The NBA draft is where the league`s future begins to take shape. The journey for the next wave of basketball stars officially commenced on Wednesday night, marking the first day of the two-day drafting event.
Headlining this year`s class is Cooper Flagg, the highly touted Duke phenom, who has now officially joined the Dallas Mavericks as the first overall selection. While Flagg securing the top spot was widely anticipated, he is certainly not the only rookie expected to make a significant impact right away in their first year.
Let`s analyze the rookies who appear to have landed in the most favorable team situations and determine which players are best positioned to provide substantial fantasy basketball value during the 2025-26 season.
Top Lottery Picks for Your Fantasy Roster
Cooper Flagg, SF, Dallas Mavericks: ESPN draft analyst and Duke alumnus Jay Bilas lauded Flagg on draft night, declaring him the best freshman player in Duke`s illustrious history. Last season, Flagg led the Blue Devils in average points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game. At 6-foot-9, he possesses excellent size for a small forward. When you combine this with his versatile skill set and a significant opportunity for production on a Mavericks team that will be without their primary playmaker Kyrie Irving (due to a torn ACL) for the first half of the season, there`s a lot to be excited about regarding his fantasy potential.
Ace Bailey, SG/SF, Utah Jazz: Bailey was consistently viewed as a top-3 talent in the draft but experienced a slight slide, seemingly by design, as he was the only American-born prospect who declined to work out for any teams. Despite reports suggesting he might have preferred a later pick, the Jazz selected him anyway because his talent is simply undeniable. A 6-foot-8 wing with a 7-foot wingspan, Bailey is an exceptional shot-maker, highly skilled in isolation plays but also effective as a catch-and-shoot threat. While he needs to refine his decision-making, shot selection, and playmaking abilities, his physical tools, athleticism, and scoring prowess give him long-term star potential, which could allow him to become an impactful player for the Jazz early on. The Jazz are currently in a rebuilding phase with some promising young talent, but none possess a skill set quite like Bailey`s.
Tre Johnson, SG, Washington Wizards: Johnson is an elite shooter, considered the best overall shooter in this draft class by Bilas. He is equally proficient whether shooting off the catch or off the dribble. Johnson has long arms (a 6-foot-10 wingspan), is adept at moving without the ball, and can also operate effectively out of the pick-and-roll. He is a natural scorer who led the SEC in scoring as a freshman. He joins a Wizards team that recently traded away their leading scorer, Jordan Poole. Although they have veterans like CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton on the wing, the Wizards are a rebuilding franchise that could provide Johnson with significant playing time early in his career.
Jeremiah Fears, PG, New Orleans Pelicans: Fears is an incredibly confident scoring point guard. ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony described Fears with the single word `gifted,` while host Malika Andrews used `swaggy.` Fears is fast, physical, and excels at driving into the lane and drawing fouls, which he converts at an elite percentage. Fears joins a Pelicans team that just acquired Poole for one guard spot but will be missing starting guard Dejounte Murray for the first half of the season as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon. This injury could potentially offer Fears an opportunity to compete for a starting position or significant minutes early in his rookie campaign.
Egor Demin, PG, Brooklyn Nets: Demin is an unusually large guard at 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, and he is also regarded as the best passer in the draft. He signed a contract with Real Madrid at age 15, and as a freshman at BYU, he led the Big 12 in assists while setting a new BYU freshman record. Demin is an excellent ballhandler with outstanding pick-and-roll vision. Although his 3-point shooting is not consistently elite, he is willing to shoot and can catch fire from beyond the arc. The Nets are embarking on a full rebuild, and Demin was the first of their five first-round draft selections this season. He could potentially vie for a starting role quickly, especially given his size, which might even allow him to guard small forwards while playing point guard on offense.
Other Lottery Players of Note
Dylan Harper, PG, San Antonio Spurs: Harper was widely considered the second-best prospect in the draft – a young, scoring point guard possessing excellent size and toughness. The son of NBA champion Ron Harper, Dylan established a new freshman scoring record at Rutgers after earning co-MVP honors at the 2024 McDonald`s All-American game. Harper is a skilled scorer at all three levels, demonstrating tremendous body control and the ability to finish strong through contact at the rim. The Spurs already have strong perimeter depth with All-Star point guard De`Aaron Fox, Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and five-year veteran Devin Vassell, so Harper might not receive massive minutes immediately. However, he possesses a unique skill set and a bright future once he settles into his role.
