NBA mock draft 2025: Excellent picks for every group within the first spherical

June 12, 2025

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Evaluating the 2025 NBA Draft class has been the last word rollercoaster. This group entered the yr trying prefer it may probably be one of many strongest courses in current reminiscence, however a lot of that optimism pale by the halfway level within the season. We’re left with a draft class that has a generational No. 1 total choose, a robust No. 2 total choose, after which a bunch of high-upside prospects with sufficient flaws to tank their careers if issues play out poorly.

Cooper Flagg is a lock to go No. 1 total the Mavericks. Dylan Harper would be the No. 2 choose, to the San Antonio Spurs, until they make a shock resolution to commerce out. After that, issues get murky. The Philadelphia 76ers have plenty of good selections at No. 3 total, however no clear reply. The Brooklyn Nets reportedly need to transfer up from No. 8, however will anybody forward of them make their choose obtainable?

Lower than two weeks out from the draft, I at all times like to consider what would make for an ideal choose when a group comes on the clock. This mock is a mixture of my very own participant rankings (which will probably be revealed within the days to come back) and group want. Listed here are the picks that might draw an A-grade on draft evening.

1. Dallas Mavericks – Cooper Flagg, F, Duke

Flagg checks each field for a No. 1 total choose, and he has a professional case as the perfect American basketball prospect since LeBron James. Flagg put up monster manufacturing in main Duke to the Remaining 4 because the youngest participant on this draft class with a Dec. 2006 birthday. He has an excellent mixture of positional dimension, athleticism, IQ, and burgeoning talent. The Maine native developed his status as an off-ball playmaker on each ends of the ground, however his lone season of school proved that he’s an elite offensive engine within the making with the ball in his arms. It’s nonetheless arduous to imagine the Mavericks jumped up within the lottery to land the No. 1 total choose after their terrible Luka Doncic commerce in Feb. I nonetheless assume the Mavs ought to hearth Nico Harrison, commerce Anthony Davis, and reset for the long run round Flagg. He’s going to be an impactful two-way participant immediately, however he’s nonetheless years away from hitting his prime, and that’s when Dallas actually must be loading up.

2. San Antonio Spurs – Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers

Harper has had a stranglehold the No. 2 choose on this draft, and I’ve no qualms with that. Each group within the NBA is in search of massive guards who can generate paint touches at will, and end with mushy contact or kick out to teammates because the protection rotates. That’s Harper’s recreation in a nutshell. He’s large for a lead ball handler at 6’6 with a 6’10.5 wingspan, and he makes use of his size defensively by making use of spectacular ball stress in opposition to smaller guards. He confirmed an unimaginable mixture of downhill driving and ending regardless of not precisely having nuclear hops across the basket. Harper’s three-point shot is a query mark, and that makes him a little bit of an odd slot in San Antonio with two different shaky shooters in De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Citadel already entrenched within the backcourt. I feel there are some attention-grabbing commerce situations right here whether or not the Spurs swing for a famous person or commerce down to amass extra future picks whereas staying within the top-10, however in the end it’s arduous to cross on a prospect with Harper’s upside.

3. Philadelphia 76ers – Kon Knueppel, G, Duke

I maintain going back-and-forth between Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe for this choose. Neither is an ideal match positionally for a Sixers group that already has two smaller guards within the backcourt in Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, however a group selecting within the top-three in the end must prioritize taking the perfect obtainable participant. Knueppel was Duke’s unsung hero subsequent to Flagg throughout his freshman season, offering knockdown taking pictures and pinch of pick-and-roll playmaking that ought to serve him nicely within the NBA. He ought to provide immense taking pictures gravity with a three-year monitor document of elite three-point taking pictures relationship again to highschool, and I feel his really feel for the sport and toughness are spectacular sufficient to assist him overcome his common size and athletic explosiveness. It doesn’t matter what the futures of Joel Embiid and Paul George maintain, Knueppel is a profitable participant who suits into any variety of lineup constructions.

