2025 NBA Mock Draft 1
Every year, I release 3 mock drafts prior to the NBA Draft, and this is the first! This has been considered an elite class due to the projected top-2 picks, but how polarizing players are starting at the potential 3rd pick will make this a very interesting draft cycle.
All of my drafts are aggregates of several drafts and are
intended to give an idea of what the draft is looking like at this point in
time (while I would love it if I am right on several picks in the mock, there’s
movement that I won’t know about until during the draft). While I
account for need in certain picks (more so in the first round, especially the
lottery), these are not a reflection of what I think of each pick or how I
would rank the prospects. The picks are divided into three
sections: for the lottery, I provided vitals, in depth analysis,
comparison, and the fit with the team. For the remaining first round
picks, I provided vitals, brief analysis, and comparison (I didn’t include fit
with the team since many of these picks get traded on draft
night). For the second round, I provided vitals. The
comparison is based on project style if all goes well in the NBA with their
potential; this does not indicate what their careers will
be. Lastly, note that I am doing this as a hobby and will almost certainly
miss something that professionals will see; take my analysis with a grain of
salt in that regard, and please do not think my opinions should supersede any
other scouting reports, especially in a draft that contains so many different
opinions.
This is the first mock draft and is meant to give an
overview of picks after the draft lottery and after the initial deadline
to declare. The second will be released in a couple of weeks after
the Combine results have set it, and the third and final will be released just
before the draft.
As a note, I wrote most of these prior to most of the
combine results being public and prior to some players withdrawing from the
draft (most notably Boogie Fland). As
such, some of this analysis will change, as will players who will be selected.
1: Dallas
Mavericks – Cooper Flagg
Duke, Fr, 18, SF/PF, 6’9, 205 lbs.
Style Comp: Jayson
Tatum if all works, Andrei Kirilenko
It is no surprise that Cooper Flagg is expected to be the
number one pick in the draft, as he has been hyped as a potential superstar in
the NBA. The biggest thing about him at
this point in time is that he is an impressive and versatile defender with
great size and athleticism; while almost no rookies are elite defenders
immediately, I think he should be a very good defender within a year. He is also very competitive and has upside as
a shooter, scorer inside, and secondary playmaker. In general, he doesn’t have too many
weaknesses, but he doesn’t have the best handle and has a slightly inconsistent
jumper at the moment. The biggest question
with his skillset is just how good of an offensive player he will be, as I’m not
sure if he will be a top-2 option on a team.
The Tatum comparison is a bit rich in my opinion, but if his offensive
game pans out, he could be the top scoring option on a team, a bigger forward
who can be a solid playmaker, and a versatile defender who can guard most
positions. If the offense doesn’t work
out, he could still be Kirilenko, who is an elite defender who could still have
an impact on defense. I think his
ceiling is being a consistent All-NBA player and his floor is a high-level starter
who is an All-Defense level player.
How the hell did Dallas fall face first into getting the top
pick after making one of the worst trades I have ever seen? I am honestly so annoyed that they get
awarded for being an incompetent franchise.
That said, they now get a guy who will be a star player for a
competitive team. I don’t think it’s fair
to assume that he will make Dallas a playoff team without Kyrie Irving next
season (with his injury, you have to rule him out), but they have a player for
the future. They made it clear that they
want a great defense, and Flagg should do that within the next couple of years,
but I expect they will overextend him offensively and wonder why they aren’t as
good on offense with him as a star as they were with Luka Doncic.
2: San Antoino
Spurs – Dylan Harper
Rutgers, Fr, PG/SG, 6’6, 215 lbs.
Style Comp: On sale
version of Cade Cunningham
I’m very high on Harper; even if he ends up measuring a couple
inches shorter, I think he is a clear number 2 in this draft. I tend to gravitate towards bigger
playmakers, so Harper is the type of guy I gravitate for. He looks like a very good playmaker, is
strong, is a strong finisher, is a good off-ball shooter, and has defensive
upside. Some issues that he has are that
his pull-up shot isn’t good, he’s a little raw defensively, he doesn’t have the
best first step, and still makes some risky plays (that is normal for younger
guards, and he is far from the worst with these). Something else to watch is that he wasn’t
with a winning team last year, so he might be a little bit behind on winning
plays, but I’m not worried about that. I
don’t totally love the Cunningham comparison since he doesn’t have the first
step, pull-up ability, or size that Cunningham has, but I think there will be
similarities with being a point guard who can also play off the ball. I think his ceiling is being a top 2 or 3
player on a competitive team; I think his floor is a starting level guard.
While Harper’s fit in San Antonio would be intriguing, I
expect that they will not be selecting at this pick; while there are rumors of
Giannis Antetokounmpo, I wouldn’t be shocked if they consider moving the pick
to get future assets and/or move down. If
they do keep Harper, I think it would be interesting to see Harper in a
pick-and-roll game with Wembanyama. I
think he’s a good enough shooter off the ball to play alongside either De’Aaron
Fox and Stephon Castle.
3: Philadelphia
76ers – Ace Bailey
Rutgers, Fr, 18, SG/SF, 6’9, 200 lbs.
Style Comp:
Pre-injury Michael Porter Jr., Jabari Smith Jr.
Bailey has become one of the most polarizing prospects at
the top of the draft after some inconsistencies during his freshman year, but
he is still a talented and intriguing prospect.