VJ Edgecombe, SG, Philadelphia 76ers: Edgecombe is an exceptionally athletic shooting guard who, on draft night, drew comparisons to players like Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo, and Dwyane Wade, while comparing himself to his favorite player, Anthony Edwards. Edgecombe is a strong 3-and-D wing who plays above the rim, can consistently hit spot-up 3-pointers, and set the Baylor freshman record for steals last season. The 76ers have talented perimeter players under contract, including All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, a sharp-shooting scorer who was on track to contend for Rookie of the Year before an injury ended his season. Edgecombe`s skill set is distinct from his teammates` and could complement them effectively, potentially earning him significant playing time early in his career.
Kon Knueppel, SG/SF, Charlotte Hornets: Knueppel was recognized as the best catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter in the draft class, possessing incredible range. He also has the capability to drive into the lane on straight-line attacks and can make plays around the basket, where he finishes well off two feet. Knueppel remains in North Carolina, joining a Hornets squad led by the excellent playmaker LaMelo Ball and scoring wing Brandon Miller. He could potentially earn significant minutes early as the designated shooter on the wing, playing off of these established players.
Collin Murray-Boyles, SF/PF, Toronto Raptors: Murray-Boyles is a promising defensive prospect at the forward position. He is an efficient scorer and a good rebounder, but his main strength is his defensive versatility. Murray-Boyles was one of Jay Bilas` favorite prospects in the draft, but his fantasy basketball prospects might be limited both by his style of play and because he joins a Raptors team that has considerable depth in the frontcourt, potentially preventing him from getting minutes at an impact level.
Khaman Maluach, C, Phoenix Suns: Maluach is an extremely talented but still raw center prospect. Standing over 7-feet tall, Maluach only began playing basketball as a teenager and developed his skills at the NBA Academy in Africa. Maluach was a strong shot-blocker and offensive rebounder at Duke, and his athleticism allows him to finish effectively in the paint from put-backs or lobs. He ranked second in D-1 last season with 81 dunks, 38 of which came off lobs. The Suns also acquired center Mark Williams on draft night, suggesting Maluach may be more of a developmental player than an immediate fantasy impact player.
Additional Picks Worth Noting
Derik Queen, C, New Orleans Pelicans: Queen was given the nickname `Baby Jokic` by his teammates. He is an excellent ball-handler and passer from the center position, in addition to being a consistent double-double threat. He possesses a good face-up game, a skill set that could translate well into fantasy numbers, and he could serve as a good complement to last year`s rookie big man Yves Messi, who is known for his athletic defense.
Walter Clayton Jr., PG/SG, Utah Jazz: Clayton electrified the NCAA tournament this season with three performances scoring over 30 points, including leading all players with 35 points in crunch time situations. Clayton`s NCAA heroics drew comparisons to Stephen Curry due to his clutch, big-time shot-making on his way to being named the tournament`s Most Outstanding Player. Clayton is considered undersized for a shooting guard, but his speed, strength (he was an elite football recruit as a defensive back), and scoring skill set could help him earn a role early on for a Jazz team in rebuild mode.
Kasparas Jakucionis, PG/SG, Miami Heat: Jakucionis was projected as a top-10 pick in most mock drafts, making his slide to the Heat unexpected and potentially positioning him as a late-round steal candidate. Givony described KJ as a combination of Austin Reaves and Andrew Nembhard, and a player who could become the Heat`s point guard of the future, and perhaps even the present.
Rookie of the Year Odds
- Leader: Cooper Flagg (-200)
- Contenders: Ace Bailey (+650), Tre Johnson (+750), Dylan Harper (+1200)
- Potential Sleepers: VJ Edgecombe (+2500), Derik Queen (+3000), Kasparas Jakucionis (+6000), Walter Clayton Jr. (+10,000)
Cooper Flagg is the clear and significant odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year. He is widely considered a generational prospect and is joining a Mavericks team where he is expected to be heavily featured, allowing him to produce significant statistics on a team that could potentially be competitive.
Bailey and Johnson are both gifted offensive players joining rebuilding teams, which could lead to large statistical outputs early in their careers.
Harper and Edgecombe, the second and third overall picks respectively, possess outstanding talent but are joining teams with playoff aspirations and established star players, which could limit their individual production in their rookie season.
Queen, Jakucionis, and Clayton all had impressive college careers with games that could generate attention-grabbing statistics as rookies, provided they earn sufficient playing time.
