NBA Draft grades: Brooklyn Nets get high marks for Danny Wolf pick

Michigan Wolverines forward/center Danny Wolf was selected with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets, who had five first-round picks in the event. The experts across the country believe the selection was not only one of their best, but one of the best values in the draft.

Here’s a rundown of what the major outlets are saying about the Michigan star after he was selected before the first night ended in Brooklyn.

RELATED: Michigan forward Danny Wolf taken by Brooklyn Nets in 2025 NBA Draft

On3: A-

James Fletcher: “The Brooklyn Nets decide to make all five picks in the first round, getting their first frontcourt player in the class here. Landing On3’s No. 20 prospect gives great value and puts him into a great situation to showcase his skillset on a team building its core.

“Danny Wolf comes to the professional ranks after making an interesting two-big lineup work in college. The success of different jumbo lineups across the NBA could make him a valuable commodity for certain franchises looking to add frontcourt versatility. The ability to shoot and pass from the top of the key give immense offensive value, even if rim protector of guarding in space will never be his strength on defense.”

Sports Illustrated: A-

Kevin Sweeney: “The Nets somewhat surprisingly made all five first-round picks, rounding out a massive class with Wolf, perhaps the most unique player in this draft. He’s a jumbo 7-foot ballhandler that can really pass and has a crafty offensive game. He likely won’t get the same freedom in the NBA as he did in college, but Brooklyn clearly valued his size and feel for the game.”

CBS Sports: B+

Adam Finkelstein and Kyle Boone: “Wolf is highly skilled at nearly 7-feet tall, especially as a ball handler and passer. He was Michigan’s primary initiator for significant stretches last season and was a real playmaker. He has terrific hands and terrific touch and his ability to pass the ball is very rare at his size. He didn’t shoot it well from outside in college, a common theme with the picks from the Nets in Round 1. There are also questions about his defense.”

The Ringer: A-

J. Kyle Mann: “Even more creation for Brooklyn here, as Wolf shockingly slides all the way to 27. I think this is a no-brainer bet at this spot for a team looking to find a current that can move their ship in the right direction. It’s a coin flip between Derik Queen and Wolf for the honor of premier passing big in this class, but I’d give the edge to the former Wolverine. Wolf is capable of spreading the love as a high-post passer with split action unfolding around him, or even in pick-and-roll, where he had an abnormally high possession count this past season. If Wolf shoots it even reasonably well, this will end up being a banger pick for Brooklyn.”

Bleacher Report: B

Zach Buckley: “So, the Nets not only made all five of their first-round picks, but they’ve now invested four of them in playmakers. At least Danny Wolf is an obvious break from the mold, since he’s a legitimate big man who just so happens to have some off-the-dribble shake and court vision in his bag. Oh, he might even have a jumper, too, although that’s sort of still being figured out. A late growth spurt pushed Wolf from the backcourt to the frontcourt, and he brought most of his guard skills along for the ride. He has impressive handles and vision, particularly for a 6’11”, 252-pounder. The Wolverines essentially used him as a jumbo-sized guard, and he averaged their second-most assists (3.6) and fourth-most three-pointers (1.0) per game.

“Fit will be paramount to his success, though, because there are questions about whether he’s a good enough creator to operate as a playmaking 4 or a good enough paint protector to man the middle. Athletically, he’s a fluid mover, but he’s not explosive, so he’ll get tested early and often until he proves he can hang. His shooting potential is unknown, too, as his mechanics look good, but his percentages don’t (33.6 percent from three, 64.6 percent at the line over three collegiate seasons).”

The Athletic

John Hollinger: “ Wolf was the last player left in the green room, which is always an emotional roller coaster …. especially now that the second round doesn’t start for another 23 hours. He’s a 7-footer but plays more as a perimeter player who handles the ball and initiates; I would compare him to Miami’s Nikola Jovic. Wolf needs to improve his shooting and cut his turnovers to thrive in this role as a pro.”

Yahoo! Sports: B

Kevin O’Connor: Writeup incoming.