Mock Draft Monday 6/23 '25
'25 NBA Mock Draft
Believe Me
- ‘25 NBA Mock Drafts
- YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is Lil Wayne’s Believe Me featuring Drake.
Luckily for you, you don’t have to believe solely in my mock as today’s ‘25 NBA Mock Draft also features College Basketball/NBA analyst and knower of ball, Kevin Duffy.
On to the hoops…
Here are dueling NBA Mock Drafts for Wednesday night’s 1st Round of the NBA Draft, which will be held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center at 8 PM ET…
KD: Cooper Flagg at one has been a foregone conclusion ever since he stepped on campus, and he did little to falter that notion, posting team-leading statistics across the board. The fit in Dallas is ideal for both parties, especially the NBA, which gifted the Mavs #1. If the Spurs don’t trade their pick, I anticipate them taking the best guard in the draft, Dylan Harper. The highly regarded freshman duo of Harper and Bailey may have underwhelmed in the standings, but both flashed superstar potential in their brief time on campus. Harper will give the Spurs (or Nets/Bucks by trade?) an elite playmaker who can even play off-ball alongside Fox/Castle. On the Spurs, he can play a Manu role. If he lands on another team where he’s asked to do more, I envision a Harden ascension. VJ Edgecombe brings elite athleticism and elite shooting as the 76ers look to improve in that area. Reports are that the 76ers want to run it back with PG and look to contend next year. VJ can help off the bench immediately and be a key piece in their future. Tre Johnson is an excellent three-level scorer, and he would fill a hole at shooting guard for the Hornets. If the Hornets stay healthy, with the addition of Johnson, they should improve on their league-low team scoring average. Kon Kneuppel is an ideal Jazz pick who reminds me of a former Jazz All-Star, Matt Harpring. He can shoot the lights out and would fill a need for them at wing. Kneuppel does the winning things to help a team, and the Jazz need all the help they can get in that regard.
TD: Cooper Flagg has been the consensus #1 pick in this draft since he was selected to play with Team USA in their tune-up for the Paris Olympic Games. Flagg has an offensive game similar to Chris Webber and plays with the defensive tenacity of Kevin Garnett. I’m not the biggest Dylan Harper fan, as his ball dominance at Rutgers didn’t lead to too many Scarlett Knights’ wins. That said, he’s talented, and the Spurs are heavily linked to the son of Ron Harper. VJ Edgecombe may never be a team’s leading scorer, but he’ll be a nice secondary offensive piece and elite defender. He should work well paired up with Tyrese Maxey in Philly’s backcourt. Tre Johnson feels like the unlucky star who has to play with LaMelo Ball. I’m giving him the edge over Kon Knueppel because he’s got some more upside as a shooter off the dribble, creating his own shots. Knueppel is the best off-ball offensive player in this draft class. His catch-and-shoot ability, combined with defensive effort, reminds me of a young Klay Thompson, but Utah may claim he’s more like Jeff Hornacek.*
*Editor’s Note: (Shit, Matt Harpring might be a better comp tho. Haven’t heard that name in ages. Good stuff, Duff.)
KD: I think the Wizards are the team who have guaranteed to take Ace Bailey, who has declined to work out with teams leading up to the draft. He would be given ample opportunity to develop alongside the youngest team in the NBA. Bailey’s potential is through the roof as the Wizards continue to stockpile talent; their future looks promising. Derik Queen will look to bring an inside presence to the Pelicans, who lack in that regard. He has a versatile game for a big man, playing inside and out with good footwork in the post or attacking the rim. Khaman Malauch is a juggernaut defensively and would also give the Nets a major boost to their frontcourt. Will Riley was a player who really stood out when I went to the Rutgers-Illinois game earlier this year. “That kid’s the best player on the court” is what my father said to me as we watched him lead his team in scoring. The Toronto product is an elite shooter and shot creator who I think will surprise people with his playmaking skills. After trading Kevin Durant to the Rockets, the Suns will look to draft his replacement in Carter Bryant. A tremendous 3-and-D prospect, the Arizona product can fill a spot on the wing for the Suns.
TD: Washington selects Jeremiah Fears at #6. Fears reclassified to play college basketball a year early and is only 18 years old. High upside pick, the Wizards haven’t drafted a Point Guard in the lottery since John Wall. Like when Wall entered the NBA, Fears is an elite athlete with some questions about his jump shot. Derik Queen seems to be the only lottery pick that New Orleans has worked out. They could be playing coy, or they’d like to attempt a big-bodied front court of Zion, Queen, and Yves Messi, which would at least be a fun play-style in theory. Ace Bailey and his representation may have torpedoed his draft stock by refusing to work out with a handful of teams. Brooklyn would be a team sitting at #8 that couldn’t afford to pass up on his talent. This would be a massive high-upside and potential home run pick by the Nets. Toronto could use some youth at the center position. Khaman Maluach definitely fills that void. The Duke center should be an elite rim protector from the moment he steps on the floor in the NBA. At #10, the Suns draft a late riser in Cedric Coward. After dealing away Kevin Durant and receiving #10, Jalen Green, and future assets, Phoenix currently has a roster of guards with very little front-court depth. Coward is a former unheralded DIII player who didn’t receive a single D1 offer out of high school. On a Suns team that lacked effort, Coward has the sort of hardworking pedigree desperately needed.
