2025 NBA Mock Draft 3.0
We're a month away from the draft! It's time for another mock draft, but this time will include in-depth analysis and explanation per team selection:
Introduction
With the NBA Draft Combine continuing in full swing, it’s time for an update on where I stand on what's happening on the big day.
The newsletter hits over 200 in-depth, and on average, 3 K-worded scouting reports. I’m slightly biased, but my newsletter is the best source for less-coveted prospects, so subscribe now!
The mock draft is formed on what I think will happen with a healthy mix of the rumblings I’m hearing that teams plan to do. Consensus bias is real, so if you’re looking for a copy-and-paste board from the ESPN or Bleacher Report ones, feel free to click away immediately.
The Draft Order
Here’s a graphic of the selected teams, including explanations for traded draft picks. However, the article will only cover the first round due to being very early in the cycle. The second round will be filled with upperclassmen and ready rotational pieces, but with many who can still opt to leave the draft.
The First Round
1. Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg (#2, Duke): Freshman, 6'9"
No surprise here at #1. I don’t buy any conspiracy theories behind an alleged promise for the number one overall pick in the Luka Dončić trade. Nico Harrison said that he wants to build through defense, and within six months, he’s getting the best defender in this draft class. Flagg has serious star potential and enters a great position in Dallas to kickstart his career.
2. San Antonio Spurs
Dylan Harper (#2, Rutgers): Freshman, 6'6"
ESPN reported that the Spurs will likely draft Harper, who’s an automatic paint touch and one of the most creative scorers in the class. We often do not talk enough about how much core strength and footwork matter, but with Harper, his impact will be immediate.
With an NBA-ready body and great scoring prowess, Harper must address his issues as a shooter. Off the catch is where he’s reliable, but off the dribble is the main struggle. He has a path to be a multiple All-Star throughout his career when he adds that part of his game.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Tre Johnson (#20, Texas): Freshman, 6'6"
With Daryl Morey saying they intend to draft someone with their pick rather than exploring the trade market, they’ll likely address their need for a point guard. Despite the lack of passing reps, Johnson is a clear NBA one who has shown to thrive when leading a team.
Despite mixed results for Texas as a team, the scoring prowess, the lethal shooting touch from three, and improved creativity open the path for the Sixers to build one of the more dynamic backcourts in the NBA.
4. Charlotte Hornets
V.J. Edgecombe (#7, Baylor): Freshman, 6'5"
Charlotte is on board to build through Miller and Ball. That’s why they must address their style of play with another top-tier athlete in Edgecombe. The lack of handles, creativity when attacking the rim took away my preseason thought of Edgecombe as a leading ball handler. Therefore, the athleticism and improved jumper and slashing will help him to take a role as a high starter at the next level. Defensively, that’s where Edgecombe can grow into potentially one of the best guard defenders in the league. I trust Charlotte’s developmental plan for Edgecombe, as this is one of the best fits in this draft.
5. Utah Jazz
Ace Bailey (#4, Rutgers): Freshman, 6'10"
Let’s be honest. Bailey has the most long-term potential in this class. If he hits his absolute outcome, he’ll surpass Flagg as well. But it’s very seldom that it happens. Utah is patient and knows how to develop and prepare top-tier players. Bailey would not make an impact right away, but he has a good context of where he can take one or two seasons to grow into a high starter. Bailey’s processing of the game didn’t look good at Rutgers. But the best part is that I don’t think he sought to prove anything there, as he continued to play the same way he did in high school. Jazz fans should not be sad about this pick.
6. Washington Wizards
Derik Queen (#25, Maryland): Freshman, 6'10"
With Sarr being selected last year, this might look like a logjam at center. However, the NBA continues to use lineups with two centers. The Wizards have a wise way of building their roster through athleticism and plus-positional size. But they lack a true creative initiator. Queen’s long-term potential can be hit if he’s featured. And the local kid has the best spot to do that at Washington.
