2025 NBA Draft: Fantasy and Reality First Round Report Cards—Chicago Bulls Get Detention
The Bulls' 2025 first-round draft pick is another iteration of the Bulls' 2024 first-round draft pick. Oops.
IN THE FIRST ROUND of the 2024 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls drafted a 6’10”, 200-pound teenager.
In the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls drafted a 6’10, 204-pound teenager.
Granted, last season’s top pick, Matas Buzelis, acquitted himself quite well in the second half of the season, averaging 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds after becoming a fixture in the starting lineup, numbers that would’ve had him finishing, respectively, second and fifth in points and rebounds amongst rookies.
On paper, a pair of Buzelises in the building would be a beautiful thing, as you can never have enough athletic positionless bigs.
But on another piece of paper, the Bulls don’t need another athletic positionless big. The need a freakin’ center and a freakin’ small forward.
Maryland’s Derik Queen—who was chosen with the 13th pick, one after the Bulls at 12—would’ve looked lovely in the United Center paint. And a trade-down to land Illinois wing Will Riley wouldn’t have been a terrible idea.
As it is, Chicago rolls into the season with a rookie project—who won’t do much in the way of contributing for a season or three—added to the same basic roster that won them a whopping 39 games in 2024-25.
Oh, did I mention their intelligence-challenged front office couldn’t pull off a trade? I didn’t? Well, their intelligence-challenged front office couldn’t pull off a trade. So we have another year of Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Huerter, and (ugh) Patrick Williams
So yeah, the Bulls stunk up the draft again, but there were a whole lot of teams that did just fine with their selection. And I’m jealous.
Here’re my final first-round grades for each draftee in both the reality and fantasy categories. Do with this information what you will.
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, him too. Flagg will make some of it up with hustle stats, but it won’t be a LeBron-esque stat line. 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 remember, that hefty Slovenian dude 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 will be 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…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 a must-draft.
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. (See what I did there? Philly? The process? Nailed it.)
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, 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 serious need of everything. A pest on both sides of the court, Knueppel will give them a 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 will argue about the sheer talent and potential.
FANTASY GRADE: B+
The eternally-rebuilding Jazz are desperate for some electricity, and should give Bailey all the burn he can handle. If Lauri Markkanen is moved, bump this up to an A-
REALITY GRADE: A
A team as rudderless as the Jazz did the 200% right thing in grabbing a player that some GMs 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 have overlapping skill sets—but he’ll 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 oodles of needs, so there you go.
7) New Orleans Pelicans
Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma
The Skinny: He’s confident, he strong, and he possesses 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 from this 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 pro experience—however, he doesn’t have much in the way 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 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 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 engine who would be scary in the 1990s version of the NBA. Or, for that matter, the 2020s version of the NBA.
FANTASY GRADE: C+
CMB might be one of those guys whose impact won’t be seen in the box score. But 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—and belong there—on opening night, ta-da.
10) Phoenix Suns
Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
The Skinny: Four years from now, we might view this raw big as the draft’s best player. Except for, y’know, Cooper Flagg
FANTASY GRADE: B-
With newly-acquired Mark Williams in the mix, the Suns’ paint situation is, to put it politely, gnarly. Maluach likely won’t slide into the starting lineup early in the season, if ever, but if he can get 20-25 minutes a night, he could single-handedly win you the blocks category.
REALITY GRADE: B
It’ll take time for him to marinate, but the Suns have all the time in the world.
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: D+
It’ll be hard to see Coward racking up enough minutes to make any significant fantasy impact. Could be a waiver wire wonder…but probably not.
REALITY GRADE: B-
Coward will be a good piece in Memphis, and Memphis sure as heck needs pieces. He’s a few years away from being scary, but the Grizz aren’t in any rush.
12) Chicago Bulls
Noa Essengue, F, France
The Skinny: Talent galore, but is at least two campaigns away from being a starting-level option.
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…but 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, though.
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 at 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 run 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 inevitable.
16) Portland Trail Blazers
Yang Hansen, C, China
The Skinny: Hansen’s film is neat-o, but it’s not like he was playing against Duke. Then again, neither was Giannis.
FANTASY GRADE: F
He’ll be buried 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 draft-worthy.
REALITY GRADE: B-
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 in the league, 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 Bulls), and these guards could make this 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 plays. 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 the Beehive State, 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 needs some seasoning. But the Nets can afford to wait, especially for somebody this twitchy.
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 won’t have enough opportunity to help get your fantasy squad across the finish line.
REALITY GRADE: B-
Newell will be in the why-did-he-slide-so-far conversation by March. He’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: B-
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: B-
The Magic landed Desmond Bane, but they didn’t land his backup, so Richardson could carve out a useful role as the team’s #2 gunner, and #2 gunners can give your fantasy team some love.
REALITY GRADE: B
Consistent burn in a mature offense will eventually make up for Jase’s height issues, so in about three 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 defensive holes. And, frankly, offensive holes.
FANTASY GRADE: F
The Nets have a zillion young guards, and one of them has to live on the bench. This’ll be the one. For now.
REALITY GRADE: D
When you have as many first rounders as the Nets do, you can take some wild swings. Saraf is pretty darn wild.
27) Brooklyn Nets
Danny Wolf, C, Michigan
The Skinny: What the big man lacks in athleticism, he makes up for in smarts, vision, and handles.
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 your fantasy playoffs.
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 undrafted.
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 rim-protecting machine, the primary reason he’s the first-ever Nittany Lion first-rounder.
FANTASY GRADE: D-
Best case scenario, he’s a weekly rental if you need some blocks. But even that’s a stretch.
REALITY GRADE: D-
Hey, it’s the last pick in the first round. May as well.