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André Snellings
The NBA draft is the place the league’s future takes form. On Wednesday evening — Day 1 of the two-day draft — the following wave of stars started their journey.
Headlining the category is Cooper Flagg, the long-hyped Duke phenom who now formally joins the Dallas Mavericks because the No. 1 general decide. Whereas Flagg’s rise to the highest was not a shock, he’s removed from the one rookie poised to make an impression in yr one.
Let’s break down the rookies that settled into the very best touchdown spots, and have a look at which gamers are greatest positioned to ship fantasy worth in 2025-26.
Lottery picks worthy of drafting in fantasy hoops
Cooper Flagg, SF, Dallas Mavericks: ESPN draft analyst and Duke alum Jay Bilas touted Flagg on draft evening as the very best freshman participant in Duke’s illustrious historical past. Flagg led the Blue Devils in factors, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per recreation final season. At 6-foot-9, he has wonderful dimension for a small ahead. Add to that the various talent set and a giant alternative to provide on a Mavericks crew that will likely be lacking main playmaker Kyrie Irving (torn ACL) for the primary half of the season, and there is a lot to love. This is more analysis from draft evening on what historical past tells us about how Flagg’s rookie numbers may look.
Ace Bailey, SG/SF, Utah Jazz: Bailey was a consensus top-3 expertise within the draft, however he slid a bit seemingly by design after he grew to become the one American-born draft prospect to refuse to work out for any groups. The Jazz took him anyway, regardless of reviews that he could have most well-liked to go to a crew drafting later, as a result of Bailey’s expertise is simple. A 6-foot-8 wing with a 7-foot wingspan, Bailey is a big-time shot-maker that’s gifted in isolation but additionally wonderful as a catch-and-shoot participant. He must work on decision-making, shot choice and playmaking, however his dimension, athleticism and scoring means give him long run star-power that would enable him to turn out to be an impression participant for the Jazz early on. The Jazz are a rebuilding crew with some younger expertise, however nobody with a talent set just like Bailey.
Tre Johnson, SG, Washington Wizards: Johnson is an elite shooter; based on Bilas, the very best general shooter on this draft. He’s equally proficient as a catch-and-shoot menace as he’s off the dribble. Johnson has lengthy arms (6-foot-10 wingspan), is nice transferring with out the ball however may also work off the pick-and-roll. He is a pure scorer that led the SEC in scoring as a freshman. He joins a Wizards crew that simply traded away main scorer Jordan Poole, and although they’ve veterans CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton on the wing, the Wizards are a rebuilding crew that would function Johnson early.
Jeremiah Fears, PG, New Orleans Pelicans: Fears is an especially assured scoring level guard. ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony used “gifted” as his one-word description of Fears, whereas host Malika Andrews used the phrase “swaggy”. Fears is quick and bodily with nice pace and a knack for moving into the lane and drawing fouls, which he knocks down at an elite price. Fears joins a Pelicans crew that simply traded for Poole for one guard slot, however that will likely be lacking beginning guard Dejounte Murray for the primary half of the season as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon. This might give Fears the chance to problem for a beginning spot and/or impression minutes early in his rookie marketing campaign.
Egor Demin, PG, Brooklyn Nets: Demin is a big guard at 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, however he’s additionally described as the very best passer within the draft. He signed a contract with Actual Madrid at age 15, then as a freshman at BYU he led the Massive 12 in assists whereas setting a BYU freshman file. Demin is a superb ballhandler, his pick-and-roll imaginative and prescient is excellent, and whereas he is not a constant 3-point shooter he’s keen and might get sizzling from downtown as nicely. The Nets are setting off a full rebuild, and Demin was the primary of their 5 first spherical draft picks this season. He may problem for a beginning position early, notably as a result of his dimension may enable him to defend small forwards even when he performs level guard on offense.
Lottery gamers to regulate
Dylan Harper, PG, San Antonio Spurs: Harper was the consensus second-best prospect within the Draft as a younger, scoring level guard with wonderful dimension and toughness. The son of NBA champion Ron Harper, Dylan set the freshman scoring file at Rutgers after successful the co-MVP award within the 2024 McDonalds All American recreation. Harper is a 3-level scorer with large physique management, a shot-maker that can be wonderful at ending by contact on the rim. The Spurs have already got robust perimeter gamers with All-Star level guard De’Aaron Fox, Rookie of the 12 months Stephon Castle and five-year veteran Devin Vassell, so Harper could not get huge minutes from soar, however he has a singular talent set and a vivid future as soon as he finds his position.
