The 2025 NBA Draft is about two weeks away, which means teams are starting to gear up for the event by bringing in groups of players for workouts and individual sessions. More than anything right now, though, the event is marked by a strange feeling of calm waters, given how close we are to the draft itself.
Over half a dozen NBA team sources who spoke to The Athletic over the last week have noted how bizarrely quiet things feel right now from an intel perspective when it comes to the draft. There is certainly information out there, but it’s not quite as ubiquitous as it typically is this close to the event. It feels like teams got a slightly later start this year bringing in prospects for workouts. Additionally, many of the team builders across the league are focused on trying to determine the overall landscape of player movement this summer as opposed to honing in on the draft. Given that the trade market is expected to be active, there is a lot of energy being paid to sorting through those options and trying to figure out strategy based on those outcomes and the potential cascading effect they could bring.
Many teams, from the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic to the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, are also assessing whether or not they even keep their current picks. The middle of the first round is seen as wide open, with a significant number of potential outcomes on the table.
A few quick notes on the structure and format of this mock draft:
• Team needs ARE taken into account.
• Player ages are as of draft day (June 25).
• First-round heights listed are from measurements without shoes at the NBA Draft Combine.
1. Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg | 6-8 forward | 18 years old | Duke
Flagg is going No. 1 to the Dallas Mavericks. He was the national player of the year in college basketball this season at just 18 after reclassifying into the 2024 recruiting class. He posted ridiculous numbers, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, but it got even better after January. In his final 25 games, including the Georgia Tech game in which he rolled an ankle after 15 minutes in the ACC tournament, Flagg posted 20.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.6 assists on 51.1 percent shooting from the field, 45.1 percent from 3 and 88 percent from the line. Duke went 23-2 in that run before falling in the Final Four to Houston in staggering fashion (despite Flagg’s 27, seven and four with two steals and three blocks in that game).
Flagg isn’t quite at the Victor Wembanyama level of prospect over the last 20 years, but he belongs in the Anthony Davis tier. And now, he’ll get to play with Davis. Barring injury, Flagg is about as can’t-miss as it gets because of his skill level, athleticism, shot-creation ability and mentality. He is about as competitive as you’ll find on the court and will bring a serious work ethic into whatever situation he arrives. He wants to be great. There’s no red flag in terms of entitlement here.
2. San Antonio Spurs
Dylan Harper | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Rutgers
Harper remains the most likely option at No. 2 for the Spurs as they continue to build their core around Wembanyama. Talent is talent, and Harper is the best player on the board here. Still, the fit isn’t wildly clean in San Antonio.
The Spurs acquired De’Aaron Fox at the trade deadline, and Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle plays a similar role to Harper as a combo guard. I think Harper is a better prospect than Castle, and thus, Castle’s presence shouldn’t stop you from selecting him. But the team will have some work to do to make all these players work.
Harper’s 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and four assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the field as a freshman guard put him in rarefied air, as few players have gotten that close to such marks in their first year. He also creates rim pressure at an elite level, with the ability to get into the paint and finish at the basket with his impressive array of gathers and touch finishes as a 6-6 lead guard.
It feels like the only way that this selection would be on the table in a trade is if Giannis Antetokounmpo became available in a deal.
3. PROJECTED TRADE: Charlotte Hornets
VJ Edgecombe | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Baylor
(Hornets trade No. 4 and No. 32 to Philadelphia 76ers for No. 3 and Andre Drummond)
No deal is close, and I’m sure the Sixers will continue to field offers until they get exactly what they want. But the most logical move is to trade down. At No. 3, the Sixers are atop a talent tier led by Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, Kon Knueppel and Ace Bailey. Some evaluators around the league would also throw Khaman Maluach and Jeremiah Fears into this group, and others would place prospects like Edgecombe and Bailey ahead and into their own mini-tier. For the Sixers, none of these prospects makes perfect sense.
With a couple of early second-round picks and salary flexibility to help the Sixers, the Hornets have the assets to jump one spot. Edgecombe makes the most sense with Charlotte’s team build in between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in the backcourt. He’s tough and competitive, cares about winning and has been highly impressive in the pre-draft process. The Hornets need a better defensive infrastructure surrounding their franchise centerpieces, and Edgecombe is a terrific defensive player with elite athleticism. He’d be a running mate in transition for Ball early in his career while taking on the toughest perimeter defensive assignments. He also has a lot of potential offensively because of his special athleticism, mixed with his ability to hit catch-and-shoot jumpers. But he needs to continue working on his ball skills, particularly with his left hand and the tightness of his handle. Still, he averaged 15 points, nearly six rebounds and three assists as a freshman and has a long track record of knocking down shots off the catch.
If the Hornets think he’s the guy, paying one of your two second-round selections while taking on Drummond’s $5 million this year is worth trading up. The Sixers get financial flexibility by taking the Drummond deal off their books and would have an additional asset at the top of the second round. Maybe they could move into the latter portion of the first round? Sell it for future picks? They’d have options.
4. PROJECTED TRADE: WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Ace Bailey | 6-8 wing/forward | 18 years old | Rutgers
(Wizards trade No. 6 and No. 18 to Sixers for No. 4 and Eric Gordon)
Again, I project the Sixers trade down. Why would the Wizards jump the Utah Jazz for No. 6? It’s hard to figure out what the Jazz will do at No. 5. With a new key decision-maker in Austin Ainge, league sources want to see how he operates after nearly 15 years in the Boston Celtics’ front office. So if Washington wants a certain player, it will probably need to jump Utah (and any other team that would be talking trade with Philadelphia in this instance). The price point here is No. 18 and taking the Gordon deal into the trade exception that the Wizards created in the Johnny Davis deal at the deadline. It’s not small, but it’s a worthwhile move if they love someone, and the Wizards have several young players on rookie-scale deals on the roster already in Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, AJ Johnson and Kyshawn George.
Evaluations from scouts on Bailey remain wide, but no one doubts his athleticism and tools as a shot-maker. The ceiling for Bailey is that he can be the second-best player in the class if all breaks right. His pull-up game is highly impressive for a player his age, and he’s a good catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter already, even if it’s not his natural inclination. I like several of those Wizards players listed above, but only Carrington and potentially Johnson project as shot creators. Bailey would give them something on the wing that they don’t have, as much as I love Coulibaly’s game.
Bailey will be a project. He averaged 17.6 points and seven rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3. But his style of play did not seem conducive to winning basketball. He settles for a lot of long jumpers because he struggles to get to the rim (he has a high handle and high center of gravity that gets knocked off its line too easily). Defensively, he wasn’t always engaged in help situations unless he saw an opportunity to go get the basketball.
But Rutgers was a catastrophe when Bailey wasn’t on the court. Even in Big Ten play, the Scarlet Knights lost Bailey’s minutes by only three points per 100 possessions. When he was off the court, they lost those minutes by 23 points per 100, per CBB Analytics. Bailey is enormous, he’s long, he is a real shooter, and he showed some defensive moments that were very positive in switch situations.
5. Utah Jazz
Tre Johnson | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | Texas
If I were running the Jazz, I’d probably sit back and take the guy I liked most out of Bailey, Johnson and Kon Knueppel who falls to them. Here, Johnson makes a ton of sense. He’s a 6-5 wing who can really shoot the ball off movement, and he’d be a perfect fit within Will Hardy’s scheme. Johnson averaged 19.9 points and looked like a serious potential scoring threat in the NBA at Texas.
Realistically, the Jazz just need to take an upside swing. Beyond Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler, they don’t have another building block that they can feel completely confident in. Keyonte George looks like a backup long-term because of his inefficiency and defense, and while Isaiah Collier had an excellent season passing the ball, he still doesn’t have a great way to score effectively. Recent lottery picks Cody Williams and Taylor Hendricks haven’t worked out yet (Hendricks due to injury, Williams due to his frame not being ready for the NBA). Kyle Filipowski is my favorite of their draft picks last year, but he might end up profiling best as a third big instead of a starter. If I were Ainge, I’d find the best swing I could take and go for it.
