How Cooper Flagg matches with the Dallas Mavericks, plus different takeaways from the NBA Draft
Across the NBA, it is usually stated {that a} draft class cannot be evaluated for a minimum of two years to see who the true winners, losers, breakout stars and disappointments had been.
However what can be the enjoyable in that?
As quickly because the 2025 draft’s first spherical wrapped Wednesday evening in Brooklyn, New York, NBC Information analyzed among the main storylines to emerge from the primary 30 picks.
How will No. 1 general decide Cooper Flagg slot in Dallas?
Greif: A participant of Flagg’s versatility would slot in wherever within the NBA, however I’m most all for how a lot Dallas coach Jason Kidd permits Flagg to deal with the ball and provoke the Mavericks’ offense given Kyrie Irving is predicted to overlook all of subsequent season after injuring a knee ligament.
The Mavericks ought to have sufficient wage flexibility this offseason to usher in some extent guard (Chris Paul, anybody?) however with Dallas in win-now mode, it might appear to learn their future to get Flagg lots of reps as early as doable as a playmaker, simply as they did with Luka Doncic in 2018. As somebody who watched Flagg play comfortably towards established NBA stars when he was solely 17 years previous, throughout a scrimmage towards the U.S. nationwide crew in 2024, I haven’t got many doubts he’ll enter the league with a really feel for easy methods to deal with NBA defenses.
Nadkarni: Flagg ought to be a terrific match with the Mavericks, particularly as a result of he shall be getting into a decrease stress scenario than most prime draft picks. I’m particularly curious to see how he matches in on the defensive facet of the ball.
Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, who coached Flagg on the USA Choose Crew forward of the Olympics final 12 months, praised Flagg for his consideration to element on that finish of the ground after their time collectively. Flagg may find yourself being a pleasant defensive piece on the wing for a roster that already consists of Anthony Davis and an rising rim protector in Dereck Vigorous III.
Favourite decide
Nadkarni: Ace Bailey was one thing of a lightning rod getting into Wednesday, however he looks as if a sensible gamble for the Jazz. Utah is within the unenviable place of not being a prime goal without cost brokers. The Jazz don’t get many alternatives to amass a participant of Bailey’s expertise. And after Utah’s decide fell out of the highest 4, grabbing a participant who many anticipated to be within the prime three seems like a house run.
May Bailey grumble at first? Positive. Nonetheless, he’ll be cost-controlled for 4 years, and the Jazz may have a possibility to place a aggressive roster round him within the meantime. Although they aren’t fairly the identical participant, do not forget that this is identical franchise that was as soon as lifted by a younger Donovan Mitchell. Bailey ought to obtain an analogous alternative to make his personal mark within the backcourt.
Greif: VJ Edgecombe to Philadelphia at No. 3. There was extra hypothesis about whether or not the Sixers would use or commerce their decide, given they’re coming off a nightmare season that noticed a preseason title contender stumble to 24 wins after an damage to former MVP Joel Embiid and a disappointing first season for splashy free-agent signing Paul George. Holding onto it to pick out Edgecombe seems like the correct transfer to suit each timelines the crew is contemplating.
He is a participant who makes the crew higher proper now, if Philadelphia continues to be pursuing a championship — on a crew of older, injury-prone stars, his athleticism is badly wanted — and he actually is a constructing block for the longer term, in case the franchise is contemplating a pivot towards the longer term. Edgecombe taking part in with electrical younger guard Tyrese Maxey is one thing I will be watching on League Move usually.
Most stunning decide
Greif: There have been a few robust passers who made stunning leaps up the draft board. The primary was BYU’s Egor Demin, who went eighth general to Brooklyn, round 20 picks larger than many mock drafts anticipated. However the greatest leap was Yang Hansen of China, who went from being projected to be taken in the midst of Thursday’s second spherical to sixteenth general, in a commerce that lands him in Portland.
Nobody appeared to have seen that rise coming, however the 7-foot-1 massive man’s contact and artistic aptitude as a passer has earned him comparisons to Nikola Jokic. (I’ll admit, the footage of his passes instantly dropped at thoughts visions of Arvydas Sabonis deftly discovering open Path Blazers teammates within the Nineteen Nineties.)
Let’s pump the brakes a tad; Jokic is the best-passing massive man of all-time, and among the many greatest passers ever no matter place. But contemplating Hansen averaged 15 factors, 11 rebounds and 4 assists taking part in in China’s prime skilled division two years in the past whereas nonetheless a youngster, I’m intrigued by whether or not he can dangle within the NBA.
Nadkarni: Khaman Maluach was a no brainer decide for the Suns at No. 10. (The Rockets technically made the choice however it should go to Phoenix as a part of the Kevin Durant commerce.) Besides, inside minutes of choosing Maluach, the Suns traded two first-round picks for Hornets heart Mark Williams. Huh?
Williams and Maluach aren’t the type of massive males who can play alongside each other. I perceive Phoenix was determined within the frontcourt. However a pick-strapped crew utilizing three first-round picks on two facilities is baffling. Maluach would have been a house run had the Suns merely not additionally traded for Williams. Perhaps issues will all shake out sooner or later (Williams might be a commerce chip once more.) For now, although, drafting Maluach and buying and selling a number of picks for one more heart doesn’t look like probably the most environment friendly use of sources.
Crew that gained (or misplaced) the evening
Nadkarni: It might be time to nationalize the New Orleans Pelicans. Significantly, what are they doing?
New Orleans already made considerably of an odd transfer this summer time, buying and selling C.J. McCollum’s expiring contract for 2 years of Jordan Poole. Positive, no matter.
The actual head-scratcher got here Wednesday evening when New Orleans traded up from No. 23 to No. 13 with the Atlanta Hawks to take Maryland massive man Derik Queen — and gave up a 2026 unprotected first-round decide within the course of. Unprotected! A decide that’s going to be the worst between the Pelicans and the Milwaukee Bucks, each groups which are anticipated to be very dangerous subsequent 12 months.
There may be truly an honest probability New Orleans simply traded a possible top-five decide for a late lottery choice. For a crew that’s rebuilding, I’m struggling to determine how this is smart.
Greif: Rohan, I second your confusion over what is going on in New Orleans. You coated that floor so totally, I am going to concentrate on the constructive. I am dishonest a bit however I’ve two groups that gained the evening, and each due to the guards they chose.
Let’s begin with Washington’s choice of Tre Johnson at No. 6. Prior to now week the Wizards have shipped out Jordan Poole, a guard who appeared too untrustworthy to be a part of any long-term rebuild, and introduced again consummate veteran scorer CJ McCollum from New Orleans in trade. The Wizards want grown-ups within the room and McCollum, a former union president, offers them that. He’ll be there to assist mentor Johnson, who got here out of Texas as among the best pure scorers accessible.
By deciding on Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr., Utah has additionally seemingly chosen a transparent path after spending the previous a number of years wandering via the NBA wilderness with a view to earn excessive draft picks. Bailey has monumental potential, if he can study to simply accept taking part in in Utah, which reportedly was not amongst his most popular locations. Clayton Jr. is a winner and watching him information Florida to a number of comebacks en path to successful the NCAA championship makes me assume he’ll deliver a degree of on the spot competence to the purpose guard place.