2025 NBA Mock Draft
Since it's officially March and the college basketball season is heating up, I decided to run a Tankathon simulation and do a first round mock draft - my first mock draft of the 2024-25 season.
*Tankathon simulation done on 3/1/2025, NBA standings may have changed since then, but stats are up to date as of 3/4,2025*
1. Washington Wizards — Cooper Flagg, Duke
Freshman Forward
6’9”, 205 lbs
Cooper Flagg may not have had the most killer start to the season relative to expectations, but the freshman phenom has been as good as advertised as conference play has gone on. When you watch a Duke game, it’s clear who the most impactful player on the court is on either team. Even when Flagg isn’t having a big scoring night, he’s able to find ways to contribute. Shooting was the big question for him coming into the season, and although he didn’t start the season shooting well, his efficiency has taken a spike and his jumper looks mechanically smoother than it did in his first few games for Duke. During ACC play (the last 19 of Duke’s 30 games played so far,) Flagg has averaged 21.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game on 55% from the field, 46% from three on 4 attempts a game, and 86% from the free throw line. He’s also been one of the best defenders in college basketball and is firmly in the running for Nation Player of the Year as a reclassified freshman. Yes that’s right, Cooper Flagg should still be in high school, yet he’s reaching some of the highest heights imaginable in college basketball and is well on his way to leading his team to a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Flagg’s fit within the Wizards young core is sublime. If your goal as a rebuilding team is to build one of the most badass defensive front courts in the league, you can’t do much better over the course of three lotteries than Cooper Flagg, Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly. The Wizards are a bad basketball team, but they have intriguing young pieces on board. The hope in drafting Flagg is that he emerges as your alpha, and that his impact and work ethic really ignite your rebuild and motivate your other young pieces into elevating their games as well. Landing the Flagg pick would of course be huge for any franchise, but for the Wizards specifically, pairing their existing young players with Flagg could do wonders for their development as winning players in the league. I would be cautious of pegging Flagg as this “generational” prospect, but I do see him having that type of impact, as this sort of star level glue guy.
2. New Orleans Pelicans — Dylan Harper, Rutgers
Freshman Guard
6’6”, 215 lbs
The Pelicans yet again came into the season with fairly high expectations after their offseason acquisition of Dejounte Murray, and yet again have found themselves in an injury riddled disappointment of a season, culminating in the team trading Brandon Ingram to the Raptors at the trade deadline. Of their remaining core, Zion Williamson has played in 23 out of 61 games so far, Trey Murphy III and Jose Alvarado have been in and out of the lineup, and the Pels will be without Murray and Herb Jones for the remainder of the season with a torn achilles and torn labrum respectively. NOLA is 17-44 while they deal with this flurry of injury issues.
There are plenty of questions surrounding the future of this franchise, specifically around the health of Zion and Dejounte. Whether or not they make any drastic decisions in the offseason surrounding those players remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: they can’t mess around with this lottery pick. If things were to take a left turn in New Orleans sooner than later, they need to have a valuable piece to come out of it with. When it comes to offensive creation, you won’t find many more valuable than Dylan Harper in this class. Harper has the blend of size, strength, court vision and creativity with the ball in his hands that you would want in your lead initiator. Harper can not only get to any spot on the court, but can score from anywhere as well. He also can play off other guards and creates for others at a high level. It may be a depressing scene in New Orleans right now, but adding Harper would make the picture a bit brighter.
3. San Antonio Spurs — Ace Bailey, Rutgers
Freshman Wing/Forward
6’10'“, 200 lbs
The Spurs have a scare on their hands with their star player Victor Wembanyama dealing with blood clots in his shoulder, slated to miss the remainder of the season. A top 3 pick wasn’t in San Antonio’s plans (unless it came by way of Atlanta,) but they’ll be sure to do whatever they can with the assets they obtain to compliment their franchise cornerstone. Here, the Spurs would be adding one of the most talented players in the class with arguably the highest ceiling of any player in the draft, period. There are varying opinions out there on Ace Bailey as a prospect, but it’s hard to ignore the insane potential that he has as a jumbo scoring ace (pun intended?)
