Cooper Flag selected No. 1 from the Dallas Mavericks
Bryan Kalbrosky talks about the highly anticipated outlook for the NBA Draft, the Cooper Flag and what he brings to the game.
Sports Pulse
The Dallas Mavericks are no. A pick of 1 did not botch the 2025 NBA draft, which won Cooper Flag No. 1, and Brooklyn Net was active with five first-round picks.
Some teams did not have a first round pick, so they traded it in moves that would help create the championship. Teams like Houston and Golden State have also recently given up on first-round picks in hopes of winning titles soon.
There was only one real surprise. Portland took Jan Hansen with him using the pick of No. 16.
Who did well in the draft? Who is set up for the present and the future?
The USA Today Sports ‘2025 NBA Draft Grades are:
2025 NBA Draft Grade
Atlanta Hawks: B+
The Hawks traded with Kristapsporzingis and acquired Asa Newell with the 23rd pick.
Boston Celtics: b
On No. 28, Boston landed Spain Hugo Gonzalez. He is one of Europe’s top prospects. But he may not be ready to contribute anytime soon.
Brooklyn Net: a
NETS accumulated five first-round draft picks before the draft, with No. 8 BYU’s Egoldenine, No. 19 France’s No. 22, No. 26, Bensaraf, No. 27, Michigan’s Danny Wolf.
Charlotte Hornets: b
The Hornet needs to be fired. They were 28th in their 3-point shooting percentage, 30th in their field goal percentage and 30th in their effective field goal percentage. Duke’s Kon Knueppel can help with a massive shortcoming with Charlotte’s roster.
Chicago Bulls: b
France is an incredible run producing NBA players, and Noa Essengue is the No. 12 pick, offering the Bulls another interior option.
Cleveland Cavaliers: b
There were no picks in the first round. I traded it for Utah as part of the Donovan Mitchell Deal. They signed him a three-year, $150.3 million contract.
Dallas Mavericks: a
The Mavericks needed luck to get the No. 1 pick. There’s a 1.8% chance that’s what happened to you to win the lottery. They can choose Cooper Flags that bring talent, maturity and NBA-enabled games to their teams with the goal of competing for titles.
Denver Nuggets: a
There were no picks in the first round. The Nuggets traded it for Orlando in 2021 on a deal that sent Aaron Gordon to the Nuggets. It helped Denver win the title in 2023.
Detroit Pistons: Incomplete
The Detroit choice was sent as part of the 2020 trade that led Isaiah Stewart to the Pistons.
Golden State Warriors: Incomplete
As part of the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Golden State, the Warriors shipped the No. 20 choice to Miami, which became Caspalas Jaccionis. Butler injected defense, veteran experience and the Warriors’ competitiveness, but was eventually eliminated in the second round.
Houston Rockets: A-
The Rockets didn’t have a first-round pick… because they went 52-30 last season and after winning the second seed in the West, they traded a No. 10 pick for Kevin Durant, putting them in a position to compete for the title.
Indiana Pacers: Incomplete
The Pacers did not have a first round pick, so they traded the overall choice for No. 23 with the Pelican and exchanged the right to protect King Mojave. In exchange, the Pacers received their first round selection for 2026. This was originally shipped to Toronto in a deal that took Pascalciacam to Indiana.
Los Angeles Clippers: b
On the final pick of the night, the Clippers strengthened the interior presence and ousted Yannick Conan Niederhauser from Pennsylvania. He is still a bit raw, but should be a great developmental backup for center Ivica Zubac. Niederhauser should be burned enough as a low-block defender. He ranks 12th in the country in blocks per game (2.31) and needs to be a threat to Rob as the finisher.
Los Angeles Lakers: Incomplete
No. 22’s overall selection was part of the package the Lakers sent Pelicans on a deal that brought center Anthony Davis to Los Angeles.
Memphis Grizzlies: B+
This was about Memphis just shipped to Orlando’s Magic, but replacing Desmond Bain, who has a budget. Bane had signed the Maximum Expansion in July 2023, so he was going to be expensive. Guard Cedric Coward, the late riser in the draft process, was selected at No. 11. He needs to have enough experience and play immediately. Memphis has a fairly solid track record of drafting in recent years. His size and shooting ability should translate immediately.
