2025 NBA Draft: First Round Fantasy and Reality Grades

NBA, you're on the clock.

Fantasy basketball player, you are too.

In order to help out with all this clocking, here're my takes on how the 2025 NBA Draft class might perform both on the court and in the box score.

1) Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg, F, Duke

The Skinny: You don’t pass up guys who are labeled "generational" by people who know about these sorts of things.

Fantasy Grade: B

Flagg will be coming into a situation he’s far from familiar with: Not being the best player on his team. Dallas’ offense will run through Anthony Davis; when Kyrie Irving returns to health, possibly him too. Coop will make plenty of noise with his hustle stats, but we won’t be seeing any 2003-04 LeBron-esque numbers. Yet.

Reality Grade: A+

The Mavericks are lucky as hell they landed a young face-of-the-franchise to replace their previous face-of-the-franchise—you know, the one they traded to Los Angeles.

2) San Antonio Spurs

Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers

The Skinny: If Flagg wasn’t a thing, Harper would be the unquestioned top pick. But Flagg is a thing, so Harper is the unquestioned second pick. The Spurs all but had no choice.

Fantasy Grade: B

Every Spur is playing second (or third) (or fourth) (or fifth) fiddle to Victor Wembanyama, so Harper will be battling with Devon Vassell and Stephon Castle for crumbs. Nice crumbs, granted, but crumbs nonetheless.

Reality Grade: A

The Spurs keep stacking young, exciting talent, and should be in the postseason mix in 2026-27 season…or maybe even 2025-26. And Harper will play a key role.

3) Philadelphia 76ers

VJ Edgecombe, G, Baylor

The Skinny: Edge is an Athlete (note the capital “A”) who will thrive wherever he lands. A day-one starter, and a day-one contributor.

Fantasy Grade: B-

With Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain in the building, Edgecombe won’t see the minutes you’d want out of a top fantasy option. His numbers will be too inconsistent to make him an early-round draft candidate

Reality Grade: A-

This kid is gonna be fun. If Joel Embiid and Maxey return to health—and stay healthy—the Sixers will be eminently watchable. Heck, they might even win a few games in the process.

4) Charlotte Hornets

Kon Knueppel, F, Duke

The Skinny: There were points near the beginning of mock draft season that the hard-nosed Dookie was buried at the end of the lottery. That was just silly. He’ll be a solid, solid pro.

Fantasy Grade: A-

Kon might not drop 15 points a night right off the bat, but he’ll help you in the percentage categories and hustle stats. And the Bugs are in serious need of production, so if he makes some noise early on, 30-plus minutes a night won’t shock anybody.

Reality Grade: A

I noted that the Bugs are in serious need of production, but guess what—they’re in need of everything. A pest on both sides of the court, Knueppel will give them a veritable hoops smorgasbord.

5) Utah Jazz

Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers

The Skinny: Over the last couple of weeks, maturity questions have hounded the 18-year-old. But nobody could argue about the sheer talent, so he slipped a couple of picks. Lucky Jazz, amirite?

Fantasy Grade: B+

The eternally-rebuilding Jazz are desperate for some electricity, and should give Bailey all the minutes he can handle. If Lauri Markkanen is moved, bump this up to an A-.

Reality Grade: A

A franchise as rudderless as Utah did the 200% right thing in grabbing a player that some GMs probably found too hot to handle. He’ll look great in purple.

6) Washington Wizards

Tre Johnson, G, Texas

The Skinny: The sharpshooter is ready for prime time, and, a la Nuke LaLoosh, will announce his presence with authority.

Fantasy Grade: B+

Newly acquired combo guard CJ McCollum will eat into Johnson’s usage—they play the same position(s)—but he’ll nonetheless be a safe mid-round selection

Reality Grade: B+

A nice combo of fit and talent—not only was he arguably the best player available, but he filled a need. Then again, the Wiz have a lot of needs, so there’s that.

7) New Orleans Pelicans

Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma

The Skinny: He’s confident, he strong, and he has killer handles. This dude has 15-year-pro written all over him.

Fantasy Grade: B-

The Pels are in transition like crazy, so drafting anybody on the team—especially a rookie—will take a whole lot of testicular fortitude.

Reality Grade: B

Fears is one of the safer mid-lottery picks and, if all goes as planned/expected, should be racking up 30 minutes a night by the All-Star break.

8) Brooklyn Nets

Egor Demin, G, BYU

The Skinny: Another mock-draft-climber, Demin has tons of pro experience...yet he doesn’t have tons of upper-body strength. But if the Nets have a good strength coach, sky’s the limit.

Fantasy Grade: B

If incompletes were a thing in this thought exercise, Demin would get one, because the Nets, themselves, are incomplete. Let’s revisit at training camp.

Reality Grade: B

Apologies for repeating myself, but if incompletes were a thing in this thought exercise, Demin would get one, because the Nets, themselves, are incomplete. Let’s revisit at training camp.

