2025 NBA Mock Draft: Cooper Flagg is No. 1 decide, offers Mavericks rapid assist and turns into face of franchise

The narrative has now modified in Dallas and Nico Harrison has been saved. Cooper Flagg shouldn’t be solely adequate to assist Dallas win now (as a result of whenever you’re constructing round two 30+ gamers that is clearly the plan), however he can develop into being the face of the franchise sooner or later. He additionally matches the two-way mentality that Harrison has preached about and will embody all the pieces they are saying they wish to construct with.

Harper is the No. 2 participant on my board and so I’m mocking him right here to the Spurs, however I do count on they are going to take an extended have a look at Ace Bailey, who could also be a greater positional match on a staff that drafted Stephon Citadel and traded for De’Aaron Fox throughout the final 12 months. In the event that they determine that Harper is their man, then the query turns into whether or not or not that results in something on the commerce market.

Bailey is a jumbo wing, high-level athlete, and difficult shot-maker. If all the pieces clicks in the proper means, you might make a case for him having the very best upside within the draft. The issue is there is a wide-range of potential outcomes as he has to reply questions on his passing, rim strain, and general affect on successful. He offers the Sixers a terrific long-term asset and does nothing to compromise their capacity to compete now in the event that they get wholesome.

This is able to be a seamless match. Edgecombe is likely one of the greatest athletes and opponents on this draft. He additionally has an opportunity to blossom into among the finest on-ball defenders, so he might assist shield LaMelo Ball on that finish of the ground. Conversely, his downhill rim strain would even be very beneficial alongside Ball and Brandon Miller, whereas their collective talent would shield him.

This wasn’t the end result they needed, however Johnson’s shot-making and scoring prowess might nonetheless be a pleasant match subsequent to the playmaking and passing of final 12 months’s first-round decide Isaiah Collier. With Keyonte George trying much less like a long-term starter, the hope is that this pairing might give Utah their backcourt of the longer term.

The Wizards have drafted a wide range of younger property in recent times with Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, AJ Johnson and others. What they do not have is a degree guard to run that staff of the longer term. Jakucionis might give them that together with his positional dimension, really feel for the sport, and long-term taking pictures potential.

The Pelicans are a franchise within the midst of maximum uncertainty as Joe Dumars arrives to take over their entrance workplace. Knueppel has one of many highest flooring on this draft as a result of he is expert, sensible, sturdy, and in a position to share the ball with different extremely proficient gamers. Being higher than anticipated defensively would not damage both.

Queen is a playmaking huge who creates mismatches together with his capacity to place the ball on the ground and cross for his dimension. With smooth pure contact and elite arms, if the taking pictures ever catches up, he has excessive upside outcomes. He will not be successful any athletic contests, however that is why a pairing with Nic Claxton might make sense.

Maluach has a 7-foot-6 wingspan, is cell and athletic for his dimension, an enormous lob risk, rim-runner and a growing shot-blocker. The Raptors have fairly a little bit of dedicated wage within the subsequent few years and for all of the items they’ve just lately invested in, his archetype is one that’s lacking and matches the emphasis on size and athleticism that Masai Ujuri has traditionally been identified for.

This feels a bit excessive for a man who averaged 6 factors and 4 rebounds per sport, however Bryant additionally shot 46% on unguarded catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, defended all the pieces from level guards to forwards, and continues to be simply 19 years previous. Capturing is a requisite round Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, so Bryant is sensible as an enormous 3-and-D prospect.

Fears is a high-upside playmaking lead guard and whereas he possible will not be able to play straight away, he might present a long-term contingency plan ought to Portland ever attain the conclusion that the backcourt experiment of Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe simply hasn’t gelled the way in which they hoped they may.

Murray-Boyles is lengthy, sturdy, very sensible, and impactful on each ends of the ground, even when he is nearer to an undersized five-man who would not but area the ground. With Nikola Vucevic headed right into a contract 12 months, and massive potential shooters like Jalen Smith and Matas Buzelis on the ahead/wing spots, this may very well be a match.

This 12 months’s Mr. March Insanity performed his means into lottery consideration, not as a result of he led Florida to a nationwide championship, however as a result of he confirmed completely different components of his sport and a better upside whereas doing it. He is an excessive shot-maker and good scorer with on/off ball versatility and defensive potential, if not but a constant strategy.

The Spurs are one staff sensible sufficient to see previous the 32% McNeeley shot from behind the arc final season as he was thrust right into a starring position by necessity. He is a vastly higher shooter than that and will present some much-needed flooring spacing round Wemby whereas additionally checking packing containers for his general basketball IQ and competitiveness.

