Mock draft 4.0: The first two rounds of the 2025 NBA draft

The 2025 NBA Draft arrives with a clear headliner and an unusually deep group of guards, wings, and versatile big men behind him. Cooper Flagg remains the expected No. 1 pick, but the board becomes far less predictable after the opening selection. Team context, shooting development, defensive versatility, and medical evaluations could reshape the first two rounds.

This version of the mock draft focuses on roster fit rather than simply ranking prospects. Several franchises need immediate contributors, while others can afford to select for long-term upside. The result is a first round filled with polished perimeter players and a second round where international prospects, backup centers, and high-level college production provide value.

Draft-night trades will inevitably affect the order. Still, this projection offers a snapshot of how the lottery, playoff teams, and rebuilding organizations could approach their selections.

The early lottery sets the tone

Dallas takes Flagg as the kind of two-way forward who can influence every possession. His defensive instincts, passing ability, and comfort operating from the elbows give the Mavericks a foundational player who can complement a primary ball-handler. San Antonio follows with Dylan Harper, a powerful creator who can pressure the rim and eventually share the backcourt with Victor Wembanyama.

Philadelphia needs athleticism and perimeter defense, making VJ Edgecombe an appealing choice at No. 3. Charlotte then adds Kon Knueppel, whose shooting, size, and decision-making should translate quickly around LaMelo Ball. Utah selects Ace Bailey for his scoring upside, while Washington chooses Tre Johnson as a movement shooter capable of becoming a primary offensive option.

New Orleans adds Jeremiah Fears, a fearless guard whose pace and shot creation could stabilize a young offense. Brooklyn selects Egor Demin, betting on his 6-foot-8 frame, passing vision, and ability to function as a jumbo initiator. Toronto gets a physical interior defender in Collin Murray-Boyles, a player whose strength and short-roll play can immediately improve the frontcourt.

Team needs matter more than prospect rankings

Houston’s selection at No. 10 is an ideal spot to consider a mobile rim protector such as Khaman Maluach. The Rockets already have athletic forwards and competitive guards, so a vertical center who can protect the paint without demanding touches makes sense. Portland then takes Nolan Traore, giving its developing backcourt a downhill playmaker with international experience.

Chicago chooses Kasparas Jakucionis, whose size and pick-and-roll feel provide a stabilizing presence beside its athletic wings. Atlanta adds Asa Newell as a rebounding forward who can run the floor and finish efficiently. San Antonio, picking again at No. 14, selects Liam McNeeley for his shooting, toughness, and off-ball intelligence.

The same balance between scouting and roster construction drives the rest of the first round. Teams with established stars can favor specialists, while rebuilding teams are more likely to swing on creation or physical tools. That logic also shapes the mock draft approach used in this NFL draft breakdown, where projected selections are tied closely to organizational priorities.

Projected first-round selections

The following board assumes the standard draft order and no major trades. It emphasizes likely role, developmental pathway, and fit rather than treating the prospect ranking as a fixed list.

Pick Team Selection Projected role
1 Dallas Cooper Flagg, F Two-way franchise forward
2 San Antonio Dylan Harper, G Physical secondary creator
3 Philadelphia VJ Edgecombe, G/W Point-of-attack defender
4 Charlotte Kon Knueppel, W High-volume spacer
5 Utah Ace Bailey, W Scoring wing with upside
6 Washington Tre Johnson, G Movement shooter and scorer
7 New Orleans Jeremiah Fears, G Rim pressure and pick-and-roll
8 Brooklyn Egor Demin, G/W Jumbo playmaker
9 Toronto Collin Murray-Boyles, F Interior defender and passer
10 Houston Khaman Maluach, C Rim protection and vertical spacing
11 Portland Nolan Traore, G Transition guard and creator
12 Chicago Kasparas Jakucionis, G Organizing ball-handler
13 Atlanta Asa Newell, F Rebounding and finishing
14 San Antonio Liam McNeeley, W Shooting and connective play
15 Oklahoma City Jase Richardson, G/W Efficient secondary scorer
16 Orlando Walter Clayton Jr., G Pull-up shooting and toughness
17 Minnesota Derik Queen, C Skilled interior scorer
18 Brooklyn Noa Essengue, F Switchable forward project
19 New York Tyrese Proctor, G Reliable two-way reserve
20 Miami Johni Broome, F/C Passing, rebounding, and toughness
21 Milwaukee Johnny Furphy, W Length and transition scoring
22 Atlanta Cedric Coward, W Athletic wing development
23 Indiana Thomas Sorber, C Backup rim protector
24 LA Clippers Ben Saraf, G Creative pick-and-roll guard
25 Phoenix Ryan Kalkbrenner, C Screen-setting and paint defense
26 Utah Nolan Traore, G Trade-dependent guard value
27 Brooklyn Hugo Gonzalez, W Defensive energy and cutting
28 Denver Alex Karaban, F Floor spacing and smart rotations
29 Boston Kam Jones, G Bench scoring
30 Phoenix Sion James, G/W Versatile perimeter defender

The second round rewards patience

The second round is where front offices can target specific skills without demanding immediate star potential. Front offices may look for a backup point guard, a rebounder, a defensive wing, or a shooter who can earn minutes through one dependable skill. This range also offers opportunities to stash international players and give them time to develop overseas.

