The Mavericks won the No. 1 pick at May's NBA Draft Lottery
The Mavericks won the No. 1 pick at May's NBA Draft LotteryNam Y. Huh/Associated Press
There shouldn’t be any surprises at the start of this week’s NBA Draft, with Maine’s Cooper Flagg just about certain to become the first No. 1 overall pick from New England since Cambridge’s Patrick Ewing in 1985.
What happens after Flagg’s name is called as the newest member of the Mavericks, however, is anyone’s guess.
With the Spurs holding the No. 2 pick and weighing a couple of Rutgers stars (Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey) or a potential blockbuster trade (with Giannis Antetokounmpo possibly on the move this summer) in a draft loaded with talent at the top, there’s plenty of intrigue.
It could be a big night for the Celtics, too, as Brad Stevens has repeatedly cited the draft as an opportunity to swing some deals for a roster requiring a revamp.
Following last year’s schedule change, this year’s draft again will be conducted over two days, the first round Wednesday night and the second Thursday night.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 NBA Draft.
The basics
When: Wednesday, June 25, 8 p.m. (first round) and Thursday, June 26, 8 p.m. (second round).
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn.
How to watch: ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN app will air the first round; ESPN and the ESPN app will carry the second.
First-round order
1. Mavericks
2. Spurs
3. 76ers
4. Hornets
5. Jazz
6. Wizards
7. Pelicans
8. Nets
9. Raptors
10. Rockets (from Suns via Nets)
11. Trail Blazers
12. Bulls
13. Hawks (from Kings)
14. Spurs (from Hawks)
15. Thunder (from Heat via Clippers)
16. Grizzlies (from Magic)
17. Timberwolves (from Pistons via Knicks)
18. Wizards (from Grizzlies)
19. Nets (from Bucks via Knicks)
20. Heat (from Warriors)
21. Jazz (from Timberwolves)
22. Hawks (from Lakers via Pelicans)
23. Pelicans (from Pacers)
24. Thunder (from Clippers)
25. Magic (from Nuggets)
26. Nets (from Knicks)
27. Nets (from Rockets)
28. Celtics
29. Suns (from Cavaliers via Jazz)
30. Clippers (from Thunder)
Key story lines
What will the Spurs do?
While the Mavericks are in for an easy night as they run to the podium to select Flagg with the top pick, the Spurs hold the cards at No. 2.
San Antonio has a number of options as the franchise looks to continue building around young phenom Victor Wembanyama. The two most likely scenarios appear to be sticking and picking Rutgers star Dylan Harper or dealing the selection as part of a package for a superstar such as Antetokounmpo.
Kevin Durant is off the market after a trade to the Rockets, but Antetokounmpo would likely be more appealing (and more expensive) for the Spurs, considering Durant’s age and third messy breakup with as many teams. San Antonio has plenty of leverage in what seems like a can’t-lose scenario.
What’s going on with Ace Bailey?
The other Rutgers star, Bailey, seemed a likely top-three pick — perhaps even at No. 2 ahead of his teammate Harper — before his pre-draft strategy started to chip away at his stock.
Bailey eschewed workouts, including with the team that seemed like his most likely destination for him, Philadelphia at No. 3. Bailey finally scheduled a workout with the 76ers last week, then canceled the visit.
Perhaps the most talented shot-maker in the draft, Bailey has a lot of upside, but his fate on draft night has become less certain.
Top prospects
Cooper Flagg, Duke: Long the undisputed top pick, Flagg did little to lessen that reputation in a brilliant freshman campaign at Duke. Flagg turned 18 in December but already is so polished and well-rounded that many evaluators expect him to hit the ground running like a veteran in the NBA. With plenty of talent around him in Dallas — Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and, eventually, Kyrie Irving — Flagg is landing in a dream spot.
Dylan Harper, Rutgers: Unlike Flagg, there’s plenty of uncertainty around where Harper will end up. Harper’s combination of size, scoring, shot creation, and playmaking have led some evaluators to consider him in a tier of his own (between Flagg and everybody else) at No. 2. But between San Antonio’s already crowded backcourt with 2024 first-round pick Stephon Castle and trade-acquired De’Aaron Fox, plus the potential superstars available on the trade market, Harper’s place as a future Spur is far from guaranteed.
Ace Bailey, Rutgers: Bailey’s elite shot-making as a wing that looks NBA-ready should land him in the top five, despite his polarizing pre-draft choices. Bailey’s combination of scoring ability, size, defensive upside, and athleticism gives him a high floor, if not quite the superstar potential that many see in Flagg and Harper.
VJ Edgecombe, Baylor: One of two players (along with Texas guard Tre Johnson) to assume Bailey’s spot at No. 3 in most mock drafts, Edgecombe is comfortably the most explosive athlete available. A human highlight reel who leaps off the screen, Edgecombe needs some polish on his jumper to thrive at the next level, but the talent will be tantalizing for teams picking in the top five.
What to know about the Celtics
The Celtics have a lot to do this summer, and Stevens can get to work beginning with the draft. Stevens didn’t say a lot about the roster rebuild when the season ended, suggesting that this week would provide more clarity.
“I’ll talk probably more about [roster-building] at the draft time when we have a better idea after meeting with all the key stakeholders and everybody else about what next steps might be,” Stevens said in May. “At the end of the day, I think that will all be driven by the same thing that’s always driven us, and that is how do we get ourselves in the mix to compete for championships best?”
Boston holds picks 28 and 32, but the Celtics are also a prime candidate for a draft-night trade as they will likely have to find a way to cut significant salary this summer.
Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.