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CBS News
19 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
How often have Celtics hit on second-round picks over the last 25 years?
The NBA Draft is, to put it nicely, a bit of a crapshoot. There is no guarantee even the top players selected will pan out to anything at the pro level. It gets even murkier when you get outside the lottery, and it essentially becomes teams taking flyers on players by the second round. Even if teams hit on second-round selections, those players don't usually become franchise-altering superstars, or even important role players for very long. There are exceptions, of course. Nikola Jokic was the 41st overall pick in 2014 and is one of the best players on the planet. Draymond Green (35th in 2012) and Khris Middleton (39th in 2012) both played key roles on championship teams. Isaiah Thomas wasn't drafted by the Celtics, but he carved out a nice career after he was the final pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. And another lifetime ago, the Celtics drafted a spunky kid out of BYU named Danny Ainge in the second round. He turned out to be a pretty good player and executive for Boston. But for the most part, second-round picks are back-end players to fill out the roster with a very small price tag attached. And before they become players on a team, the picks are nice and necessary filler to complete trades. Given the landscape in the new CBA, they are important assets for teams, which is why Brad Stevens has been stockpiling them over the last few years. Stevens snagged three additional second-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft when he traded the No. 32 pick to the Orlando Magic, landing the 46th pick (used to draft Kentucky big man Amari Williams) and the 57th (VCU guard Max Shulga) plus second-rounders in 2026 and 2027. He has a pretty good collection of second-round picks over the next seven years. Stevens has only been playing the executive game since June of 2021, so the jury is still out on most of his second-round picks. Here's a look back at the last 25 years of second-round picks by the Celtics, with some pretty solid hits in the mix and a lot of players we never saw don a Boston uniform. 2002: Darius Songalia, C, Wake Forest The big man from Lithuania never played for the Celtics, and was traded to the Sacramento Kings for a pair of second-round picks you'll meet later on this list. Songalia averaged 6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds over his eight NBA seasons or the Kings, Bulls, Wizards, Hornets, and 76ers. 2003: Brandon Hunter, PF, Ohio Hunter was taken with one of the picks acquired in the Songalia swap. He played in 36 games for Boston as a rookie, including 12 starts. His best game in Green was an 11-point, 16-rebound showing in a win over Toronto. But he only spent one season with Boston because the Charlotte Bobcats (remember them?) took him in the expansion draft in 2004, only to then trade him to the Orlando Magic. He played 31 games for the Magic in 2004-05, but that was the end of his NBA career. 2004: Justin Reed, PF, Ole Miss Reed was another explosive rebounder taken in the second round, but he played sparingly for a season-and-a-half before he was shipped to Minnesota in the 2006 trade that brought Michael Olowokandi and Wally Szczerbiak to Boston. He stuck with the Wolves until his NBA career ended in 2007. 2005: Ryan Gomes, PF, Providence; Orien Greene, PG, Ole Miss Gomes should have been a late-first-, early-second-round pick after a stellar career in Providence, but fell to Boston at 50th overall. He was a solid pro from the jump and ended up starting 33 games for the Celtics as a rookie. He started 60 of the 73 games he played in during the 2006-07 season, when Gomes averaged 12.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. But the 2006-07 season was a disaster for the Celtics, and that summer Gomes was part of the trade package in the franchise-altering Kevin Garnett trade. He played three seasons for Minnesota, two for the L.A. Clippers, and played in five games for Oklahoma City in 2013-14 before heading overseas for a few years. He started 371 of the 487 games he played over his eight-year NBA career. The Waterbury, Connecticut native started coaching in 2016, and is now an assistant in Providence. Despite playing just two seasons with the Celtics, Gomes is one of the better second-round picks by the team over the last 25 years. (Disclaimer: This is coming from a guy who still has a Ryan Gomes Celtics bobble head on his desk at work.) Greene was the second pick Boston got from the Songalia trade, and he played in 80 games for the Celtics as a rookie. He also got into some trouble off the court in March that earned him a suspension, and was waived by the team a few months later. Greene played just 50 more games in the NBA for the Pacers, Kings, and Nets. 2006: Leon Powe, PF, California The Celtics got Powe in a draft-night trade with the Nuggets, and though he played just three seasons in Boston, he's got a special place in franchise history. Powe's biggest game in Green was Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals when he dropped 21 points in only 15 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers. He flummoxed the Lakers so much it had a flustered Phil Jackson calling him Leon "Pow" after the game. He also played for Cleveland and Memphis during his career. Powe rejoined the Celtics in 2014 as a community ambassador, a role he still holds today. 