2025 Mock Draft

It’s draft day! A couple notes to keep in mind for this mock:

• This is NOT a predictive mock: I made each pick based off what I would do in the given circumstance. However, I did do my best to factor in what I believe each team’s general goals and organizational philosophy to be.

• Full prospect write-ups (where applicable) are linked to the player name

• For a look at my final big board, click here

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ROUND 1:

1. Dallas Mavericks: F Cooper Flagg / Duke

   This one has been decided since Dallas won the lottery. Flagg is an impact two-way player who should immediately become the centerpiece of the Mavericks’ team-building efforts.

2. San Antonio Spurs: G Ron Harper / Rutgers

   Harper isn’t a perfect fit with De’Aaron Fox, but the Spurs’ sole focus should still be on acquiring as much talent as possible. Long-term, Harper could blossom into the second-best player on a Victor Wembanyama-led championship team.

3. *TRADE* Brooklyn Nets: SG V.J. Edgecombe / Baylor

   *Brooklyn trades pick #8 & pick #26 to Philadelphia for pick #3, C Andre Drummond and G Eric Gordon

   With five first round picks in this draft, the Nets get aggressive to leap over Charlotte for Edgecombe. Philly clears the unwanted salaries of Drummond and Gordon off their books into Brooklyn’s cap space while retaining the chance to make a top-10 selection.

4. Charlotte Hornets: SG Kon Knueppel / Duke

   I’ve got Ace Bailey ranked a tier above Knueppel on my board, but I don’t love the fit of Bailey in Charlotte. Knueppel gives the Hornets a long-term starter on the wing next to Brandon Miller.

5. Utah Jazz: F Ace Bailey / Rutgers

   Utah has a lot of young players, but they’re still searching for the star of the next great Jazz team. Bailey’s floor is lower than other prospects still available, but he’s got the potential to develop into a high-level shot creator with multi-positional defensive ability.

6. Washington Wizards: PG Jeremiah Fears / Oklahoma

   It may take Fears a year or two to contribute towards winning, but that’s fine for a Wizards team that’s still rebuilding. He can be the long-term answer for Washington at point guard.

7. New Orleans Pelicans: G Kasparas Jakučionis / Illinois

   Jakučionis gives New Orleans a versatile playmaker who can play on or off the ball. He fits the Pelicans whether they’re trying to win now with Zion Williamson, or focused on the future.

8. *TRADE* Philadelphia 76ers: F Carter Bryant / Arizona

   *Philadelphia trades pick #3, C Andre Drummond and G Eric Gordon to Brooklyn for pick #8, pick #26

   Bryant is the best three & D prospect in the draft. He should help the Sixers maximize whatever is left of Joel Embiid’s career while also giving them a versatile wing who can fit into any future team build.

9. Toronto Raptors: C Khaman Maluach / Duke

   With Jakob Poeltl coming off their books following the ‘26-27 season, Toronto should be looking for the center of the future. A Maluach/Scottie Barnes front court pairing could give the Raptors a defensive identity to build around.

10. Phoenix Suns: F/C Collin Murray-Boyles / South Carolina

    With his well-rounded defensive game, Murray-Boyles would be the Suns best option at power forward right away. Phoenix’s organizational direction is tenuous, but Murray-Boyles can be a part of the solution.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: F Noa Essengue / Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

    Essengue fits perfectly into the defense-first ethos that the Blazers are trying to cultivate under Chauncey Billups. He and Toumani Camara could form a terrifying point-prevention duo on the wing.

12. Chicago Bulls: SG Tre Johnson / Texas

    The Bulls are searching for their lead shot-creator of the future, and Johnson could fill that void. Even if he misses on his high-end outcome, he’ll probably still be a volume bucket-getter that keeps butts in seats and helps Chicago chase 40 wins.

13. Atlanta Hawks: F/G Egor Demin / BYU

    Demin isn’t a great fit next to Trae Young, but he does offer an intriguing combination of size and playmaking that would look good alongside Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels. This could be a pick that helps the Hawks turn the page to the next era of Atlanta basketball.

14. San Antonio Spurs: C Thomas Sorber / Georgetown

    We know Victor Wembanyama’s best position is center, but San Antonio still needs to fill out their depth on the interior. If Sorber continues to develop his game, he could eventually knock some heads next to Wemby, à la Hartenstein/Holmgren in OKC.

15. *TRADE* Sacramento Kings: G/F Cedric Coward / Washington St.

    *Sacramento trades G Malik Monk to Oklahoma City for pick #15, SG Isaiah Joe and F Kenrich Williams

    Life comes at you fast in the NBA. The Kings get a much needed three & D wing in Coward, while OKC fills their need for shot creation and movement shooting by upgrading from Joe to Monk.

16. Memphis Grizzlies: G Jase Richardson / Michigan St.

    Following their trade of Desmond Bane, Memphis has a serious need for shooting. Richardson can fill that void and potentially provide some supplementary creation as well.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves: PG Nolan Traore / Saint-Quentin (France)

    Between Traore and 2024 first-rounder Rob Dillingham, the Wolves would have two chances at their long-term answer at point guard. Minnesota wouldn’t need Traore to contribute in ‘25-26, which may be the best thing for his development.

