There is a lot of basketball coming our way. March Madness is in full swing, the 2024-25 NBA regular season is approaching its finishing stretch, and … the NBA draft!
More so than many other sports, the NBA features instant-impact rookies annually; who highlights this class and could elevate a bottom feeder into a playoff threat?
The 2025 NBA Mock Draft order is based on the NBA standings as of March 25, and all stats are after the Sweet 16.
1) Washington Wizards
Cooper Flagg, Duke
The Wizards win the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes! Washington hasn’t had a winning record since the 2017-18 season. Adding Flagg gives this struggling franchise some hope for the future.
Flagg has been every bit as advertised. Duke’s freshman phenom averaged 18.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in the regular season. His scoring elevated in conference play, averaging 21.2 points per game against ACC opponents on 53.6% shooting from the field. He’s also been elite defensively, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.
Flagg’s advanced numbers are stellar as well. He owns the best plus/minus in the country at +16.4. He’s averaging 37.7 points, 14.8 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 2.8 steals, and 2.6 blocks per 100 possessions with the best defensive rating in the nation (89.0).
Flagg is an elite prospect who passes the eye test. He’s physically gifted, standing 6’9″, 205 pounds with a 7’1″ wingspan. His frame is a bit thin, but that’ll likely change. He’s a great athlete with a knack for putting the ball in the basket. His all-around, NBA-ready skill set is why many believe he can be a franchise player at the next level.
2) Utah Jazz
Dylan Harper, Rutgers
The Utah Jazz desperately need a player like Dylan Harper, a guy who can create his own shots with ease. Utah is in the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency, scoring just 110.9 points per 100 possessions. Enter Harper, a certified bucket-getter from inside and out.
The former Don Bosco prep standout enjoyed a strong freshman season at Rutgers, averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He also shot 33.3% from deep. Son of NBA champion Ron Harper, Dylan can fill it up anytime he steps on the court. He’s averaging 23.9 points per 40 minutes. His natural strength allows him to get to the rim and absorb contact.
Though he’s not super quick or explosive, Harper is a smooth athlete with an NBA frame. He’s a great ball-handler and skilled passer. His size and length offer positional versatility, and he has upside as a defender. His NBA pedigree and intangibles should make for a seamless transition to the pros.
3) Charlotte Hornets
VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
After a slow start to the season against some stiff competition, VJ Edgecombe picked things up for Baylor as the season went along. He averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game during the regular season en route to Big 12 Freshman of the Year and All-Big 12 Second Team honors.
Edgecombe impressed late in the season. He dropped 23 points on a tough Houston team. He also flashed his two-way potential during Baylor’s two NCAA Tournament games. He is a gritty defender who plays with an edge and averaged 2.1 steals (fourth in the Big 12) and 0.6 steals from his guard spot. He’s consistent as an on-ball defender and isn’t afraid to get physical and use it to his advantage.
As a high-level athlete who flashes explosiveness on both ends of the floor, Edgecombe has room to grow with ball-handling and finishing at the rim. However, he’s shown growth as a 3-point shooter (34% this season), and if he continues to develop that part of his game, look out.
The Hornets have plenty of young talent on their roster. Edgecombe would give LaMelo Ball a backcourt running mate who’s not one-dimensional and can be a difference-maker on both ends of the floor.
4) New Orleans Pelicans
Tre Johnson, Texas
Tre Johnson is a player who has quickly climbed up draft boards. The freshman guard led the Texas Longhorns in minutes (34.7) and points (19.9) per game this season. Offense is Johnson’s calling card, as he’s a natural scorer who can light up the opposing team in bunches.
Johnson showed off his upside as a high-level scorer, with 15 games with 20+ points (including postseason). He also posted three 30-point performances, all against SEC foes. He’s a shot maker, and he can get hot from behind the arc. Johnson shot just under 40% from deep on the year.
While he is a threat to score from anywhere on the court, Johnson wasn’t always super efficient, shooting just 42.7% from the field. He’s a volume shooter, averaging nearly 16 shot attempts per game, but sometimes he settles for tough shots instead of working to get easier ones. He can improve as a defender and lacks elite athleticism, but it’s hard to overlook his scoring ability.