2007: Glen Davis, PF, LSU; Gabe Pruitt, PG, UCS Davis was technically drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics 35th overall and then traded to Boston in the Ray Allen deal. In terms of second-round picks making an impact with the Celtics over the last quarter of a century, he's at the top of the list. "Big Baby" became an instant fan favorite with his jovial, kid-like persona. He played an important reserve role off the Celtics bench in the team's run to the 2008 NBA Championship, and played an even bigger role the following season when Kevin Garnett was lost to an injury. Davis' biggest play in Green came in the second round of the 2009 playoffs, when he drained a buzzer-beater against the Orlando Magic to lift Boston to a Game 4 victory. He averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds that postseason, but the C's fell to the Magic in seven games without Garnett. Davis was back in his reserve role the following season, when he formed the famous "Shrek and Donkey" duo and drooled all over the court in the 2010 NBA Finals against the Lakers. Davis played four seasons with Boston before he was traded to the Magic for Von Wafer. He averaged 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds over his eight-year NBA career. Pruitt was taken three picks ahead of Davis, but averaged just 7.4 minutes in his 62 games for the Celtics over two seasons. That was it for his NBA career. 2008: Semih Erden, C, Turkey Erden didn't play for Boston until the 2010-11 season, and was traded to the Cavaliers that February for a second-round pick. He played in 69 games over his two-year NBA career for Boston and Cleveland. 2009: Lester Hudson, PG, University of Tennessee at Martin Hudson was taken 58th overall but played just 16 games for the Celtics before he was claimed off waivers by the Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged 4.7 points over 57 games over his four-year NBA career for Boston, Memphis, Washington, Cleveland, and the L.A. Clippers. 2010: Luke Harangody, PF, Notre Dame He was a star for the Irish, but played in only 29 games for the Celtics before he was sent to Cleveland along with Erden. Harangody played in just 70 games over his two seasons in the NBA. 2011: E'Twaun Moore, G, Purdue Moore played just 38 games for the Celtics before he was part of a three-team trade that brought Courtney Lee to Boston. But he carved out a solid 10-year NBA career, including a four-year stretch with the Pelicans where he averaged 10.7 points per game. 2012: Kris Joseph, G/F, Syracuse Joseph was taken 51st overall, and had two very brief stints with Boston. He played just six games for the C's before he was waived in January, and then signed with the Nets that April. He played in four game for Brooklyn, and was then traded back to Boston that summer in the giant return for Garnett and Paul Pierce. (You know, the one that brought in the picks used on Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.) Joseph was waived by Boston a few days later, and that was it for his NBA career. 2015: Jordan Mickey, PF, LSU; Marcus Thornton, G, William & Mary There was a ton of hype around Mickey, whom the Celtics drafted 33rd overall. But he averaged just 4.8 minutes in his 41 games over two seasons before he was waived by Boston. Mickey played 23 games for Miami in 2017-18, which was his final season in the NBA. Thornton played for the C's in the Summer League but then played overseas, outside of a brief appearance for the Maine Red Claws. 2016: Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame; Ben Bentil, PF, Providence; Abdel Nader, G, Iowa State There was a lot of hype around Nader, and he was a D-League All-Star and Rookie of the Year after being taken by Boston with the 58th pick. He signed a four-year contract in 2017, but bounced from the Celtics to the Red Claws that season and averaged just 10.9 minutes over 48 games for Boston. He was traded to OKC in 2018 and played two seasons for the Thunder and two seasons for the Phoenix Suns. Jackson played just five games for the Celtics, while Bentil was waived before the end of the preseason. 2017: Semi Ojeleye, F, SMU; Kadeem Allen, PG, Arizona; Jabari Bird, SG, California Ojeleye had ridiculously massive arms and was a pretty solid role player over his four seasons and 254 games for Boston. He played for the Bucks and Clippers during the 2021-22 season, which was his last in the NBA. Allen averaged just 5.9 minutes over his 18 games for the Celtics before he was waived, and closed his NBA career with 29 appearances for the Knicks over two seasons. Bird played 18 games for Boston in 2017-18, but was arrested on domestic abuse and kidnapping charges in September of 2018. He was traded to Atlanta for a conditional second-round pick in February of 2019, and waived by the Hawks the next day. 2019: Carsen Edwards, PG, Purdue; Tremont Waters, PG, LSU Edwards had some truly massive quads, but didn't do much over his two seasons with the Celtics. Waters played in 37 games for Boston over his two seasons, including four starts, but was not retained after the 2020-21 season. 