2025 NBA Mock Draft 2
Every year, I release 3 mock drafts prior to the NBA Draft, and this is the second! 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. On top of that, several college players with eligibility returned to school due to the
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 second mock draft and is meant to give an
overview of picks after the draft lottery and after the initial deadline
to declare. The third and final will be released just before the
draft.
All measurements use their measured Combine results. The heights are without shoes, so every
player could realistically be viewed as about inch taller. If anybody does not have Combine
measurements, they don’t have a wingspan listed. Some international players were measured
after the fact, and those measurements are listed.
1: Dallas
Mavericks – Cooper Flagg
Duke, Fr, 18, SF/PF, 6’7.75, 221 lbs., 7’0 Wing
Style Comp: Jayson
Tatum if all works, Andrei Kirilenko
Previous: 1
There wasn’t much that Flagg could have done at the Combine
to drop from the first pick without something unforeseen or extreme occurring,
so he’s still number 1. I expect that he
will be ready as a defender pretty soon given his IQ, competitiveness, size,
versatility, and athleticism; he also has upside as a playmaker, shooter, and scorer. I think he is raw on offense, especially as a
shooter and handler, which could also limit his upside (a lot of people are
high on him on offense, but there is a possibility he isn’t a star on
offense). I expect that Dallas will
select him and not move the pick, especially since his defensive ability
matches what Dallas has made clear that they prioritize. While he fits with the team and is a nice
player to build around, it is worth watching to see if a huge trade for a star
becomes available, and they opt to move him, especially since they are focused
on the short-term by building around Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. Even if they select him, his defensive
versatility will fit very well with this team.
2: San Antonio
Spurs – Dylan Harper
Rutgers, Fr, PG/SG, 6’4.5, 213.2 lbs., 6’10.5 Wing
Style Comp: On sale
version of Cade Cunningham
Previous: 2
Like Flagg, there wasn’t much that Harper could do that
would cause him to drop past second. I
really like Harper since he is a good playmaker at his size (even if the size was
a little smaller than some expected at the Combine, though I’m not worried about
it),is strong, and is a solid finisher; he also has defensive upside and is a
good off-ball shooter, which is a good sign for his offensive upside. That said, it is worth noting that he
struggles with his pull-up, isn’t the best defender, doesn’t have the best
first step, and makes some risky plays now; it wouldn’t surprise me if he isn’t
ready to be a starter on a competitive team for at least a couple years. While I initially thought San Antonio would
move this pick, he has been rumored to be drafted by them even with having
other guards. He would start as a backup
guard, but he would be able to develop as a bigger guard and improve as a
playmaker off the bench; eventually, I think he could fit alongside their other
young pieces while setting them up on offense.
3: Philadelphia
76ers – Ace Bailey
Rutgers, Fr, 18, SG/SF, 6’7.5, 202.8 lbs., 7’0.5 Wing
Style Comp:
Pre-injury Michael Porter Jr., Jabari Smith Jr.
Previous: 3
While already a bit polarizing, the fact that Bailey was
smaller than many expected at the Combine adds fuel to any fire about him not
making it (it should be noted that I thought he was actually 6’9 with shoes, so
his height is around what I expected).
Even with that, he still does have decent size, scoring upside,
defensive upside, and is competitive. His
weaknesses right now include shot creation, shooting consistency, playmaking,
and shot selection; he also struggled from the free throw line in college,
though he was elite from the line in high school, so I think that is more of a
fluke. While Philadelphia could go a
variety of different directions, I personally think they should go with Bailey
here due to his shooting ability and defensive upside at his size. In the short term, I think he will fit the
best with the current roster that is trying to compete. I also believe that he could have the highest
upside out of the remaining players, so this pick makes sense for the long term
as well. I don’t think Philadelphia will
trade this pick since it won’t be worth their while with the return they would
get.
4: Charlotte
Hornets – VJ Edgecomb
Baylor, Fr, 19, PG/SG, 6’4, 193.2 lbs., 6’7.5 Wing
Style Comp: Jalen
Suggs, Derrick White
Previous: 4
Edgecomb is considered by many to be one of the safest pick
in the draft, and him measuring fairly well at the combine helps his
cause. While he is a little raw, he
projects to be a good defender, is a good athlete, and has upside as a shooter
(especially in the catch-and-shoot game) and ball handler. That said, he will have his growing pains,
especially with creating his on looks, pull-up jumpers, finishing against
contact, and being consistent early; I also question what his offensive ceiling
is, as I don’t know if he will develop to be an All-Star level player on that
end. I’m a little unsure what Charlotte
is going to do here, especially since the only player that appears to be a
clear part of their future is Brandon Miller (though I wouldn’t be shocked if
LaMelo Ball is still there). No matter
what, Edgecomb could develop into a very good player, so he can fit well into
any situation. Either way, there are
several players who could be considered here.
