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| Ace Bailey, Rutgers |
1. Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg, F, Duke
No matter what happens over the coming weeks in the lead up to the 2025 NBA Draft, one thing is for certain: Cooper Flagg will still be the No. 1 overall selection. The Duke phenom is a basketball gift for Nico Harrison and the Mavericks, a two-way forward with the versatility in just about any offensive system. As Dallas figures out this roster in the post-Luka Doncic era, a building block like Flagg guarantees them as a serious factor out West.
2. San Antonio Spurs
Dylan Harper, PG, Rutgers
Things get interesting at pick No. 2 with the Spurs. Could this selection be used to swing a potential Giannis mega deal? Perhaps, but I also don't think San Antonio would mind sticking firm here at this spot and adding another young piece to this promising core. Dylan Harper is already an elite playmaker at his age, and could form a lethal pick-and-roll combo with Victor Wembanyama for years to come.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Ace Bailey, G/F, Rutgers
Most mocks have Ace Bailey following his Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper, but it will be interesting to see what Philadelphia does. Bailey has all the tools to be a dominant isolation scorer in the pros, but his shot selection needs to improve drastically. He's still the most likely pick, but keep an eye on Baylor's V.J. Edgecombe here, a player whose physical profile would be very interesting alongside the other pieces on this roster.
4. Charlotte Hornets
V.J. Edgecombe, G/F, Baylor
It was an up-and-down lone season in Waco for V.J. Edgecombe, who displayed jaw-dropping athleticism, but also the need for refine significant elements of his game. He has potential to be an elite "3-and-D" prospect and so much more, and Charlotte feels like a superb landing spot for him. Alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, he could rack up points in transition in this up-tempo offense.
5. Utah Jazz
Tre Johnson, G, Texas
While so much attention was paid to Cooper Flagg and the Rutgers pair, it was actually Tre Johnson who led this year's freshman class in scoring. The Texas product always had the ability to score, but it was his three-point shooting that was most surprising, making them at a 40% clip in college. He'll bring a much-needed spark to a Jazz offense that desperately needs it after a lost 2024-25 campaign.
6. Washington Wizards
Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma
Washington has an odd collection of spare parts at this point in their rebuild. There's potential on this roster, but it's a group that lacks cohesiveness and a clear vision for what's next. Perhaps adding a promising young point guard like Jeremiah Fears could help this team fulfill their vast potential. He did a great job at Oklahoma during his one season with the Sooners, but needs to develops his jump shot if he wants to reach the next level in the pros.
7. New Orleans Pelicans
Kon Knueppel, G/F, Duke
Every draft, there are 1-2 prospects like Kon Knueppel - rock-solid players who may not have superstar potential, but will be well worth a lottery selection. He'd be an understandable pick for New Orleans in this spot, a team that desperately needs shooter and floor-spacers to build out this roster.
8. Brooklyn Nets
Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina
It's hard to know what Brooklyn is going to look like next season after another season mired near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. With all the questions about this roster, taking a prospect like South Carolina's Collin Murray-Boyles just makes sense to me. At the very least, he's going to give you elite defense and a presence on the glass, and if his offense ever develops? He could be a great value play in the mid-lottery here.
9. Toronto Raptors
Kasparas Jakucionis, PG, Illinois
It feels like NBA folks are pretty split on Kasparas Jakucionis, and it will be interesting to see where the former Illinois guard ends up going. He's a fun playmaker and shot creator who you can certainly envision running an NBA offense, but he doesn't seem to have the ceiling of some of the other top-tier guards this draft. Yet, feels like the right range for him, and the Raptors could certainly use backcourt help.
10. Houston Rockets
Noa Essengue, F, France
Houston may be hesitant to add another young piece, one who is the second youngest player available in this Draft in fact, but French forward Noa Essengue continues to trend up. The combo forward has been catching the attention of NBA scouts overseas, and he has the physical tools to be a really dominant offensive player. He feels worth the risk for the Rockets, who may be using this selection as trade bait anyways.
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Egor Demin, G, BYU
Another prospect who will be polarizing, Egor Demin had an up-and-down lone season at BYU. As an elite passer standing at 6'9", he feels like the perfect point guard for where the NBA has been heading. But, his offensive game still needs significant work and Demin simply doesn't have the quickness or athleticism of some of the best the NBA has to offer. Portland doesn't look to be a contender anytime soon, so they can afford the risk in this spot.
12. Chicago Bulls
Derik Queen, F/C, Maryland
Derik Queen feels like a prospect who would be a surefire Top 5 selection in the NBA two decades ago, as a bruising big with tremendous feel around the rim. However, he's still worthy of a lottery selection given his offensive ceiling, especially if he can continue his growth as a low post playmaker. Chicago could use a young piece in this frontcourt, and Queen fits the bill.
13. Atlanta Hawks
Khaman Maluach, F/C, Duke
It seems like Khaman Maluach is another prospect who folks are very split on. Some view him as a Top 5 prospect with elite length at 7'2", with a 7'6" wingspan to boot. But does he have the strength and build to be a long-term contributor in the pros? Either way, Maluach isn't dropping any farther than this, and Atlanta takes the value in this spot.
14. San Antonio Spurs
Carter Bryant, F, Arizona
This is an interesting spot for San Antonio with the final pick in the lottery. Assuming they do grab Dylan Harper at No. 2, this could be a selection where they experiment a little bit and take a flier on a prospect with high upside. That description certainly fits Arizona's Carter Bryant, a talented young combo forward with room to grow. His defense should immediately help him carve out a role in the league, and the offensive skillset is there if he lands in the right situation.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder
Cedric Coward, G/F, Washington State
Cedric Coward bailed on his transfer to Duke and instead opted to stay in the 2025 NBA Draft after a strong pre-Draft process. He fits the description the league has been going in for awhile, a sturdy "3-and-D" prospect with enough scoring ability to be even more. The Thunder snagging a pro-ready prospect like him in the mid-first almost feels unfair.