2020: Yam Madar, G, Israel We heard a lot about Madar after the Celtics took him 47th overall in 2020. He was a draft-and-stash guy and has remained overseas other than a Summer League appearance in 2021. 2021: Juhann Begarin, SG, Guadeloupe Another draft-and-stash player for Boston. Begarin is currently with AS Monaco of the LNB Elite. 2022: JD Davison, PG, Alabama Davison has played in 36 games for Boston over the last three seasons, but has really thrived with the Maine Celtics. He averaged 25.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists last year to earn G League MVP honors, and had his contract converted to a standard NBA two-year deal in April. He will likely play a reserve role for Boston in 2025-26. 2023: Jordan Walsh, F, Arkansas Walsh has seen limited action in 61 games over his two seasons in the Celtics organization. He was the youngest player on the team in each of the last two seasons, and will have a chance to carve out a role on the 2025-26 Celtics. 2024: Anton Watson, F, Gonzaga Watson never played for the Celtics before he was waived in March. He was claimed by the Knicks a few days later and played nine games for New York.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
7-foot-2 NBA draft prospect from China drawing comparisons to 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic
The post 7-foot-2 NBA draft prospect from China drawing comparisons to 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic appeared first on ClutchPoints. Scouts were always high on the prospects entering the 2025 NBA draft. For the majority of the 2024-2025 season, 7-foot-2 Hansen Yang fell into the category of a mystery player or a 'draft and stash' prospect. Advertisement People were skeptical about whether Yang's dominance in China could translate to the NBA. However, everyone's perception of Yang changed once the NBA draft combine and Klutch Pro Day came around. Who is 2025 NBA Draft prospect Hansen Yang? Yang has flown under the radar on most draft boards, not just because of the surplus of talent in this year's class, but for three main reasons: – Limited sample size in his game. – Recent track record of Chinese players playing in the NBA – Inferior competition Born in 2005, Yang isn't following the mold of slender, 7-foot unicorns who shoot threes all game. Yang is more of an old-school big who relies on his IQ and soft touch to generate offense. Advertisement Yang is currently in his second season in the CBA. In his first 10 games with the Qingdao Eagles, he averaged 16.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game. Last season as a rookie, Yang averaged similar numbers and won Defensive Player of the Year. Last April, the NBA and ESPN released their latest mock drafts. Both had Yang as a late second-round pick, around the late 40s to early 50s. At the draft Combine, Yang was determined to change the narrative. As a player whose perceived weakness is with his lateral speed and quickness, Yang finished in the top 5 among centers in all dynamic performance tests. This includes the shuttle run, lane agility drill, and 3/4 sprint. Why Yang has been compared to the likes of Alperen Sengun, Nikola Vucevic, and Nikola Jokic The comparisons were always there. Most scouts just refused to give in to the hype because of his competition. During the combine, Yang's bag was on full display. On a day when most people pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of the projected top picks of the draft, Yang's play took the headlines. Advertisement He showed that he can extend his range, score (and defend) in the post against stronger centers, and deliver accurate passes. There's still a lot more scouts need to see from Yang in the coming days. Luckily, he is represented by Klutch Sports. If for some odd reason he won't hear his name called on draft night, Rich Paul most likely has something up his sleeve that ensures Yang is in the best situation for him to develop and make an NBA roster. If so, he could become a steal like Jokic. Related: Stephen A. Smith sends final NBA All-Star Game warning Related: NBA rumors: Why Tim MacMahon 'won't dismiss' Jason Kidd leaving Mavericks for Knicks
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2025 NBA Draft Grades for every team in the second round
