2025 NBA Mock Draft: Debut

Round 1 Picks 1-15

My first 2025 NBA Mock Draft is up. Find out who goes where in my initial 2025 NBA Mock Draft.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: October 2, 2024.

1. Brooklyn Nets: Cooper Flagg, PF, Duke
   
   
   The Brooklyn Nets are a team that needs five different starters in their starting five. This team will need multiple impact players to be a contender and luckily for the Brooklyn Nets they have four first round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. Honestly, if the Brooklyn Nets fail to land combo forward Cooper Flagg who plays both small forward as well as power forward in the 2025 NBA Draft or small forward AJ Dybantsa in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Brooklyn Nets rebuild might go into the 2030's decade. That's how putrid the Nets are now three years after being one game away from defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in game 7 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs with Kevin Durant and home court against the eventual 2021 NBA Champions.
   
   
   
   The 6-9 205 lb Cooper Flagg was the number one recruit in the 2024 High School Basketball class originally as the top player in the 2025 High School Basketball class before reclassifying.
   
   
   
   Cooper Flagg had 20.5 points per game, 10 rebounds per game, 6.2 assists per game, 3.7 steals per game, and 3.7 blocks per game as a true freshman in High School where he was named the Maine Gatorade Player Of The Year as a Freshman in 2020. He led Nokomis Regional High School to a Class A State championship scoring 22 points and 16 rebounds during his sophomore season in 2021. Cooper Flagg had 25.5 points per game, 13 rebounds per game, 6.9 blocks per game, 5.7 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game at the nike EYBL Peach Jam Event where he had 38 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 blocks in one game before having a triple double in another game. Co0per Flagg moved to Florida before his junior season where he enrolled at Montverde Academy, one of the power house High Schools for Basketball in 2022. Cooper Flagg had 16.5 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game, 2.7 blocks per game on a 33-0 Montverde Academy team that was the best team in High School Basketball as Cooper Flagg won Gatorade National Player Of The Year and Naismith Player Of THe Year in the same season as a High School senior in 2023-2024.
   
   
   
   Cooper Flagg was the first tenager and first collegian since 2013 to qualifty for the 2024 USA Men's Basketball Team at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Cooper Flagg has short range, medium range, long range, passing, defending, rebounding, shot blocking, stealing, versatility, basketball IQ to dominate offensively and high point the basketball on defense whether it be by blocking, rebounding, or stealing. Cooper Flagg can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center. His player comparisons on offense are Scottie Pippen and Larry Bird while his player comparison for his defense is Andrei Kirilinko.
   
   
   
   He's a pretty complete prospect, but the drawback is he's not seen an elite iso-scorer yet despite checking every box in terms of offensive or defensive traits. He's Duke's best player since Zion Willamson in 2019. Honestly, I think he's better than Zion Williamson. This is the player I'm locked in on at one. The only question is which NBA team will end up with Cooper Flagg.
   
   
   
2. Los Angeles Clippers: Airious Bailey, SG, Rutgers
   
   
   Los Angeles gets their Paul George replacement with this pick. Kahwi Leonard might retire soon too as there were rumors about his retirement this Summer. I feel like the Los Angeles Clippers are the closest team to having to do a full tear down and rebuild after the Brooklyn Nets which is why I placed the Clippers at 2 in my 2025 NBA Mock Draft.
   
   
   
   Airious "Ace" Bailey also more commonly known as Ace Bailey would be a massive land for the Los Angeles Clippers and their brand spanking new Intuit Dome set to open this Fall. Airious "Ace" Bailey was double teammed more than Cooper Flagg in High School and his ceiling is just as high as Flagg's.
   
   
   
   The 6-10 200 lb Airious "Ace" Bailey has the versatility to play all five positions including the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center. Airious "Ace" Bailey mainly plays shooting guard and small forward. Airious "Ace" Bailey had 33.4 points per game, 15.5 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists per game, and 2.1 blocks per game on a 26-6 McEachen High School team in 2023-2024. He was the Georgia Gatorade Player Of The Year last year.
   
   
   
   Airious "Ace" Bailey has a lot of family ties to basketball as well. His father played college basketball at Houston, his mother played college basketball at West Virginia, and his aunt Venus played in the WNBA and was a member of Team USA's 1996 Olympic Women's Team that won a gold medal. Airious "Ace" Bailey had 12 schools looking at him, but ultimately went with Rutgers.
   