The Pelicans have a lot of problems, but they do have a strong young core on paper with Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Dejounte Murray. Johnson would at least add another bucket-getter to the mix.
5) Philadelphia 76ers
Ace Bailey, Rutgers
The 76ers have been a massive disappointment this season, but drafting Ace Bailey could inject some much-needed life into the building. Half of the sensational freshman duo from Rutgers went No. 2; now, Bailey rounds out the top five.
Bailey hit the ground running for the Scarlet Knights. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season while shooting 46% from the floor and just under 35% from 3. He also contributed on the defensive end, averaging 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per game.
The All-Big Ten selection has a wiry 6’10”, 200-pound frame, and he’s a smooth yet explosive athlete. That physical profile offers plenty of upside as a defender, as well as the versatility to play multiple positions on the floor.
Like most draft prospects, Bailey has some flaws in his game, but he’s a super raw talent brimming with untapped potential. He’ll turn 19 years old just months before the start of the new season. If Bailey can improve his shot selection and become a more consistent defender, Philadelphia could get a bit of a steal here.
6) Brooklyn Nets
Boogie Fland, Arkansas
Arkansas’ run to the Sweet 16 has brought Boogie Fland to the main stage, which could bode well for his draft stock. The freshman guard missed about two months of action, as he was dealing with a hand injury and underwent thumb surgery.
Fland averaged 15.1 points, 5.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game when he was on the floor in the regular season. He returned to action in the NCAA Tournament, and John Calipari planned to ease him back in. However, Fland performed well, impacting the game in multiple ways other than scoring. He has five steals in three games, putting his quick hands on full display.
When at his best, Fland is extremely dangerous with the ball in his hands, using his elite quickness and playmaking ability to his advantage. He’s not the most efficient scorer, but he can get you points in bunches. There are some questions about his size, but he’s electric, and his playmaking abilities on both ends of the floor make him an attractive prospect.
7) Toronto Raptors
Jase Richardson, Michigan State
Jase Richardson is shining for the same team and head coach that his father, Jason, did 25 years ago. The younger Richardson has been a consistent player for Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans this season. He’s averaging 12.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 50.2% from the field.
While Richardson is not as explosive as his dad was, he appears to be a more natural scorer at this stage of his development. He’s shooting better than 40% from deep on the season, and he’s an 83% free-throw shooter. Despite low usage for Michigan State this season, Richardson has an offensive rating of 133.2 and averages 19.3 points per 40 minutes.
Richardson’s innate shooting ability and instincts on the defensive end could make him a good two-way player in the NBA. The Raptors desperately need shooters, and Richardson could provide an instant boost.
8) Miami Heat
Asa Newell, Georgia
The Heat need to get better in the paint, as Bam Adebayo can’t do it all by himself. In comes Asa Newell, a young big with plenty of potential. Newell, a high school teammate of Flagg and Derik Queen, flashed that upside during his freshman season at Georgia.
Newell averaged 15.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, a steal, and a block per game, leading to an All-SEC Freshman team selection. He finished his season strong, posting a 21-point, 17-rebound performance against Oklahoma in the SEC tournament and dropping 20 points versus Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Newell has an NBA-ready 6’11″ frame, though he’ll likely need to put on weight to bang at the next level. He’s an efficient scorer — his 58% effective field goal percentage ranked second among all SEC players. He also had the third-best offensive rebound percentage in the conference (13.9%).
While Newell has shown he’s capable of stretching the floor, he hasn’t done so consistently. Expanding his offensive game will be key to maximizing his potential in the NBA. He did most of his work around the rim, with his soft touch on the offensive end and as a rim protector defensively.
9) Chicago Bulls
Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
Jeremiah Fears flew up draft boards after an impressive freshman season at Oklahoma. The dynamic point guard averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds on his way to making the All-SEC Freshman Team.
