76ers & Pelicans: 2024 NBA Draft Updates
- The Brooklyn Nets, armed with five first-round picks, made a splash in Wednesday's NBA draft, selecting BYU guard Egor Demin with the No.
- The nets' other selections included Nolan Traore (19), Drake Powell (22), Ben Saraf (26), and Danny Wolf (27).
- 10 pick from the Houston rockets in the Kevin Durant trade, chose Duke centre Khaman Maluach.
The Brooklyn nets dominated the NBA draft, making five first-round selections, spearheaded by Egor Demin at No. 8. The phoenix Suns also made waves, acquiring Khaman Maluach, while several trades considerably altered the draft landscape. The Atlanta Hawks traded the no. 13 pick to the New Orleans Pelicans, who then selected Derik Queen. This impactful NBA draft showcases strategic player acquisitions and team restructuring. Duke University celebrated a milestone with Maluach’s selection. Discover key picks, trades, and the implications for the 76ers and Pelicans with insights from news Directory 3.Explore how these picks will shape future matchups and team dynamics. Discover what’s next in this exciting draft season.
Brooklyn Nets Make five First-Round NBA Draft Picks
Updated June 27, 2025
The Brooklyn Nets, armed with five first-round picks, made a splash in Wednesday’s NBA draft, selecting BYU guard Egor Demin with the No. 8 overall pick.The Toronto Raptors followed by taking Collin Murray-Boyles at No. 9.
The nets’ other selections included Nolan Traore (19), Drake Powell (22), Ben Saraf (26), and Danny Wolf (27).
The Phoenix Suns, who had acquired the No. 10 pick from the Houston rockets in the Kevin Durant trade, chose Duke centre Khaman Maluach. Simultaneously occurring,the Suns acquired Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets.
Maluach’s selection marked a milestone for Duke, giving the school 50 first-round picks as 1989, surpassing Kentucky’s 48.
The Memphis Grizzlies acquired the No. 11 pick from the portland Trail Blazers and selected Cedric Coward. In return,the Blazers received the No. 16 pick, a 2028 first-round pick via Orlando, and two second-round picks. Portland than surprised many by taking Chinese center Yang Hansen at No. 16, despite already having several centers on the roster.Hansen becomes the third Chinese-born player drafted in the first round, joining Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.
Following the Chicago Bulls’ selection of Noa Essengue at No. 12, the Atlanta Hawks traded the No. 13 pick to the New Orleans Pelicans for the No. 23 pick and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick. The 2026 pick will be the most favorable between New Orleans and Milwaukee.
New Orleans then selected center Derik Queen with the No. 13 pick. Queen had the winning buzzer-beater in the 2025 NCAA tournament. Atlanta used the No. 23 pick to take Drake powell.
In another trade, the Washington Wizards selected Walter Clayton Jr. with the No. 18 pick and then traded him to the Utah Jazz for picks Nos. 21 and 43, as well as second-round picks in 2031 and 2032.
Clayton was a standout performer in the NCAA tournament, scoring an SEC-record 134 points to lead florida to the title.
The Wizards then used the No. 21 pick to select Illinois wing Will riley, the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year.
“It was so emotional getting to see my teammates, my fellow freshmen getting drafted,” Maluach said. “I was so happy for them because they deserve everything they have. They worked hard for it, for that moment, too.”
What’s next
The second round of the NBA draft is set to begin shortly, with several intriguing prospects still available.