Anticipation continues to build for the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25th. The rumors are flying, and trade chatter continues to grow as the NBA Playoffs wind down, with each team turning a page to next year. This article will look at which players have the best chance of being selected in the top five with the current odds for this market on DraftKings Sportsbook as of Monday, June 2nd.
The Locks:
Cooper Flagg:
There has been little doubt that Cooper Flagg will be the number one overall pick for quite some time. The Duke product reclassified to move his draft date up a year, and still looked like a man amongst boys at the collegiate level. The consensus All-American averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals in his lone season at Duke while shooting 38.5% from beyond the three-point arc. Measuring 6-foot-7 and three-quarters at the combine, it would be an outright shock if Flagg is not selected with the number one overall pick and is priced at -20000 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook as a result.
Dylan Harper:
Another player who is looked at as a lock for his draft position is Dylan Harper to be selected second overall. The Rutgers product did not get as much national shine due to the team’s underwhelming 15-17 record and absence from the NCAA Tournament. But don’t let this overshadow Harper’s maturity with the ball in his hand as a decision-maker. He averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in his lone season at college. The left-handed guard has solid size at just under 6-foot-5 and has incredibly advanced footwork that allows him to get to the paint nearly at will. The San Antonio Spurs holding the second pick complicates the equation a bit with a crowded backcourt of De’Aaron Fox and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle already established. However, with Victor Wembanyama still just 21 years old, the plan of attack seems to be adding the best talent and figuring things out from there. Harper holds -5000 odds of being selected with the second overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
The Likely Locks:
The NBA Draft will truly start at the third pick, with this being where the outlook will begin to change. The Philadelphia 76ers managed to climb to the third pick during the NBA Draft lottery and have been quite vocal about their desire to add young talent. However, Daryl Morey has a strong track record of exploring every option and having the desire to wheel and deal. With Joel Embiid and Paul George under contract for three more years and the desire to contend, a trade shakeup is certainly in play.
Ace Bailey:
The betting favorite to be selected third overall at +100 on DraftKings Sportsbook, Ace Bailey’s outlook is not as clear as expected. He is one of the most polarizing prospects in recent draft history. Some front offices are convinced he can be a star, while others seemingly believe the red flags are too large to overlook.
Bailey played alongside Dylan Harper at Rutgers last season, pitching in 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. The talent level is clear, but the 6-foot-7 wing has some struggles beating players off the dribble and has some real work to do on his shot selection. He also posted a negative assist/turnover ratio and has very little ability or instinct as a passer. Even still, he plays with a high motor, and the context of the Rutgers team he played on must be taken into consideration. The rumors are sure to swirl, but count on Bailey to be a lock to be selected in the top five. I still really like the +100 odds of the 18-year-old being drafted with the third pick.
V.J. Edgecombe:
The other real option to be taken with the third pick is V.J. Edgecombe. The Baylor product has athleticism that pops off the screen and averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Edgecombe is a terror in transition and a player who looks like a good bet for being able to grow into guarding opponents’ best players. However, his handle leaves plenty to be desired, and in an ideal world, he would be slightly bigger than the 6-foot-4 height he measured in at the combine.
His ceiling is lower than Ace Bailey’s if the Rutgers star puts it all together, but Edgecombe is a much more sure bet for how his game will translate to the NBA level. He shot 34.0% from beyond the three-point arc this season, and his shooting will be a major swing skill for who he can be as a player. But Edgecombe checks all the boxes for what you look for in a player who has the mindset for reaching his potential. Philadelphia’s win-now intentions keep him in play at the third pick, and count on him remaining in the top five selections in this draft.
Who Rounds Out the Top Five?
Tre Johnson:
Holding -275 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to be a Top 5 pick, Tre Johnson is as pure a scorer as you will find in this draft. You don’t break scoring records held by Kevin Durant by accident, and the Texas product is coming off a one-and-done season in which he averaged 19.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Johnson shot 39.7% from beyond the three-point arc on 6.8 perimeter shots per game and can play on or off-ball. Standing just shy of 6-foot-5 with over a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he has good size for a guard, although he could use some weight to add to his frame. He does not have much to show defensively at this time, but he has the tools to get there. With a team like the Utah Jazz, who are picking fifth, in need of a primary scoring option, Johnson has a clear path to making his way into the top five.
Kon Knueppel:
Next up with -175 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to crack the top five is Kon Knueppel. The Duke product also falls into the category of a more “safe” pick, but don’t let this undersell his ceiling. Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game this season while shooting 40.6% from beyond the three-point arc. He plays extremely physical with a 6-foot-5 frame and is crafty in his attack of the basket. Knueppel prefers to operate off two feet in the lane and shot a conference-leading 91.4% at the free throw line this season. While there are some concerns about how he will fare defensively at the NBA level, the 19-year-old impressed on this side of the ball in his lone year at college. Having Cooper Flagg, Khaman Malauach, and Sion James lined up alongside him made life much easier on this end of the floor, but his defensive tape shines much more than a player like Johnson. Based on the crowded top of the draft and many teams’ desire to take an upside swing, the -175 odds feel a bit steep to me. However, it is a different conversation if we are fast-forwarding to the end of these players’ careers, and who finds a real pathway to contribute. Knueppel has much less “bust potential” than a few of the players listed above, but how teams weigh this risk vs. reward will be interesting to see.
Khaman Maluach:
If you are looking for a value play from a top-five pick perspective, Khaman Maluach is my choice at +190 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Duke product is the best big man in the draft and still has plenty of growing to do as a basketball player. Maluach just started playing organized basketball at age 14, where he was the youngest-ever enrollee at an NBA Academy. By age 16, he became the third youngest player to ever play in a FIBA World Cup, and this past summer, he became the youngest competitor in men’s basketball at the Olympics by representing South Sudan. Looking at his lone season at Duke, Maluach averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in just 21.1 minutes per game. Standing 7-foot-2 with a 9-foot-6 standing reach, Maluach took massive strides throughout the season in his development. He shot 76.6% at the free throw line and even began expanding his game to the three-point arc. Maluach will be able to do the bare bones center skills from day one in the NBA and holds one of the highest ceilings in the entire draft class. It will take a team being willing to go through the growing pains with him, but don’t be surprised if a team like the Jazz or Hornets is willing to take this risk.