He has nice size, is a good shooter, appears to be competitive, has
impressive scoring ability, and has defensive upside. One thing to note is that he had a poor free
throw percentage in college, which usually is a better indicator of shooting
ability than 3P%, but I think that was a bit of a fluke, since it improved as
the season went on, and he shot over 90% from the line in high school. That said, he has limited shot creation
ability, isn’t a consistent shooter, has limited playmaking ability, and doesn’t
have the best shot selection. In terms
of his comparison, I think there are two possibilities with how his career could
go. The best case would be that his shot
creation improves and translates in the NBA, which would make him more like
what Michael Porter Jr. was like as a high school recruit, which was a complete
scorer who could create shots out of nothing and shoot well. The other possibility is being more of an
off-ball sharpshooter who doesn’t create his own shots, like Smith; even there,
that’s not a bad result. I think his
ceiling is the second or third option on a competitive team; I think his floor
is a starting off-ball shooter.
After some blatant tanking down the stretch, Philadelphia
stumbled into not only keeping their top 6 protected pick but ended up moving
up to the top 3. I think Bailey fits
with Philadelphia due to his shooting ability immediately. They won’t need him to be a creator for most
of the season, so he can ease into that aspect and not be exposed. While Philadelphia is a high-pressure
situation at this point, he will be in a bit of a low pressure role due to them
already having several stars.
4: Charlotte
Hornets – V.J. Edgecomb
Baylor, Fr, 19, PG/SG, 6’5, 180 lbs.
Style Comp: Jalen
Suggs, Derrick White
Despite some rawness in his offensive game, Edgecomb is
considered one of the safest picks in the draft. He is an impressive athlete and defender,
which will make it easy for him to find a role in the league. He also has nice shooting upside and
catch-and-shoot ability, while likely having a good enough ball handle to be a
lead point guard for stretches. His main
weaknesses include creating his own looks, his pull-up jumper, consistency, and
finishing ability against contact, which could lead to his offensive ceiling
being on the lower end. Even though it
isn’t necessarily a weakness of his, I think that getting a little stronger could
mitigate some of these weaknesses, which should be less of a problem within a
couple of seasons. The Suggs comparison is
more focused on the defensive ability and the idea of what he could be if he
develops into a solid but not great offensive player (though Suggs has improved
over the last couple of seasons, especially this season). If his game does develop a little more, then
you might get a player like White, who has been a high-level player and
All-Star candidate over the last couple of seasons in Boston. I think his ceiling is the third best player
on a competitive team, though this would require a jump in his offensive game;
I’m a little lower on his floor than most appear to be, and I think his floor
is a high-level defender off the bench (like a 6th or 7th
guy).
At this point, it really doesn’t matter who Charlotte already
has in terms of fit, as they have been so bad over the past few seasons. Despite that, I think Edgecomb will fit
alongside Brandon Miller on the defensive end and can compliment LaMelo Ball
well on both ends. If Mark Williams can
improve as a defender, I think an Edgecomb-Miller-Williams defense trio would
be very interesting, especially since all three are also athletic.
5: Utah Jazz – Tre
Johnson
Texas, Fr, 19, SG/SF, 6’6, 190 lbs.
Style Comp: Slightly
bigger Cam Thomas
Johnson is an interesting player who will inevitably be a
bit polarizing. He is an aggressive
scorer who hasn’t seen a shot that he didn’t like, which could rub people the
wrong way at first. The big catch with
Johnson is that he also makes a surprising amount of difficult shots,
especially from 3. He is a genuinely
good shooter, has a nice handle, has upside as a playmaker, has the tools to
fit off the ball, and is an underrated athlete who doesn’t get credit for his
good athleticism. Like most young
players who have a similar playing style, the biggest question is his shot
selection; while he made a lot of difficult shots, he likely will be less
efficient in college. He also isn’t
consistent, especially as a finisher from 2 and a defender. I also question how willing he would be to not
be a star, which will determine what his role would be. The wing scoring ability reminds me a lot of
Cam Thomas, especially the fact that he is a good shooter and aggressive scorer
who scores more than you’d expect. I
think his ceiling could be a second or third option who could be an All-Star;
his floor, which I typically expect for a player like him, would likely be a high-volume
sixth man.
Obviously, Utah must be devastated to not only miss on the
top pick, but to also drop as far as they good is brutal. At that point, they should not worry about
fit and select whomever the best player available is in their minds. The fit could be a bit odd, but we’ll need to
see who is on the team; at worst, Johnson will give them an aggressive scorer
with solid size, which is something that could be utilized with their continued
rebuild.
6: Washington
Wizards – Kon Knueppel
Duke, Fr, 19, SG/SF, 6’7, 215 lbs.
Style Comp: Early
career Khris Middleton, Sam Hauser with some playmaking
Knueppel is a favorite for a bunch of people who like either
analytics, shooting, or white people who played at Duke (there are a good
number of people who fall in that category).
His shooting and threat as a secondary playmaker make him an enticing
prospect, as he is one of the best shooters in this class (if not the best
shooter). I think he is ready to be an impact
as a catch-and-shoot wing off the ball.
