NBA Draft Review (Round 1)

Reviewing my favorite and least-liked picks of the first round

The NBA Draft is always full of surprises, and last night was no different. There were some shocking picks, and a few players made it out of the first round that I wouldn’t have expected at all.

I’m not an elite scout by any stretch, and my long-term projections for these players don’t particularly matter. We are closing in on the NBA Summer League, though, and that’s where we make our money.

Below, you’ll find my favorite and least-liked picks of the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Favorite Picks

My favorite picks don’t necessarily mean I love the prospect, and I have them higher than everyone else. I simply believe there’s value in where they were selected.

I also want to note that the best pick of the draft was Cooper Flagg. It’s obvious. I don’t need to waste a spot on him.

1.05 - Utah Jazz - Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers

Bailey is a polarizing prospect, but his talent is undeniable. He boasts as much upside as any player in the draft not named Cooper Flagg. If you can get the second-highest ceiling in the draft at Pick 5, it’s a steal.

The other aspect here is that we have teams dying for star power. The top of the draft was a bit strange this year because of the lottery. The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio already have their star players, and they didn’t need the pure upside. The Philadelphia 76ers are also in a weird spot with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid as the focal points of their team.

If this were a more normal draft, Bailey wouldn’t have fallen to 5. He’d have been the third option. It’s also important to note that I highly doubt his pre-draft process of essentially forcing his hand to a specific team won’t mean anything in his career. Utah called his bluff, and he’s going to play for them.

People can hate the way Bailey handled the process, and they can call out that he isn’t polished at the moment, but when you’re looking for star potential at 1.05, he’s an incredible pick.

1.10 - Phoenix Suns - Khaman Maluach, C, Duke

I’m likely way higher on Maluach than you, and that’s why he’s here. Worst-case, he’s going to be a rim protector who can finish at the rim while others create for him. The 18-year-old has solid touch, though, and his shooting is likely far more advanced than he showed in his lone season at Duke.

Maluach is extremely young, but he’s also early in his basketball career. He does so many things well for his age and experience, and he has the tools to grow in the areas that people question.

The only thing I don’t like about this pick is that Phoenix also traded for Mark Williams. Unless they feel absurdly confident in Maluach’s ability to space the floor, those two aren’t going to be playing together.

On the other side, that means Maluach can develop behind a talented big like Williams for a couple of seasons before finding major minutes. Ultimately, it could be good for his long-term potential.

1.20 - Miami Heat - Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois

I’m sure most people feel this way, but Jakucionis is the biggest surprise and the biggest steal of the first round. He could’ve been drafted in the top 10, and I wouldn’t have blinked. Instead, he was taken at 20, and he became the best pick of the round.

He’s outstanding in the pick-and-roll, and he showed flashes of being able to carry an offense at this level. Truthfully, I have very few concerns about his offensive prowess moving forward.

There are some concerns about his defense, though. He’s a willing defender, which is the first step, though, and that’s one of the biggest keys. It may take a bit of time, but I don’t expect him to be a massive liability on defense throughout his career.

If Jakucionis can become more consistent and learn to be a bit more careful with the ball, he’s going to make several teams look foolish for passing on him.

1.21 - Washington Wizards - Will Riley, F, Illinois

This is one of my favorite picks of the round because of the upside and landing spot. The Washington Wizards are in constant need of upside, and that’s exactly what they got here.

Riley isn’t an NBA-ready prospect. He needs to fill out his frame. He needs to become more consistent on both ends of the floor. His offensive ceiling is through the roof, though.

Once Riley adds a bit of muscle and explosiveness, he’s going to be a nightmare for opposing defenses. I’m not entirely sure his defense ever comes along at a solid level, but he’s an offensive option here.

I fully acknowledge that Riley comes with a ton of risk, and Washington isn’t exactly known for developing players, but I also believe he can be a kid who sticks in the NBA for years to come outside of the top 20.

1.29 - Charlotte Hornets - Liam McNeeley, F, UConn

McNeeley was put in a bit of a weird spot at UConn, and he saw mixed results because of that. He was the focal point of the offense, but he was also asked to create for others at times.

The forward isn’t going to be asked to do that in the NBA. He’s going to be a floor spacer, and that’s exactly what Charlotte needs him to do. They have other options who can create, allowing McNeeley to use the best parts of his game.

This isn’t a pick where the Hornets are trying to get the next hidden gem. They’re taking a safer player who will stick around in the league. I have no problems with that at pick 29. You’ll see what I think about that at pick 4 in the next section.

