2025 NBA mock draft: Cooper Flagg is sure No. 1 in shallow pool of prospects

The 2025 NBA Draft early entry list is out, so it’s time to update The Athletic’s mock draft.

The early entry list is much less substantial than what we’ve seen in the past. Mainly because of the proliferation of the name, image and likeness (NIL) marketplace in college basketball, there are only 106 early entrants to the NBA Draft, a drastically lower number than the 195 who entered last year and the 242 who entered the year before. This peaked in 2021, when 353 early entrants declared for the draft.

What does that mean for the draft? First and foremost, this number is expected to be whittled down substantially by May 28, the deadline for players with remaining collegiate eligibility to withdraw from the draft. Many of the players on the early entry list are seen as strong bets to return to school because they are slated to make seven figures in NIL dollars. If the choice is that you have guaranteed money on the table from a college or you’re on the borderline of getting a guaranteed deal from the NBA versus a two-way contract (which would only pay approximately $600,000 next season), most players and their representatives are going to take the guaranteed money. But an intriguing game of chicken has also now developed in which agents and players are trying to figure out if so many guys are going to pull out of the draft that it is worthwhile to enter this year, because this would be their best chance to be selected.

That’s where the process stands at this point, and unsurprisingly, it has decimated the depth of this class in a big way. NBA teams with selections in the 40s are quite worried as to whether those picks will have much value. Even teams in the late 20s and 30s have serious questions as to whether those picks will deliver commensurate value with what a normal selection in that range will bring.

This draft was not seen as all that loaded to begin with. Teams have real questions about whether this draft will bring average value starting from about No. 3 on. There are areas of the draft where the talent levels off for most scouts and executives (some believe the middle of the lottery is a good sweet spot, others see the late teens as a solid area to derive value). The top two are the only slots of this draft where teams have a particular amount of excitement.

Indeed, that’s why the draft lottery will be so important. Teams like the Utah Jazz could go from building their organization over the next decade around Cooper Flagg, a player seen as a genuine franchise-changer, to someone like Tre Johnson at No. 5, a good player with significant upside but with many more questions, if they fall out of the top two. There might not be a day that shapes the future of the NBA for the rest of 2025 more than May 12, when the lottery gods smile upon one team that can select Flagg.

A few quick notes on the structure and format of this mock draft:

• Draft order is based on a quick simulation of the lottery now that the standings are finalized. That resulted in Washington getting the top pick, Utah dropping to No. 2, Portland soaring seven spots to end up at No. 3 and New Orleans falling to No. 4. Philadelphia kept its pick at No. 6.

• Team needs ARE taken into account.

• Player ages are as of draft day (June 25).

1. Washington Wizards

Cooper Flagg | 6-9 forward | 18 years old | Duke

Flagg will go No. 1 regardless of who gets the pick. He was the national player of the year in college basketball this season at just 18 years old after reclassifying into the 2024 recruiting class. He posted ridiculous numbers, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, but it got even better after January. In his final 25 games, including the Georgia Tech game in which he rolled an ankle after 15 minutes in the ACC tournament, Flagg posted 20.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.6 assists on 51.1 percent shooting from the field, 45.1 percent from 3 and 88 percent from the line. Duke went 23-2 in that run before falling in the Final Four to Houston in staggering fashion (despite Flagg’s 27, seven and four with two steals and three blocks in that game).

Flagg isn’t quite at the Victor Wembanyama level of prospect over the last 20 years, but he belongs in the Anthony Davis tier. Barring injury, he’s about as can’t-miss as it gets because of his skill level, athleticism, shot-creation ability and mentality. Flagg is about as competitive as you’ll find on the court and will bring a serious degree of work ethic into whatever situation he arrives. He wants to be great. There’s no red flag in terms of entitlement here. He’s all about winning and will immediately become the centerpiece of whatever organization drafts him.

