The 2025 NBA Draft is set to take place on June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Dozens of new players will enter the league and learn their destinations as they look to carve their NBA legacy. With smokescreen season in full effect as teams drop leaks and misinformation to help pave the path to their desired player, expectations seem to shift daily. This article will look at my prediction for each first-round selection, with plenty still shifting across NBA circles. While there will surely be some trades on draft night, for the sake of the article, we will make all 30 first-round picks as they are currently assigned.
Keep in mind that all odds offered on DraftKings Sportsbook are subject to change.
2025 NBA Mock Draft:
1. Cooper Flagg – Dallas Mavericks
There should be no doubts about this selection as Cooper Flagg should have been penciled in for the first overall pick before we knew who would be making a selection. The Duke product should be a high school senior but reclassified to accelerate his pathway to the NBA. Despite this, he looked like a man amongst boys in his lone season at Duke, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Flagg earned AP Player of the Year, Wooden Award, ACC Player of the Year and All-American honors. The Mavericks are an interesting destination for him, but he fits the “Defense wins Championships” mantra that continues to be echoed within the organization. He is the lifeline the front office will cling to after the head-scratching Luke Doncic trade.
As expected, Flagg holds -20,000 odds to be the first overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
2. Dylan Harper- San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are one of the most interesting teams in the NBA. Victor Wembanyama is a clear budding superstar, Stephon Castle is coming off a Rookie of the Year campaign, and they traded for De’Aaron Fox midseason. They have the pieces to make an all-in swing for a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant. But they seem to be content with taking the best available player and figuring out the rest later. Enter Dylan Harper, who averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists in his lone season at Rutgers. Son of Ron Harper, Dylan has a mature approach to basketball and is effective at snaking pick-and-rolls and splitting traps. He has all the tools of being a franchise guard of the future and showed some flashes of off-ball ability in the brief instances he was asked to. Expect his game to translate even better at the NBA level and for his assist numbers to pop much more with higher quality talent around him. Harper is the clear-cut second-best player in this class and likely would have been a lock for the top pick if he were in last year’s draft class.
Harper currently holds -3000 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to be selected second overall.
3. V.J. Edgecombe – Philadelphia 76ers
The NBA Draft truly starts at the third pick with the Philadelphia 76ers in a fascinating spot as a franchise. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong last season, with Joel Embiid never able to get healthy after they signed Paul George to a max contract. Philadelphia has over $100 million annually committed to the duo of Embiid and George over the next three seasons, but has quietly started their youth movement with Jared McCain shining last season and trading for 25-year-old Quentin Grimes at the deadline. Considering how open the Eastern Conference is, they have too much invested not to be attempting to contend right now. A perfect draft selection would be a player who can make a day-one impact while growing with the long-term core. V.J. Edgecombe checks these boxes after averaging 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game during his lone season at Baylor. The Big 12 Freshman of the Year has eye-popping athleticism and will be an impact defender immediately. Edgecombe checks the most boxes for what the Sixers need, even if the ceiling may be lower than some of the other available options.
Edgecombe has climbed to a -135 favorite to be selected with the third overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
4. Tre Johnson – Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets are in a position where they can take a home run swing, and Tre Johnson checks a lot of the boxes they should be looking for. You don’t break scoring records set by Kevin Durant by accident as Johnson carved his own legacy during his lone year at Texas. Standing 6-foot-5 with over a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Johnson is capable on or off the ball and will benefit greatly from playing next to an on-ball playmaker like LaMelo Ball. Johnson led the SEC in scoring this season with 19.9 points per game while adding 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He shot 39.7% from beyond the three-point arc on 6.8 three-point attempts per game. The Hornets want to run-and-gun alongside Ball, and Johnson is capable of doing just this. While the SEC Rookie of the Year leaves plenty to be desired on the defensive end, a scoring trio of Johnson, Ball and Brandon Miller would provide the Hornets with the most excitement and youth the organization has had in quite some time.
Johnson currently holds +425 odds of being the fourth overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook, with both Edgecombe and Ace Bailey ahead of him.
