top free agents to monitor in fantasy are:

  • James Harden

  • Myles Turner

  • Julius Randle

  • Cam Thomas

  • Naz Reid

  • Malik Beasley

  • Ty Jerome

  • Quentin Grimes

  • Jonathan Kuminga

With NBA front offices becoming more cost-conscious, let’s see which players decide to pick up their player options, head to free agency, or potentially get moved in sign-and-trade deals. Everyone is waiting and positioning for the moment Giannis Antetokounmpo asks for a trade. Who knows when or if it’ll happen, but the NBA offseason is off to a great start, and fantasy managers should keep a watchful eye as we inch closer to the 2025-26 season.

Top NBA free-agent small forwards: It’s tough to imagine LeBron James leaving the Lakers

There’s a legend at the top of the list, but things drop off pretty quickly after that.

Let’s break down the top small forwards in this year’s free agent market, with the negotiating window opening at 6 p.m. ET June 30.

(Note: Positions are being determined off Basketball-Reference’s positional breakdowns, meaning a player will be listed at the position in which he played the most minutes.)

Free-agent position rankings: Point guards | Shooting guards | Power forwards | Centers

Status: Player option
Value of option: $52,627,153

Another year, another LeBron James player option. The man likes his control, and who can blame him? After all, he’s 40 now and the most statistically accomplished player in NBA history. Keeping his own options open seems fair, especially as the end has to be near.

(Right? It has to be, doesn’t it? He’s 40 for crying out loud!)

James remains a top-20 player — some will argue he’s higher, and there’s certainly a case to be made for that — so his decision will have ripple effects for the Lakers, but it would be fairly surprising if wasn’t back with L.A.

What makes sense: His son, Bronny, is a Laker, so another year of on-court bonding should be of interest to James. More than likely, he opts out and signs a new one-plus-one deal, maintaining control of his future.

Status: Player option
Value of option: $8,382,150

The 29-year-old wing might not be an All-Star, but he can score at a fairly high level (16.6 points over his past three seasons), is a decent rebounder and will compete defensively even if that side of the floor doesn’t always come naturally to him.

That type of production isn’t always easy to install onto a team, as Oubre does need shots and touches without being super efficient, but if he were to accept a sixth-man role on a good team, perhaps there’s a path to success that could see him and the team he signs with level up.

What makes sense: The Sixers are a bit of a mess, but that also means they could have a need for scoring. If Oubre dreams of producing a lot of numbers, sticking around makes sense. If his priority is to join a good team, taking a smaller deal in Boston to serve as a one-year replacement for Jayson Tatum shouldn’t be ruled out.

Status: Unrestricted free agent

LeVert isn’t usually a pillar of efficiency, but this year he seemed more deliberate and careful with his shots, leading to one of the best years of his career, albeit in somewhat low volume.

The 30-year-old seems to be embracing his new life as a backup wing, one that suits him given that a starting spot is a bit too much for him.

What makes sense: There are minutes to be found in Atlanta, so sticking around isn’t the worst idea. He won’t be receiving starter-money offers regardless, so optimizing the situation should be his priority.

Status: Unrestricted free agent

Sometimes, you just need someone who is predictable and consistent within his own role. That’s Prince. He’ll take open 3-pointers — and make them at a high clip — play some out-of-position defense and give you a solid locker-room presence.

The best part? It won’t break the bank to bring him in, and he’s perfectly capable of playing off more dynamic players. He might not be a starter you rely on deep into the postseason, but he’s a card you can play when you need veteran leadership.

What makes sense: Prince joined Milwaukee last year in hopes of making a Finals push. While that didn’t materialize, the strategy wasn’t bad. Could he and the Denver Nuggets have a shared interest that could benefit both sides?

Status: Unrestricted free agent

Coffey got better this season, and a large part of that was his floor-spacing capabilities. The 6-foot-7 wing shot almost 40.9% from 3-point range on a career-high 3.4 attempts per game, which should make him interesting to multiple teams in need of a player who can bend defenses.

At almost 28, Coffey’s next contract will presumably take him through his prime years, so if he and his agent were to prioritize money, that’d be an entirely fair approach.

What makes sense: Sniff out the teams most desperate for 3-point shooting and leverage that need into the biggest payday possible.

