Welcome to my 2025 NBN Mock Draft, which will definitely be outdated by the time I publish it! Not projecting any trades because teams are crazy and too hard to predict. TLDR at bottom.
1. Houston Rockets - Cooper Flagg, F, Duke
No brainer here. Flagg is by far the best player in this draft, and one of the best prospects we’ve seen in the last 10 years. Houston’s tank paid off, and they get a do-it-all forward with a Jordan-esque competitive drive to build around.
2. Charlotte Hornets - Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers
Charlotte pulled a stunner earlier this week, trading picks 5, 6, and Zach Edey to Dallas for the #2 pick, where they will likely select Dylan Harper. Harper is a 6’6 intelligent guard with All-Star upside. He will pair nicely with Paolo Banchero as another dynamic playmaker with scoring punch, this time with more shooting upside. This move signals Charlotte’s intent to move off All-Star LaMelo Ball (who they sneakily gave up a lot for; Stephon Castle, Nikola Topic, and 3 firsts). We’ll see who else sticks on the roster around these two, but Harper and Banchero and two great complimentary tentpoles.
3. Orlando Magic - VJ Edgecombe, G, Baylor
This is where the draft gets interesting. I really think Ace Bailey is in play here, but I think hkd ultimately lands on VJ. The explosive athleticism, transition scoring, playmaking feel, and defensive upside would make VJ a great complimentary piece for almost any roster. Orlando is still searching for the guy on their roster, hence why I think Ace is a real possibility. If we’re being honest, no player on this Orlando roster has true #1 option potential. Alex Sarr and Ausar Thompson, and Cam Thomas will get buckets until the world ends, but Orlando needs a blue chip guy to build around. I’m personally not sure VJ is that guy, but if Orlando doesn’t think anyone else available is either, they might just decide to try and get a high level starter who will fit next to that mystery player (AJ Dybantsa perhaps?)
4. Dallas Mavericks - Kon Kneuppel, wing, Duke
5. Dallas Mavericks - Tre Johnson, G, Texas
6. Dallas Mavericks - Ace Bailey, wing, Rutgers
Dallas now has 3 consecutive picks thanks to shipping Dylan Harper to Charlotte. Setting aside the fact that they passed on Dylan Harper and put their confidence in Stephon Castle and Nikola Topic, Dallas is in a great position to get at least one star. Kon and Tre are elite, elite shooters. Kon was more of a catch-and-shoot guy in college (because duh, look at that Duke roster), but showed the ability to put the ball on the floor in college but to a greater extent in high school. He has a lot of craft inside the paint, playing off two feet and using feints and footwork to get buckets and draw fouls (something that might give him more upside than people think). He competes defensively but is limited by a shorter wingspan and lack of elite athleticism, but his shooting and secondary playmaking are enough to make him a great option with one of these picks.
Tre similarly is a great movement shooter, but his college career was vastly different. He was the guy on a mediocre Texas team surrounded by a gray cloud of bad vibes and shitty coaching. He still managed to lead the SEC in scoring and shoot nearly 40% from 3. He also flashed some real passing chops, flinging one handed-cross court skips and dropping dump offs to big men. He needs to bulk up and buy in defensively to get large sums of minutes, but his shooting will at least buy him 15 minutes a game early in his career.
Sources tell NBESPN that Dallas is not enamored with Ace, but for the sake of this mock, he is too valuable for the Mavs to pass on with their 3rd lottery pick. According to those same sources, Dallas is working on a deal to get a star big man from the East, so expect one of these picks to be part of that package, potentially the one that turns into Ace Bailey.
7. Toronto Raptors - Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
I always love writing these mocks when I have a pivotal pick in the draft. I’m not going to disclose too much of our front office’s though process, but a defensive core of Amen Thompson, Jaren Jackson Jr, and Maluach is intimidating (provided Jackson extends; keep an eye on that storyline this year!). The spacing is awful for sure, but between Jackson, Trey Murphy, and bench shooters, we could theoretically cobble an offense together. Maluach looks poised to go top 8 IRL, so his value and defensive prowess are enticing.
