2025 NBA Draft lottery winners (Cooper Flagg! Mavs!) and losers (the lottery system)

2025 NBA Draft lottery winners (Cooper Flagg! Mavs!) and losers (the lottery system)
Monday night's 2025 NBA Draft lottery sent the first-overall pick to the Dallas Mavericks in a shock, and plenty of winners and losers emerged from how the chips fell.
2025 NBA Mock Draft 5.0: First round predictions post-lottery, with Cooper Flagg at No. 1
The winners were pretty obvious, as were some of the losers. The Mavericks once again grabbed headlines for an unbelievable NBA development, and yet another generational talent found out where he'll most likely start his career.
2025 NBA Draft order: Where each team will pick in the first-round
We've gone through the results to tab who these winners and losers are and why they earned those labels.
Winner: Mavericks GM Nico Harrison
Just months after enraging Mavericks fans by trading Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers out of nowhere, the embattled Dallas general manager got the lifeline of a lifetime with the first-overall 2025 NBA Draft pick. He will most likely use that selection to take Duke superstar Cooper Flagg, who will anchor a new era in Dallas basketball. Anger from the Dončić trade won't ever go away in full, but landing Flagg should save Harrison some grief with Dallas fans. He's got one of the easiest decisions to make in NBA history next month by drafting Flagg. If he messes this up, we'll be even more shocked than with him trading away Luka.
Winner: Cooper Flagg
Flagg going to a Mavericks team loaded with veteran talent would be a fantastic way for his NBA career to start. Rather than kicking off a rebuild in Utah with the Jazz or trying to dig teams like the Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans and Charlotte Hornets out of the doldrums, Flagg looks to go to a team that already boasts Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, among others. That's an outstanding situation for Flagg to join as a rookie. He's a clear winner in this.
Loser: Jazz, Wizards, Pelicans and Hornets fans
Long-suffering fans of the Jazz, Hornets, Pelicans and Wizards had to watch the coveted Flagg pick go to a team that literally just played in the 2024 NBA Finals. That's just tough, and the "rigged" conspiracy theories are understandable. When will these teams catch a break? Those Flagg dreams went up in smoke so fast.
Loser: NBA fans who aren't ready for the Spurs to be great again
We're sorry for those who aren't ready for a new dawn in San Antonio. The Spurs are set up for real success in 2025, and the second-overall pick will play a big part in that. Yes, the team could stay put and land an impact rookie to join budding superstar Victor Wembanyama, but flipping the pick to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a trade package to land Giannis Antetokounmpo is also a real possibility. Either way, the Spurs are going to put a pretty formidable team on the court this fall. The new era of Spurs dominance looks to be right on schedule.
Yes, Antetokounmpo really could wind up in San Antonio this summer. The Spurs trading the draft's second-overall pick for the superstar feels more and more realistic by the minute. Antetokounmpo teaming up with Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle feels unfair at this point, but that's what happens when you win the lottery like the Spurs did. Sure, it takes two to tango, but if Giannis really decides to move on from the Bucks, San Antonio might be his next landing spot. Who else can offer this premium a draft pick to Milwaukee right now?
Winner: The 76ers' 2025 turnaround
The 76ers might not have to wait long to get back to the NBA playoffs. Landing the third-overall pick in this year's draft should land Philly an instant impact rookie, which will only make the team's young foundation even stronger. Sure, superstar Joel Embiid's injury history is always a talking point, but a top-three pick joining young stars like Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain should give Philadelphia fans plenty to look forward to down the road. Hey, if the vets like Embiid, Paul George, Kyle Lowry, Andre Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele stick around and/or play well, the 76ers could seriously contend next season.
Loser: The NBA hoping people won't feel the draft lottery is rigged
Yeah, we can't really help the NBA on this one. When the Mavericks, Spurs and 76ers are in your top four and the Wizards, Jazz and Pelicans are on the outside looking in, the "rigged" accusations won't go away. Nobody likes the draft lottery when it doesn't go their way, but this year's results will get fans even more suspicious than before. It's not great if you're hoping to convince people of league impartiality.
Winner: Mavericks fans who really deserved a break
Take a victory lap, Mavs fans. After losing Luka, you will most likely land Cooper. It might not be the same as it was, but you can now be excited about the future of your franchise again. You guys seriously deserve it after how your year started.

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