Fears excels as a crafty ball-handler who uses his quickness and sneaky strength to get downhill, make tough shots, and absorb contact. The 6’4″ guard is capable of lighting up the scoreboard on a given night, with 30-point performances against Michigan and Missouri this season.
Fears does have work to do to become a more efficient shooter, though. He shot just 43.4% from the field and just over 28% from behind the arc. If he expands his range, he can become a legitimate three-level scorer at the pro level. His shooting and decision-making woes may stop him from being taken any higher, but he’s only 18, and the upside is undeniable.
10) San Antonio Spurs
Egor Demin, BYU
Egor Demin’s potential positional versatility may be his most enticing attribute. At 6’9″, 190 pounds, the BYU star possesses an interesting physical profile for a guard. His size advantage, ball-handling ability, and basketball IQ could make him a versatile creator at the next level.
However, there are some serious concerns about Demin’s abilities as a shooter. He averaged just 10.6 points this season while shooting just over 41% from the field and 27.3% from deep. He also struggled at the free-throw line, making just 69.5% of his attempts from the stripe. Can he create his own shots and consistently knock them down? His inconsistency makes that a big question mark.
Still, Demin’s rare playmaking ability for his size makes him such an intriguing prospect. As a defender, he uses his size and length to intercept passing lanes and lock down smaller ball handlers. His dimensions profile him as someone who may be able to guard 1 through 3 at the next level. He’s not the most NBA-ready prospect, but there are some things to like.
11) Portland Trail Blazers
Kon Knueppel, Duke
This is an SOS rebuild in Portland — but not in the panic-driven way that the acronym usually implies. SOS: Savvy and Outside Shooting. The Blazers spent on Donovan Clingan this time last year and hope to have their paint protected for the next decade, a decision that came on the heels of investing high picks on Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson.
Those guards offer plenty of upside, but Sharpe has seen his volume increase and his accuracy decrease from distance each season, and while Henderson has been the more dangerous option behind the 3-point line, he’s still awfully inconsistent.
Enter Kon Knueppel, a reasonably refined prospect who won’t turn 20 years old until August and profiles as a weapon from the outside. His 6’7” frame makes him a versatile wing who would fit in with this nucleus while boosting their most glaring need.
12) Dallas Mavericks
Kasparas Jakučionis, Illinois
The tough-luck Mavericks have the potential to add an attacking threat that can score at all three levels. Kasparas Jakučionis’ profile is that of a viable shooter at the professional level, but that’s not his only trait, and it is his versatility that figures to have the Mavericks buying in.
- Jakučionis averaged over five 3-point attempts and over five free throws per game
- Jakučionis averaged over 5.5 rebounds and over 4.5 assists per game
Dallas ants to build from the inside out, and at 6’6”, Jakučionis gives them some lineup flexibility as they look to revamp this franchise after a whirlwind of a 2025 season.
13) Houston Rockets
Liam McNeeley, UConn
Liam McNeeley is a raw prospect (38.1% FG and 31.7% from 3 in his lone season with the Huskies), but in watching him play, it’s obvious that he has a good feel for the game. His dead-eye free-throw shooting (86.6% on 4.7 attempts per game) projects well when trying to forecast his future as a shooter, and his fit is better than any prep in this range for Houston’s upward trajectory.
Amen Thompson and Jalen Green are raw uber-athletes with plenty of upside, while Alperen Şengün is Nikola Jokić-lite in that the offense funnels through his versatility. If McNeeley can develop into a strong catch-and-shoot option without losing his willingness to slash against aggressive closeouts, he can make an impact on a playoff team in short order.
14) Atlanta Hawks
Nolan Traore, France
A lack of clarity around Trae Young’s future has me thinking that this team elects to protect itself at the point guard position this summer, and Nolan Traore could be that. His youth gives him the ability to take another year to develop if need be (Young still has another year left on his deal), but his size (6’4”) and ability to steer an offense already profile well at the professional level.
He’s not Young — Traore’s shooting stroke is still very much a question, and that has the potential to be prohibitive if not developed — but he’s a good insurance bet that should carry a reasonable NBA floor.