9) Toronto Raptors

Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina

The Skinny: A mature bruiser with a non-stop motor who would be scary in the 1990s version of the NBA. Or, for that matter, the 2020s version of the NBA.

Fantasy Grade: B-

CMB might be one of those dudes whose impact won't always be seen in the box score. That said, fantasy players don’t care about what can’t be seen in the box score.

Reality Grade: A-

If you’re drafting outside of the top five, and you can land a prospect who will slide into the starting lineup on opening night—and belong there—ta-da.

10) Phoenix Suns

Khaman Maluach, C, Duke

The Skinny: Ten years from now, we might view this raw big as the draft’s best player. Except for, y’know, Cooper Flagg

Fantasy Grade: B-

The Suns’ paint situation is, to put it politely, gnarly. Maluach, despite his rawness, has a chance to start early on, and could single-handedly win you the blocks category.

Reality Grade: B

It’ll take time for him to marinate, but time is something the Suns have plenty of. Good dart throw that could become a great dart throw.

11) Memphis Grizzlies

Cedric Coward, F, Washington State

The Skinny: Coward is Swiss Army knife with a high floor and a low ceiling. In today’s volatile NBA, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Fantasy Grade: C-

It’ll be hard to see Coward racking up enough minutes to make any significant fantasy impact. Could be a waiver wire wonder.

Reality Grade: B-

Coward will be a good piece in Memphis, and Memphis sure needs pieces. He’s probably a few years away from being scary (maybe), but the Grizz aren’t in any rush.

12) Chicago Bulls

Noa Essengue, F, France

The Skinny: Raw talent galore, but has a way to go.

Fantasy Grade: D+

He’s young, he’s thin, he’s raw and he’s on a team that doesn’t get it. He won’t be a draft-worthy.

Reality Grade: C-

The Bulls needed a center and a wing, and Essengue is neither of the above. The similarity to last year’s number one pick, Matas Buzelis, makes this one a head-scratcher.

13) Atlanta Hawks

Derik Queen, C, Maryland

The Skinny: The highs are high, but the lows are low. Queen might be good, he might be great, but he won’t stink.

Fantasy Grade: C

Queen is, for lack of a better word, a “normal” player…in a good way. He’ll get you digits across the board, so he’ll be worth a late-round flyer.

Reality Grade: B

He’ll push for a starting spot early on, and might prove to be one of the steals of the late lottery.

14) San Antonio Spurs

Carter Bryant, F, Arizona

The Skinny: Bryant is the kind of pesky player that literally every NBA team would love to have in the building. Maybe not in the lottery, but still.

Fantasy Grade: D+

Bryant’s game isn’t built for fantasy. Avert your eyes.

Reality Grade: B

Stellar work by the Spurs, addressing both ends of the floor on both ends of the lottery.

15) Oklahoma City Thunder

Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown

The Skinny: Sorber may not be Patrick Ewing or Alonzo Mourning, but he’s a legit Georgetown center, and he’ll be just fine.

Fantasy Grade: D

He won’t get much burn behind Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. Move on.

Reality Grade: B

As if their paint defense wasn’t already good enough. The rich get richer. A repeat seems even more inevitable.

16) Portland Trail Blazers

Yang Hansen, C, China

The Skinny: Hansen’s film is solid, but it’s not like he was playing against Duke. Then again, neither was Giannis.

Fantasy Grade: F

He’ll be behind Donovan Clingan and Deandre Ayton on the depth chart, and he’s raw, raw, raw, so he probably won’t see more than 10-15 minutes a night. Just say no.

Reality Grade: C-

Yang is a great story, and the tools are there, but there was a lot of safer talent still on the board. After shipping Anfernee Simons out of town, the Blazers' off-season gets weirder.

17) Minnesota Timberwolves

Joan Beringer, C, France

The Skinny: A defensive monster, but an offensive work in progress. Raw but bouncy.

Fantasy Grade: D+

Minny will need a backup big after Naz Reid gets paid elsewhere, but Beringer doesn’t have enough juice to make him fantasy-worthy.

Reality Grade: C+

Evidently the Wolves love Rudy Gobert, because they went and got themselves another one. That said, it’ll be a blast to see both French bigs share the floor.

18) Utah Jazz

Walter Clayton Jr., G, Florida

The Skinny: Clutch, clutch, clutch. Buckets, buckets, buckets.

Fantasy Grade: C-

Clayton has the chops to crack anybody’s rotation, but Utah’s roster is one of the most crack-able, so he could be a nifty dart-throw, especially in a 12- or 14-man league.

Reality Grade: B

The sharpshooter is a tad one-dimensional, but that dimension is a good one. A future microwave.

19) Brooklyn Nets

Nolan Traore, G, France

The Skinny: A blurry-fast athlete with killer handles, the Frenchman just needs to face some stiff competition.

Fantasy Grade: C-

After drafting Egor Demin, the Nets drafted another Egor Demin. BKNY will has a young, speedy backcourt, but fantasy players won’t really care.

Reality Grade: B-

The Nets seem to have a plan, which is more that can be said for a few other teams out there (e.g., my Chicago Bulls), and these guards could make them a fun League Pass team by March.