6. PROJECTED TRADE: Philadelphia 76ers
Kon Knueppel | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Duke
(The Sixers trade No. 3 and Andre Drummond to the Hornets for No. 4 and No. 33; the Sixers then trade No. 4 and Eric Gordon to the Wizards for No. 6 and No. 18)
The Sixers wheel and deal with two trades here. Philly is both bringing in top prospects for workouts and seeing what’s available on the market. The Sixers are looking to contend now, but league sources say they wish to bridge the gap between eras of players on their roster and potentially provide cheaper production. If someone comes in and blows their doors off, maybe they keep the pick. If not, they have options.
With these two trades, they end up with No. 6, No. 18, No. 33 and get off the Drummond and Gordon deals as they look to re-sign Quentin Grimes and Guerschon Yabusele. It’s not a massive haul, but it’s extremely helpful. And at No. 6, they get the guy I’d have at the top of their board at No. 3 in Knueppel, a bigger shooter who is competitive and tough. He has a case as the best shooter in the class along with Johnson, and his overall game was more impactful this season. He also has more ball skills than you think, especially in ball screens, and was better defensively than he got credit for being. He gives them more roster flexibility and versatility off the bench, as I think he can play the two and three fairly easily.
The difference between No. 3 and No. 6 financially next season is about $3 million, meaning the Sixers would save about $11.5 million between this and shedding the Drummond and Gordon deals. The No. 18 pick has about a $3 million salary for next year, but that would also be another cheap roster spot for the next four years or another asset in their cache. This feels like a win for everyone, with two rebuilding teams getting prospects that they want and the Sixers getting more assets and flexibility as they look to retool a potential contender on the fly.
7. New Orleans Pelicans
Jeremiah Fears | 6-3 guard | 18 years old | Oklahoma
The Pelicans have already made substantive changes to their organization, firing David Griffin and hiring Joe Dumars to run basketball operations. Several teams are tracking what the Pelicans are doing closely, wondering how open they are for business as they look to retool around Zion Williamson.
With Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones on the roster, the team is set on the wing. They also just drafted an All-Rookie big in Yves Missi a season ago. Where they could use an upside swing is in the backcourt, as CJ McCollum only has one year left on his deal, and Dejounte Murray is recovering from a torn Achilles. Fears, at the very least, represents that swing. He’s a polarizing player for evaluators around the league, because you either believe in the upside of him as a primary ballhandler and think he can be a true top-tier option, or you think he profiles more as a backup. Some scouts and executives I’ve talked to think he’s a top-five upside bet in this draft because of his handle and creativity. Others see him more as a bet to take in the late teens or even the 20s. He creates advantages in ball screens and is dynamic in how he gets to his spots. But I question his finishing ability, his shooting (after hitting 27 percent from 3 this year), and his total lack of defensive game. Still, if you believe in your developmental staff in those areas, there is undeniably a lot to work with.
8. Brooklyn Nets
Kasparas Jakučionis | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Illinois
Jakučionis is big and can play both on and off the ball, coming off a terrific freshman season in which he averaged 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. His vision is sublime, and he fits the current ecosystem of the NBA well with his dribble, pass and shoot traits. Still, he doesn’t have a ton of athletic explosiveness, and his defensive game was not always on point this year. His range is seen as somewhere from the middle to the end of the lottery.
What I like about Jakučionis for the Nets is the flexibility he provides. They certainly need a lead guard and a playmaker of the future. If they choose to keep Cam Thomas, I like Jakučionis’ ability to play off him with his size and passing ability mixed with Thomas’ scoring firepower. However, since the Nets have four first-round picks, his versatility matters. Jakučionis playing on the ball means that they don’t have to prioritize getting a point guard. However, his ability to also shift off the ball means they would then have the flexibility later to take a lead guard if one were the best player available.
9. Toronto Raptors
Khaman Maluach | 7-1 big | 19 years old | Duke
With Jakob Poeltl potentially hitting free agency next year, the Raptors could use a long-term answer at center. Many people around the league have connected Maluach here because of his time at the NBA Academy in Africa and Masai Ujiri’s efforts to promote basketball within the region.
Maluach isn’t a monster shot-blocker, but he understands how big he is and is excellent at using his size to cut off angles and contest on the interior. Offensively, there are more questions, largely about his hands and overall feel for the game. He started playing basketball late and is still working on how to see the floor around him. He also doesn’t always come down with contested rebounds, as was starkly seen in Duke’s Final Four game against Houston, when he played 20 minutes and had zero rebounds. Still, someone will take the bet on a player who’s 7-1 with long arms and movement skills.
10. Houston Rockets (via PHX)
Collin Murray-Boyles | 6-7 wing/forward | 20 years old | South Carolina
The Rockets are loaded across each position. They have a team option on veteran point guard Fred VanVleet and drafted their point guard of the future in Reed Sheppard at No. 3 last year; the organization is still extremely high on Sheppard despite his lack of playing time this year. They have their center of the future in Alperen Şengün. I think they will just take the best player available, and at this spot, that’s Murray-Boyles. He’s a tremendous defender and would fit in perfectly with how Ime Udoka wants to play. He also passes well and has serious toughness to play with many of their players. He processes the game at an elite level and is the kind of prospect the Rockets have valued in the past.
Other teams across the league are under the impression that this pick could be moved in the right circumstances, especially in a deal for a star in which Houston consolidates talent.
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Carter Bryant | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Arizona
Bryant didn’t start many games this year at Arizona, but he was a monster defensive player when he was on the court, showcasing serious playmaking chops as well as great on-ball play. He also knocks down a solid percentage of his 3s. Bryant is one of the guys in this class who has a ton of juice when you talk to front offices, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him land in the top 10. I’d park his range in the No. 7 to No. 16 area.
The Blazers want flexible, versatile players under this front office led by Joe Cronin. Think about Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and others. They’ve also built a potential style of play on the defensive end led by Camara, an All-Defense selection this season, Avdija and last year’s first-round selection on the interior in Donovan Clingan. Bryant would give them even more optionality across the perimeter as they work to figure out what they have in Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe as creators.
12. Chicago Bulls
Derik Queen | 6-9 big | 20 years old |Maryland
Bulls president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas was in Denver when the team drafted Nikola Jokić, and one of his first moves as the lead decision-maker in Chicago was to trade a significant package of assets for Nikola Vučević. He is near the end of his career and only has one year left on his contract.
Queen would be a sharp replacement for Vučević. The read coming from sources on the Bulls is that they want to continue to build off the style of play they put forth this season. Chicago wants to play uptempo with a high-energy style under Billy Donovan that involves all five players on the court being able to dribble, pass and shoot. The Maryland big man would fit that quite well, as he’s at his best in transition in grab-and-go situations off the glass. He’d have no issues playing at the kind of speed that the Bulls want and would thrive in such an offense. Defensively, there would be concerns, and the Bulls should not be immune to that. But if he falls, it’s hard to find a better offensive fit for them.
13. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC)
Joan Beringer | 6-10 big | 19 years old | Cedevita
The Hawks have brought in a strong front office under Onsi Saleh, including recent hires Peter Dinwiddie from the Sixers and Bryson Graham from the Pelicans. It remains to be seen if they veer from their recent course of picking long, athletic players to play next to Trae Young — the team has an important decision to make on Young this summer regarding a potential extension — but Saleh is regarded as sharp from a strategic perspective, and he’ll likely continue the team’s current strategy.
Beringer possesses the kind of skill set as a rim-runner and shot-blocker that would work with Young. He’s still a project, to be clear. He’s new to basketball — having just started playing within the last four years — but it’s very hard to find players like this with real size and length in addition to fluid athletic movement and explosive leaping ability. NBA teams are quite high on him, and his range would seem to be the back half of the lottery until about No. 23.
14. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
Cedric Coward | 6-5 wing | 21 years old | Washington State
I’ve been saying that Coward would be the clear riser in this draft class since early April, and that seems to have borne itself out throughout the process. Though he committed to Duke this spring after entering the transfer portal, it felt exceedingly unlikely he was going to pull out of the draft given his tools and shot-making ability. His balance and fluidity are special for a player who is nearly 6-6 with a 7-2 wingspan. Everything in the kinetic chain with Coward is perfect. Everything is in one motion and clean with the jumper, with easy, repeatable mechanics to pair with touch. He seems to have added some explosiveness, too.
The Spurs could use more wings to pair with their cache of guards and Wembanyama, particularly ones who can really shoot it. The one thing that has been noted to me by league sources throughout the league is that San Antonio could move this pick if its preferred targets aren’t on the board. The Spurs could take a similar approach as last year, when they traded the No. 8 pick for draft capital down the road. One of my favorite ideas is for the Spurs to trade this pick to New Orleans for some of the Milwaukee Bucks’ draft capital over the next two years in case Antetokounmpo becomes available in a deal in the next 12 months.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via MIA)
Thomas Sorber | 6-9 big | 19 years old | Georgetown
The second apron in this collective bargaining agreement comes for every contender with no exceptions. The Thunder are as well-positioned to deal with that as any team in the future, but it will still likely result in some attrition from this current roster as Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams start to become expensive in the 2026-27 season. Isaiah Hartenstein’s massive deal has a team option after next season, and it’s hard to see how that will be workable for them financially once those deals, along with an extension for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, hit the books.
Sorber is a massive player and would tick some boxes for Sam Presti and company. He’s fluid and coordinated at 6-9, but moreover, he possesses a 7-6 wingspan that allows him to play well above his size. He’s also sharp as a passer and processor in the way that the Thunder like. He’d be a perfect developmental big for them over the next year to learn behind Hartenstein before potentially taking over that role in his second or third year.
16. Orlando Magic
Egor Demin | 6-8 guard | 19 years old | BYU
Do I think this pick makes a ton of sense? I don’t. But the Magic under president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman tend to have a type, and they tend to value players with elite positional size and skill. It worked out immensely well when drafting Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and it also applies to guys like Anthony Black, Jett Howard and Tristan da Silva.
Demin can play the point and is the best passer in the class. His vision is sublime. But he struggled to score this year. He struggled to get paint touches because his handle is not particularly developed, and he doesn’t have the threat of the jumper to fall back on, having made under 30 percent from distance. Still, many teams think they can fix the jumper, and if so, it would open up the rest of his game as a passer and playmaker. I’m a bit lower on Demin than this, but evaluators who love him tend to love him. He had a strong workout in Chicago in front of NBA executives, but that steam seems to have died down a bit over the last month. He could go anywhere from the back half of the lottery to No. 21.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET)
Noa Essengue | 6-9 forward | 18 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm
The Timberwolves have questions forthcoming in the frontcourt over the next couple of years. Julius Randle has a player option this summer. Naz Reid is a free agent. Rudy Gobert turns 33 this month.
Essengue is starting to turn things on in Germany for Ulm, with strong outings throughout the team’s playoff run. The 6-9 forward is a terrific athlete who moves exceedingly well. He’s the second-youngest player in this draft class behind Flagg and is averaging 12 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks per game since Jan. 22. The German league is not the strongest competition in Europe by any stretch, but it’s impressive that he’s been this good in big moments for a strong team.
The questions here are largely around his polish. The jumper is starting to fall, but there are mechanical issues regarding his base and balance that teams think will take a lot of time to work through, despite his solid touch. And while his defensive playmaking numbers are strong and he’s shown improvement throughout the year, his overall impact on that end isn’t that high. He gets beaten more often off the bounce than you’d expect for his level of athleticism, and his help instincts waver. Still, he’s a young player coming along well. Don’t expect Essengue to be a valuable player next year in the NBA, but he could develop into one of the better players in this draft class if he lands with the right organization.
18. PROJECTED TRADE: Philadelphia 76ers
(Wizards trade No. 6 and No. 18 to Sixers for No. 4)
Danny Wolf | 6-11 big | 21 years old | Michigan
The Sixers got this pick in the projected trade I made to get the Wizards up to No. 4. Wolf is something that Philadelphia doesn’t have beyond Joel Embiid, a creative big man who can legitimately play with the ball in his hands. He’s a creator at nearly 7-feet tall and can play in ball screens as a ballhandler or pass and make plays. He averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, though he had a turnover problem owing to a high handle and wild decision-making. Defensively, there are also some questions, although I think that his overall movement skill has been underrated.
The Sixers need another option as a backup big man, and Wolf could be a particularly fun bench option with Yabusele if they’re able to retain him in free agency. Wolf also should be able to play power forward in some lineups, which would give the team even more potential flexibility as it looks to mix and match lineup-wise against the Eastern Conference’s best teams.
19. Brooklyn Nets (via MIL)
Liam McNeeley | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Connecticut
McNeeley had an impactful freshman season for the Huskies, but his role wasn’t all that actualized for what he’s capable of doing. McNeeley averaged 14.5 points but shot just 38 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3 this year despite a reputation that would make you believe he is a serious shooter. He often played on the ball when his best role — as seen by when he played with Flagg, Queen and a star-studded team at Montverde (Fla.) Academy in high school — is off the ball. McNeeley drilled 43 percent of his unguarded catch-and-shoot 3s for UConn. However, only about 40 percent of his attempts off the catch were open looks. He also only hit 13 percent of his pull-up 3s because he struggles to separate with his handle. NBA teams love McNeeley’s competitiveness and his character. There’s a real belief that once a team gets him into the right role, you’ll see the jumper get back to the elite level it was in high school. He’d work for the Nets as a shooter and floor-spacer, something every rebuilding team needs on the wing.
20. Miami Heat (via GSW)
Jase Richardson | 6-1 guard | 19 years old | Michigan State
Richardson is a good bet from a talent perspective. Over his final 15 games, he averaged 16.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists versus only 0.7 turnovers. The reason those games are important is that’s the moment when Richardson entered the starting lineup after a terrific first half of the season. Richardson has great touch as a shooter and scorer but is still developing his lead guard skills. He’s not that great of a passer, and he’s not good with his right hand. Most of Michigan State’s actions involved getting the ball into his left hand and putting him in advantageous actions. But Miami is about as good as anyone at devising sharp actions to take advantage of players’ specific skills.
21. Utah Jazz (via MIN)
Will Riley | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Illinois
Riley also fits the profile of prospects the Jazz have drafted recently, although Ainge’s presence could change things. Still, a large portion of the front office was in place for the last few drafts, and Riley’s potential score at a high level should be intriguing. I loved his growth throughout the season offensively. He’s a fearless driver despite his lack of size, which is ultimately the biggest question about his game. He needs to add weight and strength and continue working on his defense. But the skill set is real, and he has enough touch that you can project him as a shooter even if it takes him some time.
22. Atlanta Hawks (via LAL)
Nique Clifford | 6-5 guard | 23 years old | Colorado State
Clifford had about as strong a close to the season as any player, leading Colorado State from the middle of the Mountain West in January to the cusp of the Sweet 16 if not for a Derik Queen game-winner as time expired in the Round of 32. From Feb. 8 onward, Clifford averaged 21.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, five assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 51 percent from the field, 47 percent from 3 and 80 percent from the line.
The Hawks have strategized to build their team around skilled, two-way wings to pair with Young, and Clifford would represent another option there, as well as someone who at least has potential to handle the ball. Given that Caris LeVert is a free agent, Clifford would be a strong selection at this point. Teams are also tracking the Hawks trading up or down from their two selections in the first round.
