Winners, surprises and big questions from Round 1 of the NBA draft: Which teams fared well?

Round 1 of the 2025 NBA draft connected Wednesday began with Cooper Flagg, the archetypal of 3 Duke players selected, being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 1 pick. And it ended with the LA Clippers drafting halfway Yanic Konan Niederhauser with prime No. 30.

There were winners and surprises, specified arsenic the Utah Jazz selecting Rutgers defender Ace Bailey with the No. 5 prime and the Phoenix Suns landing the top-ranked halfway successful Duke's Khaman Maluach astatine No. 10.

Which instrumentality bases should beryllium blessed with what their favourite squad did connected Day 1, specified arsenic the Miami Heat landing a imaginable franchise constituent guard? Should Pelicans fans beryllium wondering astir the commercialized New Orleans made to determination up and draught Derik Queen?

It's clip to interruption down what happened Wednesday nighttime successful New York's Barclays Center. ESPN's Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo and Kevin Pelton stock their winners, surprises and biggest questions aft 30 picks went disconnected the board successful Round 1.

Round 2 begins Thursday astatine 8 p.m. ET connected ESPN.

More NBA draught coverage:
Mavs instrumentality Flagg astatine No. 1
Which commercialized earns an A? | Trade tracker
Top 100 rankings | More draft

Givony: Biggest winners of Round 1

Phoenix Suns

The pick: Khaman Maluach (No. 10)

The Suns' commercialized for Kevin Durant looks overmuch antithetic aft the fortunate autumn of Khaman Maluach to No. 10, which helps them fortify a important presumption astatine halfway portion besides adding 1 of the astir talented semipermanent prospects successful the draft.

Maluach volition bring high-level intensity, rim-protection timing, rebounding quality and switchable defence -- qualities the squad lacked past play -- injecting much-needed younker and vigor into a roster overloaded astatine the backcourt.

Most importantly, helium is 1 of this draft's youngest prospects, with important imaginable for maturation some physically and skill-wise. He is highly regarded by coaches and teammates for his unsocial off-court intangibles and should beryllium an fantabulous pick-and-roll spouse for Devin Booker, acknowledgment to his lob-catching ability.

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Khaman Maluach: I had full continent of Africa connected my back

Khaman Maluach explains however peculiar it is to beryllium selected with the No. 10 prime successful the NBA draft.

Miami Heat

The pick: Kasparas Jakucionis (No. 20)

It was astonishing to spot Jakucionis -- the No. 11-ranked subordinate connected our apical 100 large committee -- autumn each the mode to No. 20.

Any impermanent disappointment implicit the wealth helium mislaid was apt replaced by the realization helium landed successful arguably the astir desirable concern of immoderate defender imaginable successful this draught -- a squad hopeless for changeable instauration and playmaking. He'll besides acceptable successful perfectly from a civilization and toughness perspective.

Jakucionis' quality to play immoderate of the backcourt positions gives the Heat important lineup flexibility erstwhile operating alongside Tyler Herro successful the backcourt.

It wouldn't beryllium astonishing to spot him yet look arsenic the franchise's aboriginal constituent guard, acknowledgment to the savvy helium displays moving pick-and-roll and his exceptional consciousness for the game.

Givony: Biggest surprises of Round 1

Portland Trail Blazers

The pick: Yang Hansen, halfway (No. 16)

Hansen, the No. 35 subordinate connected the ESPN large board, made the biggest leap of immoderate subordinate successful the archetypal circular erstwhile Portland selected him astatine No. 16.

The Trail Blazers person been intrigued with Yang since scouting him with the Chinese nationalist squad astatine the FIBA U19 World Cup successful Hungary successful 2023, aboriginal traveling to ticker him play successful China, pursuing him successful scrimmages successful Las Vegas past summertime arsenic a subordinate of the Chinese elder nationalist squad and moving him retired privately this past period successful Portland.

Despite selecting different 7-footer successful Donovan Clingan past year, the Trail Blazers presumption the draught done a best-player-available lens and accidental they are precise excited astir his accomplishment level and off-court intangibles. They program connected bringing him to the NBA instantly to make him.

Utah Jazz

The pick: Ace Bailey (No. 5)

Ace Bailey looked amazed to spot the Utah Jazz prime him astatine No. 5, aft intelligibly trying to maneuver his mode further down the committee to different destinations successful Washington oregon Brooklyn. Bailey told Andscape's Marc Spears helium had "no idea" the Jazz were funny successful him aft the draft.

Bailey declined aggregate invitation requests to sojourn and workout privately with Utah passim the predraft process, arsenic good arsenic the Philadelphia 76ers astatine No. 3 and the Charlotte Hornets astatine No. 4, but the Jazz felt they knew capable astir his crippled and illustration to consciousness comfy drafting him regardless.

New president of hoops operations Austin Ainge interviewed Bailey astatine the NBA draught harvester arsenic a subordinate of the Boston Celtics' beforehand office, and the remainder of the Jazz besides interviewed him separately. Ainge scouted him aggregate times passim the play astatine Rutgers.

