2025 NBA mock draft: Final projections

The 2025 NBA Draft is just days away, and with suspense building ahead of the annual two-night event, here's how we think the first night of the draft will unfold in consideration of team-specific needs.

Stats from Europe-based players are compiled from all competitions.

Cooper Flagg (Duke) 🇺🇸

Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-8
Age: 18

Thanks to his incredible versatility at both ends, expect the Mavericks to deploy Flagg in several roles as a rookie. His steady ball-handling, self-creation, and playmaking packaged in a 6-foot-8 frame suggest the bulk of his minutes will come at the wing, though he's more than capable of holding his own at the four when Anthony Davis rests. It would be asinine to call Flagg a better overall player than Luka Doncic today; however, when Kyrie Irving's back to 100%, the Duke product may end up being the better fit for Dallas' contention window.

Dylan Harper (Rutgers) 🇺🇸

Position: Point guard
Height: 6-foot-4
Age: 19

Harper may be the most polished scoring guard to enter the league in recent years. He has a massive frame that he uses to great effect, carving out space to create driving angles. Once he gets to the cup, the former five-star recruit can deploy numerous fakes and step-throughs to finish at an elite clip (62%). Pairing Harper with Victor Wembanyama should open up his passing game - the lefty's playmaking statistics don't match his ability because Rutgers' talent was questionable at best. Harper has All-NBA potential if he unlocks his off-the-dribble shooting.

VJ Edgecombe (Baylor) 🇧🇸

Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-foot-4
Age: 19

In the debate between Edgecombe and Ace Bailey, the 76ers opt for the safer Baylor guard over the volatile Rutgers wing. Philadelphia is reportedly doing its due diligence on Edgecombe and can envision him and Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt together. The 19-year-old could cover for some of Maxey's defensive limitations while contributing an explosive brand of offense. Adding Edgecombe might be the better decision for the Sixers' short- and long- term future.

Ace Bailey (Rutgers) 🇺🇸

Position: Small forward
Height: 6-foot-7
Age: 18

Bailey continues to flirt with falling down draft boards following a subpar interview process and smaller measurements than anticipated at the draft combine. After a mercurial freshman season and reports that the Sixers are torn on whether to pick him at No. 3, it appears Bailey will fall one spot to the Hornets and team up with LaMelo Ball. Bailey should get plenty of touches in Charlotte, but that could be to his detriment if it exposes his inefficiency.

Tre Johnson (Texas) 🇺🇸

Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-foot-5
Age: 19

Johnson is arguably the best pure scorer in this year's draft. The Texas standout led the SEC in scoring last season as a freshman and posted the conference's second-best 3-point clip. He can pull up from downtown in transition, shoot over smaller guards, and create separation from defenders on step-backs. However, Johnson's lack of explosiveness limits his rim pressure, and he often settled for pull-up jumpers instead of making simple passing reads.

Kon Knueppel (Duke) 🇺🇸

Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-foot-5
Age: 19

NBA teams are always looking for more shooting, so the Wizards use their pick here to take the best marksman in the class. Washington desperately needs an offensive boost as it ranked dead-last in efficiency last season. Knueppel's ability to find himself in the right spots would help improve the Wizards' ability to score the ball just with his potential presence from deep. The crafty wing could also see some on-ball creation reps, navigating pick-and-rolls with ease.

Derik Queen (Maryland) 🇺🇸

Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-9
Age: 20

Queen's funky offensive game relentlessly pressures the rim. He won't put together a highlight dribble package, but the ball is on a string at all times, much in the way it is for Nikola Jokic. Even though he's slightly undersized, Queen's tremendous balance and great strength make him a threat in the post, and he also possesses great passing instincts. If he can improve his pick-and-roll defense, Queen has All-Star upside, and the Pelicans could use all/any help they can get.

Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma) 🇺🇸

Position: Point guard
Height: 6-foot-2
Age: 18

Fears' ability to attack the basket at his size generates instant comparisons to Derrick Rose. He has a very high ceiling and elite ball-handling skills. His ability to create off the dribble makes him a constant threat to get down low, and his quick hands allow him to be a defensive disruptor. If he works on his shot, Fears will be dangerous from everywhere on the court. Plus the Nets could use a point guard with D'Angelo Russell set to enter free agency.

