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| Cooper Flagg, Duke |
Cooper Flagg, F, Duke
Mere months removed from one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, the Dallas Mavericks have a chance to replace Luka Doncic with a transcendent young star in Cooper Flagg. Conspiracy theories aside, pairing Flagg with a healthy Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving immediately makes the Mavericks a real threat coming out of the West. With Flagg's two-way ability and versatility, he should be able to fit perfectly into this current roster, an ideal landing spot for his future.
2. San Antonio Spurs
V.J. Edgecombe, G/F, Baylor
The Spurs have their choice of the best of the rest with Cooper Flagg set to go No. 1 overall. Conventional wisdom would say they choose one of the Rutgers prospects here, either Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey, but they already have an established backcourt with De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. Instead, they take a swing on wing V.J. Edgecombe, an elite athlete with potential to mold into an ideal "three-an-D" player in the pros.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers
Philadelphia's fall to the bottom of the Eastern Conference was genuinely shocking, but they are prime positioned for a resurgence in 2024-25. Not only should Joel Embiid and Paul George be healthier, they now have a top three selection to continue developing this roster. Dylan Harper would be a wonderful addition, providing them a proven playmaker with room to grow at the point guard spot.
4. Charlotte Hornets
Ace Bailey, G/F, Rutgers
As compared to his former Rutgers teammate, Ace Bailey looks to be a riskier prospect, but also one with superstar potential. The wing measured in at 6'7" at the NBA Draft Combine, and uses his size to slash to the rim with authority. You can certainly envision him being a potent isolation scorer in the NBA - if he can clean up his shot selection. He would make an interesting, albeit volatile, duo with LaMelo Ball.
5. Utah Jazz
Tre Johnson, G, Texas
Falling down to the five spot is a brutal lottery result for the Jazz, but they still have a chance to snag a high upside prospect in combo guard Tre Johnson. Johnson was a pleasant surprise for Texas this past winter, displaying a diverse offensive repertoire and much better shooting ability than expected. If he can carry his 40% three-point shooting into the pros, he certainly has the looks of a player that can be a go-to scorer on an NBA team.
6. Washington Wizards
Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma
There was no greater loser on lottery night than the Washington Wizards, who fell all the way down to the six spot after a lost season where they finished 18-64. This feels like a very important pick for the organization - they have interesting young talent, but it doesn't feel like any of it moves the needle enough to put the Wizards back on the path towards contention. Could Oklahoma point guard Jeremiah Fears change that? He's a dynamic lead guard who is lethal in the pick-and-roll, but the 18-year old still has to round out his game as he looks ahead to his NBA future.
7. New Orleans Pelicans
Khaman Maluach, F/C, Duke
The Pelicans have been stuck in basketball purgatory the last several years, not a true threat out in the Western Conference but not bottoming out enough to secure a top pick. Could we see the organization blow it up this offseason? Either way, this is a team that needs a rim protector, and Duke's Khaman Maluach is the best available in this spot.
8. Brooklyn Nets
Kon Knueppel, G/F, Duke
The third Duke Blue Devil goes off the board in the top eight, and it's one of my favorite prospects in this class in Kon Knueppel. Knueppel just feels like a guy who may never be a superstar, but who is going to have a long and productive pro career. He has a polished offensive game, can play and defend multiple positions, and just plays hard. He'd be a great pick for the Nets in this range.
9. Toronto Raptors
Derik Queen, F/C, Maryland
Derik Queen took some time to get going when he first entered Big Ten play this winter, but down the stretch I'm not sure there was a more impactful freshman in college basketball. He has all the tools to be a dominant presence on the block in the NBA and with all due respect to Jakob Poeltl, he gives the Raptors a clear upgrade in their frontcourt here.
10. Houston Rockets
Kasparas Jakucionis, PG, Illinois
The Rockets already have a young backcourt with a lot of mouths to feed, but Illinois point guard Kasparas Jakucionis could be the perfect piece to tie all the talent together. Jakucionis is a smooth operator offensively and one of the best passers you'll see at this level coming out of college. He should be fine taking the backseat early on with a Rockets team that now has raised expectations after an impressive 2024-25 campaign.
