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2025 NBA Draft: Deni Avdija, Thomas Sorber among the fantasy winners

If the days in the immediate aftermath of the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the NBA Finals are any indication, this will be a busy summer on the trade market. Kevin Durant and Kristaps Porzingis are among those who have already been dealt, and there were also multiple transactions during the draft's first round on Wednesday. With that in mind, Rotoworld writers Raphielle Johnson and Noah Rubin have picked some winners and losers from this week's transactions and draft picks.

Fantasy Winners

Deni Avdija

The immediate focus of many after Portland's decision to trade Anfernee Simons to Boston was on ScootHenderson and ShaedonSharpe, and it makes sense, as they should receive more opportunities to play on the ball. However, Avdija may be the Trail Blazer best equipped to benefit from a fantasy standpoint due to his versatility. After the All-Star break, he was a top-50 player in nine-cat formats, averaging 23.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.4 three-pointers per game. What Portland does with JeramiGrant and DeandreAyton will merit tracking this summer. Still, it's difficult to envision a scenario where Avdija does not figure prominently in the team's offensive game plan next season. (Johnson)

Egor Demin

I’ve been a bit lower on Demin than many others, but even I have to admit that this is a favorable situation for him. Brooklyn is in the early stages of a rebuild and made it a point of emphasis in this draft to add ball handlers. They selected Demin with the No. 8 pick, which means they’ll put the ball in his hands early and often on a bad team. He’s going to be inefficient in year one, but the 6’9” point guard should provide plenty of points, rebounds and assists. He focused on showcasing his perimeter shooting during workouts, and if that is legit, this is a recipe for an excellent rookie year for Demin. (Rubin)

Amen Thompson

Thompson was another player whose fantasy value jumped considerably after the All-Star break, as he provided top-25 value in nine-cat formats. The exits of JalenGreen and DillonBrooks mean there will be less of a logjam on the wings, and the addition of KevinDurant should result in assist increases for those capable of setting him up. Thompson has only scratched the surface of his potential, and he should continue to progress, even with the Rockets reportedly bringing back starting point guard FredVanVleet. Amen may not be a top-25 player next season, but he can provide value in all categories except for three-pointers and free-throw percentage. (Johnson)

Rasheer Fleming

In my mind, Fleming was closer to a lottery pick than a second-round pick. Phoenix had to make a few moves to get him, but I think it’ll be worth it. The Suns have a ton of shot creators, and that is probably Fleming’s biggest weakness. He’s a three-and-D forward with a 7’5” wingspan. What more can you want? Even though he slipped further than he should’ve, he’ll have a chance to play a significant role in year one for a team that will be looking to compete for a postseason spot. I’m not saying I believe they’ll get one, but they’ll give it their all! (Rubin)

Ryan Kalkbrenner

With Charlotte trading Mark Williams to the Suns on Wednesday, they had a significant void to address at the center position. The Hornets did that with the 34th overall pick, selecting Kalkbrenner. Projected by some to be a late-first-round pick, the former Creighton standout slipped into the second round. While Kalkbrenner made strides throughout his college career, the defensive end of the floor is where his bread is truly buttered. The first four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year since Patrick Ewing, Kalkbrenner provides elite rim protection. He's in a spot where starting as a rookie will be possible, depending on what the Hornets do in free agency. (Johnson)

Thomas Sorber

Just to be clear, Sorber isn’t a short-term winner. But in the long run, he’s in a perfect situation to be a stud, and it could happen sooner than we think. IsaiahHartenstein has a team option for the 2026-27 season, and if Sorber is progressing the way they want him to, he could fill the Hartenstein role by his second season in the league. It may not be a 30+ minute per game role, but Sorber projects to have a high-impact statset in fantasy basketball. For Georgetown, he provided rebounds and defensive stats, but he was also a pretty good passer for a big and showcased enough shooting touch for me to be intrigued by it. (Rubin)

Fantasy Losers

Portland's bigs

The Trail Blazers shocked many by selecting YangHansen with the 16th overall pick on Wednesday. However, this isn't simply about general manager Joe Cronin rolling the dice after trading down five spots. The issue is that Portland will go into free agency with four centers: Yang, 2024 lottery pick DonovanClingan, DeandreAyton and RobertWilliams. While Clingan's spot should be secure, it's beyond time for Portland to move Ayton (last season's starter when healthy) or Williams, if not both. The feeling heading into February's trade deadline was that the Blazers would move one of the veteran centers, but both remained. The worst-case scenario for Clingan would be for Portland not to do anything this summer, with the logjam limiting his ceiling considerably. (Johnson)