5: Utah Jazz – Tre
Johnson
Texas, Fr, 19, SG/SF, 6’4.75, 190.4 lbs., 6’10.25 Wing
Style Comp: Slightly
bigger Cam Thomas
Previous: 5
Johnson has been a popular choice among a lot of people due
to his upside, but he’s also a little polarizing despite a solid showing at the
Combine. He is an aggressive shot maker
(especially at difficult shots), is a good shooter, has a nice handle, is
competitive, is a promising playmaker (I think he’s a better playmaker than I
initially gave him credit for), has upside off the ball, and is a good athlete
(I initially called him underrated in that category, but some of his Combine
measures gave a little bit more life to that aspect of his game). However, his shot selection is bad, his
defense is poor (I’m not sold on his defensive effort or fundamentals), and he has
some issues with consistency; the biggest question is whether he is willing to not
be the best player on a team if he doesn’t end up developing into a star. The good news with his skillset is that if he
isn’t a star, it is easy to see him transitioning into a high-scoring 6th
man role. I think he makes sense for
Utah since they need somebody with All-Star upside; even if he doesn’t hit that
ceiling, he can still play a role.
6: Washington
Wizards – Kon Knueppel
Duke, Fr, 19, SG/SF, 6’5, 219 lbs., 6’6.25 Wing
Style Comp: Early
career Khris Middleton, Sam Hauser with some playmaking
Previous: 6
Knueppel is an analytic darling due to his shooting and is a
popular choice online (including because he is a white player who played at Duke),
though I’m hesitant about him; it is worth noting that I’m not sure what teams
feel about him, though I don’t think he’ll fall far at this time. He is an elite shooter (one of the best off
the catch in the class), is a good scorer, has a high basketball IQ, has upside
as a secondary playmaker, and could be a solid help defender. That said, he is not a good athlete,
struggles as an on-ball defender, and he likely has a limited ceiling; he also
is smaller than originally expected after measuring at the Combine, though I
don’t expect that will cause him to drop.
I honestly don’t know what Washington is going to do in this draft, as
they have a few promising players with star upside and others who look like
good players, so they can just take anyone who they like; even if Knueppel is
just a role player, that isn’t an issue since there are other guys who have
star upside. Even if there is a guy
drafted later who ends up being a star (inevitably there is one), the odds of a
guy being a star with the 6th pick isn’t all that high, so they shouldn’t
worry about missing one.
7: New Orlenas
Pelicans – Jeremiah Fears
Oklahoma, Fr, 18, PG, 6’2.5, 179.6 lbs., 6’5.25 Wing
Style Comp: Tre Mann,
Monte Ellis
Previous: 7
Fears is a fantasy for those who are fans of aggressive scoring
guards, as he often looks for his own shot; while I expect he will be
polarizing, it is worth noting that he measured pretty small at the Combine
(though I thought he would be a little smaller). He is an aggressive scorer, is a skilled
driver, has shooting upside, and has passing upside. However, his shot selection is bad, he won’t
have great defensive versatility due to his size, he isn’t the best decision
maker as a playmaker, and he isn’t a good 3-point shooter at this point in time
(though I think part of that is due to his shot selection). I’m not sure what New Orleans will do since I
have no idea what their goals are for the team.
I could see them wanting a guard for the future; while I could see them
wanting someone to contribute this year if they think that they a good team, I’m
not sure there is someone available that makes sense with the roster.
8: Brooklyn Nets –
Khaman Maluach
Duke, Fr, 18, C, 7’0.75, 252.8 lbs., 7’6.75 Wing
Style Comp: Myles
Turner, Rudy Gobert, JaVale McGee (depending on how his skills develop)
Previous: 10
While a little bit raw, Maluach is considered one of the
safest prospects in the draft (incidentally, I consider him to have one of the
highest floors in the draft despite being high, as I think he will improve). He has amazing size, is competitive, is an
awesome rim protector, has nice finishing ability, is able to switch, and might
have some shooting upside (though that could take a while). In addition to being raw, he has his
inconsistencies, isn’t a good shooter at this point, and sometimes struggles
with size, which could limit his role this season. The Nets are at a spot where I’m not sure who
will be on their team long term; while guys like Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney, and
Cam Thomas are all good, it’s tough to make that determination. While one option is to take a high upside
player, it is going to be tough to go wrong with Maluach. The only caveat with this pick would be that
Brooklyn is deeper with younger bigs than they are at other positions. They could also go with a young player who is
raw and has high upside.