2. Utah Jazz

Dylan Harper | 6-6 guard | 19 years old | Rutgers

Harper is exceptionally likely to be the No. 2 pick. It would take a real surprise for someone to unseat him from this spot. His 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and four assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the field as a freshman guard put him in rarefied air, as few players have gotten all that close to such marks in their first year. He also creates rim pressure at an elite level, with the ability to get into the paint and finish at the basket at a serious clip with his impressive array of gathers and touch finishes at 6-6 as a lead guard.

The biggest question for Harper remains his pull-up game as a shooter, as he only hit 29.2 percent of his pull-up 3s. I watched Harper work out recently, and it’s clear that working as a scorer in ball screens, re-screens and dribble handoffs is a real emphasis for his pre-draft process. He shot the ball well in the workout that I saw. I felt like the ball would sometimes flatten out on him this season at Rutgers, but he’s starting to work on getting more consistent arc on the shot off pull-ups. Between that, his physical frame being NBA-ready and his intel all coming back very positively even in the face of a tough season at Rutgers, Harper is very well-positioned, and this would be a massive get for a Utah team that needs a backcourt of the future. Keyonte George looks like a backup long-term because of his inefficiency and defense, and while Isaiah Collier had an excellent season passing the ball, he still doesn’t have a great way to score effectively.

3. Portland Trail Blazers

Tre Johnson | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Texas

Johnson was the most impressive player I saw working out during my trip to the U.S. He had one of the best shooting workouts I’ve ever seen from a teenage player, showcasing a serious-minded intentionality about how he goes about his craft. He displayed the ability to hit shots off movement at a high level, something that he rarely got the chance to do in an offensive scheme at Texas that could be charitably described as anachronistic but fairly described as hideously archaic. Even within that scheme, Johnson found his way into 19.9 points per game, even if he struggled a bit once he had to foray into the lane because of the team’s lack of spacing and his own still-improving overall strength level.

The Blazers, in my opinion, have a tremendous frontcourt of the future with Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan. However, there are questions in the backcourt surrounding young players Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, and they could use another real floor-spacer to knock down shots and threaten defenders. I see Johnson’s range as somewhere in the No. 3 to No. 8 area. I’d be surprised if he got outside of that area of the draft. This is just too good a fit to pass up.

4. New Orleans Pelicans

V.J. Edgecombe | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Baylor

The Pelicans have already made substantive changes to their organization, firing David Griffin and hiring Joe Dumars to run basketball operations. The word out of New Orleans is simply not to expect the roster to look the same as it did this year. Edgecombe ticks a lot of boxes here, though.

Following the Dejounte Murray injury and with CJ McCollum only having one year left on his deal, they have a real need for a backcourt player of the future. Edgecombe had an excellent freshman season, averaging 15 points, nearly six rebounds, three assists and two steals. The Bahamian national team member has a case as the best athlete in the draft class, with all sorts of bounce and explosiveness.

The questions for him revolve around his ability to consistently play on the ball. However, with Trey Murphy III stepping into a bigger role there, the potential for Zion Williamson to be back and whatever happens with the Murray/McCollum duo, there should be enough bodies to let Edgecombe grow organically into a positive role and more slowly develop his on-ball game.

Ace Bailey could go as high as No. 3. (Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Images)

5. Charlotte Hornets

Ace Bailey | 6-10 wing/forward | 18 years old | Rutgers

Bailey drops a bit here, but don’t get it twisted: His range still starts at No. 3. I think that it extends a bit further down, though. He remains quite polarizing and has seemed to have borne the brunt of the blame from NBA personnel for Rutgers’ poor season. Yes, he averaged 17.6 points and seven rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3. But his style of play did not seem wildly conducive to winning basketball. He settles for a lot of long jumpers because he struggles to get all the way to the rim (he has a high handle and high center of gravity that gets knocked off its line a bit too easily). Defensively, he wasn’t always particularly engaged in help situations unless he saw an opportunity to go get the basketball.

