NBA's Southwest Division got a whole lot better with top 2 picks in draft in Flagg, Harper
The NBA's Southwest Division got a lot younger — and a whole lot better — on Wednesday night.
The Dallas Mavericks, just months removed from the shocking trade
involving superstar Luka Doncic
, selected
Duke forward Cooper Flagg
with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, a predetermined decision after the franchise won the draft lottery.
'I think I keep saying I'm excited to be a sponge, to get down there and just learn, be surrounded by Hall of Fame-caliber guys and just to be able to learn from them,' Flagg said. 'It's going to be an incredible experience.'
The San Antonio Spurs followed by
taking Rutgers' Dylan Harper second overall
, giving them an explosive point guard who has plenty of star potential. Five picks later, the New Orleans Pelicans selected sharpshooter Jeremiah Fears from Oklahoma at No. 7 overall, giving the top of this year's draft a very distinctive Southwest flavor.
The division was in need of an injection of talent.
Only the Houston Rockets made the playoffs last season, but they were knocked out as the No. 2 seed in the first round by Golden State. Houston made its big move before the draft, trading for 15-time All-Star and
and four-time Olympic gold medalist Kevin Durant
.
The Rockets were mostly bystanders in the draft. They drafted Duke center Khaman Maluach with the No. 10 pick, but he was headed to the Suns as part of the Durant trade. That deal also sent Jalen Green, the second overall pick in the 2021 draft, to the Suns along with Dillon Brooks.
Dallas Mavericks
What was the team's need: The need didn't matter because there was no question who the Mavs were taking. Dallas needs a facilitating guard to fill the void until Kyrie Irving returns from his knee injury,
probably in December or January.
Who did the team draft: Flagg from Duke If Flagg lives up to his potential, the Mavs found a new generational young talent less than six months after sending the one they had to the Lakers. Flagg will be two-plus seasons into this NBA career when he turns 21.
The pick's NBA comparison: Flagg actually has a chance to be a smaller version (assuming he's finished growing) of his new teammate, Anthony Davis. He has potential as a two-way player who is a scoring threat from the perimeter.
San Antonio Spurs
What the team's need: After failing to make the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, San Antonio needed scoring, playmaking and a big man to assist 2024 Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.
Who did the team draft: Harper at No. 2 and forward Carter Bryant at No. 14.
The picks' NBA comparisons: At 6-foot-6, Harper has been compared to former MVP James Harden, Detroit All-Star Cade Cunningham and his father, five-time NBA champion Ron Harper. Harper's size and strength allows him to get to the rim, absorb contact and score on a layup or via free throws. The 19-year-old Bryant has been compared to New Orleans forward Trey Murphy III because of defensive ability and offensive potential. Bryant shot 37% on 3-pointers and 46% from the field.
New Orleans Pelicans
What was the team's need: After going 21-61 and bringing in Joe Dumars as their new basketball operations chief, the Pelicans needed depth across the roster, but particularly at point guard because of Dejounte Murray's prolonged recovery from an Achilles injury in January.
Who did the team draft: Point guard Jeremiah Fears from Oklahoma at No. 7 and Maryland forward-center Derik Queen at No. 13 (after acquiring that pick in a trade that sent Atlanta their 23rd overall selection this year and a 2026 first-round pick).
The picks' NBA comparisons: As a 6-foot-3 slasher who not only can play the point but also excels at creating his own shot, Fears' game resembles that of Murray, as well as that of New York's Josh Hart — a former Pelicans fan favorite — as well as Detroit's Jaden Ivey and Sacramento's Markelle Fultz. The 6-foot-9 Queen isn't known for his outside shot or shot-blocking, but was productive inside presence with averages of 16.5 points and nine rebounds in his final college season. He draws comparisons to Houston's Alperen Şengün.
Memphis Grizzlies
What was the team's need: The Grizzlies must replace sharpshooter Desmond Bane, sent to Orlando in a June trade. Memphis has tried for some time to find the right 3-and-D player, who can provide shooting from distance with a strong defensive mindset. Memphis needs to recover from a collapse down the stretch. The Grizzlies went from second place in the Western Conference on Feb. 27 to the play-in tournament.
Who did the team draft: The Grizzlies moved up to 11th in the draft in a trade with Portland, ending up with Cedric Coward, 6-6 wing from Washington State. He is a 3-point shooter and can be strong on defense, possibly fulfilling the Grizzlies' long-desired need.
The pick's NBA comparison: Coward has some of the skillsets seen in Kawhi Leonard and Jalen Williams.
Houston Rockets
What was the team's need: As it stands now, the Rockets don't have a pick in this draft that they'll get to keep after also shipping their second-round pick to the Suns. But that's OK for a team stocked with young talent that finished with the second-best record in the Western Conference this season.
Who did the team draft: Duke C Khaman Maluach at No. 10, but he will go to Phoenix as part of the Durant trade.
The pick's' NBA comparison: Maluach reminds some of Hassan Whiteside.
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2025 NBA Draft grades: First-round pick-by-pick analysis — Mavs get A+ for Cooper Flagg, but Ace Bailey to Utah?