9: Toronto Raptors
– Kasparas Jakucionis
Illinois, Fr, 19, PG/SG, 6’4.75, 205.2 lbs., 6’7.75 Wing
Style Comp: Early
career Lonzo Ball without the defense
Previous: 8
While already polarizing, I wouldn’t be stunned if
Jakucionis ends up dropping a little bit with his height and wingspan being a
little smaller than expected (that said, with shoes, he’s going to be close
enough to his college listed 6’6 that teams shouldn’t be bothered by
this). The big selling point with
Jakucionis is that he is a big guard who is a good passer (I’d be resistant to
call him a good playmaker like many though, which I’ll get to in a bit); he
also is a good rebounder, plays hard, and has shooting upside. That said, he has several issues, including
his turnovers (though I think it’s more due to recklessness, which plays into
his decision making as a playmaker at this time), inconsistency, defensive
consistency, and strength; while I questioned his athleticism and speed, he did
better in the Combine than I expected, though he hasn’t been able to translate
these to in-game skillset. I’m really
not sure what Toronto is going to do, but if they’re hunting for a big piece
and keep this pick, there isn’t a clear NBA-ready supporting cast member that
makes sense at this spot, so it makes sense to just take a player with upside
who can also pass to their scorers.
10: Houston
Rockets – Noa Essengue
Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany), 18, SF/PF, 6’10, 203.9 lbs., 7’0.75
Wing
Style Comp: Jeremy
Sochan, Al-Farouq Aminu
Previous; 10
One to watch
Essengue has been a rapid riser, as he has played better for
his international club as the season has gone on. He is a great athlete, strong finisher, good
rebounder, has passing upside, and looks like he will be a good defender. Overall, he is still a bit raw, is a poor
shooter, has his inconsistencies, isn’t the best decision maker, and isn’t that
strong at that point (in general, I’m not worried about that for players
long-term because they naturally get stronger as their NBA goes on with the NBA
workout routines, though it sometimes limits rookies’ playing time). I don’t think Houston is keeping this pick
because they don’t have the room on the roster, but if they keep it, how nice
would a competitive defender who is a great athlete fit on a team that can’t
get enough of them? If nothing else, it
would be a chaotic blast to watch him in Houston.
11: Portland Trail
Blazers – Derik Queen
Maryland, Fr, 20, C, 6’9.25, 247.8 lbs., 7’0.5 Wing
Style Comp: Smaller
raw Domantas Sabonis, maybe Thaddeus Young?
Previous: 9
While we might see Queen drop a tiny bit due to some poor
athletic numbers at the Combine, this wasn’t a shock, so he likely won’t fall
past the lottery. He has an impressive
and versatile skillset, as he is a good finisher, has a nice handle, is a good
rebounder, has some post ability as a scorer and passer, has passing upside,
and has some shooting upside (though I think that will take some more
work). That said, he is a poor athlete, bad
defender, and is raw as a playmaker and shooter (the former will likely just
need reps); the biggest issue is that he needs to be in the right situation
that will be willing to play to his strengths in order to be successful. While the fit is a little clunky in Portland
given how many bigs they have, you can’t consider Deandre Ayton or Robert
Williams to be pieces of Portland’s future.
I think the Donovan Clingan/Queen combo could work as an offense-defense
pairing, especially if Queen can develop his passing and jumper.
12: Chicago Bulls –
Collin Murray-Boyles
South Carolina, So, 20, PF, 6’6.5, 239.2 lbs., 7’0.75 Wing
Style Comp: Small
Zach Randolph, ideally Aaron Gordon if he adapts his playing style
Previous: 12
While there are several polarizing players in this draft,
Murray-Boyles is interesting because I think his NBA success will depend on his
playing style. He is a good athlete,
defender, has a nice game in the post (which he lives on despite being
undersized), is a strong finisher, has shown good rebounding ability, has a
high IQ, and has playmaking upside. Some
issues with him are his shooting, his frequency of turnovers, and is a bit
undersized for his position. I think the
biggest swing skill will be his playing style, as his current style of a post game
will be an awkward fit with a lot of teams; while some think he should try to
aspire to be Draymond Green, I don’t think that is the right path since his
passing is still raw and it is so hard to develop into that given just how rare
a talent of Green is. I think a model that
is more feasible is like Aaron Gordon, where he can be an off-ball cutter;
while he isn’t the level of athlete that Gordon is, I think his IQ will allow
him to be successful in the role. I
honestly don’t know what Chicago is going to do this offseason since there have
been reports that almost nobody is safe on the team, so they might as well go
with whomever is best in their opinion; Murray-Boyles could be worth a shot when
building from scratch, especially since Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis have
proven to be keepers.
