2025 NBA Mock Draft
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With the NBA season wrapping up, a lot of teams have begun to look forward to the quick turnaround to the draft. If experts are correct, this offseason could be one of the craziest ones of all time, and it will be kicked off with the draft.
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Pick #1: Dallas Mavericks select Duke F Cooper Flagg
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When they landed the first pick during the lottery, the Mavs knew that they had lucked into a generational prospect in Flagg. Flagg gives Dallas the franchise cornerstone that they needed following the trade of Luka Doncic.
Pick #2: San Antonio Spurs select Rutgers G Dylan Harper
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Even though the Spurs don’t necessarily have a need at point guard with their acquisition of De’Aaron Fox at the trade deadline, the chance to pick a prospect as great as Harper doesn’t come around often. Harper has the chance to develop into a franchise-changing lead guard due to his ability to score effectively at all three levels combined with his excellent passing.
Pick #3: Philadelphia 76ers select Baylor G/F VJ Edgecombe
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The 76ers had high hopes this past season, but injuries and defensive issues caused them to land in the top 5, so picking a defensive menace like Edgecombe seems like a seamless fit. Edgecombe is an uber-athletic defensive stopper who has the offensive potential to become an elite two-way wing alongside guards Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain for the future.
Pick #4: Charlotte Hornets select Duke G/F Kon Kneuppel
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Charlotte was one of the worst shooting teams in the league last year, so opting for one of the best shooters in the draft in Kneuppel makes a lot of sense. Kneuppel also provides the Hornets with another creator alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, which they could use as well.
Pick #5: Utah Jazz select Rutgers F Ace Bailey
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Utah is a team who currently doesn’t have a bonafide franchise star, so swinging for the fences with the high-upside Bailey makes their future more enticing. Bailey’s immense potential comes from his shot-creating and shot-making ability in a 6 foot 10 frame, which is something that could really benefit a Jazz team that lacks dynamic creating and scoring.
Pick #6: Washington Wizards select Maryland F/C Derik Queen
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Similar to Utah, Washington could use an offensive creator, thus the pick of Queen could help fill that void. Despite some defensive issues, Queen’s intriguing offensive game still makes him a strong pick for the Wizards here at 6.
Pick #7: New Orleans Pelicans select Texas G Tre Johnson
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Along with numerous other teams in this early lottery, the Pelicans desperately need some shooting, so the sharpshooting Tre Johnson profiles as an ideal selection. Johnson possesses excellent shooting ability that would complement Zion Williamson very well.
Pick #8: Brooklyn Nets select Oklahoma G Jeremiah Fears
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There have been plenty of rumors connecting the Nets to Fears and the idea that they want to move up for him, so him falling to them at 8 makes him an obvious choice. Fears explosiveness and offensive upside would help spark their rebuild by giving them a true point guard to build around.
Pick #9: Toronto Raptors select Duke C Khamen Malauch
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With a big need at backup center behind Jakob Poeltl, Khamen Malauch projects as a great fit. Malauch can step in and provide excellent defense right away along with an offensive game with upside to grow.
Pick #10: Houston Rockets select Illinois G Kasparas Jakucionis
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Although the Rockets are an unconventional team picking in the top 10, they still have some glaring weaknesses, with a specific one being offensive playmaking. Jakucionis provides Houston with effective decision-making and advanced facilitation that they sorely need.
Pick #11: Portland Trail Blazers select Arizona F Carter Bryant
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Portland selecting another lengthy wing with Bryant seems like an excellent choice. Bryant fits a coveted role in today’s league as a lengthy 3-and-D wing, but also has impressive athleticism and a growing offensive game that could lead to him becoming increasingly valuable.
Pick #12: Chicago Bulls select South Carolina F Colin Murray-Boyles
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For the Bulls sitting here at #12, being able to nab one of the best defensive players in the draft in Murray-Boyles sounds great. Murray-Boyles has tremendous switchability and versatility defensively that would work wonders for Chicago’s struggling defense.
Pick #13: Atlanta Hawks select French F Noa Essengue
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With the necessity for taller forwards surrounding Trae Young, taking a chance on the versatile Essengue doesn’t sound like a bad option. Even though Essengue needs development in some areas on offense, his defensive versatility and athleticism gives him an intriguing ceiling.
Pick #14: San Antonio Spurs select Colorado State F Nique Clifford
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San Antonio could use some more help on the wings, so selecting a do-it-all forward like Clifford here makes a lot of sense. Clifford will provide the Spurs with a swiss army knife type of playstyle that will allow him to fill a multitude of different roles both offensively and defensively.
Pick #15: Oklahoma City Thunder select Saint Joseph F Rasheer Fleming
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As a team that is in the finals, Oklahoma City doesn’t necessarily have a bunch of needs, but one thing that could use some improvement would be the wings outside of Jalen Williams. Fleming would help sure up the Thunder’s wing room by giving them an athletic 3-and-D forward with versatility.