   
   
   Airious "Ace" Bailey can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center. His medium range shot is money. He can dunk from short range. His shot selection from short range and long range does need to improve, but he averaged more points per game than Cooper Flagg which is encouraging. He can make short range and long range shots, but he doesn't make those shots as consistently as his medium range shots. He also takes too many contested shots and needs refinement as a shooter in college. He's also going to want to hit the weight room and add some muscle too. His work ethic is through the roof as he and his Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper trained with Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Anteokounmpo two days ago.
   
   
   
   If you had to rank any prospects that were in the conversation to go number one overall from 2000-2025 for the NBA Draft, you can honestly make an argument that LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, and Airious "Ace" Bailey are in that top 5. There's other greats like Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry that I left out too if you don't get the top pick though. That's how stacked the 2025 NBA Draft is. Airious "Ace" Bailey's floor is Tracy McGrady, but his ceiling is Anthony Edwards if he fixes his shot selection and there were a lot of questions about Edwards a few years ago coming out of Georgia in the 2020 NBA Draft despite the fact that he finally fixed all of his weaknesses last year.
   
   
   
   Airious "Ace" Bailey's floor as far as draft stock is top 7. His ceiling is potentially supplanting Flagg to be the top player if he can fix his shot selection. Right now, Airous "Ace" Bailey would be second on my big board for the 2025 NBA Draft behind Cooper Flagg. If I were ranking NBA Drafts since 2000, I would rank 2003, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2018, 2021, and 2023 as the best draft classes over the past 25 years. I would put the 2025 NBA Draft class in the top 10 for strongest NBA Drafts from 2000-2025 with those seven draft classes and the 2025 NBA Draft for best draft class this millenium. That should speak volumes about how much talent is in the 2025 NBA Draft.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Charlotte Hornets: Dylan Harper, SG, Rutgers
   
   
   The Charlotte Hornets have LaMelo Ball their 2020 first round pick at point guard, Brandon Miller their second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft at small forward, Grant Williams at power forward, and Mark Williams a 2022 first round pick at center. Outside of Brandon Miller, nobody else in this starting five started more than 22 games with LaMelo Ball, Grant Williams, and Mark Williams all starting 22 or fewer games with Grant Williams only starting 19 games despite these guys all having high point totals. Charlotte needed to draft a shooting guard to comlete their starting five, but chose Tidjane Salaun sixth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. Dylan Harper is a combo guard with the versatility to play both point guard as well as shooting guard.
   
   
   
   The 6-6 215 lb Dylan Harper is a combo guard who averaged 23 points per game. He played point guard in High School, but has the body, size, and shooting of a pure 2 at the shooting guard making Dylan Harper a combo guard. Dylan Harper has the short range, medium range, long range, passing, court vision, can defend the 1 at point guard or the 2 at shooting guard.
   
   
   
   Dylan Harper is the son of Maria Harper and former NBA player Ron Harper who won five titles with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. He's also the younger brother of former Rutgers standout Ron Harper Jr. Dylan Harper was the Gatorade High School Player Of The Year in New Jersey last year.
   
   
   
   Dylan Harper gives the Charlotte Hornets the final piece to their starting five as he's been compared to James Harden. He is the clear cut third best player in the 2025 NBA Draft behind Cooper Flagg and Airious "Ace" Bailey. Some have Dylan Harper as high as second overall.
   
   
   
4. Washington Wizards: V.J. Edgecombe, SF, Baylor
   
   
   Washington currently has Tyus Jones at point guard, Jordan Poole at shooting guard after being a backup on Golden State, Kyle Kuzma at small forward, Alexandre Sarr at power forward, and Jonas Valanciunas at center. Washington will eventually move Sarr to center once he gets stronger and Kuzma is a combo forward.
   
   
   
   I'm giving the Washington Wizards my best player available at 3. V.J. Edgecombe was born in the Bahamas and I don't recall a player from the Bahamas being drafted in the top 5 which is a pretty cool fact about V.J. Edgecombe. V.J. Edgecombe immigrated to the United States in ninth grade where he spent two years in Florida before moving to Brookville, New York as a boarding student for his junior and senior seasons.
   
   
   
   The 6-5 180 lb V.J. Edgecombe had 15.5 points per game, 5 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, and 2.2 steals per game as a junior in 2022-2023. V.J. Edgecombe had 17.3 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, 4 assists per game, and 2.3 steals per game in 2023-2024. V.J. Edgecombe was the New York Gatorade Player Of The Year during both his junior and senior seasons. V.J. Edgecombe chose Baylor over Duke and Kentucky.
   
