An Ace and a bluff: Five takeaways from first round of NBA Draft

The state of Texas had a big week

All three NBA teams from Texas got a massive addition this week. It started Sunday with the Houston Rockets trading for Kevin Durant. The Dallas Mavericks then drafted Flagg first overall, and the San Antonio Spurs followed by taking Dylan Harper from Rutgers at No. 2.

All three players are instant impact additions. Durant is expected to make Houston a legitimate title contender, while Flagg will rescue Dallas from the aftermath of the Luka Doncic trade. Harper will team up with Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox in the Spurs' rebuild.

Durant got an extended look at Flagg during USA Basketball camp in 2024 and came away impressed. They'll now battle several times in the Southwest Division.

France continues to dominate the draft

There has been a heavy French presence in the last three drafts. After back-to-back drafts featuring four first-round selections and No. 1 picks in Wembanyama (2023, Spurs) and Zaccharie Risacher (2024, Hawks), three more Frenchmen were taken in the 2025 first round.

Noa Essengue went 12th to the Chicago Bulls, while Joan Beringer was drafted 17th by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nolan Traore went 19th to Brooklyn.

Duke has not missed a beat under Jon Scheyer

Following a legend is difficult, but Jon Scheyer has made it look easy at Duke. Following Mike Krzyzewski's retirement in 2022, Scheyer has been successful by virtually every metric.

After making his first Final Four this past season, Scheyer saw three freshmen drafted in the top 10. After Flagg, Kon Knueppel went fourth to Charlotte, and Khaman Maluach was selected 10th by Houston, with his rights going to Phoenix via trade.

Scheyer has now developed six first-round picks in his three seasons at the helm. That's one more than Coach K's five during his final three seasons.

Phoenix Suns could win the Durant trade

Winning the trade that shipped the 36-year-old Durant to Houston depended largely on what the Suns did with the 10th pick Wednesday night. Drafting Maluach is a major boon for Phoenix as it addresses a need inside.

Add in former No. 2 pick Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, and Phoenix got younger and more athletic with the trade. It's not easy giving up a mega-star like Durant, but if Maluach continues to develop, Green continues his rise, and Brooks provides above-average 3-point shooting, Phoenix will come out ahead.