2025 NBA Mock Draft: VJ Edgecombe strikes as much as No. 3; Cooper Flagg chosen by Mavericks with No. 1 decide

Flagg is the clear No. 1 prospect within the class and the no-brainer No. 1 decide. He’s the second-highest-graded participant in my database since 2017 behind solely Victor Wembanyama.

The match for Harper in San Antonio subsequent to De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Citadel on paper is not fully seamless however the debate about it, in the end, is meaningless. Harper is the No. 2 prospect within the class by a large margin for me, and with a possible All-Star ceiling I believe San Antonio prioritizes expertise over match as any good group would do on this spot.

Philly is the wild card of draft night time with the potential for it shifting again from No. 3, dealing the decide or taking any variety of prospects starting from Edgecombe to Ace Bailey or Tre Johnson. Sticking to select feels the prudent and most definitely choice, and Edgecombe — a two-way guard with large athleticism — is an ideal mix of expertise and match for No. 3.

Knueppel is the most effective shooter within the draft class and his slot in Charlotte subsequent to Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball is not possible to disregard. The Hornets really feel like a sneaky contender to maneuver as much as seize Edgecombe, who has elevated in NBA circles because the potential No. 3 decide. But when they do not, Knueppel or Johnson might be killer comfort prizes.

Johnson led freshmen in Division I final season in scoring and made extra 3-pointers than any participant in his class in addition. He is a bucket-getter who has opened eyes not simply along with his versatility as a scorer, however along with his rounded ability set as a playmaker, too. He is in play as excessive as No. 3 and No. 5 appears like his ground.

Bailey’s curious dealing with of the pre-draft course of — together with canceling on a exercise with the 76ers final week days earlier than it was slated to happen — has doubtlessly price him thousands and thousands and imperiled his place as a top-five decide. However his mixture of dimension, scoring and youth at this level feels robust to move on. Washington might welcome him right into a place the place he walks in as a rookie averaging 18+ factors per sport.

Fears is arguably the most important boom-or-bust proposition on this draft with flashes of stardom in his one season at Oklahoma combined in with some worrying pink flags that admittedly are robust to miss. He’ll have to develop his shot to be a risk on the subsequent stage and excise the errant passes that have been too often a function of his sport.

Brooklyn, for now, is armed with FIVE first-round picks and could also be extra keen than most on this draft to guess on a prospect like Maluach, who’s a uncooked expertise having picked up basketball as an adolescent. He is a 7-foot-2 large with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and able to wrecking issues on the defensive finish.

Essengue is an enormous riser during the last month and somebody who might sneak into the highest 10 on draft night time. Groups are enamored by the mixture of his 6-foot-10 body and traits as an athletic marvel who can develop right into a swiss-army knife defensive stopper.

Bryant was merely a bit participant in his one season at Arizona however his large body and promise as a two-way wing who can defend and shoot make him a possible lottery decide on this 12 months’s class. He might add a 3-and-D dimension to a Phoenix workforce now set to maneuver ahead with Devin Booker and Jalen Inexperienced as its high two choices.

Portland shook up its backcourt in an enormous approach this week in dealing Anfernee Simons to Boston in return for Jrue Vacation. Demin might give the workforce an enormous level to develop for the long-term to assist study underneath Vacation.

Queen’s the most effective large man passer within the class with the ability to be a playmaking hub from his place. This appears like touchdown spot for him in Chicago as they add to their frontcourt for the beginning heart of the longer term.

This might be an extra fall than anticipated for Jakucionis nevertheless it’s more and more laborious to discover a strong marketplace for true level guards who’ve obtrusive flaws. Jakucionis is an amazing playmaker however he was turnover-prone at Illinois and shot simply 31.8% on 3s.

San Antonio provides a Frenchman to its ranks to enhance one other Frenchman already inside its ranks, giving Victor Wembanyama a dynamic large to play and develop round long-term. Beringer is the most effective shot-blocker within the class and somebody whose ability set would match hand-in-glove as a lob risk subsequent to Dylan Harper, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Citadel.