13: Atlanta Hawks –
Egor Demin
BYU, Fr, 19, PG/SG, 6’8.25, 199.2 lbs., 6’10.25 Wing
Style Comp: OKC Josh
Giddey
Previous: 11
Out of all the polarizing lottery picks in this draft, Denim
might be the most polarizing. He is the
epitome of a big point guard, as he has great size, is a great playmaker, is a
decent finisher (something I think is underrated since not being a good
finisher or shooter limits his offensive impact), and is a solid mover. That said, he is a poor shooter, is
inconsistent defensively, isn’t good at creating his own shots, and isn’t an
amazing athlete; the issue with the latter is that I question how he’ll get to the
rim, which will limit his offensive upside.
Denim might sound like the strangest possible selection for Atlanta, but
it should be noted that Trae Young is up for a contract extension this offseason. If he doesn’t sign it, Atlanta might need to
look for a point guard to succeed him, and given all the size they have on
their roster, Denim would fit in; if he resigns, their only real backup point
guard is Vit Krejci, who I think could fit alongside Denim since he’s such a
good shooter.
14: San Antonio
Spurs – Carter Bryant
Arizona, Fr, 19, SF/PF, 6’6.5, 214.8 lbs., 6’11.75 Wing
Style Comp: Keegan
Murray, Tari Eason
Previous: 17
While Bryant is a bit raw, his projected skillset will likely
make him a high draft pick. He shot well
from 3 (though it is worth noting that he struggled from the free throw line,
which is usually a better indicator of shooting ability), has nice size, is a
good rebounder, is a good off-ball mover, and has defensive upside; in general,
he projects to be a 3-and-D player, which will make it easy to find a role in
the NBA if his shot is real. On the
other hand, he is still raw, isn’t good at creating his own shot, isn’t the
best on the dribble, and has a limited upside for someone who is as raw as he
is. While I wouldn’t be surprised if San
Antonio moved this pick, Bryant could be a nice versatile option as a
supporting cast member if he pans out.
15: Oklahoma City
Thunder – Asa Newell
Georgia, Fr, 19, PF, 6’9, 223.8 lbs., 6’11.25 Wing
Style Comp: DeAndre
Jordan
Previous: 14
A lot of people think Newell’s role depends on if his shot
pans out, but I think he can play a role as a rim runner either way. He is a great finisher, explosive athlete,
good rim protector, has some shooting upside, and has defensive upside. On the other hand, he is raw, isn’t a good
passer, isn’t a good shooter at this time, and currently misreads plays or
bites at fakes on defense (though that isn’t uncommon for young big men.
16: Orlando Magic –
Jase Richardson
Michigan State, Fr, 19, PG, 6’0.5, 178.4 lbs., 6’6 Wing
Style Comp: Cason
Wallace with less defense, less athletic Eric Gordon
Previous; 16
One to watch
While it wasn’t a surprise that Richardson measured smaller
than his listed height of 6’3 at the Combine, many were caught off guard by the
fact that he measured as short as he did without shoes. That said, he has a high basketball IQ, is a
good shooter, is competitive, and has a nice handle. However, in addition to being small, he isn’t
a good on-ball defender and isn’t a good isolation defender. The biggest red flag to me is that I always
thought he wasn’t a good enough playmaker to be a point guard but too small to
be a shooting guard; his measured height really raises a red flag with that.
17: Minnesota
Timberwolves – Thomas Sorber
Georgetown, Fr, 19, PF/C, 6’10, 250 lbs.
Style Comp: Roy
Hibbert, Jonas Valanciunas
Previous: 19
Despite suffering a season ending injury and not being able
to do any on-court activities at the Combine, he measured very well in
size. In addition to his size, he is a good
finisher, has a nice post game, is a good shot blocker, is a solid drop
defender, is easy to fit within an offense, has passing upside, and has some
shooting upside. That said, in addition
to his season ending injury, he isn’t a good defender outside the paint, turns
the ball over a lot, is poor at dribbling, and isn’t a good athlete.
18: Washington
Wizards – Liam McNeely
UConn, Fr, 19, SF, 6’6.75, 214.6 lbs., 6’8.5 Wing
Style Comp: Bojan
Bogdanovic
Previous: 16
McNeely is polarizing due to a difficult season at UConn,
but I think this showed that he is better suited for a supporting role than a
starring role. He is a good shooter
(especially in the catch-and-shoot), has scoring potential, has playmaking
upside (more as a secondary playmaker than primary), he should be better with
spacing in the NBA, and has decent strength; I think he has a higher floor due
to his ease at fitting into an offense.
That said, he is a poor athlete, struggles to create his own shots, isn’t
a good defender, and has a low ceiling, especially after displaying that he struggles
when serving as a primary option on offense.
