Redrafting the 2025 NBA Draft: Derik Queen strikes into high 10, Liam McNeeley makes large bounce after summer time league

Dallas should not have any second ideas right here on capturing Flagg and securing a celebrity at No. 1.

There was by no means a doubt San Antonio would choose anybody else predraft. That a lot stays true postdraft.

Philly locked in on VJ Edgecombe late within the draft course of and he has performed nothing up to now to dissuade anybody from him not being worthy of this choice. He mentioned throughout summer time league he has “no concern in any respect.” I believe he’ll slot in simply high quality with the 76ers.

I used to be broadly lambasted in Might after I projected Knueppel at No. 4 to Charlotte shortly after the draft lottery. That turned out to be prescient, and Charlotte ought to be ok with flying Kon Air.

Ace has already proven sufficient predraft and through summer time league to validate his top-five choice. Utah, which had tied for the most effective odds to get the No. 1 decide earlier than falling to No. 5 on lottery night time, may need lucked out right here.

Johnson scored 18 factors in his summer time league debut earlier this week and — to no shock — very a lot seems the half as a professional that he did as a flamethrowing school participant. Enjoyable occasions forward in Washington.

My last mock draft had Queen projected to New Orleans at No. 7. I used to be proper on the primary half however off on the second, as they chose Jeremiah Fears No. 7 earlier than making a megadeal to get Queen at No. 13. I might have taken Queen, who will bear wrist surgical procedure, right here if I valued him as a lot as they did and been content material seeking to tackle the backcourt later within the draft.

Brooklyn may need discovered one thing in Egor Demin, its unique No. 8 decide, however its assortment of 4 first-round picks collectively — Demin, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf — was on the entire fairly underwhelming. The swing right here on a boom-or-bust prospect like Fears can be a enjoyable one to assist reshape its potential future.

Toronto made this decide simply earlier than parting methods with long-time decision-maker Masai Ujiri, and his fingerprints have been throughout this one. However I do not assume the Raptors can be upset with CMB. He is a defensive menace who can be a stopper on that finish and add physicality and ferocity to this crew.

Demin was scooped up by decide No. 8 on draft night time however it’s enjoyable to consider him falling right here to Phoenix at No. 10. His passing and general playmaking graded out as the most effective on this draft class for me, and pairing him subsequent to a pair of scorers in Devin Booker and Jalen Inexperienced may’ve been a pleasant backcourt to construct round.

Memphis made a draft-night commerce to maneuver up and get Coward right here at No. 11. I am unsure I might have performed it — particularly with Derik Queen and Carter Bryant accessible — however it’s clear the entrance workplace focused him. I will not stand of their method of touchdown him once more on this train.

My phrase: Josh Giddey-Coby White-Ayo Dosunmu-Matas Buzelis-Khaman Maluach would’ve been enjoyable within the Windy Metropolis. Maluach’s large 7-6 wingspan and impactful presence on each ends across the rim is strictly what I might have hoped the Bulls may get. Alas.

Here is a query: Should you’re New Orleans would you somewhat have Derik Queen and Clifford AND your 2026 1st you gave up within the Queen deal as an alternative of Fears + Queen? As a result of that would’ve been potential. Clifford went twenty fourth general and will’ve been had for the Pels at their unique slot at 23. I do know which route I might have gone — and it is not the one New Orleans took.

Carter Bryant falling to No. 14 in an ideal scenario in San Antonio is probably the most Spurs factor since they stumbled into the No. 2 general decide in a stroke of lottery night time luck. He is seemed superior in Summer time League and is usually a nice complementary piece — and possibly extra — to develop up with alongside Victor Wembanyama and this crew’s younger core.

There’s been some good and a few not-so-good from Essengue in his restricted time with the Bulls. (Johnny Furphy posterizing him is firmly within the latter camp.) He is an attention-grabbing long-term undertaking who’d make some sense for an OKC group that appears to constantly wager large on these archetypes.

Portland has to really feel no less than a *little* vindication after its gorgeous first-round number of Yang right here after the best way he is flashed in Summer time League. I am nonetheless skeptical of the decide general, however he’s clearly a proficient participant with expertise as large as his 7-foot body.

Sorber went No. 15 general and wound up going greater than most everybody mocked all through the draft course of to an OKC crew that at all times retains a low profile. He’d be a pleasant developmental large for any crew and Minnesota particularly would’ve made sense.

I am nonetheless scratching my head questioning how McNeeley fell to No. 29 within the draft. It should not have occurred. That is not a take primarily based on summer time league — although he has seemed nice — however it’s a flag-plant I believed for a lot of the final six months. He was a top-20 participant within the class who almost fell to Spherical 2.

Beringer has seemed nice already and seems able to repay his billing as an elite defensive prospect. I do not assume Minnesota can be sad with having him to groom the following couple years.

Brooklyn snagged Traore at No. 19 and jumped in entrance of the Warmth for him. However this alternate universe offers the Warmth the man I assumed could be a match for them. I believe he’d have been their man if he did not go a decide earlier.

I’d have liked for Washington to have a participant of Jakucionis’ caliber fall right here to No. 21. There was sadly a fairly large tier drop amongst playmakers after Traore and Jakucionis fell.

I had Powell projected to Brooklyn in my last mock earlier than the draft, and in order a humble brag I am going to preserve him Brooklyn-bound on this area. I like him as a expertise and felt he was underrated relative to his notion. There’s so much to love right here long run.

This was a decide Atlanta acquired on draft night time within the take care of New Orleans. They took Newell then and can accomplish that once more right here. The Hawks entrance workplace cleaned up on draft night time.

Sacramento made a take care of OKC to land Nique Clifford on this spot right here — which up to now looks like an enormous, large hit — however on this mock he is gone. I like the concept of Clayton Jr. as a King to offer them shotmaking and guard optionality.

Some picks simply really feel *proper*. Like, oh yeah, Jase to the Magic. His pops performed in Orlando from 2010-2012 and he is an exquisite addition to this younger Magic crew.

I am not so positive Riley would have lasted for much longer if he hadn’t been taken No. 21 by the Wizards, however Brooklyn — with its 4 first-round picks — would have been an incredible spot for him to land and supply him an extended runway to study on the job.

Wolf was a very good decide by Brooklyn at No. 27. I endorse this. He is a singular expertise and somebody who is usually a reputable playmaking presence at 7-foot.

Permit me to once more tout my predictive capacity right here: This one I had proper main into the draft. Gonzalez appeared like a Celtic for a crew and roster in flux. I believe he is obtained a vivid future in Boston.

Charlotte made Kalkbrenner a Hornet at No. 34 general, however why not accomplish that earlier right here? He was so clearly an ideal match for this crew, and the smoke surrounding him and the Hornets main into the draft now in hindsight makes a lot sense.

Los Angeles has made some main strikes of late — together with including Bradley Beal — however choosing Niederhauser at No. 30 feels prefer it was nonetheless a sensible transfer within the short- and long-term. He is not supplanting Ivica Zubac as a starter anytime quickly however he is an NBA participant who can break right into a rotation and be a helpful piece.