The 2025 NBA Draft is less than a month away and the NBA Finals are here; this mock draft explores yet another potential outcome for the upcoming, promising rookie class.
The first and second overall picks feel almost like chalk, but after that, anything is on the table. Whether you need a versatile wing, an explosive guard presence, or a 3-and-D prototype, the 2025 class has what you need.
1) Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg, SF/PF, Duke
The Luka Dončić trade saga was a waking nightmare for Dallas Mavericks fans. While the Mavs received a very underrated standard-bearer in Anthony Davis and a nice depth piece in Max Christie, they lost one of the best offensive playmakers in the modern era of the sport. They need to recoup that kind of elite talent somehow. Cooper Flagg is how.
This poster by Cooper Flagg was INSANE
🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/jsBlMCnPG6
— Blue Devils (@BlueDevils) June 4, 2025
While Flagg might not be the pure offensive nucleus Dončić was in Dallas, there’s a completion to Flagg’s game that isn’t often found even in the best NBA prospects. At 6’9″, 205 pounds, he can score in countless ways, he can shoot the 3, he can play on-ball defense, switch, and process space, and he can elevate his teammates. He’s a fire-starter in a rebuild.
2) San Antonio Spurs
Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers
If the San Antonio Spurs extend De’Aaron Fox, this pick becomes a little more complicated with Stephon Castle already in the wings. The more cost-effective move is clear: Trade Fox to an ambitious 2025-26 contender and take the ultra-gifted combo guard from Rutgers on a rookie deal. Dylan Harper, the son of Michael Jordan-era Chicago point man Ron Harper.
Even as the Rutgers Scarlet Knights struggled in 2024, the younger Harper dazzled with his near-endless bag of space-creating motions and scoring flair. He’s not as explosive as Fox, but he’s the ultimate pacing player. He’s smooth, fluid, coordinated, and controlled, with the size, length, and composure to pass tests from defenders and withstand the NBA’s rigors.
3) Philadelphia 76ers
Ace Bailey, SF, Rutgers
The ace is the highest card in any set, and when he’s on and able to produce, Ace Bailey can be that trump card for an offense. At a little under 6’10” and 203 pounds, he’s a long, gangly presence with an absurdity of athletic and scoring tools at his disposal. He’s shifty on the lateral plane, effortless as an accelerator, and has universal conversion flexibility.
Whether you need him to deliver a lay-in off a spin or a jab-step, fadeaway 2, or a shearing underhand galavant, Bailey has the size, athleticism, and balance to pull off the most challenging shots in the class, and his jumper is just as pretty from deep range. He’s still very light and very volatile under pressure, but you invest in this scoring upside.
4) Charlotte Hornets
VJ Edgecombe, SG, Baylor
The Charlotte Hornets always appear to be in a constant state of limbo as the offseason rolls around, but at least the pieces are starting to come together. Brandon Miller was a massive hit. Miles Bridges is one of the better pure scorers in the league. An attention-grabbing presence at guard could stretch defenses too thin. VJ Edgecombe might be the guy.
At a little under 6’5″ and just 193 pounds, Edgecombe just barely passes the size threshold of a potential wing, but he’s a stellar catch-and-shoot operator, an electric driver with jet turbines in his soles, and a heady distributor when defenses flock to him in a panic. And on defense, he’s extremely rangy as a disruptor and active with his hands.
5) Utah Jazz
Egor Demin, PG/SG, BYU
Egor Demin’s profile is more polarizing than most. He’s more smooth and free-flowing than explosive as an athlete, and he’s not an efficient shooter or scorer. But he’s every bit of 6’8″ and 200 pounds at the guard spot, with a near-7-foot wingspan. He has the size, length, and savvy to produce inside, and he’s a mature court general beyond his years.
Demin started out the 2024-25 season hot from 3-point land and lost it down the stretch, but there’s reason to believe he’s better than his 27.3% rate suggests from downtown. If he can find his shot again, he’s the perfect passing aficionado to underscore a Utah Jazz offense that has lots of scoring ammunition, but no foil or conduit up front.