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina
I love the potential fit of Collin Murray-Boyles going to Portland in this spot. This is a team that's looking to embrace more of a blue-collar, defense-first mentality, and Murray-Boyles fits that vision. The South Carolina product is a pesky on-ball defender who can move around and make an impact. He quietly had a monster season on a team that finished near the bottom of the loaded SEC.
12. Chicago Bulls
Jase Richardson, G/F, Michigan State
An elite athlete who is almost sure to be a regular fixture on NBA highlight reels, Jase Richardson would bring much-needed excitement to a Chicago team that has been treading water in the Eastern Conference for years now. Paired with Josh Giddey, Bulls fans could at least visualize this being a high-flying and fun backcourt.
13. Atlanta Hawks
Nique Clifford, F, Colorado State
Compared to some of the other players set to go in this year's lottery, Nique Clifford isn't as flashy. However, he's the type of well-rounded prospect that I can see NBA teams being super excited about. With a solid offensive game and good size for the pros, he could be a nice three-and-D pickup for the Hawks in the late lottery.
14. San Antonio Spurs
Egor Denim, PG, BYU
With their second lottery pick of this year, I like the idea of the Spurs taking a bit of a swing. Egor Denim is going to be a polarizing prospect, a guy who flashed this year at BYU but who still has a lot of work to put in to make it in the pros. This could be the right situation for him to learn and grow in San Antonio, as he won't have to be thrust into the spotlight right away.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder
Carter Bryant, F, Arizona
This is a really interesting spot for an Oklahoma City team in position to win a Western Conference Title. They have an abundance of options at the 15 spot, but I like them taking a chance on a versatile talent like Arizona's Carter Bryant. The combo forward is already an elite defender, and his offensive game could grow quick if he lands in the right place. The Thunder could give him a position to learn and grow as a depth piece to begin.
16. Orlando Magic
Liam McNeeley, G/F, UConn
The Magic may have made their second straight postseason appearance, but this is a team that absolutely needs to improve from three-point territory if they want to be a serious contender in the Eastern Conference. Enter Liam McNeeley, who was a bright spot on an otherwise disappointing 2024-25 UConn team. McNeeley's ability to handle the ball, along with his range, makes him a likely instant impact offensive player in the pros.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves
Danny Wolf, F/C, Michigan
This is a fascinating pick for Minnesota given them adding Terrence Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham last year to a playoff team. They don't have any glaring needs, but Michigan's Danny Wolf would give them an interesting look to this frontcourt. The former Yale transfer can handle the ball in a way you don't see seven-footers do very often, and that versatility adds another element to a Timberwolves offense loaded with weapons.
18. Washington Wizards
Thomas Sorber, F/C, Georgetown
The Wizards don't go far to add to their roster in this scenario, as they stay in D.C. and add Thomas Sorber from Georgetown. The 6'10" big has room to grow after one season with the Hoyas, but he's already a superb rim protector with the raw physical tools to develop offensively. With Jeremiah Fears secured earlier, Washington gets their big in this range.
19. Brooklyn Nets
Ben Saraf, G, Israel
This feels like the range for somebody to take a swing on an international prospect, and the Nets do just that with combo guard Ben Saraf, the 2024 FIBA U18 Eurobasket MVP. Saraf has ideal NBA size and a true feel for the game, but the shooting and overall offense is a work in-progress. The Nets have no intentions of winning now, so why not see what the 19-year old can be in the long-term?
20. Miami Heat
Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph's
Saint Joseph's forward Rasheer Fleming just has the feels of a Heat prospect. The 6'9" forward is an absolute pest on-ball, and his versatility allows whichever team he is on to be creative in whatever they do defensively. He's a capable three-point shooter (39% in college) who you could certainly imagine growing into a "3-and-D" specialist for the Heat.
