DALLAS WINS 2025 NBA DRAFT LOTTERY

FORBES

Well, that escalated nicely. Weeks after salvaging a bit of pride from the Lakers' early playoff exit, Nico Harrison and the Dallas Mavericks pulled off a surprise—they landed the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. With that, they now have a legitimate shot at Duke sensation Cooper Flagg, assuming he officially declares.

Now, I’m not sure how Flagg’s game will mesh with a veteran-heavy lineup that includes Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson. If those three stay healthy, Flagg’s fantasy value could take a slight hit due to limited touches. But make no mistake, he’s still the best prospect on the board.

Dallas isn’t the only team with big decisions ahead. The San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers also hold high picks, and their situations could just as easily impact the development of incoming rookies.

Other top prospects to watch include Rutgers’ Fil-Am combo guard Dylan Harper and Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, a dynamic scorer from the Bahamas. Either could be a solid fit for Philly, but I’m unsure how anyone will thrive in San Antonio alongside De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Chris Paul. CP3’s contract ends in the preseason, while Fox enters the final year of his $163M extension, so the roster could look very different by the time the season starts.

Interestingly, most projected Top 10 picks are guards and wings—scorers, shooters, and slashers. That leaves room for big men like Duke’s Khaman Maluach or South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles to sneak into the spotlight and surprise a few teams.

Philadelphia’s situation is pretty intriguing. As much as I want Fil-Am guard Jared McCain to thrive, he’s coming off an injury, just like Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and even Paul George, all of whom are dealing with their own health concerns. Quentin Grimes is on an expiring deal, so he’s likely heading elsewhere. The Sixers also have a few movable pieces like Kelly Oubre, Lonnie Walker, and Eric Gordon, all on budget-friendly contracts that could be shipped out to retool the roster.

Now, there’s been some chatter among fans—if the NBA is a little shady, then Dallas winning the lottery almost feels like a “thank you” for bringing Luka Magic to the big stage. And let’s be real, the league needs the Lakers to stay relevant. They’re one of the most iconic basketball franchises in the world.

But here’s an unexpected twist: this whole narrative might actually push 18-year-old Cooper Flagg to rethink turning pro—maybe even just to keep piling onto the drama surrounding Nico Harrison, which has become a storyline all its own.

And speaking of drama, collectors might finally have something to worry (or get excited) about again. Panini’s last year holding the NBA license was rough—they flooded retail packs with numbered cards to make up for a weak 2024 draft class that many saw as a dud. But with Flagg now in the mix, Topps—the new license holder—could use him to jack up demand and pricing, especially for collectors chasing his rookie cards.

PICK	TEAM
1	DALLAS MAVERICKS
2	SAN ANTONIO SPURS
3	PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
4	CHARLOTTE HORNETS
5	UTAH JAZZ
6	WASHINGTON WIZARDS
7	NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
8	BROOKLYN NETS
9	TORONTO RAPTORS
10	HOUSTON (FROM PHX)
11	PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
12	CHICAGO BULLS
13	ATLANTA (FROM SAC)
14	SAN ANTONIO (FROM ATL)