19: Brooklyn Nets –
Nolan Traore
Saint-Quentin (France), 19, PG, 6’3, 175 lbs., 6’8 Wing
Style Comp: Kevin
Porter Jr. (on the court, not off it), maybe Keyonte George?
Previous: 15
Opinions will likely be all over the place regarding Traore,
especially as Essengue has continued to rise.
He is a great athlete, is fast, has nice shot creation ability, measured
well with his wingspan at the Combine, is a solid playmaker, and has shooting
upside. However, he likely isn’t tall
enough to play off the ball, isn’t the best shooter at this time, isn’t always
the best decision maker, and isn’t that consistent at this point in time,
though part of that is due to his youth.
20: Miami Heat –
Nique Clifford
Colorado State, RS Sr, 23, SG, 6’5.25, 202 lbs., 6’8 Wing
Style Comp: Jaime
Jacquez, Royce O’Neale with some passing
Previous: 20
Clifford will likely be one of the first seniors drafted (if
not the first) and could find a supporting role pretty easily in the
league. He is a good shooter, has nice
size to be versatile, could be a versatile wing defender who could slide onto
guards, could be a secondary playmaker, and is a competitive rebounder; if he
makes it, he will likely be a 3-and-D player.
That said, he is older for a draft prospect, has low upside, and could
struggle with the jump for Colorado State despite the view that he is NBA-ready
(I previously compared him to Taylor Hendricks when he entered the draft from UCF,
and I think that holds true).
21: Utah Jazz –
Cedric Coward
Washington St., RS Jr, 21, SF, 6’5.25, 2013 lbs., 7’2.25
Wing
Style Comp: Mike
Bridges, Terance Mann
Previous: 50
One to watch
Coward has been a rapid riser during the draft process, and
I’m not certain the reason; while I’m guessing it’s due to doing well at the
Combine, it’s surprising since he’s barely played at a high level. He is a great athlete, good shooter, good
defender, strong finisher, has a high basketball IQ, and is improving as a
playmaker and passer. While there are
concerns about his strength, the bigger issue relate to how little he played at
a high level; he only played 6 games last year, will have a big jump after
playing D-III and then two seasons at Eastern Washington before playing 6 games
at Washington State, and didn’t show good playmaking ability before his 6 games
last season, making me wonder how real that small sample size is.
22: Atlanta Hawks –
Will Riley
Illinois, Fr, 19, SF/PF, 6’8.25, 185.6 lbs., 6’8.75 Wing
Style Comp: Early
career Aaron Gordon, Larry Nance Jr. (when focused)
Previous: 21
Riley could be an exciting prospect who could find a role,
especially if he turns into someone like Gordon or Nance. He is an aggressive driver, is a good mover, has nice size (he was even bigger than his
listed height), and has some shooting upside.
That said, he has poor defensive fundamentals, is skinny (though I’m not
as worried about that long-term), and is a poor shooter at this time.
23: Indiana Pacers
– Rasheer Fleming
St. Joseph’s, Jr, 20, PF, 6’8.25, 232.4 lbs., 7’5.25 Wing
Style Comp: Taylor
Hendricks, ideally Jaden McDaniels
Previous: 22
After measuring well at the Combine, I wouldn’t be stunned
if a team with a higher pick takes him before this time. He is a good shooter, has shown nice
finishing ability, is low-maintenance offensively, is a good defender, and has
a clear path to being a bigger 3-and-D forward.
That said, his handle is poor, he cannot create his own looks, struggles
on the ball when contested, and will likely struggle initially when jumping from
St. Joseph’s.
24: Oklahoma City
Thunder – Danny Wolf
Michigan, Jr, 21, C, 6’10.5, 251.8 lbs., 7’2.25 Wing
Style Comp: Oso
Ighodaro, Kelly Olynyk
Previous: 23
Wolf’s upside really depends on where he ends up and how
much of a leash they allow him to have.
He is a good passer, especially at his size, is a good rebounder, and
has shown shooting ability. That said,
he is a reckless passer (while he could develop into a good playmaker, he is
not one at this time), is a poor defender, and isn’t a good athlete, all of
which will make it difficult for him to fit with a team if he continues to play
like he does.
25: Orlando Magic –
Joan Beringer
Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia), 18, PF, 6’11, 234.8 lbs., 7’4.5
Wing
Style Comp: Clint
Capela
Previous: 26
Beringer has already shown promise as a young big who could
be a fun prospect if he develops. He is
a good finisher and shot blocker who projects to be a good traditional big man
who can also switch when outside the paint.