Collin Murray-Boyles

I really, really liked CMB as a fantasy prospect. I thought he had a chance to be one of the best fantasy rookies next season. Unfortunately, he landed on a team that already has a handful of players that play similar roles that also struggle to shoot the ball. Can CMB and ScottieBarnes coexist on the floor together? I’m not optimistic, and while I still think Murray-Boyles can be a really good fantasy player, the path for that to happen isn’t exactly clear at this point. He could’ve started on most of the other teams that drafted in this range. (Rubin)

Isaiah Collier and Keyonte George

While Utah technically did not select WalterClaytonJr. during Wednesday's first round, his arrival will make it three straight years in which the Jazz have added a point guard in the draft. KeyonteGeorge was the choice in 2023, and through two seasons, he's failed to make the starting job his own. IsaiahCollier, last year's first-round pick, leapfrogged George in the pecking order. However, while a solid defender and playmaker, he did not do enough last season to show he's capable of running the show long-term. Adding Clayton to the mix increases the competition for playing time, and the Jazz still have CollinSexton and JordanClarkson. From a fantasy standpoint, Sexton may be the only one worth the risk, and he may be a player the Jazz look to move at some point. (Johnson)

Stephon Castle

We’ve known this was coming for a while, but now it’s official. San Antonio selected DylanHarper with the No. 2 pick, and De’AaronFox will be back healthy next season. Castle was awesome as a rookie and still has a bright future ahead of him. However, Fox is ahead of him on the depth chart right now, and it won’t take long for Harper to surpass Castle. He should start next season, but he wasn’t as productive in an off-ball role. Now, the Spurs have added another player to take touches away from him. Don’t be surprised if Castle’s production takes a hit in year two. (Rubin)

Khaman Maluach

Down the line, Maluach has the potential to be a fantasy "winner." Unfortunately, Wednesday's events likely hurt the rookie's fantasy value in 2024-25. In addition to drafting Maluach, the Suns acquired MarkWilliams from the Hornets. Those decisions were wise based on how bad Phoenix's center rotation was last season. However, Maluach may initially be in a difficult spot regarding playing time. Something that may preserve the rookie's fantasy value is Williams' injury history, as he has not played 50 games or more in any of his three seasons as a pro. (Johnson)

Onyeka Okongwu

The Hawks gave us a little teaser of what life would be like with Okongwu as a starting center that plays 30+ minutes per game next to TraeYoung. It was glorious. Of course, it was all a setup for them to tear our pure, innocent hearts out once again. Sure, it was incredible value for them to trade for KristapsPorzingis, and they made more excellent moves, yada, yada, yada. I just wanted one full season of Okongwu away from a minutes split. I fear it will never come. I would imagine that Okongwu will still start, but they’ll likely both see around 26-28 minutes per game, with a few minutes of shared time on the floor. It’s exciting times for Hawks fans. But it’s a time of mourning for the Okongwu truthers that still believe. (Rubin)

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Second-round pick trades already started, setting up Suns with No. 31 pick, expected to take Rasheer Fleming

In the wake of a series of trades before the start of the second round of the NBA Draft Thursday night, the Phoenix Suns have set themselves up to select Saint Joseph’s 3&D wing Rasheer Fleming, who unexpectedly fell to the second round.

There have been three second-round pick trades already, and two of them set up the Suns with the No. 31 pick. First, Brooklyn traded the No. 36 pick to Phoenix for two future second-round picks, a story reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.

Then the Suns traded the No. 36 pick and two future second-round picks to Minnesota for the No. 31 pick, also reported by Charania, who added the Suns are targeting Flemming.

Flemming is a 21-year-old, 6'8" wing who averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks a game for St. Joseph's last season.

There was one more second-round pre-draft trade, where the Suns sent the No. 52 and No. 59 picks in the 2025 draft to the Golden State Warriors for No. 41, a deal also reported by Charania.

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Report: Sixers to sign Hunter Sallis to 2-way contract

Report: Sixers to sign Hunter Sallis to 2-way contract  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers reportedly agreed to sign Hunter Sallis to a two-way contract minutes after the conclusion of the NBA draft on Thursday night. 

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Sallis is set to join the team on a two-way deal.

Sallis, 22, averaged 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals last season at Wake Forest. He was a heavy-minute, high usage player for the Demon Decons after two years at Gonzaga, playing nearly 36 minutes per game. 

