My First and Last 2025 NBA Mock Draft
for all the marbles...
Mock Draft SZN is officially coming to an end.
Welcome to the last 2025 Mock Draft you’ll ever read.
With so many Mock Drafts throughout the draft cycle, so many different versions, based on different intel, rumors, criteria, one might wonder… do Mock Drafts have a purpose?
Why do they matter?
Mock Drafts matter because they help build a consensus view on how the draft ranges for each prospect can play out, what position and player archetype teams are looking for, which all helps determine where value can be found throughout draft night.
Once a general consensus order is established, teams can determine if its worth packaging together future picks and players to move around in the draft closer to the range of their preferred target.
If a player will likely fall between 5-8, and you're sitting at 11, the only way to acquire your target is to move up into that range where you're 100% sure or close to it you can land them.
Teams value picks, prospects, players differently; especially on draft night, where picks are still poker hands waiting to be won, not yet folded to reshuffle the deck until the next year.
New owners looking to make a splash, rebuilding teams that know which prospects they specifically want to build around, contending teams looking for win-now help from a good basketball player could all look to move around in the draft to land the player they desire.
Below is a Mock Draft exercise of how I think tonight (and tomorrow's!) draft night(s) plays out
This is not necessarily what I would do with each draft pick, but moreso what I think each team will do with each pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, based on rumored targets, team identity, front office history, and best role fit for opportunity to develop.
These are not all of my conclusive thoughts on the 2025 NBA Draft. Read my in-depth deep-dive into the 2025 NBA Draft with scouting reports, data visualizations, and an Orlando Magic team-centric big board by clicking this link.
When reading a Mock Draft, you must stay ready. Keep an eye out for fake trades, they can appear at any moment, disrupting the landscape of the league in a blink of an eye!
Let the games begin.
1. Dallas Mavericks - Cooper Flagg (F, Duke)
Cooper Flagg provides Dallas the restart button it so desperately needs to give the fans a glimmer of hope for the future of the franchise. A do-it-all swish army knife, Flagg has shown enough all-around skills, defensive malleability, and shooting versatility to be considered the most versatile draft prospect since… LeBron?
2. San Antonio Spurs - Dylan Harper (G, Rutgers)
Dylan Harper offers San Antonio a one-man offensive engine potential scoring creator to penetrate the paint, bend the defense, score at will, and open up cleaner looks for Wemby in the process; a pick-and-pop match made in heaven?
3. Philadelphia 76ers - VJ Edgecombe (G, Baylor)
VJ Edgecombe's outlier bounce, defensive playmaking instincts, capable 3pt shot and impressive development curve offers a bankable D&3 floor and on-ball drive-and-kick upside for just about any team; he happens to also fit an archetype often coveted by Sixers decision-maker, Daryl Morey.
4. Charlotte Hornets - Kon Knueppel (G, Duke)
An offensive engine prospect who can shoot the lights out, dribble the leather off, and whip the rock around with high feel, Kon Knueppel could be the oil this team needs to smooth out the engine and help the halfcourt flow between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
5. Utah Jazz - Tre Johnson (G, Texas)
A high-volume 3pt sniper like Tre Johnson gives Coach Will Hardy another toy to play around with in off-ball motion sets, where he's unlocked Lauri Markkanen as an All-Star level shooter and scoring talent, using him like a tall Klay Thompson; now imagine the most versatile pull-up, off-ball, motion shooter prospect in ages joining the mix in Tre.
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FAKE TRADE ALERT
We have a Fake Trade to announce!
Fake Trade #1
Brooklyn Nets receive: #6
Washington Wizards receive: #8 + #22
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6. Brooklyn Nets (fake trade with Wizards) - Jeremiah Fears (G, Oklahoma)
Jeremiah Fears has the quickest first step in the class, a walking foul magnet who sneaks through defenders with ease, gets to the rack, can hit the pull-up three and run pick-and-roll offense in the halfcourt. Fears has that star "it"-factor, if his defense and finishing hold up at the next level. Fears could have the runway to develop in Brooklyn.