4. Charlotte Hornets – VJ Edgecombe, G, Baylor

Edgecombe is perhaps probably the most explosive athlete within the class, and his spot-up taking pictures and defensive playmaking are interesting sufficient to make him a candidate for the third total choose. Charlotte needs to be thrilled if he’s nonetheless on the board at No. 4. Edgecombe needs to be an excellent slot in an uptempo offense led by LaMelo Ball, and his means to pressure turnovers on protection ought to get the group out and operating. He nonetheless wants loads of refinement in his offensive recreation, significantly as a pull-up shooter and rim finisher. Edgecombe’s elite athleticism paired together with his means to keep away from turnovers and contribute on the glass offers him a safer flooring, and he nonetheless may have an All-Star ceiling if he develops extra craft offensively. He suits properly between Ball and Brandon Miller, and will assist Charlotte discover the identification it badly wants.

5. Utah Jazz – Khaman Maluach, C, Duke

I’m shopping for Maluach’s upside due to his ridiculous size, expert rim ending, defensive paint safety, and taking pictures potential. The Duke freshman measured at practically 7’1 barefoot with a wingspan a tick below 7’7 and a 9’6 standing attain, which can make him one of many tallest and longest gamers within the league. He was a hyper-efficient scorer in a slender position for Duke with 73.6 p.c true taking pictures bouyed by 77 p.c ending on the rim. Maluach put up solely pedestrian block and rebounding charges for somebody together with his dimension, however Duke switched him lots on the perimeter and he seemed snug defending in house. I like that he makes his free throws (76.6 p.c) and confirmed a willingness to take threes earlier than arriving in Durham. The Jazz are so distant from being aggressive that they want a excessive upside swing, and to me Maluach has the best ceiling within the class after Flagg and Harper.

6. Washington Wizards – Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina

Right here’s my first curveball of this mock. The Wizards have gone for instruments over manufacturing within the final two drafts with Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly, and now I feel it’s time for them to go the opposite manner. Murray-Boyles will invite apparent skepticism from entrance places of work as an undersized massive man who can’t shoot threes but, however he’s so robust in nearly each different space that he nonetheless has a pathway to high-level impression. The South Carolina sophomore is the perfect defensive participant on this class with a formidable combo of power and size (7’1 wingspan). He’s a plus ball handler and passer for his place offensively, and he can take opposing bigs off the dribble as a bully-ball scorer. With Sarr preferring to drift to the perimeter to take threes, Murray-Boyles is a captivating match right here who may function an offensive hub whereas offering some a lot wanted defensive spine for a younger group. His management qualities and intangibles appear off the charts, and if his three-point shot ever comes round, he could possibly be one of many largest steals of this class.

7. New Orleans Pelicans – Tre Johnson, G, Texas

The Pelicans could be thrilled to see the board break like this with Johnson, Jeremiah Fears, and Ace Bailey all nonetheless obtainable at No. 7 — a extremely unlikely situation in actuality. I’m going with Johnson as a quick-trigger taking pictures guard who wouldn’t take the ball out of Zion Williamson’s arms and will assist repair the three-point points that doomed the Pelicans’ offense this yr. If Williamson goes to be a part of New Orleans’ long-term future, he wants shooters round him, and Johnson has a case alongside Knueppel as the highest shooter within the class. His recreation is extra well-rounded than it will get credit score for, with some respectable flashes of passing and on-ball defensive depth. Johnson can takeover a recreation as a scorer when he will get scorching, and that’s a pleasant complement to have enjoying off Zion’s scoring gravity. If the Pelicans maintain Trey Murphy and Herb Jones round, abruptly there’s a nucleus for a aggressive group if every part comes collectively, beginning with Williamson’s well being.

