Every 2025 NBA Mock Draft will look different due to prospect projection, draft order changes, and varying opinions on the direction a certain franchise is headed. For the sake of this exercise, I’ve taken some liberties when it comes to forecasting future results and what current preps will put their names in the hat.
Yes, the names have started trickling in. But in this bold new era of NIL (name, image, likeness deals), nothing can be assumed. Nothing. So, make sure to check back religiously as we get declarations from underclassmen.
This is a very fluid situation. And, with March Madness winding down, this is as good a time as any to take a closer look at how the 2025-26 NBA season could be impacted by the incoming rookie class.
Who will your favorite team add on June 25? The grades for the rising star prospects are incredibly close, and while I believe the top option is a cut above the rest, even the No. 1 spot isn’t a certainty, especially not after Cooper Flagg set social media ablaze with flirtatious quotes about him considering a return to campus for his sophomore campaign
This 2025 NBA Mock Draft order is based on the NBA standings as of April 2. Reminder that the three worst records all have a 14% chance of winning the draft lottery. For this speculative exercise, I’ve projected how the ping pong balls will fall for those first three selections. (FYI, I think the same three players likely go regardless of the order, but the destination would be different).
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. Even then, barely at 43-39. Adding Flagg gives this struggling franchise some hope for the future in a star-driven league. That promising future could come into focus sooner than later. Heck, we’ve already seen this phenom impress against the NBA’s finest during Olympic prep work.
Flagg has been every bit as advertised. Duke’s freshman phenom averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in the regular season. His scoring was elevated in conference play where he averaged 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.
Flagg’s advanced numbers are stellar. 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 will likely change assuming he adds muscle in the pros. 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 combo guard who can create his own shots with ease. Utah is in the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency (via ESPN’s John Hollinger), scoring just 107.6 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 and 48.4% from the field.
The son of NBA champion Ron Harper, Dylan can fill it up anytime he steps on the court and officially made his intentions known on March 31 by declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft. His natural strength allows him to get to the rim and absorb contact, two coveted skills that translate in a ready-made way at the next level.
3) Charlotte Hornets
VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
After a slow start against stiff competition, VJ Edgecombe picked things up for the Bears as the season went along. He averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game 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 eventual Final Four qualifier Houston on March 8, then showed elite shutdown ability in Baylor’s Elite Eight victory over Tennessee. He is a gritty defender who plays with an edge and averaged 2.1 steals (fourth in the Big 12) and 0.6 blocks 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, hence why the name “Dwyane Wade” has been floated around as a high-end comparison — and, while lofty, makes plenty of sense when you pop on the game film.
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 immense growth as a three-point shooter (34% this season) and if he continues to develop that part of his game, we could be looking at a franchise centerpiece for years to come.
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 it up in bunches.
Johnson showed off his upside as a high-level scorer, with 15 games with 20+ points (including postseason). He posted three 30-point performances, all against SEC foes, highlighted by a season-high 39 points against Arkansas.
He’s a shot maker, and he can get hot from behind the arc. Johnson shot just under 40% from deep on the year and, at 6-foot-6, he’s a tough matchup if he can build on his sub-200 pound frame (190).
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.
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. The other half of Rutgers’ sensational freshman duo went No. 2; Bailey now hears his name called.
Bailey hit the ground running for the Scarlet Knights. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 46% from the floor and 34.6% from deep. 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 the untapped potential he owns is very rare. It is literally what draft dreams are made of. He’ll celebrate his 19th birthday in August, mere months before the start of the NBA season.
6) Brooklyn Nets
Boogie Fland, Arkansas
Boogie Fland is a freshman guard who missed about two months of action. He was dealing with a hand injury and underwent thumb surgery, specifically an operation to repair the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) on his right thumb.
His showing in the NCAA Tournament during Arkansas’ surprise run to the Sweet 16 wasn’t great (12 points on 4-of-18 shooting), but after such an extended hiatus, it’s hard to imagine that small sample size impacting his pro stock in a meaningful way.