20) Miami Heat

Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois

The Skinny: What K.J. lacks in consistency—and he lacks plenty—he makes up for in highlight reel moments. Will deliver at least one holy s*** moment per-36 minutes.

Fantasy Grade: B

He’ll split time with Davion Mitchell…until December…at which point, he’ll quite possibly take over the starting role. He’ll ding you in threes, but if you need assists from a late-round pick, here’s your guy.

Reality Grade: A

As noted, Jakucionis needs some help in the consistency area, and where better to get smart than under Erik Spoelstra. One of the best team/player matches of the night.

21) Utah Jazz

Will Riley, F, Illinois

The Skinny: The sure-handed Canadian is smooth, mature, and can shoot. And man, what a motor.

Fantasy Grade: D

Utah is becoming a fantasy wasteland: Too many players, not enough minutes.

Reality Grade: B

Playing time and touches are up for grabs in Utah, so it’s on Riley. If he wants it badly enough, he’ll get it. And he does.

22) Brooklyn Nets

Drake Powell, F, North Carolina

The Skinny: An athletic teenage freak who’s obsessed about playing defense isn’t something you see every day.

Fantasy Grade: D+

Powell isn’t a box score stuffer, and the minutes in Brooklyn will be wonky, so take a pass.

Reality Grade: C-

Despite his athleticism, Powell is raw. But the Nets can afford to wait, especially for somebody this bouncy, so it makes sense. Kinda.

23) Atlanta Hawks

Asa Newell, F, Georgia

The Skinny: Looks the part, talks the part, and plays the part. He’s not Tim Duncan, but he’s also not Patrick Williams.

Fantasy Grade: D+

He’ll have to fight fellow rookie Derik Queen for playing time, so he won’t have enough opportunity to help drag your fantasy squad across the finish line.

Reality Grade: B-

Newell will be in the why-did-he-slide-so-far conversation. Dude'll be a good pro right away.

24) Sacramento Kings

Nique Clifford, W, Colorado State

The Skinny: A hustler and tough cookie with a high basketball I.Q. who just keeps getting better.

Fantasy Grade: D+

Clifford averaged a near double-double in college, but he won’t have enough playing time to make that kind of noise in the Association.

Reality Grade: C+

The Kings rotation is odd, and if Clifford lights it up in training camp, he could emerge as the second or third option off the bench.

25) Orlando Magic

Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State

The Skinny: Jason Richardson’s kid has his dad’s athleticism, but not his dad’s height, thus the slide.

Fantasy Grade: C

The Magic landed Desmond Bane, but they didn’t land his backup, so Richardson could carve out a useful role as the team’s off-the-bench gunner. Off-the-bench gunners can sometimes give your fantasy team some love.

Reality Grade: B

A little seasoning will make up for Jase’s height issues, so in about four seasons, this pick will look fantastic.

26) Brooklyn Nets

Ben Saraf, G, Israel

The Skinny: A lefty with attitude, Saraf is a streaky shooter with some defensive holes. Needs a minute. Or ten.

Fantasy Grade: F

The Nets have a zillion young guards, and one of them has to live on the bench.

Reality Grade: D-

When you have as many first rounders as the Nets do, you can take some wild swings. This one, gang, is pretty darn wild.

27) Brooklyn Nets

Danny Wolf, C, Michigan

The Skinny: What he lacks in athleticism, he makes up for in smarts, vision, and handles. A bummer that he slipped this far.

Fantasy Grade: C-

If Wolf can get on the floor, he’ll get you some assists from the center position, something that could be key come April.

Reality Grade: C-

Some mock drafters had Wolf pegged as a lottery pick, so the hard-luck Nets are, suddenly, kinda lucky. Whoda thunk it.

28) Boston Celtics

Hugo Gonzalez, G, Spain

The Skinny: His NBA comp is a train going downhill without brakes. Might become the most irritating player in the draft class.

Fantasy Grade: D-

Probably won’t get much burn behind Boston’s plethora of tweeners.

Reality Grade: D+

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Probably won’t get much burn behind Boston’s plethora of tweeners.

29) Charlotte Hornets

Liam McNeeley, G, UConn

The Skinny: One of the classes’ slickest marksmen very much earned his Big East Freshman of the Year award.

Fantasy Grade: B+

In a nine-category league, L-Mac will help you in six of ‘em. Don’t leave him on the waiver wire.

Reality Grade: A-

There are 28 NBA teams who’ll be annoyed that they passed on Kyle Korver lite.

30) Los Angeles Clippers

Yanic Konan Niederhauser, C, Penn State

The Skinny: The native of Switzerland is a shot-blocking machine, the primary reason he’s the first-ever Nittany Lion first-rounder.

Fantasy Grade: D-

Best case scenario, he’s a one-week rental if you need some blocks. But even that’s a stretch.

Reality Grade: D-

You don't get any Jimmy Butlers or Draymond Greens this late in the draft. Or do you...

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