2025 NBA Draft Lottery Results: Top Takeaways and Questions

Given General Manager Nico Harrison`s history, the Mavericks` roster might undergo changes between the end of the 2024-25 season and October. How will their first-round pick influence the team`s future?

The Mavericks didn`t have to wait long to add another potential franchise player. Months after the significant trade involving Luka Doncic, Dallas moved up in the lottery for the first time in franchise history, capitalizing on their 1.8% chance to land the No. 1 pick.

The general expectation is that the Mavericks will draft Cooper Flagg from Duke, who is seen as a potentially generational talent.

Harrison strongly believes that defense is key to winning championships, and the 6-foot-9 Flagg certainly fits that defensive profile. — Tim MacMahon

A video discussing the Spurs` lottery jump and potential impact on Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. Shams Charania analyzes the Spurs` options after securing the second pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

With two lottery picks, are the Spurs inclined to find a wing player with the No. 2 selection to help stabilize their young core and provide floor spacing for their key players?

Absolutely. San Antonio`s front office has pursued a long-term rebuild strategy by acquiring versatile players who can eventually find defined roles. However, with Victor Wembanyama, De`Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle now forming a core, the team is likely to adopt a more focused approach than in the past, targeting players who complement the existing talent.

The Spurs enter the draft with three primary needs: center depth, supplementary shooting, and a reserve combo guard, especially after trading Zach Collins and Tre Jones in February.

Given their second pick, a natural speculation is that the Spurs might consider trading it in a potential deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the two-time MVP is 30 years old, which doesn`t align with San Antonio`s current timeline, and he doesn`t address the team`s significant need for additional shooting. — Michael C. Wright

With a top-three pick and the player options of Andre Drummond, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Eric Gordon impacting their financial flexibility, how crucial is it for the Sixers to make the right selection with this pick?

As we have consistently stated, the outcome of the lottery was set to significantly influence the 76ers` offseason plans.

Since the Sixers have a substantial portion of their salary tied up in Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid (77%), their options would have been limited if they had not retained their first-round pick.

By keeping the pick (it would have been transferred to the Oklahoma City Thunder if it fell outside the top six), Philadelphia now has the flexibility to enhance their roster, which already features considerable talent.

One possibility not to overlook is 76ers president Daryl Morey exploring trading down in the draft for extra draft assets or making a move if a potential All-NBA caliber player becomes available via trade. Philadelphia now possesses four tradeable first-round picks, including the third pick this June and an unprotected 2029 first-rounder from the LA Clippers.

However, Morey emphasized at the season-ending press conference that the primary goal is to infuse youth into the current roster.

`If everything aligns well, we will have a younger, more dynamic roster built around a healthy Joel, Tyrese, and Paul,` Morey stated. — Bobby Marks

What type of player would be the best fit alongside the Hornets` core group of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and Mark Williams?

When a team wins only 19 games and hasn`t reached the postseason since 2016, the concept of “best fit” becomes less rigid, even with players like Ball, Miller, and last year`s lottery selection, Tidjane Salaun, on the roster.

It`s also important to note that there`s limited data on how effective Ball, Miller, and Bridges are when they share the court due to injuries. The Hornets ranked second in games missed by players, utilizing 36 different starting lineups. Ball, Miller, Bridges, and Williams were on the court together for only 3% of possessions.

The team is likely to focus on selecting the best available player, which could lead them to consider guards such as VJ Edgecombe, Jeremiah Fears, Tre Johnson, and Ace Bailey.

Last season, the Hornets struggled significantly with perimeter shooting, finishing last in effective field goal percentage. — Marks

Utah could potentially have over $70 million in salary cap space in 2026, suggesting they could be aggressive in reshaping their roster. What are the expectations for the Jazz`s moves to rebuild and add players?

The Jazz ended up with the fifth overall pick, which was their worst-case scenario but also the most probable outcome after finishing with one of the league`s weakest records. It`s likely Utah will face similar lottery odds next year.

The Jazz appear committed to a patient rebuilding strategy. It seems Utah will need to wait at least one more year to acquire the kind of cornerstone talent the team clearly needs. — MacMahon

For the second consecutive year, Washington holds a top-six pick along with a selection in the mid-to-late teens. What is the potential ceiling for the Wizards in the near future?