If anything, the fact that a rusty version turned the ball over just once in 53 minutes against some NBA-level defenses (Kansas, St. John’s, and Texas Tech) showed a level of maturity that not all players have at this point in their careers.
Fland averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game in the regular season. The numbers were good, not great, but the John Calipari stamp of approval holds weight in NBA circles, as evidenced by his 31.8 minutes per game.
There are questions about his size (6’2”, 210 pounds), but he’s electric, and his playmaking abilities make him an attractive prospect. If you shift some of Russell Westbrook’s athleticism to shooting, you have an idea of what is possible in this profile.
7) Toronto Raptors
Jase Richardson, Michigan State
Jase Richardson shined 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 Spartans this season. He’s averaging 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 49.3% 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 shot 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.
“We’re two totally different players.” That’s what Jase said when asked about how his game compares to his father’s game. He’s right and I think his precision skills might translate better to today’s game than those athletic tools of his old man.
8) San Antonio Spurs
Egor Demin, BYU
Egor Demin’s positional versatility may be his most enticing attribute. At 6’9″ and 190 pounds, the BYU standout 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 serious concerns about Demin’s abilities as a shooter. He averaged just 10.6 points this season while shooting 41.2% 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? Big question mark.
As a defender, Demin uses his size and length to intercept passing lanes and lock down smaller ball handlers. His lengthy dimensions profile him as someone who may be able to guard one through three at the next level. He’s not the most NBA-ready prospect, but there are a lot of things to like.
9) 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. This SOS stands for “Savvy and Outside Shooting.” The Blazers spent the No. 7 overall pick 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 (in 2022) and Scoot Henderson (in 2023).
Sharpe and Henderson offer plenty of upside for Portland, but Sharpe has seen his volume increase and his accuracy decrease from distance in each of his first two seasons. While Henderson has been the more dangerous option behind the three-point line, the 6-foot-3 sharpshooter remains awfully inconsistent.
Enter Kon Knueppel, a reasonably refined prospect who won’t turn 20 years old until August and profiles as a lethal weapon from the outside. His 6-foot-7 frame makes him a versatile wing player, ready to fit in with this nucleus and boost their most glaring need.
10) Chicago Bulls
Asa Newell, Georgia
The Bulls have backcourt upside and the explosive Matas Buzelis adds a wing dynamic, but the paint is a bothersome spot. Asa Newell, a high school teammate of Cooper Flagg and Derik Queen, flashed that upside during his freshman season at Georgia.
Considering Nikola Vuecivc was on the trade block, Newell could step into an important role early in his career for a team looking to compete with their current nucleus.
He averaged 15.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, plus a steal and a block per game in 2024. Newell earned All-SEC Freshman honors after exploding for 21 points and 17 rebounds against Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament before dropping 20 points versus Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He shot 68.4% inside the arc across those games and showed an uncanny ability to use his 6’11” frame as a weapon.
Newell will likely need to put on weight to bang at the next level, a commonality in this year’s draft class that NBA teams are usually willing to look past. His 58% effective field goal percentage ranked second among all SEC players, a stat proving his efficiency is more appealing than his thin build is prohibitive. He also had the third-best offensive rebound percentage in the conference (13.9%).
11) Miami Heat
Liam McNeeley, Connecticut
Liam McNeeley is a raw prospect — look at his stats: 38.1% field-goal percentage, 31.7% from deep in his lone season at UConn — but it’s obvious that he has a good feel for the game when watching him play. McNeeley’s 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 would make for an interesting fit next to Tyler Herro.
Outside of Bam Adebayo and Herro, Heat Culture is in the volume business when it comes to stacking pieces to build around. Kel’el Ware (7’0”, 230 pounds) looks like the real deal on the interior and gives them the luxury of turning their attention to boosting the upside of their Jimmy Butler-less backcourt this summer.
12) Houston Rockets
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 excelled 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 any given night, highlighted by 30-point performances against Michigan and Missouri for the Sooners this season.