Sallis measured at 6-foot-3.75 inches without shoes and 181 pounds at the NBA draft combine. His wingspan is 6-10. 

As an outside shooter, Sallis had one excellent year in college — 40.5 percent from three-point range as a junior — and three seasons below 30 percent. He made 78.7 percent of his college free throws and is quite comfortable in the mid-range. 

Draft expert Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote that Sallis is “absolutely worth a two-way contract to see what he can become, as he’s very silky and smooth with the ball in his hands and has a nasty midrange game that could continue to develop over the coming years. But he probably needs to put at least 15 pounds on his frame in the next few years to have success on both ends.” 

Along with Sallis, the Sixers currently have Alex Reese on a two-way contract. They drafted VJ Edgecombe at No. 3 overall and Johni Broome at No. 35.

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Report: Sixers to sign Hunter Sallis to 2-way contract

Report: Sixers to sign Hunter Sallis to 2-way contract  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers reportedly agreed to sign Hunter Sallis to a two-way contract minutes after the conclusion of the NBA draft on Thursday night. 

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Sallis is set to join the team on a two-way deal.

Sallis, 22, averaged 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals last season at Wake Forest. He was a heavy-minute, high usage player for the Demon Decons after two years at Gonzaga, playing nearly 36 minutes per game. 

Sallis measured at 6-foot-3.75 inches without shoes and 181 pounds at the NBA draft combine. His wingspan is 6-10. 

As an outside shooter, Sallis had one excellent year in college — 40.5 percent from three-point range as a junior — and three seasons below 30 percent. He made 78.7 percent of his college free throws and is quite comfortable in the mid-range. 

Draft expert Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote that Sallis is “absolutely worth a two-way contract to see what he can become, as he’s very silky and smooth with the ball in his hands and has a nasty midrange game that could continue to develop over the coming years. But he probably needs to put at least 15 pounds on his frame in the next few years to have success on both ends.” 

The Sixers also reportedly came to agreements with several other undrafted rookies late Thursday night. 

PhillyVoice’s Adam Aaronson reported that the team will sign Izan Almansa to an Exhibit 10 contract, which is a one-year, non-guaranteed deal that can be converted into a two-way contract before the start of the regular season. Players on Exhibit 10 contracts can receive a bonus if they begin the season with an organization’s G League affiliate and stay there for at least 60 days.

Almansa is a 20-year-old Spanish frontcourt player who averaged 7.2 points and 4.0 rebounds for the Perth Wildcats in Australia’s National Basketball League last season. 

DraftExpress’ Jon Chepkevich reported that Igor Milicic Jr. has agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with the Sixers. Milicic, who was listed at 6-10, 225 pounds by Tennessee, posted 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game as a Vol in his senior year of college. 

Chepkevich reported that Saint Thomas will join the Sixers at summer league.

Along with Sallis, the Sixers currently have Alex Reese on a two-way contract. They drafted VJ Edgecombe at No. 3 overall and Johni Broome at No. 35.

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Where key undrafted rookies signed after 2025 NBA Draft

Where key undrafted rookies signed after 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2025 NBA Draft is still going on for those who didn’t hear their names called.

Fifty-nine players were selected in the two-night draft, with Jahmai Mashack being the last pick going to Memphis. The New York Knicks had a second-rounder docked for tampering violations in 2022 when signing Jalen Brunson,

Ryan Nembhard, Caleb Love and Hunter Dickinson were among the notable undrafted rookies who now have a new home.

Here’s what to know as players sign different deals, such as two-way contracts or Exhibit 10 deals and more:

2025 NBA Draft undrafted rookies tracker

Nembhard, Dickinson and Love are all headed to the Western Conference. Here’s a running list:

  • Ryan Nembhard, G, Gonzaga: Dallas Mavericks (two-way)
  • Hunter Dickinson, C, Kansas: New Orleans Pelicans (two-way)
  • Caleb Love, G, Arizona: Portland Trail Blazers (two-way)
  • Eric Dixon, F, Villanova: Los Angeles Lakers (two-way)
  • Mark Sears, G, Alabama: Milwaukee Bucks (two-way)
  • RJ Luis Jr., F, St. John’s: Utah Jazz (two-way)
  • Hunter Sallis, G/F, Wake Forest: Philadelphia 76ers (two-way)
  • Vlad Goldin, C, Michigan: Miami Heat (two-way)
  • Miles Kelly, G, Auburn: Mavericks (two-way)
  • Dylan Cardwell, C, Auburn: Sacramento Kings (two-way)
  • Steve Settle III, F, Temple: Heat (Exhibit 10)
  • RJ Davis, G, UNC: Lakers (Exhibit 10)
  • Augustas Marčiulionis, G, Saint Mary’s: Lakers (Exhibit 10)
  • Payton Sandfort, F, Iowa: Oklahoma City Thunder (Exhibit 10)
  • Chucky Hepburn, G, Louisville: Toronto Raptors (two-way)
  • Moussa Cisse, C, Memphis: Mavericks (Exhibit 10)
  • Igor Miličić Jr., F, Tennessee: 76ers (Exhibit 10)
  • Chance McMillan, G, Texas Tech: Golden State Warriors (Exhibit 10)
  • L.J. Cryer, G, Houston: Warriors (Exhibit 10)
  • Grant Nelson, F, Alabama: Brooklyn Nets (Exhibit 10)

This is a developing story and will be updated…

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Ace Baily's representiatives reportedly told team with top five pick he would not report if drafted

Ace Bailey's representative reportedly told one team with a top-five pick in the 2025 NBA Draft that if it selected Bailey, he would not report to them, according to a new story from Jonathan Givony and Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

Whether or not they were told that — and despite not working him out — the Utah Jazz selected Ace Bailey with the No. 5 pick Wednesday night. It was not a reach by the Jazz — Bailey has arguably the second highest ceiling of any player in this year's draft and Utah needs high-level talent — but the sense in league circles heading into the draft was that Bailey and his representative, Omar Cooper, had a promise and/or were trying to steer the Rutgers star to Washington or Brooklyn. Cooper denied that in the same ESPN report.

"Every NBA team watched him work out in Chicago," Cooper told ESPN. "He did 18 interviews. Everyone got his medical. They watched him run and jump. They got his measurements... There is nothing uncommon about how Ace Bailey's pre-draft process was handled."

Bailey, for his part, echoed the same idea at the draft, stating that he was not worried about where he was selected or what people thought about his unusual pre-draft strategy of avoiding workouts.

"They feel how they feel," Bailey said. "But my team and me, are focusing on basketball and them doing what they're doing, so it happens."

If the report is true, Bailey's options were always limited if a team called his bluff. He can choose not to report to the Jazz (or whoever drafted him), but he cannot return to college after staying in the draft. Additionally, if he plays professionally overseas next season, the Jazz retain his draft rights. The only way to end up with another team is to sit out an entire year, not playing professionally anywhere, then re-enter the draft. However, that is a crap shoot because who knows what the draft order will be a year from now and what team's priorities will be.

Bailey, a 6'8" wing, was projected as a top-three pick for much of the year. Bailey looks like a prototypical NBA wing on paper: Great positional size, a high-level athlete, high motor, shot 36.7% from 3 in college, can create his own shot, and is a tough shot maker who averaged 18.4 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. However, not all scouts were convinced he would come close to reaching that potential in the NBA. Those concerns, plus his pre-draft strategy of no workouts and some interviews that left teams confused, saw him slide a couple of spots to No. 5, where the Jazz snapped him up before Washington or Brooklyn had the chance.

Bailey is likely to make his Jazz debut at the Utah Summer League, which starts on July 5 in Salt Lake City.

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What fans need to know about Celtics second-round pick Max Shulga

What fans need to know about Celtics second-round pick Max Shulga originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

After trading down from No. 32 overall, the Boston Celtics used the No. 57 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to select VCU guard Max Shulga.

Shulga played the last two seasons with the Rams after spending his first three collegiate seasons at Utah State. He averaged 15.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 38.7 percent from 3-point range last season.

Shulga’s 3-point prowess fits the Celtics mold, but he’s also a smart, decisive passer. The 23-year-old guard’s balanced skill set helped him earn First-Team All-Atlantic 10 nods twice at VCU.

The C’s focused on international talent with all three of their draft picks. They selected Spanish guard Hugo Gonzalez at No. 28 overall, British center Amari Williams at No. 46, and the Ukraine native Shulga at No. 57.

Shulga will reunite with one of his former college teammates when he joins the Celtics. He and Boston big man Neemias Queta played together for one season at Utah State.

Williams and Shulga are expected to join the Celtics on two-way contracts.

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These are the best picks from the second round of 2025 NBA Draft

These are the best picks from the second round of 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The second year of the NBA’s two-night draft is in the books.

