The NBA draft is the pivotal moment where the league`s future stars emerge. The recent two-day draft saw the arrival of the next generation of talent. Leading this class is Cooper Flagg, the highly anticipated prospect from Duke, who was selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks. While Flagg`s top pick status was widely expected, he is just one of many promising rookies ready to contribute significantly in their inaugural season.
We`ll now analyze which incoming rookies landed in the most favorable team environments and assess which players are best positioned to offer significant fantasy basketball value in the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Top Lottery Picks for Fantasy Basketball Drafts
Cooper Flagg, SF, Dallas Mavericks: Draft analysts have praised Flagg as potentially the best freshman player in Duke`s history. Last season, he led the Blue Devils in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game. At 6-foot-9, he possesses excellent size for a small forward. His diverse skill set, combined with a significant opportunity to produce on a Mavericks team that will be without key playmaker Kyrie Irving due to injury for the first half of the season, makes him a very appealing fantasy option.
Ace Bailey, SG/SF, Utah Jazz: Bailey was considered a consensus top-three talent in the draft but dropped slightly, seemingly due to his reported preference for a later pick. Despite this, the Jazz selected him because his talent is undeniable. A 6-foot-8 wing with a 7-foot wingspan, Bailey is a gifted shot-maker, effective in isolation and as a catch-and-shoot player. While he needs to refine his decision-making, shot selection, and playmaking, his size, athleticism, and scoring ability hint at long-term star potential, which could allow him to become an early impact player for the Jazz. The Jazz are a rebuilding team with young talent, but none possess a skill set quite like Bailey`s.
Tre Johnson, SG, Washington Wizards: Johnson is an elite shooter, regarded by some as the best overall shooter in this draft class. He excels both in catch-and-shoot situations and creating off the dribble. Johnson has a long 6-foot-10 wingspan, moves well without the ball, and can operate effectively out of the pick-and-roll. He is a natural scorer who led the SEC in scoring as a freshman. He joins a Wizards team that recently traded away their leading scorer, Jordan Poole. While they have veterans like CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton, the Wizards are in a rebuilding phase and could feature Johnson prominently early in his career.
Jeremiah Fears, PG, New Orleans Pelicans: Fears is an exceptionally confident scoring point guard, described by analysts as “gifted” and “swaggy.” He is fast and physical with great speed, excelling at driving to the basket and drawing fouls, which he converts at an elite rate. Fears joins a Pelicans team that acquired Poole for one guard spot but will miss starting guard Dejounte Murray for the first half of the season due to injury. This situation could present Fears with an early opportunity to compete for a starting position or earn significant playing time in his rookie campaign.
Egor Demin, PG, Brooklyn Nets: Demin is a large guard at 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, and he`s also highlighted as perhaps the best passer in the draft. He signed with Real Madrid at age 15 and then led the Big 12 in assists as a freshman at BYU, setting a freshman record for the school. Demin is an outstanding ballhandler with exceptional pick-and-roll vision. Although not yet a consistent three-point shooter, he is willing to take shots from deep and can heat up. The Nets are undertaking a complete rebuild, and Demin was their first of five first-round picks this season. His size could allow him to defend small forwards even while playing point guard on offense, giving him a potential path to challenge for a starting role early.
Lottery Prospects to Watch Closely
Dylan Harper joins a Spurs roster loaded with young talent.
Dylan Harper, PG, San Antonio Spurs: Harper was generally considered the second-best prospect in the draft, noted as a young, scoring point guard with excellent size and toughness. The son of NBA champion Ron Harper, Dylan set the freshman scoring record at Rutgers after being a co-MVP of the 2024 McDonalds All American game. Harper is a three-level scorer with tremendous body control, a shot-maker who is also excellent at finishing through contact at the rim. The Spurs already have strong perimeter players in All-Star De`Aaron Fox, Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and veteran Devin Vassell, so Harper might not immediately receive massive minutes. However, he possesses a unique skill set and a bright future once he finds his role.
