For the second consecutive yr, the NBA Draft is being held over two days. The primary day (June 25) noticed groups choose first spherical decisions (Draft Tracker) with the second spherical happening June 26.
Now that the primary spherical is within the books, we reply questions, make predictions and analyze the highest six storylines from the 2025 NBA Draft first spherical.
1. Does Cooper Flagg Make Mavs A Title Contender?
There was no query who the Dallas Mavericks would choose after they acquired the No. 1 total decide within the NBA Draft Lottery with a 1.8% probability. Duke’s Cooper Flagg was the apparent choice, and now the query is, does the addition of Flagg make the Mavs a legit 2025-26 title contender?
I believe it’s doable presumably, as Dallas’ frontline has some severe depth with the retention of heart Daniel Gafford. It nonetheless has Anthony Davis, Dereck Full of life, Naji Marshall, and are rumored to re-sign P.J. Washington. With Flagg, I can see him excelling in jumbo line-ups subsequent yr, the place the Mavs will have the ability to swap the whole lot and make the most of the scale matchups offensively. I believe he can be an affect participant day one in Dallas and supply shot-making, defensive playmaking, and toughness that’s translatable throughout playoff basketball.
However, for me, with how the workforce is structured now, they’ll want so as to add a top quality level guard to really feel snug calling them a title contender. It’s a obvious gap with Kyrie Irving recovering from a torn ACL that he sustained final spring. Irving’s 3-year 119-million greenback deal, places the Mavs below the primary apron, which is able to give them entry to the mid-level exception. That’s big as a result of they might use that to snag a dependable and non permanent beginning PG till Irving comes again. Which additionally means they don’t should commerce PJ or Gafford to try this. A few choices for the Mavs to take a look at embrace D’Angelo Russell, Malcolm Brogdon, and Chris Paul.
To conclude, Flagg places Dallas a step nearer to being a title contender, and I imagine the Mavs are a Prime 5 seed within the West now, however well being and whoever they bring about in to run level till Irving comes again will inform the story of their season.
2. Hansen Yang To Portland At No. 16 Was Eye-Opening
There have been some questionable picks on this yr’s first spherical, however the Portland Trailblazers drafting Hansen Yang at No. 16 is up there. Not due to the expertise, as a result of I believe he can be a starting-level heart within the NBA, however it’s the place Portland bought him and the way he suits with the roster. The draft decide makes 5 facilities for the Trailblazers with Donovan Clingan, DeAndre Ayton, Duop Reath, Robert Williams and now Yang.
Portland might have gotten him later or traded down for him and amassed extra future property, as Yang was projected to be accessible within the second spherical. To not say the Blazers ought to’ve waited that lengthy, however it was a chance to pick him later and get further out of a deal.
Portland must make a run on the playoffs this yr. It is a make-or-break yr for the group as it’s shifting out of the rebuilding section. Buying and selling Anfernee Simons for Jrue Vacation was the primary indicator. I do view Hansen within the Marc Gasol, Vlade Divac prototype, however it’s going to take time for him to get there, and truthfully, if Portland is seeking to make a playoff push, it doesn’t have a lot time. How he suits with Clingan can be fascinating too, particularly on the defensive finish, however most significantly, they should commerce two of Ayton, Reath, or Williams now. Regardless of some flaws, each these bigs have loads of playoff expertise. I believe this can be a good pick-up, and the Trailblazers should have numerous religion in him. I checked out him extra as a G-Leaguer this calendar yr, however the Blazers should imagine he will be thrown within the fireplace early and contribute.
3. The New Jersey Nets And Their 5 First Rounders
The Brooklyn Nets owned a sixth of the primary spherical draft picks on Wednesday and I didn’t anticipate them to maintain all 5. What I discovered extra fascinating, nevertheless, was who they chose. Egor Demin at No. 8 appears to be a polarizing prospect. Both scouts love him or hate him. I’m in between. I believe the pro-game can be higher for him than faculty, however I additionally suppose he has to play with the best personnel for it to make any sense (i.e. loads of taking pictures round him with a lob goal or two). At BYU, Demin didn’t present he can house the ground, and he performed in convention video games the place he had little to no affect on the sport. He’s a giant guard at 6’8-6’9 that has a big-time passer really feel and accuracy.
At No. 19, the Nets took Nolan Traore out of France and he’s a speedy level guard that may’t actually shoot both. I don’t know the way he suits with Demin or with how the roster can be constructed, however I like a strolling paint-touch man.
At No. 22 Drake Powell was the selection. He’s a defensive guard proper now that may’t shoot, both. I see him being a G-leaguer primarily this season, but when he develops right into a 3&D contributor down the street that’ll be nice.
No. 26 decide Ben Saraf is a 6’6 combo that’s additionally a questionable shooter. He’s a wonderful playmaker and has good positional measurement.