The list of NBA legends who slid to the second round is extensive: Nikola Jokic, Jalen Brunson, Draymond Green, Khris Middleton make up some of the recent names, and if you want to go back there's Manu Ginobili, Lou Williams, Marc Gasol and many more. The 2025 NBA Draft will feature some breakout names in the second round — or, at least, solid rotation players — as well as some fan favorites and two-way guys trying to make the cut. Let's grade these picks (and note, my grading in this round is more gentle and on a curve compared to the first round; expectations are relatively low and with that the misses are not painful like missing in the lottery). (Check out the grades for the first round picks here.) Boston Celtics: B- Amari Williams (46), Max Shulga (57 via trade with Orlando) Williams is big — literally at 6'11" and 255 pounds — and is physically strong. However, what catches scouts' eyes is his high-level passing, especially from the high post. The challenge is he's on the lower end of the NBA athleticism scale, meaning he's not a great shot blocker and defensively would get dragged into pick-and-rolls and hunted. He also doesn't stretch the floor with his shooting. He likely ends up on a two-way contract or in the G-League and will have to prove he has more than just his passing. Taking a chance on a shooter is always a good thing. Shulga is a Ukrainian-born 6'4" guard who played in Spain and then spent five years in college, most recently at VCU. Last season, he shot 38.7% from 3 and was at 41.5% two seasons ago. The question with Shulga is if he can defend well enough to stick in the league (scouts were split on his defense and how big an impediment it is). He's reportedly going to be on a two-way contract as he tries to prove he can defend his position. Charlotte Hornets: B+ Sion James (33), Ryan Kalkbrenner (34) James is a 6'5" senior guard who was part of Duke's run to the Final Four last season, and he played four seasons at Tulane before that. He's a quality defender and makes good decisions, things that should translate to the next level. The question is his offense and specifically his jumper (which improved every year and he shot 41.3% from 3 at Duke last season). Those numbers look good, but he was a low usage player, not just on a stacked Duke team, but relatively at Tulane before that. He has to prove he can be enough of a scoring threat at the next level to stay on the court. Kalkbrenner is another senior the Hornets hope can help give them minutes starting this season. The 7'2" center was a defensive force at Creighton and averaged 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks a game. He's a drop-coverage rim protector who, by NBA standards, is not athletic, which means he could struggle in space. Plus there are questions about his shooting outside 10 feet. Still, for a team that just traded away Mark Williams yesterday, there are backup center minutes to be had. Chicago Bulls: C Lachlan Olbrich (55, via trade with Lakers) He's a 6'9 center who played one season at UC Riverside before returning to his native Australia to play for the Illawarra Hawks. He has an excellent feel for the game and plays with a high IQ. Scouts like his game but question his NBA fit. Olbrich is undersized and would struggle to play as a center in the NBA — he couldn't defend other fives — but he doesn't have much shooting range, so he would struggle to play the four. Likely a draft-and-stash guy who keeps playing in the NBL, and the Bulls see if he can develop a respectable outside shot. Cleveland Cavaliers: B+ Tyrese Proctor (49), Saliou Niang (58) Proctor is a potential steal of a pick at 49. He became a high-level shooter in his three years at Duke, last season knocking down 40.5% of his 3-pointers. The 6'4" guard isn't an explosive athlete and doesn't have the game to be an NBA point guard, but he could be a 3&D combo guard if he can put on some muscle — he's skinny and that hurts him on defense. Still, a lot to like with this pick, especially in this spot. Niang is an Italian wing with physical gifts who had some big moments for Trento in his native country. However, his shooting and ball handling are not NBA-ready yet. Niang is likely to be a draft-and-stash player who will remain in Europe. Detroit Pistons: B+ Chaz Lanier (37) Detroit needs more shooting (who doesn't?) and that's what makes Lanier a good pick in the second round. He shot 39.5% from 3 last season for Tennessee, and the 6'4" guard is a good movement shooter. The challenge is everything else, he's not a great defender or playmaker. He has to prove he can round out his game a little, but at this point in the second round taking a shooter is a good call, that's always a skill in demand. Golden State Warriors: B Alex Toohey (52, via trade with Phoenix), Will Richard (56, via trade with Memphis) Toohey is a native Australian who played last season with Sydney and proved to be an impressive wing defender at 6'8", and he has a good feel for the game. The question for him (like many in the second round) is, can he shoot well enough to stay on the floor? He hit just 30.2% of his 3-pointers last season in Sydney. Taking him deep in the second round, it's a good bet to see if he can develop that skill (possibly as a draft-and-stash who stays in the NBL another year or more). Richard is a 6'3" guard who is good at a lot of things but doesn't have an NBA-level skill at one thing. Those guys tend not to make the cut, but the Warriors might give him a two-way and see if something pans out, which is a solid use of the 56th pick. Indiana Pacers: B Kam Jones (38, trade with Spurs), Taelon Peter (54) Jones is a perfect example of what second-round picks can be. Jones is older, 23, and is an experienced high-level playmaker who averaged 19.2 points and 5.9 assists a game last season at Marquette. He's in the second round for a reason; he's not an explosive athlete, and he shot just 31.1% from three-point range last season. However, he's a steady lead ball