15) Orlando Magic
Solo Ball, UConn
Solo Ball is no lock to enter the NBA Draft, but he would be an interesting option next to Jalen Suggs in a Magic offense that struggles as much as anyone to shoot the ball.
In his second season with UConn, Ball saw his 3-point percentage spike from 31.9% to 41.4% and his turnover rate drop. The size isn’t special (6’3”, 190 pounds), but he’s shown a nice feel for the game, and a perimeter-oriented option is a must-have for Orlando in this draft (63.2% of his field goal attempts this past season were triples).
16) San Antonio Spurs
Ian Jackson, North Carolina
How the Spurs attack this draft will be interesting. When do they view their contention window? That, obviously, largely relies on Victor Wembanyama’s health, but if they want to slow-play things for one more season, Ian Jackson is a reasonable roll of the dice.
The Tar Heel is a pro-level slasher who would be best served to enter a situation with a guard capable of leading the offense, allowing him to attack without worrying about handling the play-making responsibilities. De’Aaron Fox certainly qualifies as such and is a good pairing with a developed Jackson. If San Antonio is willing to be patient, this would be an interesting pairing.
17) Minnesota Timberwolves
Rasheer Fleming, St. Joseph’s
Julius Randle’s fit has been a bit clunky in his first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. At the age of 30 years, it’s unlikely that things will get better with time. Could Rasheer Fleming fit the mold of what they were hoping to get from the veteran forward?
That’s probably on the optimistic side, but we are looking at a real threat from deep (39% in 2025, a second straight season of improvement) who is aggressive at attacking the rim. Fleming has the type of profile that fits nicely alongside a paint-locked big and an alpha scorer, a build that is very much how Minnesota has gone about building out this roster.
18) Oklahoma City Thunder
Noa Essengue, France
The scouting reports on Noa Essengue read like a Thunder prototype, and considering that they are dealing with an embarrassment of riches at this point, they have nothing to lose by investing in someone who is somewhat of an unknown.
His 6’9” frame is slight, but his energy and versatility fit the mold of a potential rotation piece on a roster that is already loaded. If they stumble into a player that can get real impact minutes or is a specific option for certain matchups, that’s great. If not, they are still on the short list of title favorites for seasons to come.
19) Utah Jazz
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
The Jazz are committed to building around Lauri Markkanen (28 years old in May), and with over half of his shots coming from downtown this year (his first such season with the franchise), a frontcourt banger like JT Toppin is a reasonable pairing.
With a pick at this spot, Toppin’s current profile is a fine fit. A rim-running big man to do the dirty work may not be the most analytically friendly player, but it’s a profile that can get minutes sooner than later and develop in real time.
Toppin will be 20 years old on draft night, and that is where some of the upside sits. Can he become a respected 3-point shooter? We haven’t seen it at the college level (under 7% of his makes are 3s), but the improvement from the line (56.5% at New Mexico last season, up to 70.2% this year) hints that there might be some skill to uncover at the professional level.
20) Brooklyn Nets
Derik Queen, Maryland
With his stock rising during the postseason, Queen might not last this long, but if he does, I like how he projects in a rebuild situation (Brooklyn has finished better than fourth place in the division just once over the past decade).
He’s a physical presence in the paint that has shown the ability to finish in the paint (56% on 2s this season), but over the past month, he’s shown increased comfort in space. At 20 years of age, there’s reason to think he can continue to develop, and if the play-making prowess continues on an upward trajectory, he could prove to be one of the six to eight best players in this draft.
Brooklyn’s direction moving forward isn’t clear; Queen would give them a good building block and provide hope for the future.
21) Miami Heat
Nique Clifford, Colorado State
At the height of Heat Culture, the Miami Heat was a tough team that defended at a high level and had a bevy of versatile scorers. Even in a down season, the Heat rank in the top half of the NBA in defensive efficiency, highlighting their emphasis on that side of the court.
Nique Clifford is a 6’6” wing who can defend multiple positions, so he would fit into the typical Heat archetype. Clifford’s defensive versatility is his biggest strength, but he’s also a strong rebounder despite being a smaller wing.