Khaman Maluach (Duke) 🇸🇸

Position: Center
Height: 7-foot-1
Age: 18

The Raptors showcased a great defense in the second half of last season, and they could build on that with Maluach, who's arguably the best defensive center in the class. The big man boasts a ridiculous 9-foot-6 standing reach coupled with a 7-foot-6 wingspan. He's an intimidating figure in the paint and an above-average rim-protector at his young age. Maluach does have below-average hands and slow feet, but he can improve in both areas.

Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois) 🇱🇹

Position: Point guard
Height: 6-foot-5
Age: 19

Jakucionis' passing makes him an excellent swing for upside. The Lithuanian can throw every imaginable pass with either hand and is capable of deftly tossing lobs or whipping cross-court dimes directly into a shooter's pocket. His size and outside shooting will allow him to play off the ball, giving him more versatility than other guards in this class. Jakucionis has high-level starter potential if he can tighten up his handle.

Carter Bryant (Arizona) 🇺🇸

Position: Small forward
Height: 6-foot-7
Age: 19

Bryant's got the shooting range and physical traits to be an effective 3-and-D player. His 215-pound frame, near-7-foot wingspan, and quickness allowed him to guard 2-4 last season. Bryant is only 19 years old, so there may also be some untapped elements of his skill set that didn't show up on the stats page during his time with Arizona.

Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina) 🇺🇸

Position: Power forward
Height: 6-foot-6
Age: 20

The Bulls have drafted their fair share of forwards since 2020, but Murray-Boyles is a worthy selection to bolster their underwhelming defense. The South Carolina forward used his frame well to defend both along the perimeter and in the paint, playing passing lanes to come away with steals and deflections. He's also a capable offensive player with room to grow into a consistent threat.

Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm) 🇫🇷

Position: Small forward
Height: 6-foot-9
Age: 18

Atlanta's refreshed Trae Young's supporting cast to lean younger, with perimeter menace Dyson Daniels expected to feature alongside two-way talents like Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher for years to come. What the team's missing is depth. Essengue, a 6-foot-10 French forward who played professionally in Germany, boasts tremendous defensive upside and off-ball awareness. The Hawks would be spoiled having him support Johnson and Risacher off the bench.

Egor Demin (BYU) 🇷🇺

Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-8
Age: 19

Demin brings elite size at the point and tremendous court vision. He's got all sorts of passes in his arsenal and set a new BYU single-season freshman record with 180 assists last season. The big knock on Demin is his jumper, which could limit his ceiling at the next level.

Danny Wolf (Michigan) 🇺🇸

Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-10
Age: 21

While the Thunder don't necessarily need another big man with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams playing consistent minutes, teams don't want to find themselves without one if a worst-case injury scenario strikes. Wolf's ball-handling and creation skills would be perfect additions to Oklahoma City's unique offensive scheme.

Asa Newell (Georgia) 🇺🇸

Position: Power forward
Height: 6-foot-9
Age: 19

Newell's high motor became his identity in his lone collegiate season. The big man ran the floor in transition, consistently crashed the offensive glass, and used his lateral quickness to cut off drives when switched onto a guard or wing. Newell wasn't a consistent 3-point threat, but his good touch provides reason for optimism.

Jase Richardson (Michigan State) 🇺🇸

Position: Guard
Height: 6-feet
Age: 19

The T-Wolves need to freshen up their backcourt with Mike Conley turning 38 this offseason, and Richardson is the perfect choice for that. The guard has a great offensive game and is an elite shooter from all over the court. Getting to learn from Conley would be an ideal start to Richardson's career.

Liam McNeeley (UConn) 🇺🇸

Position: Small forward
Height: 6-foot-7
Age: 19

McNeeley is a better 3-point shooter than his numbers indicate. He's got clean mechanics and can knock down jumpers coming off screens. He flashed his shot-making prowess in a 38-point road win over Creighton. McNeeley also has good size at the wing position and showed great feel for the game during his lone year at UConn.

Nolan Traore (Saint-Quentin) 🇫🇷

Position: Point guard
Height: 6-foot-3
Age: 19

Due to his lackluster efficiency playing overseas coupled with the recent track record of guards from France, Traore's stock seems to be sliding. He possesses good qualities for a lead guard, but the right team will need to give him the chance to develop at the NBA level. Could it be the Nets?