KD: Asa Newell has one of the highest upside in the draft, and the Blazers need some front-court versatility. Thomas Sorber is a strong big man. who showed some immense potential defensively. He would give the Bulls a much-needed boost to their frontcourt. Noa Essengue also has tremendous upside. The French connection between Essengue and Zaccharie Risacher should help their development. Cedric Coward brings a game that’s ready for the NBA as an elite 3-and-D wing. He has come a long way since starting at a Division 3 school, and it's clear that he has put in the work, as he continues to improve year by year. He would fit well alongside the Spurs’ young core and help them contend sooner rather than later. Liam McNeeley showed incredible potential last year at UCONN and at times looked like the best player on Montverde last year alongside Flagg, Queen, and Newell. His elite pedigree and shot-creating will be beneficial to the Thunder’s championship hopes as they seemingly never stop adding talent.
TD: This past weekend, Portland invited Kasparas Jakucionis in for a private workout. Jakucionis was asked to play some point guard at Illinois, has a well-rounded game, and would fit in nicely with a Blazers team that could use help everywhere but center. The Bulls currently have Nikola Vucevic and Zach Collins on 1-year deals at center. Asa Newell could be their long-term answer at the position and reminds me a bit of Joakim Noah. Atlanta enters the offseason at a crossroads with Trae Young. Jase Richardson should have the ability to play off-ball at the 2 or possibly at point if the Hawks end up dealing Young. Danny Wolf feels very much like a San Antonio Spurs pick. While they clearly don’t need a rim protector with Victor Wembanyama, Wolf comfortably played this past season at Michigan alongside a 7-footer, and his ability to play point forward with the 7’6” Frenchman should terrify the rest of the NBA. Much like the Spurs drafting the right fit, OKC follows suit as a well-run organization by not overthinking things and selecting Liam McNeeley. The UConn freshman is only a year removed from being a consensus 5-star recruit and was considered a lock to be a lottery pick. While McNeeley didn’t light it up from 3-point range with the Huskies like most imagined, he showed promising elements in other parts of his game. The Thunder would be adding a high-upside point forward who will play hard defensively, rebound, and should see an improvement in his shooting as a secondary option.
KD: Nique Clifford is a good 3-point shooter and defender who can help the Magic on the perimeter as they look to contend. Jeremiah Fears to the Timberwolves would be another development guard for them in the draft after selecting Rob Dillingham last year. The Wolves should look to take pressure off Anthony Edwards of having to bring up the ball so he can focus more on scoring. Fears has elite athleticism and play-making ability. Joan Beringer is another big Frenchman who will look to develop in Washington alongside Alexander Sarr. He brings good defense and can be a nice lob threat. Nolan Traore had Top 5 hype going into the year, but has since fallen some. Nevertheless, Traore has plenty of upside as a great shot creator and finisher at the rim. With some fine-tuning on his jump shot, he can be an elite guard, as he possesses the type of talent the Nets should stockpile as a potential steal at #19. Egor Demin showed some incredible potential at BYU, and the versatile point forward could mesh well with the young talent of Herro/Ware/Jovic.
TD: Chaz Lanier may be a bit of a reach at #16, but the Grizzlies need to replace Desmond Bane somehow. By keeping Lanier in-state, Memphis gets one of my favorite shooters of the draft class. Walter Clayton Jr. would be a terrific fit in Minnesota. The T’Wolves were forced into playing Mike Conley Jr. in crunch time last season, and could desperately use a younger option like Clayton Jr. Since he can play off the ball so well, Clayton Jr. and Antony Edwards should mesh well as a backcourt. The Wizards landing a falling Thomas Sorber would be a nice draft night in Washington. Sorber and Fears give the Wizards two high-upside teenagers who can hopefully develop into a nice pick-&-roll combo while actually trying on defense, too. After landing a high-upside prospect in Ace Bailey at #8, Brooklyn balances things out with a high-floor-low-ceiling pick in Johni Broome. A two-time All-American, Broome won’t have the same star impact at the next level, but should be an immediate contributor right away. A smart player who knows his game, Broome brings some winning culture to Brooklyn. Speaking of culture, the Miami Heat Culture always seems to draft an overlooked player like Nique Clifford. The Heat tend not to care too much about age in the draft, so Clifford already being 23 shouldn’t matter, and he fits in as a prospect if a chip on his shoulder.
