Mock Draft Update

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving! With most teams hitting right around 20 games into the 2025 NBA season, I can’t help but be excited with what will happen after it ends. With such an exciting crop of prospects in the upcoming 2025 NBA draft, it’s intriguing to guess who the top prospects will be and which team will select each player.

Below I am using Tankathon’s rankings as of the morning of 11/29/2024 to determine the ranking of the teams for the draft, while providing my analysis of who they will draft and why. Note: When planning my mocks, I always try to leave as much bias out and not use who I think are the best players available, instead using intel from what I am hearing on teams, the players, draft history, and reviewing current team structure to determine where prospects will go. Let’s begin:

1- Washington Wizards: Cooper Flagg - 6’9 Forward Duke

The obvious number one candidate early on, Flagg is an elite defensive player with skills on offense that could lead to something special. Regardless of who is on Washington’s roster, Flagg will be the cornerstone of the franchise.

2- Philadelphia 76ers: Ace Bailey - 6’10 Big Rutgers

Currently looked at as the most likely candidate to compete with Flagg for the #1 spot, Bailey has an insane amount of potential as a large, athletic wing with great handles and scoring ability. This spot would obviously be perceived as a failure by an organization that spent a vast amount of money to acquire George to build a contender around Embiid, but obtaining Bailey could be a step back to take two steps forward.

3- New Orleans Pelicans: Dylan Harper - 6’7 Guard Rutgers

The Pelicans won’t hesitate to select best player available if Harper falls to them. Harper’s size and skill will be incredibly beneficial to a team that failed to live up to expectations due to injury and could be looking for a shakeup.

4- Utah Jazz: VJ Edgecombe - 6’5 Guard Baylor (Bahamas)

The Jazz could use Edgeombe’s elite athleticsism and could be the high level prospect to give the Jazz the direction they’ve needed since they traded Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.

5- Toronto Raptors: Khaman Malauch - 7’2 Big Duke (South Sudan)

Raptors will need to try and make as “big” of a splash as they can, and Malauch will certainly fit the bill. The team needs to take some swings to build talent around Scottie Barnes and Malauch’s upside can be tantalizing for their build of the future.

6- Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel - 6’6 Wing Duke

Knuppel has risen up fast on draft boards and it’s not hard to see why with his elite shooting. Knuppel would greatly benefit from LaMelo Ball feeding him the ball.

7- Portland Trailblazers: Egor Demin - 6’8 Wing BYU (Russia)

The size, skillset, and court vision that Demin has will provide a versatile building block for a rebuilding Blazers team.

8- Detroit Pistons: Tre Johnson - 6’6 Wing Texas

The Pistons could use better shooting and Johnson would help provide that while also being able to create his own shot and help alleviate the burden from Cade Cunningham on offense.

9- Chicago Bulls: Nolan Traore - 6’5 Guard Saint-Quentin (France)

Missing most of the biggest names in the draft due to their hot start this season, the Bulls still get the best point guard in the draft to start their rebuild in earnest.

10- San Antonio Spurs (Hawks): Hugo Gonzalez - 6’6 Wing Real Madrid (Spain)

Gonzalez has slipped a bit in the overall rankings after a shaky start this year for Real Madrid. The Spurs would need to be confident in his development with the team, but he has a chance to be a promising addition for a team lacking a dynamic forward.

11- Utah Jazz (Timberwolves): Liam McNeeley - 6’8 Forward UCONN

The Jazz have plenty of young prospects that they will have to start finding their future core with, but McNeeley can provide necessary floor spacing and a winning pedigree for a team, either as depth or a future starter.

12- Sacramento Kings: Boogie Fland - 6’3 Guard Arkansas

The Kings could use a backup point guard that they can develop should they move on from Fox in the future. Fland could either be their answer or a fantastic guard off the bench creating offense alongside Malik Monk going forward.

13- San Antonio Spurs: Noa Essengue - 6’9 Forward Ratopharm Ulm (France)

The second youngest player projected to be drafted, Essengue has showcased an extremely versatile skillset that many see as the start for a player that can create offense around the basket, stretch the floor, and impact the game on defense. He is still very raw, however, and will need to continue to grow and improve his game, especially his shot.

14- Houston Rockets (Suns): Collin Murray-Boyles - 6’7 Forward South Carolina

The Rockets already have plenty of youth dedicated to playing great defense. Murray-Boyles can help continue that identity for the team.