VJ Edgecombe, SG, Philadelphia 76ers: Edgecombe is an amazingly athletic taking pictures guard that, on draft evening, drew comparisons to names like Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo and Dwyane Wade whereas evaluating himself to favourite participant Anthony Edwards. Edgecombe is a robust 3-and-D wing that performs above the rim, can knock down spot-up 3-pointers, and set the Baylor file final season for probably the most steals by a freshman at school historical past. The 76ers have some gifted gamers beneath contract on the perimeter, together with All Star level guard Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, a shooter-scorer that was on tempo to problem for Rookie of the 12 months earlier than harm ended his season. Edgecombe has a skillset that’s distinctive from his teammates and will complement them sufficient for him to earn impression minutes early in his profession.
Kon Knueppel, SG/SF, Charlotte Hornets: Knueppel was the very best catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter within the draft with unimaginable vary. He additionally has the power to get into the lane on straight-line drives and might make performs across the rim the place he finishes off two ft. Knueppel stays within the state of North Carolina, becoming a member of a Hornets squad led by a wonderful playmaker in LaMelo Ball and scoring wing in Brandon Miller, and he may earn massive minutes early because the shooter on the wing that performs off of them.
Collin Murray-Boyles, SF/PF, Toronto Raptors: Murray-Boyles is a robust defensive prospect at ahead. He’s an environment friendly scorer and good rebounder, however his calling card is defensive versatility. Murray-Boyles was one in all Bilas’ favourite prospects within the draft, however he may very well be restricted as a fantasy hoops prospect each by his fashion of play but additionally as a result of he joins a Raptors crew that is filled with frontcourt depth which will forestall him from getting impact-level minutes.
Khaman Maluach, C, Phoenix Suns: Maluach is an especially gifted however uncooked middle prospect. Over 7-feet tall, Maluach did not begin enjoying basketball till he was a teen and realized within the NBA Academy in Africa. Maluach was a terrific shot-blocker and offensive rebounder at Duke, and his athleticism permits him to complete within the paint off put-backs or lobs. He was second in D-1 with 81 dunks final season, 38 of them off lobs. The Suns additionally traded for middle Mark Williams on draft evening, so Maluach could also be extra of a developmental participant than a direct impression man from a fantasy hoops perspective.
Different picks that caught my consideration
Derik Queen, C, New Orleans Pelicans: Queen was nicknamed “Child Jokic” by his teammates. He is a wonderful ball-handler and passer from the middle place, along with being a nightly double-double menace. He has a great face-up recreation, a talent set that would produce fantasy numbers, and may very well be a great complement to final yr’s rookie massive man Yves Messi‘s athletic defender-style recreation.
Walter Clayton Jr., PG/SG, Utah Jazz: Clayton electrified the NCAA event this season with three 30-plus level scoring efforts, together with main all gamers with 35 crunch time factors. Clayton’s NCAA efficiency drew comparisons to Stephen Curry for his big-time and clutch shot-making on his technique to being named the Most Excellent Participant within the event. Clayton is taken into account undersized as a taking pictures guard, however his pace, power (was an elite soccer recruit as a defensive again) and scoring talent set may earn him a task early on for a Jazz crew that’s in rebuild mode.
Kasparas Jakucionis, PG/SG, Miami Heat: Jaskucionis was anticipated to be a top-10 decide in most mock drafts, so his slide to the Warmth was sudden and makes him a late-round steal candidate. Givony described KJ as a combo between Austin Reaves and Andrew Nembhard, and a participant that may very well be the Warmth’s level guard of the longer term… and maybe of the current as nicely.
Rookie of the 12 months race
Chief: Cooper Flagg (-200)
Within the hunt: Ace Bailey (+650), Tre Johnson (+750), Dylan Harper (+1200)
Longshots of curiosity: VJ Edgecombe (+2500), Derik Queen (+3000), Kasparas Jakucionis (+6000), Walter Clayton Jr. (+10,000)
Flagg is the runaway and odds-on favourite to win Rookie of the 12 months. He’s thought-about a generational prospect, and he is becoming a member of a Mavericks crew the place he may very well be featured and produce massive stats on a probably successful crew.
Bailey and Johnson are each gifted scorers becoming a member of rebuilding groups the place they might produce massive stats early.
Harper and Edgecomb, the second and third picks within the draft repsectively, have excellent expertise however are becoming a member of groups with playoffs aspirations and established star gamers that would restrict their particular person manufacturing.
Queen, Jakucionis and Clayton all had robust school careers with video games that would produce attention-grabbing stats as rookies in the event that they earn the enjoying time.