He also has a high IQ and has shown glimpses of being a good help defender. The biggest question is his size; while I
initially listed that he had good size, you’ll see in the next mock draft that
his height was lower than initially listed and expected. His weaknesses are mainly related to his
athleticism, which doesn’t appear to be particularly good for NBA standards;
related to that, I expect he will struggle defensively, especially on the
ball. While you get many people (experts,
casual fans who don’t know what they’re watching, and many in between) who want
to compare him to any random white person they can find (the number of comps to
guys like Gordon Hayward is disturbing), I think early career Khris Middleton
is a better comparison. While Knueppel isn’t
the athlete that Middleton was, especially prior to his injuries, He is a good
shooter with some playmaking potential; the biggest difference is that
Middleton was better at creating his own looks even at that point in his
career. If Knueppel doesn’t develop at
creating his own shot, I think Sam Hauser is a good goal on offense, especially
since Knueppel is a better passer than Hauser is. I think his ceiling is a starting level role
player, as I think his athleticism limits his upside; his floor is a bench
shooter who has a high IQ.
Like Utah, Washington was dealt a worst-case scenario by
dropping as far as they possibly could have.
While you can start trying to figure out who might fit, they are bad
enough that they should select whomever they think is best. If they consider Knueppel to be the best
remaining. His shooting, playmaking, and IQ should allow him to have an impact
on a team. I also don’t think that he
will impede the development of young players such as Alex Sarr or Bub
Carrington (in fact, he could probably make it easier for them).
7: New Orleans
Pelicans – Jeremiah Fears
Oklahoma, Fr, 18, PG, 6’3, 185 lbs.
Style Comp: Tre Mann,
Monte Ellis
Fears is another guy who could end up being polarizing,
though there will be believers in him. He
is a guard who is an aggressive scorer and is great at looking for his own
shots, heavily aided by his driving ability.
He also has upside as a shooter and passer; in particular, while he is
still raw at it since he looks for his own shots first, I think he is a better
playmaker than he gets credit for. That
said, I think the biggest issues in his game come from his decision making as a
shooter and playmaker. He is not an
efficient scorer at the moment (especially not from 3), but I think that this
is more due to his shot selection and habit to have tunnel vision instead of
his actual shooting ability, which isn’t shocking for a player of his age;
similarly, I think the playmaking decision making is due to getting tunnel
vision. I also don’t see him being a
particularly good or versatile defender due to his size, even if he ends up
being competitive at that end. While
some might think a Tre Mann comparison is not that good for the 7th
pick, Mann has been a good guard when healthy, especially after he got
opportunities upon moving to Charlotte; he has become a good playmaker and
shooter while still being an aggressive scorer, which I think will be a nice
model for Fears to find a role in the NBA.
I could also see him playing a bit like Monta Ellis due to the
aggressiveness with his shot, though it is tough to find a role on a winning team
while being a high-volume inefficient scorer.
I’m not sure what his ceiling is since the efficiency will have to
improve significantly for him to be an All-Star or high-level starter; while I
think a bench scorer role should be viewed as a realistic floor, I think it’s
possible that his size and inefficiency prevent him from finding a big role in
the NBA.
Honestly, I have no idea what the Pelicans will do this offseason,
as I feel like Trey Murphy is the only guy that truly feels like he is
safe. Fears at least gives them an
aggressive scoring option who can be a playmaker. I think having someone who is aggressive with
driving and looking for his shot will be a nice addition off the bench,
especially since if his playmaking improves like I think it could.
8: Brooklyn Nets –
Kasparas Jakucionis
Illinois, Fr, 19, PG/SG, 6’6, 200 lbs.
Style Comp: Early
career Lonzo Ball without the defense
I know I’ve already called a few players polarizing, but
Jakucionis is among the more polarizing players in the lottery. There are some things to be excited about, mainly
the passing ability at his size. I have
alluded to the fact that I believe big playmakers is the skillset a team should
look for in a star to build their team around, and Jakucionis, while raw, could
end up being described in that way. He is
also a good rebounder, has shooting upside, and plays hard on both ends of the
court. At this point in time, the
biggest concern is his turnovers, which is a bit of a problem. I’m not quite as worried since I think the high
turnover number at this time is due to recklessness rather than a lack of
skill; in a similar manner, I wasn’t worried when Cade Cunningham was even
worse with turnovers for similar reasons in his draft year (it should be noted
though that Cunningham was a better prospect and also was trying to do more
with less than what Jakucionis had Illinois).
I think his other concerns will be more of an issue, which include his
athleticism, speed, strength, ability to get to the paint (I think this is due
to his speed and strength), and consistency on both ends of the court. It’s not the perfect comparison, but early
career Lonzo Ball kept coming to mind when trying to think of a bigger point
guard who was a great passer but also was a bit chaotic and reckless with
making plays; that said, don’t expect Jakucionis to ever be the defender that
Ball became by year two. I’m not sure Jakucionis’
athleticism is going to be good enough to make him an All-Star, though there is
a chance if the shot develops as I think it can; I think his floor is a backup
combo guard, though the shot would also not be developed, making some teams not
willing to give him a chance.
Let’s face it, Brooklyn likely doesn’t have a star to build
around, so it makes sense to swing for the fences and take a high-upside
player. There are several players who
fit that bill that they could take here, but Jakucionis could be an interesting
fit with some of their young wings and bigs, including Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton,
Ziaire Williams, Noah Clowney, and Jalen Wilson. Unless they resign De’Angelo Russell, they
really won’t have a point guard on their NBA roster, so it wouldn’t be shocking
to see them draft one if available.