And yet, it’s worth noting that Rutgers was a catastrophe when he wasn’t on the court. Even in Big Ten play, they lost Bailey’s minutes by only three points per 100 possessions. When he was off the court, they lost those minutes by 23 points per 100, per CBB Analytics. His presence was clearly helpful, and I think that’s what tracks most for me. Bailey is enormous, he’s long, he is a real shooter and he showed some defensive moments that were very positive in switch situations. I can’t really get him outside of the top five, and I think it would be very reasonable to take him at No. 3. It’s just that both Portland and New Orleans in this exercise at No. 3 and No. 4 are loaded with big wings right now.

6. Philadelphia 76ers

Kon Knueppel | 6-7 guard | 19 years old | Duke

The Sixers have a massive lottery night ahead. If they fall outside of the top six, they lose their draft pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Given the lottery odds, they have about a 64 percent chance of keeping the pick. Even if they don’t end up moving into the top three or so while keeping the pick, I would expect them to look into scenarios that involve moving the selection. Their backcourt is fairly loaded with Tyrese Maxey, Quentin Grimes and last year’s pick, Jared McCain. They certainly could use a bigger wing, but unless Bailey falls, that might be a stretch at this slot. There could be a consideration to get a big to backup Joel Embiid, but my read is that Daryl Morey would see that as a bad way to maximize the current core of players that he worked hard to assemble last fall.

So we’ll go with Knueppel, a bigger shooter who is competitive and tough. He has a case as the best shooter in the class along with Johnson, and his overall game was more impactful this season. They’re right next to each other on my personal board. His presence would help the Sixers with different lineup constructions, although some executives worry about what exactly Knueppel’s upside is because of some perceived athletic limitations.

7. Brooklyn Nets

Kasparas Jakučionis | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Illinois

The Nets would probably not be particularly pleased to land at No. 7. They have a roster loaded with holes, but the good news is that they seem to have found an excellent coach long-term to build around in Jordi Fernandez. Jakučionis here would make sense, as the team doesn’t really have a primary ballhandler for the long haul on its books. Jakučionis is big and can play both on and off the ball, coming off a terrific freshman season in which he averaged 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. His vision is sublime, and he fits the current ecosystem of the NBA well with his dribble, pass and shoot traits. Still, he is a bit polarizing for folks around the league as he doesn’t have a ton of athletic explosiveness, and his defensive game was not always on point this year. His range is seen as somewhere in this ballpark down to around the end of the lottery.

8. Toronto Raptors

Derik Queen | 6-10 big | 20 years old |Maryland

With Jakob Poeltl potentially hitting free agency next year, the Raptors could use a long-term answer at center. Many people have connected Duke center Khaman Maluach here because of his time at the NBA Academy in Africa and Masai Ujiri’s efforts to promote basketball within the region, but I think Queen fits them better from a basketball perspective. Coach Darko Rajaković has tended to want players who can dribble, pass and shoot as well as make decisions. Queen has many of those skills and averaged nearly 17 points, nine rebounds and two assists as a freshman at Maryland. He’s been exceptionally productive at every stage of his career to this point, and he has real offensive talent that should lead to him putting up real numbers in the NBA.

9. San Antonio Spurs

Carter Bryant | 6-8 wing | 19 years old | Arizona

The Spurs have a few needs, including shooting and wing defense. Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson have never really developed defensively, and Harrison Barnes turns 33 next month. Stephon Castle is one player they should trust, but they could use a real 3-and-D wing to put next to Castle, De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama. Bryant profiles perfectly there as a long-term replacement for Barnes. The 6-8 wing didn’t start many games this year at Arizona, but he was a monster defensive player when he was on the court, showcasing serious playmaking chops as well as great on-ball play. He also knocks down a solid percentage of his 3s. Bryant is the guy in this class who seems to have a ton of juice when you talk to front offices, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him land in the top 10 when it’s all said and done. I think I’d park his range in the No. 7 to No. 16 area.