5. Ace Bailey – Utah Jazz
Ace Bailey is one of the most polarizing NBA Draft prospects in recent memory. The talent level is clear, but there are some significant red flags in his decision-making process, and the situation he was in at Rutgers did not help him. Bailey has the widest gap between his ceiling and floor, but the Jazz are in a spot where they should be willing to take the lottery ticket. Standing 6-foot-7.5, the 18-year-old averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds this season. While there was not much talent surrounding him outside of Harper, Bailey’s 1.3 assists per game and negative assist/turnover ratio are still discouraging. It is also difficult to sort through whether his dependence on tough jump shots is more of an issue with his inability to create separation or simply a flaw in his decision-making. Regardless, the Jazz should still be searching for a cornerstone player, and Bailey is their best bet at this. Utah will need to live through the growing pains he will require, but it would be more than worth it if he hits his top-end potential.
Bailey holds +275 odds of being the fifth overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook, trailing Tre Johnson at +210 odds.
6. Khaman Maluach – Washington Wizards
The Wizards were the biggest losers of the NBA Draft lottery, dropping to the sixth pick despite finishing with the second-worst record in basketball. They can go a few different directions here, but the organization has begun to establish a defensive-minded identity with players like Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly being capable of smothering opponents. Adding Khaman Maluach to this mix would raise this level an additional notch. The Duke product began playing organized basketball at age 13, but has a ceiling much higher than many are giving credit. In his 21.2 minutes per game during his freshman year, Maluach averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He showed some intriguing touch, connecting on 76.6% of his free throw attempts, and expanded his shooting range to the mid-range and three-point line during the season. Standing 7-foot-1 with a 9-foot-6 standing reach and 7-foot-7 wingspan, Maluach has a chance to be a game-changing defender and would be a great fit with this Wizards core. This seems to be a bit higher than the consensus for his outlook, but with no true big man of the future on the roster, Maluach makes a lot of sense.
Maluach currently holds +1500 odds of being selected with the sixth pick on DraftKings Sportsbook, which is the seventh-best odds.
7. Kon Knueppel – New Orleans Pelicans
The third Duke player to come off the board, Kon Knueppel is as surefire a prospect as you will find. He is probably the safest pick in this draft outside of Flagg, with a clear path to what his NBA role will be. Standing 6-foot-5 with the best off-ball movement in the draft, Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He shot 40.6% on three-point attempts and showed some intriguing ability to scale up his role when Flagg was injured or not on the floor. In the minutes without the soon-to-be No. 1 pick, Knueppel’s usage rate went from 20.9% to 23.1%, and his assist percentage improved from 12.6% to 23.7%. He processes the game extremely well and helped his draft stock at the combine and during workouts. Despite some concerns about his athleticism, Knueppel posted a faster shuttle run than Edgecombe and a better vertical jump than Flagg and Bailey. He plays with impressive physicality and competes incredibly hard on both ends of the floor. The Pelicans are in a weird spot as a franchise with so many questions surrounding Zion Williamson. Taking a surefire prospect who can fit regardless of their future direction makes a lot of sense. Don’t be surprised if Knueppel ranks near the top of this class in redrafts for years to come.
Knueppel currently holds +245 odds of being the seventh overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook, trailing only Jeremiah Fears.
8. Jeremiah Fears – Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets are still in search of a franchise cornerstone as they begin their rebuild. Jeremiah Fears is worth taking a swing to see if he can grow into this. Not set to turn 19 until October, Fears is one of the youngest prospects in this class and reclassified to get to college a year early. The Oklahoma product posted the highest usage rate of any freshman in the country and averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game this year. While the 28.4% three-point percentage and 3.4 turnovers per game are a concern, his change of pace and burst when attacking the basket are impressive. Measuring 6-foot-2.5 with a 6-foot-5 wingspan, Fears is unafraid on the court and was confident pulling up from NBA range from deep. He improved as the season progressed and averaged 22.4 points, 5.4 assists and 2.6 turnovers per game over his final eight games played. Brooklyn will need to be patient in Fears’ development, but this is a spot where they can do that. This is a bit of a lottery ticket selection, but the type the Nets should be willing to take.