9: Toronto Raptors
– Derik Queen
Maryland, Fr, 20, C, 6’10, 245 lbs.
Style Comp: Smaller
raw Domantas Sabonis, maybe Thaddeus Young?
There is a lot of hype surrounding Queen, though it will
take a lot of development for him to reach his ceiling. The biggest thing to watch with him is the
skillset, as he is such a crafty and versatile player who can do so much on
offense. In particular, he is a creative
finisher, has a steady handle, is a good rebounder, has an innate ability to
make the right move in the post, and has upside as a passer and shooter (he is
raw as a shooter though). That said, he
is a poor defender and athlete while is also very raw as a playmaker and
shooter; I think the playmaking just needs more in-game reps, the shot needs
work though. The biggest thing to allow
his success to pan out is that he needs to be in the right situations; teams
will need to be willing to be patient with him and understand that he is not
going to be a traditional big man or a good defender. The obvious comparison with this playing
style is Domantas Sabonis, as someone who is a big who isn’t a good defender
but is a strong finisher and playmaker; this would be the dream result for
Queen. I think a more realistic goal is
Young, who was a crafty finisher, solid rebounder, and demonstrated some nice
passes, though I think Queen is a worse athlete than Young was. I think his ceiling is an All-Star player,
though the concern with these types of player is how to build a winning team
around them, which we have seen consistently across teams; while an idea floor
is a backup big, it’s also possible that a team that doesn’t get the vision
drafts him and then he ends up toiling away on the bench.
Toronto doesn’t necessarily need a center, especially with
Jakob Poeltl still on the lineup, but they’re a little weaker in terms of
backup centers, as most of their backup bigs make more sense at the 4 than at
the 5. At that point, it wouldn’t be the
worst thing in the world to give Queen a shot, especially since it will give a
nice separate playing style; with them still developing their core and seeing
if it fits, it makes sense to have another option.
10: Houston
Rockets – Khaman Maluach
Duke, Fr, 18, C, 7’2, 250 lbs.
Style Comp: Myles
Turner, Rudy Gobert, JaVale McGee (depending on how his skills develop)
Maluach is viewed by many as a safe prospect although he
also has some interesting upside. The
first time I watched him play, I instantly thought he looked like an NBA
prospect with his size, build, and physicality that he could play with; he also
ended up having a good game, so I was sold on him during that game. He is also competitive and has the upside of
ability to switch onto other defenders, protect the rim, and finish; it’s also
possible for him to develop some shooting upside, though I’m not totally sold
on yet. The biggest issue with Maluach
is that he is still a bit raw; he only started playing basketball in 2019, so
that’s not too shocking, especially since he is further along for someone with who
started when he played. On top of this,
and likely due to this, he is also a bit inconsistent, struggles with size, and
doesn’t have a good shot at the moment.
I provided 3 very different comparisons based on how his skillset
develops. If his jumper develops, I
think that Myles Turner would be a great comparison, as a great shot blocker
who is also a great scorer and can shoot.
If the jumper doesn’t develop, I could see him being more like Rudy Gobert,
where the offensive game will be limited, but he could be an amazing
defender. I think a good starting point
to reach is JaVale McGee; while people make fun of him due to notable on-court
mishaps, he was a very good center who truly showed his value on a winning team
as soon as he reached Golden State and L.A. with is defense and finishing
ability. I think his ceiling is an
amazing defender who could be an All-Star level player and an All-Defense player;
while I think he will reach starting levels, his floor has to be a backup big
since that what he is right now.
While it might sound like a strange decision to draft a big when
Houston already has Alperen Sengun, I think Maluach could be used in the role
that Steven Adams played last year. There
were many situations where Adams and Sengun fit very well together. If Maluach’s shot ends up developing into
even an average shooter, the offense would be a little more open, though he
should be focusing on finishing, where he is elite.
11: Portland Trailblazers
– Egor Demin
BYU, Fr, 19, PG/SG, 6’9, 200 lbs.
Style Comp: OKC Josh
Giddey
I’ve mentioned that certain players are polarizing, but Demin
might be the most polarizing player in the draft. The appeal with Denim is that he has massive
size for a point guard and is one of the better playmakers in the class. Even if he isn’t that good at other skills, the
size and playmaking are going to allow multiple chances to prove himself. He also is a decent mover and finisher, the
latter of which is important since that will help him score at all, which would
be a massive concern for me otherwise.
The problem is that is about all he does well; he is a poor shooter, is
very inconsistent defensively, and he struggles with creating his own shots; he’s
also not an elite athlete, so it could be difficult for him to get to the
rim. Like most players with a similar
skillset, it often takes the right team to have the patience to develop them. I think the Giddey comparison is perfect since
this is exactly what I felt about Josh Giddey back in 2021: the size and playmaking were great, but I had
no idea what to expect from the rest of his game. I think this is a model that Demin can use to
try to make it in the league, especially considering how well Giddey played in
Chicago this past season. He might have the
widest range out of everyone in the lottery; I think it’s possible that he
could be an All-Star for his ceiling, but his floor is that he’s barely in the
league by the end of his rookie contract.
Even with that, somebody is going to want to gamble.
At this point, I believe that Portland has a nice core to
build around with Deni Avdija, Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan, Shaedon
Sharpe, Toumani Camara, and Anfernee Simons, so I don’t think they necessarily
need any immediate players or a particular position. While some would say they should select
whomever would fit best, I think they might as well take a high upside player
and get role players by either acquiring later picks or by getting veterans in
free agency. It’s entirely possible that
Demin doesn’t pan out, but what if he does?
