The NBA’s predraft season is in full swing because the league held its draft lottery Monday, with the Dallas Mavericks successful the No. 1 decide, and the prospect to pick out projected high decide Cooper Flagg — a chance a supply advised ESPN Tuesday that the Mavericks intend to see by means of through the draft on June 25-26 in Brooklyn, New York.
There are greater than 100 prospects in Chicago this week for the draft mix and company professional days.
The G League camp bought issues going Saturday, and Monday and Tuesday marked the beginning of drills, measurements, athletic testing and medical examinations at Wintrust Enviornment and the Marriott Marquis. On Wednesday and Thursday, gamers will participate in group interviews, media availability and hit the courtroom for scrimmages and video games.
All invited gamers are required to attend and take part within the mix, based on the league’s collective bargaining settlement. The NBA may excuse an invited participant’s attendance or participation on the mix and require the participant to finish mix actions at a later date.
ESPN basketball insiders Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo, Bobby Marks, Zach Kram and Jeff Borzello recap the most important takeaways from the mix, assess the prospects who’re rising (or probably falling) and tackle league response and information across the draft.
MORE: Publish-lottery mock draft | NBA draft
Tuesday’s recap | Who stood out? | Accidents
What we’re listening to | What’s subsequent?
What’s your greatest takeaway from Tuesday?
Givony: Flagg seemed each bit the a part of a franchise NBA participant and surefire No. 1 decide in his 75 minutes on the courtroom Tuesday. I used to be on the ground, standing face-to-face with Flagg and each different projected lottery decide and was blown away by the vitality, charisma and spirit Flagg dropped at the whole lot he did. He dominates each drill together with his voice, cheering on teammates, lifting up the vitality within the constructing and pushing gamers to be the perfect model of themselves, particularly himself.
Flagg measured 6-foot-7¾ and 221 kilos — an inch taller than on the Nike Hoop Summit a 12 months in the past and 12 kilos heavier with dimensions akin to these of former Chicago Bulls nice Scottie Pippen popping out of Central Arkansas as a 21-year-old in 1987. He shot the ball properly in drills, catching hearth in stretches, exhibiting important enchancment over the previous 12 months.
Although Flagg initially seemed shocked by the outcomes of Monday’s draft lottery, sources advised ESPN that his camp realized how lucky he’s to land in Dallas. Flagg is alleged to be thrilled by the concept of becoming a member of a playoff-caliber roster with robust veterans and a group that has a void on the small ahead place. The Mavericks have a necessity for shot creators and can want Flagg to shoulder important offensive accountability as a rookie (much like what we noticed at Duke), which will probably be nice for his long-term improvement.
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MacMahon stories Mavericks will draft Cooper Flagg at No. 1
Tim MacMahon stories the Mavericks plan to pick out Cooper Flagg with the highest decide within the NBA Draft.
Marks: No offense to the on-court actions, however the previous 24 hours is all group executives wished to speak about Tuesday. In a two-hour window, the way forward for Dallas, Boston and presumably San Antonio modified considerably.
The Mavericks traded a generational participant in Luka Doncic in February, solely to be rewarded with one other one, Cooper Flagg. In New York, there was the scene of Jayson Tatum down on the courtroom with an Achilles damage. As one group govt advised ESPN: “The Tatum damage is seismic and league altering.”
The Celtics, the prohibitive favourite to repeat as champions, at the moment are one sport away from elimination and face an unsure future. The Tatum damage and a projected $500 million-plus payroll subsequent season in all probability will end in adjustments for Boston.
The importance of shifting from No. 8 to No. 2 within the lottery places the Spurs within the driver’s seat if the 2021 Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is made obtainable in a commerce. San Antonio additionally has the No. 14 decide and future belongings, together with an unprotected 2027 first-rounder from Atlanta. Additionally they have the suitable to swap with the Hawks subsequent season.
Woo: A lot of the chatter across the mix centered on the lottery fallout — not simply the breaks favoring the Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers, but in addition what it means for the opposite groups. For the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards — who shared high odds with the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 1 decide — dropping out of the highest 4 was a devastating outcome. With every group enduring shedding seasons and doubtless staring down one other lottery marketing campaign, the outcomes underscore the draw back of a poor file.