Clifford will turn 24 next season, which makes him an older prospect and likely drops him out of the lottery. Miami did spend its first-round pick on a four-year college player in Jaime Jaquez Jr. two years ago, though Jaquez was 22 at the start of his rookie season.
22) Indiana Pacers
Will Riley, Illinois
As one of the higher-tempo offenses in the NBA, the Indiana Pacers thrive with players who can push the pace and create on the move. The Pacers aren’t playing quite as fast as last season’s team that ranked second in pace, but having multiple ballhandlers beyond Tyrese Haliburton is a must for this team.
Will Riley’s strengths fit in with that vision of the Pacers’ offense; the Illinois forward has an unorthodox skill set for a wing, as he thrives on driving the ball to the rim and passing off the dribble. He also demonstrated good activity playing off-ball during his college career.
Riley’s shooting is streaky, as the freshman shot 32.6% on 3s and 72.4% from the line this past season. Like many younger prospects, he also needs to add strength before he can reliably shoulder significant rotation minutes.
23) Washington Wizards
Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech
A two-year starting forward for Georgia Tech, Baye Ndongo is an intriguing high-athleticism flier who could go late in the first or early in the second round. Ndongo is 6’9” and makes his mark on defense, possessing the length to body bigger offensive players and the quickness to stick with wings and even some guards.
Although he increased his scoring average from 12.4 PPG last season to 13.4 this year, shooting is not Ndongo’s strength. He attempted 31 3s across two seasons with the Yellow Jackets (making 11 of them) and is a career 66.7% free-throw shooter. He has better flashes of ballhandling that could make him more than a pure rim-running big, though.
The Wizards have invested some premium picks on raw athletic wings, but they have seen the development timelines through for Rui Hachimura and Deni Avdija. Ndongo wouldn’t have that kind of pressure on him as those top-10 picks did, perhaps affording him more patience in his development.
24) Atlanta Hawks
Khaman Maluach, Duke
The Atlanta Hawks have been one of the worst teams defending the restricted area this season. The Hawks are allowing 20.1 FGM per game at the rim, the second-most behind only the Wizards. A rim protector is especially important on any team with Young as a centerpiece, and the Hawks have been lacking in that area.
Khaman Maluach serves as one developmental option that could solve that problem in the long run. The Duke freshman stands 7’2” and has the potential to anchor a defense. Importantly, Maluach possesses the mobility to switch and play in space on the perimeter, a must for any big to stay on the floor for defensive purposes.
Offensively, Maluach has a long way to go, as he’s essentially a lob threat and nothing else at this point. The South Sudan native only began playing basketball when he was 13, so he’s a raw prospect who will need lots of patience on his development timeline.
25) Orlando Magic
Chaz Lanier, Tennessee
The fifth-year senior guard was a starter for the Volunteers this season after transferring from North Florida. Chaz Lanier’s greatest strength is his elite perimeter shooting. This season, Lanier has shot 40.5% from 3 on over eight attempts per game. His 121 total 3-point FGM led the SEC in 2024-25 and should translate immediately.
At 6’4”, Lanier has the size of a ball-handler but plays more off-guard. He hasn’t demonstrated great facilitation skills as a passer, topping out at 1.8 assists per game in 2023-24. He does rebound well for his size, but his tunnel vision for scoring could mean that Lanier profiles more as a microwave scorer off the bench.
That would be a perfectly acceptable outcome for the Magic, though, a team that needs scoring first. Lanier’s shooting would be a useful boost to a Magic team that ranks last in 3-point FG percentage this season, making just over 31% of its 3-point attempts.
26) Brooklyn Nets
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
The three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year will immediately be a plus rim protector in the NBA. Ryan Kalkbrenner stands 7’1” and blocked 399 shots during his five-year collegiate career, an average of 2.4 per game.
The Creighton center is a plus scorer, increasing his scoring average in all five seasons and topping out at 19.2 PPG in 2024-25. Kalkbrenner is more of a post-up interior scorer but improved his 3-point percentage from 29.4% last year to 34.4% this past season (albeit still on a low volume of attempts at 1.7 per game).
