The 2025 NBA Draft is upon us – on a Wednesday? It is hard to believe that we have been covering the draft every year for 10 years now but time flies since most of those kids now more than halfway done in their careers. But this class’ kids are a talented bunch, arguably moreso than last year’s class. With that being said, I present what I would do if I were each team in the top 20 of the first round today. After 20 is when the lines start getting really blurred, as there begins to be little difference between the 21st pick and the 40th. Also, the last ten picks of the first round tend to traded back and forth and I already have my head spinning from the trades I’ve mocked up. Enjoy!
1. Dallas Mavericks select Cooper Flagg, F Duke
What more is there to say about Cooper Flagg that hasn’t already been said? The hype is real and deserved. This is a kid who at 17 held his own against Team USA last summer while he was scrimmaging with them and someone who didn’t turn 18 until well into his freshman season at Duke. He is a rare two way talent who needs to get better at shooting but that is a skill that gets better over time, especially with the work ethic he has. I usually hate the Kawhi Leonard comparison that’s thrown out every year for every draft but it’s not the worst comp here. A better one might be Grant Hill, who was former teammates with Mavs head coach Jason Kidd and Kidd is probably staying in Dallas because of the Mavs’ lottery luck that definitely wasn’t fixed to replace Luka in Dallas. Not since LeBron has there been this young a kid who is as safe as Flagg is as a prospect. He’s going to enjoy playing next to Anthony Davis and the Mavericks great center duo.
2. San Antonio Spurs select Dylan Harper, G Rutgers
Dylan Harper is not the perfect fit that Flagg is in the Big D but the Spurs don’t really have a choice but to take the clear second best player in this draft. They also never imagined they’d jump so high up in the lottery and probably wouldn’t have traded for De’Aaron Fox if they did. This is supremely talented lead guard who can score with the best of them but there may be spacing issues with two lefties on the court. I do some Jalen Brunson in Harper, who’s father was also a great NBA player and has trained his son for this moment. San Antonio should let this play out and see what Harper, Castle and Fox look like together before doing anything. The Mavs, after all, thought they were flush in guards and didn’t need Brunson because of Luka being there, which was a bad decision. Sometimes, you just have to accumulate talent and let everything figure itself out like it does.
3. Philadelphia 76ers select VJ Edgecombe, SG Baylor
Philly, like the Spurs, probably would’ve loved to trade their pick for a proven star who can help now but that player hasn’t become available yet. The Sixers are also in a weird position because of Ace Bailey refusing to work out for them and every other team. This isn’t the worst thing because I believe VJ Edgecombe to be the better fit for them anyway. I don’t think you’re sacrificing much in the way of talent going from Bailey to Edgecombe, and Edgecombe has intangibles that Bailey doesn’t. He’s the most impressive kid in the draft off the court and possibly the most athletic on it too. He’s not going to win Rookie of the Year with such a stacked roster but going to the Sixers and learning from Paul George will be a boon to his development. The city will adore this kid for his motor and how he conducts himself. He should eventually start next to Tyrese Maxey.
4. Charlotte Hornets trade with the New Orleans Pelicans who select Ace Bailey, F Rutgers
Ace Bailey is the biggest question mark in the draft for a lot of reasons. The ability is clear but what he wants out of his career is not. It seems he is prioritizing landing with a bad team where he can be the man and go to guy. Here, I have the Pelicans trading up 3 spots from seven by giving up #23. New Orleans has done a great job developing long and athletic wings in recent seasons. The fit with Zion Williamson should be interesting to watch as Ace often looks a lot like Brandon Ingram. It seems apparent that Bailey does not want to become Michael Porter Jr. and the third or fourth option on a really good team like he would be in San Antonio and Philadelphia. But is Porter Jr. really suffering in Denver when he gets paid what he does and is with a consistent winner? Every player has different priorities, as is their right. If the Pels end up trading Zion, Bailey becomes their star.
5. Utah Jazz select Tre Johnson, SG Texas
Tre is what you call a microwave scorer. He can get hot from distance at any time and is a shooting threat as soon as he catches the ball. This makes him a fit for every team in the NBA and I have him landing here in Utah to round out the top five. The Jazz have always admired true scoring guards, with Colin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson on the roster, and both are great vets for Johnson to work with. More importantly, however, is the fact that his game should fit seamlessly with Keyonte George and mask some of George’s own defects shooting. George still shoots it as much as anyone and Tre will be right there shooting with him too. Boy, would the Jazz love if he could develop into a Donovan Mitchell type – which is possible since George is also a tremendous passer who would get the ball to Tre. I want to see this happen as a George-Johnson backcourt is as fun as any other young backcourt in the league.
6. Washington Wizards trade with the Brooklyn Nets who select Jeremiah Fears, PG Oklahoma
Speaking of fun potential backcourts, if the Nets make this by trading 8, #26 and #27, a Jeremiah Fears and Cam Johnson pairing will be almost identical to Utah’s in function. Cam Thomas plays a very similar style of basketball as Tre Johnson and Fears glides on the court like Keyonte does. The Nets should not be scared to trade up a couple spots with their 5 first round picks, since there’s no way they’d even roster so many rookies in one draft class. Fears is the player in this draft who people will be surprised didn’t go higher in a couple years, like SGA. His handles are something special and he’s also really young for his class. He’s a magnet offensively with how he’s able to attract multiple defenders and then dish it out. Fears is a guard you can’t take your eyes off of and potential face of the franchise in Brooklyn.