Despite his flaws as a prospect, which I wrote about in my first big board in December, Bailey has looked so much more comfortable lately. His defensive effort has improved greatly, and his efficiency has gone up as the season has gone on. What Bailey struggles with (playmaking, handle, shot selection) might be glaring at times, but what he does well, especially the shot making, at his size is ultra rare. At the very least he can space the floor at his impressive size, which is exactly what you want to pair next to Victor.
4. Charlotte Hornets - V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor
Freshman Guard/Wing
6’5”, 180 lbs
V.J. Edgecombe was one of the most highly touted freshmen coming into this season, especially after his showing with the Bahamas national team in the 2024 Olympic qualifiers. During those games, Edgecombe showcased the athleticism and defensive playmaking that was on full display during his senior season in high school. It was a bit of a rocky start to the season, but V.J. has started to show these abilities on a much more consistent basis mixed in with some encouraging spot-up shooting and occasional playmaking ability.
Now, I’m not personally super high on V.J. Edgecombe, but that doesn’t mean I think people are crazy for having him in their top 5 and I don’t think the Hornets would be making a bad move by drafting him here. I actually quite like his fit in Charlotte. For all the flaws of the Charlotte Hornets, they have something many teams in this range don’t have, and that’s two potential stars that they want to build around in Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball. Assuming they end up with a high draft pick based on their recent play, whoever they bring in will need to learn to fit in between the gaps, and that’s something that I think V.J. can already do at a high level. He offers a safe floor due to his ability to mesh with other ball handlers and scorers, as well as a high ceiling due to his elite athleticism and two-way ability. The Hornets need an influx of competitive energy to help build a culture in Charlotte, and I think V.J. could be an integral piece of that.
5. Chicago Bulls - Kasparas Jakučionis, Illinois
Freshman Guard
6’6”, 205 lbs
For all their ups and downs, Illinois feels like a team that at full health could put up a fight against any other team in the country due to the shear talent on that roster, which is spearheaded by Kasparas Jakučionis. The Lithuanian guard has been the engine to the Illinois offense all season, providing a high level of scoring and playmaking with plus positional size. Jakučionis is really good at controlling the pace on offense and leveraging his strength and court vision, becoming one of the better pick and roll facilitators in college basketball this season. He’s not the most gifted athlete and he definitely lacks an elite first step, but his feel for the game is off the charts. The Bulls fueled their tank with the Zach LaVine trade at the deadline, and while they probably have their sights set on a bigger fish, Jakučionis is a great place to come away with in the top 5.
6. Utah Jazz - Egor Demin, BYU
Freshman Guard
6’9”, 190 lbs
Danny Ainge and the Jazz have accumulated some intriguing young talent, but still need a lot of help to turn things around. Although they have some talented scorers in the backcourt, one piece they need is a table-setter, someone to engine the offense and create for others. Egor Demin is one of the most gifted passers in this draft class, and he does it as a 6’9” lead guard. His vision and ability to make difficult reads never ceases to amaze me. He’s not polished as a scorer or defender just yet, but he’s quietly shooting close to 70% at the rim and has the size to become more impactful defensively as he grows into his frame. He’s definitely the type of player that teams routinely bet on in the top 10, and I can confidently say that I’m also on board with Demin in that range.
