This was an aggressive 10 minute stretch from the Suns. Reports from Charania indicate that Phoenix is leaning towards Rasheer Fleming with this pick, and he would be an incredible three-and-D addition for them after he slid to round two. They also still have the 41st pick, which they will likely use to address the point guard position. Kam Jones, Tyrese Proctor and Javon Small would all be interesting options.

While the NBA Draft was the focus on Wednesday, with Philadelphia selecting Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe third overall, Morey also had to answer questions regarding Embiid. After undergoing left knee surgery in April, just before the end of the regular season, there were questions regarding the 2023 MVP’s availability for the start of the 2025-26 season. According to Morey, Embiid is on track to be good to go around the time that training camp begins in late September. His injury history will give many fantasy managers pause at draft time, but a healthy Embiid can be one of the best players in the NBA and fantasy basketball.

The Suns will address a glaring need in the frontcourt with the addition of Williams as they bring in another former Hornets center. Khaman Maluach went 10th in the draft to the Rockets, who are expected to send him to the Suns by way of the Kevin Durant trade. Phoenix will have Williams, Maluach and Nick Richards at center if no additional moves are made, meaning one of the bigs will be the odd man out in the rotation.

After his freshman season at South Carolina, CMB had a case to be selected in the lottery last season. However, he opted to return to college for another year and made significant improvements, averaging 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Murray-Boyles projects to be an elite defender, but there are questions about how his offensive game will develop and if standing only 6’7” will limit his impact. However, his near 7’1” wingspan should help with that, and he was a solid playmaker in college. How well his shot develops will be critical. While Murray-Boyles is not a center, the defensive versatility and effort level should mesh well with a Raptors squad that was one of the best defensive teams in the NBA over the final three months of the regular season. His fantasy impact may be limited early on, especially with the need to improve his perimeter shot, but CMB should play rotation minutes.

Demin is considered a polarizing prospect in this class. He’s a 6’9” 19-year-old that is one of the best passers in the draft. That alone is enough for him to have elite upside, however, that is the only thing he definitely has going for him. He shot 27.3 percent from deep and 69.5 percent at the free throw line during his lone season at BYU. He isn’t a great defender. He struggles to create his own shot. Demin averaged 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 three-pointers in 27.5 minutes per game. There aren’t many players of his size that can pass as well as him, but he still comes with a ton of question marks. Fortunately for Demin, he’ll have plenty of room to stretch his wings and work through his growing pains for the rebuilding Nets.

Sure, there are concerns about Fears after some inefficient play at Oklahoma, but he has loads of potential. Fears averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game as an 18-year-old as the focal point of the offense in arguably the toughest conference in the NCAA. He’s a bit undersized, and there are questions about how he’ll impact the game defensively, but Fears is an intriguing offensive talent with the ability to run an offense and create his own shot, both at the rim and from beyond the arc. There aren’t many players in this draft that can get to the rim like Fears. The fit with the Pelicans is a bit curious given the team just traded for a point guard in Jordan Poole and already had Dejounte Murray.

There may not be a better pure scorer in this class than Johnson. He averaged 19.9 points per game for Texas last season, which led all freshmen in Division I. He did that as the focal point of the offense in a tough conference. The 6’6” guard boasts a 6’10.25” wingspan and won’t turn 20 years old until March. Johnson also averaged 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 triples per game. His 42.7 field goal percentage was subpar, but his 39.7 three-point percentage and 87.1 free throw percentage both showcase that Johnson will be a knockdown shooter at the next level. He can create his own shot and knock down catch-and-shoot looks, which makes him a versatile piece to add to any offense. Tre joins a rebuilding Wizards franchise that added three first-round picks to its roster last June. The natural scoring ability should mesh well with a team that is looking for a “No. 1 option” on offense.

All season long, Bailey was one of the most polarizing players in this class. The idea of a 6’8” wing with a 7’0.5” wingspan that can hit contested shots like he can is enticing. If you just look at the highlights, you’re going to see a future All-NBA player. However, the numbers didn’t really back that up. He averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks and 1.6 threes per game for Rutgers last season. There are positives there, like the scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking. His 0.62 assist-to-turnover ratio was a huge red flag, and while he shot efficiently from the mid-range, his percentages at the rim, behind the three-point line and at the free throw line were all subpar. Even with some wrinkles in his game, Bailey has a tremendous amount of potential as both a scorer and a defender. He could see immediate rotation minutes for the Jazz in Year one.

The athletic guard from Baylor can quickly make an impact in the NBA. He is one of the best defensive guards in the class, and that translated to plenty of steals last season. He was also an effective offensive player, though he wasn’t the most efficient scorer from any range. He averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 33 games last season. His 38” vertical also led to plenty of highlight dunks in college, though he still only shot about 60 percent on shots at the rim. Still, Edgecombe has all the tools to become a high-level two-way player in the NBA. In Philadelphia, he joins a roster that boasts ample talent, led by Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. Their inability to stay healthy is what landed the 76ers the third overall pick, but it’s also why Philadelphia could potentially be a player in the East next season. Edgecombe’s fantasy value may be limited early on due to the roster, but he’s capable of developing into a cornerstone for the franchise.

The consensus No. 2 player in this class, Harper has a chance to be a special point guard for a long time. The 6’6” lefty is a crafty, strong ball handler that can score inside and out and can find his teammates for open looks. He averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.7 three-pointers per game for Rutgers last season. He wasn’t a standout defender in college, but the 1.4 steals per game, with a steal percentage of 2.6, were both encouraging, and he could be a solid source of steals in the NBA, especially with a 6’10.5” wingspan. However, his offensive game is why he was drafted this early. He’s a smart, physical guard that finished well at the rim and is one of the best passers in the draft. How he’ll fit alongside De’Aaron Fox and reigning ROY Steph Castle remains to be seen, but San Antonio has a great problem on its hands with such a talented backcourt.