   
   
   V.J. Edgecombe has the short range, medium range, and long range shooting you want. He's a good passer, but not a great passer. he can defend against the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, and the 3 at small forward in short range, medium range, and long range. He will struggle against bigger players that play the 4 and the 5, but coaches won't match Edgecombe up against those players despite his size.
   
   
   
   V.J. Edgecombe's floor is a top 8 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and his ceiling is a top 4 pick. His floor for a player comparsion is Houston Rockets shooting guard Jalen Green and his ceiling is Miami Heat shooting guard Dwayne Wade. The most realistic player comparison I've seen is shooting gaurd Victor Oladipo.
   
   
   
   Washington can develop V.J. Edgecombe without rushing him. He's also got the versatility to play both shooting guard or small forward. That means he could replace Jorda Poole or Kyle Kuzma down the road without being rushed into the starting lineup. If you move Sarr to center and Kuzma to power forward you can probably play him at the 3 right out of the gate if Valenciunas leaves after this season if you really want to start V.J. Edgecombe right out of the gate.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Chicago Bulls: Nolan Traore, PG, Saint-Quentin
   
   
   Lonzo Ball cannot stay healthy, but he could return to full health at some point in 2024-2025. For now, Chicago Coby White at point guard, Josh Giddey at shooting guard, Zach LaVine at small forward, P.J. Williams at power forward, and Nikola Vucevic at center. Chicago's starting five isn't bad and Billy Donovan is a good NBA head coach. I might be underestimating the Chicago Bulls. Nolan Traore has the court vision and passing of Derrick Rose and the shooting of Tony Parker. He was considered the third best player in France behind Victor Wembanyama and Zachary Rissacher as a 16-year-old making him an exceptional point guard as well as a Lonzo Ball upgrade if Ball cannot stay healthy in 2024-2025. Traeore has zero injury history from his time in France and is more durable than either Traore or Rose. Rose didn't have any durability problems until the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals for Chicago Bulls fans who want a trip down memory lane.
   
   
   
   The 6-4 185 lb Nolan Traore has the short range, medium range, long range, and passing you want form a true 1 at point guard. He's got superb athleticism, body control, and stop/start ability. He had 25 points and 7 assists in 29 minutes in an overtime loss. He plays like a veteran overseas in France despite his age. He's great at defending other players that play the 1 at point guard.
   
   
   
   Nolan Traeore will not fall further than fifth in the 2025 NBA Draft. He could go as early as second overall behind Cooper Flagg with a big season.
   
   
   
6. Utah Jazz: Khaman Maulach, C, Duke
   
   
   The Utah Jazz have Jordan Clarkson at point guard, Collin Sexton at shooting guard, Lauri Markannen is a viable small forward, and John Collins at power forward. The Utah Jazz have Markannen in a contract year with Clarkson, Sexton, and Collins being UFA's in 2026. Walker Kessler regressed since his rookie year. Utah needs a true big at center. John Collins is a true 4 at power forward despite being listed as a center on the Utah Jazz depth chart for this upcoming seasosn with underperforming 2022 first round pick Walker Kessler. Taylor Hendricks the Utah Jazz 2023 first round pick out of Central Florida is expected to start at power forward.
   
   
   
   Utah is so close to becoming a playoff team. If the Utah Jazz can figure out their situation at center, this is a team that could play their way into the NBA Playoffs by 2025 or 2026.
   
   
   
   Utah drafts a center here. Duke center Khaman Maluach is considered the top center in the 2025 NBA Draft.
   
   
   
   The 7-2 250 lb Khaman Maluach lost 18 lbs to get down to 232 lbs. He's got the short range, medium range, and long range you want in a center. He had 25 points, 17 rebounds, and 2 blocks in on game on film. He's kind of raw as he's only played in 18 games while starting 7 in Africa, but NBA traits are there on tape in spades while he accepted an NCAA scholarship to Duke.
   
   
   
   Khaman Maluach was born in South Sudan. Former NBA player Loul Deng has been personally mentoring him in Senegal before he joined NBA Academy Africa where basketball is combined with education.
   