How did teams perform on Day 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft? Let's hand out grades for every first-round pick. Grade: A+ Hard to believe this is actually happening just five months after the Mavericks shockingly traded Luka Dončić. Yet here we are. Flagg is officially a Mav, and he has a chance to be great enough to win back the fans. He can help Dallas in both the short term and long term as a do-it-all forward who hustles like a madman, makes his teammates better as a passer and has dialed in a knockdown jumper. He's both the best offensive and defensive prospect in this draft class, making him the safest No. 1 pick in ages. As long as his jumper continues to fall like it did during his freshman year at Duke, he could play as a small forward next to Anthony Davis and another big. And with his size and versatility, he could play power forward in other lineups, too. There's no doubt he's going to produce. It's his growth as a shot creator that will decide if he reaches his All-Star floor or soars to his Hall of Fame ceiling. Grade: B If Cooper Flagg had never reclassified, Harper would be the consensus top pick with star upside because he's a big-bodied lefty combo guard who has a high floor with the skill, poise and playmaking instincts to dictate the game at his pace. Now that he'll be sharing shot-creation responsibilities in San Antonio, he'll be able to use his 6-foot-11 wingspan to greater effect on the defensive end and also utilize his bruising interior finishing as a cutter on offense. But he made only 36.8% of his catch-and-shoot 3s and just 28.7% of his dribble jumpers, so his fit with De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle is a question. All of them are more interior-focused guards, and so is Jeremy Sochan in the frontcourt. How many shaky shooters can the Spurs really put around Victor Wembanyama? It appears the Spurs will just take Harper, bank on his massive upside, and figure out team fit later. Grade: A- Edgecombe makes total sense for the Sixers. He is an explosive, high-motor wing who flies out of nowhere for poster dunks and chase-down blocks. He pairs his elite athleticism with a knockdown, spot-up jumper and fearless slashing. Though he needs to improve his shot creation to become more of a primary creator, the Sixers have enough in that department as is, so Edgecombe should get time to develop on his own timeline. It sure would've been nice for Philadelphia to get an opportunity to meet face-to-face with Ace Bailey, but odds are Edgecombe would've been the better choice anyway since he can help both in the short-term as a role player and in the long-term due to his high upside. Grade: A Knueppel has a sharpshooter's stroke, brainy pick-and-roll playmaking, and crafty scoring feel. He's the type of player who can come in right away and fit on any team, including perfectly between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. He's got a slick midrange bag and strength scoring inside, but to become a player that takes over games he'll need to overcome his average athleticism. This would matter a bit less playing in Charlotte, since he could be one of multiple ball-handlers on the team. Grade: B Well, Bailey didn't get what he wanted by landing with the Jazz. There's a reason why he fell to No. 5, but this is a huge upside swing for the Jazz. Bailey is a ridiculous shot-making machine, capable of splashing contested jumpers from every spot on the floor and with the swagger of a throwback bucket-getter. He had 39 points against Indiana, 37 against Northwestern, and 30 against Penn State, showing an ability to have masterful performances in which he can't be stopped. But his raw edges as a shot creator and defender need sanding down to turn him into a full-on star. Over half of his half court shots came in the midrange, and yet he made only 36.4% of his pull-up 2s. He can catch fire, but he needs to prove he can be consistent on top of doing all the other things it takes to win. Maybe with Utah, he will learn. Grade: A Johnson is a clutch shot-maker who can catch fire from all over the floor, drilling step-backs and off-screen jumpers with ease. The Wizards are getting the best overall shooter in the class. He made 40.8% of catch-and-shoot 3s, over 50% of 3s off screens and 38.4% of dribble jumper 3s. But he needs to continue developing his point guard skills while also honing his shot selection since only 17% of his shots came at the rim in the half court. Plus, he must dramatically improve his defense to show he's more than just a one-way player. Grade: A- Fears is a dynamic guard with a twitchy attacking style and a knack for coming through as a clutch shooter. He's the best ball-handler in this draft class, giving him a runway to become New Orleans' long-term primary shot-creator. But he was one of college basketball's youngest freshmen, and it showed with his shaky decision-making as a shooter and passer. So he needs time to grow. All that said, he's a lottery pick because he has a feel for shot creation and a handle that lets him get anywhere on the floor, so he may only need time to emerge as a star. Grade: C+ This is undoubtedly a huge swing for the Nets here. Demin has a rare ability at his size to make dazzling passes, which would give Brooklyn a jumbo-sized ball-handler. But he's also struggled to shoot and create his own shot against lengthy defenders, making him more of a love-him or hate-him prospect than a sure thing. Whether he becomes a point guard in the NBA will depend on the development of his jumper. Grade: A- Murray-Boyles has a chance to be one of the steals of this draft. He operates like a defensive savant the way he locks down every position, uses his ninja-quick hands to swipe at the ball, and inhales rebounds. He's the closest prospect to Draymond Green because he's such a special defensive presence, and offensively he's a finisher with a playmaking feel. Improving his jumper would move him out of tweener territory and into All-Star status, and ultimately that's the big question for him in Toronto. Can he fit next to Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram? CMB missed 30 of his 39 3-point attempts in two collegiate seasons, and made a tick under 70% of his free throws. Grade: A+ Maluach was the highest upside player available on the board. He's a towering rim protector with switchable mobility, erasing shots at the rim and shadowing quick guards on the perimeter. He only logged 1.3 blocks per game but deterred opponents from even sniffing the basket. Beyond dunking lobs at a frequent rate, he's a work in progress on offense with a lack of seasoning as a screener, shooter, and creator. Such a raw skill set should come as no surprise since the South Sudan native didn't start playing basketball until he was 13. Maluach's upside has him ranked in the top two or three on some team draft boards, and perhaps that was the case for the Suns. Grade: A++ What a way to replace Desmond Bane after he was traded away earlier this month. Coward has gone from a Division III player to a lottery pick in just a few years behind his rapid development into a prospect with a valued 3-and-D skill-set. He made 41% of his catch-and-shoot 3s in three DI seasons, while also developing a versatile scoring skill set with post fadeaways and midrange pull-ups. But he brings even higher upside thanks to his passing vision, versatile defense, and mature approach to the game that makes him the potential steal of the draft for the Grizzlies. Could Coward become the latest piece of a Big 3 alongside Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.? Grade: B A lot of people thought he'd go No. 7 or No. 8. Downhill attacking is his biggest asset. He went from someone to hack and put on the free-throw line to an improved FT shooter. He was was also a 3-point shooting liability who improved from there as well. Sometimes he looks like Giannis Antetokounmpo with the way he unfolds his long arms for scoop layups. Plus, he lives at the line: he had seven games with more than 10 free throws. Grade: C Conditioning is a concern for him. New Orleans is not the place I'd want to end up. He's got to figure out the jump shot as well. Unless he improves defensively, he could also be a matchup problem on that end of the floor. Queen is a burly big with guard-like handles who dazzles with spin moves, and crafty finishes like his game-winning leaning jumper to send Maryland to the Sweet 16. If he translates his velvet touch to the perimeter, he has offensive star upside, though his interior scoring, playmaking chops, and magnetic rebounding alone give him tantalizing potential for the Pelicans. Grade: A San Antonio is just about the perfect fit for Bryant. He hits spot-up 3s, attacks closeouts, makes the right play, and busts his ass on defense. He'll have a simple role with room to grow over the years and will be a nasty frontcourt fit with Victor Wembanyama. He's a rangy, athletic forward who projects as a highly versatile defender. And though he's raw as a ball-handler, he's a skilled spot-up shooter and a hyper-aware cutter. At a minimum, he has the baseline skills to be a great role player for the Spurs with the upside to someday be much more. Grade: A+ I think he was the best overall big in this draft class who moved up to that spot late in the talent evaluation process. 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But how much his slow feet and lack of shooting range can be improved will determine whether he can stick in the pros. Grade: C- He's one of the rawest projects in the entire draft. Makes you wonder what the Wolves' plan is with the other bigs on the roster, notably Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle. Beringer dunks everything around the basket. He's a rim protector and has shown improvement in other aspects of his defense. An area he'll need to improve on is he was a hackable player you didn't fear sending to the free-throw line. He's a worker, though, and wants to get better. Grade: A+ Along with Ace Bailey, the addition of Clayton makes the Jazz look like the funnest League Pass team next season. Clayton is clutch and looked like Steph Curry at times. He's also a culture creator. I'm very intrigued with what the Ainges are doing in Utah's front office. 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Flagg, 18, drafted first by Mavericks
Cooper Flagg was named this year's National College Player of the Year [Getty Images] The Dallas Mavericks selected 18-year-old college star Cooper Flagg with the first pick in the NBA draft. At 18 years 186 days, the guard is the second-youngest player to be selected first in draft history - LeBron James was eight days younger when picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. Advertisement Dallas had the first pick after winning the draft lottery in May, despite having only a 1.8% chance because they finished 10th in the Western Conference. "I'm feeling amazing. It's a dream come true," Flagg said. Flagg, who plays shooting guard or small forward, helped Duke University reach the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Final Four in 2024-25, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game as a freshman. He won the Wooden Award - given to the most outstanding college player each season - and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year. Advertisement He is the second number one overall pick in Dallas franchise history after the Mavs selected Mark Aguirre in 1981. The San Antonio Spurs took guard Dylan Harper with the second pick. Harper, 19, is the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and his older brother Ron Harper Jr on the books with the Detroit Pistons. "I'm feeling everything - all the emotions mixed in one bucket," Dylan Harper said. "They've got a great young core over there. I'm just ready to get in there and make an impact any way I can with those guys." Guard VJ Edgecombe was selected third by the Philadelphia 76ers. Advertisement Born in the Bahamas, he was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year after averaging 15 points and 5.6 rebounds per game at Baylor University. The Charlotte Hornets used the fourth pick to bring in guard Kon Knueppel.