6) Washington Wizards
Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
The Washington Wizards have experimented with Alex Sarr as a center, but perhaps it’s time to relocate the narrow-limbed post man to a more court-spreading forward role and add a true anchor in the post. At this point in the 2025 NBA Draft, Duke’s Khaman Maluach is superb value. He fits a defined archetype to perfection and gives Washington flexibility.
At 7’2″, 252 pounds, Maluach has the longest wingspan in the entire class (7’6 3/4″). It would perhaps be the defining part of his game, if not for his size-defying short-area recovery, violent lob finishing skills, pick-and-roll prowess, and steely toughness against attempted conversion. He’ll be typecast as a retro space-eater, but he’s more than that.
7) New Orleans Pelicans
Tre Johnson, SG, Texas
Every number out there speaks effusively in praise of Tre Johnson’s potential as a game-changing scoring threat. In his lone season at Texas, the 6’6″ guard — with a near-7’0″ wingspan — averaged around 20 points per game, shooting nearly 40% from 3-point range. He has a 37.5″ max vertical and a best-in-class 10.49-second lane agility time.
Explosiveness, agility, length, range, driving ability — Johnson has it all. He projects as a truly elite multi-level scorer in the NBA. The problem right now is everything else. While he’s a positive offensive presence, he can dominate the ball and suffocate assist chances, and he’s not consistent on defense. Nevertheless, the scoring upside is worth the risk.
8) Brooklyn Nets
Kon Knueppel, SF, Duke
Athleticism is a separator that Kon Knueppel doesn’t have in his arsenal, and there’s an argument to make that he benefited greatly from having Flagg and Maluach alongside him in the Blue Devils’ lineup this past year. Knueppel’s style requires some clean 3-point opportunities, but he also has the intrinsic feel and savvy to create for himself.
A supersized sharpshooter at 6’7″, 217 pounds, Knueppel has some of the best 3-point efficiency in the class, bar none — and he’s also the level of ball-handler and playmaker where he can capitalize on that shooting gravity by paying it back to teammates. He plays perfectly within the bounds of the system and can force opponents into an arms race.
9) Toronto Raptors
Kasparas Jakučionis, PG/SG, Illinois
When he was healthy, Gradey Dick had his moments in 2024-25, and rookie Ja’Kobe Walter also flashed. But the Raptors’ largest deficiency — aside from the team’s middling center outlook — is its lack of consistent guard presence. Get him in a stable environment with R.J. Barrett and Scottie Barnes, and we could see the best of Kasparas Jakučionis.
When the Fighting Illini experienced hardship down the stretch in 2024-25, Jakučionis clearly felt the need to force the issue with his shot selection. He needs to mature in that area, but when he’s not pressured to do everything on his own, he’s a natural and creative playmaking pylon, a clean catch-and-shoot artist, and a high-upside driver.
10) Houston Rockets
Cedric Coward, SF/PF, Washington State
Cedric Coward is the 2025 NBA Draft riser we need to talk about. The 21-year-old only played six games at Washington State before suffering a shoulder injury in 2024, but he averaged a team-leading 17.7 points per game and seven rebounds per game over that stretch, while shooting .400 from 3.
Offensively, Coward is a court-spreader with his smooth shot-making, but he also has the tools to be a domineering wing on the attack at 6’6″, 213 pounds, with an absurd 7’2″ wingspan and a 38.5″ max vertical, and he has defensive potential as well. This is the kind of wing dynamism and shooting edge the Houston Rockets desperately need.
11) Portland Trail Blazers
Noah Penda, SF/PF, Le Mans
The Portland Trail Blazers have something with Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe, and Deni Avdija proved to be a gem after his acquisition from the Wizards. Now it’s time to keep building around that dynamic trio, and on a team with an uncertain future in the wings, an instinctive flex piece like Noah Penda could prove invaluable.
At 6’8″, 225 pounds, Penda is a well-built wing who has solid functional athleticism for his size, to pair with keen eyes, innate feel, and precise hands-on engagement. He’s a decent scorer in the post and a capable playmaker, but he makes his money as a defensive stud who leaves no gaps unattended. Developing a 3-point shot can amp up his projection.