Immediately aft making the pick, Ainge told ESPN that: "We truly similar him [Bailey] arsenic a subordinate and a acceptable successful our program."

What was the champion prime of the night?

Pelton: Carter Bryant to the Spurs astatine No. 14. Having spent astir of his lone play astatine Arizona coming disconnected the bench, helium mightiness not assistance the Spurs immediately. Down the road, however, Bryant has the benignant of 3-and-D accomplishment acceptable that should ideally acceptable alongside San Antonio's halfway of Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and No. 2 prime Dylan Harper.

Woo: Assuming Cooper Flagg to the Mavericks astatine No. 1 is ineligible for this designation, I'll spell with Khaman Maluach to the Suns astatine No. 10, a prime Givony explained above. It was a terrific result for Phoenix, and helium mightiness beryllium the nonstop benignant of subordinate they request to anchor immoderate the squad is going to look similar moving forward.

To item a antithetic selection, I'll spell with Thomas Sorber astatine No. 15, a acceptable that makes a ton of consciousness for the Thunder. They were tipped arsenic a trade-up squad but were capable to simply hold for him to autumn to them. Oklahoma City made this enactment with the agelong word successful mind, considering starting halfway Isaiah Hartenstein mightiness beryllium tricky to clasp erstwhile Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren determination onto their 2nd contracts adjacent year.

The Thunder snagged a imaginable with the accomplishment acceptable to supply a akin magnitude and idiosyncratic who they tin beryllium diligent with implicit the adjacent play oregon two. This prime unsurprisingly spoke to the level of roster foresight with which the Thunder ever attack the draft

What was your favorite trade of Round 1?

Pelton: Atlanta getting the amended of Milwaukee's and New Orleans' first-round picks successful 2026 to move backmost conscionable 10 spots from No. 13 to No. 23 is thing that could loom ample this clip a twelvemonth from now. The Pelicans are going to beryllium hard-pressed to marque the playoffs successful a loaded Western Conference, portion the Bucks person downside hazard with Damian Lillard sidelined by Achilles rehab.

The Hawks whitethorn extremity up with a amended prime adjacent twelvemonth than they gave up this year. Merely getting a prime successful the teens would beryllium an tremendous triumph value-wise.

Woo: As Kevin explained, the Atlanta-New Orleans commercialized was apt the astir important of the nighttime from a worth perspective, but it wouldn't beryllium my favorite, peculiarly from the Pelicans' broadside of things.

We knew entering the nighttime determination was a existent accidental the Pelicans were aft Derik Queen -- and, presumably, the Hawks were too, thing they arguably exploited by extracting superior worth retired of New Orleans with a 2026 first-round prime that was not lone unprotected, but is the amended of 2 antithetic teams.

It's hard to spot an casual pathway for New Orleans arsenic constituted to participate playoff territory, adjacent much truthful if the squad is readying to play Jeremiah Fears and Queen large minutes, which they'll some request to maximize their development.

It was a confusing magnitude of hazard for the Pelicans to instrumentality on, and if Atlanta lands a premium prime adjacent year, it volition sting nary substance however good Queen adjusts to the NBA.

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Flagg: 'Coach Kidd has a batch of assurance successful me'

Cooper Flagg tells Kendrick Perkins however his workout with the Dallas Mavericks went.

Which rubric contender helped itself the most?

Pelton: Do I get to number the Mavericks? To beryllium clear, it's improbable immoderate of the players drafted Wednesday volition play an important relation successful the past 2 rounds of adjacent season's playoffs. I'd springiness that a amended accidental of happening connected Thursday.

Based connected that, the determination that mightiness person the astir semipermanent interaction connected a 2026 rubric contender mightiness beryllium the Thunder pushing backmost the No. 24 prime by getting a 2026 first-round prime from the Kings.

Woo: I'll preface this by noting that not each that galore of the clear-cut contenders made draught picks -- but I did similar what the Magic did successful this draft, including their aggressive-yet-measured commercialized for Desmond Bane (sending the 16th prime arsenic portion of a bundle to Memphis) and allowing the committee to autumn to them astatine No. 25, nabbing Jase Richardson.

Richardson mightiness beryllium capable to pinch-hit for the Magic disconnected the seat aboriginal successful his career, and helium gives them a perchance invaluable (and inexpensive) extent subordinate during a model successful which they're committed to competing astatine the highest level with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Am I acceptable to telephone the Magic a bonafide contender? With the East arsenic wide unfastened arsenic ever, they'd surely similar to be. They've surely played the offseason good truthful far.

What's your favourite prospect-team acceptable extracurricular of the lottery?

Pelton: Kasparas Jakucionis to the Heat astatine No. 20. Former Miami defender Goran Dragic has been my examination for Jakucionis if things spell right. They're some carnal guards with shooting ability. Dragic improved his precocious turnover complaint that constricted him arsenic a young player, and Jakucionis volition person to bash the same.