8. Brooklyn Nets – Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma

There are many rumors that the Nets need to transfer as much as draft Fears, and on this situation he falls to them with the eighth choose. Fears is a real upside swing with spectacular manufacturing in a tricky convention at a brilliant younger age (he gained’t flip 19 till Oct.). He has the perfect mixture of velocity and ball dealing with within the class, which permits him to get wherever he desires on the ground. The difficulty with Fears proper now could be that he was a poor rim finisher (53 p.c) and a shaky three-point shooter (28 p.c) as a freshman with the Sooners. There needs to be hope that his ending can enhance as he good points power and craft, and there’s cause to imagine in his taking pictures improvement given his contact from the free throw line and mid-range, mixed his flashes of deep vary this season. Fears wants loads of bodily and talent improvement, however he does some issues that may’t be taught, and his manufacturing in opposition to SEC groups was spectacular given his youth.

9. Toronto Raptors – Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers

Bailey possible gained’t be on the board at No. 9, however this must be his absolute flooring. The Raptors have an affinity for gamers like Bailey, a 6’9 wing with an elite highschool pedigree who remains to be rising into his physique and his recreation. Bailey’s expertise is apparent from the second he walks into the gymnasium as a tall wing scorer with improbable shot-making means and elite bodily instruments. It’s arduous to seek out gamers with this mix of size (7-foot wingspan), athletic explosiveness, and taking pictures contact, and Bailey checks all three bins. The difficulty with Bailey is he doesn’t actually know the best way to play basketball but: he showcases poor court docket imaginative and prescient and an incapability to get his teammates concerned as a passer. He could make some superior restoration performs defensively, however his preliminary psychological lapses can compromise a group defensive construction. I don’t see star upside on Bailey till his deal with and all-around consciousness improves, however he ought to nonetheless have a high-floor together with his physicality and taking pictures. This may be a house run choose for the Raptors at No. 9.

10. Houston Rockets – Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois

The Rockets have been named as considered one of 5 groups all for Kevin Durant, and this choose is probably going going out in any commerce bundle. If Phoenix have been selecting right here, Jase Richardson could be the odds-on favourite given the Suns’ evident Michigan State bias. Ought to Houston maintain this choose, Jakucionis would give them a dimension they don’t at present have on the roster. The Lithuanian level guard is without doubt one of the most gifted passers on this class, whether or not he’s operating pick-and-roll within the halfcourt or getting his group out in transition with hit-ahead passes. His stepback three could be a lethal weapon, and he confirmed a capability to get to the foul line at Illinois. Jakucionis isn’t an excellent athlete, and he had large turnover issues when groups began to blitz him this yr. I’m anxious about his means to attain from two-point vary, and if he may even get to impartial defensively. Nonetheless, Jakucionis’ passing will be particular, and if his pull-up three is falling, he can actually stress an opposing protection. He’s price a shot within the late lottery or center a part of the first-round.

11. Portland Path Blazers – Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State

It’s a typical chorus that you could’t train dimension and athleticism. Can the identical be mentioned for really feel? In that case, Jase Richardson is a simple lottery choose on this class with razor-sharp IQ matched with elite three-point taking pictures means. Richardson took off as quickly as Michigan State lastly inserted him within the beginning lineup in Feb., turning right into a lethal off-ball scorer who not often turned the ball over. If solely the son of Jason Richardson had his father’s dimension. The freshman guard measured at 6-foot on the mix, however his 6’6 wingspan does give him strong size. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see if Richardson can scale up after a low-usage position in faculty, however even when he can’t, his talent set nonetheless looks like match for a Blazers group that wants taking pictures and connective passing. Even scarier than his lack of dimension is perhaps his harm historical past: Richardson had a gap in his femur that required a bone graft in highschool. If the harm is not a priority, Portland may simply cowl Richardson on protection with monsters like Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara on the ground. His means to seek out mushy spots within the opposing protection may assist their offense take off. It’s arduous for a small guard to make it in immediately’s league, however Richardson’s talent set offers him an incredible probability to do it.

