Interview Only: NBA insider Brian Windhorst, focused on the 2025 NBA Draft and its implications for various teams.

The Stephen A. Smith Show

SiriusXM

Society & Culture, Sports

4.6 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 29 June 2025

⏱️ 22 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.

A detailed and energetic conversation between Stephen A. Smith and NBA insider Brian Windhorst, focused on the 2025 NBA Draft and its implications for various teams. Here's a breakdown of the key highlights and insights:

🏀 Top Draft Picks & Analysis 1. Cooper Flagg (No. 1 to Dallas Mavericks)

Compared to Tim Duncan in terms of impact potential.
Described as a “perfect modern player” — versatile, defensive-minded, and capable of initiating offense.
May not be a high-volume scorer or Rookie of the Year due to team context (Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson).
Could drive winning early, which is rare for rookies.

2. Dylan Harper (No. 2 to San Antonio Spurs)

Talented and versatile guard.
Spurs are building a positionless, modern roster similar to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Concerns about a crowded backcourt (De’Aaron Fox, Stefon Cassell, Devin Vassell).
Spurs took the best available talent, not drafting for fit.

🔥 Other Draft Highlights 🟢 Philadelphia 76ers

Drafted Edgecombe instead of Ace Bailey due to Bailey’s refusal to work out for teams.
Edgecombe impressed playing for the Bahamian national team.
Daryl Morey emphasized depth in the backcourt and Joel Embiid’s expected return.

🟣 Utah Jazz

Took a risk on Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr.
Bailey is high-risk, high-reward; Clayton impressed in the NCAA tournament.
Utah is talent-starved and needs to take big swings.

🟡 New Orleans Pelicans

Traded up to draft Derrick Queen, giving up a valuable 2026 unprotected pick swap.
Criticized by Bill Simmons as one of the “dumbest trades of the decade.”
Windhorst notes the influence of Troy Weaver in the decision.
High upside with Queen and Jeremiah Fears, but risky if Zion gets injured again.

🏆 Winners of the Draft

San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper + Carter Bryant (compared to OG Anunoby).
Atlanta Hawks: Got a top-20 talent (Arsenal) at 23 and a valuable future pick.
Utah Jazz: Took bold swings on Bailey and Clayton Jr.

❌ Losers / Question Marks

Phoenix Suns: Traded two first-round picks for Mark Williams, who failed a physical with the Lakers.
- Drafted Malik from Duke (a solid pick).
- Strategy questioned due to asset depletion and win-now pressure.

🧠 Final Thoughts

Windhorst emphasizes that while some trades seem questionable now, player development and team context will ultimately determine success.
The NBA offseason remains unpredictable, and more moves are expected.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	I wanted to get started with round one of the NBA draft last night that began with a move that surprised absolutely no one.
0:11.2	And that is Cooper Flagg out of Duke going first overall to the Dallas Mavericks.
0:16.4	There's a lot of stuff to get into Cooper Flag going number one one, Dylan Harper, going number two. Obviously,
0:22.8	that was a big, big deal for the San Antonio Spurs, along with a bevy of other moves that were
0:26.5	made to New Orleans Pelicans under the new leadership of Joe Dumas, made a whole bunch of moves
0:32.0	to say the least of Philadelphia 76ers were supposedly in a pitch to Phoenix Suns, made a deal,
0:38.2	drafting a big man and then acquiring another big man and Mark Williams from Charlotte.
0:42.8	There's so much stuff to get into and who better to get into it than who I'm about to get into it with it now.
0:48.7	Joining me now to discuss the draft and all the other moves teams made in round one last night is NBA senior writer extraordinaire
0:56.8	and inside of the one and only Brian Winters right here on the Stephen A. Smith show.
1:00.6	What's up, Wendy? How are you doing?
1:02.1	You know, we're in the middle of the most crazy time of the year in the NBA.
1:07.6	So teams are changing. We got a new champion. This is in a lot of ways the best time of the year.
1:13.5	Well, listen, you look a little bit sleepy.
1:15.4	I'm not going to knock you for that, but forgive me if I don't feel sorry for you because
1:18.5	you know how exhausted I am.
1:20.1	I can tell you that much.
1:21.2	But we are here.
1:22.3	Let's get right to it, Wendy.
1:24.2	Let's begin with Cooper Flag going to the Dallas Mavericks. What does this mean for the team in the Western Conference in your estimation? You know, I really feel like
1:33.3	this was such an incredible turn of events. It is very rare that we see a team this established,
1:39.3	get a player this good in the draft. I don't know if it's quite Tim Duncan going to the
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