His handles and self-creation on top of the face-up scoring make him a legitimate threat to play five-out. The jumper wasn’t consistent, but that’s something Washington will gladly invest in. Looking at how Queen emerged as Maryland’s leading factor this year, it’s feasible that his success continues at the next level because of how fundamentally gifted he is. In terms of footwork, there’s no better player in this draft class.
7. New Orleans Pelicans
Jeremiah Fears (#0, Oklahoma): Freshman, 6'4"
With New Orleans’ lack of depth at the leading guard spot, it’s wise to pick one of the long-term bets in Fears. His combination of handles, blow-by speed, and paint touch generation gives him an advantage to make the most of their roster. Fears should be a senior in high school, and physically, he’s not ready to play starter minutes. However, the offensive creativity, improved playmaking are worth preparing to make your leading point guard in the next few years. Fears’ long-term potential gives him true All-Star potential, especially if he continues to fill into his frame.
8. Brooklyn Nets
Kon Knueppel (#7, Duke): Freshman, 6'7"
The Nets need a lot of archetypes. Having a dynamic ball handler in Thomas makes it easier to put Knueppel next to him. The lack of athleticism is taken away by a great feel for the game, a strong physique, and improved handles. Knueppel is a slashing threat and continues to execute his reads as a playmaker. Regardless of the lack of a good first step or explosiveness, craft can take you only so far. In college, it worked and he got better, but despite a top-ten selection, Knueppel does not believe that he has All-Star potential, and that’s what NBA teams bet on when they draft so high. Regardless, he makes players around him better and will be a starter in the next few years.
9. Toronto Raptors
Khaman Maluach (#9, Duke): Freshman, 7'2"
It’s great to have ball handlers in all positions. But the other side of the coin is that you have more mouths to feed. Coming to Duke as one of the best defensive big-man prospects of the last few years, it’s fair to say his offense has shown a lot of promise as well. The jumper is translatable, but will take time to grow into a volume shooter.
The interior-anchoring reputation needs context, as Maluach’s role will be to be a fitting piece of a four- or even five-out-styled Raptors roster that’ll be led by Barnes. The continuity of the roster and having enough ball touches for the four most vital pieces is the essential idea behind this selection. Regardless, Maluach will not disappoint as his season at Duke gave him a kick-start for his pro career.
10. Houston Rockets
Carter Bryant (#9, Arizona): Freshman, 6'8"
Winning in the playoffs. That’s the idea behind this draft pick. Bryant has one of the purest jumpers in the draft. Despite being a Burger Boy, he embraced a smaller role at Arizona, which will seamlessly translate to the NBA. His physical tools are the main buy for Houston.
Bryant is a stout defender with improved footwork, great length, and much-needed switchability to the frontcourt. I expect him to grow into his body in the next few years and develop into one of the more physical wing-stoppers. With a great defensive coach in Udoka, Bryant has a path to grow into one of the league’s best role players, which will increase their chances of winning in the playoffs. And that’s what Houston seeks in their situation.
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Kasparas Jakucionis (#32, Illinois): Freshman, 6'6"
Henderson is the future in Portland. That’s a given. However, Jakucionis has had an incredible developmental path in the last few years. It’s easy to be intrigued by the Barcelona pedigree, but the physical improvements are also impressive. He embraced Illinois, which gave him the chance to play in his style with the ball in his hands. But that’s not his role in the NBA. His craft and generating paint touches will come in handy, despite lacking true speed. That’ll help him find ways to play with Henderson and Sharpe, who are the two pieces who’ll have the ball. Jakucionis has shown that his shot is reliable. That’s the rising factor of going to the lottery here.
12. Chicago Bulls
Asa Newell (#14, Georgia): Freshman, 6'11"
As a classic tweener, Newell has his great athleticism as the leading factor for his lottery selection. On top of that, his consistent motor, great core strength, and touch around the rim make him a five worthy of starting in the Bulls’ rebuild. However, the other side of the coin is that Newell lacks the offensive creativity, scoring arsenal to translate his high school and college resume to the NBA. Play-finishers are utility players, and therefore expandable. For Newell, developing perimeter skills is the essential part to succeed and potentially exceed expectations. The Bulls need a five, and can bet on developing Newell in the next few years, as he fits the guard structure with his thriving as a play-finisher and vertical lob threat.
