2025 NBA Draft Lottery Reactions: Cooper Flagg to Mavs, Small Markets Snubbed

2025 NBA Draft Lottery Reactions

Here’s my breakdown of how the NBA Lottery shook out, and how it proves once again that the league loves helping the rich get richer.

NBA Draft Lottery 2025

1. Dallas Mavericks (No. 1 Pick): Adam Silver Wins Big

If having the lottery in a backroom with no cameras isn’t enough proof that this thing is rigged, the Mavs getting the No. 1 pick after trading away future Hall of Famer Luka Doncic is all you need. Adam Silver hands Cooper Flagg to Dallas on a silver platter. Maybe Nico Harrison knew what he was doing after all. What a joke.

“Cooper Flagg to Dallas with 1.8% odds? Come on.”

2. San Antonio Spurs (No. 2 Pick): Another Big Jump

The NBA’s new favorite child. Wemby wasn’t getting enough help at 6, so here comes another lottery jump. Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey makes sense… unless the Bucks end up with this pick and Giannis ends up in San Antonio this summer. 👀

3. Philadelphia 76ers (No. 3 Pick): Keep Their Pick from Conveying

The Sixers have been a mess and the league just keeps rewarding them. Bailey or Harper would be scary on paper… but let’s be honest, that franchise is cursed. Embiid is a horse, PG is nice, they’ll still win 40 games max.

4. Charlotte Hornets (No. 4 Pick): Hold Ground, Miss Flagg

Highest of the bottom 3, but no Flagg. They’ll likely grab VJ Edgecombe, which is fine… but Charlotte is basically an AAU team at this point. Small markets stay losing.

“Sad for the league when small markets can’t even win a lottery.”

5. Utah Jazz (No. 5 Pick): Drop From Top Odds

Flagg to Utah would’ve made for fun parity. But nope... not enough TV dollars. The NBA had a choice and chose Mavs = money.

6. Washington Wizards (No. 6 Pick): Fall Out of the Top 4

Same story as Utah. Small market team, exciting young core... no chance. NBA wants the clicks elsewhere.

7. New Orleans Pelicans (No. 7 Pick): Miss Big Opportunity

Pelicans already cashed in on AD and Zion. Still irrelevant. Not crying about them falling to 7.

8. Brooklyn Nets (No. 8 Pick): Stay Put

No jump means no help on the Giannis trade push. They’re still in the mix, but Spurs are coming for that crown.

9. Toronto Raptors (No. 9 Pick): Tank for Nothing

9th pick. That's what you tanked for? Good luck with that.

10. Houston Rockets (No. 10 Pick): Enter via Phoenix Pick

Could end up going to Milwaukee. Rockets still have one of the best young cores + assets in the league. Pick 10 just adds to the pot.

“This pick could end up in a superstar trade by July.”

11. Portland Trail Blazers (No. 11 Pick): Land Near Projection

No drama. No surprise. No hope (yet).

12. Chicago Bulls (No. 12 Pick): Slight Bump, No Splash

Honestly, surprised the Bulls didn’t land a top-3 pick with how this played out. Still not good enough to matter.

13. Atlanta Hawks (No. 13 Pick): Pick Conveys to Spurs

This was expected. And the Spurs just keep stockpiling talent.

14. San Antonio Spurs (No. 14 Pick): Round Out the Lottery

Nothing crazy here. Lottery wraps up as expected from this point on.

Final Thoughts

The NBA had a golden opportunity to reward small markets and bring some real parity to the league. Instead, it doubled down on superteams. Watching teams like the Pacers, Wolves, and Thunder dominate with homegrown rosters has been a breath of fresh air. But with the way this lottery went, Flagg to the Mavs, and potentially Giannis to San Antonio, it feels like we’re headed back to superteams and scripted drama.

"Maybe this is how the lottery truly shook out… but my gut says the NBA saw a big payday with these results."

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

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