10. Houston Rockets (via PHX)

Collin Murray-Boyles | 6-8 wing/forward | 20 years old | South Carolina

The Rockets are loaded across each position. They have a veteran point guard in Fred VanVleet and drafted their point guard of the future in Reed Sheppard at No. 3 last year; the organization is still extremely high on Sheppard despite his lack of playing time this year. They have their center of the future in Alperen Şengün. I think they will just take the best player available in the lottery, and at this spot, that’s Murray-Boyles for me. He’s a tremendous defender and would fit in perfectly with how Ime Udoka wants to play. He also passes well and has serious toughness to play with many of their players. He processes the game at an elite level and is the kind of prospect the Rockets have valued in the past.

11. Dallas Mavericks

Jeremiah Fears | 6-4 guard | 18 years old | Oklahoma

This would be an interesting get for a Mavericks team that will desperately need shot creation if it is going to keep contending with this core. The Kyrie Irving injury has made the Mavs’ life much harder, on top of his potentially being a free agent this summer. If they can’t retain him, there’s a real case that they should then move Anthony Davis and enter an extended rebuild, but there are no signs that we’re headed toward such a situation. Fears is a playmaking guard who can get paint touches with his quickness and handle. However, he struggles to shoot the ball right now and isn’t a great finisher, and his defense needs a lot of work. He’s more of a project than a ready-made player. However, the ability to separate is there if he can improve the skill set.

12. Chicago Bulls

Khaman Maluach | 7-2 big | 19 years old | Duke

The Bulls desperately need to find answers on the defensive end, especially if they’re going to go all-in on the Josh Giddey and Coby White backcourt this summer when Giddey hits restricted free agency. Maluach would give Giddey a potential rim-runner and the rest of the team a real defensive anchor on the interior. Maluach isn’t a monster shot-blocker, but he understands how big he is and is excellent at using his size to cut off angles and contest on the interior. Offensively, there are more questions, largely about his hands and overall feel for the game. He got to basketball a bit late and is still working on how to see the floor around him. He also doesn’t always seem to come down with contested rebounds, as was starkly seen in Duke’s Final Four game against Houston, when he played 20 minutes and had zero rebounds. Still, someone will take the bet on a player who’s 7-2 with long arms and real movement skills.

Thomas Sorber is a skilled 6-foot-10 big man. (Daniel Kucin Jr. / Imagn Images)

13. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC)

Thomas Sorber | 6-10 big | 19 years old | Georgetown

The Hawks need a long-term answer at center, at the very least to complement Onyeka Okongwu. Okongwu’s troubles with bigger centers are well-documented, as he’s not overly large for the position at 6-8 without a ton of length. Sorber, on the other hand, is just a massive body. He’s fluid and coordinated at 6-9 to 6-10, but moreover possesses a mammoth wingspan that I wouldn’t be stunned to see land in the 7-4 range. His frame is massive with broad shoulders. What I like most about Sorber for Atlanta, assuming the team decides to continue with Trae Young moving forward given that he is extension-eligible this offseason, is that he can pass and play out of short-roll situations, which would make it even harder to blitz ballhandlers against Young. I love what the Hawks are building with big wings like Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels. This would potentially solve another issue toward being truly competitive with Young as the focal point.

14. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)

Noa Essengue | 6-9 forward | 18 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm

Essengue is starting to turn things on in France, with multiple 20-point outings over the last month. The 6-9 forward is a terrific athlete who moves exceedingly well for his age. He’ll be the second-youngest player in this draft class behind Cooper Flagg and is averaging 12 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks per game since Jan. 22. The questions here are largely around his polish. The jumper is starting to fall, as he’s made 35 percent from 3 in that window, but there are real mechanical issues regarding his base and balance that teams think will take a lot of time to work through, despite his solid touch. Additionally, while his defensive playmaking numbers are strong and he’s shown improvement throughout the year, his overall impact on that end isn’t all that high. He gets beaten more often off the bounce than you’d expect for this level of athleticism, and his help instincts waver. Still, he’s a young player clearly coming along well regarding his development. Don’t expect Essengue to be a valuable player next year in the NBA, but he could develop in time to be one of the better players in this draft class if he lands with the right organization.