8. Boston Celtics - Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma
9. Boston Celtics - Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois
Boston is fully in rebuild mode. The shadows of the Jays loom large, but Adams and company have to pick up the pieces and focus on the future. This roster is in dire need of upside around Brandon Miller. Fears might have the most upside of anyone in this range of the draft. He’s small, standing at 6’4 without a massive wingspan or a ton of muscle. However, there are real signs of star potential. For one, he is a walking paint touch. He is arguably the best ball handler in the draft, able to break guys down and get to his spots with his craft and change-of-speed moves. Additionally, his 3pt volume and FT shooting indicate shooting upside that wasn’t immediately obvious at Oklahoma. His form and balance are good, and he clearly has good touch. Add those facts to the fact that he doesn’t turn 19 until October, and you have a recipe for a guard prospect with All-Star potential. The defensive questions are obvious, but there’s a world where Fears returns top 3 value from this draft class.
Jakucionis had a blazing start at Illinois before suffering a forearm injury in January. Prior to that, he was shooting around 41% on 3s, and tough ones at that. He has a nice step-back move if he has the ball in his hands, but also lets it fly off the catch. He ended up shooting a paltry 31% from 3 in college which is in line with how he shot with Barcelona as a youth player, but his hot start, solid mechanics, and good FT shooting indicates more growth here. He’s a talented, albeit overzealous, passer. If he cleans up the turnover problems, he can be a legit top ball-handling option. He’s great in the pick and roll. He’s not a spectacular athlete, but if you watch his Barca tape, there’s a lot of signs of high-level acceleration and burst that don’t always pop at Illinois. I think this could give him the ability to be a real transition threat next to Fears, who always looks for hit-aheads off rebounds. It could also make him a real problem when he attacks closeouts if he’s used off-ball. The Fears/Jakucionis fit certainly isn’t natural, but they have complimentary strengths that Boston has time to figure out. It would be hard for Boston to pass up either in favor of the other when they are in talent-collection mode.
10. Miami Heat - Noa Essengue, F, Ratiopharm Ulm
Essengue has quickly become a draft-Twitter darling. He looks the part, standing at 6’10 barefoot with a 7 foot wingspan. He’s massive, making him a matchup problem on both ends. He defends well both on the perimeter and interior. He’s a transition demon with his high motor and good hands. His role is mostly as a play finisher at Ulm, but he’s been incredibly productive against grown men at such a young age. He also held his own in a preseason exhibition against the Portland Trail Blazers (low bar, but it counts for something). Essengue has a lot of upside has a high-impact starting forward who will defend, rebound, and finish chances with the potential to take on more responsibility as he matures and his frame fills out. Even then, I think he has a chance to get on the floor early with his motor and size and contribute next to newly acquired DeAaron Fox.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves - Carter Bryant, wing, Arizona
Speaking of Fox, Minnesota now has the 11th pick as part of the return from Miami. Jonny clearly decided the Fox/Sabonis combination was going nowhere fast (if only there were signs that that exact pairing had a limited ceiling) and blew it up. He’s now left with RJ Barrett who is 26 and I still don’t know how good he is, a helpful-if-you-are-good Payton Pritchard, and Toumani Camara (who is really good!). Minny can afford to take a swing here. Derik Queen could be in play here, but I think the Wolves go the safer route with Bryant. He’s the prototypical 6’8 guy that every NBA team wants. 3-and-D is too reductive and overused, but Bryant has a clear path to success if he can do both of those things at a high level. He was a low usage guy at Arizona, but he can do more with the ball in his hands as seen in his high school play. He’s also a high-character guy by all accounts, which matters at this point in the draft. Whichever direction Minnesota chooses, Bryant can be a plug-and-play connector with upside to go beyond what he did in a limited college role.
12. Denver Nuggets - Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina
I don’t see Denver as a Derik Queen team. I still think they are committed to Jokic, despite a bad year and a roster full of disintegrating vets. CMB is a great fit next to Jokic in my view. He’s a high-feel guy, and pairing him with Jokic would give opposing defenses nightmares. He’s a good playmaker who makes the right reads. His assist numbers were only low because SC stuuuuunk in his two years. He showcased effectiveness on drives and using his big strong body to score inside. His poor outside shooting makes him hard to build around, but when you have the best passing big man of all time who can also shoot 3s in Jokic, that task gets a lot easier. CMB can cover for some of Jokic’s deficiencies with his hands, agility, and size. He gets his hands in passing lanes and even showed some weak-side rim protection. You ideally don’t want him at the basket full time, as he is more effective on the perimeter, but he can save possessions if his rotation allows for it. Besides the shot, CMB does a ton of things right, too many for him not to find his way into a rotation. A Jokic pairing helps both guys cover for their weakness while accentuating their playmaking strengths.
