As more future draftees declare for the NBA Draft, it becomes easier to project. South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles, Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis and Duke’s Kon Knueppel are three of the most recent and high-profile players to throw their hats in the ring.
Make sure you also check out my NBA Draft Lottery Big Board.
Let’s dive into the first NBA mock draft of 2025.
Note: The Draft Lottery was simulated. It is not strictly based on the standings.
2025 NBA Mock Draft
1. Washington Wizards: Cooper Flagg (F, G – Duke)
Unlike last season’s draft cycle, the number one selection in 2025 is — and has been — clear as day. Cooper Flagg is the pick here. No matter what.
2. New Orleans Pelicans: Dylan Harper (G – Rutgers)
New Orleans experienced another dismal year riddled with injuries. There’s some talk Pelicans brass are keen on trading Zion Williamson this summer. Dylan Harper, an elite guard prospect, would provide some much-needed hope.
3. Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecombe (G – Baylor)
Charlotte has its cornerstones in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, but neither has the defensive edge VJ Edgecombe possesses. The Baylor guard can start immediately for a Hornets team looking to shape an identity.
4. Chicago Bulls: Ace Bailey (F – Rutgers)
The Bulls emerge as the lucky team in the lottery and take the best player available. A core of Ace Bailey, Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, Patrick Williams and Coby White certainly has some appeal.
5. Utah Jazz: Tre Johnson (G – Texas)
The Jazz are entering the third year of a rebuild that currently doesn’t have any blue-chip prospects to show for it. Utah should be chasing ceiling with this pick. Tre Johnson, a microwave scorer, has the highest ceiling of the players remaining.
6. Philadelphia 76ers: Kon Knueppel (G, F – Duke)
Philadelphia could go in many different directions here. It doesn’t seem as if the 76ers are actively looking for Joel Embiid‘s replacement, so Khaman Maluach and Derik Queen can be ruled out for now.
Kon Knueppel provides strong wing play to a team that could use some.
7. Brooklyn Nets: Jeremiah Fears (G – Oklahoma)
Somewhat similar to the Jazz, the Nets are well into their rebuild and without an elite prospect. Jeremiah Fears has star guard potential, which makes him a legitimate player for general manager Sean Marks to build around.
8. Toronto Raptors: Khaman Maluach (C – Duke)
The Raptors are uniquely positioned in that their projected starting lineup for the 2026 season is comprised of players 27 or younger and under contract for years to come.
The selection of Khaman Maluach here has more to do with Jakob Poeltl‘s contract expiring before any of Toronto’s other starters than anything else.
9. San Antonio Spurs: Collin Murray-Boyles (F – South Carolina)
Collin Murray-Boyles would be a great Spur. He defends in such a way that would allow Victor Wembanyama to become even more of a roamer on defense.
Murray-Boyles’ offensive game at the next level is to be determined, but the Spurs can afford to sustain his growing pains.
10. Houston Rockets: Kasparas Jakucionis (G – Illinois)
It wouldn’t come as a surprise to see Houston take the same redshirt approach with Kasparas Jakucionis as it did with Reed Sheppard.
Fred VanVleet has a nearly $45 million team option after next season, so there may be a point guard vacancy in Houston soon.
***Trade Alert***
11. Brooklyn Nets (From Portland): Derik Queen (C – Maryland)
Trade details: Brooklyn sends picks no. 20, 26 and 36 to Portland in exchange for pick no. 11.
Derik Queen’s slide ends here as Brooklyn sends a haul to move up and select their franchise big man. Coming away with both Fears and Queen, with another first-rounder down the order, would be amazing for Brooklyn.
12. Miami Heat: Jase Richardson (G – Michigan State)
Tyler Herro has been a fine point guard this season, and the selection of Jase Richardson allows Erik Spoelstra to take some of the offensive load off Herro’s shoulders. Richardson brings high feel, solid shooting and scrappy defense.
13. Dallas Mavericks: Nique Clifford (F – Colorado State)
After inexplicably trading Luka Doncic, projecting this pick is as difficult as any. All signs point towards the Mavericks chasing a championship next season. Nique Clifford’s savvy, versatile play can help them in doing that.
14. Atlanta Hawks: Asa Newell (F – Georgia)
Clint Capela‘s upcoming free agency is the main reason for the selection of Asa Newell here. Atlanta possesses a thin bench and is without a future backup for Onyeka Okongwu, too.
Should Newell develop a jumper, he may be able to play alongside Okongwu.
15. San Antonio Spurs: Liam McNeeley (F – UConn)
A brutal final five-game stretch in which he went 4-of-26 from three severely dampened Liam McNeeley’s efficiency in his only college season. Thankfully, the flashes are there to support him being a capable 3-and-D wing in the NBA.