23. Indiana Pacers
Ryan Kalkbrenner | 7-1 big | 23 years old | Creighton
The Pacers are in the NBA Finals but could use another backup center option to replace Thomas Bryant and Tony Bradley. Kalkbrenner is massive at 7-1 and is an expert in drop coverage with his angles and length. He’d allow the team to essentially play the same scheme with both Myles Turner (assuming he sticks around in free agency) and his backup.
Kalkbrenner averaged 19 points and nine rebounds this year and has consistently been one of the best defensive players in the country over the last four years, winning the Big East’s Defensive Player of the Year award in each season.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)
Hugo González | 6-6 wing/forward | 19 years old | Real Madrid
The Thunder have a significant roster crunch, and it will be difficult to bring in two rookies next season unless they move off some of their recent draft picks. I would expect them to look to either stash or trade one of these picks.
González is a tremendous athlete and has started to get some playing time for the Real Madrid senior team as a teenager. He plays incredibly hard all of the time. He’s one of those dudes who always gives second and third efforts across the board, both on offense and defense, to get loose balls. González shows some on-ball ability, but it’s going to take time for him to get to the NBA level with it. He’s good enough to be an impactful defender and off-ball player. However, he’s going to have to make 3s. So far this year, he’s only made 29 percent, and it’s never been consistent.
25. Orlando Magic (via DEN)
Walter Clayton Jr. | 6-2 guard | 22 years old | Florida
Clayton was the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 18 points and four assists this year while shooting 45 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3 and 88 percent from the line. His shot-making is truly special. He can get to his shot from any footwork or any angle on the court, especially from distance. He’s comfortable using a change-of-pace dribble to get to a stepback and can also attack and drive off that to score around the rim.
The questions are twofold. First, his ball-screen reads weren’t always on point. He was terrific against Houston in the championship game, but the picture often looked cloudy with his decision-making. Then, on defense, is he too far in-between positions? He got better as a senior but wasn’t always reliable throughout his college career. That’s concerning for an older, undersized player. Still, teams love Clayton’s toughness, and I would expect to hear his name called in the first round.
With this pick, the Magic get their shooter and floor-spacer, but league sources have also noted that Orlando could look to the trade market for some offensive help, using one of their two picks.
26. Brooklyn Nets (via NYK)
Nolan Traoré | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Saint-Quentin
Traoré rebounded well from a tough start to his pro season in France. From Jan. 15 to April 6, Traoré averaged 13 points and four assists while shooting 50 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3 and 79 percent from the line. His overall numbers on the year aren’t that strong, but it’s worth remembering that he’s a teenager playing professional basketball for a full season for the first time.
I think it’s very possible he’ll be on the board for the Nets when they pick at No. 19. Here, they get lucky and get him all the way down at No. 26 as a real value pick with potential to be very valuable down the road.
27. Brooklyn Nets (via HOU)
Asa Newell | 6-9 forward/big | 19 years old | Georgia
This is a perfect fit for Newell. He’s an all-energy big who was extremely productive at Georgia this year, averaging 15.4 points and seven rebounds as a freshman. However, his skills aren’t exactly tailor-made for the NBA. He’s a bit stuck positionally between the four and the five, and he doesn’t possess a ton of length. He’s also not that skilled as a shooter or ballhandler. The Nets could develop him slowly while also giving him playing time to let his energy wreak havoc on opposing teams.
28. Boston Celtics
Maxime Raynaud | 7-0 center | 22 years old | Stanford
Raynaud would be a strong fit for Boston as a big who can dribble, pass and shoot. The Celtics’ scheme values players like this, as they prefer to play five-out offensively. Raynaud was among the most productive players in the country this year, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, and he’s gotten better every season in college. The key will be on defense, where Raynaud does not move particularly well and could be a liability in space. He had a terrific combine game in front of several NBA scouts, but some NBA executives in attendance pointed out that he played against the least-developed player in attendance in Croatian teenager Michael Ruzic.
29. Phoenix Suns (via CLE)
Rasheer Fleming | 6-8 forward | 20 years old | Saint Joseph’s
Fleming very much looks the part at 6-8 with a 7-5 wingspan. He’s also got great leaping ability and a chiseled frame that allows him to play with force and strength on both ends. He averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, and drilled 39 percent from 3. The idea here is a 3-and-D forward who can potentially be switchable across the positional spectrum while also drilling 3s. But he doesn’t yet process things happening around him on the court quickly. But any team that values the frame and shooting potential will be interested in Fleming.
30. LA Clippers (via OKC)
Drake Powell | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | North Carolina
Powell has some momentum to end up somewhere in the back half of the first round because of his defense. Nobody guarded Flagg as well as Powell did this season. He’s just a long way away on offense, as he’s not that comfortable as a shooter or that capable as a ballhandler. It’s going to take him some time to play at the NBA level, even with his defensive skill. Still, he’s 6-5 with a 7-foot wingspan and is the kind of player the Clippers value as a tough-minded defender.
Second round
31. Minnesota Timberwolves (via UTA):Noah Penda | 6-7 forward | 20 years old | Le Mans
32. Boston Celtics (via Washington): Kam Jones | 6-3 wing | 22 years old | Marquette
33. PROJECTED TRADE:Philadelphia 76ers (via CHA): Adou Thiero | 6-6 wing | 21 years old | Arkansas
34. Charlotte Hornets (via NOP): Ben Saraf | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm
35. Philadelphia 76ers: Yanic Konan Niederhauser | 6-11 big | 22 years old | Penn State
36. Brooklyn Nets: Tyrese Proctor | 6-4 guard | 21 years old | Duke
37. Detroit Pistons (via Toronto): John Tonje | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Wisconsin
38. San Antonio Spurs: Alex Toohey | 6-7 wing/forward | 21 years old | Sydney Kings
39. Toronto Raptors (via Portland):Rocco Zikarsky | 7-3 big | 19 years old | Brisbane Bullets
40. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix):Sion James | 6-4 guard | 23 years old | Duke
41. Golden State Warriors (via Miami): Johni Broome | 6-9 big | 22 years old| Auburn
42. Sacramento Kings (via Chicago): Bogoljub Markovic | 6-10 forward | 19 years old | Mega
43. Utah Jazz (via Dallas): Alijah Martin | 6-1 guard | 23 years old | Florida
44. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Atlanta): Hansen Yang | 7-1 center | 20 years old | Qingdao
45. Chicago Bulls (via Sacramento):Micah Peavy | 6-6 wing | 23 years old | Georgetown
46. Orlando Magic: Max Shulga | 6-4 guard | 23 years old | VCU
47. Milwaukee Bucks (via Detroit): Chaz Lanier | 6-4 wing | 24 years old | Tennessee
48. Memphis Grizzlies (via Golden State):Vladislav Goldin | 7-0 center | 22 years old | Michigan
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Milwaukee): Koby Brea | 6-6 wing | 22 years old | Kentucky
50. New York Knicks (via Memphis): Jamir Watkins | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Florida State
51. LA Clippers (via Minnesota): Kobe Sanders | 6-7 wing | 23 years old | Nevada
52. Phoenix Suns (via Denver):Chucky Hepburn | 6-0 guard | 22 years old | Louisville
53. Utah Jazz (via LA Clippers): Lachlan Olbrich | 6-9 big | 21 years old | Illawarra Hawks
54. Indiana Pacers:Brooks Barnhizer | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Northwestern
55. Los Angeles Lakers: Hunter Sallis | 6-4 guard | 22 years old | Wake Forest
56. Memphis Grizzlies (via Houston):RJ Luis | 6-6 wing | 22 years old | St. John’s
57. Orlando Magic (via Boston): Ryan Nembhard | 5-11 guard | 22 years old | Gonzaga
58. Cleveland Cavaliers: Dink Pate | 6-6 guard | 19 years old | Mexico City Capitanes
59. Houston Rockets (via Oklahoma City): Amari Williams | 6-10 big | 23 years old | Kentucky
(Note: The New York Knicks have forfeited their 2025 second-round pick because of free-agency shenanigans.)