Jeremiah Fears is currently the favorite to be the eighth overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook at +280.
9. Derik Queen – Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors’ tanking effort last year did not stop them from continuing to wheel and deal. They traded for Brandon Ingram midseason and have some significant money committed to Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett over the next few seasons. There is some legitimate talent on the roster, but there is no clear answer for what their biggest need is. Derik Queen could be a strange positional fit, but this is not something that scares the Raptors. The talent is there for the Maryland product, and he is coming off a one-and-done season in which he averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year stands 6-foot-10 and is a good passer for a big man. He is an older freshman, already having turned 20 in December, but has some really impressive touch and is crafty in his attack. He is not quite capable of serving as the hub of an offense considering he has a negative assist-to-turnover percentage and tries overcomplicated passes a concern. Still, there is too much talent to overlook. Queen is a tough guy to place in this draft class, but Toronto would be a really interesting spot for his unique skillset to develop.
Queen currently holds +550 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook of being selected at the ninth overall pick, which is the third-best odds.
10. Carter Bryant – Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are already loaded with young talent that organizations around the league should be jealous of. But they could use some more shooting, and Carter Bryant is pretty close to the prototypical three-and-D archetype they should be targeting. The Arizona product had a limited role this year, playing just 19.3 minutes per game. His raw stats of 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game do not do him justice. Bryant is a defensive playmaker who shot 37.1% from beyond the three-point arc on 2.8 attempts per game. He measured in at 6-foot-6.5 with nearly a 7-foot wingspan and is a fluid athlete in the open court. The 19-year-old has good instincts as a cutter and off-ball mover, and he makes things happen on both sides of the ball despite a low usage rate. Bryant has a lower ceiling than one would hope, but he fits the defensive-minded identity the Rockets have built. Houston will continue to be in the Kevin Durant trade mix and have some bigger questions to face this offseason, but Bryant can be a fit on any roster and very well could have more layers to his game than he was able to show in college.
Bryant currently holds +550 odds of being drafted with the 10th overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook, which is tied for the third-best odds.
11. Collin Murray-Boyles – Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers have an intriguing young core of guards headlined by Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe. Adding a long-term front-court player should be the priority, and Collin Murray-Boyles is a do-everything type of player that would be an interesting addition. In his second season at South Carolina, the 20-year-old averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Standing 6-foot-6.5 with an over 7-foot wingspan, expect his greatest impact to be on the defensive end, where he blends his instincts with some of the quickest hands in the class. His shooting is a work in progress, but he took some steps to expand his range and improve his efficiency in his second collegiate season. If the jump shot fully clicks, you can talk yourself into some star potential. The 26.5% three-point percentage on 1.1 perimeter shots per game is not comforting, but he did shoot 70.7% at the free throw line. The more likely outcome is a defensive Swiss-Army knife who gets out in transition and plays with an infectious effort level. For a Trail Blazers team looking for balance to their young core, this is a completely satisfactory selection.
Murray-Boyles’ draft position over/under is currently set at 14.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
12. Egor Demin – Chicago Bulls
Another polarizing prospect, BYU’s Egor Demin’s jump shot efficiency will decide his NBA ceiling. Standing just shy of 6-foot-9, Demin averaged 10.6 points, 5.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. He shot just 41.2% from the floor and 27.3% from beyond the three-point arc this season. The Russian product is a terrific passer who rewards cutters and can thread the needle to players off-ball. He is most comfortable with the ball in his hands and shoots much more confidently than his metrics would suggest. There is some overlap in skillset with players like Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, but the Bulls have not blinked at targeting this archetype of player, and there is a case to be made that Demin’s ceiling is higher than either. Chicago still doesn’t have a true direction, and Demin fits its track record of draft history.
