The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft is in the books, and there are some big winners and losers.
The next generation of NBA stars now know their landing spots for their rookie seasons.
At the top, Cooper Flagg got his coronation after being taken first by the Dallas Mavericks. We all expected that, but there were a few surprises further down the line.
Here, we take you through the biggest winners and losers from the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Biggest Winners
Atlanta Hawks- Draft Grade: A+
The Atlanta Hawks pulled off one of the greatest draft-day heists in NBA history. The New Orleans Pelicans traded to Atlanta the 23rd pick and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick in return for the Hawks’ 13th pick.
In doing this, the Hawks moved back only 10 places for a lottery ticket in the 2026 NBA Draft, which could result in the number one overall pick. It was a gift.
They took athletic wing Asa Newell with the 23rd pick- a solid pick for an athletic wing who can thrive through the passing of Hawks star Trae Young. But whoever they took, the Hawks had already won the draft through their Pelicans trade.
Dallas Mavericks- Draft Grade: A+
An obvious one, but still worth noting how the 2025 NBA Draft could well have saved the future of the Mavericks franchise.
Players like Flagg usually come to teams once in a lifetime (unless you’re the Mavericks, in which case they come twice, but you trade one away). He’s a generational talent capable of leading Dallas to a title in the future.
| Youngest Number One Picks in NBA History | |
|---|---|
| Lebron James | 18 years, 178 days |
| Cooper Flagg | 18 years, 186 days |
| Dwight Howard | 18 years, 198 days |
| Zion Williamson | 18 years, 350 days |
It wasn’t a difficult pick for the Mavs, but they welcome one of the most talented creators to enter the draft in decades into their building.
Utah Jazz- Draft Grade: A
From a talent perspective alone, Ace Bailey falling to Utah at number five was an unbelievable outcome for a Jazz team devoid of upside talent. They needed a big swing for a high-ceiling player, and they got that with Bailey.
Bailey was one of the biggest stars in the NBA draft. What prevents this from earning an A+ grade? Bailey didn’t want to go to Utah. He made it clear before the draft, refusing to work out with the Jazz, and it was written on his face when his name was called.
But the Jazz knew this before the draft and evidently didn’t care. They got some talent in the building.
They also drafted Walter Clayton Jr from Florida at number 18- a promising “three and D” talent, which is invaluable in today’s NBA. All in all, a very successful day for the Jazz.
The Biggest Losers
New Orleans Pelicans – Draft grade: F
Where there are winners, there are losers, and where the Hawks benefited from the New Orleans trade, the Pelicans may live to regret that move for years to come.
Nothing New Orleans did could save their evening from there, but their picks were uninspiring on the day as well.
Jeremiah Fears was a massive reach at seven, for a player who shot under 30% from three over his college and high school career. He’s an elite ball handler and passer, but poses little offensive threat until he can find some consistency from distance.
Meanwhile, New Orleans used the 13th pick that they were so desperate for to take Derik Queen, a confusing selection who doesn’t complement their star player, Zion Williamson’s, attacking style.
All in all, it was a bad day at the office for the Pelicans.
Portland Trail Blazers- Draft Grade: D
While the word around the league is that the Portland Trail Blazers got their hands on the “Chinese Nikola Jokic”, if that were the case, Hansen Yang would not have been so low on everybody’s boards.
Most expected Yang to fall to the second round. He’s a gifted passer like Jokic, and at 7’1” can see over the defence, but his skinnier frame makes him susceptible to being pushed around, and he could struggle with the physicality of the NBA.
He’s also not a consistent threat from three, but at 20 years old, there is time for him to develop some interior strength and a three-point shot.
There is some upside here, for sure, but the Trail Blazers reached a long way up the order to get it.
Brooklyn Nets- Draft grade: D+
How many first-round picks are too many picks? Apparently not five for the Brooklyn Nets, who are testing the method of drafting as many players as possible, hoping one works out.
One of their picks was in the lottery, and they reached for Egor Demin out of BYU, who may have been available to them at 19. Like Fears, his most significant question mark is his shooting, but he’s an impressive playmaker at 6’8”.
The Nets then took that formula and went for it again, and again, and again. They drafted four playmakers whose primary area for improvement is their shooting.
In fairness to Brooklyn, their final pick was a no-brainer. Danny Wolf from Michigan slid to them at 27, and he has similar upside to Queen, who was taken 14 spots ahead of him.
However, the Nets left the draft with multiple forms of essentially the same player, and will now take five first-round rookies into the upcoming season.