Clifford is an athletic wing who thinks the sport at a high-level and also can actually cross the ball. If the taking pictures good points we have seen just lately show to be sustainable, then he seems to be poised to evolve right into a 3-and-D wing with some secondary playmaking on high. Even OKC, a staff flush with younger property, might use a kind of.

Richardson is a southpaw combo-guard who mixed effectivity with versatility this 12 months. He performed each on and off the ball and proved he was a shot-maker at a number of ranges, to not point out a sneaky good finisher for somebody nonetheless build up his physique. He is not almost the 6-foot-3 that Michigan State listed him at, however might nonetheless solidify Orlando’s backcourt depth and perimeter spacing.

With Naz Reid and Julius Randle each having participant choices on their contracts this summer time, it might be difficult for Minnesota to maintain each long-term. If that is the case, they might use some extra frontcourt depth. Newell supplies a high-energy and cell huge who can cut up time between the 4 and the 5. If the taking pictures ever clicks, this may be terrific worth.

Wolf is a extremely expert huge who handles and passes nicely sufficient that he was Michigan’s main initiator for vital stretches this season. If the taking pictures catches up he could be a perfect complement subsequent to Sarr, who might additionally assist shield him on the defensive finish of the ground.

Traore got here into the draft cycle considered as a possible top-five decide and whereas his inventory dipped in the course of the course of the season, he is taking part in his greatest basketball as of late with Saint-Quentin. He has excessive pace and playmaking capacity, however can be displaying some latest good points together with his taking pictures which can be very encouraging.

Fleming has all of the makings of an efficient position participant together with his size, energy, athleticism, mobility and excessive motor. He can change the sport defensively and likewise stretch the ground offensively. He wouldn’t solely match Miami’s tradition but in addition make a pleasant frontcourt trio with Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware.

For all of the younger property that Utah has drafted in latest seasons, Beringer would match a gap with excessive athleticism at 5. He is very younger, and will not flip 19 till subsequent November, however his archetype – as a rim-running, shot-blocking, lob risk – constantly hits, particularly whenever you add his mobility and terrific arms.

Demin could also be the most effective passer within the draft and has terrific perimeter dimension to match. He is received to determine what place he can defend and show he is a dependable spot-up shooter, however subsequent to a ball dominant shot-making/scoring guard like Trae Younger he would make a whole lot of sense…a minimum of offensively.

Essengue is huge, cell, athletic, and younger. The truth is, he will not flip 19 till subsequent December, however we have seen notable progress in latest months for Ratiopharm Ulm, in Germany. Indiana might have some extra rapid reinforcements up entrance, relying on how issues go in free company, however Essengue is a pleasant long-term asset.

Saraf is an enormous, playmaking lefty guard and one of the inventive passers off the dribble within the draft. OKC could not have room for this archetype after drafting Nikola Subject final 12 months, however Saraf is the most effective obtainable prospect on my board at this level so I would not be stunned to see OKC take him after which handle their property accordingly.

Sorber exceeded all expectations this 12 months and measured with an enormous 7-foot-6 wingspan, however is restricted in his pre-draft work due to harm and never a prototypical slot in fashionable NBA offenses. The development of his taking pictures is a important long-term variable. If it hits, he might theoretically assist open the lane for the likes of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Penda is an extended and powerful ahead who seems to be like a flexible mix participant. He is a heady staff defender who has proven flashes of versatility on that finish and equally good really feel offensively. He could by no means be an alpha, however he is a multi-dimensional constructing block who can possible earn minutes in a wide range of various kinds of line-ups.

With 4 first-round picks, it solely is sensible that Brooklyn will take some swings for the longer term after which discover others who can play rapid minutes. Kalkbrenner is the latter as a defensive quarterback and drop protection monster whose sheer dimension and high quality arms make him serviceable offensively in a particular area of interest.

A aggressive and instinctive combo-guard with on-ff ball versatility, Philon looks as if he could be a very good match with head coach Joe Mazzulla. The three-point taking pictures will not be fairly the place Boston would love it ideally, however the identical was true at Alabama and he nonetheless made himself a important two-way a part of their assault.

Riley is probably going not NBA prepared, however Phoenix is ready the place they simply want to begin accumulating some long-term property and Riley is that. He is multi-positional with good perimeter dimension and flashes of shot-making and playmaking alike. It is a swing, however at this level within the draft, it is value it.

Pettiford is a really fringe first-round decide, and given the uncertainty that comes with that, coupled by the NIL market, he could also be higher off going again to school. He is undersized however expert, explosive, fearless, and able to scoring in bunches.