7. Toronto Raptors - Khaman Maluach, Duke
Freshman Big
7’2”, 240 lbs
It’s tough to tell what exactly the rest of the season will look like after acquiring Brandon Ingram via trade; there are varying opinions on whether adding Ingram hurts their “capture the Flagg” tank job or not. They could vault more towards the top, especially with the lottery rules, but they landed 7th in this simulation and I have them landing one of my favorite prospects in the draft there. Khaman Maluach has been an important part of Duke’s dominant defense, and what’ scary is he’s barely scratched the surface of the player he can be. There is some untapped offensive potential with the South Sudanese big man, and even if that potential remains untapped, his offensive floor as a lob threat and clean-up big is a lot higher than he’s given credit for. Jakob Poeltl is under contract until 2026-27, but beyond that I could see Maluach stepping into the starting role should they draft him. After all, Masai Ujiri does have a history of falling for tall, athletic players with freakish length.
8. Oklahoma City Thunder (from PHI) - Asa Newell, Georgia
Freshman Forward/Big
6’10”, 215 lbs
The Thunder have been playing some of the best ball of any team in the association. Landing a top 10 pick would add to their embarrassment of riches, and it would also be a disaster for the 76ers, who are having a season from hell and would convey this pick to OKC in this scenario. As loaded as the Thunder are, there’s a clear area of their roster that lacks depth and reliability, and that’s in the frontcourt. Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein have both missed time this year and have only been active in the same game eight times so far.
While Asa Newell isn’t the traditional center that those guys are, he’s been one of the most reliable and consistent freshmen big men in college basketball. He’s not the loud and flashy pick in the top 10, but he’s a solid scorer and defender with floor spacing potential. His physicality, strength and rim protection will need work, but he offers a safe floor in my opinion, which fits on a roster full of upside like OKC’s.
9. Brooklyn Nets - Tre Johnson, Texas
Freshman Guard/Wing
6’6”, 185 lbs
Brooklyn falls a bit in the lottery odds, but they should be happy to land one of the best shooter and scorers in the draft at this spot.
The Nets may already have a 2-guard that loves to shoot in Cam Thomas, but Tre Johnson is tough to pass up on. I think he’s the best player left on the board. He’s become one of the more overlooked freshman, probably due to his team not being in the public eye as much as usual. Despite the Longhorns’ up-and-down season, Johnson has been consistently productive for them. He has an impressive ability to shoot on the move with a hand in his face. He has clean mechanics and deep range, and he’s shifty with the ball in his hands. Johnson isn’t the most impressive playmaker, but he makes smart reads out of the pick-and-roll and knows how to get others involved, though he’s a scorer at heart.
10. San Antonio Spurs (from ATL) - Noa Essengue, Ratiopharm Ulm
French Forward/Big
6’9”, 195 lbs
The Spurs have their backcourt of the future in place in De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, and they obviously have Wemby in the middle. In this mock, they’ve used their two premier picks to bolster the rest of the front court. Essengue is one of the top international players in this class, displaying impressive offensive skills at 6’9” with great length. Jeremy Sochan has been serviceable as the 4 next to Victor, but having Essengue offers them another flavor at the position with great length and high upside.
11. Portland Trailblazers - Liam McNeeley, UConn
Freshman Wing
6’7”, 210 lbs
Liam McNeeley made big news in the recruiting world last spring when he requested his release from his NLI at from Indiana and committed to join UConn. It’s been a bit of a set-back season for the back-to-back reigning champs, but McNeeley has kept their offense alive with his versatile shooting profile. He can shoot off the dribble or off the catch, he has the size to get his shot up over most wing defenders, and he’s quick enough to leverage the threat of his jumper to attack closeouts. He would really make a difference for a Portland team that struggles to hit threes.
12. Houston Rockets (from PHX) - Derik Queen, Maryland
Freshman Big Man
6’10”, 245 lbs
Derik Queen is one of the most unique players in this class, possessing a skillset that’s rare for a bruising big man. His footwork, touch, and passing ability are what make him stand out, and his ability to hit free throws and mid-range jumpers at a decent clip suggest that he could unlock more range to his scoring. He’s also a terrific rebounder and post scorer. He isn’t the most consistent defensively, I think that’s where his athleticism and conditioning questions start to pop up, but he’s a really intriguing young talent. With the ideal version of Queen, the Rockets would be able to continue to run offense through their big man when Aleperen Sengun is off the court.