7. New Orleans Pelicans - Ace Bailey (G/F, Rutgers)
Ace Bailey offers a lethal pull-up shooting skill-set, with impressive athleticism, sound rebounding skills, and impressive defensive playmaking upside. A low-usage 3&D role could allow Bailey room to develop his on-ball upside. As the Pelicans collect talent, maybe Ace could have leeway to develop as a scorer while initially contributing in a lesser role next to this gluttony of fringe stars.
8 Washington Wizards (fake trade with Brooklyn) - Derik Queen (F/C, Maryland)
Maryland native Derik Queen gives Washington a bull in the china shop who has soft enough footwork and body control to somehow not break a single dish; if anything, Queen could glide down the lane while catching bowls on his head like Red Panda from the lack of resistance he sees on drives, where the brute force, graceful footwork, clean touch and wide vision allows him to draw fouls, attack the rack, and find open teammates on kickouts. Flank Queen with the Wizards' young defensive-minded pups and veteran floor spacing ol’ dawgs and perhaps Washington can untap this downhill force playmaking hub.
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FAKE TRADE ALERT
Fake Trade Alert! Fake Trade Alert! Who ordered the Fake Trade?
Fake Trade #2
San Antonio Spurs receive:: #9
Toronto Raptors receive:: #14 + #38 + 2029 Spurs Lottery-Protected 1st
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9. San Antonio Spurs (fake trade from Toronto) - Khaman Maluach (C, Duke)
Khaman Maluach is the most efficient rim-roller college hoops has seen in a long time. A tough, stout defender who uses active hands and instincts to anchor the paint down low, Khaman can be a rim-protecting rim-roller for years to come, with enough touch to believe in possible shooting development. who can slide right into the 5 next to Wemby in this offense. If CP3 sticks around, one cannot ask for a more perfect vet to fine-tune those rim-rolling skills than the point god. The Spurs adding a star creator guard, a potential high-impact two-way big man, to a team with Wemby, Fox, Castle, Vassell is starting to feel a little unfair. The NBA is so deeply talented these days.
10. Phoenix Suns (from Houston Rockets) - Collin Murray-Boyles (F/C, South Carolina)
Collin Murray Boyles offers incredible defensive instincts, timing, hands, a walking deflection who can get downhill and playmake on the other end. CMB can help anchor Phoenix defense while offering a paint-penetrating drive-and-kick handoff playmaking hub on the offensive end with the Suns splashy new shooting backcourt of Devin Booker and Jalen Green.
11. Portland Trail Blazers - Carter Bryant (F, Arizona)
Carter Bryant could help a team win now with his all-around versatile skillset, a malleable defensive wing who can shoot and score the rock, Bryant can slide right into any rotation and contribute as a good two-way basketball player. As Portland maneuvers to reacquire Jrue Holiday after a strong late push to end the season with competitive defense, the team trajectory seems to be pointing towards let’s play ball
12. Chicago Bulls - Noa Essengue (F, France)
Noa Essengue is a tenacious defender, off-ball help-side rim-protector, who can grab the ball and push in transition. He brings half-court play-finishing today and some intriguing on-ball upside between his handles and rapid development curve. The Bulls need to bet on upside, and Noa has as much as anyone at this point in the draft.
13. Atlanta Hawks - Kasparas Jakucionis (G, Illinois)
Kasparas Jakucionis is a pick-and-roll maestro who can carve up defenses with deceleration, good vision, and a go-to stepback 3pt jump shot, as a solid finisher at the rim who can still get even better there. The lack of defense and C&S 3pt shot could determine how scalable his role is in the NBA, but the Hawks could use someone to recreate Trae's P&R heavy playing style when Young hits the bench, now that they've added Kristaps to their slew of versatile play-finishing bigs in the frontcourt.
14. Toronto Raptors (fake trade from San Antonio Spurs) - Joan Beringer (C, France
Joan Beringer offers intriguing upside as a rim-protecting, rim-rolling, long tall bouncy slim big man. Toronto continues buiiding around length and defense in the frontcourt, potentially building an elite defense by pairing up Barnes with Beringer.
