NBA · 7 hours ago

Ranking 10 Winners, 10 Losers from the First Round of the NBA Draft

John Canady

Host · Writer

10) Loser: Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry doesn't have the luxury of waiting several years for a young prospect to develop. At this stage of his career, every offseason should be centered around maximizing Golden State's championship hopes. Instead of using their draft capital to land immediate help, the Warriors chose a longer-term approach, leaving Curry without the win-now reinforcement many expected the organization to pursue.
1) Winner: Washington Wizards/AJ Dybantsa
The Washington Wizards haven't earned the No. 1 overall pick since 2010, even after the franchise's constant cycle of mediocrity, leaving them at the bottom of the NBA standings. Finally, luck fell in their favor at an ideal time. Landing AJ Dybantsa gives the team an immediate cornerstone to build around, with MVP potential that can help lead the Wizards back into contention from the bottom of the East. As for Dybantsa, the BYU star gets his wish to be the top pick and lands in a situation that allows him to become the focus immediately.
2) Winner: Ace Bailey
Ace Bailey ran the risk of immediately becoming an afterthought if the Utah Jazz somehow found a way to land AJ Dybantsa in this draft. Instead, Utah managed to land another top prospect in Darryn Peterson, who will not only threaten Bailey's fit in the frontcourt but will be a long-term running mate that could help the former No. 5 overall pick ascend to the next level. The Jazz have an intriguing young foundation, and while Utah is a big winner in their own right, Bailey walks away from Tuesday's round one relieved.
3) Winner: Chicago Bulls (Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain)
The Chicago Bulls may have put together arguably the most impressive draft haul of any team on night one, selecting Caleb Wilson at No. 4 and Dailyn Swain at No. 15. Both picks offer immense upside. For an organization that's in the midst of a rebuild, they've put together enough talent that immediately places them among the most intriguing young teams in the league. Wilson has the potential to be the best prospect in the draft overall, with many comparing him to NBA legend Kevin Garnett. As for Swain, he's an oversized guard with great IQ, feel for the game, and took a massive leap in his final season at Texas.
4) Winner: Keaton Wagler
Keaton Wagler landing at No. 5 overall proves just how highly the LA Clippers viewed the prospect, considering they had every reason to use that pick to make a win-now move to build around Kawhi Leonard. Wagler immediately steps into a backcourt where he can see playing time and compete for a playoff spot alongside a talented group. The tools are there to be a star, but the lack of need for him to hit the ground running right away is perfect for a young playmaker who still needs to develop. Still, being a top-five pick in a loaded draft class is an absolute steal for Wagler.
5) Winner: Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are in the midst of a rebuild, and their Round 1 haul gives them the perfect foundation to continue building. Securing Cameron Boozer at No. 3 gives them a cornerstone to build around, assuming Ja Morant is indeed on his way out. Beyond that, Memphis managed to trade back multiple times, securing additional draft compensation for future moves, but still managed to fall back into a sweet spot at No. 21 and take a high upside swing on Karim Lopez.
6) Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder will always be in a good place as long as Sam Presti is running the ship. OKC considered moving up in the draft to secure the player of their choice. Still, they didn't have to with Aday Mara falling to them at No. 12. Mara is a 7-foot-3 monster, whose upside is immense and immediately gives the Thunder a player who could solve the Victor Wembanyama problem that ended their playoff run early and in addition to Mara, Oklahoma City made a bold trade-up to secure one of the best scorers in the draft, Bennett Stirtz, bolstering their second unit ahead of a pivotal offseason.
7) Winner: Milwaukee Bucks
Less than 24 hours after trading their franchise star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks secured two lottery picks that immediately give them somewhere to start moving forward. Selecting Brayden Burries at No. 10 and Nate Ament at No. 13, the Bucks have started their youth movement with two players who could be among the biggest steals in the entire lottery when we look back in a few years.
8) Winner: Trae Young
Trae Young's ability to secure a massive long-term extension with the Wizards proves the team views him as a key part of their long-term plans. However, there was still a possibility Washington could pivot to Darryn Peterson at No. 1, which would have immediately called Young's fit in D.C. into question. Instead, the Wizards landed arguably the best running mate they could pair alongside the pass-first guard, giving him an athletic wing with immense scoring upside. Not only did the Wizards double down on their commitment to Young, but they gave him another co-star who can help him compete right away.
9) Winner: Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers didn't have to do much to land on this list. Los Angeles played their cards perfectly and moved up one spot from No. 25 to No. 24 to secure arguably the biggest steal in the draft as a whole in guard Cameron Carr. The Baylor product was one of the biggest risers from the NBA Draft process, and many thought he'd land in the lottery. However, his slide ended in Los Angeles, where the Lakers managed to give Luka Doncic a long-term backcourt fit, which was vital with Austin Reaves future in question.
10) Winner: Dusty May