7. Charlotte Hornets select Kon Knueppel, G/F Duke
The Hornets here move back from four and still get their guy in Kon while adding 2 late firsts. The Duke Blue Devil doesn’t have to move too far away from campus and is the quintessential role player on a team that needs them, with such a ball dominant backcourt that includes Lamelo and Brandon Miller. He does everything well and also stakes a claim as one of the best shooters in the class for a team that needs shooting, among other things. Last year, I had the Hornets picking Dalton Knecht significantly higher than he ended up going and funny enough, they agreed to trade Mark Williams for him. Of course, that was just the start of a whole saga where the deal was ultimately reversed, to the Lakers’ detriment I might add, so Knueppel going here feels and seems right since he can do much of what Knecht does too. Interestingly, Fears has not worked out for Charlotte, neither has Bailey, so slim pickings.
8. Brooklyn Nets trade with the Washington Wizards who select Kasparas Jakucionis, PG Illinois
I am a huge Kasparas Jakucionis fan and not just because his name is awesome to say. The Lithuanian put up a strong season at Illinois and I still think there’s a lot more offense there than he even showed. He’s almost too unselfish as there were many times I felt he could take over games while watching him and didn’t. He’s only 19 though, and he’s still getting used to American style iso-ball which is totally different from Europe. That’s an adjustment not many talk about and one many foreign have made successfully and actually with ease a la Doncic. He’d fit right in with the international heavy team that is the Wizards with the Frenchmen Sarr and Coulibaly, as well as the Swiss-Canadian Kyshawn George in the nation’s capital. I also think this would one of the better spots for him to take control of a team with so much undefined when it comes to roles in Washington and with Brian Keefe, one of the best player development coaches in the NBA. He can become Austin Reaves.
9. Toronto Raptors select Khaman Maluach, C Duke
If I’m being perfectly honest, I’m not totally sure what direction the Raptors are going and have headed the last few years. But if anyone deserves the benefit of doubt other than Sam Presti, it is Masai Ujiri, who might be saving up for Giannis. That said, I think Ujiri would likely be jumping for joy if he has the chance to take Maluach, the third Dukie in my top ten. I’ve always believed that along with shooters, the most valuable commodity is the athletic big man and that is exactly what he is. A rim running defensive anchor, Maluach, like Jakucionis, handled the transition into college basketball better than anyone expected. His potential is sky high and still to be untapped because he hasn’t been playing the game long. Masai has great success with African Big men, whether it be Serge Ibaka or Pascal Siakam, so this would really be the best home for Khaman. As a whole, he reminds me of Dereck Lively II.
10. Phoenix Suns select Carter Bryant, F Arizona
Speaking of great homes and perfect fits, that is what Carter Bryant is for the Phoenix Suns. The Arizona freshman gets to stay in state and play the role the Suns need and that’s of defensive wing. Scoring won’t be an issue in the desert, even without Kevin Durant, since Booker, Jalen Green and Bradley Beal will have the shot attempts covered but someone needs to guard. This pick is in the same mold as their highly successful selection of Ryan Dunn last year and the two of Dunn and Bryant would be absolute menaces for teams to have to face. The skill that translates first and fastest is always defense and Carter can play it. I expect him to follow the development trajectory of someone like OG Anunoby who has gotten more comfortable offensively with time. There is a solid base for offense here and he’s one of the safer guys in a draft Suns need to get right.
11. Portland Trail Blazers select Derik Queen, C Maryland
I really want Derik Queen’s archetype to work and the best place for that is undoubtedly Portland where he would be playing alongside Donovan Clingan and the Blazers frontcourt. His game is old school and Queen can keep do some incredible things on the basketball court, whether it is his above average passing ability for a big man or soft touch in the paint. Clingan can hide many of his defensive deficiencies while he goes to work inside like LaMarcus Aldridge did for so many years in Portland. Now, he’s more Al Jefferson than LA but his skill set is unusual in today’s NBA but can work. The elephant in the room is his shape and conditioning which are not his strong suits. His motor is off and on. His free throw percentage indicates he may be able to add a baby jumper.
12. Chicago Bulls trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder who select Cedric Coward, F Washington State
Thunder strikes again. Cedric Coward may be my favorite story of the draft as his rise from Division 3 has been meteoric, at a more advanced age than most. Only in basketball is a 22 year old considered old but Coward has maturity in spades. If he were younger, he’d be a top 10 pick. He fits seamlessly into OKC’s culture as he is their kind of player to trade 15 and 24 for. His game resembles a lot of Aaron Nesmith’s as he is an elite 3 and D player. Had not gotten injured, more folks would talk about him but the word is getting around league circle after he’s impressed many teams during the pre-draft process with his intellect and vision for himself. There’s growing into his body he needs to do but OKC can afford to be patient with him and work on fine tuning other parts of his game like footwork. But he has things you can’t teach like his wingspan and silky shot.