12) Chicago Bulls
Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma
The Chicago Bulls are looking to trade Lonzo Ball, and Josh Giddey’s future with the team is uncertain, even after a rebound 2024 season. If Giddey stays, he’s a valuable and versatile piece for the Bulls, but Chicago will lack direction on offense until it finds a new player to facilitate and set the pace. As it turns out, Jeremiah Fears accomplishes exactly that.
6’4 Oklahoma PG Jeremiah Fears.
Led all D1 Freshmen in ‘Points Created’ per game (31.7). Strong offensive talent that gets to the rim at will (52.6% FG) — impressive playmaking craft (28.6% AST + 1.2 A/TO).
Questionable jump-shooting skill but improved as the season progressed. pic.twitter.com/ZVdoXaUlue
— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) June 4, 2025
With his rocket-propelled explosion and range on the attack, Fears sets a pace that few defenses can match from the point, and he’s just as quick and explosive with his short-range and lateral movements. While Fears absolutely needs to improve his efficiency both from 2- and 3-point range, he’s an adept driver who flashes playmaking zeal.
13) Atlanta Hawks
Derik Queen, PF/C, Maryland
Derik Queen is an anomaly. He’s viewed as a top-10 talent in the 2025 NBA Draft by more than one seasoned mind, but he’s a bit undersized by pure center standards, and he doesn’t have the court-spacing 3-pointer in his arsenal yet. Queen wins over evaluators with what he does well at his size: He can make plays and score inside better than most.
Truth be told, this is a dream scenario for the Atlanta Hawks, as Queen gives them exactly what they need most to become competitive. He’s a heavy-built rebound receiver who can siphon the post offense through himself, while also using his court vision and passing ease to punish double teams and give his teammates opportunities.
14) San Antonio Spurs
Collin Murray-Boyles, PF/C, South Carolina
How high do you draft a Draymond Green-type player? If the comp has merit, you’ll take that player pretty high. It turns out that many evaluators are searching for reasons not to put Collin Murray-Boyles’ name in the same sentence as the four-time All-Star and 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, but for a cycling San Antonio squad, he’s the perfect glue guy.
Murray-Boyles isn’t as proficient a shooter as Green was in his prime, nor is he quite the high-volume assist artist. But at 6’7″, 245 pounds, with a 7’1″ wingspan, he’s strong, long, competitive, and keen-eyed in the post; with overbearing rebounding authority, he can use that same strength and savvy to finish on offense.
15) Oklahoma City Thunder
Asa Newell, PF/C, Georgia
One of the only nitpicks you can make about the championship-hopeful Oklahoma City Thunder is that their center position is unspectacular. Even Isaiah Hartenstein is a solid player for the role he plays, but the Thunder don’t have a big man who can both impose his will and spread the floor on offense. Asa Newell’s addition is a bid at changing that.
At 6’11”, 220 pounds, with a 7-foot wingspan, Newell has the size and energy to compete, and that shows in his put-back proficiency. He’s also a top-flight athlete at his size, and while he shoots just under 30% from 3-point land, the willingness to try is there. An adept scorer and supercharged athlete, Newell is the perfect growth gambit for OKC.
16) Orlando Magic
Jase Richardson, PG, Michigan State
Jase Richardson measured shorter than expected and just as light as expected at the NBA Draft Combine — and both developments have placed his stock in limbo. At just under 6’1″, he’s not big enough to be a 2-guard at the professional level, so teams will have to bank on the facilitator building blocks that he showed in spurts, but never sustained game-to-game.
That said, Richardson is still just 19 years old and already has the savvy of a veteran. He’s long for his size, with about 80% of the explosiveness his father, Jason Richardson, had. The Michigan State standout has incredible handles, control, and composure as a creator; he shoots above 40% from 3, and fast-break situations provide a glimpse into his rapid processing and vision.
17) Minnesota Timberwolves
Nolan Traoré, PG, Saint Quentin
Like Richardson, Nolan Traoré is small and wiry — a bit taller at 6’3″ but still just 175 pounds. He’ll need to get stronger, and his up-and-down 2024 campaign was concerning at times. Nevertheless, Traoré has the kind of speed and bend that can’t be taught as a ball-handler and attacker, and he knows how to use that gravity to open up plays for others.