handler and floor general, which makes him a solid pickup in the second round, especially for a team looking to fill some point guard minutes next season. Taelon Peter, a 6'4" guard who shot the ball well for Liberty, but he came off the bench for the Flames in all but two games. He was not highly regarded on many draft boards, but the Pacers liked his shooting ability enough to take a chance on him at the end of the second round. LA Clippers: B Kobe Sanders (50) The 6'7" wing averaged 15.8 points a game at Nevada last season, shooting 34.2% from beyond the arc, and he is especially impressive on pull-up jumpers. Sanders earned his way here, playing well enough at the Portsmouth Invitational to get an NBA Draft Combine invite, where he impressed the Clippers enough to take a chance on him. There are questions about whether his athleticism is at an NBA level, but he is likely to receive a two-way contract and have the opportunity to prove himself. Los Angeles Lakers: A- Adou Thiero (36, trade from Minnesota) The Lakers want to get deeper and more athletic on the wing and Thiero checks those boxes, so LA moved up from 55 to get him. Thiero might be the best athlete in the draft (either round) and has good size at 6'6" with a 7-foot wingspan, he's an excellent defender and he plays hard. Lakers fans are going to like him. He can attack the rim, but if he's really going to make an impact in the NBA he has to improve his jumper (25.6% last season at Auburn). Memphis Grizzlies B Javon Small (48), Jahmai Mashack (59 via trade with Rockets, others) Small, a West Virginia guard, had the potential to be a backup playmaking guard in the NBA. At 6'1", he is undersized for his role (insert your own play off his name joke here), but he's the kind of hard-working, scrappy player that coaches and fans love. It's a good roll of the dice here by Memphis in the back half of the second round. Mashack, a 6'5" guard from Tennessee, becomes Mr. Irrelevant as the last pick in the draft (but so was Isaiah Thomas and he had a quality NBA career). Mashack's strength lies in being an elite defender, one of the best in the draft (period, both days). If he can develop enough of a shot and some handles, he will have a role in the NBA, but right now he's got work to do on the offensive end. Milwaukee Bucks: B+ Bogoljub Markovic (47) Tell me if this sounds familiar: A Serbian big man who has some interesting offensive skills but serious questions about his defense. The 6'11" big averaged 13.9 points and 6.9 rebounds a game, and was both a shooter and a quality playmaker for Mega in the Adriatic League. If he's going to stick with the Bucks, he needs him to play better defense, but this is a quality pickup at 47. Minnesota Timberwolves: B Rocco Zikarsky (45) The Australian is 7'3" and would be the third-tallest player in the NBA next season (behind Wemby and Edey). Zikarsky moves well for a man his size and it's easy to project him as a rim-running, paint-protecting big man at the NBA level. He's also 18 and still a project at this point. This is a long-play by the Timberwolves and don't be surprised if he stays in Australia and the NBL for another year or two before coming over. New Orleans Pelicans: B Micah Peavy (40, trade with Wizards) Peavy is a high-level defender as a 6'6" wing who had a breakout offensive season at Georgetown, averaging 17.2 points a game and shooting 40% last season. Scouts tend to be skeptical of guys making big offensive leaps, but as a fifth-year senior, this one seems real enough, and if it is, he can be an NBA-level rotation player. Solid pickup here by the Pelicans. New York Knicks B- Mohamed Diawara (51) Spike Lee hung out in the Barclays Center to watch this pick, a player the Knicks almost certainly stash overseas for a year or two more. Diawara is a 20-year-old wing with impressive athleticism and a 7'4" wingspan but still finding his way playing for Cholet Basket in France. Late in the second round, the Knicks rolled the dice on a long-term play that may not have thrilled Spike Lee, but was the respectable pick. Oklahoma City Thunder: B Brooks Barnhizer (44) The Northwestern graduate is 6'5" with a 6'11" wingspan who plays a very high IQ game. While he's impressive and disruptive defensively, he has work to do on the offensive end to be NBA-ready, especially with his catch-and-shoot jumper. The Thunder are not exactly flush with open roster spots, so Barnhizer may have to earn his way to OKC through a two-way contract. That said, he fits the mold of a Thunder player. Orlando Magic: A- Noah Penda (32, via trade with Boston) Penda is going to fit right in with the Magic's style of play: He's a 6'8" forward who is an outstanding defender who has shown some playmaking skills. He's a glue guy. Penda showed a lot of promise at the age of 20, playing for Le Mans in his native France. Like many second-rounders, there are questions about his shot, but this is a strong second-round pick. Philadelphia 76ers: B Johni Broome (35) Broome was the SEC Player of the Year, the 6'9" big man from Auburn was one of the best players in college basketball last season. He also might fit into the long line of very good college players whose games don't transfer to the NBA. He's a 6'9" center