Demin’s draft position over/under is currently set at 14.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
13. Noa Essengue – Atlanta Hawks
One of the biggest wildcards in this draft class, Noa Essengue has risen up draft boards in recent weeks. He has taken advantage of continuing to play active games for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany and showing the flashes that NBA teams are looking for. Essengue measured 6-foot-10 without shoes and is just 18 years old. He slots somewhere between a wing and a big man with some really good instincts as an off-ball cutter. He is averaging 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals across 23.7 minutes per game. Essengue has shown some flashes as a shooter, but has connected on just 29.4% of his three-point attempts on a low sample size. The Frenchman’s athleticism pops off the charts, and he is a fluid mover on the court. Atlanta has completely bought into the roster construction outlook of surrounding Trae Young with low usage wings and big men who serve as plus defenders. Essengue should be able to fill these shoes right away in the NBA, and he would be an intriguing long-term partner with last year’s No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher.
Essengue’s draft position over/under is currently set at 9.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
14. Nique Clifford – San Antonio Spurs
Presuming they select Dylan Harper with the second pick, the San Antonio Spurs are loaded with guard talent and have all 7-foot-5 of Victor Wembanyama as their centerpiece. The best pathway from here is to collect as many wings to surround these players. Nique Clifford is the exact type of high-IQ player they should be targeting and is a player San Antonio will be able to maximize. The 23-year-old is a late bloomer who spent three seasons at Colorado and then the past two years at Colorado State. Standing 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, Clifford averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 37.7% from beyond the three-point arc. He is a good defender who is effective at getting his hands in passing lanes and averaged 1.3 steals per game across the past two seasons. While age is sometimes looked at as a negative when evaluating prospects, Clifford will be able to contribute right away on this Spurs team that is ready to take that contending leap. He will not be asked to do nearly as much as he was in college, with much more talent around him. But his consistent ability to impact winning pops, and he would fit perfectly on this Spurs team.
15. Cedric Coward – Oklahoma City Thunder
Another late bloomer who has skyrocketed up draft boards in recent weeks, Cedric Coward looks the part of a player that every NBA team should want. The 21-year-old passed up his opportunity to transfer to Duke to remain in this year’s NBA Draft after spending the past three years at Eastern Washington and Washington State. Standing over 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Coward shot 38.8% on three-point attempts in college and has a high release point on his jump shot that will transfer. The California native shot an absurd 76% at the rim across his three years in college and is capable of putting the ball on the floor to attack closeouts. He has all the tools to be a really positive defender and should be able to guard positions 2-4 right away. It has been a rapid and steep rise in competition for Coward, with the NBA set to be an even more significant leap. There will be some growing pains, but the Thunder don’t need any short-term help and are in a position to take the swing. Expect him to be a high-level rotational wing for the foreseeable future, and if the 40.7% rate he connected on catch-and-shoot threes translates, there may be a role sooner than expected.
16. Jase Richardson – Memphis Grizzlies
This selection was originally written out with Jase Richardson to the Orlando Magic with their 31.8% three-point percentage this season, the worst of any NBA team since the 2015-16 Lakers, in mind. But the Magic addressed this issue by trading for Desmond Bane, with this 16th pick being part of the trade package. Memphis is still an interesting landing spot for Jase Richardson, and with the Grizzlies’ future uncertain, I like them taking the upside swing. In his lone season at Michigan State, Richardson averaged 12.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 25.3 minutes per game. Tom Izzo has historically been resistant to playing freshmen. But by the end of the season, it was clear Richardson was the straw that stirred the Spartans’ drink. He has shown some nice flashes as an on-ball defender and some creation ability with the ball in his hands. If Richardson measured a bit bigger than the 6-foot-0.5 he came in at the combine, there would be a legitimate case why he should be a top 10 pick.