VJ Edgecombe, SG, Philadelphia 76ers: Edgecombe is an incredibly athletic shooting guard, drawing comparisons to players like Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo, and Dwyane Wade on draft night. He is a strong 3-and-D wing who plays above the rim, can hit spot-up three-pointers, and set Baylor`s freshman record for steals. The 76ers have talented perimeter players under contract, including All-Star Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, a shooter-scorer whose rookie season was cut short by injury. Edgecombe`s skill set is distinct from his teammates and could complement them well enough for him to earn significant minutes early in his career.
Kon Knueppel, SG/SF, Charlotte Hornets: Knueppel was identified as the best catch-and-shoot three-point shooter in the draft, possessing incredible range. He also has the ability to drive straight to the lane and make plays around the rim, finishing off two feet. Knueppel stays in North Carolina, joining a Hornets squad featuring excellent playmaker LaMelo Ball and scoring wing Brandon Miller. He could earn considerable early minutes as a floor-spacing shooter on the wing playing alongside them.
Collin Murray-Boyles, SF/PF, Toronto Raptors: Murray-Boyles is a strong defensive prospect at forward. He is an efficient scorer and a good rebounder, but his primary strength is defensive versatility. He was a favorite prospect of some analysts, but his style of play and the Raptors` existing frontcourt depth might limit his fantasy impact and minutes initially.
Khaman Maluach, C, Phoenix Suns: Maluach is an extremely talented but still raw center prospect. Standing over 7 feet tall, he only began playing basketball as a teenager and developed at the NBA Academy in Africa. Maluach was a formidable shot-blocker and offensive rebounder at Duke. His athleticism allows him to finish effectively in the paint, particularly on put-backs and lobs. He finished second in D-1 in dunks last season. The Suns also acquired center Mark Williams on draft night, suggesting Maluach might be more of a developmental project than an immediate fantasy contributor.
Other Interesting Draft Picks
Derik Queen gives the Pelicans another big man with versatility.
Derik Queen, C, New Orleans Pelicans: Nicknamed `Baby Jokic` by his teammates, Queen is an excellent ball-handler and passer from the center position, in addition to being a nightly double-double threat. He has a proficient face-up game and a skill set that could translate well to fantasy production. He could serve as a good complement to last year`s rookie big man, Yves Messi, who is more of an athletic defender.
Walter Clayton Jr., PG/SG, Utah Jazz: Clayton captivated during the NCAA tournament with three games scoring over 30 points, including leading all players with 35 crunch-time points. His performance drew comparisons to Stephen Curry for his ability to make clutch, high-pressure shots. While considered undersized for a shooting guard, his speed, strength (he was an elite football recruit), and scoring prowess could help him earn an early role on the rebuilding Jazz roster.
Kasparas Jakucionis, PG/SG, Miami Heat: Jakucionis was projected by many mock drafts to be a top-10 pick, making his slide to the Heat unexpected and potentially a valuable late-round steal. He has been described as a combination of Austin Reaves and Andrew Nembhard and a player who could become the Heat`s point guard of the future – perhaps even the present.
Rookie of the Year Outlook
The race for Rookie of the Year appears to have a clear frontrunner. Cooper Flagg is the overwhelming favorite. Considered a generational talent, his role with the Dallas Mavericks could see him featured heavily, allowing him to accumulate impressive statistics for a team aiming to be competitive.
Players “In the hunt” include Ace Bailey and Tre Johnson, both talented scorers joining rebuilding franchises where they are likely to receive significant early playing time and could put up big fantasy numbers.
Lottery picks like Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe possess outstanding potential but are joining teams with existing stars and playoff aspirations, which might limit their immediate statistical output compared to rookies on rebuilding teams.
“Long shots” of interest for fantasy managers, who could surprise if they earn consistent minutes, include players like Derik Queen, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Walter Clayton Jr., all of whom showed skills in college that could translate to attention-grabbing stats as rookies.