Pick #16: Memphis Grizzlies select Washington State G/F Cedric Coward
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With the trade of Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic, the Grizzlies have acquired Pick #16, but have also been left with a huge hole on the wing. Coward would help fill the void left by Bane and profiles as a versatile forward who can shoot and defend at a high level, while also providing some passing and creation skills.
Pick #17: Minnesota Timberwolves select Georgetown C Thomas Sorber
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With Rudy Gobert continuing to age and Naz Reid potentially departing in free agency, the Wolves have a need for another big man, and Sorber could help with that. Sorber’s two-way impact and upside would lead to him being an intriguing pick for Minnesota.
Pick #18: Washington Wizards select BYU G Egor Demin
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Washington currently lacks a true point guard who can facilitate the offense effectively, and Egor Demin would certainly address that. Although he is a bit of a project due to his streaky shot, Demin’s creativity and playmaking as a tall guard is an archetype worth taking a swing on for a Wizards team that is still far away from competing.
Pick #19: Brooklyn Nets select Georgia F Asa Newell
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With Brooklyn also being a team that looks to be far away from competing, taking an upside chance on the talented Newell would be a good option. Newell is an athletic forward with defensive versatility and an offensive game with a lot of potential if he is developed properly.
Pick #20: Miami Heat select Michigan State G Jase Richardson
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Richardson reportedly has connections to teams in the lower lottery, so if Miami is somehow able to land Richardson all the way down here at 20, that would be an absolute slam dunk. The Heat have a huge need for playmaking and scoring, and Richardson could provide that right away along with just bringing an overall spark for a team that could use it.
Pick #21: Utah Jazz select Real Madrid G/F Hugo Gonzalez
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Utah has a big problem with perimeter defense from their wings, and Gonzalez could help alleviate that issue. Although Gonzalez is a very raw prospect who sparingly played for Real Madrid, he has the tools to develop into a quality 3-and-D wing if given the correct development.
Pick #22: Atlanta Hawks select Stanford C Maxime Raynaud
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As it is looking more likely that Clint Capela will be leaving this offseason, Atlanta now has a need at center that could be filled by Raynaud. Raynaud’s unique combination of size, smooth shooting, and an adequate handle give him a skillset that could be coveted by the Hawks if they need to search for another center.
Pick #23: Indiana Pacers select Michigan C Danny Wolf
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Similarly to the Thunder, the Pacers are in the finals right now so they don’t have a bunch of needs, but one position that could certainly be improved upon would be backup center behind Myles Turner. Wolf is a do-it-all big man whose skilled playmaking and versatile playstyle give him an interesting ceiling that Indiana could maximize.
Pick #24: Oklahoma City Thunder select Connecticut F Liam McNeeley
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As mentioned earlier, Oklahoma City doesn’t have many needs as a team that’s in the finals, but adding some extra 3 point shooting wouldn’t hurt. McNeeley is a sharpshooting wing who would fit seamlessly into the Thunder catch-and-shoot scheme.
Pick #25: Orlando Magic select Florida G Walter Clayton Jr.
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Even with the recent acquisition of Desmond Bane, the Magic still need shot creators, and Walter Clayton Jr is exactly that. Clayton bursted onto the scene during his national championship run with the Florida Gators, and would give Orlando the big boost offensively that they have been lacking.
Pick #26: Brooklyn Nets select Illinois G/F Will Riley
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Brooklyn is a team in need of some more offensive firepower, and that could come with the selection of Will Riley. Although Riley needs some time to develop, his upside as a versatile scoring wing is undeniably worth taking a look at.
Pick #27: Brooklyn Nets select French G/F Noah Penda
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You can never have too many switchable, versatile wings in today’s NBA, so Brooklyn opting for another one in Penda here would be solid. Although Penda, similar to Riley, could use some work on his jumpshot, Penda’s excellent passing and defensive versatility give him an intriguing ceiling.
Pick #28: Boston Celtics select Arkansas F Adou Thiero
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Following the injury to Jayson Tatum, the Celtics now possess a clear need on the wing that Thiero could help fill. Thiero is an athletic, defensive menace who also has some shooting upside that could be maximized in Boston.
Pick #29: Phoenix Suns select French G Nolan Traore
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With the Suns lacking some guard play besides Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, the high-upside Traore could be solid. Even though Traore may take some time to develop fully, his upside with his combination of size, speed, and shiftiness could lead him to developing into the Suns point guard of the future.
Pick #30: Los Angeles Clippers select Israeli G Ben Saraf
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As the Clippers begin to plan for life after James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, taking an upside swing on a prospect like Saraf could help set them up for the future. Saraf’s really good size in combination with his crafty scoring and natural playmaking ability leads to him having excellent potential if his jump shot is able to improve.
(photo courtesy of HoopsHype)