The 2025 NBA Mock Draft: FIRST BLOOD
The NBA Draft isn’t just about talent. It’s about narratives, legacies, and survival. A franchise’s future can turn on a single selection, a single decision made in a boardroom full of scouts, analytics experts, and executives who think they know what they’re doing—until the lights come on and the games start.
This year’s rookie class? It’s loaded. Potential superstars, high-risk prospects, and players with something to prove. But the difference between a perennial All-Star and a cautionary tale? That’s where front offices either make their name—or get run out of the league.
Let’s go inside the War Room. Let’s break down the names that will shape the next decade of the NBA.
1. Washington Wizards – Cooper Flagg, PF, Duke
6’9″, 205 lbs | Age: 18
Pro Comparisons: Franz Wagner, Jalen Johnson
Washington is a disaster of a franchise. No direction. No leadership. They need a face of the future.
Enter Cooper Flagg.
He’s not just good—he’s historic. Only Zion, Anthony Davis, Kevin Love, and Michael Beasley have had freshman seasons this statistically dominant. He’s breaking records, making scouts salivate over his two-way potential, and turning Duke into a machine.
This isn’t just a No. 1 pick. This is a franchise-shifting event.
Wizards fans, you finally have something to believe in.
2. Utah Jazz – Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers
6’6″, 215 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: De’Aaron Fox, Jalen Brunson
The Jazz need a lead guard with bite, someone who can dictate the pace, take over games, and make life miserable for defenders.
That’s Dylan Harper.
He’s relentless going downhill. Elite finisher. Physical, explosive, competitive. The type of guard you hate playing against but love having on your team.
This pick? It puts Utah back on the map.
3. Charlotte Hornets – Ace Bailey, SF, Rutgers
6’10″, 200 lbs | Age: 18
Pro Comparisons: Brandon Miller, Michael Porter Jr.
Ace Bailey has everything scouts dream about.
He’s 6’10″ with a bag. Pull-up jumpers, floater touch, three-level scoring ability. His game looks like it was built in a lab for the modern NBA.
The problem? Turnovers. Questionable passing. A handle that needs work.
But here’s the thing—he’s 18. He’s raw, but the upside? It’s ridiculous. If the Hornets are patient, this pick could define their next era.
4. New Orleans Pelicans – VJ Edgecombe, SG/SF, Baylor
6’5″, 180 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: Andrew Wiggins, Victor Oladipo
The Pelicans have plenty of offense. What they need? An athlete, a two-way monster, someone who gives them an edge.
That’s VJ Edgecombe.
The dude is a freak. Blazing speed, insane bounce, a menace on both ends. He’s getting better as a shooter, too.
In New Orleans? He’s the missing piece.
5. Toronto Raptors – Tre Johnson, SG, Texas
6’6″, 190 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: Allan Houston, Tyler Herro
Tre Johnson was born to score.
Elite footwork. Silky smooth shot-making. A certified bucket.
The Raptors need a go-to scorer—someone who can take the ball in the clutch and create something out of nothing.
Tre Johnson? That’s him.
6. Brooklyn Nets – Derik Queen, PF/C, Maryland
6’10″, 246 lbs | Age: 20
Pro Comparison: Alperen Sengun
Derik Queen is one of the most skilled bigs in the draft.
His footwork, touch, and passing ability are elite for his size. He’s not an elite athlete, but his feel for the game more than makes up for it.
For Brooklyn? This is a steal.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers) – Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
7’2″, 250 lbs | Age: 18
Pro Comparison: Mark Williams
A 7’2″ center with mobility? You don’t pass that up.
Maluach is a force in the paint. He’s athletic, a great screener, a lob threat, and has flashes of a jumper.
The Thunder just found their long-term anchor next to Chet Holmgren.
8. Chicago Bulls – Jase Richardson, SG, Michigan State
6’3″, 185 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparison: Reed Sheppard
Scoring. Efficiency. IQ. Richardson just knows how to play.
He’s been ridiculously efficient in ball screens and is one of the best pull-up shooters in the class.
Chicago needs a young guard to build with. Richardson is the answer.
9. San Antonio Spurs – Kasparas Jakucionis, PG/SG, Illinois
6’6″, 200 lbs | Age: 18
Pro Comparison: Chauncey Billups
A big, crafty guard with high-level shot-making and passing? The Spurs need this.
Jakucionis isn’t a nuclear athlete, but his game is polished. Smart. Efficient.
This is a Spurs pick.