Honestly, who cares about the fit? Just bring him off the bench so that he doesn’t
interfere with Henderson. Even if they
end up being competitive, they can just play him in G-League or bring him in to
cause havoc for 10-15 minutes.
12: Chicago Bulls –
Jase Richardson
Michigan State, Fr, 19, PG, 6’3, 180 lbs.
Style Comp: Cason
Wallace with less defense, less athletic Eric Gordon
Richardson has a lot of fans and supporters despite some
clear weaknesses that could limit his ceiling.
While he has other skills, I think his IQ is his greatest strength,
which is something I don’t usually say about prospects. In my opinion, he might have the highest
basketball IQ in this draft class (if not the highest), which could make it
easy for him to adjust to a backup role if he isn’t good enough to be a
starting guard. He is also a great
shooter, has a nice handle, is competitive, and was a good finisher in college
(I’m not sold on it translating though since he’s not an elite athlete and isn’t
that big). Some of his weaknesses
include his size, how his on-ball defense will translate, and the fact that he
is not a good isolation player. That
said, I think the biggest issue with him is how his role will be in the NBA; I
think he’s too small to be a shooting guard, but isn’t a good enough playmaker
to be a point guard, calling into question just what his role will be unless he
is playing alongside a bigger guard or improves as a playmaker. I’m not quite sure what the perfect
comparison for Richardson is, but I could see a path to success being Cason
Wallace on offense, whose shooting ability and IQ has made him an amazing complimentary
piece in OKC; it is worth noting that I do not think Richardson will ever be
the defender that Wallace is. Another
possibility is that he becomes more of an aggressive scorer off the bench and
plays like a less athletic version of Eric Gordon, though that will be tougher
since Gordon was stronger and more physical than Richardson is. I think Richardson’s ceiling is as a starting
level guard, and I will be stunned if he becomes an All-Star; I think his floor
is a lower rotation guard, since his IQ will likely earn him a rotation spot.
I have no idea what Chicago’s plans are for the offseason,
as they have continued to be happy finishing 9th in the East for
some reason. While Richardson might be a
clunky fit for now, if they don’t extend Coby White and include a player like
Lonzo Ball in a trade (his salary will be good for that), Richardson could be a
nice steady replacement guard off the bench.
13: Atlanta Hawks –
Collin Murray-Boyle
South Carolina, So, 20, PF, 6’7, 231 lbs.
Style Comp: Small
Zach Randolph, ideally Aaron Gordon if he adapts his playing style
Murray-Boyle is an interesting player because his playing
style makes polarizing. The good news
about his style that doesn’t really fit the modern NBA is that he is really
athletic, so I think he will be able to last even longer if he changes his
style (more on that in a bit). Some
other strengths of his include his defense, post game, finishing ability,
rebounding, IQ, and his upside as a playmaker. That said, I think the biggest issue is the
combination of his size, position, and playing style. A lot of his offense is based in the post,
which isn’t the worst thing, though he’s on the smaller end for that to be a
clean fit in the NBA. On top of that, his
playing style on both ends make him project to be a center, though I think he’d
be too small to last while playing the position. He also isn’t a good shooter (while his free
throw percentage was okay this past year, I don’t think he will be an average
shooter in the NBA) and he turns the ball over a decent amount. At this time, I think the best comparison is
Zach Randolph, who was a power forward who was able to succeed with a post-up
game; the issue with this is that Randolph entered the league with 2 inches and
20 pounds on Murray-Boyle, so that might make it a little more difficult for Murray-Boyle. That said, I believe he is athletic and smart
enough to play more like Aaron Gordon on offense, in a game that involves a lot
of off-ball cutting at the right time; I think this would make Murray-Boyles
last longer in the league and would raise his upside. Before moving on to his floor and ceiling, I
want to address a popular comparison, which is Draymond Green. I think the comparison to Green is due to the
size and awkwardness of position, but I don’t think he is the playmaker that
Green is, and I think Murray-Boyle’s style is more post oriented than how NBA Draymond
plays; I don’t think there’s a chance that Murray-Boyle plays like Green in the
NBA. I think his upside comes from if he
changes styles, which would make him a high-level starter, though it should be
noted that I have no idea what his upside is he doesn’t change styles (I don’t
think he’d be best suited as a starter); I think his floor is not making it in
the NBA due to not adjusting his style and being too awkward of a fit.
Honestly, Murray-Boyle’s playing style isn’t the cleanest
fit with Atlanta, especially since he can’t shoot and plays a playing style
that wouldn’t fit with Trae Young’s game.
That said, the upside is interesting if he plays more like Aaron Gordon,
which would allow his game to fit more cleanly.
As soon as Gordon got with a great passer in Nikola Jokic, his off-ball
cutting ability was totally optimized, and Murray-Boyle’s athleticism could
make playing like Gordon be an interesting pairing with Young, as well as their
other athletic forwards.
14: San Antonio
Spurs – Asa Newell
Georgia, Fr, 19, PF, 6’10, 220 lbs.
