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Final 2025 NBA mock draft: Predicting all 30 first-round selections
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- Final 2025 NBA mock draft: Predicting all 30 first-round selections
NBA Mock Draft
The fireworks started Sunday and continued a day later.
The Suns moved future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with the Rockets , and the Celtics sent Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks, signaling the start of what should be a fascinating draft week.
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There is the potential for plenty of wheeling and dealing Wednesday night at Barclays Center.
The biggest story revolves around Ace Bailey , the uber-talented wing out of Rutgers who hasn't visited with a single NBA team.
The uncertainty over Bailey could create upheaval at the top of the draft.
The Post's Zach Braziller breaks down the eagerly anticipated first round with his mock draft:
1. Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg , Duke (F, 6-7, 221 pounds)
The no-brainer of all no-brainers. Flagg doesn't have a clear strength, because he does everything so well. He defends, he rebounds, he blocks shots, he scores, he's a playmaker and he shoots it. The 18-year-old forward was the best player in college basketball as a freshman when, age-wise, he should've still been in high school. Dallas could've made this pick on May 12 — the day it miraculously won the lottery, despite entering the night with a 1.8 percent chance.
There is no doubt that Cooper Flagg will be drafted first. Getty Images
2. San Antonio Spurs
Dylan Harper , Rutgers (G, 6-4, 213 pounds)
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Yes, the fit in San Antonio is somewhat clunky after the Spurs dealt for DeAaron Fox in February, and there are questions about why Rutgers had such a down year being led by Harper, along with fellow top draft prospect Ace Bailey. But Harper is an elite talent — he would've been the clear No. 1 pick had Flagg not reclassified up a year — a high-scoring guard with wing size and incredible pedigree as five-time NBA champion Ron Harper's son. He also won't be asked to carry such a heavy burden in San Antonio while joining Fox, Victor Wembanyama and Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle .
3. Philadelphia 76ers
V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor (G, 6-4, 193 pounds)
Scouts love his competitive fire and relentless work ethic. Edgecombe might be the most athletic player in this draft, which makes up for him being a tad undersized on the wing. Some have compared him to Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade , he's that highly regarded. Said one scout: "He's got pro written all over him. People will question his shooting ability until you need to make a shot to win a game. He'll make that shot."
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4. Charlotte Hornets
Tre Johnson , Texas (G, 6-4, 190 pounds)
The Hornets are in desperate need of shooting after finishing 28th in 3-point percentage (33.9) this season, and Johnson could help improve upon that weakness immediately. As a freshman, he shot a robust 52.1 percent coming off screens and also hit 39.7 percent from distance on 6.8 attempts per game.
5. Utah Jazz
Kon Knueppel , Duke (G, 6-5, 219 pounds)
Shotmaking is his best asset, but far from the only reason the one-and-done Duke star rises this high. He can be a secondary playmaker, defend better than advertised and plays with an edge. Pair him next to Keyonte George , and the Jazz could have their backcourt for the next decade. It's not a coincidence that Duke outscored its opponents by a whopping 625 points when Knueppel was on the floor. He impacts winning.
Ace Bailey is the wild card of the draft. Robert Sabo for NY Post
6. Washington Wizards
Ace Bailey, Rutgers (G/F, 6-7, 202 pounds)
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Bailey became the talk of the draft over the past week, after canceling a workout with the 76ers . The gifted wing sniper was the lone American prospect not to meet with a single team. Word is his inner circle wanted to steer him toward a rebuilding team he would have a major role on from Day 1. Well, they got it. Nobody rebuilds more than the forever-in-the-lottery Wizards.
7. New Orleans Pelicans
Khaman Maluach , Duke (C, 7-0, 252 pounds)
Teams believe the chiseled big man has a jumper that wasn't utilized at Duke. With or without it, Maluach is the prototypical new-age NBA center prospect: A rim protector who can switch out onto the perimeter, a lob threat with offensive upside and, at the age of 18, still so much room for growth.