15- Brooklyn Nets: Carter Bryant - 6’8 Forward Arizona

The Nets should be looking to trade Dorian Finney-Smith and other veterans on the roster, focusing on more long-term options with high upside. Carter Bryant will come into the league as an unfinished product that shows a lot of promise as a 3 and D player.

16- Indiana Pacers: Ben Saraf - 6’6 Ratopharm Ulm (Israel)

Saraf is an intriguing prospect that has shown great court vision in European play. He’d give the Pacers depth as a backup for Tyrese Haliburton, especially with T.J. McConnell entering his mid-thirties.

17- Oklahoma city Thunder (Heat): Michael Ruzic - 6’9 Big Joventut Badalona (France)

The Thunder could afford to be patient with Ruzic, who ruptured a tendon in his shooting thumb in October. Just like they did drafting Nikola Topic in the 2024 draft, they can let him recover from any injury setback, if it continues past the three month expected timeline, and develop him, as he has shown the ability to stretch the floor, defend, and pass well for his position.

18- Brooklyn Nets (Bucks): Kasparas Jakucionis - 6’5 Wing Illinois (Lithuania)

Dennis Schröder is not the answer for the Nets long-term at point guard, so they will definitely look for on in the draft. Jakucionis has shown a great feel for scoring and passing and has great size for a lead guard.

19- Brooklyn Nets (Knicks): Drake Powell - 6’6 Wing UNC

Powell has a lot of potential, already showcasing a great defense and all around skillset. He will need to make some progress on offense to truly become a star for the Nets though.

20- Dallas Mavericks: Derrion Reid - 6’8 Forward Alabama

Reid projects as a defensive forward that can add more depth to a Mavericks frontcourt that values hustle and defense. They will need to be patient with his shot, as it is still a work in progress, but he has shown flashes.

21- Orlando Magic (Nuggets): Ian Jackson - 6’5 Wing UNC

The Magic could use Jackson’s scoring ability to give a boost to their offense.

22- Oklahoma City Thunder (Clippers): Jalil Bethea - 6’4 Guard Miami

The Thunder could add use a spark of the bench, and Bethea’s shot-making would be a welcome addition in that regard. Bethea needs to start showing more playmaking to potentially climb higher on draft boards.

23- Atlanta Hawks (Lakers): Derik Queen - 6’10 Pivot Maryland

Queen has had his ups and downs so far this year, but overall has shown quite a bit of promise. He’d shoot further up this board if he starts to showcase any sort of range to make up for his lack of size.

24- Memphis Grizzlies: Adou Thierro - 6’6 Wing Arkansas (Mali)

Thierro has been the beneficiary of an extended role at Arkansas and he’s added a better offensive game to a skillset that so far has highlighted his athleticism, especially on defense.

25- Orlando Magic: Rocco Zikarsky - 7’3 Pivot Brisbane (Australia)

Zikarsky has fallen pretty far on draft boards after a slow start in Australia, mainly due to not getting enough run to make the impact he could be making. If he can get more minutes and show improved play, he may not be here for the Magic to get.

26- Golden State Warriors: Donnie Freeman - 6’9 Forward Syracuse

Freeman is a project, but the Warriors can still afford to be patient to ensure a bright future after Curry retires and they move into a new era. He has shown great defensive upside, just will need to refine his skillset and continue to grow on the offensive side of the ball.

27- Brooklyn Nets (Rockets): Dink Pate - 6’8 210 Guard G-League Capitanes

The Nets take a swing at another high upside prospect. Pate has great size for a guard, and has shown an ability to score in a variety of ways, but it currently is hard for him to showcase his skills in the G League with his low minutes.

28- Los Angeles Clippers (Thunder): Will Riley - 6’8 Forward Illinois (Canada)

Clippers get a quality scorer late in the draft with Riley who has also shown good outside shooting to pair with his quality shot-making inside the arc.

29- Boston Celtics: Alex Karaban - 6’8 Forward Uconn

Quality shooter, great team defensive, and proven winner. Celtics hope Karaban can continue to bring wins to a team currently defending their title and turn it into a dynasty.

30- Cleveland Cavaliers: Asa Newell - 6’9 Big Georgia

If he can become reliable behind the arc, he won’t be here for the Cavs to select. Regardless, he still brings great size and energy with the chance to develop into something more.