13. Atlanta Hawks
Joan Beringer (#20, Cedevita Olimpija): 2006, 6’9”
Another five in the lottery. The Hawks have no option but to take Beringer. He’s a perfect fit for them, as his profile as an athletic, switchable five suits what Atlanta needs to supplement Trae. His presence as a great screener and vertical lob threat will continue to make life easier for their star guard. With Risacher emerging and Johnson’s return, the Hawks could have one of the more dynamic, plus-sized teams surrounding Young, with an elite stopper in Daniels as well. Their complementing the five while quickly boosting the defensive rating is the price that Atlanta pays at number thirteen.
14. San Antonio Spurs
Rasheer Fleming (#13, Saint Joseph's): Junior, 6'9"
Fleming got better in each of his three seasons at Saint Joseph’s. He measured out incredibly well with a 7’5.25” wingspan, continuing to add value to his profile. Defensively, that’s the value the Spurs buy. Wembanyama should play the five, but switching physical tall wings and forwards surrounding him is the recipe for success.
That’s Fleming’s value. He’s the ultimate connecting forward as his three-point shooting prowess is the leading factor in sustaining a good offensive rating. I expect Fleming to grow into a slasher where he’ll add versatility to play the three, four, and five in the NBA. That’s worth a lottery pick.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder
Noah Penda (#93, Le Mans): 2005, 6’8”
Versatility is a buzzword in today’s draft coverage. But with Penda, his does-it-all skill at 6-foot-8 on top of the efficient season he has in France puts him in conversations no one is having at the moment. Skill in all positions matters in the NBA. The versatility part comes in Penda’s screening, athleticism as a play-finisher and quick feet, and good footwork. I expect Penda to be a defender in the NBA. The plus-value in close-to-lottery considerations is already showing a feasible role while playing, among other pros.
He’s the most Oklahoma City Thunder-pick ever. I would be left flabbergasted if he ended up somewhere else.
16. Orlando Magic
Ben Saraf (#77, ratiopharm Ulm): 2006, 6’6”
Saraf was the king of the European summer circuit in 2024. He continued his pathway to success at Ulm in the role of a high-starter with lots of on-ball reps. His creativity and passing out of the pick-and-roll are the main selling points. He’s a great decision-maker and stays composed when being blitzed or hard-hedged. Passing out of various coverages made Ulm comfortable in putting Saraf in a much bigger role throughout the season.
Despite Wagner and Banchero being the two major pieces, Orlando struggles with their guard play. Saraf is a good solution as he offers a reliable catch-and-shoot jumper. But the offensive prowess reduces in the NBA if he can’t find a solution for his habit of settling for midrange shots while not developing a two-handed finishing arsenal at the rim.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves
Noa Essengue (#12, ratiopharm Ulm): 2006, 6,9”
The Wolves get a top-ten worthy prospect in Essengue. Despite the need to improve their window of winning, the best bet for them is to focus on the future as well. Consider Essengue a clean blueprint of a top-level athlete with great, two-handed touch around the rim, toughness, and aggressiveness on top of still scratching the surface of what he can develop physically.
Developing in peace is the recipe for success, and that’s what Minnesota can offer him. With their success in McDaniels’ career, the Timberwolves get another opportunity to add more versatility to their roster.
18. Washington Wizards
Nolan Tráore (#2, Saint-Quentin): 2006, 6’4”
With Carrington’s excellent rookie season, the Wizards will continue to add creativity to their backcourt. Tráore was seen as a surefire top-five pick before the season. And frankly, his rapid decline on consensus boards is laughable. That shows that despite more popularity, people still fail to rightly contextualize the numbers compared to the player’s role.
