2025 NBA Draft Review: Eastern Conference

With the dust settled on the 2025 NBA Draft, it’s time to evaluate the draft selections and how well each team addressed their needs in the Draft. Draft Nation offers its thoughts on the Eastern Conference and grades to each NBA team based on positional need, efficiency of asset use, and prospects’ fits in their new organizations:

Philadelphia 76ers: B+

There is only so much a team can do when two of their max contract players are regressing and struggling with injuries. The 76ers did a good job in helping solidify their future backcourt with 3rd overall pick, hyper-athletic guard VJ Edgecombe. With Tyrese Maxey entering his prime and sophomore Jared McCain showing flashes before injury his rookie year, Edgecombe provides elite defensive upside and flexibility. 

Johni Broomi at pick 35 will step in as a solid rotation player with limited upside due to average athleticism.

Charlotte Hornets: A-

It’s a year late but the selections of Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley in the first round give the Hornets the 3-point shooting they desperately need. Both Knueppel and McNeeley project to be top-level floor spacers, which will help Lamelo Ball and Brandon Miller. 

In round two, Sion James has a limited ceiling but will be a solid defense-focused rotational guard. Ryan Kalkbrenner has a foot speed concern, but should soak up Mark Williams’ minutes as a defensive center.

Washington Wizards: A

Tre Johnson is one of the best scorers in this class. He will instantly stretch the floor and will have great veterans in shooting experts CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton to learn from. Will Riley will need to add muscle, but his off-ball movement is advanced for his age and will help the offense. Replacing the streaky and expensive Jordan Poole and inefficient volume scorer Kyle Kuzma with Tre Johnson and Will Riley is a major turnaround for the franchise.

Brooklyn Nets: C+

The Nets had 5 first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, and only a few teams have had that many picks, much less not consolidated them into a high draft position. The Nets drafted three guards, one wing, and one big. All the players they picked were upside picks, and none of the three guards have good 3-point shots. Also, they passed on players like Will Riley and Liam McNeeley, who brought skill sets they don’t have. This grade could entirely turn around if Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, or Ben Saraf develop their 3-pointers.

Toronto Raptors: B

Collin Murray-Boyles is a great prospect; however, he doesn’t solve the issue of the Raptors struggling with spacing. Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett will create spacing in the aggregate, but all of them have been only above-average shooters. Collin Murray-Boyles will be a solid rotation piece, and a spark plug off the bench, at a minimum. Whether he is more than that will depend on how much his defense gels with the Raptors’ defensive philosophy and if his outside shot improves.

Chicago Bulls: B+

Picking Noa Essengue fits what the Bulls needed out of this draft, embracing the youth movement and a project like Essengue, who has all the physical tools to become a solid starting big, fits this well. Pairing Essengue with a good playmaker like Josh Giddey should help with his development. The big question is whether Essengue can harness his agility and movement.

Miami Heat: A+

The Heat got an early Christmas present in Kasparas Jakucionis at pick 20. Jakucionis is one of the best playmakers in this draft with an average self-creation toolkit. And the Heat has a knack for developing smart players. Jakucionis has elite passing instincts and diagnoses defenses quickly. Giving him to Erik Spoelstra could spell the return of the Heat to the top of their throne in the Eastern Conference.

Atlanta Hawks: A

Looking solely at the draft the Hawks didn’t have a standout day. However, their use of the 13th overall pick to secure Asa Newell at 23 and getting the Pelicans’ unprotected first for next year can pay off major dividends. The Hawks already got Kristaps Porzingis to help now and got an athletic project in Asa Newell to potentially replace Porzingis in a few years. This sort of team building is how clubs stay relevant and compete in the playoffs year after year. However, Newell has to hit or else they could have had a more developed player like Nique Clifford, who was selected with the next pick.

Orlando Magic: A-

Jase Richardson was a good value selection at 25th overall. Despite his size concerns, he went to one of the best situations for him. Until Richardson, the Magic’s heart was only for jumbo-sized guards. Richardson’s shooting and feel for the game have good development potential. 

The Magic also used their picks to get Desmond Bane and got Noah Penda in the second round. Penda has great physical tools for a future defensive Swiss Army knife.

Boston Celtics: B+

The plan is clear. The Celtics have shed salary space and retained top-level talent. Hugo Gonzalez is a high-energy defensive wing with great agility. While his shot is questionable, having someone who can eventually play alongside Tatum and take the defensive load off him is a solid bet to make. Amari Williams is also not a spicy pick, but getting a high-floor rotational big with shot blocking chops and good positioning is still the pick teams need to make.

Detroit Pistons: A-

Considering the Pistons only had the 37th overall pick, Chaz Lanier is a very solid selection. The Pistons need more spacing, so getting one of the best shooters in the draft fills that need. Lanier is also good off-ball and won’t just be a catch-and-shoot threat. While he is 23 years old and won’t have much time to develop further, Cade Cunningham and the Pistons’ core are entering their prime now. Drafting one of the best players available who also fits the team's needs will keep the Pistons on an upward trajectory.

Indiana Pacer: A

The Pacers are preparing for next season to be a bad one. Without Haliburton the realistic ceiling for the Pacers is a playoff team. With that being the case, getting two veteran college guards in Kam Jones and Taelon Peter, who will now have a year to develop before being asked to be rotation pieces. 

The Pacers struggled with playmaking after Haliburton went down in game seven. Jones and Peter will have a year to build chemistry and hone their shooting before Haliburton is back. Also, trading this year’s first-round pick to get back their first round pick for next year could pay dividends if the Pacers end up in the lottery.

Milwaukee Bucks: C+

The Bucks have lost the majority of the core that won them the 2021 championship. Only two players remain, Giannis Antetokoumpo and Pat Connaughton. 

At pick 47, Bogoljub Marković is a good prospect for the second round, with a low floor and starting-level ceiling. However, Marković is a draft and stash player, and the Bucks need players who can be ready for the NBA in a year or two. They can’t waste Giannis’ prime, and he is already 30 years old.

Cleveland Cavaliers: B

Tyrese Proctor at pick 49 is a good bet to make for the Cavs. Proctor entered Duke with tons of potential, but each year his role got smaller. If he continues to develop as he has, he will be a solid catch-and-shoot threat. Also, he will be comfortable playing a more diminished role on a contending team. If he hits any of his potential from his freshman year, then the Cavs got a steal. Taking a flyer at pick 58 on Saliou Niang, a draft-and-stash from the Italian LBA, could pay dividends but it’s unclear what the 21-year-old Senegalese projects to be.

New York Knicks: D

At pick 51, the Knicks took a flyer on Mohamed Diawara. This grade is not because of the quality of prospect Diawara is. Getting draft-and-stash players is not inherently a bad idea, but the Knicks are competing for a championship now and need players who are available to contribute now. Passing on Alex Toohey, the jack of all trades from Australia, and John Tonje, the 24-year-old super senior from Wisconsin, hurts their championship window.