   
   
   His floor is Hasheem Thabeet and his ceiling is Dikembe Mutombo making him arguably the biggest boom or bust prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft. Rip to Dikembe Mutombo the former four time NBA Defensive Player Of The Year, who passed away on Monday morning as I began this 2025 NBA Mock Draf.t With Luol Deng mentoring him and Duke giving him a basketball scholarship, I'd say he's closer to Mutombo than Thabeet depsite how raw he is, but he is very raw with 18 games played and 11 starts. He will need a ton of coaching at Duke to become a player who defends like Mutombo consistently despite having 17.5 points per game and 13.5 rebounds per game in 6 games where he started 5 this season in 2023-2024. Khaman Maluach can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center. I've seen the shooting and passing I want from an NBA center even though his three point percentage needs to be above .250 once he gets to the NBA despite making three point shots consistently.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Detroit Pistons: Hugo Gonzalez, SG, Real Madrid
   
   
   Detroit has their starting five with Cade Cunningham their first pick in the 2021 NBA Draft at point guard, Jaden Ivey at shooting guard the fifth pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Ausar Thompson the fifth pick in the 2023 NBA Draft at small forward, Tobias Harris at power forward, and Jalen Duren a second 2022 first round pick at center. Detroit also has Marcus Sasser as a backup point guard, Malik Beasley as a backup shooting guard, Ron Holland II, their 2024 first round pick as a backup small forward, Simone Fontecchio as a backup power forward, Isaiah Stewart as a backup center, and Tim Hardaway Jr. as a third string shooting guard. I feel like Detroit will bring in competition for Jaden Ivey at shooting guard if he doesn't take a leap in year three.
   
   
   
   The 6-6 207 lb Hugo Gonzalez has the short range, medium range, long range, passing, ability to defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward. He might be the best catch and shoot guard in the 2025 NBA Draft. His floor is Evan Fournier and his ceiling is Luka Doncic as this combo guard is Real Madrid's best prospect in the NBA Draft since Doncic in 2018 althrough I would only give him a 10 percent chance of being as good as Doncic and a 1 percent chance of being better than Luka. I'm being really generous here with Hugo because Luka set the bar so high coming out of Real Madrid.
   
   
   
8. Golden State Warriors: Tre Johnson, SG, Texas
   
   
   Golden State drafts a replacement to Klay Thompson to pair with Steph Curry if Golden State is picking this high it means Moses Moody their 2021 first round pick did not break out this season.
   
   
   
   Tre Johnson was one of the most consistent shooting guards in High School. Tre Johnson had three consecutive seasons where he scored 20 or more points in High School.
   
   
   
   The 6-6 184 lb Tre Johnson had 23.8 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, and 2.3 assists per game as a sophomore in 2021-2022. Tre Johnson averaged 23 points per game and had 29 points in the state Championship in his junior season leading Lake Highlands to their first state championship in Texas since 1968. Tre Johnson had 21.8 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, and 2.7 assists per game while being named Texas Mr. Basketball which goes to the top Texas High School basketball player as the Texas Associaton of Basketball Coaches decide who win this award.
   
   
   
   Tre Johnson has the shooting to make short range, medium range, or long range shots. Tre Johnson hits over 40 percent of his three point shots and 90 percent of his free throw shots. He's not uber athletic, but he's such a consistent shooter that he's drawn comparisons to former Detroit Pistons shooting guard Rip Hamilton from the Detroit Pistons 2004 NBA Finals team.
   
   
   
   
   
9. San Antonio Spurs: Liam McNeely, SF, Connecticut
   
   
   San Antonio has Chris Paul at point guard, Devin Vassell at shooting guard, Harrison Barnes at small forward under contract until 2026, Jeremy Sochan at power forward, and Victor Wembanyama at center. San Antonio has Tre Jones as their backup point guard in a contract year like Chris Paul, Stephon Castle as a backup shooting guard to Devin Vassell, Julian Champaigne is one of the backup forwards, with Keldon Johnson who led the Spurs with 19.9 points per game two years ago being the other backup forward. If Keldon Johnson didn't have injuries the last two years you could argue he should start over Harrison Barnes since he averages more points per game despite not being as durable. I think Stephon Castle will start at point guard in 2025 after learning under Paul, Vassell, and Tre Jones on the bench. If San Antonio wants to replace Keldon Johnson with a more durable Harrison Barnes who doesn't score as much when Johnson is healthy, then drafting another small forward to groom behind Harrison Barnes makes the most sense. You'd have a competition between Julian Champaigne, Keldon Johnson, and Liam McNeely for that small forward job when Harrison Barnes leaves.
   
