After trading down in the second round, the Celtics took Kentucky center Amari Williams (No. 46) and VCU guard Max Shulga (No. 57). Williams, a dominant big at 6’11” with a 7’5” wingspan, averaged 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in his lone graduate season with the Wildcats. Shulga, known for his perimeter prowess and playmaking, came off his fifth year with averages of 15 points and four assists while shooting 38% from deep (39% for his career).

GM Brad Stevens has traded the 32nd pick to the Orlando Magic for the 46th and 57th picks. Playing in the LNB Elite, one of France’s top leagues, Penda averaged 10.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

A stream of updates on tonight’s second-round selections. Due to a tampering violation in 2022, the New York Knicks forfeited a second-round pick, which is why there are 29 picks tonight instead of 30, and 59 overall. It is the fourth consecutive year that an NBA Draft hasn’t included 60 picks due to forfeited picks and tampering violations.

• No. 31, Phoenix Suns (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Rasheer Fleming (6’8”, F, St. Joseph’s)

• No. 32, Orlando Magic (via Boston Celtics): Noah Penda (6’7”, F, France)

• No. 33, Charlotte Hornets: Sion James (6’5”, F, Duke)

• No. 34, Charlotte Hornets: Ryan Kalkbrenner (7’0”, C, Creighton)

• No. 35, Philadelphia 76ers: Johni Broome (6’9”, C, Auburn)

• No. 36, Los Angeles Lakers (via Brooklyn Nets): Adou Thiero (6’6”, F, Arkansas)

• No. 37, Detroit Pistons: Chaz Lanier (6’4”, G, Tennessee)

• No. 38, Indiana Pacers (via San Antonio Spurs): Kam Jones (6’3”, G, Marquette)

• No. 39, Toronto Raptors: Alijah Martin (6’2”, G, Florida)

• No. 40, New Orleans Pelicans (via Washington Wizards): Micah Peavy (6’6”, G, Georgetown)

• No. 41, Phoenix Suns (via Golden State Warriors): Koby Brea (6’6”, G, Kentucky)

• No. 42, Sacramento Kings: Maxime Reynaud (7’0”, C, Stanford)

• No. 43, Washington Wizards (via Utah Jazz): Jamir Watkins (6’5”, G, Florida State)

• No. 44, OKC Thunder: Brooks Barnhizer (6’6”, F, Northwestern)

• No. 45, Minnesota Timberwolves (via Chicago Bulls): Rocco Zikarsky (7’0”, C, Australia)

• No. 46, Boston Celtics (via Orlando Magic): Amari Williams (7’0”, C, Kentucky)

• No. 47, Milwaukee Bucks: Bogoljub Markovic (6’11”, F, Serbia)

• No. 48, Memphis Grizzlies: Javon Small (6’1”, G, West Virginia)

• No. 49, Cleveland Cavaliers: Tyrese Proctor (6’4”, G, Kentucky)

• No. 50, Los Angeles Clippers (via New York Knicks): Kobe Sanders (6’7”, G, Nevada)

• No. 51, New York Knicks (via Los Angeles Clippers): Mohamed Diawara (6’8”, F, France)

• No. 52, Phoenix Suns: Alex Toohey (6’8”, F, Australia)

• No. 53, Utah Jazz: John Tonje (6’5”, F, Wisconsin)

• No. 54, Indiana Pacers: Taelon Peter (6’4”, G, Liberty)

• No. 55, Chicago Bulls (via Los Angeles Lakers): Lachlan Olbrich (6’9”, F, Australia)

• No. 56, Memphis Grizzlies: Will Richard (6’4”, G, Florida)

• No. 57, Boston Celtics (via Orlando Magic): Max Shulga (6’4”, G, VCU)

• No. 58, Cleveland Cavaliers: Saliou Niang (6’8”, G, Senegal)

• No. 59, Houston Rockets: Jahmal Mashack (6’4”, G, Tennessee)

There is no rest in the Phoenix Suns’ front office, as they’ve made two more deals ahead of draft night. First, they dealt the 52nd and 59th picks to the Golden State Warriors for No. 41. Then, they moved the 36th pick and two future second-rounders to the Minnesota Timberwolves for pick No. 31—the first in tonight’s round.

