The 2025 NBA Draft, while perhaps not delivering the torrent of trades some anticipated, certainly wasn’t short on strategic moves and fascinating selections. Smart franchises navigated the night effectively, making choices that could shape their futures for years to come.
Following the action, The Post’s Zach Braziller breaks down some key winners emerging from the draft’s outcomes, including the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, and highly-touted prospect Ace Bailey.
Atlanta Hawks: A Major Draft Night Coup
Few teams left the 2025 NBA Draft with as clear a victory as the Atlanta Hawks. While their selection of Georgia forward Asa Newell at No. 23 is seen as a promising move – Newell is described as a “freak athlete” with potential to be a “solid two-way forward” – it was a trade that truly solidified Atlanta’s winning status.
The Hawks executed what many are calling “flat-out robbery” by trading down just ten spots in the first round, moving from No. 13 to No. 23, in a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. In exchange for this modest slide, Atlanta acquired the Pelicans’ unprotected first-round pick in the loaded 2025 NBA Draft. Given the anticipation surrounding the 2025 class and the strong likelihood New Orleans will find itself in the lottery next year, securing a potentially high-value, unprotected future first-round pick is considered a major “coup” for the Hawks.
Brooklyn Nets: Capitalizing on Asset Accumulation
The Brooklyn Nets’ strategy of building through draft capital culminated in an unprecedented draft night haul in 2025. The team made a historic five selections in the first round alone. This unique collection of talent included guards Egor Demin (No. 8, Russian point guard from BYU), Nolan Traoré (No. 19, French point guard), and Ben Saraf (No. 26, Israeli point guard), alongside Drake Powell (No. 22) and Danny Wolf (No. 27).
This extensive first-round activity aligns with the franchise’s long-term plan, which has involved a period of retooling and asset accumulation, specifically eyeing the potentially impactful 2025 draft lottery. Holding the sixth-best odds entering the lottery, the Nets hoped a high pick could offer a franchise-altering opportunity, reminiscent of their 2000 lottery win that brought Kenyon Martin and later facilitated the trade for Jason Kidd, ushering in a “golden era.” While the lottery outcome determined their highest pick, their strategic approach under GM Sean Marks resulted in maximizing their first-round volume this year. Following their five first-round picks, the Nets traded their lone second-rounder (No. 36) to the Phoenix Suns for two future second-round picks, finalizing their focus on future assets.
Ace Bailey: Prospect Stock Continues to Rise
Among the top prospects in the 2025 class, Rutgers forward Ace Bailey reinforced his standing as one of the draft’s most intriguing talents. While Duke’s Cooper Flagg is often cited as the potential No. 1 pick, Bailey is viewed by some NBA executives as potentially possessing the “highest ceiling in the draft.”
Despite acknowledged inconsistencies and questions regarding his playmaking, Bailey’s potential for “shotmaking and creation could be elite,” suggesting he “checks those boxes” required of a top-tier prospect. His collegiate performance offers glimpses of this potential, averaging 18.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals, including explosive scoring nights like 39 points against Indiana and 37 against Northwestern. At 6’10”, Bailey’s physical tools, combined with “special shooting skills” and a floater touch, make him a difficult cover. Projected as high as third overall in mock drafts, Bailey’s unique blend of size, scoring ability, and defensive tools positions him as an “excellent” prospect with a bright future, even within a deeply talented 2025 draft class that also features names like Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe.