Take for instance the Detroit Pistons, who dropped out of the highest 4 and chosen fifth previously three drafts earlier than breaking by means of as a playoff group this season. Detroit nonetheless struck lottery gold in 2021, nevertheless it took Cade Cunningham time to develop earlier than his star flip, and the entrance workplace that drafted him was changed earlier than it occurred. Even the best-case eventualities for rebuilding groups — significantly these in smaller markets — are sometimes arduous and unforgiving.
With the lottery system persevering with to bear randomness and shock yearly, it is honest to ask the query whether or not it balances energy throughout the league. Dallas, San Antonio and Philadelphia all count on to be aggressive subsequent season, whereas many of the groups instantly behind them might need to spin their wheels for one more 12 months.
Borzello: From a university perspective, the most important information Tuesday was Boogie Fland’s choice to withdraw from the draft and return to school, as first reported by ESPN. Fland is ranked No. 42 in ESPN’s draft rankings and was a projected second-round decide within the newest mock draft.
A former five-star prospect and McDonald’s All American, Fland entered the switch portal earlier than the deadline final month and now turns into probably the greatest gamers nonetheless obtainable. For Arkansas, he averaged 15.1 factors and 5.7 assists over the primary 18 video games of his freshman season earlier than sustaining a hand damage in mid-January that pressured him to take a seat out many of the remainder of the season.
The newest buzz surrounding his potential vacation spot has centered on Florida, the reigning nationwide champion, because the Gators are in determined want of a playmaking guard to pair with Princeton switch Xaivian Lee.
Kram: The league remains to be digesting Monday’s surprising lottery outcomes, and it was felt all all through the mix. The truth that three win-now groups — Dallas, San Antonio and Philadelphia — landed the highest three picks will increase intrigue round potential trades on the high of the draft, particularly after Monday’s report that Antetokounmpo is “open-minded” about probably leaving Milwaukee. Whereas the Mavericks are reportedly set on drafting Flagg fairly than buying and selling the No. 1 total decide, however which may not maintain true for the Spurs and 76ers.
The inducement is obvious for a win-now group so as to add a two-time MVP nonetheless in his prime. And rival executives marvel if it is likely to be simpler for the Bucks to abdomen a Giannis commerce in the event that they’re getting again a potential franchise cornerstone as a part of the return.
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Draft Cooper Flagg? Commerce for Giannis?! Weighing the Mavericks’ choices with the highest decide
Who stood out throughout Tuesday’s drills and checks?
Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB/Michigan: The best-ranked prospect, and lone projected first-round decide who’s absolutely collaborating in all aggressive motion, Lendeborg did nothing to decrease his standing with an excellent all-around day in drills and 3-on-3 play. His measurements are excellent, a hair below 6-foot-10 in footwear, 235 kilos with a 7-4 wingspan, a 9-½ standing attain, and big arms, akin to the likes of Isaiah Stewart and Amare Stoudemire, per the DraftExpress historic database.
Lendeborg demonstrated respectable ability in drills — changing 69% of his mixture discipline aim makes an attempt (tied for tenth greatest on the mix) and in addition confirmed off his ballhandling and passing capacity in 3-on-3, exhibiting off in spectacular performs as each as a creator and finisher. Lendeborg’s protection is a piece in progress, one thing one other 12 months in faculty may definitely assist with, however there’s little doubting his ability and expertise, and he has extra upside than most 22-year-olds, barely enjoying any organized basketball earlier than graduating highschool.
Michigan’s Dusty Could, Lendeborg’s potential future coach, was current Tuesday to help him together with a lot of his teaching workers. Whether or not Lendeborg ever performs a sport for Could in all probability will depend upon how he performs in 5-on-5 play over the following two days, as the gang of NBA executives had drastically diminished when Lendeborg appeared within the final session of prospects. — Givony
Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina: Powell examined as arguably the perfect athlete in Chicago, with the perfect no-step (37½ inch) and max (operating) vertical (43 inches), whereas additionally ending fourth within the three-quarter-court dash (3.07 seconds), seventh within the shuttle run (2.79 seconds) and seventh within the professional lane drill (10.71 seconds). He additionally measured an enormous 7-foot wingspan and grew almost an inch since ESPN’s final measurements, with total dimensions much like these of New Orleans Pelicans wing-stopper Herb Jones.