Phoenix is doing all of this to draft yet another big man: Rasheer Fleming of St. Joseph’s University. Fleming, who was originally seen as a first-round prospect, has fallen into a group of talented sleeper selections. This season, the 6’8” junior averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while shooting 39% from three-point range. Assuming things go according to plan, Fleming will join Mark Williams (acquired via trade) and Khaman Maluach (10th pick) as their recent additions at center.

South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles’ reaction to getting drafted caught fans by surprise—initially for the wrong reasons. In a now-viral video, Murray-Boyles was seen shaking his head and uttering an expletive as he stood up to go to the podium. It led many to believe the Raptors’ ninth overall pick was less than thrilled about playing in Canada.

But in a post-draft interview, Murray-Boyles insisted that was not the case.

“Just disbelief,” he explained. “Toronto is the first team that I worked out for. What I said was not a bad thing. Just very thankful. That was a surreal moment. This organization has a good history.”

In an Instagram post Thursday morning, Murray-Boyles used the moment to his advantage, writing: “F%&#, Dreams do come true!”

 

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The Phoenix Suns are acquiring the 36th pick in exchange for two future second-round picks, giving them three total selections tonight.

The Brooklyn Nets are trading the No. 36 pick in tonight’s NBA Draft to the Phoenix Suns for two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. Suns now own Nos. 36, 52 and 59.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025

The Lakers, who have been mentioned ad nauseam in trade rumors, have finally made a deal…just not for a player.

The purple and gold are moving up from the 55th pick to the 45th, acquiring it from the Chicago Bulls.

The Los Angeles Lakers are moving up in the second round of the NBA Draft tonight, acquiring the No. 45 pick from the Chicago Bulls for No. 55 and cash, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025

The Celtics’ first pick of the 2025 Draft is in. Spanish guard Hugo Gonzalez will begin his NBA career on the famed parquet floor. In this third season with Real Madrid, Gonzalez averaged 5.2 points and 2.5 rebounds on .444/.271/.773 shooting splits.

OKC has one less first-rounder, as Sacramento swoops in for a trade. The Kings select Colorado State guard Nique Clifford, while sending a 2027 top-16-protected pick to OKC.

Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr., who broke out for the Gators en route to their NCAA championship, has been drafted by the Washington Wizards with the 18th overall pick. He will be traded to the Utah Jazz in exchange for the 21st pick, the 43rd pick and two future second-rounders.

NBA draft insider Jonathan Givony revealed that the Jazz were not a preferred destination for Rutgers forward Ace Bailey, who was the only U.S. prospect to not work out for a single NBA team.

“He was hoping to get to either Washington, New Orleans or Brooklyn,” Givony said. “This is a little bit of a stunner, but if you think about it, this is an outstanding place for Ace Bailey. They have a wide-open wing situation. They have a huge need for a star in his mold. They have an outstanding coaching staff.”

“I think Ace Bailey’s gonna recover from this very quickly and realize that he landed in an outstanding situation with the Utah Jazz,” he continued. “It just shows you, there’s only so much an agent can control in this process. If an NBA team decides they’re gonna take Ace Bailey, that’s exactly what happened. This is the first move that [new team president] Austin Ainge has made as a head decision-maker in the NBA, and it’s a big one.”

The Atlanta Hawks are shifting ten spots down, swapping the 13th pick with the 23rd from the Pelicans, as well as a 2026 first-round pick, per Charania and ESPN.

The Atlanta Hawks are trading the No. 13 pick in the Draft to the New Orleans Pelicans for the No. 23 pick and an unprotected 2026 first round pick (most favorable of New Orleans and Milwaukee), sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025

Washington State guard/forward Cedric Coward has been traded from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Memphis Grizzlies, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. In return, the Blazers will receive the 16th pick, a future first-round pick and two second-rounders.

Coward began his collegiate career at Div. III Willamette University before transferring to Eastern Washington (2022) and eventually Washington State (2024).