If you need further proof of concept, how about what he did in his lone NCAA Tournament game? Against a UConn program that has been pumping out pro talent for years, all Fears did was make multiple triples, get to the line eight times, and dish out four assists while turning the ball over just twice despite all of the attention being on him for 38 minutes.
Fears does have work to do to become a more efficient shooter. He shot just 43.4% from the field and 28.4% from behind the arc. If he expands his range, the 18-year-old can become a legitimate three-level scorer at the pro level, something that elite accuracy from the stripe (85.1%) suggests is projectable.
13) Atlanta Hawks
Nolan Traore, France
A lack of clarity around Trae Young’s future has me thinking that the Hawks might elect to protect itself at the point guard position this summer, and Nolan Traore could be that insurance policy.
His youth gives him the ability to take another year to develop if needed — Young still has another year left on his $215 million deal — but his size (6’4”) and ability to steer an offense already profile well at the professional level.
He won’t get confused for Young. Not yet. Traore’s shooting stroke is still very much a question mark, and that has the potential to be prohibitive if not developed, but the talented 18-year-old is a good insurance bet that should carry a reasonable NBA floor.
14) 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. His drool-worthy versatility is what figures to have the Mavericks buying into the hype.
Jakučionis averaged over five 3-point attempts (5.2) and more than five free throws per game (5.1). The 6-foot-6 combo guard also averaged 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists while dropping 15.0 points per game at Illinois in 2024.
Dallas wants to build from the inside out and Jakučionis gives them some lineup flexibility with his size and length, as they look to revamp this franchise in the post-Luka Dončić era after a whirlwind of a 2025 season.
15) San Antonio Spurs
Ian Jackson, North Carolina
How the Spurs attack this year’s draft will be interesting. When do they view their contention window? How long is it open?
That, obviously, largely relies on franchise cornerstone Victor Wembanyama’s future health (deep vein thrombosis, stemming from a blood clot in his right shoulder, ended his 2024-25 season), but if they want to slow-play things for one more season, Ian Jackson is a reasonable roll of the dice.
The Tar Heels standout 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 a guard and pairing him up with a developed Jackson would instantly upgrade the backcourt.
If San Antonio is willing to be patient, this would be an interesting pairing.
16) Orlando Magic
Solo Ball, Connecticut
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. Orlando is the fourth-worst team in offensive efficiency (via ESPN’s John Hollinger) at 106.0 points per 100 possessions.
In his second season with UConn, Ball saw his three-point percentage spike from 31.9% to 41.4% and his minutes almost tripled (11.5 to 31.7). While Ball’s size isn’t special (6’3”, 190 pounds), he has shown a nice feel for the game.
His perimeter-oriented option is a must-have for Orlando in this draft especially since 63.2% of his total field-goal attempts this past season were triples.
17) Brooklyn Nets
Derik Queen, Maryland
With his stock rising during the postseason, Derik Queen might not last this long, but if he does, I like how he projects in a rebuild situation. There is some talent to build around in Brooklyn as only two players on the current roster are older than 26 years old.
Queen could slide right into a starring role, too. The 6-foot-10 center would give the Nets a physical presence in the paint, with a proven ability to finish near the rim (56% on two-pointers this season) — and, over the past month, he’s shown increased comfort in space. He averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game.
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. That is assuming he decides to leave Maryland.
18) Minnesota Timberwolves
Rasheer Fleming, St. Joseph’s
Julius Randle’s fit has been a bit clunky in his first season with the Timberwolves. At the tender age of 30, 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 leaning on the optimistic side, but we are looking at a real threat from deep (39% on three-pointers in 2025, a second straight season of marked improvement) who is aggressive at attacking the rim. He averaged 14.7 points per game last season.
Fleming (6’9”, 220 pounds) has the type of profile that fits nicely alongside a paint-locked big man and an alpha scorer, a build that is very much how Minnesota has gone about building out this roster.
19) 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. Plus, Essengue can continue to craft his game and hone his skills while playing overseas in Europe.
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 ready for 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.
20) Washington Wizards
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
With a bonus pick at this spot, JT Toppin’s current profile is a fine fit. A rim-running big man to do the dirty work on the glass may not be the most analytically friendly player, but it’s a profile that can get minutes sooner than later.