who is good at a lot of things but may not have that one elite NBA skill. There are a lot of questions, but this is a good bet in the second round. Phoenix Suns: A- Rasheer Fleming (31, via Minnesota trade), Koby Brea (41, via Golden State trade) Phoenix wanted Fleming and made a series of trades through the day Thursday to secure the No. 31 pick from Minnesota, giving them the chance to draft the 6'8" 3&D forward from St. Joseph's. He's athletic, has a 7'5" wingspan, can defend, and shot 39% from 3 this past season. It feels like there's a very good chance he'll play minutes for the Suns next season. Brea might be the best catch-and-shoot player in this draft, and at 6'5" he has good size to be an NBA wing. However, his defense and pretty much every part of his game other than shooting needs a lot of work. Still, at 41, this is not a bad spot to take a risk. Sacramento Kings: B Maxime Raynaud (42) This is a steal of a pick this deep in the second round, some scouts made the case that the 7-foot stretch five could/should have been taken on the first night of the draft. He brings offensive skills to the table as a center, averaging 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game last season for Stanford, while shooting 34.7% from 3-point range. The question is, can he be good enough defensively to stay on the floor, even as a backup? If he can hold his own on that end, this is a quality pick. Toronto Raptors: B Alijah Martin (39) Martin is a fifth-year senior who transferred to Florida and helped the Gators win a national title last season. The 6'1" guard is one of the best defenders in the class, is a high-level athlete, and on offense he averaged 14.4 points a game. If he were a couple of inches taller, he likely would be a first-round pick, but as it is, he could be a solid backup for Toronto. Utah Jazz: B John Tonje (53) After playing at Colorado State and Missouri, in his senior year at Wisconsin Tonje became the Badgers' Mr. Everything and a fan favorite. He plays with a lot of force, does not shy away from contact, and averaged 19.6 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. He shot 38.8% from beyond the arc last season. The concerns are at the other end of the floor and his ability to defend. He played six years of college and will be 24 next season, so what the Jazz see is what they get, but at No. 53 Tonje is a good gamble. Washington Wizards: B Jamir Watkins (43) Another older player — Watkins will be 24 by the time Summer League tips off — taken in the second round in hopes he can step in and help now. He's a strong defender who stood out at the NBA Draft Combine on that end, he could contribute defensively right now to the Wizards. Is his offense good enough to keep him on the court? He averaged 18.4 points a game for Florida State last season, but teams aren't sold. The Wizards made their bet and at 43 it's not a bad one.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NBA draft grades 2025: How all 30 teams fared with draft now complete
There's probably not a Nikola Jokic in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. There could be. But it's unlikely. Could there be a Draymond Green (35th pick in the second round in 2012) or a Manu Ginobili (57th pick in the second round in 1999)? It's possible. But that's also difficult to know today. However, several players with first-round potential slipped into the second round and were drafted by teams hoping to find that rare gem. Some of those picks impacted some overall draft grades following the completion of this week's draft. Here are USA TODAY Sports' 2025 NBA Draft grades after both rounds: 2025 NBA draft grades Atlanta Hawks: B+ The Hawks traded for Kristaps Porzingis and then acquired Asa Newell with the No. 23 pick. They also ended up with a 2026 first-round pick that could end up being a lottery pick. Boston Celtics: B At No. 28, Boston landed Spain's Hugo Gonzalez, who is one of Europe's top prospects. But he may not be ready to contribute immediately. Brooklyn Nets: A The Nets accumulated five first-round draft picks ahead of the draft and got: BYU's Egor Demin at No. 8, France's Nolan Traore at No. 19, North Carolina's Drake Powell at No. 22, Israel's Ben Saraf at No. 26 and Michigan's Danny Wolf at No. 27. Charlotte Hornets: B+ The Hornets need shooting. They were 28th in 3-point shooting percentage, 30th in field goal percentage and 30th in effective field goal percentage. Duke's Kon Knueppel can help a massive shortcoming on Charlotte's roster. They went after offense and size in the second round with Duke's Sion James and Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner in the second round. Chicago Bulls: B France is in a nice run of producing NBA players, and Noa Essengue, the No. 12 pick, will give the Bulls another interior option. Cleveland Cavaliers: B Did not have a first-round pick; traded to Utah as part of the Donovan Mitchell deal, which has worked out for the Cavs. They signed him to a three-year, $150.3 million contract that keeps him with the Cavs through at least 2026-27. Cleveland used one of its two second-round picks on Duke's Tyrese Proctor. Dallas Mavericks: A The Mavericks needed luck to get the No. 1 pick – just a 1.8% chance