Compared to the beginning of the first round, there were much more trades at the front as teams scrambled to add some of the better prospects left.

Still, there were a couple of possible steals coming beyond the 30s, including a stretch center and a Duke product.

Let’s analyze the second round of the 2025 draft further with some of the best picks on the night:

Maxime Raynaud, C, Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings picked arguably one of the more intriguing center prospects in the draft at No. 42. Raynaud is a 22-year-old 7-foot-1 French center who has close ties to Victor Wembanyama off the hardwood. In some ways, their games are similar. Raynaud is a strong rebounder on both ends of the court, while having the prized trait of shooting at his size. The Stanford product hit 34.7% of his 3s this past season on 5.5 attempts. That gives a rebuilding Sacramento something key to work with as he looks to get good minutes behind Domantas Sabonis.

Chaz Lanier, G/F, Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are coming off a promising season of their own, making the playoffs after a disastrous run under Monty Williams. They added to their young core with 6-foot-4 guard Chaz Lanier at No. 37. The one-season Tennessee Volunteer played four seasons at North Florida before making the switch, averaging 18 points per game. His biggest trait is the mix of his 3-point volume and percentage. Lanier, 23, shot 39.5% from deep on 8.2 attempts, which could help him with minutes early as a catch-and-shoot option for Cade Cunningham.

Tyrese Proctor, G/F, Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland finished as the No. 1 seed out East and finally built an identity in the post-LeBron James era(s). But the Cavs disappointingly fell short in the playoffs in the second round, still needing some areas of growth. They added to their wing department at No. 49, nabbing Duke’s Tyrese Proctor. Proctor, 6-foot-5, can play on and off the ball and averaged 12.4 points on a stacked Blue Devils team that had three top-10 picks this draft. Proctor, 21, had a solid shooting split of 45/40/68. The free-throw percentage is likely a one off given he went 87% as a freshman and 75.5% as a sophomore, though the downward trend is something to watch.

Rasheer Fleming, F, Phoenix Suns

The Suns were aggressive in the second round and moved up to pick first. With Kevin Durant gone, Phoenix took 6-foot-9 forward Rasheer Fleming out of Saint Joseph’s. The soon-to-be 21-year-old averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.4 steals and 1.3 assists on a 53/39/74 shooting split. Of course, he’s nowhere near Durant’s level and longevity, but with the Suns desperately needing more young talent at cheaper costs, there’s no wonder they went all out for someone like Fleming. He should get key minutes from the get go.

Kam Jones, G, Indiana Pacers

The reigning Eastern Conference champs added to their wing core at No. 38, taking Marquette wing Kam Jones. The 23-year-old played all four seasons with the program, most recently averaging 19.2 points, 5.9 assists. 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals, all college bests. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 48% from the floor, 31% from deep and 64.8% from the charity stripe. He did shoot 39% from deep as a freshman and 40.6% as a junior both on strong volume, but his free-throw percentages have typically been in the 60s. Still, with Tyrese Haliburton set to miss significant time with his torn Achilles, Jones could get his moments to show what he can bring to a hopeful contender.

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These are the best picks from the second round of 2025 NBA Draft

These are the best picks from the second round of 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The second year of the NBA’s two-night draft is in the books.

Compared to the beginning of the first round, there were much more trades at the front as teams scrambled to add some of the better prospects left.

Still, there were a couple of possible steals coming beyond the 30s, including a stretch center and a Duke product.

Let’s analyze the second round of the 2025 draft further with some of the best picks on the night:

Maxime Raynaud, C, Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings picked arguably one of the more intriguing center prospects in the draft at No. 42. Raynaud is a 22-year-old 7-foot-1 French center who has close ties to Victor Wembanyama off the hardwood. In some ways, their games are similar. Raynaud is a strong rebounder on both ends of the court, while having the prized trait of shooting at his size. The Stanford product hit 34.7% of his 3s this past season on 5.5 attempts. That gives a rebuilding Sacramento something key to work with as he looks to get good minutes behind Domantas Sabonis.

Chaz Lanier, G/F, Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are coming off a promising season of their own, making the playoffs after a disastrous run under Monty Williams. They added to their young core with 6-foot-4 guard Chaz Lanier at No. 37. The one-season Tennessee Volunteer played four seasons at North Florida before making the switch, averaging 18 points per game. His biggest trait is the mix of his 3-point volume and percentage. Lanier, 23, shot 39.5% from deep on 8.2 attempts, which could help him with minutes early as a catch-and-shoot option for Cade Cunningham.