The point guard slot was a pit of despair in Minnesota this year, headlined by the withering ghost of Mike Conley. It’s not just about excitement; teams need dynamism at the point to keep defenses guessing and supplement the rest of the unit with speed and space. Traoré can do that, and in turn could further maximize Anthony Edwards and other pieces.
18) Washington Wizards
Carter Bryant, SF/PF, Arizona
Carter Bryant’s range in the 2025 NBA Draft is incredibly wide. He could go inside the top 10, or he could fall just outside the lottery and wind up being a value deal for a team like Washington. His production as a freshman in 2024 — just 6.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, and minimal playmaking — was sparse, but an elite upside is there.
At 6’8″, 220 pounds, with a sprawling 7’0″ wingspan and a 39.5″ max vertical, Bryant is as traits-rich as they come. At just 19 years old, he has a fully built and chiseled frame, with spry explosion and agility, all of which amounts to superlative defensive flexibility. His 37% 3-point mark further emphasizes his potential as a 3-and-D standout.
19) Brooklyn Nets
Rasheer Fleming, PF, St. Joseph’s
The Brooklyn Nets could use additional wings even after adding Knueppel, and Rasheer Fleming gives them a different flavor. He doesn’t provide as much raw explosion as others in the class, but at 6’9″, 240 pounds, with a mind-boggling 7’5″ wingspan, he’s big, compact, and incredibly long, with a functional inside-the-arc bag and 39% 3-point efficiency.
rasheer fleming can cover absurd amounts of ground on defense, letting him blow up multiple actions all on his own. reaction time isn’t always snappy, but the range and explosion are nuts pic.twitter.com/Wg1p3MyG2m
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) May 26, 2025
While Fleming may never be an offensive centerpiece with his limited ball-handling and creation skills, he has more than enough to become a competent part of a rotation with floor-spacing appeal. On defense, with his lateral mobility, overwhelming reach, and pest-like activity with his hands, he can be a nightmare-inducing switch piece.
20) Miami Heat
Ben Saraf, PG/SG, Ratiopharm Ulm
Tyler Herro might be better employed as a true shooting guard and less as a combo guard over the long term, which means the Miami Heat need a new facilitator. At 6’5″, 200 pounds, with lively twitch and highlight-reel playmaking, Ben Saraf fits the mold. His 3-pointer is nearly non-existent, which he’ll need to work on, but his passing has a place in Miami.
21) Utah Jazz
Adou Thiero, SF/PF, Arkansas
The Jazz have plenty of young talent, but they could use a brawler to rally the rotation and provide a chip on defense. Adou Thiero is 220 pounds of muscle and carnage at 6’8″, with a 7’0″ wingspan that he employs heavily as a turnover-generator. While he’s not a shooter, he’s a skilled 2-point artist, with hustle and mismatch ability defending the hoop.
22) Atlanta Hawks
Noa Essengue, SF/PF, Ratiopharm Ulm
Noa Essengue has a long way to go. His main appeal comes with his size-athleticism combination at 6’9″, 194 pounds. He won’t be ready Day 1, but little indicators — like 2024 bumps in points per game, rebounds per game, steals, and 3-point efficiency — point to his high potential. His length and mobility can make him a chess piece with more mass.
23) Indiana Pacers
Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown
Odds are, the Indiana Pacers bring back Myles Turner, but even then, all three of their centers in the rotation are up for new contracts. Thomas Sorber can solidify their depth and grow into a contributor later on.
At 6’10”, 255 pounds, Sorber is a smart, physical, old-school post presence with age-defying passing instincts, feel, and near-elite defensive chops.
24) Oklahoma City Thunder
Nique Clifford, SG/SF, Colorado State
A rugged guard/wing hybrid who can provide immediate rotational ability behind Luguentz Dort, Clifford (around 6’6″ and 200 pounds) is a lean-built player with equal smarts and toughness on the defensive end. He has exciting ability as a creator and multi-level scorer on offense. While he’s not a verifiable sharp-shooter, he’s good enough to threaten from 3.
25) Orlando Magic
Will Riley, SG/SF, Illinois
After securing their point guard, the Orlando Magic upgrade their treasure chest of wings by adding Will Riley in this 2025 NBA Mock Draft. At 6’8″ and under 190 pounds, Riley is extremely light and needs to add weight to compete on defense. But he’s a fearless — albeit at times reckless — shooter with superb off-ball skills and smooth offensive rhythm.
