Our ESPN draft insiders break down the twists, turns and trades of Wednesday’s first round.
Round 1 of the 2025 NBA draft on Wednesday began with Cooper Flagg, the first of three Duke players selected, being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 1 pick. And it ended with the LA Clippers drafting center Yanic Konan Niederhauser with pick No. 30.
There were winners and surprises, such as the Utah Jazz selecting Rutgers guard Ace Bailey with the No. 5 pick and the Phoenix Suns landing the top-ranked center in Duke’s Khaman Maluach at No. 10.
Which fan bases should be happy with what their favorite team did on Day 1, such as the Miami Heat landing a potential franchise point guard? Should Pelicans fans be wondering about the trade New Orleans made to move up and draft Derik Queen?
It’s time to break down what happened Wednesday night in Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo and Kevin Pelton share their winners, surprises and biggest questions after 30 picks went off the board in Round 1.
Round 2 begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, and you can follow along with our live Draftcast.
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Round 2 mock: What we’re hearing
Mavs draft Flagg | Bailey’s surprise by Utah
Which trade earns an A? | Trade tracker
Best available players | More draft
The pick: Khaman Maluach (No. 10)
The Suns’ trade for Kevin Durant looks much different after the fall of Maluach to No. 10, which helps Phoenix strengthen a crucial position at center while also adding one of the most talented long-term prospects in the draft.
Maluach will bring high-level intensity, rim-protection timing, rebounding ability and switchable defense — qualities the team lacked last season — injecting much-needed youth and energy into a roster overloaded in the backcourt.
Most importantly, he is one of this draft’s youngest prospects, with significant potential for growth physically and skill-wise. He is highly regarded by coaches and teammates for his off-court intangibles and should be an excellent pick-and-roll partner for Devin Booker, thanks to his lob-catching ability.
The pick: Kasparas Jakucionis (No. 20)
It was surprising to see Jakucionis — the No. 11-ranked player on our top 100 big board — fall all the way to No. 20.
Any temporary disappointment over the money he lost was probably replaced by the realization he landed in arguably the most desirable situation of any guard prospect in this draft — a team desperate for shot creation and playmaking. He’ll also fit in perfectly from a culture and toughness perspective.
Jakucionis’ ability to play any of the backcourt positions gives the Heat significant lineup flexibility when operating alongside Tyler Herro in the backcourt.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see him eventually emerge as the franchise’s future point guard, thanks to the savvy he displays running pick-and-roll and his exceptional feel for the game.
The pick: Yang Hansen, center (No. 16)
Hansen, the No. 35 player on the ESPN big board, made the biggest leap in the first round when Portland selected him at No. 16.
The Trail Blazers have been intrigued with Yang since scouting him with the Chinese national team at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Hungary in 2023, later traveling to watch him play in China, following him in scrimmages in Las Vegas last summer as a member of the Chinese senior national team and working him out privately this past month in Portland.
Despite selecting another 7-footer in Donovan Clingan last year, the Trail Blazers view the draft through a best-player-available lens and say they are very excited about Yang’s skill level and off-court intangibles. They plan to bring him to the NBA immediately to develop him.
The pick: Ace Bailey (No. 5)
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Bailey looked surprised when the Utah Jazz selected him at No. 5, after clearly trying to maneuver his way down the board to other destinations in Washington or Brooklyn. Bailey told Andscape’s Marc Spears after the draft he had «no idea» the Jazz were interested in him.
Bailey declined multiple invite requests to visit and workout privately with Utah throughout the predraft process, as well as the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3 and the Charlotte Hornets at No. 4, but the Jazz felt they knew enough about his game and profile to feel comfortable drafting him regardless.
New president of basketball operations Austin Ainge interviewed Bailey at the NBA draft combine as a member of the Boston Celtics’ front office, and the rest of the Jazz brass also interviewed him separately.
