Well, the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery was an intense watch, wasn’t it? Who would’ve thought that the Mavericks – a play-in team with a 1.8% chance of winning the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes – would land the top pick in June? Not a single 2025 NBA Mock draft across the web has predicted that to happen, but here we are.
If you look at all the social media talk, many fans alleged that it was all rigged, especially with how the Mavs get swiftly rewarded after fumbling their future by trading away Luka Doncic to the Lakers at the trade deadline. While that is a debate for another day, Dallas now has another chance to compete for a title if Anthony Davis stays healthy throughout the season and if Kyrie Irving comes back strong after his devastating ACL injury.
For the other teams that went to a proper tanking, the result of the NBA Draft Lottery was as devastating as it gets. But hey, there are tons of potential all-stars in this class who could end up better than Flagg.
Without further ado, here is the 2025 NBA first-round mock draft for all 30 picks 3.0.
Which prospects will go to your team in the 2025 NBA draft?
30. Los Angeles Clippers (from Thunder) – G Labaron Philon (Alabama)
The Clippers need a guy off the bench with some energy, and Alabama’s Labaron Philon could potentially help them in that area. At 6-foot-3, Philon is wiry and shifty for his size. He is capable of running the offense on a limited basis and isn’t shy about attacking the rim to draw fouls for an and-one.
Comparison: Monta Ellis
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29. Phoenix Suns (from Cavaliers) – G Miles Byrd (San Diego State)
Should the Suns decide not to trade Kevin Durant or Devin Booker in the upcoming offseason, they must load up on guards who are capable of passing the ball and shooting the three next season. Byrd is an intriguing prospect here. He can pass the ball and shoot it with ease. Byrd is also a very good on-ball defender.
Comparison: Manu Ginobili Lite
28. Boston Celtics – C Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton)
Due to Al Horford’s advancing age and Kristaps Porzingis’s continued injury woes, the Cs should pounce on Kalkbrenner’s availability at this spot late in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Although he’s already 23 years old, the 7-foot-1 big man from Creighton is one of the most automatic scorers in the paint in college. Boston desperately needs some inside scoring, and Kalkbrenner can ease those concerns in spot-up minutes as soon as next season.
Comparison: Nets Brook Lopez
27. Brooklyn Nets (from Rockets) – G Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida)
If the Nets don’t trade this pick away, it would be best to add an established player rather than another project to hasten their rebuilding process. Walter Clayton Jr. played well at Florida last season and helped the team capture the national title. He is a knockdown shooter from three and could create offense off the dribble. Clayton should have an immediate shot at the point guard position if D’Angelo Russell continues to regress as a player.
Comparison: Jameer Nelson
26. Brooklyn Nets (from Knicks) – F Johni Broome (Auburn)
As one of the oldest prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft, Broome brings experience wherever he goes. The Nets definitely need some inside presence in the painted area, and Broome should be a good fit here. He isn’t as athletic as other guys in this class, but you can bet that he’s always on the edge to deliver the winning plays that his team needs when it matters the most.
Comparison: Carlos Boozer
25. Orlando Magic (from Nuggets) – G Hugo Gonzalez (Spain)
With how Kentavious Caldwell-Pope underwhelmed last season, Orlando needs a shooting guard who can make and create shots for them whenever Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner sits down. Hugo Gonzalez has the size and the basketball IQ to become a very good player in the NBA. His name has been all over several 2025 NBA mock drafts, but no doubt that he’s a first-round talent. Gonzalez shoots the ball well and can also attack the rim to draw fouls.
Comparison: Christian Braun
24. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Clippers) – F/C Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)
While OKC looks set, it doesn’t hurt to add another potential talent to their lineup. Sorber is a high-motor big from Georgetown who isn’t afraid to get dirty down below. He is a very good rebounder at 6-foot-11 and has a nice touch in the midrange.
Comparison: Bigger Rui Hachimura
23. Indiana Pacers – C Danny Wolf (Michigan)
Indiana is a bit short in their center rotation whenever Myles Turner sits down for a breather. Michigan’s Danny Wolf moves like a guard despite standing at 6-foot-11 and is a high-IQ athlete. He has a developing three-point shot in his arsenal that could translate well in the pros. Wolf could play spot-up minutes under the watchful eye of coach Rick Carlisle.
Comparison: Frank Kaminsky
22. Atlanta Hawks (from Lakers) – F/C Rasheer Fleming (St Joseph's)
There is a lot of uncertainty with Atlanta, and there’s a realistic chance that they’d trade out of this pick for a future asset or an impact player in return. Should they stay put, St Joseph’s athletic big guy Rasheer Fleming would be a decent choice here. He has improved his three-point shot after mostly operating around the painted area during his first couple of seasons in college.
Comparison: Markieff Morris
21. Utah Jazz (from Timberwolves) – F Nique Clifford (Colorado State)
The Jazz needs a high-motor guy to inject some energy off the bench. Colorado State’s Nique Clifford isn’t projected to become a starter for Utah next season. Still, he can easily play significant minutes behind the starters, especially if he brings his on-game intensity on a nightly basis. If he can improve his shot from the outside, there’s a chance he could become something special down the road.
