The Florida Gators cut down the nets , and now, with the NBA regular season barreling toward its finish line , the spotlight will shift fast toward the NBA draft. For lottery teams, top-ranked freshmen like Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper present a chance to change the trajectory of a franchise. And for playoff teams, seasoned upperclassmen such as Walter Clayton and Nique Clifford could help bolster their future title odds. There are also a number of international prospects still completing their seasons that are scattered throughout the draft class. Below is the first round for my mock. You can find this mock, plus a full second round and scouting reports for every single prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft Guide, which you can explore here . All that tanking and a $100,000 fine would be more than worth it if Utah lands the first pick to select Flagg. The Duke freshman is a do-it-all forward who hustles like a madman, makes his teammates better as a passer, and has dialed in a knockdown jumper. While leading Duke to the Sweet 16, he’s showing why he’s both the best offensive and defensive prospect in this draft class. In Utah, he’d slot in perfectly alongside Lauri Markkanen, forming a versatile frontcourt duo that can stretch defenses and lock down opponents. His playmaking also complements Isaiah Collier and Keyonte George. But what Utah really needs is a cornerstone to uplift all of its existing talent, and it’s Flagg’s growth as a shot creator that will decide if he reaches his All-Star floor or soars to his Hall of Fame ceiling. Harper is a big-bodied lefty combo guard with the skill, poise and playmaking instincts to dictate the game at his pace, which makes him quite a great consolation prize for the point guard-needy Wizards if they land the second pick. Harper also has NBA blood in his veins, as the son of Ron Harper, who was a 20/5/5 guy before winning five titles as a role player. Like his father, Dylan Harper has a high floor. But the fate of his jumper will determine whether he’s an All-Star or just one of the league’s many solid guards. Bailey is a ridiculous shot-making machine, capable of splashing contested jumpers from every spot on the floor with the swagger of a throwback bucket-getter. Placing him alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller would create an absurd scoring trio. But would it lead to winning basketball? Bailey’s raw edges as a shot creator and defender, plus his shooting inconsistency, need sanding down to turn him into a full-on star. The Hornets might have no choice to take the swing though, given how well he’d potentially fit next to a fully realized Ball and Miller. Zion Williamson was looking more and more like his prime self before a low back bone contusion sidelined him for the remainder of the season. But no matter how much his injury history is lingering in the back of everyone’s minds, he still remains the cornerstone of the Pelicans. Pairing him with players who can space the floor is paramount, especially if those players also offer similar explosive talents like Edgecombe does as a high-motor wing who flies out of nowhere for poster dunks and chase-down blocks. The Baylor freshman pairs his elite athleticism with a knockdown spot-up jumper and fearless slashing. Though he needs to improve his shot creation to become more of a primary creator, he’d be entering a ball-sharing offense in New Orleans. The Sixers have a 64% chance of keeping their pick this year, unless they improve those odds by somehow catching the tanking Pelicans. If they land with the fifth or sixth pick (21.8% chance) it’s obviously a win that they wouldn’t lose the selection to the Thunder. But there’s really no clear prospect that would make sense in this slot. Do the Sixers take an unproven big like Khaman Maluach or Derik Queen? Is another guard like Tre Johnson or Jonathan Fears really needed? Not really, which is why I find myself wondering if they’d reach for Murray-Boyles, who operates like a defensive savant the way he locks down every position, uses his ninja-quick hands to swipe at the ball, and inhales rebounds. CMB would add something completely different to the Sixers' rotation. And though Murray-Boyles is an unproven shooter, he’s a bulldozer finisher with a playmaking feel. If he fixes his jumper, there’s All-Star upside. With D’Angelo Russell, De’Anthony Melton, and Cam Thomas all entering free agency, guard will be an area of need in the present and future in Brooklyn. Maybe Johnson is just Thomas 2.0 since he still needs to develop his point guard skills and shot selection. But he’s shown more playmaking upside than Thomas did in college, and he’s taller. Johnson is a clutch shot-maker who can catch fire from all over the floor, drilling step-backs and off-screen jumpers with ease. The Nets could use a bucket-getter and be patient helping him develop those other qualities. Jakučionis is a slick shot creator with a creative passing gene and a fearless scoring ability, carving up defenses with crafty finishes, step-back jumpers and jaw-dropping passes. And the Raptors need a point guard of the future who can thrive with and without the ball. That’s why KJ makes sense. But he’s not a sure thing. As a freshman, Jakučionis would follow up his highlights with turnover brain-farts that derailed the hype train. But he’s shown enough highs to warrant a top-10 selection. Queen’s leaning buzzer-beating game-winner to send Maryland to the Sweet 16 is one of the highlights of March Madness, and it captured why he’s such a highly touted prospect as a burly big with guard-like handles who dazzles with spin moves, and crafty finishes. Can you imagine pairing him with Victor Wembanyama in the Spurs' frontcourt? Wemby would cover for all the concerns about Queen’s interior defense, instead allowing Queen to do what he’s better at and roam the perimeter and help