2025 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Cooper Flagg isn't the only Duke star projected in the lottery
Now that the men's college basketball season is underway, we can finally look forward to the 2025 NBA Draft with slightly more confidence.
While it is still far too early to know much of what we will happen at Barclays Center in June, with teams playing around the nation, we can at least identify which prospects are at least initially living up to all of their hype and which are off to slower starts.
For this exercise, to determine our draft order, we reversed the standings of projected playoff probabilities provided by our friends at dunksandthrees.com. Meanwhile, we also included trades based on what picks are owed around the league.
Even though we don't yet know what will happen on draft night or how these careers will shape out, this class seems to initially offer far more thrilling options at the top than the 2024 NBA Draft did just last year.
This is how we project everything shaking out as of right now, though expect plenty of changes as the season progresses.
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1. Utah Jazz: Cooper Flagg
TEAM: Duke
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-9
DRAFT AGE: 18.5
While this isn’t quite as much of a lock as it was when Victor Wembanyama went No. 1 overall in 2023, there is little doubt that whatever team wins the lottery will select Cooper Flagg as he has maintained pole position early in the season thus far.
2. Portland Trail Blazers: Ace Bailey
TEAM: Rutgers
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-8
DRAFT AGE: 18.9
Although he missed the first few games of the season due to injury, it won’t take much for front offices around the league to talk themselves into buying the hype from Ace Bailey with a special ability to shoot and great positional size.
3. Washington Wizards: Dylan Harper
TEAM: Rutgers
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-6
DRAFT AGE: 19.3
Long considered the best floor general in this class, pairing Dylan Harper with Bub Carrington as the backcourt of the future for Washington is a dream scenario even if they don’t end up with Cooper Flagg or Ace Bailey.
4. Toronto Raptors: V.J. Edgecombe
TEAM: Baylor
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-5
DRAFT AGE: 19.9
Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe reminded fans he is easily one of the most athletic prospects in men’s college basketball when he brutally dunked on Mark Few’s son and he could provide impactful play on both ends of the court no matter where he is drafted next season.
5. Charlotte Hornets: Tre Johnson
TEAM: Texas
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-6
DRAFT AGE: 19.3
One of the most gifted and effortless scorers in college basketball right now is Texas freshman Tre Johnson, who would make the Hornets an offensive juggernaut playing alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
6. New Orleans Pelicans: Egor Demin
TEAM: BYU
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-9
DRAFT AGE: 19.3
Perhaps no prospect had a better start to the men’s college basketball season than BYU’s Egor Demin, who is climbing up draft boards for scouts around the league after showing remarkable playmaking and skill for his 6-foot-9 frame.
7. Brooklyn Nets: Khaman Maluach
TEAM: Duke
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 7-1
DRAFT AGE: 18.8
The Nets could go a lot of different directions when they are on the clock in the 2025 NBA Draft, but in this scenario, they would land a talented big man who has arguably the most potential of any player at his position in this class.
8. Detroit Pistons: Kon Knueppel
TEAM: Duke
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-5
DRAFT AGE: 19.9
As the Pistons continue to develop their core group of young players, one archetype that will always fit in no matter the roster construction is an efficient shooting wing like Duke freshman Kon Knueppel.
9. Chicago Bulls: Asa Newell
TEAM: Georgia
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 6-11
DRAFT AGE: 19.7
The Bulls could make a nice addition to their frontcourt by selecting Georgia freshman Asa Newell, who projects well as an outstanding defensive big man who could become an even better overall player if his jumper develops a bit more.
10. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Nolan Traore
TEAM: Saint-Quentin (France)
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-3
DRAFT AGE: 19.1
While he has frankly not enjoyed the start to the season that many had hoped to see from him thus far, the Spurs would still likely love to pair Victor Wembanyama with France’s Nolan Traore as his potential point guard of the future.
11. San Antonio Spurs: Liam McNeeley
TEAM: Connecticut
POSITION: Wing
HEIGHT: 6-7
DRAFT AGE: 19.7
San Antonio will likely have two lottery picks in the 2025 NBA Draft and they could use one of them on UConn freshman Liam McNeeley, who is one of the more promising shooting wings in this class.
12. New Orleans Pelicans (via LAL): Ben Saraf
TEAM: ratiopharm ulm (Germany)
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-5
DRAFT AGE: 19.2
After winning MVP of the FIBA U18 European Championship earlier this year, the guard also played well during an exhibition game against the Portland Trail Blazers during the preseason and is contributing well as a starter in the Eurocup.
13. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC): Collin Murray-Boyles
TEAM: South Carolina
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 6-7
DRAFT AGE: 20.1
The Thunder have one of the deepest rosters in the NBA but could add yet another versatile, win-now player to their frontcourt by selecting South Carolina sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles with one of their draft picks.