Richardson’s draft position over/under is set at 19.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
17. Kasparas Jakucionis – Minnesota Timberwolves
From a pure talent perspective, Kasparas Jakucionis should have been off the board already. But he has a unique skill set that makes it a bit hard to find a fit. Born in Lithuania, Jakucionis originally played professionally in Barcelona before electing to take the college path and spent last season at Illinois. Across his 31.8 minutes per game, he averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Jakucionis shot 31.8% from beyond the three-point arc on 5.2 attempts and has a high IQ. There is a chance that Jakucionis ends up the best playmaker in this draft class. He has had some struggles turning the ball over, recording the second-highest turnover percentage of the 164 players to attempt more than 150 pick-and-rolls this season, and he lets his defensive guard down for stretches. But he plays at his own pace, and if the shot can improve a bit, there is a place for him in the league for a long time. With Mike Conley showing his age this season, adding a guard who can set the table for the offense would be a smart long-term move for Minnesota. He may not make it to this point in the draft, but adding Jakucionis would be an excellent decision at the 17th pick for the Timberwolves.
Jakucionis’ draft position over/under is set at 11.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
18. Will Riley – Washington Wizards
With their second selection in this first round, Will Riley is a nice balance of a player who can contribute right away and has some untapped potential. Standing 6-foot-8, he came on strong in the second half of the season for Illinois. Riley averaged 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 32.6% from beyond the three-point arc throughout the season. Over the past 15 games, he averaged 15.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Riley is smart in his movement off the ball, and his three-point percentage will largely swing his NBA role. He strangely shot better off the dribble, and when guarded this season. Riley was a 40% three-point shooter in high school, with most of these looks coming off the dribble. With his size and off-ball instincts in mind, he is worth taking a chance on. Washington is still sorting through their future vision for the franchise, but he is the type of young talent with size they continue to collect.
19. Thomas Sorber – Brooklyn Nets
Standing 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, Thomas Sorber became a breakout star at Georgetown this season before his year was ended due to a foot injury. Across the 24 games he played, Sorber averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. There are some old-school elements to his game, but Sorber is incredibly skilled and plays with an extremely high IQ. He will be capable of doing the basic big man things from day one, with good instincts and willingness to set hard screens, anchor a defense and rebound at an incredibly high level. But there may be more to his game than just this, with some intriguing shooting touch and some of the best instincts and IQ in the class. A high-character prospect who competes hard, Sorber is a good bet to reach his potential. While Nic Claxton will be holding down the majority of the center minutes, there is a pretty likely chance a contender trades for him, which could pave the way for Sorber to see more minutes. Brooklyn should be willing to take as many upside swings as possible. Give Sorber a solid chance at being the big man of the Nets’ future, and he very well could outperform this draft slot by a major margin in the long haul.
Sorber’s draft position over/under is currently set at 18.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the odds set at -115 in both directions.
20. Liam McNeeley – Miami Heat
A Montverde Academy and University of Connecticut product, Liam McNeeley arrives with some of the best pedigree of this draft class, even with some flaws in his game. Across his lone season in college, McNeeley averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 31.7% on his three-point attempts. He measured just shy of 6-foot-7 at the combine and has a pathway to being a three-and-D player at the NBA level. The three-point percentage isn’t great, but he shot 43.1% on stand-still catch-and-shoot three-point looks this year. While McNeeley is a bit limited athletically, he sees the game well on the defensive end of the floor and at least should be passable defensively. His style of play feels tailor-made to be a complementary player around a star-driven team. Corey Kispert is a popular player comparison for McNeeley. While the shooting splits are significantly in favor of Kispert, I have more optimism about how McNeeley can slot in defensively. Miami looks to be searching for its next superstar swing, with Kevin Durant seemingly at the top of the list, and McNeeley could be a really solid rotational piece of the future.
McNeeley’s draft position over/under is currently set at 23.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
21. Nolan Traore – Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz should continue taking superstar swings, and Nolan Traore is worth a lottery ticket. The Frenchman was largely expected to be in the mix to be a top-five selection coming into the season. But he had a turbulent 2024-25 campaign in which his shooting efficiency brought on some concerns. Traore has been playing professional ball since he was 17, with his electric first step his most encouraging quality. Standing 6-foot-3 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, he plays with impressive change of pace and body control. Traore can turn the corner on a screen better than any player in the draft and is still just 19 years old. The efficiency numbers are ugly; he shot 39.2% from the field and 30.2% from beyond the three-point line this year, but he has a creative array of floaters and runners. He has plenty to clean up, but the talent level is clear, and the intangibles are all evident. You will need to live with the growing pains, but Utah is in a perfect spot to do this. Traore could be the franchise point guard if his development tracks right. The efficiency numbers will largely decide his NBA future, but he should be considered a lock to be a first-round pick.
