It has been a while since I have posted a 2025 mock draft with analysis. Also, trying a new format that will hopefully look better on phones. Enjoy!

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What a whirlwind of a 2025 year for Dallas fans. They went from feeling hopeless to landing the ultimate “get out of jail free” card. With Cooper Flagg joining Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks can continue to vie for playoff spots, while at the same time developing the future face of the franchise. Flagg should have no problem sliding into the small forward role and forming a jumbo, multi-versatile front court with Davis and Dereck Lively II.

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Some people may wonder where Dylan Harper will fit in with a back court already featuring De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. I think that is a good problem to have. Harper is the clear number two prospect in this class. Due to the Victor Wembanyama health scare, San Antonio went from a playoff contender to a premium draft spot. The team should just appreciate the blessing, draft Harper, and figure out how the three will co-exist later. Both Castle and Harper have the size to slide over to small forward when necessary. Running three ball handling scoring options out there is a nice “problem” to have. The Spurs would have a year to determine what guards to build around, and perhaps make a decision on trading Fox or Castle next off-season. For now, just be thankful and add more impact talent to the roster.

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Trade speculation has swirled around this pick, with ideas being thrown about that Philadelphia may attach this pick to Paul George in hopes of getting his contract off of the books. That would be a huge, short sighted mistake, in my opinion. The 76ers lucked out by landing a top three pick after a waste of a season. They should appreciate the fact that they can add a young, cheap talent on a rookie contract to a core they hope gets back into the playoffs next season. Ace Bailey is a polarizing prospect, but I do not see any other player as a better fit/value mis here. He reminds me of the current version of Michael Porter Jr. He may be a bit one dimensional as a scorer, but that skill is always valuable. He has 20 ppg potential, and can rebound as well. He would be a nice fit next to Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain in the 76ers future starting lineup.

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The Hornets have to be disappointed at ending up with the fourth overall pick, but it is still a better outcome than what the Jazz and Wizards ended up with. This is a team that needs a defensive minded, aggressive scorer to play between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. VJ Edgecombe is a tenacious defender and slasher who can play some point guard and really improved his jump shot as the season went on. He is small, but his combine measurables were better than expected. He should be just fine.

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The Jazz were perhaps the only openly blatant tanking team in the NBA last year. They won 17 games, but only have the fifth overall pick to show for it, obviously a disappointing outcome. This roster lacks any kind of star power. I like Jeremiah Fears as a potential Jamal Murray-scoring guard. He struggled a bit with turnovers and efficiency at Oklahoma, but was one of the youngest players in college basketball, playing for an average team. Utah has Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier on the roster, but Fears upside as a scorer and part time ball handler makes him a superior talent to those two.

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Washington was another sub-20 win team to fall several spots in the lottery. Fortunately, at six, they can still land one of the four players I have in tier three. Tre Johnson is a shooter, plain and simple. Even as a freshman, he showed solid consistency, maintaining a 20 point per game average, even with the long slog of a college basketball season that can often crush freshmen. He also has underrated point guard skills, which is something you want if you are drafting a shooting guard in the top six. He should immediately slide into the starting shooting guard role for a Wizards team desperate for scorers.

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This is where the draft gets interesting. There are a ton of guys in this tier, and the Pelicans could go any direction. I think adding additional scoring has to be the way to go, especially after trading away Brandon Ingram and losing Dejounte Murray to yet another serious injury. Kon Knueppel is a reliable shooter and scorer from every level, and has more play making ability than you might think at first glance.

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The Nets are basically a blank slate roster wise. With four first round picks in this draft, they could go pretty much any direction. I have been hard on Egor Demin in recent months, but his stock has been trending up, and he looks like he will land in the lottery. Brooklyn is a great spot to guess where that might be. With all of those picks, they can afford to swing for the fences. If it all pans out, you have a 6’9 point guard with serious passing ability, and, by all accounts, has shown to be a better shooter than his season at BYU would lead you to believe.

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This makes three Duke Blue Devils selected within the top nine picks. How did that team not win the championship, again? Khaman Maluach is still a major work in progress, but his measurables and potential are hard to ignore. Jakob Poeltl is a free agent after the 2026-2027 season, right in time where Maluach should be able to develop and take over. He is built like a rock, is a solid rebounder and defender and has shown stretch ability as a shooter. A multi-year project to be sure, but it is hard to envision him not becoming a solid starting center.

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Houston could not find minutes for the number three pick in the 2024 draft, Reed Sheppard, so I doubt they are seriously interested in retaining this pick. If they cannot move it, I expect a “best player available” scenario. Noa Essengue is the latest physical freak of nature to come out of France. Essengue is still a mixed bag offensively, but he can really run the floor and slash to the basket. His calling card will be his defensive versatility and hustle.

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Portland had a better than expected season, and has a nice mix of young, versatile players to build around. They are in position to take a swing on Carter Bryant, who has predictably risen in recent weeks, as teams have interviewed him and watched his talent shine through in workouts. He was a bit player for Arizona, but one that showed toughness inside, as well as a nice shooting stroke. A project, but one that could pay off at this point in the draft.

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Chicago would probably like to draft size, or, at least, a guard with a more defined “point guard game”, but Kasparas Jakucionis is the best available player here, and represents the best value. He has good size and can score, but turns the ball over way too often and is a complete non-factor defensively. Those strengths and weaknesses make him more of a late-lottery pick, but the talent is there to become a future 18/5/5 guy.