The Wizards` performance over the final two months of the season offers a positive sign for their 2025-26 outlook. While many lottery teams seemed to deliberately underperform for better draft odds, Washington actually showed improvement, going 9-19 after the All-Star break, matching their win total from 25 fewer pre-break games.

This modest success was a result of their 2024 first-round picks developing during their rookie seasons and the integration of veterans Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart, acquired in deadline trades that also brought future draft assets, including the No. 18 pick from the Grizzlies.

Given how young Washington`s rotation will be, adding two more first-round rookies to last year`s four young players (three drafted, plus AJ Johnson from the Bucks trade, all teenagers at the start of the season), competing for a playoff spot isn`t realistic yet. However, as long as the Wizards continue to become more competitive, their youthful core should provide fans with more optimism than at any point since Washington`s last winning season in 2017-18. — Kevin Pelton

The Pelicans are drafting in the top seven for the first time since selecting Zion Williamson No. 1 overall in 2019. How much of New Orleans` future trajectory depends on this selection?

Dropping from No. 4 to No. 7 is undoubtedly disappointing for New Orleans, especially after a season significantly impacted by injuries.

Nevertheless, the Pelicans are still in a favorable position to add an impactful player with the seventh pick to a roster that already includes Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III, and last year`s first-round pick, Yves Missi.

The ongoing question surrounding the team remains the future of Zion Williamson and whether the new front office, led by Joe Dumars, can successfully build a sustainable roster around him.

Since entering the league, Williamson has participated in only 46% of regular-season games and has yet to make a playoff appearance. — Marks

The Nets possess four first-round picks, significant cap space, and considerable future draft capital. What strategy should they adopt this offseason?

The Nets experienced some bad luck on Monday night, falling to the eighth spot as the Spurs and Mavericks moved ahead of them in the draft order. Despite this, Brooklyn remains a team to watch closely in the coming months, possessing the flexibility to potentially accelerate their timeline and improve the roster. However, they also have strong reasons to remain patient and target the lottery for one more year. The current free agent class isn`t particularly strong, the 2026 draft class looks promising at the top, and the Nets owe swap rights on their own 2027 first-rounder to the Rockets. This creates a logical strategy: stay patient, maintain cap flexibility, focus on drafting well and developing players internally, and then aim to shift towards competing seriously a year from now.

Naturally, the availability of a star player on the trade market could always alter this calculation and prompt the Nets to become buyers. For instance, the possibility of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade would undoubtedly interest Brooklyn. Still, considering the lack of proven talent on their roster, the potential cost and benefits of such a major move (and subsequent necessary actions) would need to be highly compelling for Brooklyn to act now. The most straightforward path might be to maintain their current course before aggressively pursuing contention next summer. — Jeremy Woo

The Raptors will add a lottery pick to their young core, which includes last year`s four-man rookie class and veteran Brandon Ingram. What steps are needed for Toronto to return to playoff contention?

Toronto has accumulated young talent around Scottie Barnes, but questions remain about the team`s long-term fit, particularly with Ingram joining a group that also features RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Gradey Dick. The Raptors have many players skilled at scoring, but on paper, there`s a need for more connective players to facilitate ball movement and teamwork.

The player Toronto selects at the ninth spot won`t be a complete solution, but addressing needs for frontcourt depth, strengthening the defense, and establishing offensive balance with Ingram are all factors the Raptors must consider. Prospects such as Collin Murray-Boyles and Derik Queen are likely candidates for consideration, especially given the absence of a true power forward on the roster. — Woo

Video featuring the `NBA Countdown` crew`s reaction to the Dallas Mavericks winning the lottery. Malika Andrews, Brian Windhorst, and Chiney Ogwumike share their shock at the outcome.

Following a first-round playoff loss, what is the Rockets` offseason strategy, and is finding a frontcourt player to complement Alperen Sengun a priority?

The Rockets view maintaining continuity with their young core as an appealing path forward, but they are also evaluating potential opportunities to acquire a proven superstar through trade. As General Manager Rafael Stone recently told ESPN, there`s a `high bar` that must be met for the Rockets to make a trade that significantly alters their core. Houston`s decision-makers would need to be highly confident that a trade would elevate them to legitimate contender status before giving up core players and dipping into their extensive collection of draft assets.

The Rockets have consistently stated that rising star Amen Thompson is not available in any potential trade discussions.