10. Portland Trail Blazers – Kon Knueppel, SF, Duke
6’6″, 217 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: Kevin Huerter, Corey Kispert
Kon Knueppel is the best shooter in the draft. Period.
Portland needs spacing, IQ, and playmaking. Knueppel brings all three.
The Future of the League – Picks 10-30
The first nine picks were about securing franchise cornerstones—the players who will shape the identity of struggling franchises, turn rebuilds into playoff teams, and inject immediate hope into desperate locker rooms.
But the rest of the first round? That’s where teams gamble on upside, chase perfect roster fits, and make the moves that separate contenders from pretenders.
This is where the smart teams find their future stars, and the bad teams pick players they’ll regret in two years.
Let’s go back into the Green Room.
10. Portland Trail Blazers – Kon Knueppel, SF, Duke
6’6″, 217 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: Kevin Huerter, Corey Kispert
Portland needs shooting, IQ, and efficiency. Knueppel brings all three. He’s a lights-out shooter with size, an underrated playmaker, and a player who knows exactly what he’s good at.
Blazers fans? Think of a guy like Joe Harris, but bigger and tougher.
11. Miami Heat – Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma
6’4″, 182 lbs | Age: 18
Pro Comparisons: Jaden Ivey, Scoot Henderson
If there’s one thing Miami loves, it’s competitors. Jeremiah Fears is that.
He’s tough, relentless, and wired to attack. His jumper is still shaky, but his ability to get downhill, collapse defenses, and make plays makes him a high-upside guard for a Heat team that thrives on development.
12. Houston Rockets (via Suns) – Asa Newell, PF/C, Georgia
6’11″, 220 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: Jalen Smith, Brandon Clarke
Houston is in win-now mode. They don’t have time to babysit a project.
That’s why Asa Newell makes too much sense. He’s a switchable defender with shooting potential, great length, and touch around the rim. He won’t need the ball in his hands to make an impact.
Think Jaren Jackson Jr. Lite.
13. Dallas Mavericks – Collin Murray-Boyles, PF, South Carolina
6’7″, 245 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: Julius Randle, Anthony Mason
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving don’t need another ball-dominant player. They need a physical forward who does the dirty work and can make life easier for them.
That’s Collin Murray-Boyles.
He’s strong, skilled, a fantastic passer, and a relentless rebounder. His jump shot is a work in progress, but his feel for the game is off the charts.
This pick? A no-brainer.
14. Atlanta Hawks (via Kings) – Liam McNeeley, SF/PF, Connecticut
6’7″, 210 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: Keegan Murray
McNeeley is a plug-and-play forward. A high-level shooter, smart cutter, and someone who can fit into any system.
He’s not flashy, but he’s effective. And that’s exactly what the Hawks need.
15. Orlando Magic – Ben Saraf, PG/SG, Ratiopharm Ulm
6’5″, 201 lbs | Age: 18
Pro Comparisons: Manu Ginóbili
Ben Saraf has feel for the game that you can’t teach. He plays at his own pace, makes smart reads, and knows how to create advantages.
Orlando needs more offensive creators. Saraf is a perfect fit alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
16. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks) – Noa Essengue, PF, Ratiopharm Ulm
6’9″, 198 lbs | Age: 18
Pro Comparisons: Jabari Walker, Precious Achiuwa
The Spurs are playing the long game. Essengue is a project, but one with massive potential.
He runs the floor like a guard, has great touch around the rim, and could be a defensive force if he adds strength.
Pairing him with Victor Wembanyama? That’s scary.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers) – Noah Penda, SF/PF, Le Mans
6’8″, 225 lbs | Age: 20
Pro Comparisons: Nicolas Batum
OKC loves versatile wings.
Penda can shoot, pass, and defend multiple positions. He’s the perfect fit for a team that thrives on flexibility.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons) – Nolan Traore, PG, Saint Quentin
6’4″, 184 lbs | Age: 18
Pro Comparisons: Lonzo Ball
The Wolves need a long-term answer at point guard.
Traore is a floor general, a high-IQ playmaker, and someone who can defend at a high level.
This pick is all about setting up the future.
19. Utah Jazz (via Timberwolves) – Egor Demin, PG/SF, BYU
6’9″, | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: Josh Giddey
Demin is one of the best passers in the draft. His size and vision make him a unique playmaker.
If he figures out his shooting consistency, he could be a massive steal.
20. Miami Heat (via Warriors) – Will Riley, SF, Illinois
6’8″, 180 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: Kyshawn George
The Heat need wing depth. Riley is a shooter, a slasher, and a player who thrives in transition.
