2025 NBA Draft Review: Western Conference

Summer League is underway, and NBA teams will be getting closer looks at their draft selections. Draft Nation grades the Western Conference by each NBA team based on positional need, efficiency of asset use, and prospects’ fits in their new organizations.

Dallas Mavericks: A

Selecting Cooper Flagg first overall wasn’t a surprise. The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery could have had a mock contract for Cooper Flagg hanging in the rafters, waiting for a team to slap their name on the top. Making the obvious pick isn’t flashy, and for others will lower the grade for the Mavericks. However, given the Luka Doncic trade, there is a world where GM Nico Harrison trades the first overall pick to try and recreate the NFL’s Ricky Williams move. Staying simple and getting the best prospect this year will pay dividends.

San Antonio Spurs: A+

Similar to Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper was the consensus second best prospect. Initially this draft would have been an A- because the Spurs already have De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle as their two primary guards. However, getting Carter Bryant, a prototypical 3&D forward, is the exact type of player suited to surround Wemby and company with.

Utah Jazz: A

GM Austin Ainge didn’t blink. Ace Bailey, the third-best prospect in the draft, had been signaling he would hold out if anyone but his selected teams picked him. The Jazz called his bluff and took him at fifth overall. After some initial discontent from Bailey, he’s playing on the Jazz’s summer league team and playing well. Add in the selection of Walter Clayton Jr. at 18th overall as an older and more developed guard prospect, the Jazz had a great draft.

New Orleans Pelicans: C-

In a vacuum, Jeremiah Fears at pick 7, Derik Queen at pick 13, and Micah Peavy at pick 40, are a good draft haul. Fears and Queen are both big swings that could bust—but have oodles of upside. However, Fears and Queen can’t stretch the floor as of now. Having them paired up with Zion Williamson, one of the biggest paint operators in the game, will make it harder for them to develop. Additionally, the Pelicans traded their next year’s first-round pick, which was a swap of the best pick between them and the Bucks. That choice could end up being a top 5 pick.

Phoenix Suns: A+

The Suns traded for Mark Williams on draft night and selected Khaman Maluach at pick 10. They also selected Rasheer Fleming at pick 31 and Koby Brea at pick 41. While this does mean the Sun’s frontcourt will be a log jam, it also means they can let Mark Williams play fewer minutes and focus on getting healthy long term. At the same time, Khaman Maluach won’t have to start day one and will be behind Nick Richards and Mark Williams. Getting the athletic Fleming in the early second added great value, and Koby Brea may be limited, but should be a great floor spacer.

Memphis Grizzlies: B+

The Grizzlies gave up a hefty price in moving from pick 16 to pick 11 to select Cedric Coward. Trading the 2028 Orlando first and two second-round picks to move up 5 spots is a lot, but Coward is a great fit for a Memphis team looking to stay competitive. This move used one of the 4 unprotected first-rounders the Grizzlies got for Desmond Bane. Getting a 3&D wing prospect that will help replace Bane’s shooting and defense is a solid move to save money. If the Grizzlies had used fewer resources to move up, then this would have been a higher grade.

Oklahoma City Thunder: A

OKC just won a championship and are looking to build for the long term. Right now, the Thunder are financially comfortable but given that the majority of their key contributors are still on rookie contracts means they need flexibility. Thomas Sorber at pick 15 gives the Thunder a future replacement for Isaiah Hartenstein. Sorber is a top-level defensive center prospect and will have time to develop behind quality starters and stars. Long term, he could end up providing the sort of impact Naz Reid has given the Timberwolves or Bobby Portis during the Bucks’ championship run.

Portland Trail Blazers: F

Hansen Yang isn’t inherently a bad prospect. However, reaching for a prospect that was projected to be selected in the mid-40s at the 16 spot is such a bad use of a pick. The Blazers could have traded down a second time with a team like the Nets, who still had 4 more picks in the first round, and would have still been able to get Yang with pick 27. If Yang develops into a Jokic, this grade will improve, but the opportunity cost of having Yang and another prospect from a second trade down would still leave this grade at a ceiling of a B.

Minnesota Timberwolves: B

Rudy Gobert isn’t getting any younger, and the Timberwolves’ defense is built around Gobert’s fundamentals as a top-level rim-protector. Getting two center prospects, Joan Beringer at pick 17 and Rocco Zicarsky at pick 45, to eventually replace him is a good plan. However, both Beringer and Zicarsky are very raw prospects who need time to develop, while Anthony Edwards, Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Julius Randle are in their prime. If instead the Timberwolves had gotten a player like Kasparas Jakucionis or Jase Richardson to replace the now heavily regressing Mike Conley at point guard, it would help them now.

Sacramento Kings: B-

Zach Lavine and Demar Derozen weren’t able to get the Bulls past the first round in 2021-22. With the Kings, those two players now have Sabonis as their center. Domantas Sabonis is an All-NBA-level center, but the Kings feel more like a collection of talented players and not a unified team. Although Nique Clifford at pick 24 and Maxime Raynaud at pick 42 are both excellent picks for a team competing now, the team’s questionable foundations make this move harder to justify.

Los Angeles Clippers: B+

If a team that’s competing now isn’t able to get the win-now prospect they wanted, getting a hyper-athletic Yanic Konan Niederhauser at pick 30 is a good consolation. Niederhauser is an older prospect at 22 years old with a very simple offensive game. Despite that, he has the defensive chops to play day one and is an excellent lob threat for the second unit’s offense. Kobe Sanders at pick 50 is the opposite of Niederhauser, Sanders is a 23-year-old athletically average wing with a polished game. The Clippers didn’t make the flashiest picks but are still solid selections for their needs.

Los Angeles Lakers: A-

The Lakers only had pick 55 in the 2025 NBA draft. By just using cash consideration in back-to-back trade-ups, the Lakers got the 36th overall pick. Getting Adou Thiero, one of the most athletic prospects in this year’s draft, can get a major return. Thiero’s game is all about embracing contact on the offense and defensive end. Thiero’s slow jumper and offensive consistency issues are a concern. But, JJ Redick has the opportunity to show if he can mold premium, grade A, NBA clay.

Golden State Warriors: B

The Warriors are relying on head coach Steve Kerr to develop Alex Toohey (pick 52) and Will Richard (pick 56). Both Toohey and Richard have upside as shooters, but also don’t have elite athleticism. Kerr is a great coach, but outside of exceptions like Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney, he doesn’t seem to develop major contributors to the Warriors. Prior busts like James Wiseman were tools-based prospects. Getting skills-based prospects could work out if they learn Kerr’s scheme, but even veteran NBA players struggle to adapt.

Denver Nuggets: N/A

The Nuggets didn’t make a draft selection at the 2025 NBA Draft. They did sign undrafted free agent Tamar Bates (Missouri) to a two-way. Bates doesn’t have elite athleticism, and while his fundamentals are solid, he isn’t elite at anything in particular. If he develops further, he could be a rotational wing, but first he needs to get beyond his two-way contract.

Houston Rockets: A+

Trading the 10th overall pick, Jalen Green, Dillion Brooks, and two second-round picks to get Kevin Durant is the ultimate win-now move. The Rockets have a strong roster that was lacking good volume scoring. Jalen Green was supposed to be the top-level leading scorer for the Rockets. They have amazing pieces in Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams, Amen Thompson, and Fred VanVleet. Right now, the roster has shown it’s ready for a championship run. Kevin Durant is aging, but having a top 5 defense around him will let him fully focus on scoring at a Hall of Fame level. Amazing use of assets.