Massive NBA Draft winners that should seriously worry Spurs fans

The NBA Draft is wrapped up, and the Spurs came out of it feeling amazing. Selecting Rutgers phenom Dylan Harper and NBA-ready forward Carter Bryant, the Spurs were clear draft day winners. However, they weren't the only team to walk away victorious.

A selection of the Spurs' biggest Western Conference rivals improved in a big way during the NBA Draft. As San Antonio eyes its first playoff appearance since the 2018-19 season, there will be a brigade of teams they will need to take down. While the Spurs heavily upgraded their roster heading into free agency, they are not a write-in for the playoffs next summer.

Even without Durant, the Suns will be ablaze

The Phoenix Suns had a brutal 2024-25 campaign and eventually traded Kevin Durant to the Spurs' in-state rival Houston Rockets. Still, the Suns have seemingly weathered the storm and look to turn things around in an instant.

In the Durant deal, the Suns received a 21-point-per-game scorer in Jalen Green and a valuable three-and-D wing in Dillon Brooks. Both players will be instant contributors and combine to fill the void left by Durant. Also acquiring the 10th pick in the draft, the Suns used it on the standout paint beast from Duke, Khaman Maluach.

On draft night, the Suns further bolstered their terribly weak frontcourt by trading for offensive juggernaut center Mark Williams and shockingly stealing breakout forward Rasheer Fleming with the 33rd pick.

While losing Durant hurts, the Suns became a much deeper and well-rounded team, equipped to help superstar Devin Booker lead the squad back to the postseason. Despite the turmoil in Phoenix, the Suns will pose a significant challenge to the Spurs' playoff hopes.

Flagg and the Mavericks will dominate from day one

Cooper Flagg solidified himself as the best player in the draft months ago, and it wasn't until Wednesday that he officially entered the NBA. Now, by the strange luck of the draft gods, the Mavericks will be the home for the near-generational prospect. It took only one easy pick for the Mavericks to become big winners of the NBA Draft.

On paper, this Mavericks team was not at all worthy of the first overall pick, nor should they have been in contention for it. Even before Flagg, this Mavericks team was a playoff-caliber group. Regardless, they now have Flagg and represent one of the best groups of guys in the NBA.

The star-studded cast of Flagg, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and a deep group of talented role players will undoubtedly be in the mix after missing the postseason last year. If the Duke prodigy is who we all expect him to be from the jump, the Mavericks will not only stand in the way of the Spurs' playoff hopes but also their championship aspirations.

The reloaded Pelicans will be a problem

Under new management, the Pelicans decided to mortgage their future to go all in on March Madness hero Derik Queen on draft night. With their 7th overall pick, they selected rising star point guard Jeremiah Fears, who will make his presence felt from the start. Both players present big upgrades for the struggling Pelicans.

Following a season of poor injury luck, the Pelicans failed to accumulate many wins. However, with all but former Spur Dejounte Murray fully healthy heading into next year, the Pelicans will look to conquer their demons and stay healthy in 2026.

Because of their questionable decision to trade their first-round pick next year, the Pelicans will be trying their hardest to make the playoffs. A team full of underrated stars, such as Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Zion Williamson, the Pelicans have what it takes to make a push. While they won't garner the same hype as other playoff contenders, they will remain in the shadows as a dark horse challenger.