21. Utah Jazz
Asa Newell, F, Georgia
Don't be surprised if Asa Newell goes much higher than expected in this Draft - he could sneak into the Top 10 with a strong pre-Draft. The Georgia product is still raw, but he's an elite athlete with potential to grow into a stretch four in the NBA. The jump shot still needs work, but what better spot to work on it than a Jazz team that will likely spend another year at the bottom of the Western Conference in 2025-26?
22. Atlanta Hawks
Labaron Philon, G, Alabama
It doesn't look like Atlanta has any intentions of moving on from Trae Young in the near future, but the organization needs to do a better job of finding the right fit next to him. Labaron Philon could be the solution, a talented youngster who did a superb job next to Mark Sears this past season at Alabama. His high-energy defensive prowess gives the Hawks a guy who can play alongside Young every night, and if his offensive game continues to develop, that's just an added bonus.
23. Indiana Pacers
Yaxel Lendeborg, F/C, UAB
Is this really the final run for Myles Turner with the Pacers? After nearly a decade with the organization, it increasingly looks like he may find a new home over the offseason. Indiana chooses to reload here with UAB's Yaxel Lendeborg, an interesting prospect. A former JUCO All-American, Lendeborg caught the eye of several big-name programs, and signed with Michigan over the offseason. If he does go pro, this feels about his range.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder
Joan Beringer, F/C, France
This could make sense as a draft and stash scenario for a Thunder team who has a lot of draft picks upcoming, but limited roster space. Joan Beringer is one of the youngest prospects in this Draft, not even turning 19 until after the 2025-26 NBA regular season begins, but he's got the raw physical tools to potentially turn into something. Late in the first round, with the Thunder positioned as serious NBA Title contenders for the future, what's the risk?
25. Orlando Magic
Walter Clayton Jr., G, Florida
This may be a situation where Orlando gives a little love to their home state of Florida and scoops up Walter Clayton Jr. from the defending National Champions. But, Clayton Jr. isn't just selected here because he's a great story - the former Iona transfer is a multi-level scorer who can certainly succeed in the NBA. He's another interesting piece in this Magic backcourt.
26. Brooklyn Nets
Will Riley, G/F, Illinois
After a slow start to the 2024-25 season, Will Riley ended the year playing great basketball, if not for a frustrating finish in the second round loss to Kentucky. He could be a guy who benefits from another year of college ball but the most likely scenario is that he goes pro, and someone will undoubtedly take a waiver on him in this range, thanks to his blend of size and three-point shooting.
27. Brooklyn Nets
Nolan Traore, G, France
A fourth first-rounder for Brooklyn, this almost feels like the organization will throw darts on the board for this selection. If they don't trade it, perhaps taking a chance on French point guard Nolan Traore make sense. The 6'3" guard oozes playmaking potential, but his jump shot needs serious refinement if he is to make it in the pros.
28. Boston Celtics
Maxime Raynaud, F/C, Stanford
The devastating Jayson Tatum injury aside, Boston's frontcourt is in transition. Al Horford is likely to call it a career this offseason, and Kristaps Porzingis' injury history makes trusting him for the long haul difficult. The Celtics could get immediate help and add a high-upside prospect in Maxime Raynaud, who was a revelation this past winter for Stanford. The seven-footer moves incredibly well for his size and can shoot from three.
29. Phoenix Suns
Cedric Coward, G, Washington State
It's hard to know what Phoenix looks like in the near future, with a Kevin Durant trade looming. This is a team that needs some young talent that can do it all, a role Cedric Coward can fill. Coward did enter his name in the NBA Draft pool even after transferring to Duke, but something tells me he'll stay in if he receives first-round interest. As a three-point sniper with ideal size and ample college experience, some NBA team will go after him in the late first.
30. Los Angeles Clippers
Drake Powell, G/F, North Carolina
Drake Powell had an up-and-down one season run in Chapel Hill, flashing plenty of potential but struggling to make a consistent impact. Fortunately, he's been a big winner at the Combine, and looks like he'll cement himself as a first-rounder. He could add wing depth here for the Clippers, although this could end up being far too low for the UNC product.
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