22. Asa Newell – Atlanta Hawks
Measuring in at 6-foot-9 with a wingspan just shy of 7-feet, Asa Newell plays with a high level of activity and is one of the best offensive rebounders in the class. His positional fit is the biggest red flag with him as a prospect, but he averaged 15.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game during his lone season at Georgia. He struggles to space the floor, connecting on just 29.2% of his three-point attempts, but has done a nice job learning how to create opportunities for himself in a low usage role. Playing next to Flagg and Queen at Montverde was beneficial in accelerating this. It will be interesting to see if he projects as more of a big man or wing at the NBA level, but he fits the same archetype of player Atlanta targets. His activity and athleticism are enough to take a chance on, with Newell being a fluid mover all over the floor. His energy, effort level and defensive flashes are worth taking a chance on, even if he ends up being a tweener positionally.
23. Rasheer Fleming – Indiana Pacers
A three-year impact player at Saint Joseph’s, Rasheer Fleming has played himself into an NBA lock and taken some significant strides in his development this season. Fleming averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.4 steals per game this season while shooting 39% from beyond the three-point arc on 4.5 attempts per game. He is comfortable playing within the box of his skillset and won’t do too much. Fleming stands 6-foot-8.25 with a 7-foot-5.25 wingspan. He is a defensive disruptor with the ability to space the floor and should be able to play power forward or center. Indiana selected Jarace Walker with the eighth pick in the 2023 draft, and he has struggled to carve out a full role for himself. Fleming would be a chance to correct this draft pick. The biggest critique of Fleming is that his ability to create on his own is limited. While this is limiting to his ceiling as a player, I find it comforting that he never tries to do too much or play outside his box. It is rare for a 20-year-old to know exactly who he is as a basketball player the way Fleming does, and he should have a clear path to an NBA role in the short term as a result of this. The Saint Joseph’s product would be an intriguing fit on Indiana’s team-oriented attack and would have no problem fitting right in.
24. Danny Wolf – Oklahoma City Thunder
I did not think there would be any chance Danny Wolf would be a legitimate first-round NBA prospect a year ago. But after spending two seasons at Yale, he transferred to Michigan this season and averaged 13.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. Wolf shot 33.6% from beyond the three-point arc, and Michigan did some unique things with him running pick-and-roll as the ball-handler despite his 6-foot-10.5 frame. He has really impressive vision and great touch for his size, and is still just 21 years old. Wolf is one of the more interesting prospects in this draft, and his talent level is too large to pass on. I see a pathway to a Hedo Turkoglu-like career for him. Oklahoma City has no clear holes but could use some more three-point volume, and there are plenty of ways to cover up Wolf’s defensive concerns already on the roster.
Wolf currently holds -750 odds of being drafted in the first round on DraftKings Sportsbook.
25. Walter Clayton Jr. – Orlando Magic
One of the biggest winners of the NCAA Tournament was Walter Clayton Jr. The Florida product helped lead Florida to a national championship, seemingly hitting every big shot the team needed. On the season, Clayton Jr. averaged 18.3 points, 4.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting 38.6% from beyond the three-point arc on 7.8 attempts per game. When he fully gets going, Clayton Jr. is among the most entertaining players in the country. Measuring 6-foot-2 with average athleticism and already 22 years old, his ceiling is a bit limited. But his willingness to move off the ball improved my optimism for his NBA outlook. Orlando should continue investing as much as possible in adding more shooting, and there could be a role for Clayton Jr. following Cole Anthony’s departure via the trade for Desmond Bane. He deserves to be a first-round pick, and Clayton Jr. would be a nice fit on the Magic.