Thomas Sorber (Georgetown) 🇺🇸

Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-9
Age: 19

Sorber is undersized for the center position, but he makes up for his height with a 9-foot-1 standing reach and terrific strength. A true play-finishing big, Sorber is elite around the rim while also possessing strong passing instincts. His shot creation is lacking, though, and he's unlikely to develop into a consistent shooter.

Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida) 🇺🇸

Position: Point guard
Height: 6-foot-2
Age: 22

An elite shot-creator, Clayton was outstanding in leading Florida to a national championship. He has the ability to score from all over the court, and once he catches from fire from three, it's hard to make him miss. Clayton could be an immediate solution to the backcourt issues Utah had last season.

Nique Clifford (Colorado State) 🇺🇸

Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-foot-5
Age: 23

Clifford's versatile skill set and age make him an ideal plug-and-play candidate. The 23-year-old defends multiple positions, creates turnovers at a high rate, and is an elite defensive rebounder. He took the next step offensively as a fifth-year senior, flashing promise as a pick-and-roll scorer, isolation scorer, and post-up threat.

Ben Saraf (Ratiopharm Ulm) 🇮🇱

Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-foot-5
Age: 19

Saraf would be well-suited as a late first-round find for New Orleans, which doesn't have many dependable ball-handlers on its second unit. The Israeli combo guard's size makes him an intriguing option to play next to the 6-foot Jose Alvarado, though their mutual lack of outside shooting may create another issue that needs addressed in the offseason.

Rasheer Fleming (St. Joseph's) 🇺🇸

Position: Power forward
Height: 6-foot-8
Age: 20

The Thunder land another versatile big man in Fleming to pair with their previous selection, Danny Wolf. The Saint Joseph's forward projects to be a high-level role player who brings bursts of energy, specifically on defense. Oklahoma City can also give the 20-year-old ample time to develop his offensive feel.

Joan Beringer (KK Cedevita Olimpija) 🇫🇷

Position: Small forward
Height: 6-foot-8
Age: 18

Beringer's soccer background stands out, as the forward's fluidity and movement are elite. A solid screener and terrific lob threat, Beringer projects as a low-usage backup big man but with upside. The Frenchman only began playing basketball at 14, so he's got lots of room for growth.

Noah Penda (Le Mans Sarthe) 🇫🇷

Position: Small forward
Height: 6-foot-8
Age: 20

Penda will be a defensive asset no matter where he ends up. The Frenchman averaged 1.4 steals per game last season and boasts great size for his position. His absurd 7-foot wingspan and heavier frame will make him a tough matchup for most wings.

Will Riley (Illinois) 🇨🇦

Position: Small forward
Height: 6-foot-8
Age: 19

Landing with the rebuilding Nets would be best for Riley's professional development. His measurables lead scouts to believe that the 19-year-old could be a big scoring forward, but he needs time to develop a consistent jumper and add muscle.

Hugo Gonzalez (Real Madrid) 🇪🇸

Position: Small forward
Height: 6-foot-6
Age: 19

With Jayson Tatum out long term and a mammoth tax bill looming, Gonzalez could be the Celtics' answer at No. 28. The Spanish wing may need time to adjust after averaging the fourth-fewest minutes for Real Madrid in 2024-25, but he's flashed promise across multiple youth levels, including back-to-back Euroleague Next Generation Tournament titles (and MVP honors in the second one). That suggests he's a worthwhile project for Boston.

Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton) 🇺🇸

Position: Center
Height: 7-foot-1
Age: 23

Kalkbrenner enters the NBA with an immediate role: defense. The 23-year-old won four defensive player of the year awards at Creighton and can slot into any roster as a drop-coverage big, similar to Brook Lopez. A solid rim-runner who lacks elite burst, Kalkbrenner improved his outside shooting every year in college.

Cedric Coward (Washington State) 🇺🇸

Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-foot-6
Age: 21

Coward flew up draft boards after posting outrageous measurements at the combine - a 7-foot-2 wingspan and 8-foot-10 standing reach - prompting the shooting guard to decommit from Duke. The Washington State standout was made in a lab to be a 3-and-D wing; he shot nearly 40% from deep across four seasons (including a stint in D-III).