Tyrese Proctor, G/F, Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland finished as the No. 1 seed out East and finally built an identity in the post-LeBron James era(s). But the Cavs disappointingly fell short in the playoffs in the second round, still needing some areas of growth. They added to their wing department at No. 49, nabbing Duke’s Tyrese Proctor. Proctor, 6-foot-5, can play on and off the ball and averaged 12.4 points on a stacked Blue Devils team that had three top-10 picks this draft. Proctor, 21, had a solid shooting split of 45/40/68. The free-throw percentage is likely a one off given he went 87% as a freshman and 75.5% as a sophomore, though the downward trend is something to watch.

Rasheer Fleming, F, Phoenix Suns

The Suns were aggressive in the second round and moved up to pick first. With Kevin Durant gone, Phoenix took 6-foot-9 forward Rasheer Fleming out of Saint Joseph’s. The soon-to-be 21-year-old averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.4 steals and 1.3 assists on a 53/39/74 shooting split. Of course, he’s nowhere near Durant’s level and longevity, but with the Suns desperately needing more young talent at cheaper costs, there’s no wonder they went all out for someone like Fleming. He should get key minutes from the get go.

Kam Jones, G, Indiana Pacers

The reigning Eastern Conference champs added to their wing core at No. 38, taking Marquette wing Kam Jones. The 23-year-old played all four seasons with the program, most recently averaging 19.2 points, 5.9 assists. 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals, all college bests. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 48% from the floor, 31% from deep and 64.8% from the charity stripe. He did shoot 39% from deep as a freshman and 40.6% as a junior both on strong volume, but his free-throw percentages have typically been in the 60s. Still, with Tyrese Haliburton set to miss significant time with his torn Achilles, Jones could get his moments to show what he can bring to a hopeful contender.

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What fans need to know about Celtics second-round pick Amari Williams

What fans need to know about Celtics second-round pick Amari Williams originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics used the No. 46 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft to select Kentucky center Amari Williams.

Williams played at Kentucky last season after spending four years with Drexel. He averaged 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game for the Wildcats in 2024-25, in addition to shooting 56.1 percent from the floor.

Williams is an excellent passer, he’s a very good rebounder and he defends the rim at a high level (a three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year at Drexel). He also runs the floor well for someone his size, and he has a 7-foot-6 wingspan.

Kentucky center Amari Williams

Williams becomes just the third active NBA player who was born in England, joining the New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby and the Brooklyn Nets’ Tosan Evbuomwan.

With veteran centers Al Horford and Luke Kornet able to become unrestricted free agents next week, it was important for the Celtics to add some frontcourt depth in this draft.

The Celtics entered the second round with the No. 32 pick, but they traded it to the Orlando Magic for the No. 46 and No. 57 picks, in addition to second-rounders in 2026 and 2027, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The C’s also selected Spanish wing Hugo Gonzalez from Real Madrid with the No. 28 pick in the first round Wednesday.

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How Warriors stuck to plan with Alex Toohey, Will Richard 2025 NBA draft picks

How Warriors stuck to plan with Alex Toohey, Will Richard 2025 NBA draft picks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Mike Dunleavy did not lie.

The Warriors’ relative restraint during the 2025 NBA Draft that ended Thursday night provided sufficient evidence that they, as Golden State’s general manager indicated earlier this week, are saving their energy for the free-agent market, which opens at 3 p.m. PT on Monday.

As much as the Warriors love their player-development staff, they’re prioritizing next season above those that will follow. It’s a logical approach for a team whose best players – Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler – are well into their mid-30s.

Dunleavy earlier this week: “We’ve got three players in their 30s that are really good, and that’s the hand we’re playing. It’s certainly admirable what the [Indiana] Pacers and the [Oklahoma City] Thunder and some of these other teams have done in the league, but we have our group. We’re committed to that, and we’ve got to build with it and around it, and that’s kind of what we’ll do.”

Dunleavy on Thursday night: “We add these (draft picks) into the roster however we do it. But I think we’ll be looking to shift of roster the most in free agency, more so than the draft.”

The Warriors began the draft holding only the No. 41 overall pick. They traded down to Nos. 52 and 59 on Thursday afternoon, in a deal with the Phoenix Suns. Golden State chose forward Alex Toohey at 52, and shortly thereafter, swapped the No. 59 pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 56 pick, with which it selected shooting guard Will Richard from the University of Florida.

