NBA Draft Wrap Up -- Winners and Losers

The NBA Draft happened this past Thursday and Friday. We are going to pick some of the winners and losers of the draft. 

1. Utah Jazz
(Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr, John Tonje, RJ Luis, Steven Crowl)

Getting Ace Bailey when nobody thought that it was going to talk on it could really help or hurt Utah. We think that the Jazz got a steal with him at five though as he was a top-three pick all year long. Walter Clayton was the most clutch player in the NCAA March Madness last season and led his team to the National title. Adding two really good pieces from the Wisconsin team that was really good // and RJ Luis, the Big East Player Of The Year. The Jazz won the draft and post draft in our opinions.

2. Charlotte Hornets
(Kon Knueppel, Sion James, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Jamiya Neal, Dajuan Harris Jr.)

Charlotte didn't surprise that many people when it took Kon Knueppel with the fourth overall pick in the draft. The Hornets needed someone that can play off the ball from LaMelo Ball and the knockdown shooter that the Duke product is will help this team a lot. They added another Duke guard in Sion James // and two Creighton players to the team. Dajuan Harris is a great get too, has really good ball handling and ran the offense in Kansas.

3. San Antonio Spurs
(Dylan Harper, Carter Bryant, Cam Carter, Chibuzo Agbo)

It was between the Spurs and the Mavs for this final winners spot as both went out and got their guy. Cooper Flagg pretty much makes Dallas a winner himself, but the Spurs have more to talk about which is why we picked them. Dylan Harper is also in a league of his own, maybe ever so slightly below Flagg. And Carter Bryant fits the system perfectly. The un-drafted free agent signings aren't anything special. But, the Spurs will be in really good shape this season. 

1. Brooklyn Nets
(Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf, Grant Nelson, TJ Bamba)

Brooklyn made history by picking five different guys in the first round of this years draft. Coming in, you'd think it would be hard to mess that up. But, people from around the NBA really think that the Nets did and we think similar. Drafting four guards, when they didn't need any, and a F/C that plays like a guard isn't going to help them too much. These players might develop into really good players. But, from a drafting standpoint the Nets are the losers of the draft.

2. New Orleans Pelicans
(Jeremiah Fears, Hunter Dickinson)

We really like Jeremiah Fears as a player but it might not of been the best spot to get him at. He's going to be really good player but he doesn't necessarily fit into what New Orleans is trying to do. The Pelicans probably thought that he was the best available guard and that's why they pulled the trigger. But, getting him and no one else until after the draft has to put them as a loser in this draft. 

3. Portland Trail Blazers
(Hansen Yang, Caleb Love, Sean Pedulla, Andrew Carr)

Just like Jeremiah Fears, we really like Hansen Yang. He was a big riser from the moment he stepped foot in the United States with his performance at the NBA Combine. Plays a bit like Jokic and has the Chinese background to possibly be the next Yao Ming. But, was it too early to take him? He was projected to go in the late first round. Hopefully he turns out just how the Blazers want him to turn out.

AAA's Early Pick To Win 2026 NBA Finals - Oklahoma City Thunder.