   
   
   There's three superstar players that can average 20 points a game in this starting lineup in Victor Wembanyama whose going to be the face of this team for the next two decades after posting 21.4 points per game in 71 starts as the number one pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Devin Vassell a player that I loved in the 2020 NBA Draft that fell outside of the top 10 posted 19.5 points per game in 62 starts and it is as clear as daylight he's the biggest superstar on the Spurs outside of Wembanyama as well as the second big time impact player. Keldon Johnson went from 12 points per game in his first season starting as a sophomore, to 17 points per game in 72 games in his third NBA season, to leading the San Antonio Spurs with 22 points per game in 2022-2023 to having 15.7 points per game in 27 starts this past season. Johnson has ability to be a superstar, but the constant injuries make him a star with the ability to be a superstar when he's healthy. Jeremy Sochan averaged 11.6 points per game in his first year as a starting power forward in the NBA, and he also led the San Antonio Spurs with 73 games started. Getting a point guard that will be an upgrade over Tre Jones is a big priority. San Antonio drafted Stephon Castle fourth overall in 2024, but also gave Chris Paul a one year contract allowing Castle time to develop. San Antonio also got Harrison Barnes to compete with Keldon Johnson for playing time at small forward if Johnson's injuries continue to keep him off the court.
   
   
   
   The 6-7 210 lb Liam McNeeley spent his freshman year at J.J. Pearce High School. He transferred to John Paul II High School in Plano Texas after his freshman season where he had 17 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks per game. Liam McNeeley was dominant enough to earn an invitation to Montverde Academy where he complimented Cooper Flagg at small forward while Flagg played power forward. Liam McNeeley averaged 13.7 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, and 1.2 steals per game as a junior in his first year at Montverde Academy in 2022-2023. Liam McNeeley had 12.5 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, and 2.8 assists per game in 2023-2024.
   
   
   
   Liam McNeeley can make shots from short range, medium range, and long range. He also defends well against the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, and the 4 at power forward. At the worst, he's a high end backup small forward once Harrison Barnes leaves assuming Keldon Johnson sticks around by then. At the very best, he could be the San Antonio Spurs starting small forward by 2027 if San Antonio opts to move on from both Harrison Barnes whose a 2026 UFA and Keldon Johnson whose a 2027 UFA after Keldon Johnson's been limited by injuries each of the last two years. If Keldon Johnson cannot stay healthy this year, there's a good chance the San Antonio Spurs get his replacement in the 2025 NBA Draft since this allows the Spurs to pay Vassell, Wembanyama, and Sochan long-term contracts while staying under the cap while also reloading this starting five.
   
   
   
10. Portland Trail Blazers: Egor Demin, SG, BYU
    
    
    Portland has Scoot Henderson their third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft at point guard, Anfernee Simmons their 2020 first round pick at shooting guard, Deni Avdija at small forward, Jerami Grant remains at power forward, and DeAndre Ayton enters year two as Portland's center with two years left on his contract. Portland also has Shaedon Sharpe as a backup small forward and Donovan Clingan their 2024 first round pick as a backup center. Getting a backup combo guard to compliment your backup wing and backup big gives you a third depth piece. That's exactly where Real Madrid point guard Egor Demin comes into play as Egor Demin is moving to the 2 at shooting guard upon arriving at BYU since Demin is a combo guard.
    
    
    
    The 6-9 190 lb Egor Demin has the short range, medium range, passing, ability to defend the 1 at point guard or the ability to defend the 2 at shooting guard. Egor Demin gives Portland an ideal combo guard that can contribute off the bench until he's ready to start. The only weakness in Egor Demin's game is his long-range and three point shooting. Egor Demin can become a starter if he fixes that, but for now he gets to be in a Toni Kukoc type role as a backup guard for the Portland Trail Blazers since their starting five is set for the long-term.
    