Status: Team option
Value of option: $1,955,377

You’d be excused if you aren’t too familiar with Edwards’ game, as the rookie played for a Sixers team that most fans turned their attention away from after a gruesome start, middle and end to the year.

The 21-year-old did well under the circumstances. He scored at a decent clip (10.1 points), was a solid rebounder and proved to be able to hit outside shots with some regularity. While young, you can see the path toward a larger role.

What makes sense: Philadelphia represents an avenue for minutes and general opportunity, and it has the control to bring him back and perhaps keep him long term next summer. On the off chance the 76ers don’t keep Edwards, every team with an average age of under 26 should be calling his agent.

Status: Agreed to deal with Rockets

Tate lost a ton of minutes this season due to a crowded roster, and he’s knocking on the door of entering his 30s. That doesn’t mean he isn’t good, or that he won’t help a team. But it does mean he should be very gettable this summer.

Status: Restricted free agent

The athletic wing can play multiple positions and is still young.

While his game is still more theoretical than practical, there’s enough juice there for teams to keep squeezing. Who knows? In the right place and in the right role, perhaps there’s a breakout looming.

Brooklyn Nets jersey history No. 20 – Bill Jones (1989)

The Brooklyn Nets have 52 jersey numbers worn by over 600 different players over the course of their history since the franchise was founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), when the team was known as the “New Jersey Americans”.

Since then, that league has been absorbed by the NBA with the team that would later become the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets before settling on the name by which they are known today, bringing their rich player and jersey history with them to the league of today.

To commemorate the players who played for the Nets over the decades wearing those 52 different jersey numbers, Nets Wire is covering the entire history of the franchise’s jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. The 21st of those 52 different numbers is jersey No. 20, which has has had a total of 28 players wear the number in the history of the team.

The 11th of those players wearing No. 20 played in the (then) New Jersey (now, Brooklyn) Nets era, forward alum Bill Jones. After ending his college career at Iowa, Jones would go unselected in the 1988 NBA draft, playing in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA — that era’s version of the G League) for part of a season.

The Detroit, Michigan native signed with New Jersey in 1989 for his sole campaign at the NBA level, playing in just 37 games.

During his time suiting up for the Nets, Jones wore only jersey No. 20 and put up 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets jersey history No. 20 – Bill Jones (1989)

Christopher Bell crash takes out Ryan Blaney at NASCAR Atlanta race

A late first stage crash caused significant damage to NASCAR playoff drivers Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney.

It came when Bell’s No. 20 Toyota got loose on the outside lane with just three laps left in the first stage of the Atlanta NASCAR race and caused a multiple-car collision that collected Ryan Blaney, who has been plagued by bad luck this season.

After shaving the wall, Bell slid down in front of three-wide traffic and was hit by Blaney, Bubba Wallace and Austin Dillon in the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway.

Ty Gibbs did a good job of avoiding the crash.

The crash ended the race for Blaney. Bell’s car, which would not start after the crash, had to be taken to the garage for repairs.

“It’s the story of our year,” said Blaney to a TNT reporter. “Getting caught up in other people’s garbage.

“Just when we seem to get things going and have some momentum, things never seem to go our way.”

It marked the sixth race this season Blaney has not been able to finish. He won at Nashville earlier this month.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Atlanta race: Ryan Blaney in crash ends with sixth DNF of season

Nkunku’s extra-time goal sparks Chelsea to weather-delayed 4-1 win over Benfica in Club World Cup

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Christopher Nkunku scored off a rebound in extra time and Chelsea went on to beat Benfica 4-1 in a Club World Cup Round of 16 match Saturday at Bank of America Stadium that was delayed for two hours due to lightning and took nearly five hours to complete.

Chelsea advances to play Palmeiras in the quarterfinals Friday in Philadelphia. Palmeiras beat Botafogo 1-0 on Saturday.

Nkunku’s tiebreaking goal came in the 108th minute with Benfica playing a man down after Gianluca Prestianni received a red card. Moisés Caicedo’s left-footed shot from the left side of the box was saved in the center of the goal by Anatolii Trubin, but an alert Nkunku was there to bury the deflection into the top right corner before being mobbed by teammates.

Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall added insurance goals in extra time for the final margin.

Reece James scored on a free kick in the 64th minute to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead.