Miami Heat: b
Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis was projected as a lottery pick in several mock drafts, and the heat put him in 20th place.
Milwaukee Bucks: a
There were no picks in the first round. The Bucks traded the pick for New Orleans in 2020 and acquired Jrue Holiday, who helped the Bucks win the title in 2021.
Minnesota Timberwolves: c
The problem with Rudy Gobert is that his offensive game may be inconsistent. And a back-to-back trip to Minnesota’s Western Conference Finals proved that the Timberwolves would need more scoring, especially if the team removed the game plan of taking Anthony Edwards out of rhythm. Joan Beringer is only 18 years old, so he’s a project and doesn’t necessarily help Minnesota get over the hump in the short term. He’s explosive and full of possibilities. However, Minnesota’s window into victory was now, with many plug-and-play prospects available at 17.
New Orleans Pelican: B-
In Vacuum, Jeremiah’s Fear (Guard, No. 7) and Derrick Queen (Centre, No. 13) are both solid players. But they are also in the position where the Pelicans founded the players. This could mean New Orleans is about to sell veterans like point guard Dejoan Murray and power forward Zion Williamson. Queen’s skill set – his ball handling, vision, passes, and touch – should be too valuable for him to sit down. Frankly, the same thing goes to fear. The Pelican has some really nice pieces. The fit is a bit troublesome.
New York Knicks: B-
There were no picks in the first round. The Knicks traded key draft capital (no first round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031) to build this team. This season’s 50 consecutive seasons of victory and appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals are the results so far.
Oklahoma City Thunder: b
Given the Thunder Front Office, led by Executive VP/GM Sam Presti, and Thunder’s track record closing the draft, it’s a safe bet to say Thunder has found value in the No. 15 Pick (Thomas Sorber of Georgetown).
Orlando Magic: b
At one point during the draft process, Michigan’s Jace Richardson was a lottery pick, and the Magic took him 25th.
Philadelphia 76ers: b
The Sixers handed over Ace Bailey and won defensively guard VJ Edgecombe on No. 3. He can defend multiple positions.
Phoenix Suns: C-
There is no doubt. The sun has long wanted the center. They traded Zhusuf Nurkic for the Hornets in the middle of the season and struggled to find a low presence. The part of the trade that sent No. 10 Duke Kaman Mallach – Kevin Durant to Houston is actually of great value. However, minutes ago, the Suns reportedly completed a trade to acquire another former Duke center, Mark Williams, from the Hornets. This leak of a team that Malach was available and was unsure about getting fired and not laying off trade. At the moment, Phoenix has the opposite problem.
Portland Trail Blazers: c
This is another strange move. Clearly, Portland loved Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 center from China with fluid athleticism and excellent passing ability. However, the Trail Blazers currently have three centers: Hansen, Robert Williams (in the final year of his contract) and Donovan Klingan (7th place overall selection last year). Even if Portland envelops Williams in his salary, Hansen, who turned 20 on Thursday, June 26th, is a year younger than Klingan. Despite his impressive skill set, he may also need time to assimilate from the Chinese Basketball Association.
Sacramento Kings: b
The Kings didn’t have a first round pick to start the night, but traded to the first round, winning the 24th pick from Oklahoma City and drafted Neek Clifford from Colorado.
San Antonio Spurs: a
The Spurs have two past Rookie of the Year (Victor Wenbanyama, Stefon Castle), with Rutgers’ Dylan Harper selected for No. 2 and Arizona’s Carter Bryant for No. 14. The Spurs are on the way.
Toronto Raptors: b
The raptors are approaching moving eastward, with Colin Murray Boydles, No. 9, being the kind of player-like player-fitting the Toronto system.
Utah Jazz: a
Danny Einge attacked again. Utah got great value on No. 5 with Ace Bailey, an electric player built precisely in the way the team wants wings. He has easy athleticism and is a super competitive player who should find an easy bucket. And in trade with the wizard, Jazz caught Walter Clayton Jr.’s experienced security guard.
Washington Wizard: b
The Wizards targeted security guards as part of a widespread reconstruction, picking Texas’ Tre Johnson Six and acquired Illinois’ Will Riley at No. 21.