16. Orlando Magic: Carter Bryant (F – Arizona)
No matter how the postseason goes for Orlando, it’ll need perimeter shooting going into next season… again. Carter Bryant is an intriguing prospect with NBA size and athleticism, but was an afterthought in Arizona’s offense.
Bryant shot 2.8 threes per game at a 37% clip for the Wildcats.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rasheer Fleming (F – St. Joseph’s)
Both Julius Randle and Naz Reid are free agents with player options this summer. If Minnesota is unable to retain one or both, Rasher Fleming offers strong defense and shooting as a replacement.
18. Miami Heat: Noa Essengue (F – France)
Miami is coming off its worst regular-season record in a decade, and the Jimmy Butler trade has signaled the start of a new era. It’s a roster that can probably afford to take time in the development of a player like Noa Essengue, who has obvious physical gifts.
19. Washington Wizards: Egor Demin (G – BYU)
Egor Demin gives Washington a project at lead guard with elite size and clear playmaking strengths. Carlton Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly and AJ Johnson are all in the building, which clutters things, but having a 6-foot-9 point guard fall in your lap is too enticing to pass.
***Trade Alert***
20. Portland Trail Blazers (From Brooklyn): Danny Wolf (F, C – Michigan)
Trade details: Brooklyn sends picks no. 20, 26 and 36 to Portland in exchange for pick no. 11.
Portland elects to maximize opportunity with the trade in this mock and selects Danny Wolf with its first pick. The odds that both Robert Williams III and Deandre Ayton are on this team after next season are low.
Portland will try to recreate the two-man game Wolf had with fellow Wolverine Vladislav Goldin with Donovan Clingan at the NBA level.
21. Utah Jazz: Will Riley (F – Illinois)
Riley has some serious three-level scoring potential. Though he’ll need to bulk up his body to adjust for NBA physicality come the fall. Utah coming away with him and Tre Johnson would make the Jazz a much more intriguing offensive unit.
22. Atlanta Hawks: Nolan Traore (G – France)
Nolan Traore gives Atlanta some insurance if Trae Young wants out. The young Frenchman struggled with his jumper for Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball this season, causing his stock to tumble.
Traore is ridiculously quick and does show the ability to be a distributor.
23. Indiana Pacers: Thomas Sorber (C – Georgetown)
There aren’t many rim protectors in this class as good as Thomas Sorber. Indiana’s longtime starting center Myles Turner will enter unrestricted free agency this summer, making the selection of Sorber a potentially needed one.
24. Orlando Magic: Walter Clayton Jr. (G – Florida)
No player improved their draft stock in March more than Walter Clayton Jr., who was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament. The senior guard showcased incredible abilities as a shot-maker throughout his 2024-25 campaign.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder: Bogoljub Markovic (F – Serbia)
This is the Thunder’s obligatory take-a-swing-on-an-international-player pick. There isn’t a single need on Oklahoma City’s roster, and Bogoljub Markovic is climbing draft boards as a 6-foot-11 point forward who shoots almost 40% from deep.
***Trade Alert***
26. Portland Trail Blazers (From Brooklyn): Yaxel Lendeborg (F – UAB)
Trade details: Brooklyn sends picks no. 20, 26 and 36 to Portland in exchange for pick no. 11.
Good luck finding a more productive player in this class than Yaxel Lendeborg. The 6-foot-9 forward was UAB last season. He has committed to Michigan but is maintaining draft eligibility.
27. Brooklyn Nets: Ben Saraf (G – Israel)
Ben Saraf allows Brooklyn to refine a 6-foot-5 combo guard with intriguing scoring capabilities. Brooklyn should be targeting upside here while showing little regard for positional need.
28. Boston Celtics: Maxime Raynaud (F, C – Stanford)
Al Horford isn’t getting any younger, folks. Maxime Raynaud averaged over 20 points per game in his senior season while shooting a respectable 34.7% from three.
Raynaud showed the ability to knock down spot-up threes and attack closeouts throughout his final collegiate campaign.
29. Phoenix Suns: Labaron Philon (G – Alabama)
Everything is on the table here for Phoenix with big roster changes on the way. The recently-declared Labaron Philon needs to put on some muscle, but doesn’t show much hesitation in driving to the cup.
The defensive abilities and inside touch are what stand out with the young guard.
30. Los Angeles Clippers: Johni Broome (F, C – Auburn)
The Clippers could use a center to back up Ivica Zubac. Johni Broome spent his last two seasons as one of the best players in college basketball. The former Tiger brings great defense and dominant rebounding.