Style Comp: DeAndre
Jordan
Many people view Newell as someone who can only pan out if
his jumper develops, but I think he can be a productive player even if that
doesn’t happen. At this point in time,
his athleticism and how he utilizes it at the rim are his greatest
strengths. He is an explosive dunker and
should be an awesome at catching lobs in the NBA, which has always been
something that is super valuable for offenses to fall back on. On defense, he is a good rim protector for
his age, and is also pretty good at forcing steals for a center. As he gets used to defending bigs in the NBA,
I think he should be athletic enough to guard onto switches and become a great
defender; he also has some shooting upside, though it might take a while for
him to get there. Right now, I would say
that the biggest weakness of his is that he is raw; while he might appear to be
pretty great if you look at his numbers, he does still make a lot of rookie
mistakes, especially defensively, where he misreads plays or bites at fakes
more than a starting-level NBA player should (neither of these are uncommon for
bigs at his age though; the good news with him is that he doesn’t chase blocks
as much as others his age do). Additionally,
his passing is limited and the jumper is not good, which could hinder his
playing time if drafted to a team that doesn’t have a need for a non-shooting
big. While he could end up being a better
offensive player, the comp that I keep thinking of is DeAndre Jordan. Here’s my reasoning: think of a big less than 7’0 who is an explosive
athlete, great finisher, lob catcher, and rim protector who is still a bit raw,
and I think Jordan; the catch is that I also think of Newell with that, though
he could be different if the jumper develops.
I think his ceiling is a high-level starter who could make an All-Star
game or two and receive several All-Defense votes; I honestly believe that he
will make it as a backup big at worst, so I think his floor is a second or
third string big.
I get that some people would see the Spurs drafted Newell
and wonder why they would draft a center when they already have Victor
Wembanyama. The other bigs on their
roster are Charles Bassey, Bismack Biyombo, and Sandro Mamukelashvili…in other
words, unless they resign Biyombo, they could use a backup big who can play
more than 10 MPG. While he is a little
raw, Newell should be a great defender, and I think he and Wemby would be able
to play alongside each other, especially if Newell’s shot develops.
15: Oklahoma City Thunder
– Nolan Traore
Saint-Quentin (France), 19, PG, 6’4, 185 lbs.
Style Comp: Kevin
Porter Jr. (on the court, not off it), maybe Keyonte George?
While Traore is one of the best international prospects in
this class, there are a lot of people who will likely view him lower because
there were several international players who were obvious top-10 picks in the
last couple drafts, but there really isn’t that this year. Traore is a great athlete, is fast, has nice
shot creation ability, is a solid playmaker, and has shooting upside. That said, he doesn’t have the best size if
he is going to be off-ball at points, isn’t currently a good shooter, is
inconsistent, and has struggles with decision making at points.
16: Orlando Magic –
Liam McNeely
UConn, Fr, 19, SF, 6’7, 210 lbs.
Style Comp: Bojan
Bogdanovic
McNeely is a bit polarizing after a tough season at UConn,
but I think a big part of that is due to the fact that he was playing too big
of a role for him. He is a great shooter
(especially in the catch-and-shoot), has scoring potential, has playmaking upside,
has decent strength, and should be better with the spacing of the NBA, which is
often better than it is in college; I also think he has a high floor since he should
be better in a complimentary role in the NBA.
However, he isn’t a good athlete, struggles with creating his own shots,
isn’t the best defender, and has a lower ceiling due to struggling as a primary
option.
17: Minnesota
Timberwolves – Carter Bryant
Arizona, Fr, 19, SF/PF, 6’8, 225 lbs.
Style Comp: Keegan
Murray, Tari Eason
It is easy to see how Bryant can make it in the NBA, as he
projects to be a bigger 3-and-D forward.
He is a good shooter, has nice size, is a good rebounder, is a good
off-ball mover, has defensive upside, and projects to thrive in a role that a
lot of teams are looking for. That said,
he is raw, has limited self-creation ability, isn’t the best on the dribble,
and has limited upside, especially for someone who is raw and doesn’t have that
high of a floor.
18: Washington
Wizards – Noa Essengue
Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany), 18, SF/PF, 6’10, 200 lbs.
Style Comp: Jeremy
Sochan, Al-Farouq Aminu
Essengue is a bit raw, so opinions really depend on what he
will develop into. He is athletic, a
good finisher, a good rebounder, and has upside as a passer and defender. However, in addition to being raw, he is inconsistent,
has a rough shot, isn’t the best decision maker, and isn’t that strong (that
said, players naturally get stronger throughout their NBA career, so I’m not as
worried about that in general.
19: Brooklyn Nets –
Thomas Sorber
Georgetown, Fr, 19, PF/C, 6’10, 250 lbs.
Style Comp: Roy
Hibbert, Jonas Valanciunas
Sorber played very well in his rookie year, but he could
fall rapidly due to a season-ending injury.
His strength include his finishing, game in the post, passing upside,
shooting upside, shot blocking, defense as a drop defender, and the fact that
he is so easy to fit into a system offensively.
Some weaknesses include his athleticism, turnovers, dribbling, defense
outside of the paint, and the fact that he had a season-ending injury.
20: Miami Heat –
Nique Clifford
Colorado State, RS Sr, 23, SG, 6’6, 200 lbs.
Style Comp: Jaime
Jacquez, Royce O’Neale with some passing
Clifford has been a rapid riser amongst teams and will
likely be the first senior to be drafted.
