Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Dylan Harper (2) and guard/ahead Ace Bailey (4) stand on the court docket previous to the sport towards the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Heart. Necessary Credit score: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Pictures
Right here is the problem for everybody behind the Dallas Mavericks, who will make investments the No. 1 choose on purported franchise centerpiece Cooper Flagg: He is certainly one of one.
Flagg is way and away the highest prospect accessible Wednesday, however the 2025 NBA Draft pool will not be devoid expertise.
The San Antonio Spurs choose second. They’re at a fork within the highway, geared up with the belongings and cap flexibility to decide on their very own journey. Victor Wembanyama is already a mainstay in elite participant conversations whereas Stephen Fortress, Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan spherical out their youth motion.
The primary avenue includes disassembling their younger core and surrendering their choose fairness in pursuit of premier star energy — assuming Giannis Antetokounmpo is amenable to such a pairing. A roster recalibration that prioritizes successful within the rapid time period clutters the books with a number of max wage slots. Moreover, it reconciles with the truth that Brian Wright and Co. voluntarily accelerated their timeline by locking down De’Aaron Fox as their lead guard and designated choose and roll ball handler for the foreseeable future.
The second avenue is staying the course. Standing absolutely behind their present nucleus in hopes of fostering one other homegrown famous person to journey shotgun subsequent to Wemby for the lengthy haul. The low cap determine and crew management of a burgeoning star on a rookie deal may dovetail properly into sustained success.
There isn’t a flawed reply. In spite of everything, this kind of optionality solely comes by as soon as in a blue moon.
Ought to San Antonio elect to maintain their powder dry and the Philadelphia 76ers are unable to tempt the Spurs with a commerce supply, historical past is not purely towards them hitting a winner quantity once more.
The historical past of franchises falling second, and even third, in line for the league’s highest profile, franchise-altering No. 1 picks supplies loads of reassurance. Whether or not or not it’s Chauncey Billups in 1997, Carmelo Anthony in 2003 or Ja Morant in 2019, the comfort prize within the wake of generational prospects has a glowing observe file. 2025 proves to be no totally different with a 3 horse race for picks 2 via 4 that requires deep forethought.
Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers
Ostensibly the very best participant accessible at No. 2, Harper is a 6-foot-6 combo guard with the on-ball dynamism to flourish from day one. In lots of different draft lessons, Harper can be No. 1 with a bullet. He has a command of the offense that’s past his years, dictates tempo with dribble creativity, and is able to carving his method to the rim at will. With Fox and Fortress penciled in as San Antonio’s backcourt of the long run, the Spurs would want to redistribute the ball dealing with duties with the addition of Harper. Naturally, Fortress would take a again seat. Harper’s long-term upside, compatibility with Wemby, and skill to pierce defenses on or off the ball could also be too engaging to move up.
Airious “Ace” Bailey, SF/SG, Rutgers
Taking away all the off-court drama and character critique, Bailey is the very best match for a guard-heavy Spurs core. He possesses show-stopping expertise that may must be harnessed accordingly. An unambiguously elite pull-up shooter in addition to a 38.7 % 3-point shooter off the catch, Bailey’s dimension and skillset on the wing poses to amplify the Fox and Wemby two-man recreation. He will be weaponized on the second aspect by attacking closeouts and attending to his spots off the bounce. Moreover, Bailey has the measurables and instruments to confront opposing wings defensively. In a streamlined position alongside each a fringe and inside pressure, the chances are countless.
The difficulty is, there is not any probability on the planet the Spurs are keen to entertain a half-committed Bailey because the second choose within the draft if the franchise is not satisfied he is all in. At this level, how may they be?
V.J. Edgecombe, SG, Baylor
A preternatural athlete with eye-popping verticality and a serviceable leap shot, V.J. Edgecombe is a high-energy two-guard of the plug-and-play selection. He {couples} putting bodily instruments with dogged willpower on each side of the ball. V.J. is a spotlight manufacturing unit who runs the ground with abandon and detonates on the rim, complementing Fox’s transition tendencies completely. To prime it off, Edgecombe is a day-ruining defender on the level of assault in addition to away from the ball. If the Spurs see a world the place he can dabble in small ahead minutes together with his 6-4 body and 6-7 wingspan, he will probably be within the combine at No. 2.
–Ethan Ward, Discipline Degree Media