15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via MIA)

Danny Wolf | 7-0 big | 21 years old | Michigan

Over their recent history, the Thunder have valued players with terrific positional size as well as the ability to dribble, pass and shoot for their position. Wolf is exactly that, as he’s a real creator at 7 feet with the ability to play in ball screens as a ballhandler as well as pass and make plays as a big man. He averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, though he had a real turnover problem owing to a bit of a high handle and wild decision-making. Defensively, there are also some questions, although I think that his overall movement skill has been underrated throughout the process. For the Thunder, Isaiah Hartenstein’s massive deal has a team option after next season, and they likely will struggle to afford him along with the extensions that will be owed to Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. Jaylin Williams will also be owed an extension by next summer, too, meaning they could easily be in the market for another big.

16. Orlando Magic

Nolan Traoré | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Saint-Quentin

Traoré has rebounded well from a tough start to his pro season in France. Over about three months from Jan. 15 to April 6, Traoré averaged 13 points and four assists while shooting 50 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3 and 79 percent from the line. His overall numbers on the year aren’t that strong, but it’s worth remembering that he’s a teenager playing professional basketball for a full season for the first time in his career and leading his team to the cusp of the playoffs as the primary ballhandler at 12-14 on the season. Orlando could use another upside swing as a lead ballhandler, and Traoré is big enough to fit in with the team’s tendency to select players with high-level size and potential defensive capabilities.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET)

Nique Clifford | 6-6 guard | 23 years old | Colorado State

Clifford had about as strong of a close to the season as a player can have, leading Colorado State from the middle of the Mountain West in January to the cusp of the Sweet 16 if not for a Derik Queen game-winner as time expired in the Round of 32. From Feb. 8 onward, Clifford averaged 21.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, five assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 51 percent from the field, 47 percent from 3 and 80 percent from the line. He’s a 6-6 wing who can dribble, pass, shoot and defend, which makes him a really solid plug-and-play option for a Timberwolves team that needs some cheap rotational options moving forward, given the deals they will likely have to shell out for Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid this summer to keep their core together.

18. Washington Wizards (via MEM)

Egor Demin | 6-9 guard | 19 years old | BYU

Wizards general manager Will Dawkins comes from the Oklahoma City Thunder school, and he’s tended to select players with similar attributes to what the Thunder value. They love players with plus positional size, skill level, processing ability and character attributes. This is the same organization that selected bigger guards in Josh Giddey and Nikola Topić over their time, with Topić coming after Dawkins departed. Demin fits the billing. He’s a 6-9 guard who can play the point and is the best passer in the class. His vision is sublime. But he struggled to score this year. He struggled to get paint touches because his handle is not particularly developed yet, and he doesn’t have the threat of the jumper to fall back on having made under 30 percent from distance. Still, many teams think they can fix the jumper, and if so, it would open up the rest of his game as a passer and playmaker. I’m a bit lower on Demin than this, but I’d put his range from the late lottery to No. 22 or so.

19. Brooklyn Nets (via MIL)

Jase Richardson | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Michigan State

The Nets will likely just be talent searching here with their late first-round picks. Richardson is a good bet from a talent perspective. Over his final 15 games, he averaged 16.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists versus only 0.7 turnovers. The reason those games are important is because that’s the moment when Richardson entered the starting lineup after a terrific first half of the season. Richardson has great touch as a shooter and scorer but is still developing his lead guard skills. He’s not all that great of a passer, but more than that, he’s not all that great with his right hand at this stage. Most of Michigan State’s actions got the ball into his left hand and put him in advantageous actions. Teams will want to put him through several different situations during his meetings and workouts to learn more about how he can grow and develop over the next few years.