15. Oklahoma City - Cedric Coward (G/F, Washington State)
Cedric Coward has the longest wingspan in the draft, the best wingspan-to-height ratio in the draft, and clean shooting touch on his 3pt jumper. The defending champs adding arguably the most coveted late-riser D&3 wing in the draft also feels unfair. Who keeps letting these smart GMs add other team's future draft picks to their team that's already a contender?
16. Memphis - Nique Clifford (G/F, Colorado State)
Nique Clifford offers scoring versatility, shooting touch, two-way feel decision-making as a plus defender. Rates highly in scoring, passing, and defense statistically. There's a versatile two-way basketball player here which generally checks the box for Grizzlies draft picks, who could upgrade the wing talent with the #16 pick they acquired in the Desmond Bane trade.
17. Minnesota - Danny Wolf (F/C, Michigan)
Danny Wolf brings a versatile scoring skillset, with good footwork, mobility, handle, vision, playmaking chops, two-way feel, and 3pt spacing as a 6'11" point forward who initiates high volume of pick-and-rolls, pushes the pace off rebounds, and consistently creates a good shot for his team. Wolf slides into Minnesota's second unit as jumbo distributor behind Randle who can run some offense, initiate 4-5 P&R with Gobert, hit the open 3 ball, and hold his own defensively.
18. Washington - Egor Demin (G/F, BYU)
Egor Demin is a tall ball handler capable of running some pick-and-roll offense in the halfcourt, has functional strength defensively, and has flashed a stepback 3pt shot in his bag at times. Tall playmaker, tough defender, capable 3pt shooter may intrigue the right NBA team; all it takes is one. The Wizards are searching for playmaking, talent, upside, shooting, and Demin flashes enough of these where they could take a swing.
19. Brooklyn - Thomas Sorber (F/C, Georgetown)
Thomas Sorber may just be the premier defensive anchor of the class. A ball of energy big man, the heaviest draft prospect with the 3rd longest wingspan-to-height ratio and the 2nd best blocks+steals per fouls ratio, Sorber uses his size effectively to force stops without fouling. On the offense end, Sorber runs the floor hard and shows clean passing flashes as a potential handoff playmaking hub. Pair Sorber with Fears and Brooklyn is cooking with two potential cornerstones on each end of the floor who complement each other’s games perfectly to maximize each other’s impact as creator, playfinisher, and defenders.
20. Miami - Walter Clayton Jr. (G, Florida)
Walter Clayton Jr.'s quick trigger shooting was on full display in March Madness, where he led his UF team to the 'chip. Clayton's relocation conditioning, clean jump shot on and off the ball, and solid feel is worth a look as a potential offensive option. Miami pairs Herro with another money shooter in the backcourt to grow with Bam and Ware.
21. Utah - Liam McNeeley (G/F, UConn)
Liam McNeeley can hit the 3-ball, attack closeouts, and move the ball with a team-first mindset; Liam could thrive in an off-ball connector role where he slides into C&S 3pters and Handoffs. The defense and advantage creation could be minimal, so those skills will have to hit for Liam to find his niche. The Jazz love shooters, and could use an influx of talent on the wing.
22. Washington (fake trade from Brooklyn, acquired in real trade from Atlanta) - Nolan Traore (G, France)
All-around point guard prospect with a quick first step, fiery mentality, quick defensive footwork, a developable pull-up 3pt shot, and passing skills as a drive-and-kick connector, Nolan Traore has fell from preseason big board grace, but still could wind up a good two-way D&3 team-first player for a team who helps him carve out the right role. With Washington adding Queen and Demin in this draft, Traore provides a D&3 connector point guard to balance out the floor alongside the Wizards young core.
23. New Orleans - Ryan Kalkbrenner (C, Creighton)
Ryan Kalkbrenner rates highly in many stats; between his scoring, 2pt effeciency, blocks+steals per fouls rate, some of his stats are frankly off the charts. A traditional post-up big brute who can play drop defense, rebound the ball, protect the rim, yet offers a little 3pt C&S upside, one could envision Kalkbrenner anchoring a team's second unit quickly and potentially the first unit down the line with a rare 3&D post-up paint-protector skill-set. Slide in the traditional big man next to Zion and company for an imposing threat against opposing frontcourts, a complementary big to do the dirty work, and ideally hit that C&S 3-ball off Zion’s kickouts.