No. 27 Danny Wolfe is a 7’ huge man with excessive really feel and ability. He can actually move the ball and house the ground an stretch bigs are beneficial within the NBA.
The Nets are clearly in challenge mode as these guys presently don’t match nicely sufficient round one another, nor had been they productive sufficient in faculty to warrant an excessive amount of early enjoying time. In the event that they develop nicely, in just a few years not less than 3 of the 5 may very well be dependable rotation gamers or starters for a playoff workforce. The very best case state of affairs for my part is utilizing a few of them as commerce chips to get a confirmed participant that’ll assist the Nets turn into a playoff squad.
The Nets clearly are valuing positional measurement and high-level passing, within the hopes the picks can develop the taking pictures over time, however I felt some others prospects might have helped them extra immediately. (Kasparas, Clifford, Flemings, McNeeley, Thiero, Lanier to call just a few).
4. What’s Occurring with Ace Bailey to the Jazz?
There have been studies Ace Bailey’s camp didn’t need the Jazz (who had been 1 of a pair groups) to draft him, however the Jazz determined to anyhow. Utah felt snug sufficient with the expertise and the way he suits within the quick and long run. I imply at 6’8 with a 7-foot wingspan, bouncy, albeit restricted with how a lot house he creates off the bounce, with a excessive launch level that enables him to shoot over defenders, there may be loads to love concerning the Rutgers product. What comes into query is the playmaking and lack of maturity.
His camp, the identical folks he was round in highschool at McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) quite a few folks had adverse issues to say about, have been those advising him by way of the draft course of. Even when you don’t agree with how his camp managed him within the pre-draft course of, you may’t deny the expertise Ace has.
The Jazz is an efficient state of affairs for Ace and though he received’t be the first shot taker on this workforce, there may be nonetheless room for him to get loads of touches. That state of affairs could contain him being the primary one off the bench, or Utah being inventive with their beginning 5 and implementing him in it. Lauri Markkanen has been rumored to doubtlessly be traded (though not going proper now), however even when he’s on the roster the entire yr, there can be numerous pictures and minutes accessible for Bailey, because the Jazz group values closely what he brings to the desk.
Montverde ties their very own document for many first spherical picks from the identical highschool in the identical draft 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/FDbAPScSsy
— League Prepared (@LeagueRDY) June 26, 2025
5. Montverde Academy with One other 4 First Spherical Picks
That is the second time in 4 years that Montverde Academy (Fla.) has produced 4 first spherical draft picks from the identical highschool workforce. Extremely it’s additionally the second time in 4 years with the No. 1 and No. 29 total draft decide as nicely. In 2021, the 4 who bought drafted had been Cade Cunningham (No. 1), Scottie Barnes (No. 4), Moses Moody (No. 14) and Day’Ron Sharpe (No. 29). All 4 starred on the 2020 MVA workforce that completed 25-0 and No. 1 within the FAB 50.
This yr it was Cooper Flagg (No. 1), Derik Queen (No. 13), Asa Newell (No. 23) and Liam McNeeley (No. 29). Together with level guard Robert Wright III (who stays in faculty), that membership went 33-0 and captured the 2024 FAB 50 nationwide crown. What’s may be most spectacular is all eight gamers had been true freshmen one yr faraway from highschool.
On prime of that, MVA has a dominant run below coach Kevin Boyle from 2012 by way of the 2025 season earlier than he introduced he was heading to Spire Academy in Ohio throughout the low season. MVA received seven FAB 50 titles and produced different quite a few first spherical draft decisions. Flagg was the third No. 1 total decide in that point, following Cunningham and Ben Simmons.
Now the observe up query, in fact, is which was higher the 2020 or 2024 workforce?
6. Did The New Orleans Pelicans Give Up Too A lot?
One factor you’ll study to understand about me on the subject of drafting gamers is, when you did your analysis on the participant’s psychological fortitude and work ethic and also you imagine within the expertise, it may work out. So long as the child embraces teaching and loves being within the gymnasium.
Some could view Jeremy Fears as a attain at No. 7 (most likely so), however I do see why the Pelicans really feel he could be a future contributing piece. Fears is a shifty level guard that will get to the paint at will with the best place measurement. Buying and selling an unprotected first in 2026 to the Atlanta Hawks to draft Derik Queen at 13 could be very questionable, although. The West is just too loaded to take these sorts of dangers. Additionally, the Pelicans haven’t been enjoying with a full roster resulting from well being points for just a few years now. On prime of that, the 2026 class is projected to be higher than this yr’s draft class.
Queen’s match with Zion Williamson can be fascinating on each ends as a result of neither are good rim protectors nor house the ground, however a Queen lob to Zion will happen many instances subsequent yr. Queen might find yourself being a very good NBA participant, however I don’t suppose it was price buying and selling an unprotected first in a deep projected draft in 2026 to get the previous Maryland and Montverde Academy star.