His shooting, size, versatility, rebounding competitiveness, and
secondary passing make a lot of people view him as an ideal 3-and-D
prospect. However, he is older, has low
upside, and is making a jump from Colorado State, which will be a tougher jump
despite people thinking he’s NBA-ready (think when Taylor Hendricks entered the
draft from UCF).
21: Utah Jazz –
Will Riley
Illinois, Fr, 19, SF/PF, 6’8, 180 lbs.
Style Comp: Early
career Aaron Gordon, Larry Nance Jr. (when focused)
While he’s still raw, Riley is an entertaining player whose NBA
upside might be a bit in the eye of the beholder. He is an aggressive driver, has nice size, is
an agile mover, and has upside as a shooter and playmaker. That said, he is skinny, doesn’t have the
best defensive fundamentals, and isn’t a great shooter at the moment, which
could limit his initial playing time.
22: Atlanta Hawks –
Rasheer Fleming
St. Joseph’s, Jr, 20, PF, 6’9, 240 lbs.
Style Comp: Taylor
Hendricks, ideally Jaden McDaniels
Opinions on Fleming appear to be divided, but there is a
clear path for him to find a role. He is
a good shooter, finisher, defender, and is low-maintenance while having a clear
path to success in the league as a bigger 3-and-D forward. However, he doesn’t have a good handle, can’t
create looks, struggles when contested, and has a decent jump going from St.
Joseph’s to the NBA, all of which could limit his role if he struggles with his
shooting.
23: Indiana Pacers
– Danny Wolf
Michigan, Jr, 21, C, 6’11, 250 lbs.
Style Comp: Oso
Ighodaro, Kelly Olynyk
Wolf is a polarizing player, as some consider him a
promising player and others doubt how he will fare. He has shown skill as a rebounder, shooter,
and passer while he is big. That said,
his recklessness with the ball, defensive limitations, and lack of athleticism could
hold him back; his weaknesses also make it important for his development that
he finds the right spot, as several teams could result in him fading out of the
league.
24: Oklahoma City
Thunder – Ben Saraf
Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany), 19, PG/SG, 6’6, 200 lbs.
Style Comp: Orlando
Markelle Fultz with less athleticism
After being a highly touted prospect entering the year, opinions
seem to be mixed on Saraf. He has
amazing size, is a great playmaker, appears to be smart and skilled in the pick
and roll, has a high IQ, and is creative with the ball in his hands. Some concerns with him are his shooting,
strength, athleticism, and defense.
25: Orlando Magic –
Hugo Gonzalez
Real Madrid (Spain), 19, SF, 6’6, 207 lbs.
Style Comp: Bruce
Brown, Donte DiVincenzo
Gonzalez is an interesting prospect whose stock largely
depends on whether you look at his pro career or his amateur career. He absolutely dominated when playing players
around his age group and has shown either ability or glimpses of shooting,
defense, finishing, and passing. The big
thing to note is that he is raw and barely received any playing time this year
(though my counterpoint would be that he was playing for one of the better
teams in Europe); on top of that, he doesn’t have the best handle and his
jumper is streaky.
26: Brooklyn Nets –
Joan Beringer
Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia), 18, PF, 6’10, 230 lbs.
Style Comp: Clint
Capela
While young, Beringer has already showed promise throughout
his overseas career despite starting playing basketball late (he played soccer instead
until he was 15 and couldn’t find cleats that fit him). He is a great finisher and shot blocker while
projecting to be a big who can switch onto defenders outside the paint. That said, he is very raw and relies more on
athleticism on defense, resulting in mistakes (though that’s not uncommon for
young bigs); he also is skinny, is a poor shooter, isn’t a good passer, and isn’t
a threat offensively outside of the paint when he isn’t setting a screen.
27: Brooklyn Nets –
Noah Penda
Le Mans Sarthe (France), 20, SG/SF, 6’8, 225 lbs.
Style Comp: KyShawn
George with less ball skill
Penda is an interesting player with some upside in several
aspects of the game, though he is a bit raw.
He is a good playmaker, has a high IQ, is smart off the ball, and has
some defensive upside. However, he is
not a great athlete, isn’t a good finisher, has an inconsistent jumper, doesn’t
have the best handle, is a bit sloppy dribbling, and struggles with creating
shots for himself, all of which he needs to improve on if he is to last in the
league.
28: Boston Celtics
– Walter Clayton Jr.
Florida, Sr, 22, SG, 6’2, 195 lbs.
Style Comp: Discount
Monte Morris, maybe Gabe Vincent without the defense
There are many instances where a college team wins the
championship and at least one of their players flies up draft boards, which has
appeared to happen to Clayton this year.
He is an excellent shooter with great consistency, is reliable in the
clutch, and has some playmaking upside.
That said, there are some major concerns, including his size, defense, and
the fact that his playmaking and ball handling are likely not going to be good
enough to be the lead guard, which is problematic since he is likely going to
be too small to be an off-ball guard.
29: Phoenix Suns –
Yaxel Lendeborg
UAB, RS Sr, 22, PF, 6’9, 240 lbs.
Style Comp: Obi
Toppin, Justise Winslow
Lendeborg is an interesting prospect in the draft who didn’t
have the easiest journey to get here. He
has impressive athleticism, shooting ability, playmaking, rebounding skills,
and a knack for scoring. While I could
see him struggling initially with decision making, shooting, and defense, the
biggest issue is that it will be a huge jump from UAB to the NBA, and many
players cannot make this level of jump successfully.
