The 2025 NBA Draft seems to have a clear-cut prime two picks in Duke’s Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper of Rutgers. After that, the draft is filled with uncertainty, particularly after the lottery. Listed here are 5 causes that this draft seems to be very tough to foretell.
1. The Philadelphia 76ers have plenty of choices at No. 3
The Dallas Mavericks are anticipated to pick Flagg with the highest choose, and Sam Vecenie of The Athletic believes that the one approach the San Antonio Spurs would cross on Harper is that if they made a blockbuster deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Previous these two gamers, there is no such thing as a consensus No. 3 prospect, nor a consensus on what method the Sixers will take with their veteran-led crew.
Philadelphia would possibly merely take its favourite prospect from a bunch that features Ace Bailey (Rutgers), VJ Edgecombe (Baylor), Tre Johnson (Texas) and Kon Knueppel (Duke). However they could use the choose as leverage to get off one in all their undesirable salaries, both by buying and selling down or getting a veteran. In the event that they bought formidable, they might even attempt to transfer final season’s disappointing big-money signing, Paul George. It is exhausting to know what’s going to occur previous choose No. 3 when it is not clear which crew will probably be choosing there.
2. Some groups have too many first-round picks
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have accomplished a masterful job of regularly replenishing their retailer of draft picks within the final six years, however now they’ve the No. 15 and No. 24 alternatives this yr, and 15 gamers already underneath contract for 2025-26. Due to the Mikal Bridges commerce, the Brooklyn Nets have 4 picks within the first spherical. The Orlando Magic have 15 gamers underneath contract subsequent yr and draft at No. 16 and No. 25, whereas the Atlanta Hawks have No. 13 and No. 22.
That is 4 groups that needs to be fascinated about buying and selling up, or buying and selling out of the primary spherical solely. Not solely are first-round picks unlikely to assist instantly, however additionally they carry assured contracts. The Nets do not need to add 4 rookies in the identical season. The Thunder are already the second-youngest Finals crew in historical past. It is unlikely all 4 of these groups keep put, and in no way unlikely that each one 4 commerce one in all their picks.
3. NIL cash has satisfied many prospects to return to school
The No. 30 choose within the NBA Draft will get a beginning wage of $2.74M in 2025-26. Yaxel Lendeborg, a projected first-round choose this season, withdrew from the draft and transferred to the College of Michigan for an NIL package rumored to be round $3M.
For gamers who do not anticipate to go within the lottery, it may be safer to take assured cash to play in faculty. JT Toppin was anticipated to be chosen late within the first spherical or early within the second. Now he is going again to Texas Tech for $4M. Plus, they’ll all the time enter the draft subsequent season.