16. Orlando Magic
Nique Clifford, F, Colorado State
Outside of the projected lottery picks, I'm not sure there's a prospect I like more than Nique Clifford in this Draft. He's the type of hard-nosed, tough players that thrive in the NBA, and he has a really well-rounded skillset. He's never likely to be a leading option on a contending team, but he can fit just about any role asked of him, which makes him well worth this pick for the Magic.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves
Asa Newell, F, Georgia
There's a bunch of young forwards with high upside set to land somewhere in the late lottery to mid-first range, one of them being Asa Newell. This feels like his range, and as a skilled lefty forward with stretch four potential, he almost feels like a younger Julius Randle - if he can continue to grow and round out his game.
18. Washington Wizards
Thomas Sorber, F/C, Georgetown
So, the Wizards got who they hope is their long-term point guard in Jeremiah Fears earlier, so it stands to reason they work on their frontcourt with this selection. They end up not being outside the D.C. area in this instance, taking a chance on Thomas Sorber out of Georgetown. With a 7'6" wingspan, he could form quite the rim protector duo with Alex Sarr, if either of their offensive games come around.
19. Brooklyn Nets
Jase Richardson, G/F, Michigan State
It has not been a great pre-Draft for Jase Richardson, who measured in quite smaller than expected. That could ding him, but he's still worthy of a selection in this range. We know he can be a highlight reel in transition, but I also like Richardson's game in the halfcourt. If he can grow a more consistent jumper, this becomes a potential steal.
20. Miami Heat
Rasheer Fleming, F/C, Saint Joseph's
Every year, there are a few prospects that just like Heat prospects, and Rasheer Fleming fits the bill this year. He's a high energy, active presence around the rim who can also step out and make shots on the perimeter. There's some interesting versatility here, and he has an underdog mentality after starring at Saint Joseph's. In short, he's a great fit for "Heat Culture."
21. Utah Jazz
Liam McNeeley, G/F, UConn
Tre Johnson certainly helps, but the Jazz just need more players on this roster that can go out and get a bucket. Liam McNeeley can do just that, a former blue-chip recruit who impressed during his lone season at UConn, even as he missed time with injury. He's a true three-level scorer who could remind Utah fans of Gordon Hayward.
22. Atlanta Hawks
Nolan Traore, G, France
We're approaching the point of the Draft where teams are going to take some fliers, and Nolan Traore is an intriguing one. He measured in at 6'5" at the Combine, but still moves incredibly fast for his size. He can get to the rim and finish, but needs to grow in other areas of his offensive game. He's a much different player than Trae Young, an could provide a nice change-of-pace.
23. Indiana Pacers
Danny Wolf, F/C, Michigan
A seven-footer who can handle the ball, Danny Wolf was a nice surprise this past season at Michigan after beginning his career at Yale. He's an interesting prospect who will garner a lot of attention, but does he have the strength and athleticism to make it in the NBA? You can certainly imagine him as a stretch four, but it also wouldn't shock me if he goes lower than expected.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder
Joan Beringer, C, France
This is such a prototypical Thunder pick, particularly in this range. Joan Beringer is incredibly raw as a prospect, but he's caught the eye of NBA scouts with elite leaping ability and the potential to be a great shot-blocker in the pros. Perhaps he plays spot minutes early for OKC, but I have a feeling his defense will be enough to get even more down the line.
25. Orlando Magic
Walter Clayton, G, Florida
A match made in heaven - Orlando stays inside the state of Florida to add a volume-scoring guard who just so happened to bring home a National Title to the Sunshine State. Clayton doesn't offer elite upside, but a player with his scoring ability will always find a home in the NBA.
26. Brooklyn Nets
Ben Saraf, PG, Israel
Brooklyn needs all the help they can get, and Ben Saraf is the type of prospect who makes everyone around him better. Sure, he's not going to go out and score 20 most nights, but he's an elite distributor, solid defender, and high-energy presence. Those attributes are really missing on this current Nets roster.
27. Brooklyn Nets
Maxime Reynaud, F/C, Stanford
Somebody is going to take a chance on Maxime Reynaud in the late first, and it may just be the Nets in this scenario. Reynaud broke out this past season at Stanford, showcasing an impressive overall game and superb finishing ability for the Cardinal. He's older than a lot of other bigs in this class at 22 years old, which could cause him to drop a bit.
28. Boston Celtics
Noah Penda, G/F, France
Another unproven but talented French prospect, Noah Penda will find a home due to his 3-and-D skillset. At 6'6", he has ideal size for the modern NBA and can immediately make his presence felt as a perimeter defender. For Boston, who may have limited minutes to spare depending on what they do this offseason, those are desirable traits to have.
29. Phoenix Suns
Johni Broome, F, Auburn
We have no idea what Phoenix is going to look like in the coming years, with Kevin Durant likely on the move this offseason. Perhaps they take their chances on a young, unproven commodity in the late first. Or maybe they go after a guy like Broome, a player where you know what you're getting. He is an elite back-to-the-basket scorer who can excel in the mid-range and provide you winning minutes. Sometimes, you don't need to overthink things at this spot.
30. Los Angeles Clippers
Hugo Gonzalez, G/F, Spain
This is what makes projecting NBA prospects so difficult. Hugo Gonzalez has barely played during his time at Real Madrid, and we have very little idea what he looks like against elite competition. Yet, you also see the upside as an elite athlete who could become an impactful NBA player. The Clippers take their chances with the final pick of the first round.
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