The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery isn’t that far away. Teams have arrived and are preparing to make inflection point decisions with long-term consequences. This year truly marks the beginning of a new era for many franchises. The New Orleans Pelicans have plenty of reason to be thrilled as they’ll be receiving a top-seven selection for the first time since drafted Zion Williamson first overall in 2019. The implications of this lottery extend beyond just the Pelicans; it involves various teams, players, and potential trades that could redefine rosters across the league.
The anticipation surrounding the lottery is palpable as teams assess their strategies, with questions arising about player futures and draft choices. Notably, the Atlanta Hawks face uncertainty regarding star guard Trae Young, while the San Antonio Spurs must determine how to best support their exceptional rookie, Victor Wembanyama. With multiple teams holding lottery picks and key players nearing contract expirations, the upcoming draft could lead to a significant reshuffling of talent in the NBA.
New Orleans Pelicans: A New Opportunity
The New Orleans Pelicans enter the lottery with a strong roster that includes Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy, and Yves Missi. This is an incredibly important draft for the franchise as they look to improve on their starting lineup after a long term rebuilding process.
For the first time since making Williamson the first overall selection in 2019, the Pelicans do possess a top-seven pick in this draft. With this opportunity, the only question now lies in how they will use their selection to complete and add to their already impressive team. Equally important, they combined beloved established stars and game-changing algorithm-approved young talents. This combination offers them the opportunity to assemble a much deeper, more competitive squad.
“The Pelicans are looking to add a player who can contribute immediately,” said an anonymous source close to the team. “They believe this lottery pick can help them secure a spot in the playoffs.”
The Pelicans will certainly have to focus on how new talent fits around what’s now an older core. Williamson’s one-of-a-kind skill set should make an immediate impact on the team’s fortunes. Plus, possible draft additions could continue to re-shape their identity going into next season.
Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young’s Future in Question
The Hawks are preparing for the upcoming draft lottery. Yet, bad vibes are out there about the future of their transcendent, all-world point guard, Trae Young. After a mixed season that saw Atlanta finish below expectations, management must decide whether to build around Young or explore trade possibilities.
Young’s performance has been uneven, resulting in much speculation from pundits and analysts alike that he may not be long for this team’s future. The Hawks must weigh the benefits of keeping him against potential deals that could bring in valuable assets for their future.
“The Hawks have as many or more difficult decisions as anyone,” one Eastern Conference executive said. If they decide to move on from Trae, the best course of action would be to focus on building a team centered around complementary pieces to his play style.
In addition to Young’s future, the Hawks must consider other roster changes and how they can improve heading into next season. A home run of a draft would go a long way in giving them the support their electric young star desperately needs.
San Antonio Spurs: Building Around Victor Wembanyama
The San Antonio Spurs certainly have the edge this year with two lottery picks. Their recent addition of Victor Wembanyama has only heightened that excitement and potential. The French phenom is already being compared to the great ones and celebrated as a “one-of-one talent.” His arrival brings plenty of exciting opportunities and some challenging obstacles for the franchise.
As the Spurs head towards the draft, their priorities will be in creating a supporting cast that best enhances Wembanyama’s talents. One key area of concern is finding a reliable rim protector who can take on minutes when Wembanyama is off the court. This strategic pivot will allow them to maintain their integrity as champions of defensive integrity. In doing so, it will maximize their star’s impact on offense and defense.
“Of course we knew Victor was special,” said one executive, one of the Spurs’ many believers. At the same time, we need to make sure we’ve got some versatility and depth in our frontcourt.
With players like De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle already in place, the Spurs have a solid foundation upon which to build. Their formula is already pretty good and the inclusion of another high-caliber player from this draft would raise them into playoff contention.
Furthermore, San Antonio has been aggressive on the trade front, most recently trading Zach Collins. This trade marks their efforts to completely reconfigure the roster to better suit Wembanyama and their new collection of youth.
Toronto Raptors: Adding to an Emerging Core
The Raptors are primed to take the next step with their young core. They’ll hope to integrate a new lottery pick with last year’s classic rookie class, including Scottie Barnes. Our Toronto Raptors are in search of some fresh talent. They are looking to identify players who can make their existing core better and help them return to playoff relevance.
Brandon Ingram is among those mentioned as potential targets for Toronto, joining RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley in discussions about bolstering their wing depth. The Raptors understand that adding to their core with more multi-faceted talent will be key for their development in the years ahead.
“We’re thrilled with the potential this draft offers,” said Raptors spokesperson. The addition of another world-class prospect can only make our development plans look even better.
As they plan for next season, Toronto wants to return to being a playoff contender. The lottery pick would be key to their strategy of making the plan to reenter the playoff race.
Dallas Mavericks: A Historic Lottery Move
The Dallas Mavericks made headlines when they traded Luka Doncic, marking a significant departure from their previous strategy centered around him. This trade has netted them their best lottery position in franchise history. This time, they’re not too late to begin rewriting their own story.
Dallas suddenly finds itself with a lot of leverage in the draft. This creates a rare chance for them to land a player who can turn into a franchise cornerstone well into the future. The Mavericks’ front office needs to do some deep soul searching on every available draft choice and trade that might help accelerate their long term vision.
Now, Doncic is off the roster. Now, everybody’s wondering who’s going to emerge as the alpha dog on this Mavericks team. They are entering a new and transformative period where they must be able to intelligently identify those key players who can fill that void.
Portland Trail Blazers: Contract Decisions Looming
The Portland Trail Blazers face critical decisions regarding several key players entering the final year of their contracts, including Anfernee Simons, Matisse Thybulle, Robert Williams III, and Deandre Ayton. Beyond getting out of these contract predicaments, the Blazers need to be thinking about how they can best improve their roster via this year’s draft.
Portland now stares down uncertainty with nearly $20 million in contracts. This makes it so much more enticing to pursue trades or signings that can bring new talent into the fold. This draft will greatly impact their future contract negotiations. Further, it will determine how they are allowed to construct their future roster.
No question that we’d have options,” said Blazers ownership. We want to be confident that we’re making the right decisions that are going to set us up for success.
As they consider what direction to take, Portland’s front office must balance short-term needs with long-term goals as they aim for sustained success in an increasingly competitive Western Conference.
Philadelphia 76ers: Options Abound
Ever since the Philadelphia 76ers positioned themselves strongly approaching this year’s draft lottery. With a strong roster headlined by All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, they have enticing avenues to improve their squad even more. Keeping flexibility at the forefront, Philadelphia has a lot of options they can take based on how the lottery plays out.
Bobby Marks commented on their strategy saying, “If everything sets up well, we’ll have a younger, more dynamic roster around a healthy Joel, Tyrese and Paul.” This quote captures their desire to compete immediately with an eye on investing in the future.
As they evaluate potential draft picks and trade opportunities, Philadelphia aims to maintain its championship aspirations while ensuring it continues developing young talent alongside its established superstars.
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