Toppin will be 20 years old on draft night, and that is where some of the upside sits. Can he become a respected three-point shooter? We haven’t seen it at the college level (under 7% of his makes are triples), but the improvement from the free-throw line (56.5% at New Mexico in 2023-24, up to 67.6% at Texas Tech in 2024-25) hints that there might be some skill to uncover at the professional level.
We are looking at a bit of a work in progress. There were moments at Texas Tech where Toppin looked like the best player on the floor, but, especially in the tournament exit against a supersized Florida frontcourt, there were moments where he got sped up and lacked finesse around the bucket. NBA teams certainly noticed his rough night.
21) Utah Jazz
Baye Ndongo, Georgia 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 in three years with the franchise), a frontcourt banger like Baye Ndongo is a reasonable pairing.
A two-year starting forward for Georgia Tech, Ndongo is an intriguing high-athleticism flier who could go late in the first or early in the second round. Ndongo is 6’9”, 240 pounds, 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.
Shooting is not Ndongo’s strength despite increasing his scoring average from 12.4 PPG last season to 13.4 PPG this year. He attempted 31 triples across two seasons with the Yellow Jackets (making 11 of them, 35.5%) while finishing his college career as a 66.7% free-throw shooter.
22) Indiana Pacers
Will Riley, Illinois
As one of the higher-tempo offenses in the NBA, the Pacers thrive with players who can push the pace and create on the move. Indiana isn’t playing quite as fast as last season’s team that ranked second in pace (ranked No. 10 right now), but having multiple ballhandlers beyond Tyrese Haliburton is a must for this offense.
Watch the Pacers for five minutes and you’ll understand just how perfect of a match Will Riley is for them. 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 and that was on full display during the NCAA Tournament.
- Round 1 vs. Xavier: 22 points (8-for-12 FG, 3-for-4 on 3s) in 33 minutes
- Round 2 vs. Kentucky: Five points (1-for-7 FG, 0-for-3 on 3s) in 26 minutes
Swings like that won’t be acceptable at the next level, but the upside could be enough to earn him a shot on a team that certainly has shown us that they prioritize speed and pace of play. Like many younger prospects, he also needs to add strength (180 pounds) before he can reliably shoulder significant rotation minutes.
23) Miami Heat
Nique Clifford, Colorado State
At the height of Heat Culture, Miami was a tough team that defended at a high level and had a bevy of versatile scorers. Even in a down season, they would rank in the top half of the NBA in defensive efficiency, highlighting their emphasis on that side of the court.
So why not add more versatility to the mix?
Nique Clifford is a 6’6” wing who can defend multiple positions, making him a very easy sell to what is turning into a fearsome frontcourt. Clifford’s defensive optionality is his biggest strength. He’s also a strong rebounder (9.6 per game last season at Colorado State) despite being a smaller wing.
Whether or not that translates into a league of fully grown men is yet to be seen, but he checked every box you could ask for at the collegiate level and that’s going to earn him the ability to prove he can do it at the next level.
24) Atlanta Hawks
Khaman Maluach, Duke
The Atlanta Hawks have been one of the worst teams defending the restricted area this season. They are allowing over 20 FGM per game at the rim, the second-most behind only the lowly Wizards. A rim protector is especially important on any team with Trae 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.
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’ll need lots of patience on his development timeline, but all of the physical pieces are in place and he’s picking up the intricate details at an impressive rate.
Maluach blocked more shots in the Sweet 16 (four) than he had total missed shots (three) through the first two weeks of the NCAA Tournament. He’s already an asset that has mastered his basic responsibilities. It stands to reason that he’s currently only a fraction of the player he will be in 12-24 months.
25) Orlando Magic
Chaz Lanier, Tennessee
The fifth-year senior guard was a starter for the Volunteers this season after transferring from North Florida. This season, Chaz Lanier shot 39.5% from deep on 8.2 attempts per game. His 123 total 3-point FGM led the SEC in 2024-25 and should translate immediately.