12. Chicago Bulls – Noa Essengue, F, Ulm

Essengue’s mixture of dimension, athleticism, and manufacturing in a professional league at an especially younger age makes up the idea for his case as a lottery choose. The 6’10 French ahead is the second youngest participant on this draft behind Flagg with a Dec. 2006 birthday, and he’s already been stuffing field scores all season lengthy within the high German league for Ulm. His scoring effectivity has been undeniably spectacular with 62.7 p.c true taking pictures, and he’s finished nicely to hit the glass (20.1 p.c defensive rebound price) and discover his methods into blocks and steals defensively. Essengue simply doesn’t have a really polished dribble, cross, and shoot talent set at this level, and that makes his projection a little bit bit tough. He’s solely made 28 p.c of his threes this season on 122 makes an attempt, his 8.4 p.c help price is tremendous low, and whereas his deal with seems good within the open flooring, it will probably simply be disrupted by ball stress. Nonetheless, Essengue’s switchable protection on the perimeter and size on the rim is an interesting mixture, and the truth that he’s been scoring nicely with no good soar shot but is spectacular. The Bulls have to draft for ceiling, and Essengue’s is excessive given his instruments and manufacturing.

13. Atlanta Hawks – Carter Bryant, F, Arizona

The Hawks have sought to encompass Trae Younger with size, athleticism, and defensive upside, and Bryant could be one other excellent match for that mildew. The Arizona freshman put up big-time defensive playmaking numbers and flashed spot-up taking pictures potential this yr. He has an incredible body for a professional wing at 6’8 with a 7-foot wingspan, and he seemed like an explosive athlete at each ends. Bryant can’t actually create his personal shot but and he isn’t a lot of a passer, however so long as he continues flattening photographs as a flooring spacer, his protection ought to get him on the ground and provides him an extended profession.

14. San Antonio Spurs – Derik Queen, F/C, Maryland

There’s a case for Queen as one of many highest upside gamers on this draft class. The freshman massive man was a strong and environment friendly inside scorer who flashed the potential to develop as a passer throughout a improbable season at Maryland. Queen is unattainable to include in the course of the ground with stunning ball dealing with means, an innate data of the best way to get his defender off steadiness, and mushy contact close to the rim. The group that takes Queen has to imagine in his star outcomes, as a result of his position participant translation is a manner greater query mark. Queen is undersized for a middle, and confirmed poor defensive habits and conditioning. He solely made 4 three-pointers all yr, and isn’t a dependable flooring spacer. The questions on his protection and taking pictures are scary for a top-10 choice, however Queen is such scorer that he ought to be capable of overcome it. This may be a dream haul for the Spurs with Harper and Queen, however I wouldn’t be stunned to see this choose traded for Kevin Durant.

15. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder – Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown

Sorber is a throwback massive man who can shield the paint, rebound, display screen, and make some spectacular passing reads. He has among the best mixtures of size and power on this class, with a monstrous +9 wingspan offsetting some considerations about his lack of top at 6’9.25 with out sneakers. Sorber isn’t an explosive athlete off the bottom, however he is aware of the place he be defensively and he takes up loads of house. He can play a little bit heavy at occasions and doesn’t present any taking pictures or spacing worth but. It feels just like the Thunder have focused traits like those Sorber possesses, and he may give the group a long-term alternative for Isaiah Hartenstein if he must be moved in a commerce.

16. Orlando Magic – Walter Clayton Jr., G, Florida

The Magic want taking pictures within the worst manner attainable, and Clayton Jr. gave a convincing pitch that he needs to be an choice to fill it throughout March Insanity. The Florida guard went on a nuclear run as a scorer and shot-maker to guide the Gators to the nationwide championship, and his deep vary and talent to create his personal shot may translate nicely to the following stage. Clayton isn’t very massive at 6’2 barefoot with a 6’4 wingspan, and he’s extra of a strong passer than a spectacular one. Orlando has loads of size elsewhere on the roster to insulate him defensively, and his biggest talent is an ideal match for Orlando’s largest weak spot.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves – Nique Clifford, F, Colorado State

Clifford will probably be 24 years previous as a rookie and doesn’t have a signature talent to hold his hat on, however he impacts the sport in so many areas with out taking a lot off the desk. Clifford was a defensive ace early in his profession earlier than increasing his taking pictures vary and eventually rising as an on-ball engine this yr for Colorado State. He hit 37.5 p.c of his threes on 279 makes an attempt throughout his ultimate two years in faculty. His development as a playmaker was simply as spectacular this yr, with a 26.8 p.c help price whereas nonetheless being an environment friendly quantity scorer. Clifford isn’t overly spectacular together with his size/power/athleticism and he’ll be in a a lot smaller utilization position within the NBA, however he has a manner of filling within the cracks that feels excellent for a contender just like the Wolves.