Comparison: Terrence Mann
20. Miami Heat (from Warriors) – G Ben Saraf (Israel)
Tyler Herro needs a backcourt mate in Miami. Enter Ben Saraf. The Israeli-born guard can play both the point guard and shooting guard positions and has shown maturity in his game beyond his peers. The only knock on his game is his three-point shot. Should he improve on that, there’s a chance he’d become one of the steals in the upcoming 2025 NBA draft.
Comparison: Bigger Goran Dragic
19. Brooklyn Nets (from Bucks) – G/F Will Riley (Illinois)
Riley is one of the most exciting scorers in this draft class. He can score on all three levels with ease. He’s more suited to playing the shooting guard spot despite standing at 6-foot-9. Brooklyn needs all the talent they can get from the 2025 NBA draft, and Riley fits the bill. The biggest problem for him right now is that he’s somewhat of a lackluster on-ball defender. If he can improve in that area in the NBA combine, maybe he’d jump a couple of spots in June.
Comparison: Zaccharie Risacher
18. Washington Wizards (from Grizzlies) – G Jase Richardson (Michigan)
Basketball is in Jase Richardson’s blood. His father is former slam dunk champion Jason Richardson. Despite playing the shooting guard position at 6-foot-2, Richardson shot up in recent 2025 NBA mock drafts due to his impressive ability to score the basketball. He is extremely accurate with his reads and touches and tends to make the right play rather than trying to do it all by himself.
Comparison: Delonte West +
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Pistons) – G Egor Demin
It’s time for the Wolves to find Mike Conley’s successor. Egor Demin is a potential top-ten talent in this draft who spent an impressive year with BYU last season. At 6-foot-9, the Russian-born Demin can see the floor well as a point guard and has the ability to create his shots in the perimeter or extend them beyond the three-point line. Demin has an NBA-ready game and could potentially play heavy minutes for the Wolves as soon as next season.
Comparison: Taller Josh Giddey
16. Orlando Magic – G Nolan Traore (France)
Orlando needs a point guard. While they do have Suggs, Black, and Cole on the roster, none of the three is projected to become a star in the league. That’s where Traore comes in. At 6-foot-4, the do-it-all point guard can shoot the ball, pass the rock to his teammates, and create contact inside the paint. He is a top-10 talent who has fallen due to the emergence of other prospects in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft.
Comparison: Bigger Tony Parker
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Heat) – F Liam McNeely (Connecticut)
The Thunder aren’t shy of adding more talent to their roster, regardless of the position. With Connecticut, McNeely was known as a glue guy with a high basketball IQ and was expected to make the right plays most of the time. He’d fit right in with OKC due to his hustle plays and soft touch from the outside. McNeely is projected to have a long career in the association and could perhaps sneak into an all-star appearance down the road.
Comparison: Dan Majerle
14. San Antonio Spurs (from Hawks) – F Asa Newell (Georgia)
The Spurs lack a bruiser inside the paint. The aging Harrison Barnes is a natural small forward, not a power forward. Selecting Georgia’s energy guy, Asa Newell, should be a realistic option here. Newell isn’t shy about doing all the dirty work under the basket, and the Spurs need someone like that on the floor to elevate their ceiling as a team.
And did we forget to mention that he could shoot the three as well? Newell and Victor Wembanyama could form a formidable frontcourt for San Antonio as soon as next season.
Comparison: Bigger Shawn Marion
13. Atlanta Hawks (from Kings) – F Carter Bryant (Arizona)
Bryant shot up in multiple mock drafts in recent weeks due to his size at either forward position and his potential upside as a player. The Hawks have multiple areas that need to be addressed in their frontcourt, and Bryant should fit seamlessly alongside Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson at manning the paint. At 6-foot-8, he’d be tasked to fill in the role that De’Andre Hunter had with Atlanta last season before he was dealt to Cleveland at the trade deadline.
Comparison: De’Andre Hunter
12. Chicago Bulls – F Noa Essengue (France)
With the Bulls showing some promise late last season, it looks like they’ll need to get the right selection at this spot in the 2025 NBA Draft for them to progress further. Their biggest weakness right now is the power forward spot, and that’s where Noa Essengue comes in. The springy 6-foot-10 has the makings to become a solid forward in the league, and Chicago has the right tools to develop him after the progress they made with Matas Buzelis last season.
Comparison: Jabari Smith Jr.
11. Portland Trail Blazers – F Collin Murray-Bowles (South Carolina)
Expect the Blazers to select a need here instead of talent. Their backcourt is already loaded with Simons and Sharpe on the roster. They could realistically trade for value to get out of Jerami Grant’s contract and add a young talent like Murray-Bowles via the 2025 NBA Draft to take over his spot at the power forward.
The South Carolina product is an energy bunny who is short of a consistent jumper away from being selected in the top five. Right now, the Blazers could use his high motor and elite athleticism on the defensive side of the floor.