18. Washington Wizards: G/F Drake Powell / North Carolina

    Powell needs time and reps to develop, which the Wizards can offer. He’s the type of high-upside athlete that team president Michael Winger has shown an eagerness to bet on in the past.

19. Brooklyn Nets: C Joan Beringer / KK Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia)

    Beringer has some similarities to current Brooklyn center Nic Claxton. The Nets could bring Beringer along slowly with an eye on moving Claxton when Beringer is ready to step in.

20. Miami Heat: PF Rasheer Fleming / St. Joseph’s

    Fleming should excel playing next to either Bam Adebayo or Kel’el Ware, allowing the Heat to build a very intriguing three-headed monster on the interior.

21. Utah Jazz: F/G Nique Clifford / Colorado St.

    With his hard-nose attitude, Clifford could be a cultural tone-setter for this very young Utah team.

22. Brooklyn Nets: C Derik Queen / Maryland

    Queen has serious defensive flaws, but the Nets can afford him a chance to grow in a low-pressure environment.

23. New Orleans Pelicans: F/G Will Riley / Illinois

    The Pelicans are thin on the wing behind presumed starters Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones. Riley should help as a spot-up shooter and shot creator.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder: F Liam McNeeley / UConn

    As deep as the Thunder are, they don’t have many true forward-sized wings. McNeeley should make his threes, and his defensive concerns are lessened given the surrounding talent in OKC.

25. Orlando Magic: G Walter Clayton Jr. / Florida

    Even after acquiring Desmond Bane, the Magic need shooting. Clayton Jr. will make threes and can handle some lead ball handling responsibilities with Orlando’s second unit.

26. *TRADE* Philadelphia 76ers: F/C Asa Newell / Georgia

    *Philadelphia trades pick #3, C Andre Drummond and G Eric Gordon to Brooklyn for pick #8, pick #26

    Newell has his issues on the defensive end of the floor, but he can help the Sixers replace some of Joel Embiid’s interior scoring when Embiid misses games.

27. Brooklyn Nets: G Tyrese Proctor / Duke

    Proctor adds shooting and secondary playmaking to a Nets’ backcourt that’s currently light on both.

28. Boston Celtics: F/C Danny Wolf / Michigan

    The Celtics are looking to get younger and cheaper as they re-tool for Jayson Tatum’s eventual return. Wolf could help replace some of what Boston lost in yesterday’s salary dump of Kristaps Porzingis.

29. Phoenix Suns: G Javon Small / West Virginia

    The Suns have a lot of backcourt pieces, but not many who can be trusted to guard the ball. Small can defend opposing point guards, and he shoots it well enough to fit next to either Devin Booker or Jalen Green on offense.

30. LA Clippers: F/G Sion James / Duke

    James’ versatility on both ends of the court should appeal to LA, an organization that prioritizes depth and basketball IQ.

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ROUND 2:

31. Minnesota Timberwolves: F/G Hugo Gonzàlez / Real Madrid (Spain)

32. Boston Celtics: F Noah Penda / Le Mans Sarthe (France)

33. Charlotte Hornets: G Ben Saraf / Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

34. Charlotte Hornets: F Adou Thiero / Arkansas

35. Philadelphia 76ers: C Ryan Kalkbrenner / Creighton

36. Brooklyn Nets: C Hansen Yang / Qingdao Eagles (China)

37. Detroit Pistons: SG Chaz Lanier / Tennessee

38. San Antonio Spurs: G/F Koby Brea / Kentucky

39. Toronto Raptors: F/C Bogoljub Marković / KK Mega Basket (Serbia)

40. New Orleans Pelicans: C Yanic Konan Niederhauser / Penn St.

41. Golden State Warriors: G Kam Jones / Marquette

42. Sacramento Kings: G Max Shulga / VCU

43. Utah Jazz: SG Hunter Sallis / Wake Forest

44. Oklahoma City Thunder: G/F John Tonje / Wisconsin

45. Chicago Bulls: SG Tamar Bates / Missouri

46. Orlando Magic: G/F Kobe Johnson / UCLA

47. Milwaukee Bucks: G Alijah Martin / Florida

48. Memphis Grizzlies: F/G Kobe Sanders / Nevada

49. Cleveland Cavaliers: SG Brice Williams / Nebraska

50. New York Knicks: PG Mark Sears / Alabama

51. LA Clippers: PG Ryan Nembhard / Gonzaga

52. Phoenix Suns: C Amari Williams / Kentucky

53. Utah Jazz: C Rocco Zikarsky / Brisbane Bullets (Australia)

54. Indiana Pacers: SG Jamir Watkins / Florida St.

55. Los Angeles Lakers: C Maxime Raynaud / Stanford

56. Memphis Grizzlies: PF Alex Toohey / Sydney Kings (Australia)

57. Orlando Magic: F/G Payton Sandfort / Iowa

58. Cleveland Cavaliers: PF Eric Dixon / Villanova

59. Phoenix Suns: PF Johni Broome / Auburn