The Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference was buzzing with potential moves during the NBA’s free agency period this summer. The draft itself provided a sneak peek into the ambitions of teams aiming to rise to the top of the conference. The Boston Celtics, who have ruled the division for four consecutive years, are facing challenges. As the 2024 NBA champions, they will commence the 2025-26 season without their star player, Jayson Tatum, due to Achilles tendon surgery. Moreover, they have let go of core figures Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in a bid to manage salary costs.
The landscape of the division saw its first shift during the opening round of the NBA draft as teams vied to reposition themselves as front-runners.
The Philadelphia 76ers secured the top pick among Atlantic teams, selecting Baylor’s defensive ace, VJ Edgecombe, third overall. They continued to bolster their roster by choosing Auburn’s All-American Johni Broome early in the second round.
The Brooklyn Nets emerged as one of the busiest participants, utilizing all five of their first-round picks. They primarily targeted players with international seasoning, including BYU’s Egor Demin from Russia, who was taken at No. 8.
The Celtics also reached beyond domestic borders, securing Spain’s Hugo González at No. 28 in the first round.
Unlike their divisional counterparts, the New York Knicks, fresh off a victory over Boston in the conference semifinals, did not possess a first-round pick; they had traded their 2025 first-rounder to the Nets in the deal for Mikal Bridges.
The 76ers were in search of an athletic addition to complement their core of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Their selections of Edgecombe and Broome aim to fill that gap. Edgecombe’s defensive abilities and scoring potential draw parallels to Boston’s Derrick White.
The Brooklyn Nets, boasting ample salary cap space, are poised for a busy offseason. Their draft choices addressed needs for offensive creativity and rebounding, welcoming overseas talents like Demin, a lengthy scorer akin to Chicago’s Josh Giddey, and France’s Nolan Traoré, who possesses passing skills reminiscent of John Wall. Other additions include Germany’s Ben Saraf, whose multifaceted game invokes memories of Manu Ginobili, and Cleveland’s Isaac Okoro-like swingman Drake Powell. Michigan’s Danny Wolf and Arkansas’ Adou Thiero, the latter traded to the Lakers, round out their picks.
For the Toronto Raptors, aligning new talents with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram is paramount. Their selection of South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles, a 6-foot-7 forward noted for defense and rebounding, addresses size and external shooting needs. Likened physically to Draymond Green, Murray-Boyles shares a similar skillset, blending defense and versatility. Alijah Martin from Florida was added in the second round.
Following their decision to part with Porzingis, the Celtics entered the draft with a pressing need for a big man while also requiring guard depth post-Holiday trade. Selecting Hugo González, whose game reflects Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., and trading for additional picks used to claim Kentucky’s Amari Williams and VCU’s Max Shulga, they aimed to cover these gaps.
The Knicks sought to enrich their wing positions, drafting Kobe Sanders out of Nevada at No. 50, and via trade, securing French forward Mohamed Diawara at No. 51. Their endeavors were constrained by the loss of a 2025 pick as an NBA penalty for previous tampering allegations.