Worst Picks

I do want to clarify that I don’t necessarily believe these are the worst picks because of their talent. I believe they’re the worst picks because of who else was available, the situation that drafted them, and potentially their talent.

1.04 - Charlotte Hornets - Kon Knueppel, G, Duke

I don’t think Knueppel is a bad player. He’s going to be in the NBA for a long time. He has the skillset teams love, but he’s a safe, low-ceiling option for Charlotte. How in the world is that what a team like the Hornets needs with this pick?

Charlotte drafted a player who is extremely similar to Knueppel at 29 in Liam McNeeley. I’m not saying McNeeley is better than Knueppel, and I don’t believe he’s as safe. But he’s very similar and was taken 25 spots later.

The reason I hate this pick is because Tre Johnson was still available. If you’re looking for floor spacing for LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, Johnson fits the bill. I’d argue Knueppel is slightly safer than Johnson, but the latter’s ceiling is drastically higher.

Charlotte is consistently picking in the top 5, and they can take their shot for a potential star who can sit in a lesser role. They aren’t a floor spacer away from making a run at the championship, which is why taking floor over ceiling here doesn’t make sense.

1.07 - New Orleans Pelicans - Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma

Fears has incredible upside as a young player who flashed elite scoring. I don’t love this landing spot, though. On the surface, it doesn’t make all that much sense.

The Pelicans are in need of shooters, and that isn’t the best part of Fears’ game. It isn’t out of the question that he can improve his range, and I’d even argue he will at some point. It’s taking quite a bit of faith, though.

The other aspect is that Fears needs the ball in his hands to be effective. I’m not entirely sure how that’s going to work with Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, and Zion Williamson.

I’m not entirely sure what I would’ve liked New Orleans to do with the obvious 6 options going before their pick. There probably isn’t anyone I would’ve preferred here (maybe Khaman Maluach), but that doesn’t change that I don’t like the fit of Fears here either.

1.08 - Brooklyn Nets - Egor Demin, G, BYU

I don’t hate that a bad Nets team pulled the trigger on upside here. I just preferred several other players for a team without a lot of talent to worry about.

First, I’ll make the claim that Kasparas Jakucionis is better at the point guard position. Second, I obviously preferred Khaman Maluach here, as Brooklyn grabbed their “center” later in the draft in Danny Wolf. Last, there were other higher upside players I’d have preferred, but it doesn’t truly matter that much.

For Demin, this is an elite landing spot. He can find plenty of minutes, but I worry about his jump shot. If he can’t improve as a shooter, he’s going to fizzle out. He also needs to improve his decision-making, which is the case for most young talent.

There’s a ton of upside here. Demin can become a solid starting point guard in the NBA, but there are other options that I prefer here.

1.16 - Portland Blazers - Yang Hansen, C, China

I am beyond confused with this pick. Hansen wasn’t likely to be a first-round pick, so taking him at 16 is already questionable. They could’ve moved down, acquired assets, and still gotten their guy.

It also makes no sense for their roster. First, Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams are making a boatload of money. Granted, their deals are up after the season, so I’m expecting Portland to move on from both of them.

That opens minutes at center, right? Wrong. They just drafted Donovan Clingan, who looks like a good player for them. There’s virtually no chance Clingan and Hansen will be able to play together, so what’s the plan?

I’m not even taking into consideration that Hansen has several questions he needs to answer about moving to the NBA. He’s a solid offensive option who may never become even a decent defender. He also isn’t a floor-spacer, so the lack of defense will show drastically more.

Hansen’s shown flashes, so he could potentially become a good long-term player, but this is still beyond a shocking pick.

1.30 - Los Angeles Clippers - Yanic Konan Niederhauser

Niederhauser has the potential to be a long-term backup center option for Los Angeles. He can be a rim-runner with solid defensive potential in the NBA. I wouldn’t expect more than that, though.

It’s also a great fit for both him and Los Angeles. They need depth behind Ivica Zubac, and that’s a good spot for him to learn the position. All of that is the “good” about this pick.

There’s one thing that makes me hate this pick, though.

Maxime Raynaud.

I’m extremely high on Raynaud, and I believe he’s a drastically better prospect than Niederhauser. This would’ve been one of my favorite picks of the first round if it were the former here.

I also believe Ryan Kalkbrenner would’ve been a better fit for what Los Angeles is looking for. He’s the safer option compared to Niederhauser, and I don’t think the latter has the comparative ceiling to make up for that.