24. Oklahoma City - Asa Newell (F/C, Georgia)\
Asa Newell brings a stable two-way skill set between frenetic hands, mobility, length helping blocks shots and create deflections, pinpoint timing on offensive rebounds, with a developable 3pt shot and postup counter move footwork. Newell should help any team win basketball games, and the Thunder are happy to add blue-chip prospects who might add complementary depth to an ever-deeper, ever-defensive Thunder roster.
25. Orlando - Javon Small (G, West Virginia)
Javon Small is one of the most complete guard prospect in the class: a tough defender and efficient scorer who can shoot the 3ball and run P&R along with a variety of halfcourt playtypes. Any guard that can hold his own defensively, stretch the floor, and make quick smart decisions with and without the ball has a chance to earn a spot in this league, and one couldn’t find a better place to learn than from tough guard tutors like Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane.
26. Brooklyn - Jase Richardson (G, Michigan State)
Jase Richardson's feathery shooting touch, pristine two-way feel, elegant movement skills make it easy to see he's the son of a pro. Between his perimeter shooting, clean floater finishing near the rim, middy pull-up game, heads up playmaking, and defensive atheltic upside, Jase can carve out a role as an all-around good guard, and the open role to develop in Brooklyn provides the opportunity to do so.
27. Brooklyn - Adou Theiro (F, Arkansas)
Adou Thiero's explosiveness can't be contained. Thiero flies around in transition and off-ball defense, blocking shots and running the floor like a ball shot out of a cannon. Adou's shooting upside is interesting enough to invest in a potential D&3 play-finishing wing with elite defensive upside. Nets will take all upside plays, thank you.
28. Boston - Johni Broome (F, Auburn)
Johni Broome was the best college basketball player alive last year not named Cooper Flagg, leading Auburn to a highly successful season. Broome may look like a misfit on the court, but his game does the talking for him, as he can score with ease in the post with a variety of old-school pumpfakes and misdirection shoulder shimmies, crash the glass, hold his own defensively and actively force turnovers with natural defensive instincts. Broome may be as well-suited to help a team win now as any, which could help a Celtics team missing its superstar most of the season.
29. Phoenix - Noah Penda (F/C, France)
If frenetic energy were a player, he would be named Noah Penda. Always moving around the court, pushing the pace, cutting off ball, relocating for handoffs, crashing the glass for boards, Penda is as active a mover off-ball as anyone in the class. A plus-defender play-finisher who can impact winning right away can help round out a Phoenix frontcourt that feels a little light on Slim Reapers since a week ago.
30. LA Clippers - Rasheer Fleming (F, Saint Joseph's)
Tied with Cedric Coward for the longest wingspan-to-height ratio in the class, Fleming offers great length and a potential 3pt jumpshot that can help carve out a 3&D role one day, if the rest of his game doesn't limit that opportunity. Clippers add potential wing depth to flank the defense and hit C&S 3s off creators like Harden/Zubac/Kawhi.