to win the lottery and that's what happened, allowing them to select Cooper Flagg, who brings talent, maturity and an NBA-ready game to a team looking to compete for a title. Denver Nuggets: A Did not have a first-round pick. The Nuggets traded it to Orlando in 2021 in a deal that sent Aaron Gordon to the Nuggets. It helped Denver win a title in 2023. Detroit Pistons: Incomplete Detroit's selection was sent away as part of the 2020 trade that brought 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 selection to Miami, which became Kasparas Jakucionis. While Butler infused defense, veteran experience and more competitiveness to the Warriors, they were eventually eliminated in the second round. Golden State had two second-round picks but those picks are unlikely to impact 2025-26. Houston Rockets: A- The Rockets did not have a first-round pick ... because they traded the No. 10 pick to Phoenix for Kevin Durant, putting them in position to contend for a title after going 52-30 last season and earning the No. 2 seed in the West. Indiana Pacers: Incomplete The Pacers did not have a first-round pick, trading the No. 23 overall selection to the Pelicans, as well as the rights to guard Mojave King. In exchange, the Pacers received their own 2026 first-round selection, which they had originally shipped to Toronto in the deal that brought Pascal Siakam to Indiana. Like Golden State, Indiana had two second-round picks, but the value won't be revealed immediately. Los Angeles Clippers: B With the final pick of the first night, the Clippers bolstered their interior presence, taking forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser out of Penn State. He's still a bit raw, but he should be an excellent developmental backup to center Ivica Zubac. Niederhauser should get plenty of burn as a low block defender — he ranked 12th in the country in blocks per game (2.3) — and should be a lob threat as a finisher. Los Angeles Lakers: B The No. 22 overall selection was part of the package the Lakers sent the Pelicans in the deal that brought center Anthony Davis to Los Angeles. The Lakers moved up from No. 45 to No. 36 and drafted Arkansas' Adou Thiero, who has first-round potential. Memphis Grizzlies: B+ This was all about replacing Desmond Bane, whom Memphis just shipped to the Orlando Magic, but on a budget. Bane had been signed to a max extension in July 2023, so he was going to become pricey. Guard Cedric Coward, a late riser in the draft process, was picked at No. 11. He has ample experience and should play right away. Memphis has a pretty solid track record in recent years of drafting. His size and shooting ability should translate instantly. Miami Heat: B Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis was projected as a lottery pick in several mock drafts, and the Heat got him at No. 20. Milwaukee Bucks: A Did not have a first-round pick; the Bucks traded the pick to New Orleans in 2020, acquiring Jrue Holiday, who helped the Bucks win a title in 2021. Yes, the Bucks are trying to stay competitive with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it's hard to complain about a title. Minnesota Timberwolves: B- The issue with Rudy Gobert is that his offensive game can be inconsistent. And Minnesota's consecutive trips to the Western Conference finals proved that the Timberwolves need more scoring, particularly when teams game plan to take Anthony Edwards out of rhythm. Joan Beringer is only 18, 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 potential. Minnesota's window to win, however, is now, and plenty of plug-and-play prospects were available at 17. New Orleans Pelicans: B- In a vacuum, both Jeremiah Fears (guard, No. 7) and Derik Queen (center, No. 13) are solid players. But they're also both at positions where the Pelicans have established players, which could mean New Orleans will be looking to sell off veterans like point guard Dejounte Murray and power forward Zion Williamson. Queen's skill set — his ball handling, vision, passing and touch — should make him too valuable to sit. The same, frankly, goes for Fears. The Pelicans have very nice pieces; the fit is a little cumbersome. New York Knicks: B- Did not have a first-round pick; the Knicks have traded significant draft capital (no first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031) to build this team. Back-to-back 50-win seasons and an Eastern Conference finals appearance this season are the results so far. Oklahoma City Thunder: B Given it's the Thunder front office led by executive VP/GM Sam Presti and the track record of the Thunder acing the draft, it's a safe bet to say the Thunder found value with the No. 15 pick (Georgetown's Thomas Sorber). Orlando Magic: B At one point during the draft process, Michigan State's Jase Richardson was a projected lottery pick and the Magic got him at No. 25. In the second round, the Magic landed Noah Penda, who has first-round talent, at No. 32. Philadelphia 76ers: B The Sixers passed on Ace Bailey and took defensive-minded guard VJ Edgecombe at No. 3. He will be able to guard multiple positions. Phoenix Suns: C- There's no question: the Suns have wanted a center for a long time. They traded Jusuf Nurkić to the Hornets in the