But with four minutes left, the match was stopped because of lightning and delayed for two hours. When the teams returned, Chelsea was called for a handball in stoppage time when the ball hit Malo Gusto’s hand.

Angel Di Maria converted the penalty to even the match.

After dominating most of the first half, the English club finally broke through when the 25-year-old James laced a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net.

The Portuguese side had a chance to tie it in the 78th minute, but Gianluca Prestianni sent a right-footed shot from the right side of the box just left of the goal. Prestianni held his head in his hands in agony after the miss.

In the closing minutes, players were pulled off the field and fans told to seek cover due to lightning strikes in the area, although it did not rain at the stadium.

Only a few thousand fans returned for the conclusion.

Chelsea entered with a 3-0 record against Benfica and controlled the tempo in the first half with a 5-1 edge in shots on goal. But despite possessing the ball more than 60% of the time, the Blues headed to locker room at halftime in a scoreless tie.

The match was not well attended.

More than half of the lower bowl of 75,000-seat Bank of America Stadium was empty and all but a few hundred seats in the upper deck were remained unclaimed as the event continues to struggle with ticket sales in the United States even as it moved into the knockout round.

Key moment

James’ goal gave Chelsea momentum after it failed to convert some decent looks in the first half.

Takeaways

Benfica seemed content to play defense most of the match and try to take advantage of its few chances. But the offense could not capitalize on the opportunities it generated.

Noteworthy

It was the first two Round-of-16 knockout games at the home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Inter Milan meets Fluminense on Monday, with the winner facing either Bayern Munich or Flamengo in the quarterfinals.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Nkunku fires Chelsea into Club World Cup quarters as Benfica downed

Chelsea’s players celebrate after Christopher Nkunku’s extra-time goal puts them 2-1 ahead (Federico PARRA)

Chelsea defeated Benfica 4-1 in extra time in a weather-disrupted last-16 clash to book their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all scored in extra time to send Premier League side Chelsea into a quarter-final clash against Brazil’s Palmeiras.

Chelsea’s late burst of scoring settled a game that took four hours, 39 minutes to complete at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina after a near two-hour weather delay.

Earlier, Chelsea had been seemingly poised for victory after Reece James’ opportunistic second-half free-kick had left them 1-0 up with four minutes of regulation time remaining.

But just as Chelsea began to think about their quarter-final assignment, the arrival of a storm over Charlotte triggered local safety protocols which required the game to be halted.

It marked the sixth occasion during the Club World Cup that a game has been disrupted by a weather warning.

When play resumed just under two hours later, a revitalised Benfica grabbed an injury-time equaliser after Chelsea substitute Malo Gusto was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area following an intervention by the Video Assistant Referee.

Benfica’s Argentine veteran Angel Di Maria stepped up to roll in an ice-cold penalty, sending the game into extra time.

An end-to-end first half of extra time saw Benfica, reduced to 10 men following Gianluca Prestianni’s second yellow card at the end of regulation, threaten to take the lead as they chased an improbable victory.

But instead it was Nkunku who fired Chelsea back in front, the French international bundling in from close range after Moises Caicedo’s low shot squirted underneath Benfica goalkeeper Antoliy Trubin.

As the game opened up, Benfica were increasingly vulnerable on the counter-attack and Chelsea pounced.

Neto made it 3-1 with a nerveless finish after going clean through on goal in the 114th minute, and three minutes later Dewsbury-Hall completed the rout to send Chelsea through to the last eight.

rcw/as

Video: UFC 317 backstage post-fight interviews with winners

LAS VEGAS – UFC 317 took place Saturday with 11 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from T-Mobile Arena.

You can hear from all the UFC 317 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.

Jhonata Diniz

Jacobe Smith

Terrance McKinney

Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez

Hyder Amil vs. Jose Delgado

Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues

Payton Talbott vs. Felipe Lima

Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano

Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France

Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira

Dana White

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: UFC 317 backstage post-fight interviews with winners

Colts LB Zaire Franklin on Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones competition

On a recent appearance on Sirius XM’s NFL radio, Indianapolis Colts’ linebacker Zaire Franklin was asked about the quarterback competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones.

Franklin didn’t indicate where things stand currently or how he sees the competition unfolding. But regardless of how things shake out during training camp, Franklin trusts that Shane Steichen will make the right decision.