Comparison: Scottie Barnes
10. Houston Rockets (from Suns) – G Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
Jakucionis is a big point guard who is ready to run an NBA offense right from the get-go. At 6-foot-6, he is a willing passer and a savvy shot creator off the bounce. The Rockets may trade out of this pick due to Fred VanVleet and Reed Sheppard on their roster, but Jaku’s talent may be too hard to pass up at this spot. They can figure out the nuances later.
Comparison: Lonzo Ball
9. Toronto Raptors – C Khaman Maluach (Duke)
At this point, the Raptors might explore trading away Jakob Poeltl in the summer if they select Maluach in the 2025 NBA Draft in June. The Duke product has the size and the touch around the rim to intimidate other bigs in the league. While his outside game still needs a ton of work, with Toronto, he’d be mostly deployed to be a beast on the defensive end due to his 7-foot-2 frame.
Comparison: Wendell Carter Jr.
8. Brooklyn Nets – C Derik Queen (Maryland)
Queen is one of the best big men in college this season. He’s not super athletic, but can get the job done in and around the basket. He can also shoot it from mid-range up to the three-point line. A willing passer, there’s a good chance that Queen could become a terrific passer at the NBA level. The Nets need a big, and the Maryland product is the best center in this class.
Comparison: Al Jefferson
7. New Orleans Pelicans – G Jeremiah rears (Oklahoma)
The Pelicans hoped that they would land a top-five pick, but here they are in the seventh spot. You can expect that they’ll go for a need with this selection rather than a fit. Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears would address their immediate need for backcourt help. He’s not a knockdown shooter but is a good slasher to the basket. Fears is an explosive guard who isn’t shy in finishing from contact around the rim.
Comparison: Devin Booker
6. Washington Wizards – G Tre Johnson (Texas)
Another big-time slider in the NBA Draft Lottery, the Wizards fell outside the top-three range after finishing dead last in the Eastern Conference standings. This might be a blessing in disguise, though, as the team desperately needs some scoring in the backcourt with Jordan Poole regressing after his Warriors stint ended a couple of years ago.
Johnson was born to score the ball. He can light it up from anywhere on the floor with ease. The Texas standout can create his own offense off the dribble and has no qualms about shooting the rock coming off a pass.
Comparison: Joe Johnson
5. Utah Jazz – G/F Kon Knueppel (Duke)
Landing outside of the top three in the NBA Draft Lottery after tanking properly must have stung for Utah. Cooper Flagg would’ve been an excellent fit for this once-proud franchise. However, not all is lost, though. At fifth place, they could select Duke’s next best prospect in this class, Kon Knueppel.
The 6-foot-7 guard/forward combo has extremely high basketball IQ and can play with or without the ball. He can cut to the basket, create his own shot, and has shown that he can shoot it well beyond the three-point line. He’s not afraid to get down and dirty if the occasion arises.
Comparison: Taller and Faster JJ Redick
4. Charlotte Hornets – G/F VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
At 6-foot-5, Edgecombe is a high-motor, uber athletic guard/forward combo who can quickly elevate his game as a member of the Hornets. The Baylor standout should easily fit in the starting lineup for Charlotte next season. Just imagine the lobs he’ll receive from LaMelo Ball whenever the team is in transition.
Edgecombe lacks shot creation in his game for now, but he has shown potential in college that he has it in his game.
Comparison: Victor Oladipo
3. Philadelphia 76ers – F Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
Don’t be surprised if the Sixers either trade up or down from this spot. In hindsight, Rutgers’ Dylan Harper is a better fit for Philadelphia than Bailey. However, Bailey’s potential to become the best prospect in this draft may be too much of a draw for the Sixers to package him in a trade.
While some of his shot selection leaves a lot to be desired, a little honing in the summer should do the trick for Bailey to become a bona fide star in this league a couple of years from now.
Comparison: Tracy McGrady Lite
2. San Antonio Spurs – G Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
The Spurs are looking to hasten their rebuild, and they might trade this pick away to land an established talent like Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, let’s just say they’ll keep this for now. While selecting Harper at second may create a little problem in their backcourt with Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox in tow, it’s best that they hoard talent instead of selecting a need at this point.
Dylan Harper is a pure scorer on all three levels. There’s a reason why he’s consistently at two in most 2025 NBA Mock Drafts leading to the lottery. He has all-star potential and could become one soon, should he land on a team that allows him to have the ball in his hands.
Comparison: James Harden
1. Dallas Mavericks – F Cooper Flagg (Duke)
This is a dream scenario for a franchise that has lost all hope after trading franchise superstar Luka Doncic away on a random February night. The Mavericks have never jumped in the NBA Draft Lottery – until 2025. Unless GM Nico Harrison flips Flagg to Milwaukee for Giannis (their fans would be livid if this happens), selecting the Duke phenom is a no-brainer.
He would be loved instantly by their legion of fans. Flagg is one of the best prospects to come to the NBA within the last five years. The 6-foot-9 forward has a complete game; he can score from anywhere on the court and is a defensive monster. Rejoice, Mavs fans. Your new savior is here.
Comparison: Scottie Pippen + Andrei Kirilenko