13. Miami Heat - Derik Queen, C, Maryland
Queen’s stock has dropped a bit since the combine due to his poor athletic testing, but he is still a super intriguing player. His combination of ball handling and scoring at his size is very unique. Critics will question the motor and his conditioning, but at 13, Miami can afford to swing for his upside.
14. Portland Trail Blazers - Egor Demin, G, BYU
Demin’s playmaking ability is rare for a 6’9 guy. The shot needs a lot of work but his passing is good enough for teams to be considering him in the late lottery. Portland is trudging through a long rebuild at the moment and needs anyone with a pulse. If he figures out the jumper, he could be a very effective lead guard to help lead Portland into the future.
15. Atlanta Hawks - Cedric Coward, wing, Washington State
Coward’s stock is rising and fast since the combine. He was limited by injury after transferring to Washington State from Eastern Washington (where he landed after a year in D-III). That hasn’t stopped scouts from buying his beautiful jump shot and ball handling ability. His skillset plus 7’2 wingspan will draw Jalen Williams comps, but Coward is not guaranteed to hit that same cieling. Which is fine, JDub is a top 20 player! But Coward hasn’t played well against high level competition in game settings. That said, he looked at home in the combine scrimmages and possesses a level of versatility that every team wants, including surprise Eastern Conference finalist Atlanta.
16. Golden State Warriors - Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown
Golden State is assembling an interesting cast of young guys. Scottie Barnes, Jared McCain, Cason Wallace, and Devin Vassell is something. I don’t know what, but it’s something. There’s some older vets here too, but not enough to justify a “go for it” mentality. One of those guys is Rudy Gobert, who will be expiring this coming season. Thomas Sorber would be a fantastic replacement. He’s a high motor big who is very fluid and always seems to make the right play. This is probably towards the bottom of his range, so the Dubs would be ecstatic for him to be in play here.
17. Orlando Magic - Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State
Even with VJ at 3, I think Jase is a solid option for Orlando. The main knock against Jase is size. He stands at a diminutive 6’0 barefoot, and doesn’t play like a true point guard. Aside from that, he’s just a really solid player. He was an elite shooter in college and was able to run pick and rolls and keep the offense moving. His 6’6 wingspan will help defensively, even if he ends up being a one position defender. Jase is a really good basketball player, size aside. The Magic need more of those.
18. Los Angeles Clippers - Asa Newell, F, Georgia
The Clippers are perpetually in a weird state of affairs. There’s a lot of middling, starting-caliber vets and not a lot of premier talent. Newell isn’t quite that, but he has some upside as a high energy 4/5 with good perimeter skills and some shooting potential. I like him as another defensive piece to pair with Jarace Walker.
19. Cleveland Cavaliers - Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joe’s
Rasheer is my fucking guy (I attend St. Joe’s for reference). He’s an awesome defensive playmaker who gets blocks and deflections with his Mr. Fantastic-esque 7’5 wingspan. He blocked multiple 3s from behind screens at SJU, which is absurd. He can protect the rim or hold his own on switches. The shooting will be the swing skill for him. He didn’t shoot well until his 3rd and final year, and even then is a mediocre FT shooter. Regardless, he’s a high energy guy who will run the floor and look to yam on someone in transition or off cuts. Our guards were not great passers, so there were so many missed opportunities. Pair him with an elite playmaker and he will feast. He’s also just generally a late bloomer. He was an unheralded part of a stacked Camden High School team and had a short leash his first year in college. Since then, he has bulked up massively and worked a lot on his offensive game. If the shooting translates, he will be a very helpful NBA player.
20. New York Knicks - Nolan Traore, G, Saint-Quentin
Traore is a quick and shifty point guard whose stock has dropped since the start of the season but still has a lot of upside as a lead playmaker. The Knicks are starting to shift gears and look more toward the future. Traore has enough upside to be a part of that future in this range.
21. Portland Trail Blazers - Joan Beringer, C, Cedevita Olimpija
Beringer, much like Thomas Sorber, could easily go much higher than this. Portland would be a great fit for him. He’s a young big with great size and athletic traits. He fits Portland’s long term orientation and could anchor their interior for years to come.