13. Atlanta Hawks select Egor Demin, PG BYU
Trae Young needs help and he’s getting it thanks to new GM Onsi Saleh. Kristaps Porzingis should be a gigantic add but drafting another ball handler like Demin may make Trae’s life even easier. Demin has special playmaking skills that rival Josh Giddey’s and could help Young save his energy and play off the ball more to become the lethal movement and off ball shooter he’s capable of becoming. Dyson Daniels has lifted Young up his defense and Jalen Johnson has been tremendous too. Adding this kind of player with KP could really make that offense start to hum and be music to Quin Snyder who also coached Ricky Rubio.
14. San Antonio trade with the Brooklyn Nets who select Thomas Sorber, C Georgetown
The Nets trade up for the best Georgetown big man since Patrick Ewing by trading 19 and 22 to the Spurs. He’s a bit of a tweener for a center because of his height but he commands his space around the basket. There’s a lot of potential here with his passing ability and he can read the game as well as any big his age. He is worthy of a lottery pick and presents similarly to how Bam Adebayo did coming out of Kentucky. His long arms make him easy for him to rack up steals and blocks, and he truly does make the most of all his physical gifts. Sorber is a cerebral player who does well in not getting into needless foul trouble. If he can continue to expand his range from behind the arc, he can be their best big since Brook Lopez.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder trade with the Chicago Bulls who select Collin Murray-Boyles, F South Carolina
Murray-Boyles falls into the category of tweener like Sorber as a small power forward. I believe he would pair well with Nikola Vucevic and ultimately become his successor. When you watch him wearing the number 30 and moving the way he does, bodying up defenders, it’s hard not to think of Julius Randle. Now, I don’t know if he’s as talented or has Randle’s kind of offensive skills but his are still considerable. He’s tough, mean and nasty, which I where I think the weird Draymond Green comparisons are coming from. I can see teams making him a small ball five at times and learning under Vuc will make him even better. The city of Chicago will appreciate his heart.
16. Memphis Grizzlies select Walter Clayton Jr., G Florida
After trading Desmond Bane to the Magic, the Grizzlies should look to add someone with Bane’s shooting prowess and Clayton Jr. is it. He’s smaller and not as muscular but Memphis can run many of the same plays they did for Bane with Clayton, the best player on his national championship Gators team. I’m quite surprised he didn’t gain more traction after some of his incredible performances in March but that’s good news for teams in the back half of the first round. He is a tough shot maker and plenty clutch. I would be shocked if he doesn’t carve out a long and successful NBA career as a potential future Sixth Man of the Year winner.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves select Noa Essengue, F Germany
I wouldn’t be surprised if Essengue goes significantly higher than this but I’ve tended to rank player overseas lower because there just isn’t a lot of film, especially in the German leagues. Still, I think Minnesota would be a great spot for him because physically he’s almost a dead ringer for Jaden McDaniels – who has developed wonderfully under the Timberwolves. I’m sure they would love another Jaden on their team and Essengue would also develop under the watchful eye of fellow Frenchman and former DPOY Rudy Gobert too. With Julius Randle and Naz Reid hitting free agency, adding a big like this makes sense.
18. Washington Wizards select Danny Wolf, PF Michigan
Adding to the United Nations team is Israeli-American Danny Wolf. He’s actually from Illinois, where Kasparas went to college and the Wiz getting them both would be quite the haul. A transfer from Yale, Wolf played extremely well at Michigan this season and has the best shooting mechanics of any big in the draft. Not only that, he can really get around, both shooting and moving a lot like Kevin Love did. He can even make outlet passes. The issue, though, has been the ball isn’t going in from three nearly as often as it should. This is the reason he’s likely to go in the back half of the first round and he can be a steal for that price. The Celtics probably have him circled if he gets to them; he’s basically a version of Luke Kornet.
19. Brooklyn Nets trade with the San Antonio Spurs who select Joan Beringer, C ABA
I’m sure San Antonio is bummed out about missing out on Essengue here but Joan Beringer is not a bad consolation prize in the least. He too is French but plays in the Adriatic League. I see him as a better fit with Wemby. An imposing figure, he’ll develop into an Isaiah Hartenstein type player, which is very valuable. The kid can set screens like nobody’s business and can run the court like it’s a track meet too. The Spurs could probably stash him for a year. He can even block shots like Mitchell Robinson.
20. Miami Heat select Jase Richardson, G Michigan State
And we end here with Miami. Yes, Jase Richardson is small. His athletic ability is off the charts, though, and he has his dad’s genes. He’s one of my favorite guys to watch this year and developed really nicely over the course of his freshman season under Tom Izzo. He’s left handed with a shot similar to Isaiah Thomas, and also more shooting guard than point guard. Get him with a program like the Heat run and he might continue to surpass any expectations.
Like or dislike what your team did? Let me know!
The Draftnik 