The Grizzlies are sending No. 16, a 2028 first-round pick via Orlando and two seconds to Portland for Cedric Coward, sources said. https://t.co/vLA63Gg3G8

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025

The Charlotte Hornets are sending center Mark Williams to the Suns in exchange for the 29th overall pick and a 2029 first-rounder, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Williams, a 23-year-old 7-footer, averaged 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds on 60% shooting from the field last season. The Hornets originally traded Williams to the Lakers in February before a failed physical led LA to rescind the deal.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks added that the Suns will send guard Vasilije Micic to the Hornets, who will exercise his $8.1 million team option.

Reporting live from the 2025 NBA draft on the Phoenix Suns landing two centers within minutes to address center issues: pic.twitter.com/PkQiPQjAC5

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025

Without further ado, here are all the first-round picks of the 2025 NBA Draft.

• No. 1, Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg (6’9”, PF, Duke)
• No. 2, San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper (6’6”, G, Rutgers)

• No. 3, Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe (6’5”, G, Baylor)

• No. 4, Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel (6’7”, F, Duke)

• No. 5, Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey (6’10”, F, Rutgers)

• No. 6, Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson (6’6”, G, Texas)

• No. 7, New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears (6’4”, G, Oklahoma)

• No. 8, Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin (6’9”, G, BYU)

• No. 9, Toronto Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles (6’7”, F, South Carolina)

• No. 10, Phoenix Suns (via Houston Rockets): Khaman Maluach (7’2”, C, Duke)

• No. 11, Memphis Grizzlies (via Portland Trail Blazers): Cedric Coward (6’5”, G/F, Washington State)

• No. 12, Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue (6’10”, F, France)

• No. 13, New Orleans Pelicans (via Atlanta Hawks): Derik Queen (6’10”, C, Maryland)

• No. 14, San Antonio Spurs: Carter Bryant (6’7”, F, Arizona)

• No. 15, OKC Thunder: Thomas Sorber (6’9”, C, Georgetown)

• No. 16, Portland Trail Blazers (via Memphis Grizzlies): Yang Hansen (7’1”, C, China)

• No. 17, Minnesota Timberwolves: Joan Beringer (6’11”, C, France)

• No. 18, Utah Jazz (via Washington Wizards): Walter Clayton Jr. (6’3”, G, Florida)

• No. 19, Brooklyn Nets: Nolan Traore (6’3”, G, France)

• No. 20, Miami Heat: Kasparas Jakucionis (6’5”, G, Illinois)

• No. 21, Washington Wizards (via Utah Jazz): Will Riley (6’8”, G, Illinois)

• No. 22, Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta Hawks): Drake Powell (6’6”, G/F, North Carolina)

• No. 23, Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans): Asa Newell (6’11”, F, Georgia)

• No. 24, Sacramento Kings (via OKC Thunder): Nique Clifford (6’6”, G, Colorado State)

• No. 25, Orlando Magic: Jase Richardson (6’1”, G, Michigan State)

• No. 26, Brooklyn Nets: Ben Saraf (6’6”, G, Israel)

• No. 27, Brooklyn Nets: Danny Wolf (6’11”, F/C, Michigan)

• No. 28, Boston Celtics: Hugo Gonzalez (6’6”, G, Spain)

• No. 29, Charlotte Hornets (via Phoenix Suns): Liam McNeeley (6’7”, G, UConn)

• No. 30, Los Angeles Clippers: Yanic Konan Niederhauser (6’11”, C, Penn State)

“The Maine Event” meets the Mavericks. Following a stunning NBA Draft Lottery that saw Dallas land the No. 1 overall pick, the Mavs select Duke star and Newport, ME, native Cooper Flagg. The 19-year-old is Dallas’ latest franchise cornerstone, months after they traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers.

General Manager Nico Harrison and the Mavs are banking on the phenom forward to shepherd them back into contention and, in some ways, win back the fans they alienated in February. Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists for Duke head coach Jon Scheyer this season, and he looks to carry that success to the NBA with a dominant two-way skill set.

The first trade on draft night is a pick swap between the San Antonio Spurs and the Indiana Pacers.

First draft pick trade of the night: The San Antonio Spurs are trading the No. 38 pick in tonight's NBA draft to the Indiana Pacers for a future second-round pick and cash, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2025

In a Tuesday night appearance on “SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt,” ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania said the Celtics are receiving calls on Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP, averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game on .463/.324/.764 shooting splits. White, a two-time All-Defensive Second Team selection, put up 16.4 points and 4.8 assists per game while nailing 38% of his threes.