He fits the Heat culture.
21. Indiana Pacers – Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown
6’10″, 255 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: Onyeka Okongwu
A high-motor big with great hands and touch.
Indiana gets a reliable interior presence for their young core.
22. Brooklyn Nets (via Bucks) – Carter Bryant, SF, Arizona
6’8″, 220 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: Marcus Morris
A tough, physical wing who can score and defend.
Brooklyn needs players who compete. Bryant fits that mold.
23. Brooklyn Nets (via Rockets) – Rasheer Fleming, PF, Saint Joseph’s
6’9″, 240 lbs | Age: 20
Pro Comparisons: Taylor Hendricks
A modern stretch-four with defensive versatility.
Brooklyn is stacking two-way talent.
24. Washington Wizards (via Grizzlies) – Isaiah Evans, SF, Duke
6’6″, 175 lbs | Age: 19
Pro Comparisons: AJ Griffin
A polished shooter with NBA range.
Perfect for a rebuilding Wizards team that needs everything.
25. Brooklyn Nets (via Knicks) – Boogie Fland, PG, Arkansas
6’2″, 175 lbs | Age: 18
Pro Comparisons: Kemba Walker
A quick, shifty guard with deep range.
Could be a microwave scorer at the next level.
The Final Pieces – Picks 26-30
By now, the war rooms are exhausted. The top names are gone, the can’t-miss prospects off the board. This is where the great teams make their money.
A savvy late first-round pick can be the difference between building a dynasty or missing your window. Just ask the Warriors about Draymond Green. Ask the Bucks about Khris Middleton. This is where you find the guys who define championships.
Let’s finish the job.
26. Orlando Magic – Nique Clifford, SF/PF, Colorado State
6’6″, 200 lbs | Age: 23
Pro Comparison: Cody Martin
Orlando has talent everywhere, but what they don’t have? A glue guy. Someone who does the little things, makes the right plays, guards multiple positions.
That’s Clifford. He’s tough, smart, and efficient. The kind of player who finds a way to stay on the floor.
Not a star, but a guy every winning team needs.
27. Atlanta Hawks – Kam Jones, PG/SG, Marquette
6’5″, 205 lbs | Age: 23
Pro Comparison: Malik Monk
The Hawks need more shot creation. Kam Jones is a walking bucket.
Elite shooter. Quick release. Fearless scorer.
He’s got that sixth-man microwave scorer energy. Give him a few years, and he could be one of the best bench scorers in the league.
28. Boston Celtics – Hugo Gonzalez, SF, Real Madrid
6’7″, weight unlisted | Age: 19
Pro Comparison: Jonathan Kuminga
Boston doesn’t need a star. They need depth, versatility, and upside.
Gonzalez is raw, but the tools are there. Size, athleticism, defensive potential. He’s still figuring out his shot, but he fits Boston’s system perfectly.
If he develops? Steal.
29. Los Angeles Clippers – Danny Wolf, PF/C, Michigan
7’0″, 250 lbs | Age: 20
Pro Comparison: Hedo Turkoglu
A 7-footer who can shoot, pass, and handle the ball? The Clippers aren’t passing that up.
Wolf is a unique offensive weapon. He’s not a traditional big—he plays like a point-forward in a center’s body.
If he finds his defensive identity, this pick will look brilliant.
30. Phoenix Suns – Johni Broome, PF/C, Auburn
6’10″, 240 lbs | Age: 22
Pro Comparison: Markieff Morris
The Suns desperately need size and toughness.
Broome is a big, strong interior presence who can protect the rim and knock down mid-range jumpers.
He’s not flashy, but he’s a winning player.
The 2025 NBA Draft: A Night That Will Change the League
Some teams just landed future All-Stars. Some just drafted their next regret.
Some teams just changed their future. Some just took a gamble that could cost them years.
Some of these players will become stars. Some will fade into irrelevance.
Some teams will finally find their missing piece. Others?
They just took a player they’ll trade in two years for a second-round pick.
That’s the beauty of the draft.
You never know who you really got—until it’s too late.
But the draft isn’t just about who was taken. It was about who was smart enough to make the right call.
The line between genius and disaster is razor-thin.
One thing’s for sure—legacies will be written.
And in five years?
We’ll look back at this draft and see who was right… and who was dead wrong.
Because we will always remember who won… and completely forget ‘what’s his name’ who lost.
Joseph Angel | Chief NBA Draft Analyst for TheNSR Network