2025 NBA Draft: Round 1 Winners, Surprise Picks, Questions

The first round of the 2025 NBA draft took place on Wednesday, featuring 30 selections. The Dallas Mavericks opened the event by taking Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick; Flagg was one of three players from Duke chosen in the first round. The night concluded when the LA Clippers drafted center Yanic Konan Niederhauser at pick No. 30.

The round included noteworthy successes for some teams and several unexpected choices. For example, the Utah Jazz made a surprise selection with Rutgers guard Ace Bailey at No. 5, while the Phoenix Suns managed to secure Duke`s Khaman Maluach, widely considered the top center in the draft, at pick No. 10.

Which fan bases should be pleased with their team`s performance on Day 1? The Miami Heat, for instance, appears to have found a potential cornerstone point guard. Conversely, should New Orleans Pelicans fans be questioning the trade package they sent to move up and draft Derik Queen?

ESPN experts Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo, and Kevin Pelton break down the key events from Wednesday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. They share their assessments of the biggest winners, surprising picks, and lingering questions following the conclusion of the first round.

Givony: Biggest Winners of Round 1

Phoenix Suns

The pick: Khaman Maluach (No. 10)

The dynamics of the Suns` trade for Kevin Durant shift considerably with Khaman Maluach falling to the 10th spot. This acquisition allows Phoenix to strengthen a critical center position while simultaneously adding one of the most promising long-term talents in the draft class.

Maluach is expected to provide high-level intensity, excellent rim-protection timing, strong rebounding, and versatile switchable defense – attributes the team notably lacked last season. He injects much-needed youth and energy into a roster that was heavily reliant on backcourt depth.

Crucially, he is among the youngest prospects in this draft, possessing significant room for physical and skill development. He is highly regarded for his positive off-court characteristics and is anticipated to be an effective pick-and-roll partner for Devin Booker, thanks to his capability as a lob threat.

Miami Heat

The pick: Kasparas Jakucionis (No. 20)

It was quite a surprise to see Kasparas Jakucionis, who was ranked No. 11 on ESPN`s top 100 board, drop all the way to the 20th selection.

Any disappointment he might have felt regarding his draft position was likely tempered by the realization that he landed in perhaps the most advantageous situation for any guard prospect in this class – a team desperately needing shot creation and playmaking. His fit within the Heat`s culture, known for its toughness and discipline, appears seamless.

Jakucionis`s ability to competently play any backcourt position offers the Heat significant lineup flexibility, particularly when paired with Tyler Herro. It would not be surprising if he eventually develops into the franchise`s primary point guard, given his intelligent approach to running pick-and-rolls and his exceptional basketball IQ.

Givony: Biggest Surprises of Round 1

Portland Trail Blazers

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

Yang Hansen, ranked No. 35 on the ESPN board, made the most significant jump of the first round when the Portland Trail Blazers selected him 16th overall.

The Trail Blazers have shown interest in Yang since scouting him with the Chinese national team at the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2023. They later traveled to China to watch him play, observed him in scrimmages in Las Vegas with the senior national team, and conducted a private workout for him in Portland recently.

Despite drafting another 7-footer, Donovan Clingan, last year, Portland adheres to a best-player-available strategy. They expressed great excitement about Yang`s skill set and off-court attributes and plan to bring him immediately to the NBA for development.

Utah Jazz

The pick: Ace Bailey (No. 5)

Ace Bailey appeared taken aback when the Utah Jazz selected him at the No. 5 spot. Reports indicated he had been attempting to influence his draft position to other teams like Washington or Brooklyn. Following the draft, Bailey reportedly told Marc Spears he had “no idea” the Jazz were considering him.

Bailey had declined multiple invitations for private visits and workouts from Utah during the pre-draft process, as well as from the Philadelphia 76ers (at No. 3) and the Charlotte Hornets (at No. 4). However, the Jazz felt they possessed sufficient information about his game and potential to feel comfortable drafting him regardless.

New President of Basketball Operations Austin Ainge, who had previously interviewed Bailey at the NBA draft combine while with the Boston Celtics, and the rest of the Jazz management also interviewed him separately. Ainge had also scouted Bailey multiple times throughout the season at Rutgers. Immediately after the pick, Ainge stated, “We really like him as a player and a fit in our program.”