18. Washington Wizards – Cedric Coward, F, Washington State

Coward is that this yr’s thriller man within the draft. He began his faculty profession on the D3 stage, spent two years at Jap Washington, and performed simply six video games at Washington State earlier than a torn labrum ended his season. He had Duke and Alabama in a bidding battle for his providers within the switch portal, however NBA groups have been so impressed by his measurements, interviews, and taking pictures stroke that he’s now a attainable lottery choose. Coward’s 7’2+ wingspan and 40 p.c taking pictures stroke from three has apparent enchantment. He struggled in opposition to high competitors all through his faculty profession, and it’s arduous to venture if he can create his personal shot in any respect in opposition to NBA defenses. At this level within the draft, taking a swing on a wing with size and taking pictures looks as if a advantageous wager for the Wizards.

19. Brooklyn Nets – Noah Penda, F, Le Mans

Penda is a powerful and lengthy wing with playmaking means on each ends of the ground. Measuring at 6’7.25 barefoot and 242 kilos with a 6’11.5 wingspan, the French wing has tons of size and power whereas exhibiting a powerful really feel for the sport on each ends. Penda is without doubt one of the higher defensive wing prospects on this class with a eager understanding of the best way to rotate to fill within the gaps and muck up driving lanes. On offense, he retains the ball transferring across the perimeter and has proven good instincts as a cutter. Penda isn’t shooter proper now, and it’s attainable he’ll be a little bit sluggish within the NBA. He’s swing for a group like Brooklyn with a number of picks.

20. Miami Warmth – Adou Thiero, F, Arkanas

Thiero rivals Edgecombe as probably the most explosive athlete within the class. He hammered house 45 dunks in 27 video games this yr, shot 68 p.c on the rim, and flew by opponents within the open flooring. Thiero leverages his mixture of size (7-foot wingspan) and explosiveness to wreck havoc defensively, the place he’s nice on the moving into the passing lanes and may present some secondary rim safety. The difficulty for is that he’s a horrible exterior shooter after making 28.4 p.c of his threes on solely 74 makes an attempt throughout three seasons of school ball. Miami looks like an ideal place to unleash his physicality and assist him hone in talent set.

21. Utah Jazz – Rasheer Fleming, F, St. Joseph’s

Fleming’s size and power mixture is unassailable with a wingspan over 7’5 and a 232-pound body. He caught the NBA’s consideration with a major taking pictures leap as a junior at St. Joe’s, the place he knocked down 39 p.c of his threes on 159 makes an attempt. Fleming struggles to create his personal shot and I fear he could possibly be a little bit sluggish defensively, however his dimension and taking pictures projection offers him a protected flooring for a task participant. Utah’s size could be scary in the event that they have been to land Fleming and Maluach like they do on this mock.

22. Atlanta Hawks – Asa Newell, F, Georgia

Newell will most likely go greater than this, and he may make sense for the Hawks’ first choose at No. 13, too. The Georgia freshman is an explosive play finisher who dunked 57 occasions in 33 video games, and shot 73 p.c on the rim. There’s some taking pictures upside right here too, however Newell’s shot nonetheless has an extended strategy to go after hitting solely 29.2 p.c on 89 makes an attempt. He’s a bit caught between positions within the NBA, not sufficiently big to play the 5 and probably not fast sufficient to play the 4. Nonetheless, Newell may run with Trae Younger and end performs when he’s arrange.

