Five NBA first-round picks who will make an instant impact

Demin, who was a top-10 player and then slid down many big boards for a while, rose up further than expected on draft night, but Brooklyn may have struck gold here.

At 6-foot-9, he’s a jumbo playmaker who plays 1-3 with pro experience overseas and a smooth feel for the game. On a roster deep into a rebuild but lacking size and versatility, Demin would be stepping into the role of "franchise point guard" quickly — especially with the expected roster turnover. His skill set fits a modern system, and he’ll prove it early.

Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards, guard

Washington desperately needed scoring punch, and Johnson is built to get buckets. The former top high school scorer landed in a rebuilding situation tailor-made for volume shooting and development. Expect the Wizards to hand him the keys as a primary scoring option alongside Bub Carrington in the backcourt long-term. CJ McCollum, Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart should be great veteran mentors in the locker room for him early. 

Johnson may take some lumps efficiency-wise, but he’ll have the green light from day one.

Noa Essengue, Chicago Bulls, wing

The Bulls shocked many by grabbing Essengue in the late lottery, but it’s a move that could pay off fast. 

The physical 6-foot-11 center is a rugged interior presence with elite motor and rim protection. Chicago is light on reliable bigs, and Essengue should quickly crack the rotation — or even start. He won’t wow with offense, but his defense, rebounding and toughness give him staying power.

Chicago's plan should trend toward building around a Giddey-Buzelis-Essengue trio long-term, which means trading Coby White, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball could become more likely.

Not every rookie is ready to roll from the jump, but this group checks the boxes: 

Opportunity, skill set and team need. Don’t be surprised if all five are Rising Stars locks before February — or if some are in the Rookie of the Year race during the duration of the season.