Both Toohey and Richard will compete for roster spots, Dunleavy said, while acknowledging they likely will spend time in the G League.

“These guys are good players; they have a chance,” Dunleavy said. “And we’ll put them in the development program, and it could be some time in Santa Cruz, it could be some NBA minutes. We’ll see how it unfolds.

Alex Toohey

Toohey, who turned 21 last month, spent the past two seasons with the Sydney Kings of Australia’s National Basketball League. In 30 games last season, he averaged 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals 22.9 minutes per game. He committed to play college basketball at Gonzaga in 2023 before opting for the NBL.

At 6-foot-8, 220 pounds, he’s a tweener forward. Too slow to be a prototype small forward, too small to be a prototype power forward. The Warriors are at their best when coach Steve Kerr can lean into a roster with players that have great spatial/movement awareness – a “feel for the game” – and Toohey, by all accounts, has that.

Toohey scored 87 on the NBADraft.net scale and was No. 55 on its big board of draft-eligible players.

Dunleavy on Toohey: “I think he’s like a 4. And I think with our system and the way we play, he has the versatility to play multiple positions. It’s who can you guard and where you can play offensively. And we think especially on the defensive end, he’s super versatile and creates a lot of plays.”

Will Richard

After starting at Belmont as a freshman, the 6-foot-5, 205-pound shooting guard transferred to the powerhouse Florida program and, as a sophomore, became an immediate starter for the Gators. He played 141 college games, with 135 starts, over four seasons.

Though backcourt teammate Walter Clayton Jr. garnered most of the attention in Florida’s triumphant run to the 2025 national championship, Richard acquitted himself quite well — especially in the title game. He scored 18 points, on 4-of-4 shooting from deep, as the Gators came back to defeat the Houston Cougars.

Richard’s profile was not listed on the NBADraft.net site, but the NBA.com site compares his attributes to those of Malik Beasley and Alex Caruso.

Dunleavy on Richard: “We see him as a two-way player, shoot it and defend it. He’s a pretty good on-ball defender, very good off-ball defender, and he’s got good length. And he’s coming from a really good program and system where (he was) well-coached, well-taught through many years in college. This is a guy that knows how to play.”

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Draymond Green believes Tyrese Haliburton's injury draws Kevin Durant parallells

Draymond Green believes Tyrese Haliburton's injury draws Kevin Durant parallells originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After a thrilling 2025 NBA Finals came to an anticlimactic end upon Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles in Game 7, Warriors forward Draymond Green noticed a parallel to one of Golden State’s own playoff runs.

During an episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year drew a comparison between Haliburton’s injury and Kevin Durant’s torn Achilles in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors.

“I do send my love and well wishes to Tyrese though just on a speedy recovery, leaving it all out there on the floor, you know,” Green told co-host Baron Davis. “These Achilles/calf injuries are tough, I put it on my Threads account as soon as it happened, “Man, that looks too familiar.” NBA Finals, elimination game, guy get to cooking, cooking. KD got to cooking, and so I just wish him well and a speedy recovery.”

As Warriors fans remember, Durant took the court in Toronto with Golden State facing a 3-1 deficit despite nursing a calf strain that had held the former NBA MVP out since Game 5 of the 2019 Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets.

Durant famously started out Game 5 against the Raptors on fire, dropping 11 first quarter points, including a perfect 3 for 3 from beyond the arc, before hitting the floor early in the second quarter with a torn Achilles, a bitter end to an otherwise glorious chapter in a Warriors uniform.

Haliburton, like Durant, started Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals on fire, draining three shots from beyond the 3-point line before succumbing to the same ill-fated injury as Durant.

With a recovery timeline that typically lasts well over a year, it calls to reason what the Pacers’ ceiling will be during the 2025-26 NBA season as Indiana’s star rehabs. If you ask Green, it’s a tough ask to expect a team even as talented as the Pacers to make another deep playoff run next season without Haliburton.

“It’s tough, man. We obviously had Klay [Thompson] go down, KD went down, but he left,” Green explained. “Same year Steph went down, it’s tough — You’re not winning without your best player in this league.You can put together a decent season, but it ain’t happening.”

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Kings pick Maxime Raynaud shares wild stat with Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony

Kings pick Maxime Raynaud shares wild stat with Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Maxime Raynaud hasn’t stepped on the court yet for the Kings, but the No. 42 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft comes to Sacramento with an impressive résumé.

