2025 NBA Mock Draft: Tre Johnson rises to No. 3; Cooper Flagg taken with first choose adopted by Dylan Harper

The time period “generational expertise” will get thrown round loosely lately. Flagg is worthy of that invoice. The Duke celebrity was one of the best participant in faculty basketball this season whereas taking part in half the 12 months as a 17-year-old. Flagg could be a two-way game-wrecking ahead on the subsequent stage who can double as your face of the franchise for the subsequent decade. The Jazz could be ecstatic if the lottery balls fell their approach.

Harper has been the second-best consensus prospect for many, if not all, of the 2024-25 faculty basketball season. The southpaw combo guard is a superb shot-creator who confirmed a constant capability to complete on the rim. The staff that will get the second choose ought to choose him, regardless of who else is already on their roster. Not profitable the draft lottery would sting, however Harper is a stable comfort prize.

Johnson has skyrocketed up draft boards throughout the previous couple of months. The Texas star was probably the greatest scorers in faculty basketball this previous season and has an opportunity to impression profitable on the subsequent stage along with his elite shotmaking skills. The Hornets can go in a number of instructions with this choose, however it could be clever to guess on Johnson’s upside.

Outdoors of Flagg, Edgecombe could be my favourite participant on this draft class. I am an enormous believer within the two-way upside Edgecombe has. He could be a true two-way star on the subsequent stage someday. He improved his shot all through the season and is among the most athletic gamers in his draft class.

Bailey is among the most polarizing prospects on this class. His shot weight-reduction plan throughout his lone season at Rutgers was fascinating. He can knock down among the hardest jumpers conceivable, even when they don’t seem to be high-percentage photographs. My comp for him coming into the 12 months was Denver Nuggets ahead Michael Porter Jr. I stand by that comparability.

The Nets are in a precarious place heading into the draft lottery. Brooklyn is heading towards a rebuild, however that might change relying on how the lottery balls fall subsequent week. Knueppel is a knockdown shooter and a high-floor participant. If the Nets take Knueppel right here, he can be of their rotation for years to come back.

Murray-Boyles is arguably one of the best defender in his class. His defensive instruments pop on movie and his recreation has drawn similarities to Golden State Warriors standout defender Draymond Inexperienced. Murray-Boyles returned to high school this season, raised his draft inventory, and may go someplace within the early-to-mid a part of the lottery.

Maluach is an imposing presence within the paint, a implausible finisher across the rim throughout his lone season at Duke and impacted the sport defensively regardless of solely averaging 1.3 blocks per recreation. Maluach nonetheless wants time to develop, however he is well worth the upside swing at this spot and would supply priceless depth to a frontcourt that already contains celebrity Victor Wembanyama.

Houston’s season simply got here to a detailed with a loss to the Golden State Warriors in Sport 7, and now it is time to flip the web page to a essential offseason. The Rockets could be good to consolidate a few of their depth for an additional star, however with this choose, Houston selects a artful level guard to doubtlessly be Fred VanVleet’s successor.

Portland is a staff within the West that may doubtlessly take a bounce through the 2025-26 marketing campaign. Fleming has every thing NBA decision-makers are in search of on the subsequent stage. Fleming is a plus shooter (39% on 4.5 makes an attempt), possesses a 7-foot-5 wingspan and has defensive upside that might translate to the subsequent stage.

The Mavs have a evident want for a degree guard due to Kyrie Irving’s standing in query for the 2025-26 season resulting from harm. Insert Jakučionis, who’s a talented guard able to doing just a little little bit of every thing. His 3-point taking pictures share might want to enhance, and the frequency of turnovers will should be lower down (3.7 per recreation) on the subsequent stage, however he could be one of the best participant on the place obtainable.

Queen has a novel ability set for the middle place. He’s a talented passer and a fluid scorer inside. He might want to enhance the jumper on the subsequent stage, however the Maryland star could be a enjoyable slot in Chicago.

Demin was one of many extra overrated draft prospects through the early portion of the 2024-25 season earlier than hitting a wall firstly of Massive 12 play. If Demin can enhance his jumper on the subsequent stage, he may be probably the greatest guards in his class when it is all mentioned and completed. That can be his swing ability.

Richardson could be a enjoyable slot in San Antonio. He began the season in a reserve function at Michigan State and blossomed into one of the best participant on Tom Izzo’s squad. Richardson is a superb mid-range shooter and was implausible at ending across the rim throughout his lone season in East Lansing.