“First and foremost, I trust Shane,” Franklin said. “Shane is somebody I got full trust in and that’s his decision to make. The guy that he feels is the best to lead that offensive side and help get our team to the promise land, I’m behind him.”

While there is uncertainty at the quarterback position for the Colts, this is a well put-together roster around that player, and with some steady play from under center, the opportunity to bank some wins should exist for Indianapolis.

In the backfield is Jonathan Taylor, who finished fourth in rushing yards last season. The Colts also added Tyler Warren at tight end and were the only team in the NFL to have three wideouts all eclipse 800 yards each in 2024.

Defensively, the secondary has been reshaped this offseason, and the addition of Lou Anarumo, with his more aggressive and disguise-heavy scheme, should help elevate the play of that entire unit.

So far, the quarterback competition hasn’t really been able to get going with Richardson sidelined for most of OTAs and all of minicamp.

With all the additional first-team reps that Jones had this offseason, he will likely enter training camp with the upper hand, but the competition will be far from over–although it will be important that Richardson hit the ground running once he returns.

As Steichen said earlier this offseason, he’s ultimately looking for day-to-day consistency when it comes to determining who the starter is.

“At the same time, both of those guys offer different strengths and different mentalities,” Franklin added. “Just kind of when you looking at it, obviously Daniel, he’s been a starter in this league, he’s been to the playoffs, but he has his different strengths. Anthony’s the younger playmaker.”

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones: Colts’ LB Zaire Franklin weighs in

Jim Harbaugh added to lawsuit against former Michigan co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss

A group of Michigan athletes are filing suit against Jim Harbaugh over his former co-offensive coordinator’s alleged actions. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Alex Slitz via Getty Images

The legal furor over the allegations against former Michigan co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss have officially reached Jim Harbaugh.

The former Michigan head coach and current Los Angeles Chargers head coach was added as a defendant to a class-action lawsuit filed by 11 anonymous students against Weiss, who is accused of hacking the email, social media and cloud storage accounts of thousands of female athletes and downloading intimate photos and videos, per The Athletic.

The complaint reportedly was re-filed on Friday in federal court in Michigan and claims that Harbaugh knew Weiss had been accessing the plaintiffs’ private information when allowing him to coach in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31, 2022. Weiss’ alleged crimes were reportedly flagged to school police in the days before that game.

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel and former university president Santa Ono were also reportedly added to the complaint.

From The Athletic:

“Naming head coach Jim Harbaugh and athletic director Warde Manuel in this complaint reflects our belief that leadership at the highest levels either knew of these threats or deliberately ignored them, prioritizing athletic prestige and profit over the safety and dignity of students,” attorney Parker Stinar said in an emailed statement. “By placing athletic success and financial interests above accountability, transparency, and student welfare, the University failed in its basic duty of care.”

Weiss was placed on administrative leave two weeks after the Fiesta Bowl, which Michigan lost, and fired days after that. He was formally charged with a crime in March earlier this year, on 14 counts of unauthorized access to computers and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft. He faces a maximum of five years in prison for each unauthorized access charge and two years for each identity theft charge.

That adds up to as many as 90 years in prison. Weiss pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial in November.

The Justice Department claims Weiss used personal data downloaded from a student athlete database to obtain access to the social media, email and/or cloud storage accounts of more than 2,000 athletes and more than 1,300 additional students or graduates. From there, he allegedly downloaded intimate photos and videos that were never meant to see the light of day.

In addition to the criminal charges, Weiss is facing a barrage of lawsuits, such as this one.

Harbaugh left Michigan for the Chargers last year, under a different cloud of allegations from the NCAA. After the charges were filed, he described the allegations “shocking” and called it a “disturbing situation.” He said he felt “really bad” for not just the alleged victims, but also Weiss’ wife and children.

From 2011 to 2022, Weiss worked for either Harbaugh or his brother John, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. After playing at Vanderbilt as a punter, Weiss joined the Ravens as an assistant and held a number of jobs, including cornerbacks and running backs coach. It was in 2015, during his time with the Ravens, that his hacking allegedly started.

Weiss jumped from Baltimore to Michigan in 2021 to become the Wolverines’ quarterbacks coach and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator after one season.