The 2025 NBA Draft is going on Wednesday night time on the Barclays Heart in Brooklyn. Whereas the primary two picks seem set, the remainder of the lottery is a thriller. Right here is our prediction for the primary 10 picks of the 2025 draft.
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, Duke
Flagg is ready to be the second-youngest top pick since LeBron James in 2003 and is taken into account a can’t-miss prospect. He is solely visited the Mavericks, who appear very content material to seize the consensus prime participant and start the Flagg Period in Massive D.
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, Rutgers
Certain, the Spurs have already got two guards of their again courtroom who play robust protection and assault the rim in De’Aaron Fox and Rookie of the 12 months Stephon Fortress, however Harper, son of longtime NBA guard Ron Harper, is a real stud prospect. Given the presence of Fox, plus 2023 ROY Victor Wembanyama, this needs to be the Spurs’ final likelihood at a prime decide for a very long time. They will go for the very best participant and determine the match later.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor
After Ace Bailey canceled his exercise with the 76ers, Edgecombe reportedly had a great interview with the group. Whereas the unpredictable Daryl Morey might commerce down, the 76ers, just like the Spurs, are getting a uncommon top-three decide and may apply it to Edgecombe, a implausible athlete who’s a powerful defender and good spot-up shooter who proved he might hold with elite gamers whereas enjoying for the Bahamas final summer season.
4. Charlotte Hornets: Khaman Maluach, Duke
This can be early for the 7-foot-2 massive man, however the South Sudanese prospect has huge upside as a defensive participant. Maluach did not shoot many threes at Duke, however his free-throw share of 76.6 % exhibits taking pictures potential. Better of all, Maluach will get rave reviews as a teammate, employee and competitor — one thing that is been missing in Charlotte. The Hornets tried to commerce incumbent middle Mark Williams final season, and Maluach is the right substitute if they struggle once more.
5. Utah Jazz: Kon Knueppel, Duke
The 6-foot-7 Knueppel could be the very best spot-up shooter within the draft and a deadeye free-throw shooter (91.4 %). For a Utah Jazz group that shot the sixth-most three-pointers within the NBA whereas ending twenty second in share, that is an enormous bonus. He is thought-about a powerful playmaker and superb with out the ball, each which ought to mesh nicely with coach Will Hardy’s offense.
6. Washington Wizards: Ace Bailey, Rutgers
Bailey is a controversial prospect. Rutgers had a disappointing season and Bailey did not work out for any groups main as much as the draft, whereas groups questioned his maturity. But when any group is provided to take a flyer on Bailey, it might be the Wizards, who’ve a powerful group of veterans in Marcus Sensible, Khris Middleton and now CJ McCollum to assist mentor Bailey. He is a wonderful pull-up shooter and shot-maker who might thrive with enjoying time and minimal stress in D.C.
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
Fears is a lightning-fast guard who thrived whereas carrying Oklahoma’s offense within the cutthroat SEC final season, scoring 17.1 factors per sport. His outdoors taking pictures wants work and he has so as to add energy at 6-foot-4 and 180 kilos, however Fears has an enormous bag of strikes and remains to be solely 18. With Jordan Poole becoming a member of the Pelicans this week, Fears has time to develop and change into the elite level guard the Pelicans have lacked since buying and selling Jrue Vacation.
8. Brooklyn Nets: Tre Johnson, Texas
Johnson would be the final elite prospect left within the draft. The taking pictures guard led the SEC in scoring final season with 19.9 factors per sport and made practically 40 % of his three-pointers. He is not essentially a powerful defender, however he is 6-foot-6 and has a implausible bounce shot. For one of many NBA’s worst offenses, Johnson could be a direct shot within the arm.
9. Toronto Raptors: Derik Queen, Maryland
Queen is an excellent passer and scorer for a giant man, and he may gain advantage enjoying alongside a defender like Jakob Poeltl in Toronto. He is 6-foot-10, a little bit small for a middle, however his offensive rebounds and glorious scoring potential (16.5 PPG, 2.3 OREB as a freshman) are laborious to move up at this spot, particularly as a pick-and-roll companion for Scottie Barnes.
10. Phoenix Suns: Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina
Murray-Boyles is simply 6-foot-7, however his 7-foot-2 wingspan and strong body make him a powerful inside defender. The Suns can use his defensive abilities and physicality, although on offense he primarily scores on sensible cuts to the basket and offensive boards. It’s totally tempting to mock Michigan State’s Jase Richardson to the Suns right here, as proprietor Mat Ishbia adores the Spartans, however we predict Phoenix goes for protection right here.
