2025 NBA Draft: Mavericks eyeing Flagg, Bailey and Nets with multiple picks

2025 NBA Draft: Everything You Need to Know

The 2025 NBA Draft kicks off on Wednesday at the Barclays Center in New York. The Dallas Mavericks, with the first pick, have the opportunity to choose Cooper Flagg from Duke, considered the top prospect. This year, the draft will be extended over two nights, with a total of 59 selections in two rounds. Two major questions dominate the event: Where will Rutgers’ Ace Bailey play if the Philadelphia 76ers don’t select him at number 3? How will teams like the Brooklyn Nets, with four first-round picks, leverage them to build around their stars? Alofoke Deportes offers you a complete guide with key information about the draft, including schedules, locations, selection order, the best prospects, rankings, mock drafts, and much more.

Schedules and Format

The 2025 NBA Draft will be broadcast live:

• First Round: Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN and the ESPN app)
• Second Round: Thursday at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN and the ESPN app)

Five additional players have been invited to the “Green Room” in New York, joining the 19 prospects already invited. The invited players are: Joan Beringer, Nique Clifford, Cedric Coward, Walter Clayton Jr., and Danny Wolf. The “Green Room” is an area where players, their families, and agents await the announcement of their names by commissioner Adam Silver. Receiving an invitation is considered a good omen for a player’s prospects, although it does not guarantee an early selection.

Selection Order and Key Teams

The selection order for the 2025 Draft is as follows:

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. Phoenix Suns (from HOU)
11. Portland Trail Blazers
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC)
14. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)

The Nets have the most picks, with five, including four in the first round. The Spurs are the only team with multiple lottery picks.

How good is the 2025 player group?

This class is considered strong, led by Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper. After them, there is some uncertainty, with a group of six players expected to be selected in the early positions. The second round of this year has been affected, as several players chose not to show up. This could affect the value of the selections in subsequent rounds.

The Big Questions

The biggest intrigue centers on the number 3 pick, where the 76ers will have to decide between Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe. Teams like Washington, New Orleans, and Brooklyn, who select at picks 6, 7, and 8, will be watching the situation closely, as they could be attractive destinations for Bailey.

Ace Bailey and Cooper Flagg during a workout at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago in May.

The Impact of the 2026 Draft

A significant movement is expected on both draft nights, as teams seek to optimize their rosters. The market for picks outside the top 10 seems more flexible than expected. The 2026 draft is loaded with talent at the top, with players like Darryn Peterson and A.J. Dybantsa, but there’s a lot to learn about the rest of the lottery and the first round.

The Nets’ Strategy

The Brooklyn Nets, with five picks within the top 40, have the opportunity to optimize their performance. The team has the flexibility to make significant moves, whether by combining picks to move up in the draft or trading later picks. The Nets are prioritizing long-term talent.

Prospect Classification

Cooper Flagg leads the prospect list. He is expected to have an immediate impact on defense and versatility for the Mavericks.

Top 10 prospects according to Alofoke Deportes:

1. Cooper Flagg, SF/PF, Duke
2. Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers
3. Ace Bailey, SG/SF, Rutgers
4. VJ Edgecombe, SG, Baylor
5. Tre Johnson, SG, Texas
6. Kon Knueppel, SG/SF, Duke
7. Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
8. Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma
9. Noa Essengue, PF, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
10. Kasparas Jakucionis, PG, Illinois

Best by Skill

Here are the best prospects by skill:

• Best jump shooter: Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers
• Best intangibles: Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
• Best rim protector: Joan Beringer, C, Cedevita Olimpija (Adriatic League)

Joan Beringer

Comparisons with Professional Players

VJ Edgecombe: High potential: Victor Oladipo. Low potential: Jaden Ivey Tre Johnson: High potential: Michael Redd. Low potential: Cam Thomas

Key Draft Data

1. The Mavericks could be the fourth team in the modern draft era to select first one year after reaching the NBA Finals.
2. Flagg will be the second youngest player to be selected first in the draft.
3. The first eight picks are projected to be freshmen, which would be a record.
4. Kentucky has no players projected for the first round, breaking a 15-year streak.
5. Five French players are projected to be selected in the first round.

Stay tuned to Alofoke Deportes for more coverage of the 2025 NBA Draft.