What was the best pick of the night?

Pelton: Carter Bryant to the Spurs at No. 14. Having primarily come off the bench during his single season at Arizona, he might not make an immediate impact for San Antonio. However, in the future, Bryant offers the kind of 3-and-D skill set that should complement the Spurs` core players like Victor Wembanyama, De`Aaron Fox, NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and No. 2 pick Dylan Harper.

Woo: Assuming Cooper Flagg to the Mavericks at No. 1 is excluded from consideration, I would choose Khaman Maluach to the Suns at No. 10, as Jonathan Givony detailed earlier. Landing Maluach was an outstanding result for Phoenix, and he possesses the exact profile of player needed to solidify their center position moving forward.

To highlight another strong selection, I`d pick Thomas Sorber at No. 15 to the Thunder. This fit makes significant sense for Oklahoma City. Although they were rumored to be looking to trade up, they were able to patiently wait for Sorber to fall to them. The Thunder made this pick with a long-term view, considering that retaining their starting center, Isaiah Hartenstein, might be challenging once Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren become eligible for their second contracts next year.

The Thunder secured a prospect with the skills to offer a similar dimension to their play and one with whom they can afford to be patient over the next season or two. This pick predictably reflects the level of foresight Oklahoma City consistently applies to roster building through the draft.

What was your favorite trade of Round 1?

Pelton: Atlanta receiving the better of Milwaukee`s and New Orleans` first-round picks in 2026 in exchange for moving back only 10 spots from No. 13 to No. 23 is a move that could prove highly significant a year from now. The Pelicans face a tough challenge making the playoffs in a competitive Western Conference, and the Bucks have downside risk with Damian Lillard`s Achilles recovery. The Hawks could potentially end up with a better draft pick next year than the one they traded away this year. Simply obtaining a pick in the teens next year would represent a huge win from a value perspective.

Woo: As Kevin mentioned, the Atlanta-New Orleans trade likely provided the most significant value, especially for Atlanta, but it wouldn`t be my *favorite* trade, particularly from the Pelicans` standpoint. We knew entering the night that the Pelicans were interested in Derik Queen, and presumably, the Hawks were aware of this, which they arguably leveraged to extract significant value from New Orleans. The cost was an unprotected 2026 first-round pick, specifically the better of two options New Orleans owned.

It`s difficult to envision a clear path for New Orleans to consistently be a playoff team with their current roster composition, even more so if they plan for Jeremiah Fears and Queen to receive substantial playing time, which they would need to maximize their development. This trade involved a confusing level of risk for the Pelicans. If Atlanta secures a high lottery pick next year from New Orleans, it will undoubtedly sting, regardless of how well Queen adapts to the NBA.

Which title contender helped itself the most?

Pelton: Can I include the Mavericks? To be clear, it`s improbable that any player drafted on Wednesday will play a crucial role in the final two rounds of the playoffs *next* season. That scenario might be more likely for players selected on Thursday (Round 2). Therefore, the move with the most potential long-term impact on a 2026 title contender could be the Thunder`s decision to trade pick No. 24 for a 2026 first-round pick from the Kings, effectively pushing their asset forward.

Woo: I`ll preface this by noting that not many clear contenders made selections in this draft. However, I was impressed with the Magic`s actions, including their assertive yet strategic trade for Desmond Bane (sending the No. 16 pick as part of a package to Memphis) and their move at No. 25 to select Jase Richardson when he fell to them.

Richardson could potentially contribute off the bench for the Magic early in his career, providing them with a potentially valuable and cost-effective depth player during a period where they are aiming to compete at the highest level with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Am I ready to label the Magic a bona fide contender? With the Eastern Conference appearing wide open, they certainly aspire to be. They have certainly navigated the offseason effectively so far.

What`s your favorite prospect-team fit outside of the lottery?

Pelton: Kasparas Jakucionis landing with the Heat at No. 20. My ideal comparison for Jakucionis, if his development goes well, is former Miami guard Goran Dragic. Both are physically strong guards with shooting ability. Dragic successfully improved his high turnover rate that was a weakness early in his career, and Jakucionis will need to do the same. Jakucionis`s size at 6-foot-6 allows him the versatility to play alongside either Tyler Herro or Davion Mitchell, assuming the Heat retain Mitchell as a restricted free agent.