That said, he is very raw, is a little skinny, is a poor shooter, is a
non-threat outside the paint offensively, is a poor passer, and often relies on
athleticism instead of making the right decision (that said, this isn’t
uncommon for young bigs, especially someone who has only been playing
basketball for a few years). Something
to note is that he measured much bigger than expected (his height without shoes
was literally bigger than his listed height).
26: Brooklyn Nets –
Noah Penda
Le Mans Sarthe (France), 20, SG/SF, 6’7.25, 241.8 lbs., 6’11.5
Wing
Style Comp: KyShawn
George with less ball skill
Previous: 27
While a little bit raw, Penda is an intriguing player who
could fit well with a team who is looking for a higher upside player,
especially if they’re a rebuilding team.
He is a good playmaker, is smart off the ball, has a high basketball IQ,
and has defensive upside, especially given his size. That said, he is a poor finisher, isn’t the
best athlete, struggles at creating shots for himself, doesn’t have the best
dribble, and is an inconsistent shooter.
27: Brooklyn Nets –
Walter Clayton Jr.
Florida, Sr, 22, SG, 6’2, 199 lbs., 6’4 Wing
Style Comp: Discount
Monte Morris, maybe Gabe Vincent without the defense
Previous: 28
Clayton has the potential to be a first round pick mainly
because Florida won the championship this year.
Clayton is a great scorer and shooter, was great in the clutch in
college, and has some playmaking upside, though probably as a secondary
playmaker. However, he is a poor
defender, is small, and isn’t a good enough playmaker or ball handler to be a
point guard, which will be a problem since he is likely too small to be a
shooting guard.
28: Boston Celtics
– Maxime Raynaud
Stanford, Sr, 22, PF, 7’0.25, 236.8 lbs., 7’1.25 Wing
Style Comp: Quinten
Post, backup version of Brook Lopez
Previous: 36
One to watch
Raynaud has been a riser in the draft, and I think it’s due
to the skillset at his size. He has
great size, is an excellent rebounder, is a great shooter, and has defensive
upside. That said, he turns the ball
over a lot, isn’t the best finisher, doesn’t have the most consistent shot
inside the arc, and isn’t the best jumper; I’m also unsure of what his ceiling
will be, as I’m not certain that he will be a starting level player.
29: Phoenix Suns –
Drake Powell
UNC, Fr, 19, SG, 6’5.25, 200.4 lbs., 7’0 Wing
Style Comp: Isaac
Okoro, Keldon Johnson
Previous: 40
One to watch
Powell is another fast riser late after not playing a major
role at UNC. He is a great athlete, is a
strong finisher, has shown versatility, shot well from 3 (I’m not sure that I
fully believe it, but more on that in a second), and has shown glimpses of
passing ability. That said, he is very
raw, shot poorly from the free throw line, which is normally a good indicator
of shooting success (though he shot better from the line in high school), struggles
at creating shots for himself, isn’t a good defender at this point, and is a
raw playmaker, likely limited what he can do on the ball.
30: Los Angeles
Clippers – Ben Saraf
Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany), 19, PG/SG, 6’6, 200 lbs.
Style Comp: Orlando
Markelle Fultz with less athleticism
Previous: 24
One to watch
While he’s raw, I honestly believe that Saraf fell a bit
because he couldn’t participate in the Combine due to his season in Europe
still going on. It should be noted that
he got his measurements after the fact, and his measurements will likely help
him. He is a great playmaker, has nice
size, is skilled in the pick and roll, has a high IQ, and is pretty
creative. That said, he isn’t a good
shooter, isn’t that amazing of an athlete, isn’t particularly strong, and will
likely struggle defensively.
31: Minnesota
Timberwolves – Hugo Gonzalez
Real Madrid (Spain), 19, SF, 6’65, 222.7 lbs., 6’10.75 Wing
Previous: 25
One to watch
As much upside as Gonzalez has, he hasn’t played much for
Real Madrid (which isn’t shocking since the best clubs in Europe often rarely
play their young guys). As such, it will
be a bit of a mystery where he ultimately goes, though I believe he has
first-round talent. Something to note is
that his Combine measurements just came in bigger than expected, so he could
rise in the draft.
32: Boston Celtics
– Adou Thiero
Arkansas, Jr, 21, SG, 6’6.25, 218.4 lbs., 7’0 Wing
Previous: 34
33: Charlotte
Hornets – Ryan Kalkbrenner
Creighton, RS Sr, 23, C, 7’1, 270 lbs.
Previous: 33
34: Charlotte
Hornets – Bogoljub Markovic
Mega Basket (Serbia), 19, PF, 6’10.5, 213.2 lbs., 6’11.5
Wing
Previous: 41
One to watch
Despite being a bit raw, Markovic is a great shooter, which I
think is a big part of why he is rising, especially considering his size. He could sneak into the first round.