Walter Clayton Jr. boosted his draft stock by winning Most Outstanding Player honors in the NCAA Tournament. (Scott Wachter / Imagn Images)

20. Miami Heat (via GSW)

Walter Clayton Jr. | 6-3 guard | 22 years old | Florida

Clayton is this year’s big NCAA Tournament riser. The Florida guard was the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 18 points and four assists this year while shooting 45 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3 and 88 percent from the line. But more than that, the level of shot-making that Clayton can showcase at times is truly special. He can get to his shot from any footwork or any angle on the court, especially from distance. He’s comfortable using a change-of-pace dribble to get to a stepback, and then can also attack and drive off that to score around the rim. He’s a former high school quarterback and has real athleticism out there. The questions for me are twofold. First, his ball-screen reads weren’t always on point. He was terrific against Houston in the championship game, but the picture often looked a bit cloudy in terms of his decision-making. Then, on defense, the real question is if he’s a bit too far in-between positions. He got better this year as a senior but wasn’t always reliable throughout his college career. That’s concerning for an older, undersized player. Still, teams love Clayton’s toughness, and I would expect to hear his name called in the first round.

21. Utah Jazz (via MIN)

Liam McNeeley | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Connecticut

McNeeley had an impactful freshman season for the Huskies, but his role wasn’t all that actualized for what he’s capable of doing. McNeeley averaged 14.5 points but shot just 38 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3 this year despite a reputation that would make you believe he is a serious shooter. He often ended up playing on the ball when his best role — as seen by when he played with Flagg, Queen and a star-studded team at Montverde (Fla.) Academy in high school — is off the ball. McNeeley drilled 43 percent of his unguarded catch-and-shoot 3s for UConn. However, only about 40 percent of his attempts off the catch were open looks. He also only hit 13 percent of his pull-up 3s because he struggles to separate with his handle. NBA teams love McNeeley’s competitiveness and his character. There’s a real belief that once a team gets him into the right role, you’ll see the jumper get back to the elite level it was in high school.

22. Atlanta Hawks (via LAL)

Ben Saraf | 6-6 guard | 19 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm

Saraf is on Ulm in Germany with Essengue and is a bit more decorated than his French teammate. He won MVP of the Under-18 European Championships this past summer while putting together one of the best scoring performances in the event’s history. Since then, he’s been a bit up and down. He’s averaging 12.1 points and 4.3 assists this season while shooting 45 percent from the field because he’s excellent with his gathers on drives and sharp with his midrange game, but he also has games when he’ll miss several shots and look out of sorts if teams fight to take away his left hand. He’s extremely dominant on that wing, and he needs to continue adding to his overall handle package. But with the Hawks having to deal with the Caris LeVert free-agency situation this summer, a developmental combo guard could make sense if they struggle to buy into Kobe Bufkin after an injury-riddled first two seasons.

23. Indiana Pacers

Joan Beringer | 6-10 big | 19 years old | Cedevita

Indiana loves these athletic big men and could use another player to develop into a backup role this summer, even if Myles Turner decides to stick around. The Pacers need a long-term backup center solution. Beringer might not be ready to step into that role from day one, but he possesses the kind of tools necessary to turn into a tremendous running partner out in transition for Tyrese Haliburton down the road. He’s a tremendous leaper who can sky for the basketball, but more than that, his hands are phenomenal. He catches everything both in and outside of his area with ease. He fits the archetype of a rim-running, shot-swatting big man who will have low offensive usage but be able to play in versatile situations on defense if his game develops well over the next three years.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)

Noah Penda | 6-8 forward | 20 years old | Le Mans

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a pretty significant roster crunch to the point that it will be difficult to bring two rookies onto the team next season. I would expect them to look to either stash or trade one of these players; otherwise, they will need to make significant movements near the end of their roster to dump a few of their recent draft picks. Given that I’m not projecting trades here, I’ve gone with Penda. I’m not even sure Penda would agree to a stash, to be honest. But I do think that he ticks a lot of the developmental dribble, pass, shoot and defend boxes that Oklahoma City tends to value, to pair with a frame that is already enormous at 6-8, 225 pounds. He’s averaging nearly 10 points per game to go with five rebounds and three assists. I think his defense is overrated by his counting stats, as he can gamble from time to time, but he’s physical and projects to be switchable on that end long-term as long as his footspeed stays at a real level.