The 2025 NBA Draft is about two weeks away, which means teams are starting to gear up for the event by bringing in groups of players for workouts and individual sessions. More than anything right now, though, the event is marked by a strange feeling of calm waters, given how close we are to the draft itself.
Over half a dozen NBA team sources who spoke to The Athletic over the last week have noted how bizarrely quiet things feel right now from an intel perspective when it comes to the draft. There is certainly information out there, but it’s not quite as ubiquitous as it typically is this close to the event. It feels like teams got a slightly later start this year bringing in prospects for workouts. Additionally, many of the team builders across the league are focused on trying to determine the overall landscape of player movement this summer as opposed to honing in on the draft. Given that the trade market is expected to be active, there is a lot of energy being paid to sorting through those options and trying to figure out strategy based on those outcomes and the potential cascading effect they could bring.
Many teams, from the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic to the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, are also assessing whether or not they even keep their current picks. The middle of the first round is seen as wide open, with a significant number of potential outcomes on the table.
A few quick notes on the structure and format of this mock draft:
• Team needs ARE taken into account.
• Player ages are as of draft day (June 25).
• First-round heights listed are from measurements without shoes at the NBA Draft Combine.
1. Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg | 6-8 forward | 18 years old | Duke
Flagg is going No. 1 to the Dallas Mavericks. He was the national player of the year in college basketball this season at just 18 after reclassifying into the 2024 recruiting class. He posted ridiculous numbers, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, but it got even better after January. In his final 25 games, including the Georgia Tech game in which he rolled an ankle after 15 minutes in the ACC tournament, Flagg posted 20.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.6 assists on 51.1 percent shooting from the field, 45.1 percent from 3 and 88 percent from the line. Duke went 23-2 in that run before falling in the Final Four to Houston in staggering fashion (despite Flagg’s 27, seven and four with two steals and three blocks in that game).
Flagg isn’t quite at the Victor Wembanyama level of prospect over the last 20 years, but he belongs in the Anthony Davis tier. And now, he’ll get to play with Davis. Barring injury, Flagg is about as can’t-miss as it gets because of his skill level, athleticism, shot-creation ability and mentality. He is about as competitive as you’ll find on the court and will bring a serious work ethic into whatever situation he arrives. He wants to be great. There’s no red flag in terms of entitlement here.
2. San Antonio Spurs
Dylan Harper | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Rutgers
Harper remains the most likely option at No. 2 for the Spurs as they continue to build their core around Wembanyama. Talent is talent, and Harper is the best player on the board here. Still, the fit isn’t wildly clean in San Antonio.
The Spurs acquired De’Aaron Fox at the trade deadline, and Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle plays a similar role to Harper as a combo guard. I think Harper is a better prospect than Castle, and thus, Castle’s presence shouldn’t stop you from selecting him. But the team will have some work to do to make all these players work.
Harper’s 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and four assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the field as a freshman guard put him in rarefied air, as few players have gotten that close to such marks in their first year. He also creates rim pressure at an elite level, with the ability to get into the paint and finish at the basket with his impressive array of gathers and touch finishes as a 6-6 lead guard.
It feels like the only way that this selection would be on the table in a trade is if Giannis Antetokounmpo became available in a deal.
3. PROJECTED TRADE: Charlotte Hornets
VJ Edgecombe | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Baylor
(Hornets trade No. 4 and No. 32 to Philadelphia 76ers for No. 3 and Andre Drummond)
No deal is close, and I’m sure the Sixers will continue to field offers until they get exactly what they want. But the most logical move is to trade down. At No. 3, the Sixers are atop a talent tier led by Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, Kon Knueppel and Ace Bailey. Some evaluators around the league would also throw Khaman Maluach and Jeremiah Fears into this group, and others would place prospects like Edgecombe and Bailey ahead and into their own mini-tier. For the Sixers, none of these prospects makes perfect sense.
With a couple of early second-round picks and salary flexibility to help the Sixers, the Hornets have the assets to jump one spot. Edgecombe makes the most sense with Charlotte’s team build in between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in the backcourt. He’s tough and competitive, cares about winning and has been highly impressive in the pre-draft process. The Hornets need a better defensive infrastructure surrounding their franchise centerpieces, and Edgecombe is a terrific defensive player with elite athleticism. He’d be a running mate in transition for Ball early in his career while taking on the toughest perimeter defensive assignments. He also has a lot of potential offensively because of his special athleticism, mixed with his ability to hit catch-and-shoot jumpers. But he needs to continue working on his ball skills, particularly with his left hand and the tightness of his handle. Still, he averaged 15 points, nearly six rebounds and three assists as a freshman and has a long track record of knocking down shots off the catch.
If the Hornets think he’s the guy, paying one of your two second-round selections while taking on Drummond’s $5 million this year is worth trading up. The Sixers get financial flexibility by taking the Drummond deal off their books and would have an additional asset at the top of the second round. Maybe they could move into the latter portion of the first round? Sell it for future picks? They’d have options.
4. PROJECTED TRADE: WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Ace Bailey | 6-8 wing/forward | 18 years old | Rutgers
(Wizards trade No. 6 and No. 18 to Sixers for No. 4 and Eric Gordon)
Again, I project the Sixers trade down. Why would the Wizards jump the Utah Jazz for No. 6? It’s hard to figure out what the Jazz will do at No. 5. With a new key decision-maker in Austin Ainge, league sources want to see how he operates after nearly 15 years in the Boston Celtics’ front office. So if Washington wants a certain player, it will probably need to jump Utah (and any other team that would be talking trade with Philadelphia in this instance). The price point here is No. 18 and taking the Gordon deal into the trade exception that the Wizards created in the Johnny Davis deal at the deadline. It’s not small, but it’s a worthwhile move if they love someone, and the Wizards have several young players on rookie-scale deals on the roster already in Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, AJ Johnson and Kyshawn George.
Evaluations from scouts on Bailey remain wide, but no one doubts his athleticism and tools as a shot-maker. The ceiling for Bailey is that he can be the second-best player in the class if all breaks right. His pull-up game is highly impressive for a player his age, and he’s a good catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter already, even if it’s not his natural inclination. I like several of those Wizards players listed above, but only Carrington and potentially Johnson project as shot creators. Bailey would give them something on the wing that they don’t have, as much as I love Coulibaly’s game.
Bailey will be a project. He averaged 17.6 points and seven rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3. But his style of play did not seem conducive to winning basketball. He settles for a lot of long jumpers because he struggles to get to the rim (he has a high handle and high center of gravity that gets knocked off its line too easily). Defensively, he wasn’t always engaged in help situations unless he saw an opportunity to go get the basketball.
But Rutgers was a catastrophe when Bailey wasn’t on the court. Even in Big Ten play, the Scarlet Knights lost Bailey’s minutes by only three points per 100 possessions. When he was off the court, they lost those minutes by 23 points per 100, per CBB Analytics. Bailey is enormous, he’s long, he is a real shooter, and he showed some defensive moments that were very positive in switch situations.
5. Utah Jazz
Tre Johnson | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | Texas
If I were running the Jazz, I’d probably sit back and take the guy I liked most out of Bailey, Johnson and Kon Knueppel who falls to them. Here, Johnson makes a ton of sense. He’s a 6-5 wing who can really shoot the ball off movement, and he’d be a perfect fit within Will Hardy’s scheme. Johnson averaged 19.9 points and looked like a serious potential scoring threat in the NBA at Texas.
Realistically, the Jazz just need to take an upside swing. Beyond Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler, they don’t have another building block that they can feel completely confident in. Keyonte George looks like a backup long-term because of his inefficiency and defense, and while Isaiah Collier had an excellent season passing the ball, he still doesn’t have a great way to score effectively. Recent lottery picks Cody Williams and Taylor Hendricks haven’t worked out yet (Hendricks due to injury, Williams due to his frame not being ready for the NBA). Kyle Filipowski is my favorite of their draft picks last year, but he might end up profiling best as a third big instead of a starter. If I were Ainge, I’d find the best swing I could take and go for it.
