Cooper Flagg and Nico Harrison
The biggest winners of the 2025NBAdraft are Cooper Flagg and Dallas general manager Nico Harrison. Beyond the prestige and financial rewards of being the top pick, Flagg won draft night because he avoided going to a rebuilding team, where it could have taken years to gain playoff experience.
By landing with the Mavericks, Flagg joins All-NBA veterans Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson, whose mentorship should make his learning curve less treacherous. Instead of enduring the tribulations of leading a bottom-feeding team, Flagg will play a key role in helping the Mavs contend for a title in his rookie season – albeit in a packed Western Conference that includes the champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Nikola Jokić’s Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers, featuring the Mavericks’ former crown jewel, Luka Dončić. Expect Flagg to fit right in as a wing who can play multiple positions and contribute defensively.
In turn, Harrison’s redemption story begins with the selection of Flagg. After months ofenduring intense backlashfor trading away a generational talent in Dončić, Harrison getsan unexpected opportunityto rewrite his legacy if Flagg reaches his full potential.
San Antonio Spurs
The selection of Dylan Harper at No 2 adds to the Spurs’ explosive backcourt that already features De’Aaron Fox and rookie of the year Stephon Castle. Harper’s ability to put pressure on defenses with his speed and aggression will lead to more open looks and one-on-one opportunities for Victor Wembanyama,already a superstarat the age of 21. They also selected Carter Bryant at No 14, a defensive-minded guard/small forward with a consistent three-point stroke.
But if the Spurs are contemplating more ambitious moves, they are in prime position to trade a few of their young assets for an All-NBA player like Giannis Antetokounmpo –that’s if trade talksramp up over the next few months.
Whatever direction they choose, the Spurs took a step forward on draft night and are closer to making a playoff leap in the Western Conference.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks made several savvy moves this weekby acquiring Kristaps Porzingisin a three-team trade. On draft night, the Hawks remained active by sending the No 13 pick to New Orleans for pick No 23. In the exchange with the Pelicans, the Hawks also obtained an unprotected 2026 first-round draft pick that will be delivered via the most favorable position between the Pelicans or Milwaukee Bucks.
With the loaded Western Conference expected to be even more rigorous next season, the Pelicans will find it difficult to secure a top-eight spot. The impressive coup gives the Hawks an elite asset considering next year’s highly-anticipated draft class. With the No 23 pick, the Hawks snagged Asa Newell, a late-lottery prospect who unexpectedly fell to his hometown squad.
In an conference that lacks a dominant team due to the achilles injuries of Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, the Hawks used draft week to retool as every Eastern Conference franchise seeks to take advantage of the window of opportunity.
Ace Bailey
In the weeks leading to this year’s draft, Bailey put on a masterclass on how to land in the “loser” category. Whether his choices came due to bad advice from his reps or the misguided boldness of youth, Bailey’s immense talent was overshadowed because of poor decisions which led to negative press.
The third-best prospect in the draft decided against working out for teamsand snubbed the Philadelphia 76erswho owned the No 3 pick. Falling outside of the top three cost Bailey $10m and the opportunity to learn from Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George.
Drafted by theUtah Jazzeven after declining a workout and interview, Bailey lands on a team that finished with the league’s worst record and will be in rebuild mode for the foreseeable future. Bailey has enough talent to bounce back from his draft blunders, but unfortunately, he’s already found ways to make rookie mistakes.
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Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets entered this year’s draft with a record five first-round draft picks and proceeded to end the night in infamy. Their first mishap came with the selection of Egor Demin with the No 8 pick. Demin was projected to fall in the mid-first round, so the Nets appear to have overreached by selecting Demin and passing on players with higher ceilings such as Khaman Maluach and Collin Murray-Boyles.
But the Nets’ most glaring faux pas was the act of keeping all their picks. Brooklyn fumbled an opportunity to trade up for a more talented prospect or use the picks to acquire a rising star to build around.
It’s possible that each draft pick will be serviceable and Demin could make an All-Rookie team. But overall, the Nets made history by selecting five players in the first round while at the same time failing to change the trajectory of their franchise.
New York Knicks
For Knicks fans, the draft should be known as “five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges awareness day.” Without a head coach or a first-round draft pick, the Knicks remained dormant on day one.
After a lively run to the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks have an opportunity to take control of the East by adding a few key players who could put them over the hump. But in a week when multiple teams traded for picks or other assets, the Knicks’ decision to stay on the sideline is not a promising sign as the offseason unfolds.
The Knicks, who forfeited their own second-round pick for tampering in the Jalen Brunson signing, will have to wait until the 50th pick (via Memphis) to make a selection. Knicks fans can only hope for more aggressive moves on day two of the draft.