2025 NBA Draft grades: Live pick-by-pick analysis, updates, draft order for all 30 Round 1 selections

The 2025 NBA Draft has finally arrived, and there is plenty of intrigue to wade through during Round 1. After Duke’s Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks) and Rutgers’ Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs) were selected with the first two picks, there was a dramatic pause until Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe was chosen No. 3 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.

The fun began from there as analysts and fans alike murmured about the future of another Rutgers star, Ace Bailey. Though his pre-draft process was filled with controversy — largely his unwillingness to participate in workouts with individual teams — the Utah Jazz were not deterred. Bailey went off the board at No. 5 with the Blue Devils and Scarlet Knights combining for four of the draft’s first five picks.

There is a long ways to go until Round 1 wraps up Wednesday night, and CBS Sports will be with you the entire way. Keep it locked here for pick-by-pick grades and analysis from our NBA Draft experts. Live, continuous coverage of the draft is available live in the CBS Sports HQ player at the top of this page or on any device of your choosing.

2025 NBA Draft grades, Round 1

Adam Finkelstein

1. Dallas Mavericks: SF Cooper Flagg, Duke

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Dallas had less than a 2% chance of getting this pick and in Flagg the Mavs are getting not just an elite two-way prospect but an elite two-way player. He’s ready to impact the team and help them win right now and be the bridge to the franchise’s future. He can dominate defensively on and off the ball. Great shot blocker. High steal rate. Terrific passer. In his lone college season, he took major strides as a shooter and a creator. He’s the future face of the franchise. A home run for Dallas. Grade: A

2. San Antonio Spurs: PG Dylan Harper, Rutgers

The Spurs have an inside-out tandem they can build around for the next 15 years with Harper and Wemby. He’s a big lead guard with a natural feel for the game and great playmaking instincts. He makes those around him better. There are some long-term questions about his shooting potential and durability. If he can address those areas, there are clear All-Star outcomes for him in San Antonio. Grade: A

3. Philadelphia 76ers: SG VJ Edgecombe, Baylor

This is solid, not spectacular. Edgecombe is a spectacular athlete with incredible defensive potential. He can put a ton of pressure on the rim but he needs growth with his guard skills, particularly making spot up 3s and being a primary ball handler. I don’t know how much he can help drive winning right away but he’s a very quality longterm piece. Grade: B

4. Charlotte Hornets: SF Kon Knueppel, Duke

He can play right now. He knows how to play with other good players and can hold his own offensively. He showed it at Duke. And when Cooper Flagg went down in the ACC Tournament, he showed he can be the alpha. He’s an incredibly skilled, very strong, very smart player. My concern is on the defensive end. He’s not an elite athlete. He wasn’t guarding NBA-level two-guards at Duke. How will that fit next to LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in Charlotte? Grade: B

5. Utah Jazz: SF Ace Bailey, Rutgers

I give this an enthusiastic “A.” His upside is significant. He didn’t work out for them but Utah was not going to get bullied by Bailey’s representation. They took the best prospect on the board. I believe he’s a top three prospect in the draft. He’s a jumbo wing, high-level athlete and tough shot-maker. If everything clicks, he could have the highest upside in the draft. Ace Bailey is going to have an opportunity to have an immediate impact. I think in the long run this can work out very, very well for the Jazz. Grade: A 

6. Washington Wizards: SG Tre Johnson, Texas

The Wizards had the last option of a clear top six in this draft. They tried to get Bailey and came close. If Johnson is the contingency plan, that’s a good outcome. He has NBA-caliber size and will be able to score right away in the NBA. He showed tremendous growth in his efficiency at Texas. He made tough shots as the focal point of the opposing defense and made strides with his passing. Grade: A

7. New Orleans Pelicans: PG Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma

I’m skeptical. Fears is one of the most polarizing prospects in the draft. There is bust potential. When you take a guard like Fears, you are saying you believe he can be a primary creator. I think his most likely outcome is an instant impact scorer on a second unit. There are major questions about how a guy who doesn’t shoot it great from 3 and is ball dominant fits next to Zion Williamson. Can he adapt to having less chances with the ball in his hands? It’s a risky bet given the archetype. Grade: C+

8. Brooklyn Nets: PG Egor Demin, BYU

I’m surprised. Everybody calls him a point guard, but he’s 6-foot-9. I don’t buy into that. I see him as a facilitating forward. To draft him this high you believe in the upside and believe he’s a point guard. You don’t take a facilitating forward at this point in the draft especially when he struggles defensively and with shooting from the outside. He mostly defended forwards at BYU. Who will he guard in the NBA? Grade: C+

9. Toronto Raptors: PF Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina

I like him more than most. The knock is he is an undersized big — he’s 6-foot-6 without shoes on — and is not a 3-point shooter. But he is very long with a 7-foot wingspan and very strong. He plays bigger than he is and is an excellent processor of the game. He’s very smart and versatile defensively. In Toronto, he’s similar to Scottie Barnes but not as good. Fit becomes important when you try to maximize an asset. Grade: B 

10. Phoenix Suns (via Rockets): C Khaman Maluach, Duke

I’m a big believer in Maluach. He has a long future in the league. He’s 7-2 with a 7-6 wingspan and is an extreme lob threat. That’s what he does best right now. He’s exceptionally mobile for his size. He can run end-to-end and also move laterally. He has shot blocking potential but is not a big time shot blocker just yet. Phoenix doesn’t have anybody in its frontcourt right now, so he can play immediate minutes and turn into a very good player for a long time. Good value. Grade: A-