35: Philadelphia
76ers – Chaz Lanier
Tennessee, RS Sr, 23, PG/SG, 6’3.75, 205.8 lbs., 6’9 Wing
Previous: 38
36: Brooklyn Nets –
Hansen Yang
Qingdao Eagles (China), 19, C, 7’1, 252.6 lbs., 7’2.75 Wing
Previous: Undrafted
One to watch
Yang has rapidly risen over the entire draft process, and I
think it is for three reasons: international
scouts who might not come to the NBA immediately are hot commodities in the
second round, his skillset as a backup center is a nice thing to have on a
cheap contract, and analysts in the media are now forced to scout him because
all the college players they preferred dropped out.
37: Detroit
Pistons – Johni Broome
Auburn, RS Sr, 22, PF/C, 6’9.25, 249.4 lbs., 7’0.25 Wing
Previous: 32
One to watch
While Broom only dropped 5 spots between mocks, but with
several players dropping out, it is as if he dropped several more spots. I think the issue is that he isn’t the best
athlete, so he dropped on many scouts’ boards after the Combine. I expect his stock will be more steady soon as
the draft approaches, and he will likely raise on boards.
38: San Antonio
Spurs – Kam Jones
Marquette, Sr, 23, PG/SG, 6’3.25, 202.4 lbs., 6’6 Wing
Previous: 35
39: Toronto
Raptors – Alex Toohey
Sydney Kings (Australia), 21, SF, 6’7.75, 222.8 lbs., 6’10.75
Wing
Previous: 43
40: Washington
Wizards – Tyrese Proctor
Duke, Jr, 21, PG, 6’4.25, 183.2 lbs., 6’7.25 Wing
Previous: 42
41: Golden State
Warriors – Yanic Konan Niederhauser
Penn State, Jr, C, 6’11.25, 242.6 lbs., 7’3.25 Wing
Previous: Undrafted
One to watch
After doing well at the Combine and remaining in the draft,
Niederhauser went from not being on anybody’s radar to having a chance to be in
the first round. While raw, I think
there’s a lot of people that are excited about his athleticism and upside.
42: Sacramento
Kings – Sion James
Duke, RS Sr, 22, SG, 6’4.5, 217.6 lbs., 6’6.5 Wing
Previous: 49
One to watch
James performed well in the athletic aspects of the Combine,
so I was expecting that he would have risen even more. I’m wondering if there are concerns about his
size and his late rise in his college career.
43: Utah Jazz –
Koby Brea
Kentucky, RS Sr, 22, SG, 6’5.75, 201.8 lbs., 6’5.25 Wing
Previous: 51
One to watch
Despite having a negative wingspan compared to his height, Brea
is the type of player who could rise closer to the draft because he is a very
good shooter. Since picks 25-50 are
usually in the eye of the beholder, I wouldn’t be shocked if Brea ends up being
drafted late in the first round.
44: Oklahoma City
Thunder – John Tonje
Wisconsin, RS Sr (6), 23, SF, 6’4.75, 211.8 lbs., 6’9 Wing
Previous: 55
One to watch
Tonje is the type of player who would rise as the draft
approaches, as teams love looking for talented shooters and off-ball movers. I could see his stock rising since the
skillset is a necessity for every team in the league.
45: Chicago Bulls –
Jamir Watkins
Florida State, RS, 23, SG/SF, 6’5, 214.6 lbs., 6’11.25 Wing
Previous: Undrafted
One to watch
As the draft approaches, seniors who are skilled end up
rising because they can often fit into a role and are more polished than
younger players are. I wouldn’t be
surprised if Watkins is drafted and signed to a two-way deal.
46: Orlando Magic –
Rocco Zikarsky
Brisbane Bullets (Australia), 18, C, 7’3, 257 lbs., 7’4.75
Wing
Previous: 53
One to watch
Every year, there are some international prospects who rise
in the draft because teams are looking for players in the late first round or
early second round who might not come to the NBA immediately, so they can
draft-and-stash them. I wouldn’t be
shocked if Zikarsky ends up being one of these players.
47: Milwaukee
Bucks – Michael Ruzic
Joventut Badalona (Spain), 18, SG, 6’11, 221.4 lbs., 7’0.75
Wing
Previous: 45
48: Memphis
Grizzlies – Hunter Sallis
Wake Forest, Sr, 22, SG, 6’3.75, 181.4 lbs., 6’10 Wing
Previous: 56
One to watch
Despite a tougher season than some scouts were hoping for, I
expect that he could rise a bit due to teams looking for someone skilled,
especially on two-way contracts.