30: Los Angeles
Clippers – Boogie Fland
Arkansas, Fr, 18, PG/SG, 6’2, 175 lbs.
Style Comp: Cole
Anthony
Despite an inconsistent freshman year, Fland still has his
believers due to his aggressiveness, shooting ability, playmaking, handle, and
competitiveness, especially on defense.
That said, his size, finishing ability, and shot selection are not good,
which could make it easy for him to not stick in the league.
31: Minnesota
Timberwolves – Labaron Philon
Alabama, Fr, 19, PG, 6’4, 170 lbs.
32: Boston Celtics
– Johni Broome
Auburn, RS Sr, 22, PF/C, 6’10, 240 lbs.
33: Charlotte Hornets
– Ryan Kalkbrenner
Creighton, RS Sr, 23, C, 7’1, 270 lbs.
34: Charlotte
Hornets – Adou Thiero
Arkansas, Jr, 21, SG, 6’8, 220 lbs.
35: Philadelphia 76ers
– Kam Jones
Marquette, Sr, 23, PG/SG, 6’5, 200 lbs.
36: Brooklyn Nets –
Maxime Raynaud
Stanford, Sr, 22, PF, 7’1, 250 lbs.
37: Detroit
Pistons – Tashaad Pettiford
Auburn, Fr, 19, PG, 6’1, 170 lbs.
38: San Antonio
Spurs – Chaz Lanier
Tennessee, RS Sr, 23, PG/SG, 6’5, 195 lbs.
39: Toronto
Raptors – Alex Condon
Florida, So, 20, PF/C, 6’11, 230 lbs.
40: Washington
Wizards – Drake Powell
UNC, Fr, 19, SG, 6’5, 185 lbs.
41: Golden State
Warriors – Bogoljub Markovic
Mega Basket (Serbia), 19, PF, 6’11, 190 lbs.
42: Sacramento
Kings – Tyrese Proctor
Duke, Jr, 21, PG, 6’6, 185 lbs.
43: Utah Jazz –
Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings (Australia), 21, SF, 6’8, 223 lbs.
44: Oklahoma City
Thunder – Miles Byrd
San Diego St, RS So, 20, SG, 6’7, 190 lbs.
45: Chicago Bulls –
Michael Ruzic
Joventut Badalona (Spain), 18, SG, 6’10, 225 lbs.
46: Orlando Magic –
Darrion Williams
Texas Tech, Jr, 22, SF, 6’6, 225 lbs.
47: Milwaukee
Bucks – Milos Uzan
Houston, Jr, 22, PG, 6’4, 183 lbs.
48: Memphis
Grizzlies – Dink Pate
Mexico City Capitanes (G-League), 19, SG, 6’8, 210 lbs.
49: Cleveland
Cavaliers – Sion James
Duke, RS Sr, 22, SG, 6’6, 220 lbs.
50: New York
Knicks – Cedric Coward
Washington St., RS Jr, 21, SF, 6’6, 206 lbs.
51: Los Angeles
Clippers – Koby Brea
Kentucky, RS Sr, 22, SG, 6’7, 215 lbs.
52: Phoenix Suns –
Amari Williams
Kentucky, RS Sr, 23, PF/C, 6’11, 250 lbs.
53: Utah Jazz –
Rocco Zikarsky
Brisbane Bullets (Australia), 18, C, 7’3, 227 lbs.
54: Indiana Pacers
– Eric Dixon
Villanova, RS Sr, 24, PF, 6’8, 265 lbs.
55: Los Angeles
Lakers – John Tonje
Wisconsin, RS Sr (6), 23, SF, 6’5, 222 lbs.
56: Memphis
Grizzlies – Hunter Salis
Wake Forest, Sr, 22, SG, 6’5, 180 lbs.
57: Orlando Magic –
Jaxson Robinson
Kentucky, RS Sr, 22, SG/SF, 6’6, 190 lbs.
58: Cleveland
Cavaliers – Micah Peavy
Georgetown, RS Sr, 23, SG/SF, 6’7, 215 lbs.
59: Houston
Rockets – Caleb Love
Arizona, RS Sr, 23, SG, 6’4, 200 lbs.
Next 10
1.
Hansen Yang, Qingdao Eagles (China), 19, C, 7’1,
249 lbs.
2.
Vladislav Goldin, Michigan, RS Sr, 24, C, 7’1,
250 lbs.
3.
Jamir Watkins, Florida State, RS Sr, 23, SG/SF,
6’7, 210 lbs.
4.
Izan Almansa, Perth Wildcats (Australia), 20,
PF, 6’10.5, 220 lbs.
5.
RJ Luis, St. John’s, Jr, 22, SG, 6’7, 195 lbs.
6.
Mouhamed Faye, Pallacanestro Reggiana (Italy),
20, C, 6’10, 216 lbs.
7.
Jaland Lowe, Pittsburgh, So, 20, PG, 6’3, 170
lbs.
8.
Mark Sears, Alabama, RS Sr, 23, PG, 5’11, 190
lbs.
9.
Malique Lewis, South East Melbourne Phoenix
(Australia), 20, SF/PF, 6’8, 194 lbs.
10.
Julian Reese, Maryland, Sr, 21, PF, 6’9, 220
lbs.
Who do you like in this draft? Any picks you are hoping to see? Let me know in the comments!
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