Second Round
31. Minnesota - Kam Jones (G, Marquette)
32. Boston - Rocco Zikarsky (C, Australia)
33. Charlotte - Will Riley (G/F, Illinois)
34. Charlotte - Drake Powell (G/F, North Carolina)
35. Philadelphia - Hansen Yang (F/C, China)
36. Brooklyn - Ben Saraf (G, Israeli)
37. Detroit - Vlad Goldin (C, Michigan)
38. Toronto (fake trade from San Antonio) - Jamir Watkins (F, Florida State)
39. Toronto - Max Shulga (G, VCU).
40. New Orleans (from Washington) - Sion James
41. Golden State - Maxime Raynaud (F/C, France)
42. Sacramento - Amari Williams (F, Kentucky)
43. Utah - Hugo Gonzalez (G/F, Spain)
44. Oklahoma City - Arthur Kaluma (F, Texas)
45. Chicago - Mark Sears (G, Alabama)
46. Orlando - Koby Brea (G, Kentucky)
47. Milwaukee - Bogoljub Markovic (F/C, Serbia)
48. Memphis - Ryan Nembhard (G, Gonzaga)
49. Cleveland - Eric Dixon (F, Villanova)
50. New York - Chaz Lanier (G, Tennessee)
51. LA Clippers - Tyrese Proctor (G, Duke)
52. Phoenix - Alijah Martin (G, Florida)
53. Utah - Yanic Konan Niederhauser (C, Penn State)
54. Indiana - Dink Pate (G, G-League)
55. Los Angeles Lakers - Lachlan Olbrich (F/C, Austrailia)
56. Memphis - Hunter Sallis (G, Wake Forest)
57. Orlando - John Tonje (G, Wisconsin)
58. Cleveland - Kobe Sanders (G, Nevada)
59. Houston - Micah Peavy (G/F, Georgetown)
* Knicks 2nd round pick forfeited
First Round Recap
1. Dallas Mavericks - Cooper Flagg (F, Duke)
2. San Antonio Spurs - Dylan Harper (G, Rutgers)
3. Philadelphia 76ers - VJ Edgecombe (G, Baylor)
4. Charlotte Hornets - Kon Knueppel (G, Duke)
5. Utah Jazz - Tre Johnson (G, Texas)
6. Brooklyn Nets - Jeremiah Fears (G, Oklahoma) (fake trade with Wizards)
7. New Orleans Pelicans - Ace Bailey (G/F, Rutgers)
8. Washington Wizards - Derik Queen (F/C, Maryland) (fake trade with Brooklyn)
9. San Antonio Spurs - Khaman Maluach (C, Duke) (fake trade from Toronto)
10. Phoenix Suns - Collin Murray-Boyles (F/C, South Carolina) (from Houston Rockets)
11. Portland Trail Blazers - Carter Bryant (F, Arizona)
12. Chicago Bulls - Noa Essengue (F, France)
13. Atlanta Hawks - Kasparas Jakucionis (G, Illinois)
14. Toronto Raptors - Joan Beringer (C, France) (fake trade from San Antonio Spurs)
15. Oklahoma City - Cedric Coward (G/F, Washington State)
16. Memphis - Nique Clifford (G/F, Colorado State)
17. Minnesota - Danny Wolf (F/C, Michigan)
18. Washington - Egor Demin (G/F, BYU)
19. Brooklyn - Thomas Sorber (F/C, Georgetown)
21. Utah - Liam McNeeley (G/F, UConn)
22. Washington - Nolan Traore (G, France) (fake trade from Brooklyn, acquired in real trade from Atlanta)
23. New Orleans - Ryan Kalkbrenner (C, Creighton)
24. Oklahoma City - Asa Newell (F/C, Georgia)
25. Orlando - Javon Small (G, West Virginia)
26. Brooklyn - Jase Richardson (G, Michigan State)
27. Brooklyn - Adou Theiro (F, Arkansas)
28. Boston - Johni Broome (F, Auburn)
29. Phoenix - Noah Penda (F/C, France)
30. LA Clippers - Rasheer Fleming (F, Saint Joseph's)
The Results of the Two Fake Trades:
Brooklyn Nets receive: #6 (Jeremiah Fears)
Washington Wizards receive: #8 (Derik Queen) + #22 (Nolan Traore)
San Antonio Spurs receive:: #9 (Khaman Maluach)
Toronto Raptors receive:: #14 (Joan Beringer) + #38 (Jamir Watkins) + 2029 Spurs Lottery-Protected 1st
Will one of these fake trades happen?
Will any of these draft picks happen?
Will even on prediction here be right?
No one knows. (Well, other than Mavs fans, hopefully…)
That’s the beauty of the NBA Draft – fans wake up like its Christmas Morning, the only time of day when presents can still be anything you can imagine, that last moment before you open up the gift, before that magic potential slips away into reality.
Present time, present time, present time, basketball fans.
Open it up and see what’s inside.
Time to wake up!
Happy Draft Day to you and yours!
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