At 6’4”, the 23-year-old has the size of a ball-handler but plays more off-guard. Lanier hasn’t demonstrated great facilitation skills as a passer, topping out at 1.8 assists per game in 2023-24, but that could be explained by his team wanting to fully leverage his strength as opposed to working on developing his NBA profile.
Lanier is likely off the first-round radar for a handful of teams. For some, the experience and toughness of a player like Johni Broome will be more appealing. But for the Magic, one of the worst shooting teams in recent memory, they’d gladly Volunteer for Tennessee’s professional bucket-getter.
26) Brooklyn Nets
Noah Penda, France
The Nets share the ball, just not always effectively. Although they are a top-10 team in assist percent on FGM, they are a bottom-10 team in assist-to-turnover ratio. Having more effective and creative playmaking will be a necessary skill to acquire as the Nets rebuild as well as maximize the players already on this roster (yes, I’m looking at you, Cam Thomas).
French forward Noah Penda is one potential solution to that problem, or at least a step in the right direction. Vision is easily 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. He shot only 30.6% from 3 and doesn’t profile as much of a shot creator for himself.
27) Brooklyn Nets
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
The four-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.
You can’t teach size.
You also may not be able to teach his unique ability to be a force on the defensive end without ever fouling out of a collegiate game. His timing and basketball IQ are two assets that position him above other big men in this class despite his advanced age.
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 29.6% 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 size was able to mask some of these concerns at the collegiate level, a luxury he simply won’t have in an NBA that has athletic marvels on the floor at all times.
28) Boston Celtics
Danny Wolf, Michigan
The next time a team makes a wise decision to pass on a rare skill set because they already have something similar will be the first. Kristpas Porzingis popularized the “Unicorn” moniker and Danny Wolf certainly qualifies as such given his wide range of skills and pro-ready body.
The Michigan center is 7’0” but has an unusually high level of ballhandling and passing skill for the position. He 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 isn’t a particularly efficient 3-point shooter (33.6% for his collegiate career), but he showed a willingness to take stepback jumpers. He’s a fluid athlete and possesses all of the tools to develop into a lethal threat, a profile that NBA teams are going to salivate at while they ignore some minor accuracy concerns.
Wolf will need to corral the turnovers (3.2 per game in 2024-25), and he doesn’t provide a ton of defensive value with subpar rim protection and an inability to hang with guards in space. That might not matter in Boston where their bigs beyond Porziņģis and Al Horford are true paint-bound types, so taking a swing on a unique prospect like Wolf makes sense for the Celtics to add to their frontcourt pipeline.
29) Phoenix Suns
Labaron Philon, Alabama
Labaron Philon averaged over two assists per turnover this season for the Crimson Tide, demonstrating a high level of playmaking and ball handling for a young player, a trait that every NBA team values when looking at the developmental curve.
The question is whether Philon’s shooting will improve. Although he was reportedly a 41% 3-point shooter in high school, he shot just 31.5% from deep (39-of-124) 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.
Even if this team elects to move on from Kevin Durant, there’s always room for a creative point guard with the long-term potential to elevate those he is playing alongside.
30) Los Angeles Clippers
Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
The freshman combo guard was an effective scorer off the bench for Auburn. Tahaad Pettiford has been good for nearly 12 points a night while shooting over 37% from deep this season. His three-point shooting should translate immediately, as he demonstrated efficiency both off the dribble and on catch-and-shoot opportunities.
The duality of his scoring was on full display in the win over Michigan in the Sweet 16. Every shot he took was a comfortable one, no matter what defensive scheme was thrown his way. The level of shot-making he showed that night isn’t always there, but the fact that such a jaw-dropping performance is possible is enough to make general managers salivate.
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 has helped him overcome size limitations (6’1″) at the college level.
Will that translate to the pros?
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.
If Pettiford declares, he’ll be on the Clippers’ radar. If he decides another year in college is for him — well, then he’ll be on the Clippers’ radar this time next year!
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.
Where’s Broome on this list?! You guys keep disrespecting that man! BS