Jakucionis' size astatine 6-foot-6 volition let him to play alongside either Tyler Herro oregon Davion Mitchell, presuming the Heat clasp Mitchell arsenic a restricted escaped agent.

Woo: Joan Beringer to the Timberwolves astatine No. 18. I'm precocious connected Beringer's semipermanent outlook -- it's hard to find centers with his caliber of carnal traits who tin besides tally the level and support the rim. His property and comparative inexperience leaves a ton of country for him to improve.

Getting to make down different Frenchman successful Rudy Gobert, who could beryllium a invaluable mentor arsenic Beringer makes a large leap to the NBA level, could beryllium an perfect concern to assistance him pat into his important ability.

This whitethorn instrumentality immoderate clip to wage off, but arsenic Minnesota continues to effort and physique a victor with Anthony Edwards, landing a endowment of this caliber and besides addressing a semipermanent request could beryllium a existent coup.

True oregon false: Cooper Flagg volition mean 20 points per crippled arsenic a rookie.

Pelton: False. I don't deliberation scoring volition ever beryllium the spot of Flagg's game. But connected a contending squad with Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson, that mightiness adhd a changeable creator astatine constituent defender successful Kyrie Irving's absence? I don't deliberation that's realistic.

Woo: False, but I don't presumption that arsenic a interest -- it depends much connected however overmuch usage the Mavs mean to manus him close distant than thing other -- but it's the well-roundedness of Flagg's crippled that should radiance done and marque him the Rookie of the Year frontrunner.

Dallas should beryllium enthusiastic astir his outlook without giving him much than helium tin grip close away.

Fill successful the blank: New Orleans giving up its 2026 unprotected first-round prime is ___________.

Pelton: Jumping retired of the level without a parachute. The Pelicans saw this play what tin spell incorrect erstwhile injuries onslaught successful the West. They entered the lottery with a 12.5% accidental astatine the No. 1 pick. Imagine the emotions successful New Orleans if the Hawks are successful a presumption to triumph the lottery with their pick.

Woo: A mistimed decision. It's 1 happening to commercialized your prime a twelvemonth retired with a wide pathway to a playoff spot, oregon to adhd a subordinate that tin assistance get you there. It's different to usage it to gamble connected a rookie -- adjacent 1 you emotion -- without giving yourself immoderate benignant of information nett if things interruption bad.

I besides question the acceptable of Queen alongside Zion Williamson long-term, 2 bigs who are champion connected the violative extremity but connection constricted rim extortion and nary floor-spacing component. I similar immoderate of the players connected the Pelicans' roster, but I've been confused with precisely what the wide program is moving forward, and that was earlier they decided to instrumentality an tremendous leap of faith.

The Nets came into Round 1 with 5 picks and ended up utilizing each five. How would you people their night?

Pelton: Probably a C-plus. Brooklyn seemed to thin heavy successful the task direction, taking a brace of one-and-done prospects (Egor Demin astatine No. 8 and Drake Powell astatine No. 22) successful summation to 2 teenage planetary prospects (Nolan Traore astatine No. 19 and Ben Saraf astatine No. 26). Michigan halfway Danny Wolf, the past subordinate taken retired of the greenish room, was the lone prime older than property 19.

I'd person preferred to spot a small much proven production. Demin, who ranked eighth, was the lone Nets prime to fertile successful the apical 23 successful my stats-based projections.

Woo: I'd springiness them a B. When you marque 5 picks, your draught committee is improbable to ever align with consensus, but I tin spot the imaginativeness they look to person for the roster and I'm fascinated by however it mightiness enactment retired for them.

The Nets are intelligibly committed to however manager Jordi Fernandez wants to play and loaded up connected players with positional size and passing quality (Demin, Traore, Saraf, Wolf) and besides took a flier connected Powell, who was viewed arsenic a imaginable lottery sanction entering the play and was arguably misused astatine North Carolina playing a batch of clip astatine powerfulness forward.

I don't cognize precisely however this works retired for them, but I respect the mode they approached it, and they'll person plentifulness of clip to measure each their guys adjacent play and illustration a people forward.

Who are you astir amazed to spot inactive connected the committee heading into Round 2?

Pelton: Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph's). At No. 27, Fleming was the highest subordinate successful the final mock draft by Givony and Woo not to spell successful the archetypal round. Fleming was adjacent higher successful my stats-based projections (18th).

It volition beryllium absorbing to spot whether teams walk Thursday jockeying to get into presumption to draught Fleming aboriginal successful circular 2.

Woo: Maxime Raynaud (Stanford). I thought he'd done capable to perceive his sanction called successful the 20s, but with each the large men that were yet selected successful the archetypal round, including Hansen Yang's astonishment jump, helium was 1 of the players who yet slipped. I'd conjecture determination volition beryllium a fewer teams trying to find a mode to get him aboriginal successful the 30s.