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 going down 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 obtained the No. 1 general choose within the NBA Draft Lottery with a 1.8% likelihood. 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 attainable 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 reap the benefits of the scale matchups offensively. I believe he will probably be an impression 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 crew is structured now, they’ll want so as to add a high quality level guard to really feel comfy calling them a title contender. It’s a evident 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 underneath the primary apron, which can give them entry to the mid-level exception. That’s enormous as a result of they might use that to snag a dependable and short-term 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 embody 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 High 5 seed within the West now, however well being and whoever they convey 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 will probably be a starting-level heart within the NBA, however it’s the place Portland acquired him and the way he suits with the roster. The draft choose 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 accrued extra future belongings, 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 out him later and get additional out of a deal.
Portland must make a run on the playoffs this yr. This can be 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 actually, if Portland is trying to make a playoff push, it doesn’t have a lot time. How he suits with Clingan will probably be attention-grabbing 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 it is a good pick-up, and the Trailblazers will need to have loads of religion in him. I checked out him extra as a G-Leaguer this calendar yr, however the Blazers should imagine he could be thrown within the fireplace early and contribute.
3. The New Jersey Nets And Their 5 First RoundersÂ
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 attention-grabbing, 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 will probably be higher for him than faculty, however I additionally assume he has to play with the proper 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 impression 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 will probably 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 highway that’ll be nice.
No. 26 choose Ben Saraf is a 6’6 combo that’s additionally a questionable shooter. He’s a superb playmaker and has good positional dimension.
No. 27 Danny Wolfe is a 7’ large man with excessive really feel and ability. He can actually go the ball and house the ground an stretch bigs are useful within the NBA.
The Nets are clearly in mission mode as these guys at present don’t match properly 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 properly, in a couple of years at the very least 3 of the 5 might be dependable rotation gamers or starters for a playoff crew. One of the best case situation in my view is utilizing a few of them as commerce chips to get a confirmed participant that’ll assist the Nets turn out to be a playoff squad.
The Nets clearly are valuing positional dimension 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 a couple of).
4. What’s Happening with Ace Bailey to the Jazz?
There have been stories 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 in any case. Utah felt comfy sufficient with the expertise and the way he suits within the brief 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 permits him to shoot over defenders, there’s lots to love concerning the Rutgers product. What comes into query is the playmaking and lack of maturity.
His camp, the identical individuals he was round in highschool at McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) quite a few individuals had damaging issues to say about, have been those advising him by way of the draft course of. Even for those who don’t agree with how his camp managed him within the pre-draft course of, you’ll be able to’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 crew, there’s 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 probably be traded (though unlikely proper now), however even when he’s on the roster the entire yr, there will probably be loads of photographs 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 crew. Extremely it’s additionally the second time in 4 years with the No. 1 and No. 29 general draft choose as properly. In 2021, the 4 who acquired 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 crew 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 is perhaps most spectacular is all eight gamers had been true freshmen one yr faraway from highschool.
On prime of that, MVA has a dominant run underneath 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 general choose in that point, following Cunningham and Ben Simmons.
Now the observe up query, after all, is which was higher the 2020 or 2024 crew?
6. Did The New Orleans Pelicans Give Up Too A lot?
One factor you’ll be taught to comprehend about me in terms of drafting gamers is, for those who did your analysis on the participant’s psychological fortitude and work ethic and also you imagine within the expertise, it may possibly work out. So long as the child embraces teaching and loves being within the health club.
Some could view Jeremy Fears as a attain at No. 7 (most likely so), however I do see why the Pelicans really feel he is usually a future contributing piece. Fears is a shifty level guard that will get to the paint at will with the proper place dimension. 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 simply too loaded to take these sorts of dangers. Additionally, the Pelicans haven’t been enjoying with a full roster on account of well being points for a couple of 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 will probably be attention-grabbing 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 superb NBA participant, however I don’t assume 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.