49: Cleveland
Cavaliers – Eric Dixon
Villanova, RS Sr, 24, PF, 6’7.5, 258.6 lbs., 6’11.5 Wing
Previous: 54
50: New York
Knicks – Javon Small
West Virginia, Sr, 22, PG, 6’1, 190 lbs., 6’4.75 Wing
Previous: Undrafted
51: Los Angeles
Clippers – Neoklis Avdalas
Panathinaikos (Greece), 19, SF, 6’7.5, 197.8 lbs., 6’9 Wing
Previous: Undrafted
52: Phoenix Suns –
Micah Peavy
Georgetown, RS Sr, 23, SG/SF, 6’6.25, 211.6 lbs., 6’7.25
Wing
Previous: 58
53: Utah Jazz –
Dink Pate
Mexico City Capitanes (G-League), 19, SG, 6’6.25, 200.8 lbs.,
6’9.75 Wing
Previous: 48
One to watch
While I’m higher on Pate than most, his draft stock is all
over the place. The short reason he could
go undrafted is because he has all the tools but none of them are polished at
all. That said, I think there’s a case
to be made that he has 1st round upside.
54: Indiana Pacers
– Amari Williams
Kentucky, RS Sr, 23, PF/C, 6’11, 250 lbs.
Previous: 52
55: Los Angeles
Lakers – Alijah Martin
Florida, RS Sr, 23, SG, 6’1.5, 208.4 lbs., 6’7.5 Wing
Previous: Undrafted
56: Memphis
Grizzlies – Tamar Bates
Missouri, Sr, 22, SG, 6’3.75, 191.4 lbs., 6’10.25 Wing
Previous: Undrafted
57: Orlando Magic –
Vladislav Goldin
Michigan, RS Sr, 24, C, 7’0, 253.4 lbs., 7’5.25 Wing
Previous: Undrafted
58: Cleveland Cavaliers
– RJ Luis
St. John’s, Jr, 22, SG, 6’5.75, 210 lbs., 6’10.5 Wing
Previous: Undrafted
59: Houston
Rockets – Ryan Nembhard
Gonzaga, Sr, 22, PG, 5’11, 175 lbs., 6’2.25 Wing
Previous: Undrafted
Fell Out
· Yaxel Lendeborg (29, withdrew)
· Boogie Fland (30, withdrew)
· Labaron Philon (31, withdrew)
· Tashaad Pettiford (37, withdrew)
· Alex Condon (39, withdrew)
· Miles Byrd (44, withdrew)
· Darrion Williams (46, withdrew)
· Milos Uzan (47, withdrew)
· Jaxson Robinson (57)
· Caleb Love (59)
Next 10
1. Izan Almansa Perth Wildcats (Australia), 20, PF, 6’9.25, 220.4 lbs., 7’1.75 Wing
2. Mouhamed Faye, Pallacanestro Reggiana (Italy), 20, C, 6’10, 216 lbs.
3. Jaxson Robinson, Kentucky, RS Sr, 22, SG/SF, 6’6, 190 lbs.
4. Mark Sears, Alabama, RS Sr, 23, PG, 5’10.75, 183.4 lbs., 6’2
5. Brice Williams, Nebraska, RS Sr, 23, SF, 6’5.25, 205.8 lbs., 6’10.75 Wing
6. Lachlan Olbrich, Illawarra Hawks (Australia), 21, C, 6’8.75, 230.2 lbs., 6’11.25 Wing
7. Kobe Sanders, Nevada, RS Sr, 22, SG, 6’7, 203.2 lbs., 6’8.25 Wing
8. Caleb Love, Arizona, RS Sr, 23, SG, 6’4, 200 lbs.
9. Max Shulga, VCU, RS Sr, 23, SG, 6’4.25, 206.4 lbs., 6’5.75 Wing
10. Grant Nelson, Alabama, RS Sr, 23, PF, 6’10, 229.8 lbs., 7’0 Wing
Biggest Risers
Calculated by % difference, minimum 5 spots changed
1. Cedric Coward (50 to 21, 58.00%)
2. Noa Essengue (18 to 10, 44.44%)
3. Drake Powell (40 to 29, 27.50%)
4. Maxime Raynaud (36 to 28, 22.22%)
5. John Tonje (55 to 44, 20.00%)
Biggest Fallers
Calculated by % difference, minimum 4 spots changed (There were only 4 players who dropped at least 5 spots, so I changed this to 4 spots)
1. Jase Richardson (12 to 16, -33.33%)
2. Nolan Traore (15 to 19, -26.67%)
3. Ben Saraf (24 to 30, -25.00%)
4. Hugo Gonzalez (25 to 31, -24.00%)
5. Johni Broome (32 to 37, -15.63%)
Who do you like in this draft? Any picks you are hoping to see? Let me know in the comments!
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