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8. Brooklyn Nets
Jeremiah Fears , Oklahoma (G, 6-2, 179 pounds)
The Nets try their best to move into the top 5, but ultimately can't find the right deal. Instead, they land a potential star in Fears who was projected by some to go several picks higher . Few guards were able to stay in front of the shifty and lightning-quick 18-year-old, who showed a knack for getting to the free-throw line (6.3 attempts per game) as a standout freshman while averaging 17.1 points and 4.1 assists.
Jeremiah Fears starred for Oklahoma this past season. Zachary Taft-Imagn Images
9. Toronto Raptors
Carter Bryant , Arizona (G/F, 6-6, 214 pounds)
How will a player who averaged 6.5 points and made only five starts in college get taken in the lottery? Measurables, measurables and more measurables. The 19-year-old has a 6-foot-11 wingspan, a standing reach of 8-foot-10 and registered one of the top vertical leaps (39.5 inches) at the combine.
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10. Phoenix Suns
Noa Essengue, France (F, 6-10, 204 pounds)
The Suns acquired this pick in Sunday's Durant trade. They use it on Essengue, who has the makings of a phenomenal defender given his impressive measurables combined with elite athleticism. He's also the second-youngest player in the draft after Flagg. The Frenchman doesn't turn 19 until December.
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois (G, 6-4, 205 pounds)
The improving Trail Blazers could use a connector like Jakucionis, a southpaw from Lithuania known for his creativity as a playmaker. His toughness and selfless style would mesh well with Portland's young core of guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe and center Donovan Clingan .
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12. Chicago Bulls
Derik Queen , Maryland (F, 6-9, 247 pounds)
There is a lot to work with in Queen. He's the most offensively skilled big man in the draft, a quality passer and polished post-up threat. There are defensive shortcomings and conditioning questions, otherwise the Big Ten Freshman of the Year would go in the top half of the lottery.
13. Atlanta Hawks
Joan Beringer, France (C, 6-11, 234 pounds)
The rim-running, shot-blocking 18-year-old is a late riser and considered one of the top interior defenders in this draft. He only started playing basketball three years ago. Soccer was his sport of choice growing up. His 7-foot-4 ¹/₂ wingspan would make for a heckuva goalie.
Michigan Danny's Wolf. Getty Images
14. San Antonio Spurs
Danny Wolf , Michigan (F, 6-10, 251 pounds)
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Wolf thrived alongside big man Vladislav Goldin in his lone year at Michigan and could excel next to Wembanyama. He can play some on the ball, is a threat from deep and his development in recent years tells the story of a prospect still ascending.
No. 15 Oklahoma City Thunder
Nique Clifford , Colorado State (G, 6-5, 202 pounds)
One of two players in college basketball this winter to average at least 18 points, nine rebounds, four assists and shoot over 37 percent from 3-point range. The only thing that kept this offensively efficient, do-it-all guard out of the lottery was his age (23).
No. 16 Memphis Grizzlies
Cedric Coward , Washington State (G, 6-5, 213 pounds)
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There isn't a better story in this draft. His college career began at Division III Willamette University in northwest Oregon and included stops at Eastern Washington and Washington State. He only appeared in six games this past season, but was so impressive during the draft combine, he opted against returning for another year of college at Duke. Now, he is headed to the NBA — not bad for a zero-star recruit who didn't play varsity in high school until his junior year.
Thomas Sorber of Georgetown. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
No. 17 Minnesota Timberwolves
Thomas Sorber , Georgetown (C, 6-9, 262 pounds)
Julius Randle and Naz Reid each have player options, creating uncertainty for Minnesota's frontcourt. While Sorber is recovering from February foot surgery, he put plenty on film at both ends of the floor during a fantastic freshman year that exhibited his sky-high potential.
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No. 18 Washington Wizards
Collin Murray-Boyles , South Carolina (F, 6-6, 239 pounds)
Think Draymond Green without anger management issues. While undersized, the South Carolina forward has elite defensive versatility potential. While he needs work on his jumper, Murray-Boyles has demonstrated the ability with his length to finish inside against bigger defenders — he shot 74 percent at the rim last season — and has the passing and ballhandling skills to be used in the same fashion as Green is with the Warriors .