11. Memphis Grizzlies (via Trail Blazers): SG Cedric Coward, Washington State

Coward is a late bloomer who worked his way up from the Division III level and was headed to Duke before sticking in the draft. He has long arms, huge hands and a frame that should keep evolving. He’ll provide Memphis with much-needed floor spacing and has the tools to be a valuable wing defender alongside Jaylen Wells. The hope is that those two can impact winning right away and evolve into a tandem the Grizzlies can rely on for years to come. He’s 23, so this is a pick that needs to have an immediate return after the Desmond Bane trade. If he can contribute at the low salary associated with this pick, then it makes a lot of sense. Grade: B

12. Chicago Bulls: PF Noa Essengue, France

This is an upside swing, which is more justifiable at this point in the draft. He’s one of the youngest players in the draft and one of the best athletes in the draft with his court coverage and leaping ability. He was playing pro in Germany and was impactful at a high level of international play. There is a lot to be encouraged about but he has to refine his game and add muscle mass to his frame. There’s a lot of untapped upside on the defensive end and offensively he has a knack for finding ways to score and getting to the free-throw line. Grade: B

13. New Orleans Pelicans (via Hawks): C Derik Queen, Maryland

I think he’s a top 8 or 10 prospect in this class. People criticize his conditioning and athletic concerns, and that brings implications on the defensive end. But he has arguably the best hands in this draft and is exceptionally skilled at his size, particularly as a playmaker, dribbler and passer. The only concern is the fit. It’s questionable since Zion Williamson and Jeremiah Fears are also non-shooters. The spacing could be problematic, unless, of course, Williamson is on the trade block. Grade: A-

14. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): PF Carter Bryant, Arizona

Bryant only averaged 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds, but shot 46% on unguarded catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. He’s a high-level athlete and multi-positional defender at just 19 years old. He’s 6-foot-7 and sometimes Arizona would even match him up defensively with opposing point guards. There aren’t many 3-and-D players in this draft but he fits that archetype. It’s critical to build floor spacing for Wemby, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle. They needed shooting and they got it with this pick. Grade: A 

15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Heat): C Thomas Sorber, Georgetown

Coming off a title, Oklahoma City doesn’t have rotation minutes up for grabs but the supporting cast needs to turn over around the team’s stars. Don’t expect much impact right away from Sorber, who has long, magnetic hands and has improved at a rapid rate in recent years. He should be able to really contribute in a year or two, which is what OKC is looking for. Grade: B

16. Portland Trail Blazers (via Grizzlies): C Hansen Yang, China

He’s 19 years old and averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds with three blocks and three assists in the CBA in China. This is higher than anyone projected him to be drafted. This is a swing of epic proportions and comes on the heels of the Blazers drafting Donovan Clingan. Perplexing. Can those guys play together? We’ve had some surprises tonight. This is the biggest surprise bar none. If it hits, they’ll be smarter than everyone. Grade: C

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): C Joan Beringer, France

He’s very young. He doesn’t turn 19 until November and has only played for a few years. But he’s just under 7-feet without shoes and has better than a 7-foot-4 wingspan. He’s an extreme athlete with excellent mobility and good hands. His archetype is a rim-running shot blocker and lob threat. That’s very valued in today’s NBA. In Minnesota, Beringer gets to learn under Rudy Gobert — and could potentially take over for him a few years down the road. That’s a great succession plan at the center spot. Grade: A

18. Utah Jazz (via Wizards): PG Walter Clayton Jr., Florida

He is an elite shooter. When you’re talking about perimeter role players in the NBA, that’s the most important criteria. He is one of the very best shooters in this draft and has the versatility to play both on and off the ball. He has the body type to defend and the physical strength to be a more competitive defender in the NBA than what we saw for most of his college career. Grade: A-

19. Brooklyn Nets (via Bucks)

20. Miami Heat (via Warriors)

21. Washington Wizards (via Jazz)

22. Brooklyn Nets (via Hawks)

23. New Orleans Pelicans (via Pacers)

24. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)

25. Orlando Magic (via Nuggets)

26. Brooklyn Nets (via Knicks)

27. Brooklyn Nets (via Rockets)

28. Boston Celtics

29. Phoenix Suns (via Cavaliers)

30. Los Angeles Clippers (via Thunder)

2025 NBA Draft order, Round 2

Kyle Boone

31. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Jazz)

32. Boston Celtics (via Wizards)

33. Charlotte Hornets

34. Charlotte Hornets (via Pelicans)

35. Philadelphia 76ers

36. Brooklyn Nets

37. Detroit Pistons (via Raptors)

38. Indiana Pacers (via Spurs)

39. Toronto Raptors (via Trail Blazers)

40. New Orleans Pelicans (via Wizards)

41. Golden State Warriors (via Heat)

42. Sacramento Kings (via Bulls)

43. Utah Jazz (via Mavericks)

44. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Hawks)

45. Chicago Bulls (via Kings)

46. Orlando Magic

47. Milwaukee Bucks (via Pistons)

48. Memphis Grizzlies (via Warriors)

49. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Bucks)

50. New York Knicks (via Grizzlies)

51. Los Angeles Clippers (via Timberwolves)

52. Phoenix Suns (via Nuggets)

53. Utah Jazz (via Clippers)

54. Indiana Pacers

55. Los Angeles Lakers

56. Memphis Grizzlies (via Rockets)

57. Orlando Magic (via Celtics)

58. Cleveland Cavaliers

59. Houston Rockets (via Thunder)

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