The big issue is whether Kalkbrenner possesses the mobility to stay on the floor against the litany of spread pick-and-roll teams. His mobility isn’t ideal, which could lead to problems getting switched onto quicker ballhandlers on the perimeter. His rebounding could still use improvement, though he increased his average from 7.6 last season to 8.7 this past year.
27) Brooklyn Nets
Noah Penda, France
The Brooklyn Nets share the ball — but not always effectively. Although the Nets are a top-10 team in assist percent on FGM, they rank 24th in assist-to-turnover ratio. Having more effective and creative playmaking will be a necessary skill to acquire as the Nets rebuild their team.
French forward Noah Penda is one potential solution to that problem. Vision is his best trait, as he is an excellent passer who was a secondary playmaker for Le Mans in the French League despite being only 20 years old.
Penda has a mature skill set that profiles as a nice role player. Beyond passing, he plays with consistent effort on defense and as a rebounder while also operating well within the flow of the offense by setting screens and cutting off-ball. His shot is only 30.6% from 3 and doesn’t profile as much of a shot creator for himself, so Penda looks like more of a high-floor, low-ceiling role player prospect.
28) Boston Celtics
Danny Wolf, Michigan
It’s foolish to compare any late first-round prospect to Kristaps Porziņģis, but Danny Wolf has some of the same unorthodox skills for a seven-footer that could make him appealing to Porziņģis’ current team.
The Michigan center is 7’0” but has an unusually high level of ballhandling and passing skill for the position. He has averaged just under four assists per game for the Wolverines this season while also nearing a double-double with 13.2 PPG and 9.7 RPG. Wolf wasn’t a particularly efficient 3-point shooter (33.6% this season, 33.6% for his collegiate career), but he showed a willingness to take stepback jumpers.
Wolf will need to corral the turnovers in the NBA (3.2 per game), and he doesn’t provide a ton of defensive value with subpar rim protection and struggles to hang with guards in space. The Celtics’ bigs beyond Porziņģis and Al Horford are true paint-bound types, though, so taking a swing on a unique prospect like Wolf makes sense for Boston to add to its frontcourt pipeline.
29) Phoenix Suns
Labaron Philon, Alabama
The freshman was Alabama’s primary starting point guard this past season. Labaron Philon had a 2+ assist-to-turnover ratio this season for the Crimson Tide, demonstrating a high level of playmaking and ball handling for a young player.
The question is whether Philon’s shooting will improve at higher levels. Although he was reportedly a 41% 3-point shooter in high school, he shot just 30.5% from deep this season for Alabama. However, his high school stats and 76.2% free-throw percentage in college would suggest that he has a higher 3-point ceiling than his freshman stats imply.
The Phoenix Suns have lacked a high-volume ballhandler since putting their Big Three together, playing Bradley Beal or Devin Booker out of position at the point, or relying on veteran Tyus Jones to play a suboptimal volume of minutes. Drafting a player like Philon would be a swing at patching one of the Suns’ many long-term roster holes.
30) Los Angeles Clippers
Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
The freshman combo guard was an effective scorer off the bench for Auburn. Tahaad Pettiford has averaged 11.8 points per game for the Tigers in 2024-25, including 37.9% from deep. Pettiford’s 3-point shooting should translate immediately, as he demonstrated efficiency both off the dribble and on catch-and-shoot opportunities.
Pettiford possesses more upside than a pure scorer, as he showed flashes of playmaking as a pick-and-roll ballhandler. He also plays with a high motor on defense, which helps overcome his size limitations at just 6’1”.
That lack of size does limit his ceiling, and Pettiford won’t immediately have the same green light to shoot in the NBA that he has had at Auburn. The Los Angeles Clippers have all the ballhandling they need right now between James Harden and Norman Powell, but they could use a successor with both being over 30.
Keep in mind that this is an ever-evolving topic. We will be tracking the latest news as it comes and offering updates as they come. The NBA Draft lottery takes place on May 12, and the draft itself starts on June 25.