13. Utah Jazz (from MIN) - Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
Freshman Guard
6’4”, 182 lbs
Jeremiah Fears has been one of the most pleasant surprises of this year’s extremely productive freshman class. It’s hard not to be impressed by his shot creation and scoring feel with intriguing playmaking potential at just 18 years old playing in the best conference in college basketball. He’s shown that this is much more than a hot streak and that he’s a legitimate NBA prospect, to the point where it’s hard to imagine him still waiting to hear his name called outside of the lottery. The Jazz could end up with a logjam of young talent in the back court, but Fears is too talented for them to pass up on at this spot.
14. Dallas Mavericks - Ben Saraf, Ratiopharm Ulm
Israeli Guard
6’5”, 200 lbs
Ben Saraf has made a name for himself as one of the top projected international prospects in the 2025 Draft. He’s a really good ball handler and playmaker with wing size, and he also offers a competitive defensive edge. Saraf is very good at getting to the rim, although finishing there is a different story. He’s a decent athlete but struggles to create separation on his drives, and the shooting is a big question mark as of right now. But for a team like Dallas, he could be a really nice secondary creator and glue guy.
15. Orlando Magic - Kon Knueppel, Duke
Freshman Wing
6’7”, 217 lbs
The Magic have been in the bottom quarter of the league in 3PT% for the entire 2020’s, and they currently rank dead last. The Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signing was supposed to help in that department, but his percentages have plummeted. There just haven’t been a lot of threes dropping in Orlando over the last few years. Kon Knueppel should be one of the top guys in this draft that they could look at to buck that trend. Knueppel a strong wing that offers secondary scoring and playmaking. I have my questions about him as an athlete and as a defender, but if there’s one thing I know he can do it’s shoot the cover off the ball, and Orlando needs it.
16. OKC Thunder (from MIA) - Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina
Sophomore Forward
6’8”, 245 lbs
Murray-Boyles’ decision to return for his sophomore season and improve as a prospect could end up paying dividends should he be drafted in the lottery or just outside of it. CMB is a lethal interior scorer that gets to the rim at a high level and finishes there at a good rate. He’s a walking double-double with some underrated playmaking chops.
17. Atlanta Hawks (from SAC) - Hugo González, Real Madrid
Spanish Wing
6’6”, 205 lbs
González is an athletic playmaking wing with high upside. Minutes have been scarce for him as he’s playing for a loaded Real Madrid team in the Euroleague, but he’s shown exciting flashes in past tournaments, including Adidas Next Gen Tournament playing alongside Egor Demin. González is a beast at getting downhill in transition and in the half court, and he finishes very well at the rim. He also has potential as a floor spacer and he’s a nice defensive playmaker. He’ll likely be an upside play for a team in the mid-to-late first round. With the Hawks retooling on the fly, I could see them being the team to swing on him.
18. Miami Heat (from GSW) - Nolan Traoré, Saint-Quentin
French Guard
6’3”, 175 lbs
It wouldn’t surprise me to see a team with a smart front office that sniffs out undervalued talent to jump at the opportunity to grab a guy that was a projected top-5 pick coming into the season. Traoré’s production has been up-and-down this season, but he has really fun tools that could shine through in the right situation. His shiftiness in his handle and ability to attack the rim are really fun, although he needs to improve as a finisher. He’s great at reading the floor and finding the open man. Traoré’s ability to pull off tough passes are part of what makes him a fun prospect. His jumper isn’t reliable at this stage, but I like his mechanics and shot creation. He’s a feisty and competitive defender, but he will definitely need to add strength to hold up in the NBA.
