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Biggest winners from the 2025 NBA draft<\/p>\n
For The Win’s Bryan Kalbrosky says that smart trades and bold picks helped the Suns, Grizzlies, and Hawks steal the spotlight on draft night.<\/p>\n
Just because the NBA season just ended \u2014 with the Oklahoma City Thunder claiming their first championship<\/a> since relocating to the city \u2014 that doesn’t mean that the balance of power across the league hasn’t already shifted.<\/p>\n The 2025 NBA Draft<\/a> provided a chance for plenty of teams to infuse young talent into their rosters with the aim, aside from Oklahoma City, to become the eighth different team in as many years to win the title.<\/p>\n Free agency, which is right around the corner (beginning Monday, June 30), presents the next chance for teams to add to their rosters.<\/p>\n Here are USA TODAY Sports’ post-playoffs, post-NBA draft power rankings:<\/p>\n Pre-order book on Thunder’s run to NBA title<\/a><\/p>\n More: NBA Summer League schedule 2025: When does OKC Thunder play in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas?<\/a><\/p>\n The NBA champs have their young core in place, players like 2024-25 rookie Nikola Topi\u0107 \u2014 a skilled, 19-year-old guard who didn\u2019t step on the court at all this season \u2014 and added a skilled big in Thomas Sorber at No. 15 who should develop in the program.<\/p>\n A dynamic young team with an excellent coach in Ime Udoka just took a huge, win-now swing for an elite player in Kevin Durant<\/a>. The Rockets could become very dangerous.<\/p>\n A lot will depend on the head coach they hire, but \u2014 given the massive injury ramifications across the East \u2014 the Knicks get a boost just because they have their core healthy.<\/p>\n Their first-round draft pick \u2014 mobile big man Joan Beringer \u2014 is an 18-year-old project who doesn\u2019t help the Timberwolves get past the conference finals hump, but they have a very good core in place.<\/p>\n It\u2019s tough to see the Eastern Conference champs<\/a> (and a team that pushed the Thunder to seven games) this far down, but Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles tear<\/a> is devastating.<\/p>\n They were bounced out of the playoffs far earlier than they wanted, but in coach Kenny Atkinson\u2019s first year, the Cavaliers led the NBA in most shooting and offensive metrics.<\/p>\n With a full offseason to settle into the job, new coach David Adelman should create a more unified vision for the Nuggets. They\u2019ll need more depth, but Nikola Joki\u0107 remains a force.<\/p>\n After finishing the regular season strongly, the Clippers took the Nuggets to seven games. The roster is definitely aging so the window to win is right now.<\/p>\n With a full offseason to develop an offense that suits Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and LeBron James, coach JJ Redick should get more out of the Lakers, whom the Timberwolves eliminated in five games in the first round. Still, L.A. needs to find a center.<\/p>\n 10. Boston Celtics<\/p>\n The team is undergoing a transition, with Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is<\/a> and Jrue Holiday<\/a> gone in luxury-tax-trimming moves and potentially more on the way out. The Achilles tear to Jayson Tatum, however, is most devastating for Boston\u2019s chances to get another title.<\/p>\n More: What to know about OKC Thunder offseason: Draft picks, contracts after winning NBA title<\/a><\/p>\n 11. Golden State Warriors<\/p>\n Adding Jimmy Butler certainly made Golden State more competitive, but the Warriors’ leaders are 37 (Stephen Curry), and 35 (Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green).<\/p>\n They broke out last season and played the Knicks very tough in the first round. They should only become more competitive as Detroit\u2019s young core continues to develop.<\/p>\n Injuries derailed their season, but adding Desmond Bane should make the defensive-minded Magic a little more consistent with their shooting.<\/p>\n 14. Milwaukee Bucks<\/p>\n Giannis Antetokounmpo may be assessing his future with the Bucks, who have lost three consecutive playoff series and saw Damian Lillard suffer a torn Achilles.<\/p>\n 15. San Antonio Spurs<\/p>\n All of a sudden, the Spurs have a dynamic and hyper-athletic core. Victor Wembanyama is the obvious centerpiece, but Stephon Castle, No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper<\/a> and De\u2019Aaron Fox is almost too much talent at one position.<\/p>\n 16. Memphis Grizzlies<\/p>\n They were able to find their replacement for Desmond Bane on a budget, trading for the rights to Washington State guard Cedric Coward at No. 11. Memphis needs to minimize turnovers.<\/p>\n With the additions of Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is and forward Asa Newell at No. 23, the Hawks got tremendous value and may be a surprise team in the wide-open East.<\/p>\n 18. Dallas Mavericks<\/p>\n It\u2019s a shame Kyrie Irving will miss time with a torn anterior cruciate ligament because the fit with No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg<\/a> and Anthony Davis would be fascinating to watch.<\/p>\n 19. Chicago Bulls<\/p>\n This feels like a team at a crossroads and one that has been middling in the play-in window. Noa Essengue is an exciting young player, but the Bulls need help now.<\/p>\n Having struck out on Kevin Durant and having traded away Jimmy Butler, the Heat seem like a team stuck in the middle and without a clear direction. They needed play-making at guard and Kasparas Jaku\u010dionis provides plenty of it, but he\u2019s likely a few years away from consistent production.<\/p>\n 21. Philadelphia 76ers<\/p>\n This placement comes with a massive caveat. The 76ers have plenty of talent \u2014 young, mid-career and veterans in decline \u2014 but Philadelphia absolutely needs Joel Embiid to stay healthy. Regardless, VJ Edgecombe<\/a> infuses dynamic athleticism on both ends.<\/p>\n 22. Toronto Raptors<\/p>\n It will be interesting to see how Brandon Ingram, who didn\u2019t play in a single game for Toronto with an ankle injury, incorporates into the offense. Same for rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, taken No. 9 overall.<\/p>\n 23. Sacramento Kings<\/p>\n Sacramento is a team that may be looking to offload some of its veteran pieces, potentially signaling an impending rebuild.<\/p>\n They\u2019ll be without Kevin Durant and will have a new coach in Jordan Ott. They still need to figure out their Bradley Beal problem.<\/p>\n 25. Portland Trail Blazers<\/p>\n The Trail Blazers have amassed four centers, three of which are 7-footers (Donovan Clingan, Deandre Ayton, Yang Hansen<\/a>). The other is Robert Williams (6-foot-9).<\/p>\n 26. New Orleans Pelicans<\/p>\n They actually have a lot of young and dynamic talent, with No. 13 overall pick Derik Queen being the latest piece. The fit is what\u2019s questionable.<\/p>\n 27. Washington Wizards<\/p>\n