At No. 31, Cleveland lands a productive forward in Darrion Williams, while Charlotte adds a sturdy guard in Boogie Fland. Sacramento’s selection of Alex Condon gives its frontcourt another mobile defender, and Detroit chooses Kamasha? Instead, the Pistons take Mouhamed Faye as a developmental center. The exact names can shift as workouts and medical reports arrive, but the broader pattern is consistent: second-round picks will be judged by role clarity.

Several teams in this range have playoff ambitions and need players who can survive limited minutes. Others can wait for a longer runway. A strong summer league, a reliable three-point shot, or defensive versatility may matter more than raw scoring numbers once the draft moves past the first round.

Pick Team Selection Projected role
31 Cleveland Darrion Williams, W Connector and rebounder
32 Charlotte Boogie Fland, G Backup creator
33 Sacramento Alex Condon, F/C Mobile defensive big
34 Detroit Mouhamed Faye, C Long-term rim protector
35 Philadelphia Rocco Zikarsky, C Size and interior defense
36 Portland Isaiah Evans, W Shot-making development
37 Chicago Milan Momcilovic, F Stretch-four option
38 New Orleans Alijah Martin, G/W Defensive-minded reserve
39 Brooklyn Michael Ruzic, F Stash and shooting project
40 Toronto Jamir Watkins, W Physical perimeter defender
41 Houston Dylan Cardwell, C Screen-and-defend center
42 San Antonio Asa Turner, G Backup ball-handler
43 Atlanta Koby Brea, W Specialist shooter
44 Oklahoma City Yanic Konan Niederhauser, C Length and rebounding
45 Orlando Rasheer Fleming, F Switchable defensive forward
46 Minnesota Tyon Grant-Foster, W Athletic scoring wing
47 New York Nique Clifford, W Rotation-ready defender
48 Miami Jase Richardson, G/W If available, versatile value
49 Milwaukee Eric Dixon, F/C Strength and interior scoring
50 Indiana Bogdan Karlo, C Developmental big
51 LA Clippers Hunter Sallis, G Pace and perimeter shooting
52 Phoenix Adou Thiero, F Energy, rebounding, and defense
53 Denver Trevon Brazile, F Length and transition play
54 Boston Tucker DeVries, W Scoring and passing
55 Golden State Rasheer Fleming, F Defensive versatility
56 Detroit John Blackwell, G/W Competitive two-way reserve
57 Orlando Luka Krajnovic, W International stash option
58 Cleveland Mantas Rubstavicius, W Shooting development
59 Charlotte Khaman Maluach, C If available, high-upside insurance
60 Brooklyn Savo Drezgic, G Creative international guard

Players who could climb quickly

Tre Johnson, Walter Clayton Jr., and Jase Richardson are among the prospects who could rise if teams prioritize shooting and offensive readiness. Johnson’s ability to score from difficult spots gives him a clear NBA role, while Clayton’s pull-up range and confidence make him attractive to teams lacking bench creation. Richardson brings fewer headline statistics than some peers, yet his athleticism and efficient decision-making fit modern guard rotations.

Big men also remain difficult to project. Maluach has the physical profile of a lottery center, but his offensive development will determine how high he ultimately goes. Derik Queen offers more scoring craft and passing feel, though teams will study his defensive mobility. Johni Broome and Alex Condon could appeal to organizations seeking productive frontcourt players who do several things well.

The draft’s personality will come from these debates. Some prospects will gain momentum through private workouts, while others will fall because teams question shooting consistency or defensive translation. That volatility is part of the appeal, much like the unexpected turns explored in wrestling’s best heel turns: a familiar storyline can change instantly when new information arrives.

Fit, development, and the pressure of year one

The most important question after the draft will be whether each team gives its selection a coherent development plan. A young guard needs real on-ball reps, not just scattered minutes beside veteran creators. A center needs strength training, defensive film work, and a role that does not expose every weakness at once. Wings need opportunities to shoot freely while learning the positioning demands of NBA defense.

Memphis provides a useful example of how identity can shape roster decisions. The franchise’s renewed focus on physicality, pace, and defensive pressure, discussed in the Grizzlies’ revival, is the type of organizational direction that should influence draft choices. A prospect’s value depends on how naturally his habits fit the team’s intended style.

For fantasy basketball managers, the second-round names worth tracking are productive college scorers, athletic centers, and guards joining shallow backcourts. Rookie-year statistics will depend heavily on opportunity, injuries, and coaching trust, so draft position alone should not determine dynasty value.

Key draft-night priorities

The board will keep changing as workouts, interviews, trades, and team intel reshape the market. Follow Say It Again Network for updated mock drafts, prospect breakdowns, draft-night reactions, and the community discussion that makes the NBA offseason worth watching.