To summarize, Tráore competed on both European and national grounds. When folks talk about playing “against grown men”, Tráore faced mature, highly skilled, and fundamentally sound opponents. His lack of two-handedness is the main struggle. By blitzing or hard-hedge him, or forcing him to his weaker hand, Tráore was put under control in the majority of his games.
However, on a better-spaced NBA floor, the craft and pacing in his game help him to get downhill much easier. His role as a playmaker will boost more value when he’s improving as a team defender, which is another concern. That’s why going to Washington makes sense, as he can grow into a comfortable role, considering the talent around him.
19. Brooklyn Nets
Collin Murray-Boyles (#30, South Carolina): Sophomore, 6'8"
As one of the best players in the SEC, Murray-Boyles is painted as a non-shooting undersized five, which is crazy to think of. His handles, isolation scoring prowess, and top-tier basketball IQ make him a leading factor in one of the most valuable archetypes in the league. His lack of shooting at South Carolina does not define what he’ll bring to the NBA.
In Brooklyn, he’ll fill a similar role on a younger team that's still seeking its identity. As a highly skilled combo forward, Murray-Boyles will grow into a niche with his top defense being the factor to hang his hat on early in his career.
20. Miami Heat
Egor Demin (#3, BYU): Freshman, 6'9"
Inverted pick-and-rolls come to mind when seeing a combination of Nikola Jovic and Egor Demin terrorizing smaller defenders in a few years. Demin’s ball control, creativity as a passer, and improved three-point shot give Miami an ultimate weapon at the point guard slot. That’s where they need an addition, and where all focus should be during the draft.
The area where he fits into their culture is how mature and focused he is. An example is his paint touches. Demin doesn’t drive without an idea is highly effective at the rim despite low volume. These are valuable flashes that confirm his long-term potential.
21. Utah Jazz
Drake Powell (#9, North Carolina): Freshman, 6'6"
Powell is one of the best defenders in this class. Potentially that is. He hasn’t shown much throughout his role at North Carolina, but incredible testing during the NBA Draft Combine, while showing his value during the drills, will put him in first-round consideration. The fit with Utah is so solid because the Jazz have enough room to develop talent as they take their time with their rebuild. As a near 100 %ILE athlete, Powell should focus on adding a reliable three-ball to his game on top of his active cutting and ball-moving. For winning teams, adding skill and versatility to all positions is the recipe for success, and with Powell, the Utah buys low on someone who can end up as one of the best defenders in the class.
22. Atlanta Hawks
Labaron Philon (#0, Alabama): Freshman, 6'4"
As one of the purest shot-makers and ball handlers, Philon made the most of his limited role at Alabama. His skillset as a microwave scorer and secondary facilitator gives Atlanta valuable additions off the bench. He’s tough and possesses good footwork to grow into an average defender in the next few years. For Philon, fitting Atlanta’s need for offensive consistency when Young has an off night is a main factor to address. I expect Philon to be a Sixth Man type of player in the next few years.
23. Indiana Pacers
Nique Clifford (#10, Colorado St.): Senior, 6'6"
With back-to-back Conference Finals appearances, the Pacers will draft to complement their depth and expand their window of winning. By drafting a do-it-all wing in Clifford, they get one of the best rebounders in college basketball.
That’s the incentive for Indiana, as they need consistent shooting from their wings as well. Clifford is a great athlete who thrives on toughness and hunting mismatches. His handles are tight, and there’s potential to expand his role. But the best way for him to stick in the league is to use his rebounding and shooting to fill a role off the bench, with enough runway to grow into the team’s leading wing in the next few years.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder
Maxime Raynaud (#42, Stanford): Senior, 7’1”
The Thunder adds another versatile ball-handler who’s a legitimate seven-footer. Their emphasis on size, skill on all positions, and floor-stretching makes him the perfect addition to a lack of three-point shooting from their five-spot. If it weren’t for Flagg, Raynaud would have been ACC Player of the Year. His composure, fluidity, and great footwork make him one of the best players available later in the first round. For Oklahoma City, adding experience is vital while they extend their window of winning by putting winning players deep into the depth chart. Despite not having a clear path to play immediately, Raynaud will grow into a good role while the Thunder continue to seek their NBA title.