22. Phoenix Suns - Walter Clayton, G, Florida
This pick is a luxury for the reigning champs. That said, Clayton has a real chance to contribute right away as a motherfucker of a scoring guard with championship pedigree. The rest of the Suns’ roster is so large that they can afford a small guy off the bench.
23. Detroit Pistons - Nique Clifford, wing, Colorado St.
24. Detroit Pistons - Liam McNeeley, wing, UConn
The Pistons take two wings entering the draft with very different reputations. Clifford was a five year college guy who really bloomed after transferring to Colorado St. for his final 2 years. He can shoot, handle the ball, and score using his physical playstyle. McNeeley entered UConn as a consensus top prospect who didn’t quite live up to the hype. The shooting and scoring did not quite translate to college. That said, Dan Hurley’s system calls for very specific roles for young guys to perform. McNeeley still has potential to blossom into a key contributor, but requires more patience. Clifford is more of an instant-impact guy.
25. Indiana Pacers - Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton
The Pacers can use some size and interior defense with Nikola Vucevic and Robert Williams both expiring. Kalkbrenner is a monster of a big who can protect the rim and finish pick and roll opportunities (with maybe some stretch 5 potential? maybe?). He would be a nice anchor to this team that’s in win-now mode around Brunson and Kyrie.
26. Utah Jazz - Danny Wolf, F/C, Michigan
Wolf’s value is hard to parse because of his unique skillset. He’s a playmaking big with a questionable jumper and poor defense. However, his ball handling and passing makes him a really interesting player in this range. Myles Turner would be a great frontcourt pairing for Wolf.
27. Detroit Pistons - Will Riley, wing, Illinois
Riley is a super young and spindly wing with a lot of potential. Detroit has 3 picks and can afford to be patient with Riley to develop into a do-it-all playmaking wing.
28. Memphis Grizzlies - Ben Saraf, guard, Ratiopharm Ulm
Saraf is one of the few guys in this range who is young and has a good amount of upside. From here through the second round, it’s a lot of seniors and old dudes. Memphis is pretty good now, so an instant impact guy might be a better fit, but they could also bet on upside and use it to dangle in win-now trades.
29. Boston Celtics - Drake Powell, wing, North Carolina
Speaking of upside! Powell’s a really young bouncy wing who defends his ass off and explodes in transition. A consistent jumpshot would do wonders for him, but the Celtics are mid-rebuild and should take swings.
30. San Antonio Spurs - Hugo Gonzalez, wing, Real Madrid
Gonzalez is a high-motor wing who can guard multiple positions and connect the dots on offense. He’s a little raw at the moment, which doesn’t make him a seamless fit. However, as San Antonio re-centers their roster around Luka and Chet, Gonzalez will have time to grow into his role.
1 | Houston Rockets | Cooper Flagg |
2 | Charlotte Hornets | Dylan Harper |
3 | Orlando Magic | VJ Edgecombe |
4 | Dallas Mavericks | Kon Kneuppel |
5 | Dallas Mavericks | Tre Johnson |
6 | Dallas Mavericks | Ace Bailey |
7 | Toronto Raptors | Khaman Maluach |
8 | Boston Celtics | Jeremiah Fears |
9 | Boston Celtics | Kasparas Jakucionis |
10 | Miami Heat | Noa Essengue |
11 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Carter Bryant |
12 | Denver Nuggets | Collin Murray Boyles |
13 | Miami Heat | Derik Queen |
14 | Portland Trail Blazers | Egor Demin |
15 | Atlanta Hawks | Cedric Coward |
16 | Golden State Warriors | Thomas Sorber |
17 | Orlando Magic | Jase Richardson |
18 | Los Angeles Clippers | Asa Newell |
19 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Rasheer Fleming |
20 | New York Knicks | Nolan Traore |
21 | Portland Trail Blazers | Joan Beringer |
22 | Phoenix Suns | Walter Clayton |
23 | Detroit Pistons | Nique Clifford |
24 | Detroit Pistons | Liam McNeely |
25 | Indiana Pacers | Ryan Kalkbrenner |
26 | Utah Jazz | Danny Wolf |
27 | Detroit Pistons | Will Riley |
28 | Memphis Grizzlies | Ben Saraf |
29 | Boston Celtics | Drake Powell |
30 | San Antonio Spurs | Hugo Gonzalez |
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