25. Orlando Magic (via DEN)

Hugo González | 6-6 wing/forward | 19 years old | Real Madrid

Gonzalez is a tremendous athlete playing in Spain for Real Madrid and has started to get some playing time here and there for the senior team as a teenager. He plays with an exceptional motor and just consistently plays incredibly hard all of the time. He’s one of those dudes who always gives second and third efforts across the board, both on offense and defense, to get loose balls. From a skill perspective, Gonzalez shows some on-ball ability, but it’s going to take time for him to get to NBA level with it. The swing skill here will be the jumper. He’s good enough to be an impactful defender and off-ball player. However, he’s going to have to make 3s. So far this year, he’s only made 29 percent, and it’s never been consistent leading up to this point.

26. Brooklyn Nets (via NYK)

Asa Newell | 6-11 forward/big | 19 years old | Georgia

This strikes me as a perfect fit for Newell. He’s an all-energy big who was extremely productive at Georgia this year, averaging 15.4 points and seven rebounds as a freshman. However, his skills aren’t exactly tailor-made for the NBA. He’s a bit stuck positionally between the four and the five; scouts question whether he’ll measure to his listed height of 6-11, and he doesn’t possess a ton of length. However, he’s also not all that skilled as a shooter or ballhandler at this stage on the perimeter. The Nets would be able to develop him a bit more slowly in terms of his skill set while also giving him some playing time to let his energy wreak havoc on opposing teams.

27. Brooklyn Nets (via HOU)

Rasheer Fleming | 6-9 forward | 20 years old | Saint Joseph’s

Fleming very much looks the part at 6-9 with a 7-4 wingspan. He’s also a very real athlete with leaping ability as well as a chiseled frame that allows him to play with force and strength on both ends. He averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, then on top of it drilled 39 percent from 3. The idea here is a 3-and-D forward who can potentially be switchable and guard across the positional spectrum while also drilling 3s. But he doesn’t yet process things happening around him on the court all that quickly and needs to keep getting experience. But any team that values looking the part as well as the potential to shoot it will definitely have interest in Fleming.

Labaron Philon could move up during the pre-draft evaluation process. (Ken Blaze / Imagn Images)

28. Boston Celtics

Labaron Philon | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Alabama

NBA teams are excited to see Philon up close during the pre-draft process after a breakout freshman season at Alabama that didn’t necessarily answer all the questions about his potential as a one-and-done. On the plus side, he’s a terrific athlete who played whatever role Alabama asked of him this year. Sometimes he was on the ball, taking ball screens and running the offense. Other times, he was asked to be a secondary ballhandler and attack creases when they presented themselves, then make reads off that to either finish or kick the ball out. On defense, I liked his energy and activity. Philon’s draft range is pretty wide right now. He could immensely help himself during the pre-draft process and see himself spike far up the board, or he ends up more in the late-first, early-second range.

29. Phoenix Suns (via CLE)

Cedric Coward | 6-6 wing | 21 years old | Washington State

Coward is my bet for this year’s riser into the first round. This might not be high enough. Coward only played six games this year, but he was lights out in those appearances, averaging 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and shooting 56 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3 and 84 percent from the line before a shoulder injury knocked him out. I saw Coward work out in Los Angeles in April, and it’s hard to overemphasize just how impressive he was. His balance and fluidity athletically are special for a player who is 6-6 with a 7-1 or so wingspan. Everything in the kinetic chain with Coward is perfect. Everything is in one motion and clean with the jumper, with easy, repeatable mechanics to pair with touch. He seems to have added some explosiveness, too. He’s a real upside swing for a team in the back half of the first round that wants to bet on his current trajectory.

Coward committed to Duke earlier this week and is a perfect fit there if he chooses to attend. But my opinion is that he will prove himself worthy of staying in the draft.

