With a few weeks left in the regular season, NBA teams have their eyes on one of two things: the playoffs or the NBA Draft.
In a stacked 2025 NBA Draft class that is headlined by Cooper Flagg, a lot of teams are going to position themselves to get a top draft pick as the season comes to a close. With so many top prospects, which teams are one draft pick away from contention? Here are three teams that fit that bill.
3) New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans has been in the midst of a nightmare all season, having the second worst record in the Western Conference and multiple players like Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Jose Alvarado, and others either missing significant time or already ruled out for the season.
If David Griffin can ace this draft, they will be back in the playoffs with better injury luck next season. However, the Pelicans have a very nice young core of Williamson, Murphy, and Jones that they can build around.
Murphy especially showed flashes of his emergence this season before tearing his labrum. Adding another top young prospect in a loaded draft will round out New Orleans’ core and give them four players 27 or younger they can build a contender around. Adding a young floor general should be at the top of their list (hint: he’s in New Jersey).
2) San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are projected to have two lottery picks in this year’s draft, as they have their own pick and the Atlanta Hawks’ first round pick from the Dejounte Murray trade. This is even after acquiring De’Aaron Fox, an absolute masterstroke of a move by the front office.
San Antonio would have loved to make the play-in this year, but with season-ending injuries to Victor Wembanyama and Fox, that is highly unlikely to happen. Now, the Spurs have the chance to build out an even more promising young core next to their star duo.
The team already has young talent like Wemby, Jeremy Sochan, Stephon Castle, and Devin Vassell to work with. Now adding two top prospects in a stacked draft class would give San Antonio one of the best young teams in the league and a long championship window. Adding a wing should be their top priority, someone like Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe (or both??)
1) Philadelphia 76ers
Absolutely no one expected the Sixers to be in this position this season, yet here we are. After season ending injuries to Joel Embiid and Paul George and sliding all the way out of the playoff and play-in picture, Philly’s focus has shifted to claiming their top six protected pick from Oklahoma City.
On paper, the Sixers have all the makings of a contender: a versatile big three of Embiid, George, and Tyrese Maxey, good role players like Quentin Grimes, Jared McCain, and Guerchon Yabusele and a good coach in Nick Nurse. When healthy, Philly has the makings of a contender.
Adding a top young prospect that can fit with the core’s timeline or be a replacement for George or Embiid down the line would help their short and long-term outlook. The Sixers need to keep losing in order to get that chance. They should look to add a wing or big with their first selection.