26) Brooklyn Nets
Danny Wolf, PF/C, Michigan
With an abundance of picks, the Nets can’t afford to skimp anywhere. If there’s a chance to add Danny Wolf’s blend of size and playmaking, they’d better jump on it. While he’s not an immovable presence on defense, Wolf has “offensive catalyst” written all over him with his fluidity, position-defying court vision, creation game, and step-back and fadeaway chops.
27) Brooklyn Nets
Kam Jones, PG/SG, Marquette
Getting Cam Thomas back will greatly improve the Nets’ guard situation, but they could still use a glue guy at the combo guard position. Kam Jones isn’t flashy or overly athletic, but he has good size at 6’5″, 200 pounds. He’s a reliable playmaker, a competitor on the glass, a capable defender, and he has shot at 40% from 3-point range before.
28) Boston Celtics
Grant Nelson, PF/C, Alabama
As another potential post-Combine riser, Grant Nelson put up the third-best lane agility time among all Combine participants — guards and forwards included. At 6’11”, 230 pounds, his athleticism is a potential building block, should the rest of his game develop. He’s not a prolific shooter or ball-swatter, but he can get in on pick-and-roll action and operate inside.
29) Phoenix Suns
Drake Powell, SF, North Carolina
Drake Powell could very well be off the board here. A former five-star recruit, Powell only averaged 7.4 points per game as a freshman in 2024, but he shot 37.9% from 3. At 6’5″ and around 200 pounds, he has a 7’0″ wingspan, along with an atmospheric 43″ max vertical leap that paced the 2025 class. He’s tools-rich, with a red-hot defensive motor.
30) Los Angeles Clippers
Sergio de Larrea, PG/SG, Valencia
The Los Angeles Clippers could use a long and athletic combo guard to develop, with James Harden getting older and Kris Dunn teetering around mediocrity. Sergio de Larrea is still very young at just 19 years old, but he has good size, good activity on both ends of the floor, and shot over 46% from 3-point range in his final year at Valencia.
2025 NBA Mock Draft | Round 2
31) Minnesota Timberwolves
RJ Luis Jr., SG/SF, St. John’s
32) Boston Celtics
Javon Small, SG, West Virginia
33) Charlotte Hornets
Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford
34) Charlotte Hornets
Walter Clayton Jr., PG, Florida
35) Dallas Mavericks
Bogoljub Marković, C, Mega Basket
36) New York Knicks
Eric Dixon, SF/PF, Villanova
37) Detroit Pistons
Sion James, SF, Duke
38) San Antonio Spurs
Dink Pate, PG, Mexico City
39) Toronto Raptors
Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton
40) Washington Wizards
Liam McNeeley, SF, UConn
41) Golden State Warriors
Hunter Sallis, SG/SF, Wake Forest
42) Sacramento Kings
Tyrese Proctor, PG/SG, Duke
43) Utah Jazz
Jamir Watkins, SG/SF, Florida State
44) Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalon Moore, SF, Oklahoma
45) Chicago Bulls
Joan Beringer, PF/C, Cedevita Olimpija
46) Orlando Magic
Johni Broome, C, Auburn
47) Washington Wizards
Chaz Lanier, SG, Tennessee
48) Washington Wizards
Max Shulga, PG/SG, VCU
49) Cleveland Cavaliers
Izan Almansa, PF/C, Perth
50) New York Knicks
Michael Ružić, PF/C, Joventut Badalona
51) Los Angeles Clippers
Mouhamed Faye, PF/C, Pallacanestro Reggiana
52) Phoenix Suns
Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane
53) Utah Jazz
Milan Momcilovic, SF, Iowa State
54) Indiana Pacers
Koby Brea, SG/SF, Kentucky
55) Los Angeles Lakers
Hugo González, SF, Real Madrid
56) Memphis Grizzlies
Alex Toohey, SF/PF, Sydney
57) Orlando Magic
Jaxson Robinson, SG/SF, Kentucky
58) Cleveland Cavaliers
Mark Sears, PG, Alabama
59) Houston Rockets
Ben Henshall, SG, Perth