19. OKC Thunder (from LAC) - Labaron Philon, Alabama
Freshman Guard
6’4”, 177 lbs
As a freshman, Labaron Philon has been a surprisingly productive player in the backcourt for one of the top teams in the country. Although his percentages have fallen off a bit, he’s a solid ball handler that can control the pace and get in the paint with ease. He’s able to fill the box score as a guard and is willing to do whatever it takes to get the win. Philon has a nice runner/floater game, and he’s one of many guards in this class that offers high potential as a playmaker.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from DET) - Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s
Junior Forward
6’9”, 240 lbs
It’s always fun seeing a player improve as an upperclassman and burst their way into draft discussions, and that’s exactly what Saint Joseph’s forward Rasheer Fleming has done in his third season. Fleming has particularly taken a jump as a floor spacer, shooting 42% on 4.3 attempts per game after hovering around 30% through his first two seasons. Fleming has a great frame and wild length with impressive athleticism, making him an intriguing talent even without the shooting. He also has a high motor defensively, joining a stout group of defenders in the Minnesota frontcourt.
21. Indiana Pacers - Nique Clifford, Colorado State
5th Year Guard/Wing
6’6”, 200 lbs
Nique Clifford is one of my favorite and one of the most underrated guys in this class. As a do-it-all player for Colorado State, Clifford is currently averaging a 17 points and 10 rebounds on great efficiency. His shooting has really improved over his time in college, and it shows in his ability to hit tough contested pull-up jumpers. Clifford has gone from a 28% 3PT shooter in his last season at Colorado to a 37% shooter throughout his time at CSU. He can also guard multiple positions on defense, he’s a tenacious rebounder, and he’s a good decision maker that sees the floor well. He would not well into the gritty young Pacers core.
22. Brooklyn Nets (from MIL) - Kam Jones, Marquette
Senior Guard
6’5”, 200 lbs
Kam Jones is a confident lefty guard with great scoring and playmaking instincts. He has the size and skill to play either guard spot, and he’s great at creating offense both on and off the ball. He’s capable of hitting tough shots on the move and off the dribble. He also rebounds the ball well. Between Kam Jones, Cam Thomas and Tre Johnson, the Nets could keep a dynamic scoring guard on the floor at all times.
23. Brooklyn Nets (from HOU) - Danny Wolf, Michigan
Junior Big Man
7’0”, 250 lbs
Danny Wolf has made waves in the scouting community as his consistent play has translated to the BIG-10 after transferring from Yale in the offseason. His soft touch, passing feel and ability to run a pick-and-roll as the ball handler at 7’0” tall is truly a sight to behold. He can also rebound at a high level and block shots, and he’s improved each year as a floor spacer. He has a good feel for the game and can impact the game in many areas.
24. Washington Wizards (from MEM) - Jase Richardson, Michigan State
Freshman Guard
6’3”, 185 lbs
Jase Richardson has come on strong as of late, and has shown that there are plenty of translatable tools to his game. The minutes were inconsistent at the start of the season, but the son of Spartan legend Jason Richardson has earned his minutes over the last few weeks. In the seven games since joining the starting lineup, Richardson has averaged 16 points and 5 rebounds per game on 51% from the field, 38% from deep, and 88% from the line. He’s a confident scorer and shot creator that’s quick off the dribble and gets to the rim well. It wouldn’t shock me if he returns for his sophomore year to add strength and improve as a playmaker, but Richardson looks to have a bright future.
25. Atlanta Hawks (from LAL) - Boogie Fland, Arkansas
Freshman Guard
6’2”, 175 lbs
The dynamic Arkansas freshman guard is unfortunately out for the season, but showed a ton of fun flashes before going out with a thumb injury. Boogie Fland is a smooth ball handler with a ton of confidence in his pull-up jumper. His lack of strength and athleticism limits him to some tough looks at times, and he struggles to score at the rim, but he makes up for those deficiencies with his shooting range and defensive competitiveness. I think there’s a lot to build on with Boogie Fland, and with Trae Young as a potential trade target this offseason, it would be nice for Atlanta to have another dynamic scoring guard to turn to.
