With the preseason underway, the NBA offseason is officially over. While not quite “the biggest offseason in NBA history” that Shams predicted, the summer did come with its usual mix of star trades, free agent drama (shoutout Jonathan Kuminga), and of course, a new set of rookies from the draft. Here’s what to expect for each of the top five picks.

1. Cooper Flagg (6’8, F)—Dallas Mavericks

After the disastrous Luka Doncic trade, the Mavericks were bailed out by the 2025 Draft Lottery, which they only had a 1.8% chance of winning. For the consensus number one pick, a unique blend of fluid athleticism, defensive versatility, scoring ability (18.9 PPG at Duke), and positional size all point to obvious star upside. To start the season, Flagg will slot in comfortably as the starting small forward next to D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, and one of Lively or Gafford. The Duke one-and-done should strengthen the Mavericks’ defensive minded core while also possessing a significant offensive opportunity with Kyrie out from an ACL tear. His positional fluidity parallels Pacers Forward Pascal Siakam, but his added shooting touch (38.5% from three at Duke) and defensive excellence (1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks) provide the framework for much more.

2. Dylan Harper (6’5, G)—San Antonio Spurs

As the Spurs aim to have their first competitive season of the Victor Wembanyama era, Harper’s mix of ball handling, footwork in the post, and dynamic finishing provide the framework for significant contributions this season and the potential to become Wemby’s long-term co-star. The Rutgers point guard averaged 19.4 points and 4.0 assists a game, though his true impact was questioned as he and fellow Rutgers star Ace Bailey missed the March Madness tournament. In the NBA, Harper will answer these questions as the likely starter alongside reigning ROY Stephon Castle in the backcourt—that is until De’Aaron Fox returns. But all three share many of the same underlying weaknesses: In an era defined by high three point volume, Harper shot just 33.3% from downtown last season, Castle was even worse at 28.5%, and Fox has been a subpar shooter for most of his 8-year career.  But beyond his shooting woes and the Spurs’ backcourt logjam, Harper is a tremendous prospect with classic star guard upside—think Cade Cunningham and Jalen Brunson as potential high-end outcomes. Harper was even projected as the number 1 pick before Flagg reclassified last year.

3. VJ Edgecombe (6’4, G)—Philadelphia 76ers

A fan favorite out of Baylor, Edgecombe is hands down one of the best athletes in this class. His relentless explosiveness shows up most as a rim finisher, but what’s equally impressive is his constant motor on the defensive end. The shooting guard averaged 2.1 steals as a freshman, demonstrating pesky on-ball defense while also disrupting the passing lanes. For the 76ers, his role will be clear: a point-of-attack guard stopper who earns his offensive production through catch-and-shoot threes and easy transition buckets. Whether or not he can develop into an All-Star—or simply start as a rookie—depends on his efficiency (43.6 FG% at Baylor), shooting improvements (just 34.0% from three), and general ball skills (his ball handle and playmaking ability are rather limited at this stage). If Edgecombe puts it all together, he may very well become the high-flying, star shooting guard to lead the 76ers in the post Embiid-George era.

4. Kon Knueppel (6’5, G/F)—Charlotte Hornets

While the Hornets missed out on Cooper Flagg, they were able to land his Duke co-star in Kon Knueppel. Though not the surefire star that Flagg projects to become, Knueppel has an argument for the best pure shooter in this draft class, pairing 40.1% from three with a 91.2% free throw rate. Knueppel is not merely a shooter though. The 6’5 wing exemplified good passing instincts (2.8 APG) and overall efficiency (47.6 FG%), serving as a perfect complimentary piece in Duke’s drive-and-kick offense last year. So while neither his numbers—nor his film—will jump out to most fans watching, his excellence as a movement shooter, secondary driver and passer, on top of his developing defensive game will provide Charlotte with a winning basketball player for years to come. Athletic limitations limit his overall ceiling, but Knueppel should come in immediately as a likely starter next to Lamelo Ball and Brandon Miller, hopefully giving Hornets’ fans a product worth watching in the 2025-26 season.

5. Ace Bailey (6’7, F)—Utah Jazz

Perhaps the most polarizing prospect in the top five, Bailey did himself no favors by denying any and all workouts in the pre-draft process. Ironically enough, Utah was one of the teams he was allegedly avoiding. Now that he’s playing for the Jazz, though, he will have to combat his team-dodging reputation by showing his actual basketball talent, which he thankfully has plenty of. On the court, Bailey flashed real, high-level shotmaking ability playing arguably the most valuable position in basketball. He averaged 17.6 PPG on 46.0% from the field last season, and at his best, his mix of pull-up threes, self-creation as a driver, contested middies, and sturdy wing defense was comparable to the likes of Paul George (pre-Philly) and Tracy McGrady. At his worst, however, Ace Bailey’s lack of playmaking instincts (1.3 APG) resulted in nights with high turnovers, poor shot selection, and a generally stagnant Rutgers offense that failed to play much meaningful basketball. Early on, he will likely exhibit high scoring outbursts playing for a tanking Utah Jazz roster. For Bailey to develop as a premier NBA wing though, he will have to substantially improve his passing, as well as his shooting consistency and ball-handling.