A late-riser whose steam during the last month has pushed him firmly into the lottery dialog, Coward and his versatility as a multipositional wing with athleticism and scoring matches the archetype that’d make excellent sense for a championship roster in OKC.

That is decrease than I anticipate Murray-Boyles to go on draft night time however he’s a tricky one to peg given his profile as a shorter energy ahead who has clear limitations as a shooter. He is a throwback participant who can win with effectivity within the paint and add physicality on protection.

Minnesota has only a few holes on its roster however Julius Randle and Naz Reid have upcoming participant choices on which to determine, so the entrance workplace could also be sensible to contemplate stacking frontcourt expertise both as insurance coverage or for future investments. Wolf is a 6-foot-11 large who has expertise of a degree guard along with his passing and playmaking. Distinctive prospect who can add worth on each ends of the ground.

Washington’s second decide within the top-20 of the draft nets it one other former five-star from final 12 months’s class in McNeeley so as to add subsequent to Ace Bailey on this mock. McNeeley is a aggressive wing who can slot in any system and has long-term taking pictures potential.

The son of former NBA participant Jason Richardson, Jase, is a silky clean scorer who can play on and off the ball and would give Brooklyn positional flexibility subsequent to Egor Demin on this mock.

Few groups have as a lot up-close publicity to Clayton Jr., a Florida native who performed at Florida the final two seasons and led the workforce to the nationwide title this spring. He is a dynamic shot-maker who can add versatility scoring on dribble jumpers and will elevate Miami’s backcourt.

A Tre Johnson + Nolan Traore haul would overhaul Utah’s backcourt and function a basis piece for its new decision-makers. Traore is a prodigious expertise from France who has come on robust within the LNB Professional A down the stretch of the season.

Atlanta’s been in a near-constant state of looking for bigs within the Trae Younger period. Right here, I’ve them taking Asa Newell, who performed his one and solely faculty season some 73 miles from Atlanta in Athens for the College of Georgia.

Sorber is an surprising one-and-done from Georgetown who at No. 23 could be probably the greatest values on this mock. He dominated the glass in faculty and measured simply over 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan on the Mix.

OKC has two first spherical picks on this draft and an imminent roster crunch which will immediate it to contemplate shifting off one or each picks. Provided that I’ve a projected mock commerce with Utah shifting in to this slot to safe large man Yanic Konan Niederhauser from Penn State who has loved a powerful pre-draft course of and profiles as a promising large with beginning upside.

Orlando could look elsewhere positionally after buying and selling for Desmond Bane however including a participant like Clifford who might assist contribute early in his NBA profession would make sense for the Magic in a wide-open East. He is a five-year faculty participant who improved every season and developed right into a star at Colorado State.

A French prospect placing collectively a powerful season with Le Mans, Penda checks a number of packing containers as a protracted ahead who can rating in and out and match up effectively bodily defending a number of positions. He might give Brooklyn some long-term flexibility because it enters the subsequent section of its rebuild.

Powell at No. 27 is simply the most effective participant out there on this mock. The previous five-star recruit is a 3-and-D wing with room to develop into extra.

Gonzalez has flashed actual ability and really feel for a deep Actual Madrid this season at simply 19 years previous. His athleticism and high-motor pops on tape and his improvement arc could also be a worthwhile funding on this vary.

Riley has lots of followers in NBA circles along with his large body and scoring instincts. He is a younger prospect after reclassifying to maneuver up a stage and wishes so as to add power however confirmed flashes of what NBA groups covet in scoring wings in his one season at Illinois.

Raynuad quietly flourished on a floundering Stanford workforce final season as probably the greatest gamers in all of school basketball. The middle has outstanding motion expertise for his dimension and can’t solely house the ground along with his shot, however can put the ball on the deck and create. A uncommon ability for a participant his dimension.