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This is the point in the draft where team needs start to matter less and less. Teams are just hoping to draft a guy who can quickly become a rotation contributor. Perhaps no player in the draft has as defined of strengths and weaknesses as Collin Murray-Boyles. CMB is an analytics darling thanks to his ability to contribute to winning basketball, but those who rely on the “eye test” see an undersized center who cannot shoot. At this point in the draft, I tend to look at what a player can do, and I think CMB would be a nice sixth man capable of backing up multiple positions. Something the Hawks, a roster short on depth, could use.

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With three ball dominant guards now on the roster, San Antonio should look to surround them with as many role players as possible. I am a big Asa Newell fan. He does not need the ball in his hands to be effective. He may not doo anything well enough to be a top ten pick, but his all around game should provide value to any team. He can score, rebound, play solid defense and even knock down jump shots.

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The Thunder are a near lock to win the championship this year. They are also the youngest team in the NBA, and have countless first round draft picks on the horizon. To put it blunt; they are the envy of the entire NBA. No player drafted here will crack the rotation next year, so a long term project like Joan Beringer makes sense. He has only been playing basketball for a few years, but has the ability to run the floor, rebound and block shots.

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Perhaps no team in the NBA needs back court shooting more than the Magic. It is hard to win in the NBA if your guards can not hit jump shots. Liam McNeeley struggled with inconsistency before an injury cut his freshman season short, but has shown the ability to be a solid three point shooter. Perhaps he can give Orlando what Jett Howard was not able to.

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Naz Reid may soon look for a starting job and a comparable paycheck, which could open up minutes for a new backup big man. Derik Queen is a talented inside scorer and passer, but his physical limitations may be too difficult to overcome. There comes a point in the draft where the potential outweighs the risks, however. Even if Queen can only chip in as a 20 point per game backup, his ability to generate buckets down low and make smart plays would be valuable.

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Despite an injury that has kept him sidelined since Feburary, Thomas Sorber has seen his stock rise. He has prototypical new age center measurables. He is a tough scorer, decent defender and solid passer. He would be a particularly good fit in Washington, where the Wizards could let Alex Sarr play more of a perimeter role on offense next to Sorber.

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A 6’1 shooting guard and a 6’9 point guard for the Nets? Why not? I doubt Jase Richardson ever becomes a long term starter, but guys like him are very valuable as bench options. His size could keep him from playing heavy minutes, but he should be able to back up both guard spots and keep the offense moving when the starters are out. Richardson is a high IQ player who can knock down long jump shots.

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The Heat are one of the few teams in the NBA with real uncertainty at the point guard position. Nolan Traore would be a great value pick here. This time last year, he had serious top five helium. While his development stalled recently, he is still quite athletic and talented, with a real feel for leading an offense. He may not be a good enough shooter to become elite, but his ability to find the open man and hold his own on defense could make him a mid-tier starting option.

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Like they did during the 2024 draft, Utah will most likely continue to target youth in hopes of striking it rich. Will Riley is very young and underdeveloped physically, but showed better than expected scoring ability and efficiency. It may take time, but Riley could eventually develop into a 20 point per game scorer for Utah.

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Atlanta has an intriguing starting lineup, but the bench lacks much in the way of impact talent. Walter Clayton Jr. measured in as an undersized combo guard, but he is ready to come in and contribute right away. He would be a nice first guard to come in and play next to Trae Young or Dyson Daniels. He has a real knack for scoring, and can play point guard in a pinch as well.

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Fun fact, Indiana is one of only three teams outside of the lottery to own its own first round pick. The Pacers have struggled to find a long term backup to forever center Myles Turner. Danny Wolf is one of a handful of centers who should go off the board in the mid-to-late first round. He is a very unique player, and is sure to draw some baby-Jokic comparisons, thanks to his huge frame, knack for scoring inside and ability as a facilitator.

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Oklahoma City has a full roster, and will also welcome back rookie to be Nikola Topic, so I do not see them adding two more rookie contracts to the roster. This is a complete luxury pick for the Thunder. Hugo Gonzalez looked like a future star during various points of the last couple of summers, but struggled to gain any traction for a veteran Real Madrid team this past season. Still, his feel for scoring and passing should make him a fun lottery ticket for one of many teams with multiple picks in the first round.

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Cedric Coward is the poster child of what the scouting combine can do for a player. He started his career at a school called Willamette, before transferring to Eastern Washington in 2022. He showed out for Washington State for six games before suffering a season ending injury. Despite not playing since November, his workouts went well enough that he was convinced to pass on playing for Duke and staying in the draft. The numbers look great, the shooting stroke is nice, and it looks like some team in the mid-to-late first round is going to take a chance on him.

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I doubt any team, even Brooklyn, will have four rookie contracts on the books, so expect a trade or two here. If the Nets keep the pick, a versatile big man like Rasheer Fleming could be a solid pick. Fleming worked his way from a backup as a freshman to legitimate first round pick. Even as a junior, he still has room for improvement, but shows solid scoring and defensive abilities.

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Following Jayson Tatum’s long term injury and serious tax implications, the Celtics may be set for a mini retool. Maxime Raynaud could be a long term replacement for Al Horford as a stretch big coming off of the bench. Raynaud had a 20/10 season for Stanford, and followed that up with a very solid combine showing, likely stamping his ticket for the first round.

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The Suns should look to draft a ready to contribute player late in the first round. Nique Clifford could be that guy. The fifth year senior really upped his game after transferring to Colorado State, and capped his career off by stuffing the stat sheet in 2024-2025. He is a good three point shooter and all around scorer, with the ability to rebound and handle the ball as well.

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No team has gotten less from its draft picks since 2010 than the Clippers. With so many free agents coming off of the books, Los Angeles should use this pick to add some cheap depth. Ben Saraf may struggle to keep up with the most electric guards the NBA has to offer, but is a crafty scorer and ball handler who could fill a combo guard role off of the bench.

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