NBA Draft Day 1: Top 6 Storylines

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 once they acquired the No. 1 general choose within the NBA Draft Lottery with a 1.8% likelihood. Duke’s Cooper Flagg was the plain choice, and now the query is, does the addition of Flagg make the Mavs a legit 2025-26 title contender?

I feel it’s potential presumably, as Dallas’ frontline has some critical depth with the retention of middle 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 be capable to swap all the pieces and reap the benefits of the dimensions matchups offensively. I feel he will likely 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 group 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 beneath the primary apron, which is able to give them entry to the mid-level exception. That’s large as a result of they may 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 do this. A few choices for the Mavs to have 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 consider the Mavs are a High 5 seed within the West now, however well being and whoever they create 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 feel he will likely be a starting-level middle within the NBA, nevertheless it’s the place Portland obtained 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 collected extra future belongings, as Yang was projected to be out there within the second spherical. To not say the Blazers ought to’ve waited that lengthy, nevertheless it was a possibility 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 part. Buying and selling Anfernee Simons for Jrue Vacation was the primary indicator. I do view Hansen within the Marc Gasol, Vlade Divac prototype, nevertheless 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 will likely 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 feel this can be 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 consider 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 count on 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 feel the pro-game will likely be higher for him than faculty, however I additionally suppose 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 area the ground, and he performed in convention video games the place he had little to no affect on the sport. He’s an enormous 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 likely 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 choose Ben Saraf is a 6’6 combo that’s additionally a questionable shooter. He’s a wonderful playmaker and has good positional dimension.

No. 27 Danny Wolfe is a 7’ massive man with excessive really feel and ability. He can actually cross the ball and area the ground an stretch bigs are useful within the NBA.

The Nets are clearly in venture mode as these guys at present don’t match properly sufficient round one another, nor have been they productive sufficient in faculty to warrant an excessive amount of early taking part in time. In the event that they develop properly, in a number of years at the least 3 of the 5 may very well be dependable rotation gamers or starters for a playoff group. One of the best case state of affairs in my view is utilizing a few of them as commerce chips to get a confirmed participant that’ll assist the Nets develop into 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 straight away. (Kasparas, Clifford, Flemings, McNeeley, Thiero, Lanier to call a number of).

4. What’s Happening with Ace Bailey to the Jazz?

There have been studies Ace Bailey’s camp didn’t need the Jazz (who have 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 quick and long run. I imply at 6’8 with a 7-foot wingspan, bouncy, albeit restricted with how a lot area he creates off the bounce, with a excessive launch level that permits him to shoot over defenders, there’s lots to love in regards to 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 damaging issues to say about, have been those advising him by means 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 possibly can’t deny the expertise Ace has.

The Jazz is an effective state of affairs for Ace and though he received’t be the first shot taker on this group, there’s nonetheless room for him to get loads of touches. That state of affairs might contain him being the primary one off the bench, or Utah being artistic 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 likely be loads of photographs and minutes out there for Bailey, because the Jazz group values closely what he brings to the desk.

Montverde ties their very own file 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 group. 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 obtained drafted have 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 group 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 have been true freshmen one yr faraway from highschool.

On prime of that, MVA has a dominant run beneath coach Kevin Boyle from 2012 by means 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 comply with up query, in fact, is which was higher the 2020 or 2024 group?

6. Did The New Orleans Pelicans Give Up Too A lot?

One factor you’ll study to comprehend about me in the case of drafting gamers is, for those who did your analysis on the participant’s psychological fortitude and work ethic and also you consider within the expertise, it will probably work out. So long as the child embraces teaching and loves being within the gymnasium.

Some might 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 proper place dimension. Buying and selling an unprotected first in 2026 to the Atlanta Hawks to draft Derik Queen at 13 may be very questionable, although. The West is just too loaded to take these sorts of dangers. Additionally, the Pelicans haven’t been taking part in with a full roster as a result of well being points for a number 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 likely be fascinating on each ends as a result of neither are good rim protectors nor area the ground, however a Queen lob to Zion will happen many instances subsequent yr. Queen might find yourself being 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.