Powell did not shoot the ball significantly properly in drills, changing 55% of his mixture makes an attempt (within the backside third of mix individuals) one thing at which NBA groups will need to take a more in-depth look in personal exercises in coming weeks, particularly if he elects to remain within the draft as anticipated. — Givony
Drake Powell jumps a 42 1/2 after which a monster 43 inch max vertical leap, tops by a large margin up to now on the NBA draft mix and a formidable mark traditionally. pic.twitter.com/FGp7Xwk5Hg
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) Could 13, 2025
Chaz Lanier, SG, Tennessee: We knew Lanier would appear like probably the greatest shooters getting into the mix, and that carried over Tuesday. He has been one of many premier perimeter shotmakers in faculty basketball over the previous two seasons, making 44% of his 3s in 2023-24 at North Florida and 39.5% final season at Tennessee.
He completed within the high 5 in all three 3-point capturing drills, and his contact and agility additionally caught the eyes of scouts. He had the fifth-fastest time within the professional lane agility drill, the third-highest no-step vertical leap and the fourth-highest max vertical leap. — Borzello
Mark Sears, PG, Alabama: Sears entered the week ranked No. 78 in ESPN’s NBA draft rankings, however his elite capturing capacity may intrigue groups late within the second spherical. He was clearly the perfect shooter throughout Tuesday’s classes, ending first in three of the 4 drills.
Sears placed on an exhibition, going 26-for-30 on off-dribble midrange pull-ups, 21-for-25 on spot-up 3s and 25-for-27 within the side-mid-side 3-point drill. His athletic testing wasn’t nice, however his capturing capacity stood out. — Borzello
Tre Johnson, SG, Texas: Although high prospects do not usually do loads of on-court actions on the mix, attending to see projected high picks stand up pictures on this setting is additive for analysis. Groups took discover of Johnson’s capturing efficiency in drills (68% on all pictures tried), as he displayed fast and clear mechanics from lengthy vary and left a robust impression. Johnson additionally examined properly athletically.
A number of scouts I spoke with have been impressed together with his stroke — and whereas that is not a shocker for a participant who shot 39.7% from 3 on almost seven makes an attempt per sport final season — it does provide perception into what groups will see from him in personal exercises. Primarily based on what he confirmed, Johnson figures to impress in that context as he vies for a spot among the many draft’s top-five picks. — Woo
Tre Johnson spot-3 capturing drill on the NBA draft mix pic.twitter.com/lG7omdrnQq
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) Could 13, 2025
Damage information: Duke’s Knueppel sits out drills, checks
Kon Knueppel, the projected No. 8 decide and capturing guard/small ahead out of Duke, didn’t take part within the mix’s athletic testing or capturing drills due to an damage, his agent Mark Bartelstein advised ESPN.
“Kon sprained his ankle three weeks in the past and isn’t all the way in which again but,” Bartelstein stated. “He is at 85% now and we wish him at 100%. He is actually shut. Hopefully, he is again by the top of the week and may take part in our professional day Friday.”
Due to the NBA’s obligatory mix participation guidelines, Knueppel will probably be required to finish the athletic testing and capturing drills portion at a NBA group facility within the coming weeks. — Givony
What we’re listening to in Chicago
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Shams: Spurs’ lottery bounce may influence Giannis sweepstakes
Shams Charania breaks down the choices for the San Antonio Spurs after they transfer up within the lottery to assert the second decide within the 2025 NBA draft.
What do the Spurs do at No. 2?
Response reverberated across the league when San Antonio’s decide jumped to No. 2 in Monday’s lottery, not solely due to the prospect of the Spurs including consensus No. 2 prospect Dylan Harper alongside Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Fortress, but in addition the implications of what that particular decide may imply as a commerce possibility.