No. 19 Brooklyn Nets
Egor Demin , BYU (G, 6-8, 199 pounds)
Sean Marks will sprint to call the pick in, thrilled to get a crack at this playmaking savant with excellent size who drops because of shooting concerns.
BYU's Egor Demin during the NCAA Tournament. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
No. 20 Miami Heat
Rasheer Fleming , Saint Joseph's (F, 6-8, 232 pounds)
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The NBA covets prospects with his length (7-foot-5 wingspan) and shotmaking prowess (39 percent from 3 on 4.5 attempts per game). Fleming projects as a versatile forward, someone who is strong enough to defend in the paint, but also has the athleticism to guard on the perimeter. Combine that with his jumper, and he could play in the league for a long time.
No. 21 Utah Jazz
Hugo Gonzalez, Spain (G/F 6-6, 222 pounds)
Physical wing defender who gives max effort. Only 19, he is a work in progress offensively, at his best attacking the basket. Right now, he's a 3-and-D prospect without the 3.
No. 22 Brooklyn Nets
Nolan Traore, France (G, 6-3, 175 pounds)
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He was considered a top 10 pick before an inconsistent season with Saint-Quentin of the LNB Elite, the top division in France. There's still a lot to like in the speedy lead guard, notably his playmaking skill set and prowess in transition.
Liam McNeeley was a one-and-done with UConn. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
No. 23 New Orleans Pelicans
Liam McNeeley , Connecticut (G/F, 6-6, 214 pounds)
Can he defend NBA wings? Is he a better 3-point shooter than his 31.7 percent mark at UConn indicates? The Pelicans roll the dice here, betting on McNeeley's competitive drive, quality midrange game and ability to handle pressure — something he showed in spades playing for the intense Dan Hurley.
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No. 24 Oklahoma City Thunder
Will Riley , Illinois (F, 6-8, 185)
Riley flashed potential as a shot creator and driver on the wing at Illinois, but he'll need time to improve his 3-point shot, put on muscle and develop as a defender. The NBA champion Thunder have the luxury of patience with their deep, young roster.
No. 25 Orlando Magic
Maxime Raynaud , Stanford (C, 7-0, 236 pounds)
Orlando already added needed shooting with its acquisition of Grizzlies star wing Desmond Bane , and they can supplement that even more with this court-spacing, late-blooming center. The Frenchman didn't start focusing solely on basketball until his senior year of high school and showed progress each of his four years at Stanford, emerging into one of the nation's top centers.
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No. 26 Brooklyn Nets
Asa Newell , Georgia (F, 6-9, 223 pounds)
The jumping jack of a forward doesn't turn 20 until October. Can make shots from deep, and plays with a battery in his back — the Nets won't have to coach effort with the still-developing, one-and-done forward.
Drake Powell projects as a late-first-round pick. Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
No. 27 Brooklyn Nets
Drake Powell , North Carolina (G/F, 6-5, 200 pounds)
Similar to Bryant, Powell's on-court production as a freshman was underwhelming. But, like Bryant, his 7-foot wingspan and 43-inch vertical leap — tops at the combine — are appealing enough to land the 19-year-old 3-and-D prospect in the first round.
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No. 28 Boston Celtics
Jase Richardson , Michigan State (G, 6-0, 178 pounds)
He profiles as a microwave scorer off the bench, an explosive shot-first guard who has defensive limitations mostly due to his size but can get hot in a hurry.
No. 29. Phoenix Suns
Walter Clayton Jr., Florida (G, 6-2, 199 pounds)
In a few years, everyone will wonder how Clayton fell all the way to the Suns at the end of the first round. Just like Jalen Brunson going to the Mavericks with the first pick of the second round in 2018 and Payton Pritchard dropping to the Celtics at No. 26 in 2020. Teams don't value college success as much as they should, and it leads to value picks like the aforementioned examples. Much like Brunson, Clayton is a guy who keeps getting better, going from unranked in high school to the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
Walter Clayton Jr. led Florida to the national title. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
No. 30 Los Angeles Clippers
Ryan Kalkbrenner , Creighton (C, 7-1, 257 pounds)
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There is always a spot for a defensive menace like this rim protector, only the second player in Big East history to be named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year four times. The other one: some guy named Patrick Ewing.