“The Celtics have high-price thresholds on both players,” Charania added. “We know how great Brown and White are. I’m sure they’re getting massive offers, some big-time calls. Their preference has been to keep both players, but this is a team still in the first apron, a luxury tax team and still dealing with uncertainty of Jayson Tatum’s status next season.”

ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported Wednesday that the Utah Jazz—led by former Celtics president Danny Ainge—have made “an aggressive push” for Brown, while the Raptors have dangled a package around the ninth overall pick for White.

The Celtics have already cut $238 million from their luxury tax bill thanks to the Porzingis and Holiday trades. They will likely continue wheeling and dealing as they strive to stay competitive in Tatum’s absence.

Following the Celtics’ early exit and Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury, expectations are tempered for the 18-time NBA champions. A previous lack of financial flexibility forced them to part ways with two key contributors—Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis—in equally stunning deals. It’s only the beginning of an active offseason for Brad Stevens and Co.

Many think Boston could trade up in the first round. But if they stay put, the C’s could use some assistance at center, with Al Horford and Luke Kornet becoming unrestricted free agents. The Celtics also auditioned many guards in pre-draft workouts, but the acquisition of Anfernee Simons may have quelled any concerns over backcourt scoring.

It may be night one of the NBA Draft, but we’ve already seen plenty of general managers working their magic. Speaking of which, the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies made the first pre-draft trade on Father’s Day. Other teams followed up with more minor transactions.

And then came the Houston Rockets.

H-Town took off with a blockbuster trade for two-time champion and 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant, moving on from Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks along with a plethora of draft picks. It’s a significant upgrade for last year’s No. 2 seed in the West, and the end of an era for the struggling Suns.

And as mentioned above, the Celtics began an inevitable breakup of their core, sending Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks.

Here are all of the pre-draft trades heading into tonight.

June 15

Orlando Magic receive: Desmond Bane

Memphis Grizzlies receive: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks (including No. 16 in tonight’s draft), and a first-round pick swap

June 17

Indiana Pacers receive: 2026 first-round pick (re-acquired following the Pascal Siakam trade in Jan. 2024)

New Orleans Pelicans receive: Draft rights to F Mojave King, No. 23 pick in 2025 NBA Draft

June 22

Houston Rockets receive: Kevin Durant

Phoenix Suns receive: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, No. 10 pick, five future second-round picks

June 23

Boston Celtics receive: Anfernee Simons, two second-round picks

Portland Trail Blazers receive: Jrue Holiday

June 24

Pelicans-Wizards

New Orleans Pelicans receive: Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, No. 40 pick

Washington Wizards receive: CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk, future second-round pick

Celtics three-team deal

Boston Celtics receive: Georges Niang, second-rounder (via Brooklyn)

Atlanta Hawks receive: Kristaps Porzingis

Brooklyn Nets receive: Terence Mann, No. 22 pick (via Atlanta)

What are the champs up to? Fresh off their second title in franchise history (and first since moving from Seattle), the Oklahoma City Thunder own three picks in this year’s draft (Nos. 15, 24, 44). The team’s front office—which includes several Emerson alumni—has some key decisions to make with all 15 guaranteed roster spots filled. Insiders believe the Thunder could package any or all of these picks to trade into the top 10, which is reportedly a goal of theirs.

Ace Bailey’s draft debacle: Rutgers forward Ace Bailey was once considered a lock for the top three, but questionable pre-draft interviews and cancelled team visits have made fans and executives skeptical of the 18-year-old. Reports say Bailey prefers to join a team where he can be a top option, a rarity for rookies in a league filled with superstars. Responding to questions about his maturity, Bailey simply said, “I can control what I can control. Me playing basketball.”

Brooklyn Nets strike it rich in round one: After a three-team trade with the Celtics and Atlanta Hawks, the Nets have walked away with a record-breaking five first-round picks—Nos. 8, 19, 22, 26, and 27. Their own second-rounder (No. 36) will make it six in this year’s draft, presuming they don’t trade any before 8 p.m.