Dusty May took the league by surprise, accepting the job to coach the Dallas Mavericks. The longtime college coach made the leap to lead the Mavericks' rebuild, and his first order of business was selecting his pick from his National Championship team. May led the charge for the Mavs to select Morez Johnson Jr., giving Dallas a versatile frontcourt option with the upside to be an immediate impact player. Johnson impacts winning in every way possible, and May's desire to bring him with him to the Lone Star State proves that.
1) Loser: Keyonte George
Keyonte George entered the night with questions surrounding his long-term future in Utah, and those concerns only grew after the Jazz selected Darryn Peterson. The projected No. 1 overall pick has made it clear he views himself as a point guard, creating an awkward situation for George as he heads into a contract year. Utah's young core is loaded with talent, but George suddenly finds himself fighting to prove he's still part of the franchise's plans moving forward.
2) Loser: Bilal Coulibaly
Bilal Coulibaly has flashed plenty of potential throughout his young career, but the arrival of AJ Dybantsa creates a difficult situation. Alex Sarr remains one of the franchise's centerpiece building blocks, while Kyshawn George continues to emerge as a player the organization is invested in. Coulibaly still has time to establish himself, but after Washington landed a potential superstar, his place in the long-term picture feels far less secure.
3) Loser: Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors had an opportunity to use their lottery pick to improve the roster around Stephen Curry and continue maximizing their championship window. Instead, Golden State opted to make a selection that appears more focused on the future than the present. The prospect may become a valuable player down the road, but it's hard to view the decision as a win for a team still trying to compete for titles.
4) Loser: Darius Acuff Jr.
Being selected inside the top 10 is a dream come true for any prospect, but Darius Acuff Jr. couldn't have landed in a much tougher situation. The Sacramento Kings remain one of the league's most directionless franchises and appear far away from serious contention. Acuff has the talent to become a star. Still, instead of joining a stable environment, he'll be tasked with helping turn around an organization that has struggled to find consistency for years.
5) Loser: Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg looked like a player who could benefit from Dallas adding another perimeter creator to grow alongside him over the years. Instead, the Mavericks used the No. 9 pick on Morez Johnson Jr., a talented player who projects more as a complementary piece than a co-star. Johnson should help Dallas win games, but the move feels like a missed opportunity to find Flagg a long-term running mate.
6) Loser: New Orleans Pelicans/Trey Murphy III
The New Orleans Pelicans entered draft night with Trey Murphy III's future hanging over the organization, and they leave it with many of the same questions. Reports suggested New Orleans was exploring ways to move Murphy for a first-round pick, but no deal materialized. In a loaded draft class, the Pelicans missed a chance to add another young piece, and if Murphy is eventually traded, that return likely won't arrive as quickly as a rookie selected on draft night.
7) Loser: Labaron Philon Jr.
Labaron Philon Jr. spent much of the pre-draft process projected as a lottery pick, making his slide one of the bigger surprises of the night. Unfortunately, things didn't improve much when he finally heard his name called. Philadelphia already has Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in place, leaving Philon without a clear path to major minutes or a starting role anytime soon.
8) Loser: Isaiah Hartenstein
Isaiah Hartenstein played an important role for the Thunder, but Oklahoma City's decision to draft Aday Mara immediately raises questions about his future. The Thunder now have multiple young frontcourt options alongside Chet Holmgren, creating a crowded situation at center. Given Hartenstein's contract and Oklahoma City's roster flexibility, he suddenly looks like a candidate to become expendable.
9) Loser: Luke Kornet
Luke Kornet's first season in San Antonio was productive, but the Spurs' actions on draft night weren't exactly a vote of confidence in their current frontcourt. San Antonio used first-round picks on both Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr., doubling down on adding young size. Even if Quaintance misses significant time, the organization clearly felt the need to address the position, leaving Kornet's long-term role less certain.
10) Loser: Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry doesn't have the luxury of waiting several years for a young prospect to develop. At this stage of his career, every offseason should be centered around maximizing Golden State's championship hopes. Instead of using their draft capital to land immediate help, the Warriors chose a longer-term approach, leaving Curry without the win-now reinforcement many expected the organization to pursue.
1) Winner: Washington Wizards/AJ Dybantsa
The Washington Wizards haven't earned the No. 1 overall pick since 2010, even after the franchise's constant cycle of mediocrity, leaving them at the bottom of the NBA standings. Finally, luck fell in their favor at an ideal time. Landing AJ Dybantsa gives the team an immediate cornerstone to build around, with MVP potential that can help lead the Wizards back into contention from the bottom of the East. As for Dybantsa, the BYU star gets his wish to be the top pick and lands in a situation that allows him to become the focus immediately.

Ranking 10 Winners, 10 Losers from the First Round of the NBA Draft

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