6. PROJECTED TRADE: Philadelphia 76ers
Kon Knueppel | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Duke
(The Sixers trade No. 3 and Andre Drummond to the Hornets for No. 4 and No. 33; the Sixers then trade No. 4 and Eric Gordon to the Wizards for No. 6 and No. 18)
The Sixers wheel and deal with two trades here. Philly is both bringing in top prospects for workouts and seeing what’s available on the market. The Sixers are looking to contend now, but league sources say they wish to bridge the gap between eras of players on their roster and potentially provide cheaper production. If someone comes in and blows their doors off, maybe they keep the pick. If not, they have options.
With these two trades, they end up with No. 6, No. 18, No. 33 and get off the Drummond and Gordon deals as they look to re-sign Quentin Grimes and Guerschon Yabusele. It’s not a massive haul, but it’s extremely helpful. And at No. 6, they get the guy I’d have at the top of their board at No. 3 in Knueppel, a bigger shooter who is competitive and tough. He has a case as the best shooter in the class along with Johnson, and his overall game was more impactful this season. He also has more ball skills than you think, especially in ball screens, and was better defensively than he got credit for being. He gives them more roster flexibility and versatility off the bench, as I think he can play the two and three fairly easily.
The difference between No. 3 and No. 6 financially next season is about $3 million, meaning the Sixers would save about $11.5 million between this and shedding the Drummond and Gordon deals. The No. 18 pick has about a $3 million salary for next year, but that would also be another cheap roster spot for the next four years or another asset in their cache. This feels like a win for everyone, with two rebuilding teams getting prospects that they want and the Sixers getting more assets and flexibility as they look to retool a potential contender on the fly.
7. New Orleans Pelicans
Jeremiah Fears | 6-3 guard | 18 years old | Oklahoma
The Pelicans have already made substantive changes to their organization, firing David Griffin and hiring Joe Dumars to run basketball operations. Several teams are tracking what the Pelicans are doing closely, wondering how open they are for business as they look to retool around Zion Williamson.
With Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones on the roster, the team is set on the wing. They also just drafted an All-Rookie big in Yves Missi a season ago. Where they could use an upside swing is in the backcourt, as CJ McCollum only has one year left on his deal, and Dejounte Murray is recovering from a torn Achilles. Fears, at the very least, represents that swing. He’s a polarizing player for evaluators around the league, because you either believe in the upside of him as a primary ballhandler and think he can be a true top-tier option, or you think he profiles more as a backup. Some scouts and executives I’ve talked to think he’s a top-five upside bet in this draft because of his handle and creativity. Others see him more as a bet to take in the late teens or even the 20s. He creates advantages in ball screens and is dynamic in how he gets to his spots. But I question his finishing ability, his shooting (after hitting 27 percent from 3 this year), and his total lack of defensive game. Still, if you believe in your developmental staff in those areas, there is undeniably a lot to work with.
8. Brooklyn Nets
Kasparas Jakučionis | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Illinois
Jakučionis is big and can play both on and off the ball, coming off a terrific freshman season in which he averaged 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. His vision is sublime, and he fits the current ecosystem of the NBA well with his dribble, pass and shoot traits. Still, he doesn’t have a ton of athletic explosiveness, and his defensive game was not always on point this year. His range is seen as somewhere from the middle to the end of the lottery.
What I like about Jakučionis for the Nets is the flexibility he provides. They certainly need a lead guard and a playmaker of the future. If they choose to keep Cam Thomas, I like Jakučionis’ ability to play off him with his size and passing ability mixed with Thomas’ scoring firepower. However, since the Nets have four first-round picks, his versatility matters. Jakučionis playing on the ball means that they don’t have to prioritize getting a point guard. However, his ability to also shift off the ball means they would then have the flexibility later to take a lead guard if one were the best player available.
9. Toronto Raptors
Khaman Maluach | 7-1 big | 19 years old | Duke
With Jakob Poeltl potentially hitting free agency next year, the Raptors could use a long-term answer at center. Many people around the league have connected Maluach here because of his time at the NBA Academy in Africa and Masai Ujiri’s efforts to promote basketball within the region.
Maluach isn’t a monster shot-blocker, but he understands how big he is and is excellent at using his size to cut off angles and contest on the interior. Offensively, there are more questions, largely about his hands and overall feel for the game. He started playing basketball late and is still working on how to see the floor around him. He also doesn’t always come down with contested rebounds, as was starkly seen in Duke’s Final Four game against Houston, when he played 20 minutes and had zero rebounds. Still, someone will take the bet on a player who’s 7-1 with long arms and movement skills.
10. Houston Rockets (via PHX)
Collin Murray-Boyles | 6-7 wing/forward | 20 years old | South Carolina
The Rockets are loaded across each position. They have a team option on veteran point guard Fred VanVleet and drafted their point guard of the future in Reed Sheppard at No. 3 last year; the organization is still extremely high on Sheppard despite his lack of playing time this year. They have their center of the future in Alperen Şengün. I think they will just take the best player available, and at this spot, that’s Murray-Boyles. He’s a tremendous defender and would fit in perfectly with how Ime Udoka wants to play. He also passes well and has serious toughness to play with many of their players. He processes the game at an elite level and is the kind of prospect the Rockets have valued in the past.
Other teams across the league are under the impression that this pick could be moved in the right circumstances, especially in a deal for a star in which Houston consolidates talent.
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Carter Bryant | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Arizona
Bryant didn’t start many games this year at Arizona, but he was a monster defensive player when he was on the court, showcasing serious playmaking chops as well as great on-ball play. He also knocks down a solid percentage of his 3s. Bryant is one of the guys in this class who has a ton of juice when you talk to front offices, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him land in the top 10. I’d park his range in the No. 7 to No. 16 area.
The Blazers want flexible, versatile players under this front office led by Joe Cronin. Think about Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and others. They’ve also built a potential style of play on the defensive end led by Camara, an All-Defense selection this season, Avdija and last year’s first-round selection on the interior in Donovan Clingan. Bryant would give them even more optionality across the perimeter as they work to figure out what they have in Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe as creators.
12. Chicago Bulls
Derik Queen | 6-9 big | 20 years old |Maryland
Bulls president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas was in Denver when the team drafted Nikola Jokić, and one of his first moves as the lead decision-maker in Chicago was to trade a significant package of assets for Nikola Vučević. He is near the end of his career and only has one year left on his contract.
Queen would be a sharp replacement for Vučević. The read coming from sources on the Bulls is that they want to continue to build off the style of play they put forth this season. Chicago wants to play uptempo with a high-energy style under Billy Donovan that involves all five players on the court being able to dribble, pass and shoot. The Maryland big man would fit that quite well, as he’s at his best in transition in grab-and-go situations off the glass. He’d have no issues playing at the kind of speed that the Bulls want and would thrive in such an offense. Defensively, there would be concerns, and the Bulls should not be immune to that. But if he falls, it’s hard to find a better offensive fit for them.
13. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC)
Joan Beringer | 6-10 big | 19 years old | Cedevita
The Hawks have brought in a strong front office under Onsi Saleh, including recent hires Peter Dinwiddie from the Sixers and Bryson Graham from the Pelicans. It remains to be seen if they veer from their recent course of picking long, athletic players to play next to Trae Young — the team has an important decision to make on Young this summer regarding a potential extension — but Saleh is regarded as sharp from a strategic perspective, and he’ll likely continue the team’s current strategy.
Beringer possesses the kind of skill set as a rim-runner and shot-blocker that would work with Young. He’s still a project, to be clear. He’s new to basketball — having just started playing within the last four years — but it’s very hard to find players like this with real size and length in addition to fluid athletic movement and explosive leaping ability. NBA teams are quite high on him, and his range would seem to be the back half of the lottery until about No. 23.
14. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
Cedric Coward | 6-5 wing | 21 years old | Washington State
I’ve been saying that Coward would be the clear riser in this draft class since early April, and that seems to have borne itself out throughout the process. Though he committed to Duke this spring after entering the transfer portal, it felt exceedingly unlikely he was going to pull out of the draft given his tools and shot-making ability. His balance and fluidity are special for a player who is nearly 6-6 with a 7-2 wingspan. Everything in the kinetic chain with Coward is perfect. Everything is in one motion and clean with the jumper, with easy, repeatable mechanics to pair with touch. He seems to have added some explosiveness, too.
The Spurs could use more wings to pair with their cache of guards and Wembanyama, particularly ones who can really shoot it. The one thing that has been noted to me by league sources throughout the league is that San Antonio could move this pick if its preferred targets aren’t on the board. The Spurs could take a similar approach as last year, when they traded the No. 8 pick for draft capital down the road. One of my favorite ideas is for the Spurs to trade this pick to New Orleans for some of the Milwaukee Bucks’ draft capital over the next two years in case Antetokounmpo becomes available in a deal in the next 12 months.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via MIA)
Thomas Sorber | 6-9 big | 19 years old | Georgetown
The second apron in this collective bargaining agreement comes for every contender with no exceptions. The Thunder are as well-positioned to deal with that as any team in the future, but it will still likely result in some attrition from this current roster as Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams start to become expensive in the 2026-27 season. Isaiah Hartenstein’s massive deal has a team option after next season, and it’s hard to see how that will be workable for them financially once those deals, along with an extension for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, hit the books.
Sorber is a massive player and would tick some boxes for Sam Presti and company. He’s fluid and coordinated at 6-9, but moreover, he possesses a 7-6 wingspan that allows him to play well above his size. He’s also sharp as a passer and processor in the way that the Thunder like. He’d be a perfect developmental big for them over the next year to learn behind Hartenstein before potentially taking over that role in his second or third year.
16. Orlando Magic
Egor Demin | 6-8 guard | 19 years old | BYU
Do I think this pick makes a ton of sense? I don’t. But the Magic under president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman tend to have a type, and they tend to value players with elite positional size and skill. It worked out immensely well when drafting Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and it also applies to guys like Anthony Black, Jett Howard and Tristan da Silva.
Demin can play the point and is the best passer in the class. His vision is sublime. But he struggled to score this year. He struggled to get paint touches because his handle is not particularly developed, and he doesn’t have the threat of the jumper to fall back on, having made under 30 percent from distance. Still, many teams think they can fix the jumper, and if so, it would open up the rest of his game as a passer and playmaker. I’m a bit lower on Demin than this, but evaluators who love him tend to love him. He had a strong workout in Chicago in front of NBA executives, but that steam seems to have died down a bit over the last month. He could go anywhere from the back half of the lottery to No. 21.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET)
Noa Essengue | 6-9 forward | 18 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm
The Timberwolves have questions forthcoming in the frontcourt over the next couple of years. Julius Randle has a player option this summer. Naz Reid is a free agent. Rudy Gobert turns 33 this month.
Essengue is starting to turn things on in Germany for Ulm, with strong outings throughout the team’s playoff run. The 6-9 forward is a terrific athlete who moves exceedingly well. He’s the second-youngest player in this draft class behind Flagg and is averaging 12 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks per game since Jan. 22. The German league is not the strongest competition in Europe by any stretch, but it’s impressive that he’s been this good in big moments for a strong team.
The questions here are largely around his polish. The jumper is starting to fall, but there are mechanical issues regarding his base and balance that teams think will take a lot of time to work through, despite his solid touch. And while his defensive playmaking numbers are strong and he’s shown improvement throughout the year, his overall impact on that end isn’t that high. He gets beaten more often off the bounce than you’d expect for his level of athleticism, and his help instincts waver. Still, he’s a young player coming along well. Don’t expect Essengue to be a valuable player next year in the NBA, but he could develop into one of the better players in this draft class if he lands with the right organization.
18. PROJECTED TRADE: Philadelphia 76ers
(Wizards trade No. 6 and No. 18 to Sixers for No. 4)
Danny Wolf | 6-11 big | 21 years old | Michigan
The Sixers got this pick in the projected trade I made to get the Wizards up to No. 4. Wolf is something that Philadelphia doesn’t have beyond Joel Embiid, a creative big man who can legitimately play with the ball in his hands. He’s a creator at nearly 7-feet tall and can play in ball screens as a ballhandler or pass and make plays. He averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, though he had a turnover problem owing to a high handle and wild decision-making. Defensively, there are also some questions, although I think that his overall movement skill has been underrated.
The Sixers need another option as a backup big man, and Wolf could be a particularly fun bench option with Yabusele if they’re able to retain him in free agency. Wolf also should be able to play power forward in some lineups, which would give the team even more potential flexibility as it looks to mix and match lineup-wise against the Eastern Conference’s best teams.
19. Brooklyn Nets (via MIL)
Liam McNeeley | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Connecticut
McNeeley had an impactful freshman season for the Huskies, but his role wasn’t all that actualized for what he’s capable of doing. McNeeley averaged 14.5 points but shot just 38 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3 this year despite a reputation that would make you believe he is a serious shooter. He often played on the ball when his best role — as seen by when he played with Flagg, Queen and a star-studded team at Montverde (Fla.) Academy in high school — is off the ball. McNeeley drilled 43 percent of his unguarded catch-and-shoot 3s for UConn. However, only about 40 percent of his attempts off the catch were open looks. He also only hit 13 percent of his pull-up 3s because he struggles to separate with his handle. NBA teams love McNeeley’s competitiveness and his character. There’s a real belief that once a team gets him into the right role, you’ll see the jumper get back to the elite level it was in high school. He’d work for the Nets as a shooter and floor-spacer, something every rebuilding team needs on the wing.
20. Miami Heat (via GSW)
Jase Richardson | 6-1 guard | 19 years old | Michigan State
Richardson is a good bet from a talent perspective. Over his final 15 games, he averaged 16.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists versus only 0.7 turnovers. The reason those games are important is that’s the moment when Richardson entered the starting lineup after a terrific first half of the season. Richardson has great touch as a shooter and scorer but is still developing his lead guard skills. He’s not that great of a passer, and he’s not good with his right hand. Most of Michigan State’s actions involved getting the ball into his left hand and putting him in advantageous actions. But Miami is about as good as anyone at devising sharp actions to take advantage of players’ specific skills.
21. Utah Jazz (via MIN)
Will Riley | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Illinois
Riley also fits the profile of prospects the Jazz have drafted recently, although Ainge’s presence could change things. Still, a large portion of the front office was in place for the last few drafts, and Riley’s potential score at a high level should be intriguing. I loved his growth throughout the season offensively. He’s a fearless driver despite his lack of size, which is ultimately the biggest question about his game. He needs to add weight and strength and continue working on his defense. But the skill set is real, and he has enough touch that you can project him as a shooter even if it takes him some time.
22. Atlanta Hawks (via LAL)
Nique Clifford | 6-5 guard | 23 years old | Colorado State
Clifford had about as strong a close to the season as any player, leading Colorado State from the middle of the Mountain West in January to the cusp of the Sweet 16 if not for a Derik Queen game-winner as time expired in the Round of 32. From Feb. 8 onward, Clifford averaged 21.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, five assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 51 percent from the field, 47 percent from 3 and 80 percent from the line.
The Hawks have strategized to build their team around skilled, two-way wings to pair with Young, and Clifford would represent another option there, as well as someone who at least has potential to handle the ball. Given that Caris LeVert is a free agent, Clifford would be a strong selection at this point. Teams are also tracking the Hawks trading up or down from their two selections in the first round.