Clayton Jr. currently holds -275 odds of being selected in the first round on DraftKings Sportbook.
26. Ben Saraf – Brooklyn Nets
Standing 6-foot-6 with a sweet lefty stroke, Ben Saraf is an intriguing late first-round target. He began his professional career at age 16 in Israel, and is now teammates with Noa Essengue playing in Germany. Across his 24.4 minutes of action, Saraf averaged 12.8 points, 4.6 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He struggles as a shooter, connecting on just 22.2% of his three-point attempts, so this will need to improve for him to carve out a true NBA role. But he is one of the more sophisticated passers in this draft class and has success getting to the basket. Saraf does not blow you away with his speed or athleticism, but he is strong and effective at changing speed and direction. He is quick with his stop-and-starts, and it is not hard to imagine him growing into a good off-ball mover at the NBA level.
Saraf currently holds -120 odds of being drafted in the first round on DraftKings Sportsbook.
27. Drake Powell – Brooklyn Nets
Don’t expect the Brooklyn Nets to use all four of their first-round picks, as they will likely be aggressive in moving around. But for the sake of this article, we will keep it simple and connect them with Drake Powell at the 27th pick. Per 247 Sports, he was the 11th-ranked recruit in last year’s high school class but did not have the most convincing season at North Carolina. The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game with a 7-foot wingspan. He shot 37.9% from beyond the three-point arc on 2.6 perimeter shots per game and connected on 44% of his guarded three-point looks. Powell plays with a good motor and shows good instincts as a cutter. The 19-year-old’s decision to remain in the draft is still a bit puzzling to me, with North Carolina’s team-wide issues directly connected to his difficult prospect projection. Regardless, expect a team to take a swing at the UNC freshman with the flashes and pedigree worthy of this and believing a different situation can get much more out of him.
Powell currently holds -175 odds of being drafted in the first round on DraftKings Sportsbook.
28. Maxime Raynaud – Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics enter a difficult offseason with plenty of upcoming changes. With Al Horford and Luke Kornet each entering free agency and limited money to spend, getting a playable big man in the draft would make a major difference for the Celtics. Enter Stanford big man Maxime Raynaud, who is coming off a senior season in which he averaged 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Raynaud is capable of spacing the floor and connected on 34.7% of his three-point attempts on 5.5 attempts per game. His release time is slow, but his scoring touch is intriguing, and he can score with both hands around the rim. With 7-foot size and a solid skillset, he is a good bet to be a rotational backup center for years to come. Landing in Boston would be an excellent spot for the Stanford standout.
Raynaud currently holds -175 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to be selected in the first round.
29. Ryan Kalkbrenner – Phoenix Suns
Another accomplished collegiate big man who could make an immediate impact is Ryan Kalkbrenner. Standing 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, Kalkbrenner averaged 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. He has some limitations as a player, with him likely never able to switch out on the perimeter. The flashes that Zach Edey showed last year could change how teams evaluate these older big men, and he has a good chance of sneaking into the back of the first round. The center position has been a point of weakness for Phoenix, and getting a cost-controlled rotational big man is a solid outcome with the 29th pick.
Kalbrenner currently holds -120 odds of being drafted in the first round on DraftKings Sportsbook.
30. Noah Penda – Los Angeles Clippers
Another Frenchman to close out the first round, Noah Penda stands 6-foot-7 with a 6-foot-11.5 wingspan. At 20 years old, Penda averaged 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game this year. Expect most of his impact to be felt on the defensive end, with Penda being a game-changer for stretches on this end of the floor. He is a smart defender with strong functional movement and can identify offensive sets before opponents even run them. His offensive skillset is limited, but he has shown good flashes as a cutter and is comfortable operating in an off-ball role. Penda shot just 30.2% from beyond the three-point arc this season on 3.2 attempts per game, and his perimeter shooting will largely be a swing skill. Los Angeles has shifted into more of a defensive identity this year, and Penda is worth a first-round flyer.
Penda currently holds -750 odds of being drafted in the first round on DraftKings Sportsbook.