KD: Collin Murray-Boyles is undersized for a forward, but is a good rebounder and has good defensive versatility. Here, the Jazz add a forward, who went to high school in Utah, with a more mid-range inside game to their team alongside perimeter bigs like Kyle Filipowski and Lauri Markkanen. Jase Richardson, the son of 3-time NBA dunk champ Jason Richardson, brings a similar high-flying game. Much like his father, he too is an underrated shooter. The young Richardson would look to help at the guard position alongside Trae Young and Zaccharie Risacher. Maxine Raynaud brings a versatile skill set that is ready to contribute on Day 1, having spent four years at Stanford. The 1st Team ACC member consistently improved in college and would bring additional size/shooting to the Pelicans. Kasparas Jakuciones underwhelmed when I saw him play vs Rutgers. The guard seemed to force shots that weren’t there and wasn’t great defensively. However, the young Lithuanian has room to grow as a taller guard, and the Thunder will look to continue to add players of immense value. Walter Clayton Jr. to the Magic would be an ideal fit for both him and the team. The Lake Wales, Florida native, and National Champion with the Gators brings great shot-creating. His leadership is also a bonus for a budding contender. The Magic recently traded away Cole Anthony and KCP for Bane, so Clayton is a suitable replacement for the shooting guard minutes off the bench to begin his career.
TD: Egor Demin paired up with Kon Knueppel would bring much-needed two-way versatility to the Utah Jazz. The tall BYU Cougar point guard ain’t a great shooter by any stretch, but is a very crafty passer for his size. Atlanta could use a versatile big man like Grant Nelson. Not the kind of player that needs plays drawn up for him, Nelson will get his points in transition, on the offensive glass, and will occasionally knock down an open trey. Nelson is also one of the more underrated rim protectors of this draft class. Kam Jones is more likely a 2nd Round prospect, but I’m not including any EuroLeague players because I didn’t see them play. New Orleans desperately could use some guard depth. The Marquette lefty showed promise as a passer last season in his only year at point guard. The Thunder typically make a trade or two on draft night to keep collecting future assets, but in the event they stay pat at #24, Rasheer Fleming would make sense. Fleming could spell either of the Thunder bigs next season and possibly be OKC’s long-term fit next to Chet Holmgren. After trading for Desmond Bane, the Orlando Magic adds another guard with shooting ability in Caleb Love. The All-American guard may have regressed a bit after his stellar 2024 season at Arizona, but he is talented enough to at least earn minutes off the bench in the NBA.
KD: Hugo Gonzalez would be a great fit for fellow Spaniard Jordi Fernandez and the Nets. The young small forward made his professional debut at 16, and if the Nets can get him here, it would be a steal. He brings an evolving game to the States, and he needs some seasoning, but Brooklyn should give him time to develop. Rasheer Fleming is a powerful forward from St Joe’s who can play both inside and out, knocking the 3-ball down at a strong clip. He should be ready to play in the NBA in Year 1. If the Nets can hit on these players, their future looks a lot brighter than it did a week ago. Grant Nelson brings an intriguing skill set as a slasher on offense who is also a willing defender and rebounder. He can help sustain the Celtics without Jayson Tatum, and once the Celtics’ star is back, Nelson should help to take the pressure off of him defensively. Grant Nelson has both a high potential and a high floor. Yanic Konan Niederhauser is a big center who is one of the best athletes in the draft. The Suns need a shot-blocking inside presence, and that’s his best current skill set. Plus, Niederhauser has the potential to develop an offensive game that is too much to ignore for Phoenix at this point in the draft. I think of Jarrett Allen when I see him. Bogoljub Markovic to the Clippers would help boost their already strong frontcourt. The Serbian has the size for an NBA big man and is an underrated passer. If the Clippers can land him here, it would be a steal to finish the 1st Round.
TD: The Nets have back-to-back picks at the tail end of the draft. While they could try to use one or both to trade up, I like the idea of Brooklyn coming out of this year’s draft with 4 1st Round rookies. Mark Sears and Eric Dixon are both older NBA prospects who will slide to this range due to concerns about their age. While I don’t expect him to be Jalen Brunson, Sears is a 2-time All-American who’s averaged 20.1 points on 39% shooting from beyond the arc the past two seasons. Dixon might be 24 years old, but he led the nation in scoring at 23.3 points per game. Both should play immediately as rookies, and if they can be half the hoopers they were in college at the NBA level, it’s well worth the risk. Boston likely can’t afford to keep both their free-agent centers, Al Horford and Luke Kornet, along with Kristaps Porzingis. Ryan Kalkbrenner is a 4-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year for a reason, and could at least replace Kornet on the defensive end of the floor. For RJ Luis to make it in the NBA, he’ll need to be a high-effort player that the Suns could use after a lackluster season. Last but not least, John Tonje is a 24-year-old prospect, so likely to land in the 2nd Round. That said, his production makes him a borderline 1st Rounder as the All-American averaged 19.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 39% from deep.
Official ‘25 NBA Mock Draft