25. Orlando Magic
Will Riley (#7, Illinois): Freshman, 6'8"
While he’s fairly raw, Riley’s unique blend of size, fluidity, handles, and shot-making makes him a lock in the first round. The Magic intend to build through positional size and skill that fit multiple positions. Riley is a scorer, but needs to bulk up and invest in his physique to make it in the NBA. His freshman year at Illinois was promising, as he grew more comfortable playing in a reduced role. Those were the major issues the NBA scouts I spoke to had before the season. Regardless, Riley’s role should depend on how much he improves his overall defense. Especially rotation-wise is where he struggled.
26. Brooklyn Nets
Liam McNeeley (#30, UConn): Freshman, 6'7"
Maturity means a lot in rebuilding teams. McNeeley has been a connecting piece since high school, playing alongside multiple first-rounders. In Connecticut, the context behind his role wasn’t good. He had to pick a leading role where others didn’t step up. That’s a positive helping McNeeley solidify his draft status.
His jumper is smooth and one of the best in this class. However, I don’t see a feasible role for improvement into a bigger role in the NBA. He’s a below-average athlete and lacks the toughness and strength to handle playing against bigger and stronger opponents. Despite the clear box to put McNeeley in, the lack of long-term potential hurt his value and thus led to him falling to the late first round.
27. Brooklyn Nets
Hugo González (#9, Real Madrid) 2006, 6’6”
While being one of the stars in the Spanish scene in the last few years, longevity and an incredible feel for the game summarize González’s game. The best part about his pro career is that he was labeled a shooter, but the jumper never convinced. That’s what's gotten better throughout the season. Despite playing a limited role at Real Madrid, González had valuable reps in meaningful games that’ll help his path at the next level.
His ball skills are undervalued, as the floor spacing, slashing, and team defending were the main strengths. González finding minutes at a Euroleague and ACB contender speaks volumes to how well he can grow into a key rotational piece. Every rebuilding team needs surefire options on its bench to grow its depth chart. González is a high-floor pick late in the first round.
28. Boston Celtics
Adou Thiero (#3, Arkansas): Junior, 6'6"
Building around physical and gifted ball-handling wings made the Celtics successful. That’s the emphasis of their additions via the draft. Positional size and outlier skills are what they seek. When it comes to developing talent, Boston sits at the top of the league. Thiero’s path from a physical standpoint has been absurd in the last few years. He’s still scratching the surface of what he can become, despite being a junior.
Despite a first-round selection in a win-now window, the Celtics can afford to bet on development in the next two years, with Thiero being an X-factor to adjust and rely less on Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. The Razorback has a chance to crack the rotation immediately, and that says a lot.
29. Phoenix Suns
Bogoljub Markovic (#6, Mega Basket): 2005, 6’11”
The Suns get one of the most skilled fives in the draft. Their build has been through offensive creativity and production. Despite legitimate worries about Markovic’s team defense, the fluid-moving athlete had a phenomenal year in Serbia, whereafter he’s putting himself in legitimate first-round consideration. He’s giving Phoenix a cheaper option as an inside creator, as his passing improved this year on top of his face-up scoring and ball-moving. Despite the production, he’s still the underrated name in the list, as the end of the late first round will feel like a steal for the Suns front office.
30. Los Angeles Clippers
Thomas Sorber (#35, Georgetown): Freshman, 6'10"
I’m not a medical expert, but ankle injuries and center prospects are not a good combination. Sorber has had one of the best freshman campaigns of this draft and has given back Georgetown its reputation as a big-man-developing program. His physical tools, length, and toughness at such a young age are a well-regarded premium that teams are willing to pay for.
In Los Angeles, Sorber can develop alongside Zubac to be their starting five in the future. At 30, the Clippers get tremendous value.
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