30. LA Clippers (via OKC)

Ryan Kalkbrenner | 7-1 big | 23 years old | Creighton

The Clippers could use another backup center option given that Ben Simmons is currently playing the role for them in the playoffs and is a free agent this summer. Kalkbrenner is massive at 7-1 and is an expert in drop coverage with his angles and length. His presence would allow the Clippers to experience less of a dropoff when Ivica Zubac, one of the best centers in the NBA this season, leaves the court. Kalkbrenner averaged 19 points and nine rebounds this year and has consistently been one of the best defensive players in the country over the last four years, winning the Big East’s Defensive Player of the Year award in each season.

Second round

31. Minnesota Timberwolves (via UTA): Will Riley | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Illinois

32. Boston Celtics (via Washington): Tahaad Pettiford | 6-0 guard | 19 years old | Auburn

33. Charlotte Hornets: Yaxel Lendeborg | 6-8 forward | 22 years old | UAB

34. Charlotte Hornets (via NOP): Kam Jones | 6-5 wing | 22 years old | Marquette

35. Philadelphia 76ers: Johni Broome | 6-10 big | 22 years old| Auburn

36. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | North Carolina

37. Detroit Pistons (via Toronto): Tyrese Proctor | 6-6 guard | 21 years old | Duke

38. San Antonio Spurs: Adou Thiero | 6-8 wing | 21 years old | Arkansas

39. Toronto Raptors (via Portland): Darrion Williams | 6-6 wing | 22 years old | Texas Tech

40. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix): Milos Uzan | 6-4 guard | 22 years old | Houston

41. Golden State Warriors (via Miami): John Tonje | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Wisconsin

42. Sacramento Kings (via Chicago): Maxime Raynaud | 7-0 center | 22 years old | Stanford

43. Utah Jazz (via Dallas): Alex Toohey | 6-7 wing/forward | 21 years old | Sydney Kings

44. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Atlanta): Bogoljub Markovic | 6-11 forward | 19 years old | Mega

45. Chicago Bulls (via Sacramento): Rocco Zikarsky | 7-3 big | 19 years old | Brisbane Bullets

46. Orlando Magic: Micah Peavy | 6-7 wing | 23 years old | Georgetown

47. Milwaukee Bucks (via Detroit): Sion James | 6-5 guard | 23 years old | Duke

48. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Milwaukee): Dink Pate | 6-7 guard | 19 years old | Mexico City Capitanes

49. New York Knicks (via Memphis): Chaz Lanier | 6-5 wing | 24 years old | Tennessee

50. Memphis Grizzlies (via Golden State): Hansen Yang | 7-1 center | 20 years old | Qingdao

51. LA Clippers (via Minnesota): Mouhamed Faye | 6-11 big | 20 years old | Reggio Emilia

52. Utah Jazz (via LA Clippers): Max Shulga | 6-5 guard | 23 years old | VCU

53. Phoenix Suns (via Denver): Alijah Martin | 6-2 guard | 23 years old | Florida

54. Indiana Pacers: Koby Brea | 6-7 wing | 23 years old | Kentucky

55. Los Angeles Lakers: Izan Almansa | 6-10 forward | 20 years old | Perth Wildcats

56. Memphis Grizzlies (via Houston): Hunter Sallis | 6-5 guard | 22 years old | Wake Forest

57. Orlando Magic (via Boston): Ryan Nembhard | 6-0 guard | 22 years old | Gonzaga

58. Cleveland Cavaliers: Vladislav Goldin | 7-1 center | 22 years old | Michigan

59. Houston Rockets (via Oklahoma City): Amari Williams | 6-11 big | 23 years old | Kentucky

(Note: The New York Knicks have forfeited their 2025 second-round pick because of free-agency shenanigans.)

(Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos of, from left, Dylan Harper, Cooper Flagg and Tre Johnson: Patrick Smith /Getty Images; Craig Strobeck and Maria Lysaker /Imagn Images)

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