    
    
    Portland's got a decent bench, but upgrades are still needed when you take injuries into account. Power forward Jerami Grant and center DeAndre Ayton were the only two guys to start over 50 games for Portland last year with the starters on Portland's front court being the two most durable starters. That's a big reason why I went with the best forward or guard on the board at 10. Portland could make the play in tournament if everyone stays healthy, but I got Egor Demin going tenth overall in my 2025 NBA Mock Draft after Egor Demin had 16 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game, and 1.6 steals per game on Real Madrid in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    
    
11. San Antonio Spurs: Drake Powell, SG, North Carolina
    
    
    The Spurs will need a backup shooting guard to Devin Vassell when they move Stephon Castle to point guard in 2025. The 6-6 195 lb Drake Powell is the son of Dedric and Cherice Powell. Dedric Powell played baseball at North Carolina and Cherice was on the Orth Carolina women's basektball team. His older sister played Volleyball at Virginia Tech and Connecticut. His older brother played basketball at North Carolina AT&T and was a three sport athlete in high school. Drake Powell is cousins with North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis. His grandmother is also the aunt of the 2022 NCAA Champion Hubert Davis. Drake Powell had 18.6 points per game, 7 rebounds per game, and 3.9 assists per game as a junior and he playe din the 2024 McDonald's All American game during his senior season as Drake Powell is versatile enough to play both the 2 at shooting guard and the 3 at small forward.
    
    
    
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jalil Bethea, SG, Miami FL
    
    
    Oklahoma City acquired this pick from Houston, but the Houston Rockets are on deck in this 2025 NBA Mock Draft with the Phoenix Suns 2025 first round pick as the Rockets and Suns are the Western Conference Teams I have losing in the play-in tournament this year. Oklahoma City has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at point guard, Alex Caruso at shooting guard in a contract year, Luguentz Dort at small forward, Jalen Williams at power forward their second 2022 first round pick in the lottery, and Chet Holmgren at center who was drafted second overall in the 2022 NBA Draft playing his first full rookie season where Oklahoma City was the number one seed in the Western Conference. I had Jahlil Bethea in my top 10 prior to the 2024 NBA Draft for 2025, but he dropped a few spots. I even said Jalil Bethea would get drafted ahead of Zachary Rissacher if he were eligible for the 2024 NBA Draft, so Oklahoma City drafts Jahlil Bethea here where they can develop him behind Alex Caruso rather than rushing him into their starting five.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 170 lb Jalil Bethea had 23.2 points per game, 3.9 assissts per game, and 7.6 rebounds per game as a junior in 2022-2023 before being named Philadelphia Catholic League MVP as a junior. Jalil Bethea had 22.7 points per game, 7 rebounds per game, and 3.4 assissts per game. Jalil Bethea has the short range, medium range, and long range you want from a shooting guard as Jalil Bethea is heading to Miami FL this Fall.
    
    
    
    
    
13. Houston Rockets: Noah Essengue, SF, Ratiopharm Ulm
    
    
    The Houston Rockets have Fred VanVleet at point guard, Jalen Green at shooting guard, Dillon Brooks at small forward, Jabari Smith Jr. at power forward, and Alperen Sengun at center. Amen Thompson is the backup point guard, Reed Sheppard is the backup shoting guard, Cam Whitmore is the backup small forward, Tari Eason is the backup power forward, and Steven Adams is tghe backup center. Houston has the luxury to draft for value over need with quality starters and backups as the Houston Rockets bring in competition for Cam Whitmore whose listed as a third string shooting guard and third string small forward even though I view him as a backup..
    
    
    
    The 6-8 194 lb Noah Essengue had 11.3 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game, 2.7 blocks per game, and 1.3 steals per game in 2023-2024. Houston drafts him with the Phoenix Suns first round pick as competition for Cam Whitmore.
    
    
    
14. Oklahoma City Thunder: Michael Ruzic, PF, Joventut
    
    
    The 6-10 223 lb Micahel Ruzic gives the Oklahoma City Thunder another power forward for depth to compliment Jalen Williams off of the bench. Oklahoma City owns this first round pick from the Philadelphia 76ers as Michael Ruzic is the fifth International player to crack my lottery for the 2025 NBA Draft.
    
    
    
    
    
15. Toronto Raptors: Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane
    
    
    Toronto is gonna roll with Immanuel Quickley at point guard, Gradey Dick at shooting guard, RJ Barrett at small forward, Scottie Barnes at power forward, and Jakob Poeltl at center. This starting five is okay, but not great. I'm adding some youth at center behind Jakob Poeltl here. Rocco Zikarsky from the Brisbane Bulletts in the NBL is a center who could sneak into the top half of the 2025 NBA Draft with a big season.
    
    
    
    The 7-3 225 lb Rocco Zikarsky is a great defender. He's just got to evelop offensively. He could develop under Jakob Poeltl and at the worst he will be a solid backup center. If he improves offensively, he could start in a few years as Poeltl was the same way coming out of Utah.