middle of the season and struggled to find a presence down low. Duke's Khaman Maluach at No. 10 — part of the trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston — is actually great value. But, minutes prior, the Suns also reportedly completed a trade to get another former Duke center, Mark Williams, from the Hornets. This reeks of a team that didn't think Maluach would be available, got impatient, and fired off a trade. Now, Phoenix has the opposite issue: it has one big too many. Portland Trail Blazers: C This was another curious first round move. Clearly, Portland loved Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 center from China with fluid athleticism and superb passing ability. But the Trail Blazers now have three centers: Hansen, Robert Williams (who is entering the final year of his contract) and Donovan Clingan (last year's No. 7 overall selection). Even if Portland packages Williams in a salary-shedding move, Hansen, who turned 20 on Thursday, June 26, is only one year younger than Clingan. Despite his impressive skill set, he also might need time to assimilate from the Chinese Basketball Association. Sacramento Kings: B+ The Kings did not have a first round pick to start the night but traded into the first round, acquiring the No. 24 pick from Oklahoma City and drafting Nique Clifford from Colorado State. At No. 42, Sacramento selected Maxime Raynaud, who had emerged as a potential first-round pick late in the draft process. San Antonio Spurs: A The Spurs have the past two rookies of the year (Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle) and just picked Rutgers' Dylan Harper at No. 2 and Arizona's Carter Bryant at No. 14. The Spurs are on their way. Toronto Raptors: B The Raptors are close to making a move in the East, and Collin Murray-Boyles at No. 9 is the kind of player who fits Toronto's system. Utah Jazz: A Danny Ainge struck again. Utah got excellent value at No. 5 with Ace Bailey, an electric player who is built exactly the way teams want their wings. He has effortless athleticism and is a hyper-competitive player who should find easy buckets. And then, in a trade with the Wizards, the Jazz nabbed an experienced guard in Walter Clayton Jr., who has range and the clutch gene. Washington Wizards: B The Wizards targeted guards as part of their extensive rebuild and selected Texas' Tre Johnson sixth and acquired Illinois' Will Riley at No. 21. Washington went after more perimeter scoring in the second round, drafting Florida State's Jamir Watkins at No. 43.
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Lakers Fans Excited After Unexpected Nikola Jokic Trade Message From Nuggets Owner
Lakers Fans Excited After Unexpected Nikola Jokic Trade Message From Nuggets Owner originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Nikola Jokic had a spectacular season, leading the Denver Nuggets with historic performances even as his team fell short in a tough second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The three-time MVP averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists in 70 games, including NBA history‑making 30‑20‑20 and 40‑15-15 outings—proof he remains one of the most dominant big men to ever play in the league. Advertisement On July 8, Jokic becomes eligible for a three‑year, roughly $212 million super‑max extension—with many assuming he will eventually sign. His decision will shape Denver's future, even as financial and roster strategies come into sharper focus. Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic (15).© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images However, an eyebrow‑raising comment from Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke has stunned the NBA. Discussing the consequences of the second apron during a press conference on Tuesday, Kroenke warned that salary constraints mixed with a catastrophic injury could force Denver into considering a Jokic trade—a shocking admission seeing as Jokic is widely viewed as the Nuggets' immutable cornerstone. 'The wrong person gets injured, and very quickly you're in a scenario that I never want to contemplate, and that's trading No. 15," Kroenke admitted. That statement, although hypothetical, quickly sparked reactions from Lakers fans excited about the idea of Jokic potentially being available one day. Advertisement 'He wants to play with Doncic,' one fan wrote 'So I guess Jokic is a Laker,' another fan said. 'It's time,' a Lakers fan posted. 'Jokic to the Lakers confirmed,' another fan declared. 'Lakers dynasty is inevitable lol,' another fan added. '@Lakers idk how but make it happen,' a fan urged LA's front office. While a trade remains exceedingly unlikely, the blockbuster midseason acquisition of Luka Doncic by Los Angeles continues to fuel optimism about the Lakers landing more superstars in the future. In reality, Denver still centers its plans firmly around its MVP big man. But Kroenke's admission serves as a reminder that in today's NBA, no player is truly untouchable. Advertisement Related: Andrew Wiggins to Lakers Trade Report Surfaces After Kevin Durant News Related: Alex Caruso Facing Backlash From Lakers Fans After NBA Finals Message This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