23. Indiana Pacers
Ryan Kalkbrenner | 7-1 big | 23 years old | Creighton
The Pacers are in the NBA Finals but could use another backup center option to replace Thomas Bryant and Tony Bradley. Kalkbrenner is massive at 7-1 and is an expert in drop coverage with his angles and length. He’d allow the team to essentially play the same scheme with both Myles Turner (assuming he sticks around in free agency) and his backup.
Kalkbrenner averaged 19 points and nine rebounds this year and has consistently been one of the best defensive players in the country over the last four years, winning the Big East’s Defensive Player of the Year award in each season.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)
Hugo González | 6-6 wing/forward | 19 years old | Real Madrid
The Thunder have a significant roster crunch, and it will be difficult to bring in two rookies next season unless they move off some of their recent draft picks. I would expect them to look to either stash or trade one of these picks.
González is a tremendous athlete and has started to get some playing time for the Real Madrid senior team as a teenager. He plays incredibly hard all of the time. He’s one of those dudes who always gives second and third efforts across the board, both on offense and defense, to get loose balls. González shows some on-ball ability, but it’s going to take time for him to get to the NBA level with it. He’s good enough to be an impactful defender and off-ball player. However, he’s going to have to make 3s. So far this year, he’s only made 29 percent, and it’s never been consistent.
25. Orlando Magic (via DEN)
Walter Clayton Jr. | 6-2 guard | 22 years old | Florida
Clayton was the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 18 points and four assists this year while shooting 45 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3 and 88 percent from the line. His shot-making is truly special. He can get to his shot from any footwork or any angle on the court, especially from distance. He’s comfortable using a change-of-pace dribble to get to a stepback and can also attack and drive off that to score around the rim.
The questions are twofold. First, his ball-screen reads weren’t always on point. He was terrific against Houston in the championship game, but the picture often looked cloudy with his decision-making. Then, on defense, is he too far in-between positions? He got better as a senior but wasn’t always reliable throughout his college career. That’s concerning for an older, undersized player. Still, teams love Clayton’s toughness, and I would expect to hear his name called in the first round.
With this pick, the Magic get their shooter and floor-spacer, but league sources have also noted that Orlando could look to the trade market for some offensive help, using one of their two picks.
26. Brooklyn Nets (via NYK)
Nolan Traoré | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Saint-Quentin
Traoré rebounded well from a tough start to his pro season in France. From Jan. 15 to April 6, Traoré averaged 13 points and four assists while shooting 50 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3 and 79 percent from the line. His overall numbers on the year aren’t that strong, but it’s worth remembering that he’s a teenager playing professional basketball for a full season for the first time.
I think it’s very possible he’ll be on the board for the Nets when they pick at No. 19. Here, they get lucky and get him all the way down at No. 26 as a real value pick with potential to be very valuable down the road.
27. Brooklyn Nets (via HOU)
Asa Newell | 6-9 forward/big | 19 years old | Georgia
This is a perfect fit for Newell. He’s an all-energy big who was extremely productive at Georgia this year, averaging 15.4 points and seven rebounds as a freshman. However, his skills aren’t exactly tailor-made for the NBA. He’s a bit stuck positionally between the four and the five, and he doesn’t possess a ton of length. He’s also not that skilled as a shooter or ballhandler. The Nets could develop him slowly while also giving him playing time to let his energy wreak havoc on opposing teams.
28. Boston Celtics
Maxime Raynaud | 7-0 center | 22 years old | Stanford
Raynaud would be a strong fit for Boston as a big who can dribble, pass and shoot. The Celtics’ scheme values players like this, as they prefer to play five-out offensively. Raynaud was among the most productive players in the country this year, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, and he’s gotten better every season in college. The key will be on defense, where Raynaud does not move particularly well and could be a liability in space. He had a terrific combine game in front of several NBA scouts, but some NBA executives in attendance pointed out that he played against the least-developed player in attendance in Croatian teenager Michael Ruzic.
29. Phoenix Suns (via CLE)
Rasheer Fleming | 6-8 forward | 20 years old | Saint Joseph’s
Fleming very much looks the part at 6-8 with a 7-5 wingspan. He’s also got great leaping ability and a chiseled frame that allows him to play with force and strength on both ends. He averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, and drilled 39 percent from 3. The idea here is a 3-and-D forward who can potentially be switchable across the positional spectrum while also drilling 3s. But he doesn’t yet process things happening around him on the court quickly. But any team that values the frame and shooting potential will be interested in Fleming.
30. LA Clippers (via OKC)
Drake Powell | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | North Carolina
Powell has some momentum to end up somewhere in the back half of the first round because of his defense. Nobody guarded Flagg as well as Powell did this season. He’s just a long way away on offense, as he’s not that comfortable as a shooter or that capable as a ballhandler. It’s going to take him some time to play at the NBA level, even with his defensive skill. Still, he’s 6-5 with a 7-foot wingspan and is the kind of player the Clippers value as a tough-minded defender.
Second round
31. Minnesota Timberwolves (via UTA):Noah Penda | 6-7 forward | 20 years old | Le Mans
32. Boston Celtics (via Washington): Kam Jones | 6-3 wing | 22 years old | Marquette
33. PROJECTED TRADE:Philadelphia 76ers (via CHA): Adou Thiero | 6-6 wing | 21 years old | Arkansas
34. Charlotte Hornets (via NOP): Ben Saraf | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm
35. Philadelphia 76ers: Yanic Konan Niederhauser | 6-11 big | 22 years old | Penn State
36. Brooklyn Nets: Tyrese Proctor | 6-4 guard | 21 years old | Duke
37. Detroit Pistons (via Toronto): John Tonje | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Wisconsin
38. San Antonio Spurs: Alex Toohey | 6-7 wing/forward | 21 years old | Sydney Kings
39. Toronto Raptors (via Portland):Rocco Zikarsky | 7-3 big | 19 years old | Brisbane Bullets
40. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix):Sion James | 6-4 guard | 23 years old | Duke
41. Golden State Warriors (via Miami): Johni Broome | 6-9 big | 22 years old| Auburn
42. Sacramento Kings (via Chicago): Bogoljub Markovic | 6-10 forward | 19 years old | Mega
43. Utah Jazz (via Dallas): Alijah Martin | 6-1 guard | 23 years old | Florida
44. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Atlanta): Hansen Yang | 7-1 center | 20 years old | Qingdao
45. Chicago Bulls (via Sacramento):Micah Peavy | 6-6 wing | 23 years old | Georgetown
46. Orlando Magic: Max Shulga | 6-4 guard | 23 years old | VCU
47. Milwaukee Bucks (via Detroit): Chaz Lanier | 6-4 wing | 24 years old | Tennessee
48. Memphis Grizzlies (via Golden State):Vladislav Goldin | 7-0 center | 22 years old | Michigan
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Milwaukee): Koby Brea | 6-6 wing | 22 years old | Kentucky
50. New York Knicks (via Memphis): Jamir Watkins | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Florida State
51. LA Clippers (via Minnesota): Kobe Sanders | 6-7 wing | 23 years old | Nevada
52. Phoenix Suns (via Denver):Chucky Hepburn | 6-0 guard | 22 years old | Louisville
53. Utah Jazz (via LA Clippers): Lachlan Olbrich | 6-9 big | 21 years old | Illawarra Hawks
54. Indiana Pacers:Brooks Barnhizer | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Northwestern
55. Los Angeles Lakers: Hunter Sallis | 6-4 guard | 22 years old | Wake Forest
56. Memphis Grizzlies (via Houston):RJ Luis | 6-6 wing | 22 years old | St. John’s
57. Orlando Magic (via Boston): Ryan Nembhard | 5-11 guard | 22 years old | Gonzaga
58. Cleveland Cavaliers: Dink Pate | 6-6 guard | 19 years old | Mexico City Capitanes
59. Houston Rockets (via Oklahoma City): Amari Williams | 6-10 big | 23 years old | Kentucky
(Note: The New York Knicks have forfeited their 2025 second-round pick because of free-agency shenanigans.)