The Spurs have had distinctive fortune, their draft decide having now jumped into the highest 4 in three straight lotteries. Whereas there was hypothesis already about what San Antonio may do at No. 2, there is a case for standing pat and deciding on Harper, who stands out as the perfect obtainable expertise at that spot and could be a wonderful roster addition.
Although the prospect of aggressively concentrating on a star corresponding to Giannis Antetokounmpo would speed up San Antonio’s playoff path, the Spurs may also afford to suppose massive image, due to the presence of 21-year-old Wembanyama because the group’s centerpiece.
San Antonio has the commerce belongings to execute a significant transfer: They management the Atlanta Hawks’ subsequent two drafts, personal their future picks apart from 2027, and maintain far future swap rights to picks from Boston (2028, top-one protected), the extra favorable of Dallas and Minnesota (2030, top-one protected), and Sacramento in 2031. These belongings are additionally far sufficient out that the Spurs can maintain them till they’re able to improve or in the end make these picks.
With Fox already within the fold and the engaging choice to construct across the younger trio of Wembanyama, Harper and Fortress in the long term, there’s loads of rationale behind letting the group develop organically. That method led to sustainable rivalry 20 years in the past because the Spurs put gamers round Tim Duncan. And in the intervening time, San Antonio is enjoying with a robust sufficient hand to dictate its personal urgency.
The approaching weeks ought to bear out extra when it comes to how proactive the Spurs need to be in commerce talks. The expectation across the league is Harper will come off the board at No. 2 whether or not it is the Spurs or one other group deciding on there, leaving the 76ers — one other group that may weigh commerce alternatives — with a less-clear choice deciding on at No. 3. — Woo
First-round buzz on Coward grows
When Cedric Coward picked Duke over Alabama a few weeks in the past, it seemed as if Duke coach Jon Scheyer might need discovered the lacking participant to a different group constructed for a possible Closing 4 run.
However the Washington State switch may not make it to Durham.
On Monday, he measured at 6-foot-5¼ with a 7-2¼ wingspan, after which was probably the greatest performers in Tuesday’s capturing drills (hitting 72% of his mixture makes an attempt, tied for sixth greatest). Regardless of the very fact Coward won’t be collaborating in 5-on-5 scrimmages due to a shoulder damage he sustained in November, there may be rising speak about NBA personnel that Coward goes to play himself into the primary spherical. — Jeff Borzello
Cedric Coward capturing it within the NBA draft mix side-mid-side drill pic.twitter.com/HIJg1czs0t
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) Could 13, 2025
Context is vital for lottery prospects from non-powerhouse colleges
Apart from the three Duke gamers projected within the lottery, not one of the different high prospects on this draft have been in very best conditions in faculty. Rutgers did not make the NCAA match regardless of the presence of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, as a result of so little expertise surrounded these freshman phenoms. Baylor (with VJ Edgecombe), Oklahoma (Jeremiah Fears), Texas (Tre Johnson) and South Carolina (Collin Murray-Boyles) have been all middling groups at greatest as properly.
NBA executives all the time have to contemplate context when forecasting the transition from faculty to the professionals — however they are saying that step is particularly essential with this crop of prospects, as a result of they’ve to find out whether or not the weaknesses they see on tape are precise issues or merely the results of inferior teammates. Enjoying subsequent to significantly better expertise may mitigate some points as prospects discover their roles within the NBA. — Kram
Developing Wednesday and Thursday
Wednesday brings the primary day of 5-on-5 scrimmages, and whereas nearly all of highly-ranked draft prospects will not take part, there are many intriguing names to observe. Yaxel Lendeborg (former UAB massive man who has dedicated to Michigan) is the one projected first-rounder slated to play, however a protracted listing of gamers who’re on the fence about staying within the draft or returning to school are on the rosters. Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford, Darrion Williams and San Diego State’s Miles Byrd headline the listing.
There will probably be loads of eyes on Penn State’s Yanic Konan Niederhauser, who examined extremely properly and was the perfect prospect on the G League Elite Camp lately, incomes a call-up to the mix and slotting in as a top-45 decide in ESPN’s mock current mock draft. — Borzello