14. Utah Jazz (via MIN): Kasparas Jakucionis
TEAM: Illinois
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-5
DRAFT AGE: 19.1
Lithuania’s Kasparas Jakucionis is off to a hot start to the season as a primary ball handler for Illinois, offering elite court vision as a distributor in the pick and roll even though he is only just a freshman.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI): Rocco Zikarsky
TEAM: Brisbane (Australia)
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 7-2
DRAFT AGE: 19
The Thunder could use some depth at the center position in case of future injuries to Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, and New Zealand’s Rocco Zikarsky is one of the names that any team looking to add size will consider.
16. Oklahoma City Thunder (via MIA): Noa Essengue
TEAM: ratiopharm ulm (Germany)
POSITION: Wing
HEIGHT: 6-8
DRAFT AGE: 18.5
With multiple picks projected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft and only so many roster spots available, if the Thunder keep all of their picks, they may ultimately consider using some potential draft-and-stash options like France’s Noa Essengue.
17. Brooklyn Nets (via MIL): Boogie Fland
TEAM: Arkansas
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-2
DRAFT AGE: 19
Arkansas freshman guard Boogie Fland still needs to improve his offensive efficiency but the future seems bright on both sides of the ball for the 18-year-old New York native.
18. Indiana Pacers: Jalil Bethea
TEAM: Miami
POSITION: Wing
HEIGHT: 6-4
DRAFT AGE: 19.5
Miami freshman Jalil Bethea is a former McDonald’s All-American but is coming off the bench for the Hurricanes, and although he is playing more off-ball as a spot up shooter so far, he is still an intriguing prospect to watch.
19. Memphis Grizzlies: Dink Pate
TEAM: Mexico City Capitanes (G League)
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-6
DRAFT AGE: 19.3
One of the most interesting prospects to evaluate is former G League Ignite guard Dink Pate, who is coming off the bench with limited minutes for the Mexico City Capitanes but has some of the highest upside of any player in this class.
20. Houston Rockets: Drake Powell
TEAM: North Carolina
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-6
DRAFT AGE: 19.8
When the Rockets are on the clock and if they decide to keep their pick, expect them to potentially target someone like former McDonald’s All-American wing Drake Powell who is an impactful defender currently coming off the bench as a freshman at UNC.
21. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC): Derik Queen
TEAM: Maryland
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 6-10
DRAFT AGE: 20.5
One of the most pleasantly surprising players so far this season is Maryland freshman big man Derik Queen, who had 22 points and 20 rebounds in his collegiate debut and continues to flash his skill set as a must-watch prospect.
22. New York Knicks (via PHX): Ian Jackson
TEAM: North Carolina
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-5
DRAFT AGE: 20.4
Currently coming off the bench as a freshman for UNC, former McDonald’s All-American wing Ian Jackson played well against Kansas and he should earn more playing time as the season continues to progress.
23. Dallas Mavericks: Carter Bryant
TEAM: Arizona
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-8
DRAFT AGE: 19.6
Arizona freshman Carter Bryant is a former McDonald’s All-American forward who has impressive vertical pop and a solid jump shot, which should make him appealing as a likely one-and-done candidate.
24. Orlando Magic (via DEN): Will Riley
TEAM: Illinois
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-8
DRAFT AGE: 19.3
Canada’s Will Riley had a nearly perfect collegiate debut, scoring 31 points off the bench for Illinois, and he should continue to turn heads for all evaluators looking to add a sharpshooter in the 2025 NBA Draft.
25. Orlando Magic: Alex Karaban
TEAM: Connecticut
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-8
DRAFT AGE: 22.6
Orlando has struggled shooting the ball so far this season, and UConn senior Alex Karaban would provide immediate and necessary help as a catch-and-shoot threat in their offense.
26. Brooklyn Nets (via NYK): Hugo Gonzalez
TEAM: Real Madrid
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-6
DRAFT AGE: 19.4
The Nets will likely have multiple first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft and may consider a home run swing on someone like Hugo Gonzalez, who isn’t playing particularly well right now but could develop well as a draft-and-stash project.
27. Golden State Warriors: JT Toppin
TEAM: Texas Tech
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-9
DRAFT AGE: 20
The Warriors would benefit from adding a winning player like JT Toppin, who has already proven himself as one of the best transfers in the nation by dominating in his first few games for Texas Tech.
28. Utah Jazz (via CLE): Ryan Kalkbrenner
TEAM: Creighton
POSITION: Big
HEIGHT: 7-1
DRAFT AGE: 23.5
With multiple first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Jazz could easily talk themselves into taking a chance on Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner after he has looked like the best player in the NCAA thus far.
29. L.A. Clippers (via OKC): Kam Jones
TEAM: Marquette
POSITION: Forward
HEIGHT: 6-5
DRAFT AGE: 23.3
Although he is a bit older than some of the other prospects, Marquette senior Kam Jones is undeniably hard to ignore as he is off to the races as one of the best scorers and overall players in the NCAA thus far.
30. Boston Celtics: Adou Thiero
TEAM: Arkansas
POSITION: Guard
HEIGHT: 6-8
DRAFT AGE: 21.1
Another intriguing transfer is former Kentucky wing Adou Thiero and he is difficult to stop as one of the top slashers, cutters, and drivers in the NCAA.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2025 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Cooper Flagg isn't the only Duke star projected in the lottery