Regarding a big man, the Rockets are interested in re-signing Steven Adams, who performed well in managed minutes during the regular season and was a key factor in Houston extending its first-round series against the Warriors to seven games. — MacMahon

One significant issue for Portland this summer is having four veterans—Anfernee Simons, Matisse Thybulle, Robert Williams III, and Deandre Ayton—entering the final year of their contracts. How will this draft pick play into the Blazers` roster construction plans?

The positive aspect of the Blazers` strong performance in the latter half of the 2024-25 season is that they are not pressured to draft based solely on positional need with this pick. Portland possesses a solid forward duo in Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara, who were among their best players last season; two developing guards in Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe; and a promising young center in Donovan Clingan.

This collection of young talent, rather than this year`s draft pick itself, gives the Blazers flexibility to consider trading some or all of their veterans this offseason. I believe forward Jerami Grant is actually the most likely trade candidate this summer. Grant played only two games after the end of February, avoiding a potentially awkward decision for coach Chauncey Billups regarding whether to start Grant—who hasn`t come off the bench since 2020—instead of one of the team`s younger players.

Portland might prefer to wait until the trade deadline to move players on expiring contracts. Given the typical scarcity of teams looking to trade talent at the deadline, Ayton and Thybulle could potentially have more value to established contenders by then. Meanwhile, Williams would have more time to prove to teams his ability to stay healthy on the court. Additionally, by the deadline, the Blazers will have a clearer understanding of whether their young guards can effectively fill the role currently held by Simons. — Pelton

The Bulls ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency and last in points allowed in the paint. Are they leaning towards drafting for need or selecting the best available player? The front office prioritized making the play-in tournament over improving their lottery odds; will this strategy pay off?

When the Bulls traded Zach LaVine before the February 6 deadline, they had a 26% chance at a top-four pick and the opportunity to add a truly franchise-altering talent needed to elevate a team that has lost in the play-in tournament for three consecutive seasons. Instead, management opted to prioritize providing experience for the young players already on the roster, while teams like Philadelphia, Toronto, and Brooklyn improved their lottery positioning.

Chicago finished the season with a 15-6 record down the stretch but were decisively defeated by Miami in a home play-in game. Their odds for the top pick plummeted to 1.7% and for a top-four pick to 8%. As a team that has finished with an identical 39-43 record for the past two seasons, the Bulls clearly need to find a way to acquire superstar talent to escape the middle of the pack. — Jamal Collier

The Hawks have repositioned themselves with a younger roster and increased financial flexibility. How does Trae Young fit into the team`s future plans?

Atlanta has spent the last seven seasons attempting to assemble the right mix of talent around Trae Young. His skills as a scorer and playmaker have largely defined the team`s style of play under multiple coaches, yielding mixed results. The Hawks are still seeking a permanent top executive for basketball operations and are weighing decisions regarding Young`s future, as he is eligible for an extension, as is NBA Most Improved Player recipient Dyson Daniels.

As Atlanta maps out its direction moving forward, it must consider how a significant financial commitment to Young will impact their flexibility. If the Hawks decide it`s time to move in a different direction, this draft window likely represents the opportune time to trade him, before his contract becomes more expensive and potentially harder to move. However, the market for Young hasn`t been particularly active over the past couple of seasons, and the Hawks` willingness and ability to trade him may also depend on the trade value they are willing to accept.

The key difference now might be the emergence of Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, and Dyson Daniels, which has provided the Hawks with significantly more stability in building the roster should they decide to trade their star guard. — Woo

While Victor Wembanyama is a unique talent, the Spurs will need someone capable of protecting the rim when he is not on the court. What are the options for addressing this?

San Antonio traded backup center Zach Collins in February. On the same day that move was finalized, their new primary reserve center, Charles Bassey, suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for 31 of the team`s final 35 games. Bassey`s two previous seasons also ended due to knee injuries, and he has not played more than 36 games in any of his four NBA seasons. Given Bassey`s injury history and his upcoming free agency, it is time for the Spurs to prioritize adding depth behind Wembanyama.

However, San Antonio is unlikely to force a draft selection simply to fill this need if a suitable player isn`t available at their pick. It seems more probable that the team will try to sign a reserve center in free agency, where there are more established and immediately ready options. The Spurs don`t have the luxury of waiting for a young center prospect to develop at this point. — Wright