The 7-foot center, whom the Kings drafted in the second round Thursday night, was a star at Stanford, earning First-Team All-ACC honors as a senior after averaging 20 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals while making 67 3-pointers during the university’s inaugural ACC season.

That statline places Raynaud in rarified air, per Josh Dubow of the Associated Press, as one of three power conference players to average 20-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and make 50-plus 3-pointers in a season since 2002-03. The other two? Fifteen-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 inductee Carmelo Anthony.

Durant and Anthony turned their one-and-done collegiate success into prolific NBA careers, though both were drafted much higher than Raynaud — Anthony at No. 3 overall in 2003 and Durant at No. 2 overall in 2007.

Still, Raynaud showed flashes of potential as a big man who can shoot across his four seasons at Stanford, posting excellent shooting splits for his size (47/35/77) on 16.1 field-goal attempts, 5.5 3-point tries and 4.2 free throws per game in his final year.

If Sacramento’s newest center can keep it up on the glass and with his shot for the Kings as he transitions to the pros, he could turn into a formidable talent for coach Doug Christie. He’ll have one of the best rebounders in the league to learn from in star Kings center Domantas Sabonis — but only time will tell if Raynaud will end up on any more lists with Durant and Anthony in the pros.

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Grading Warriors' Will Richard selection at No. 56 overall in 2025 NBA Draft

Grading Warriors' Will Richard selection at No. 56 overall in 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Will Richard wasn’t even invited to the 2025 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. Clearly, that didn’t matter to the Warriors.

Stealing Danny Ainge’s “Trader” nickname for his constant activity of making moves, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy remained a busy man Thursday during the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. 

Dunleavy first traded the No. 41 overall pick to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 52 and No. 59 picks. The Warriors went the international route at 52, selecting Australian forward Alex Toohey. Dunleavy then moved up from No. 59 and acquired No. 56 from the Memphis Grizzlies, going back to the college ranks to snag a player from the reigning national champion Florida Gators.

After averaging 12.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game as a freshman at Belmont, Richard became coach Todd Graham’s first recruit at Florida and the move paid off in the ultimate prize this past season. Richard put on a show in the championship game for Florida, scoring 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting and going 4 of 7 beyond the arc. He also added eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot to take down Houston.

Along with the 75.6 true shooting percentage Richard had in the national championship, he became the first player ever to record those numbers in the title game.

Richard is a 6-foot-5 guard who will turn 23 years old in December. Over his four-year college career, he averaged 11.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game with 46.3/35.5/82.5 shooting splits. He’s known to play incredibly hard and won’t back down from a challenge thrown his way. As a senior, Richard had 22 games of two or more steals.

The Warriors liked him enough to move up three slots in the draft, fearing another team was about to take him. He was Mr. Reliable at Florida, and Golden State can only hope that translates to the next level.

It’s impossible to guess what one of the last picks in the draft is going to produce for a team, if at all. However, Trayce Jackson-Davis (No. 57) and Quinten Post (No. 52) both exceeded expectations as rookies. The Warriors have found great success recently through their developmental program in the G League, possibly having their best campaign yet last season. 

Will Toohey and Richard join the trend? NBA Summer League is right around the corner for them to prove why they could turn into steals for Golden State.

Grade: B-

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Celtics trade No. 32 pick to Magic for four second-rounders: Report

Celtics trade No. 32 pick to Magic for four second-rounders: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics traded the No. 32 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft to the Orlando Magic on Thursday night, and they got a huge haul for it.

The C’s acquired the No. 46 and No. 57 overall picks in the second round, plus second-rounders in 2026 and 2027, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Charania also reported the Celtics were going to take Saint Joseph’s wing Rasheer Fleming with the No. 32 pick, but the Phoenix Suns acquired the No. 31 pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier Thursday and took Fleming just before the C’s.

With Fleming off the board, the Celtics decided to trade the pick.

The Celtics need depth in the frontcourt with veteran centers Al Horford and Luke Kornet able to become unrestricted free agents next week. By trading the No. 32 pick, the C’s passed on a chance to draft centers such as Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner, Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud, Auburn’s Johni Broome, among others.

Boston still found a big man at pick No. 46, however, taking Kentucky center Amari Williams with the selection. The Celtics used the No. 57 pick on VCU guard Max Shulga.

The C’s selected Spanish wing Hugo Gonzalez from Real Madrid with the No. 28 pick in the first round Wednesday.