inside. And offensively, Wemby’s shooting prowess eases the pressure on Queen to develop his own jumper. But if Queen translates his velvet touch to the perimeter, he very well could become a centerpiece. For now, his interior scoring, playmaking chops, and magnetic rebounding alone give him tantalizing potential. Scoot Henderson has made some progress this season, but it’s still not clear if he’s capable of being the point guard of Portland’s future. Knueppel makes sense as a selection in this regard since he brings more than just a sharpshooter’s stroke thanks to his brainy pick-and-roll playmaking and crafty scoring feel. While he’s not a primary creator, he can be one of the team’s creators alongside Deni Avdija on the wing, Donovan Clingan from the high post, and Scoot in ball screens. Of all two-man lineup combinations to play at least 150 minutes this season, Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun rank No. 1 in the NBA in both net rating and defensive rating. But Adams is 31 and will become a free agent this summer, so having a rim protector in the developmental pipeline would be wise for Houston. Maluach is a towering rim protector with switchable mobility, erasing shots at the rim and shadowing quick guards on the perimeter. But beyond dunking lobs, he’s a work in progress on offense with a lack of seasoning as a screener, shooter, and creator. His strength must improve too, which was made clear in the Final Four when he grabbed zero rebounds in a loss against Houston. Such a raw skill-set should come as no surprise since the South Sudan native didn’t start playing basketball until he was 13. Tyler Herro became an All-Star this season, showing his ability as a combo guard. But he needs a backcourt partner. Fears is a dynamic guard with a twitchy attacking style and a knack for coming through as a clutch shooter. He was one of college basketball’s youngest freshmen, and it showed with his shaky decision-making as a shooter and passer. But he has a feel for shot creation and a handle that lets him get anywhere on the floor, so he may only need time to emerge as a star in Miami's system. The Bulls are trending up this season behind the ascent of Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Coby White. Adding another guard could make some sense, especially someone like Richardson who could thrive in two-man game actions with Giddey and Buzelis, while complementing White in the backcourt. The Michigan State freshman is a skilled combo guard with a lethal midrange game and a poised pick-and-roll feel, looking like he downloaded the experience of his NBA veteran father, Jason Richardson. Jase didn’t inherit his father’s height or dunk contest athleticism though, so his smaller stature could cap his upside. But he has an "it factor" about him that could blossom in Chicago. Kyrie Irving will miss a chunk of next season thanks to a torn ACL, so the Mavericks need to add some more playmaking. Demin has a rare ability at his size to make dazzling passes, so he can play more on-ball until Irving returns before sliding into more of an off-ball role where his cutting feel and defensive versatility would still bring value. But long-term, Denim needs to prove he can shoot and create his own shot against lengthy defenders, which makes him more of a love-him or hate-him prospect than a sure thing. Clifford nearly led Colorado State to the Sweet 16, slinging a bullseye pass from the low post to his teammate for a 3, before Maryland hit a buzzer-beater to rip their hearts out. But the play was emblematic of Clifford’s game as a do-it-all wing who can pass when he needs to, which would make him a perfect fit with the Hawks alongside Trae Young. Clifford defends multiple positions, crashes the boards, and scores from everywhere. As a super senior with only Mountain West pedigree, he lacks experience against high-level competition despite his age; his NCAA tournament success began to minimize that concern though. Another French guy in San Antonio. And why not? Essengue is a toolsy forward with a fluid handle, dynamic finishing package, and highly versatile defense. But his long-term upside hinges on the jumper clicking. The Spurs are developing a strong track record of helping shooters. And if it doesn’t, his finishing and versatile defense are enough to make him a great French fit next to Wemby. McNeeley didn't close the season the way he would've wanted to, making only 14 of his final 49 shots, which included a loss to Creighton in the Big East tournament semifinal and a loss to Florida in the second round of the NCAA tournament. But despite his poor shooting percentages, scouts still believe in his upside as a sharpshooting wing with superb instincts moving with the ball, and the touch to splash from deep ranges. The Magic rank 25th in 3-point attempts and 30th in 3-point percentage, so this pick needs to be used on a shooter and McNeeley should be able to get back to his knockdown ways next to Orlando’s core stars. The Timberwolves took a huge swing for Rob Dillingham in last year’s draft. Traoré would present a similar type of opportunity. Traoré oozes upside with his size, blazing speed, and shiftiness off the bounce. But he’s an inefficient scorer all over the floor who needs to improve his erratic decision-making to prove he’s worth the big swing. In Minnesota, he’d have plenty of time to learn good habits from the bench on a team trying to compete for a championship. Bryant is a rangy, athletic forward who projects as a highly versatile defender. He’s raw on offense though, as shown by his up-and-down performances with Arizona throughout the tournament and all season long. Beyond his cutting, he needs to improve as a shooter to earn minutes in high-leverage games. But there’s tantalizing upside that could have appeal for a young team like the Nets willing to take a risk.
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