Woo: Joan Beringer joining the Timberwolves at No. 18. I have a high regard for Beringer`s long-term prospects. It`s rare to find centers with his combination of physical attributes who can also run the floor effectively and protect the rim. His youth and relative lack of experience mean there`s substantial potential for improvement. Developing behind fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert, who could serve as a valuable mentor as Beringer transitions to the NBA, appears to be an ideal scenario to help him unlock his significant abilities. While this pick may require time to fully realize its payoff, as Minnesota continues to build a winning team around Anthony Edwards, acquiring a talent of this caliber while also addressing a long-term positional need could be a real success.

True or false: Cooper Flagg will average 20 points as a rookie.

Pelton: False. I don`t anticipate scoring becoming the primary strength of Flagg`s game. Furthermore, on a Dallas Mavericks team that already features established offensive threats, it`s simply not realistic to expect him to average 20 points in his first season.

Woo: False, but this is not a point of concern for me. Whether he reaches that scoring mark depends more on how much offensive responsibility the Mavericks decide to give him immediately. What truly makes him stand out and likely positions him as the Rookie of the Year front-runner is the well-roundedness of his overall game. Dallas should feel very optimistic about his future without needing to burden him with more than he can handle right away.

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

Pelton: Jumping out of the plane without a parachute. The Pelicans witnessed firsthand this past season how things can go wrong when injuries hit hard in the competitive Western Conference. They even entered this lottery with a 12.5% chance at the No. 1 pick. Imagine the potential anxiety in New Orleans if the Atlanta Hawks are in a position to win the lottery with the pick that originally belonged to the Pelicans.

Woo: A mistimed decision. Trading away a future unprotected pick a year in advance is more palatable when you have a clear path to being a playoff lock, or when you acquire a player who immediately helps you reach that status. It`s entirely different to use it as a gamble on a rookie prospect, even one you highly value, without ensuring any safety net should circumstances turn unfavorable.

I also have questions about the long-term fit of Derik Queen alongside Zion Williamson – they are two frontcourt players whose primary impact is on offense but offer limited rim protection and lack floor-spacing ability. While I like some players on the Pelicans roster, I`ve been uncertain about their overall strategic direction, and this trade, representing an enormous leap of faith, only adds to that confusion.

The Nets came into Round 1 with five picks and ended up using all five. How would you grade their night?

Pelton: Probably a C-plus. Brooklyn appeared to heavily favor `project` prospects, selecting two one-and-done players (Egor Demin at No. 8 and Drake Powell at No. 22) along with two teenage international prospects (Nolan Traore at No. 19 and Ben Saraf at No. 26). Michigan center Danny Wolf, the final player selected out of the green room, was the only pick older than 19. I would have preferred to see them prioritize players with more demonstrated production. Egor Demin, ranked eighth, was the only Nets pick to rank in the top 23 of my statistical projections.

Woo: I would assign them a B grade. When making five selections, a team`s draft board is unlikely to perfectly align with the consensus. However, I can discern the roster vision they seem to be pursuing and am intrigued to see how it develops for them. The Nets clearly embrace the playing style favored by coach Jordi Fernandez and accumulated players with positional size and passing capabilities (Demin, Traore, Saraf, Wolf). They also took a chance on Powell, who was considered a potential lottery talent earlier in the season but was perhaps less effectively utilized playing a significant amount of time at power forward at North Carolina. I`m not entirely sure how this collection of players will ultimately pan out, but I respect their strategic approach, and they will have ample time next season to evaluate their new additions and chart their future course.

Who are you most surprised to see still on the board heading into Round 2?

Pelton: Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph`s). Ranked at No. 27 in the final mock draft by Givony and Woo, Fleming was the highest-rated player not selected in the first round. He was even ranked higher (18th) in my own statistics-based projections. It will be interesting to observe whether teams maneuver on Thursday to position themselves to draft Fleming early in the second round.

Woo: Maxime Raynaud (Stanford). I thought he had demonstrated enough potential to be selected in the 20s. However, with numerous big men being drafted in the first round, including Yang Hansen`s unexpected leap, Raynaud was one of the prospects who ultimately slipped. My guess is that several teams will be exploring ways to acquire him early in the 30s.