23. Indiana Pacers – Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton

Kalkbrenner was a five-year faculty participant at Creighton who gained three Large East Defensive Participant of the 12 months awards for his large rim safety. He’s a large heart at 7’1 barefoot with a 7’6 wingspan, and will be capable of stroll into a task as a reserve shot blocker. Kalkbrenner additionally began to stretch out his taking pictures vary this previous season by flattening 21 threes at a 34.4 p.c clip. His superior rim ending ought to translate to the following stage even when the shot doesn’t. The Pacers’ entrance court docket has seemed shaky at occasions on this magical playoff run when its starters are off the ground, and it’s attainable Kalkbrenner could possibly be a stabilizing pressure in a smaller position if he may sustain with the tempo.

24. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder – Egor Demin, G, BYU

I gave my tackle Demin already, however in some unspecified time in the future his intersection of dimension and passing is price a swing. The Thunder love massive passers, they usually’ve developed taking pictures means in lots of gamers earlier than. A deep group like OKC that might permit Demin to work on his physique earlier than he must play massive minutes could possibly be an excellent touchdown spot.

25. Orlando Magic – Will Riley, G, Illinois

Riley is a strolling bucket. The Illinois freshman scored within the ninetieth percentile on isolation possessions with an countless array of strikes for creating separation and mushy contact as a shooter. Riley confirmed the flexibility to get three-pointers up with quantity even when his 32 p.c accuracy leaves lots to be desired. He wants a while so as to add power to his body and go from shot-maker to shooter, however Riley’s scoring upside and flashes of passing means make him a worthy goal for Orlando at both No. 16 or No. 25.

26. Brooklyn Nets – Joan Beringer, C, KK Cedevita Junior

Beringer is a long-and-mobile French massive man who may get seems within the lottery if the current buzz is to be believed. He brings a ton of size (7’5 wingspan) and mobility to any entrance court docket, which helps him swat photographs and catch lobs close to the rim. The remainder of his offensive recreation is underdeveloped, however Beringer is aware of his position and often performs with power at each ends.

27. Brooklyn Nets – Kam Jones, G, Marquette

Jones was at all times referred to as shooter throughout his first three years at Marquette, however he changed into among the best playmakers in faculty basketball as a senior. The 6’4 guard can generate paint touches with tight ball dealing with means and sudden burst, and his passing imaginative and prescient is a professional power now. As Jones’ level guard duties ramped up, his shot fell off (31.1 p.c), and his four-year struggles from the free throw line cloud his taking pictures projection a bit. It looks like he has a protected flooring as a bench guard and a few upside to be greater than that, which makes him a worthy first-round choose in a skinny class.

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28. Boston Celtics – Danny Wolf, F, Michigan

Wolf has the scale of a middle and the talents of some extent guard. Watching him run a supersized pick-and-roll at Michigan was one of many true joys of the faculty basketball season, however his vital turnover issues makes me skeptical he’ll keep in an on-ball position within the NBA. Wolf strikes his toes nicely sufficient defensively to present himself an opportunity, and Boston looks like a great spot to develop his taking pictures. The Celtics may have loads of minutes obtainable subsequent yr with Jayson Tatum sidelined, and Wolf has sufficient upside if every part comes collectively to make this a worthy swing.

29. Phoenix Suns – Nolan Traore, G, Saint Quentin

Traore was hyped as a possible top-5 choose going into the yr earlier than actually struggling together with his exterior shot and scoring effectivity. He’s nonetheless one of many quickest gamers with the ball in his arms on this class, and his pass-first method would pair nicely subsequent to Devin Booker. Getting such a expertise so late in a skinny draft could be an enormous win for Phoenix.

30. Los Angles Clippers – Liam McNeeley, F, UConn

McNeeley was an elite shooter in highschool earlier than struggling together with his shot (31.7 p.c from three) throughout his one yr at UConn. He’s restricted athletically and must work to keep away from being focused defensively, however his positional dimension and off-ball scoring will probably be attractive at a sure level. The Clippers can use extra shooters, and McNeeley remains to be promising in that space regardless of a poor faculty season.