The Spurs did a incredible job within the NBA draft. Their number of Dylan Harper with the second total decide and Carter Bryant at 14 has universally been thought of to be nice worth. San Antonio has a brand new high-upside shot creator and a younger, athletic 3-and-D wing with the potential to be greater than that.
Different groups had equally profitable nights, whereas others didn’t do as properly. Naturally, it’s nonetheless approach too early to make definitive conclusions, however let’s check out who got here out of the primary day of the draft trying nice and who didn’t.
Winners: The Charlotte Hornets, taking part in it sensible and protected
The Hornets, choosing fourth, had the possibility to get Ace Bailey, arguably the man with essentially the most upside left within the draft. They may have tried to pair him with LaMelo Ball and hope that the chemistry between the 2 difficult characters merely labored out. As an alternative, they determined to play it protected and draft Kon Knuepple, a participant who may not have the potential of others however needs to be a contributor from Day 1 and is used to sharing the highlight after taking part in with Cooper Flagg at Duke. The match isn’t just good within the locker room but in addition on the ground, the place Knuepple ought to function a shooter and connector that slots completely with Ball and Brandon Miller.
The decide was sensible, and so was the commerce they pulled off on draft night time, sending Mark Williams to the Suns for 2 first-round picks. Granted, they received the twenty ninth decide on this draft and a primary that’s anticipated to land close to the underside of the 2029 draft, however contemplating the commerce fiasco with the Lakers from the commerce deadline, pulling the set off appears smart. They may have tried to rebuild Williams’ commerce worth, since he’s productive when he’s on the ground, however the harm considerations in all probability swayed them. All in all, they arrive out of Wednesday with Knuepple, one other shooter in Liam McNeely, and a future asset by preying on the Suns’ dysfunction.
Losers: The reckless, confused New Orleans Pelicans
The gamers the Pelicans chosen are positive. Jeremiah Fears would possibly take a while to mature each bodily and skills-wise, however he’s an intriguing guard with loads of potential. New Orleans received’t have Dejounte Murray for many, if not all, of subsequent season, so getting extra depth on the place, even after buying Jordan Poole made sense. Equally, after buying and selling Kelly Olynyk within the Poole deal, they wanted extra depth inside. They went with Derik Queen, a talented large man who has a number of overlap with Zion Williamson in the place they function on offense, however may show to be a productive participant. They received strong prospects.
The issue is what they gave up for Queen, and the confusion they appear to have concerning their identification. The Pelicans’ entrance workplace traded away an unprotected 2026 first that would be the better of their very own or the Bucks’ to maneuver up 10 spots for Queen. That seems like quite a bit, particularly with potential turmoil looming in Milwaukee, and it additionally implies that New Orleans must be aggressive subsequent season. However they drafted a uncooked level guard and a man who may not have the ability to play subsequent to Zion. Is the plan to reload on the go? To rebuild? To compete? As a result of what they’ve now would possibly make them only a play-in crew, they usually have already spent certainly one of their greatest property.
Winners: The dangerous however abruptly intriguing Brooklyn Nets
The Nets made historical past by choosing 5 gamers within the first spherical of the draft. Three of these picks had been level guards. Their highest choice was used on Egor Demin, somebody most draft specialists disliked. Usually, they’d be losers, however the sheer weirdness of all of it makes them fascinating, and there could be a technique to their insanity.
Demin is 6’8 and never notably fast, so he could be higher suited to play on the wing, offered his shot improves. Nolan Traore is a speedy guard who additionally has some considerations about his shot, however who ought to get to the paint at will. Ben Saraf is large for a degree guard, standing at 6’5, and what he lacks in athleticism, he makes up for with craft. Is there a motive why all three can’t share the ground, with Traore at level guard, Saraf at capturing guard, and Demin at small ahead? It seems like a model of what the Spurs may do with De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Fort, albeit with much less upside.
Perhaps calling them “winners” is giving them an excessive amount of reward, however they’re a way more fascinating crew after the draft, and for a franchise that doesn’t have a lot going for itself, that’s progress.
Losers: The Path Blazers and Suns, with their logjams of facilities
The Suns, as talked about, traded for Mark Williams, finishing the set of solid-but-unexciting former Hornets facilities after buying and selling for Nick Richards on the final deadline. They wanted a giant, in order that was comprehensible. However in addition they spent the tenth decide on Khaman Maluach. All three are pure facilities. All three took important property to accumulate. All three might be simply common subsequent season, except the rookie breaks out. They may attempt to commerce Richards, however each crew within the league will know they need to, so they may low-ball them. That’s simply dangerous asset administration.
Equally, the Blazers, which used a top-10 decide on Donovan Clingan final season and have DeAndre Ayton and Robert Williams III underneath contract, chosen Yang Hansen after buying and selling down. The Chinese language large man is an efficient prospect, but it surely’s laborious to think about him taking part in subsequent to Clingan, and he might be fully buried within the depth chart if the veterans are nonetheless on the roster on opening night time. Just like the Suns, they will attempt to clear the logjam, however would possibly have to take lower than they anticipated to take action. Perhaps Yang is nice sufficient that they merely couldn’t move on him, but it surely was an odd decide.
Winners: Sadly, the Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks received a invaluable 2026 decide and received to draft Asa Newell, somebody they had been reportedly all in favour of and who matches their crew properly. Their draft night time offers had been the newest good strikes they made this week, after touchdown Kristaps Porzingis for floatsam. None of these transactions on their very own is especially nice, however mixed with final season’s commerce for Dyson Daniels, it’s clear that they know what they’re doing, which is dangerous information for the Spurs. These Atlanta picks get much less invaluable with each smart move, so hopefully, their entrance workplace will begin making errors once more quickly.