I had an opportunity to scout Wolf in particular person earlier this 12 months when Michigan confronted USC. Instantly after watching him play for a number of seconds, the comparability to Houston Rockets star Alperen Şengün popped into my head. Wolf is a fluid mover as a “level middle” and is a succesful playmaker throughout the move of the offense. His protection is a query mark on the subsequent stage, however his offensive engine makes him a probable first-round choose. The Thunder have immense depth at virtually each place and have the luxurious of taking one of the best participant obtainable.

Orlando drafted a veteran wing from the state of Colorado final summer time, so why not double up? Clifford is the proper prototype wing for the trendy NBA. He can shoot, rebound, and defend at a really excessive stage. He was the shortest participant in Division l basketball who averaged a minimum of 9.5 rebounds per recreation.

McNeeley could also be a lottery choose when it is all mentioned and completed. On this mock draft, the UConn star slides to No. 17. McNeeley is a plug-and-play ahead on the subsequent stage. He performs effectively throughout the move of an offense and has expertise taking part in with different very gifted gamers at the highschool and faculty ranges.

Newell took his skills to Georgia as one of many highest-rated signees in program historical past and raised his draft inventory all through the season. The 6-foot-10 ahead is an impactful defender and finisher across the basket. He would be a part of a frontcourt that already contains No. 2 total choose from final 12 months, Alex Sarr.

Bryant has been a quick riser in current weeks. The Arizona star might nonetheless return for his sophomore season, nevertheless it’s possible he finally ends up as a mid-to-late first-round choose subsequent month. Bryant began simply 5 video games for Arizona this season, however he has the proper dimension to be a wing on the subsequent stage.

Traore has a fast first step with top-end pace to play level guard within the NBA. Round this time final 12 months, Traore was thought of a possible top-five choose. Whereas he will not be drafted that top, it is secure to imagine he’ll nonetheless be a first-rounder.

Clayton’s legendary March Insanity run jumped him into the primary spherical for good. Clayton was probably the greatest shotmakers in faculty basketball and is fearless. Pairing Flagg with a veteran guard from the faculty ranks could be considered as a house run draft for Utah. Whereas Clayton is projected to go at No. 21 right here, it would not shock me if he labored his approach into the lottery on draft night time.

The French ahead is among the youngest gamers on this 12 months’s draft. Essengue is a dynamic ahead who has proven enchancment as a shooter all through his taking part in profession and could be a standout defender on the subsequent stage. He nonetheless wants time to develop, however the Hawks must be ecstatic if he’s nonetheless on the board at choose No. 22.

What pops on tape from Beringer is his capability to complete constantly on the rim off pick-and-rolls. Beringer could be a nice rim protector on the subsequent stage. He’s additionally excellent at contesting photographs as a assist defender. His bounce shot wants enchancment, however he is price taking a flyer on the finish of the primary spherical. Beringer may be Indiana’s middle of the longer term.

Riley wasn’t in my first NBA mock draft, however he finds himself on the finish of the primary spherical on this model. The Illinois freshman seems to be all-in on the draft course of. Riley is a terrific shot-maker and would match nice in Orlando.

The 6-foot-6 southpaw is a artistic playmaker able to getting others concerned within the offense. Saraf earned MVP honors through the FIBA U18 EuroBasket final summer time and has been rising up draft boards since. The Thunder are able the place they haven’t any evident wants, so taking a swing on a world prospect, like they did final summer time, could possibly be in play right here.

Broome was probably the greatest gamers in faculty basketball this previous season and his rebounding and rim defending will translate to the subsequent stage. The Nets want expertise on their roster, so choosing a participant of Broome’s pedigree would give coach Jordi Fernández an on the spot piece for his rotation.

Powell has an attention-grabbing stay-or-go choice to make. Powell profiles as a 3-and-D participant on the NBA stage, however he would profit from one other 12 months of school basketball. If he does keep within the draft, he might hear his identify known as towards the tip of the primary spherical.

Talking of stay-or-go choices, Condon is one other participant with one to make. The Florida star performed a key function on Todd Golden’s nationwide title staff and will enhance his inventory even additional by working it again.

Phoenix is coming into a crossroads forward of a essential offseason. Including a degree guard through free company or the draft must be one of many prime priorities. Philon could be worthy of this choose as a result of he is a artful guard with great upside. He’s additionally able to scoring in any respect three ranges.

Among the best rim protectors in faculty basketball at Creighton, Kalkbrenner is a superb finisher across the rim and may create second-chance alternatives due to his rebounding.