26. Orlando Magic (from DEN) - Adou Thiero, Arkansas
Junior Wing
6’8”, 220 lbs
Thiero has had a breakout season in his first campaign for Arkansas, improving on his scoring on higher usage than he saw at Kentucky. His 3PT shooting hasn’t been as good as you would hope, but he’s still been finding a way to score efficiently and provides good perimeter defense. He’s a tools player that’s worth a look in this range.
27. Brooklyn Nets (from NYK) - Carter Bryant, Arizona
Freshman Wing
6’8”, 225 lbs
Carter Bryant is the type of player where the numbers don’t catch your eye, but when you watch him he passes the eye test. I also had Bryant as a top-5 player in the pre-season, so I’ve kept a close eye on him. He has high scoring and defensive upside, and he’s an unselfish player as well. Sometimes freshman that get limited minutes try to showcase their offensive capabilities in ways that cause them to force the issue, but Carter Bryant has not strayed away from making the winning plays on offense despite his role being more limited than he’s used to. If he were to come back, his draft stick would likely skyrocket. But if he stays in the 2025 Draft, he could end up being a steal. The Nets have multiple picks in this draft, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them take an upside swing like Bryant if they were to keep the picks.
28. Boston Celtics - Thomas Sorber, Georgetown
Freshman Big Man
6’10”, 255 lbs
Sorber was yet another surprising freshman story before he was ruled out for the season with a foot injury. He could definitely end up staying another year, especially after the injury, but for the mock draft’s sake we’ll include him. Sorber is a high energy big with great size and athletic tools. He has a super high motor and makes key plays on the defensive end, averaging 3.5 combined steals and blocks per game. I am a bit wary of a big man experiencing feet issues at a young age, but there’s clear value with Sorber as a prospect and I see him as a first rounder despite the injury.
29. Los Angeles Clippers (from OKC) - Miles Byrd, San Diego State
Redshirt Sophomore Guard
6’7”, 190 lbs
The Clippers are in a bit of a weird phase of wanting to contend while Kawhi Leonard and James Harden can keep them at that level, and also wanting to build for an inevitable life after those two aging players. With a guy like Miles Byrd, they’d be adding a 3&D threat with versatility on both ends. Byrd is definitely one of those prospects where some are a lot higher on than others; his physicality and scoring inside the arc have drawn questions, but he is a very talented shooter with the size and length to be disruptive defensively.
30. Phoenix Suns (from CLE) - Joan Beringer, Olimpija
French Big Man
6’10”, 230 lbs
It wouldn't shock me to see the Suns go for a player that’s perceived as more “NBA ready” than Joan Beringer, but they should probably draft any big man available to them with their first round pick, and Beringer might have the highest upside of any of the available bigs. He has all the big-man basics down as one of the a youngest players in the class. He’s super active around the basket, rebounds the ball well, can finish either above or below the rim and is mostly unaffected by contact on the interior. He isn’t a floor spacer at this stage of his development, but he has decent touch along with the basic high-floor big-man skills.
Other Possible First Rounders: JT Toppin (Texas Tech), Ian Jackson (North Carolina), Sergio de Larrea (Spain), Noah Penda (France), Maxime Raynaud (Stanford), Johni Broome (Auburn), Alex Karaban (UConn), Kanon Catchings (BYU), Will Riley (Illinois), Darrion Williams (Texas Tech), Michael Ružić (Croatia), Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB), Rocco Zikarsky (Australia), Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton)
Thanks for reading! You can expect an updated big board from me some time soon, click here to check out how my first big board in December shook out. I also wrote a piece about Dylan Harper’s exiting freshman season and NBA prospects, which you can read here. When my next mock draft comes out, you can also expect that to include a full two rounds. Other than that, you can follow me on Twitter/X @ZachDraft.