The NBA Finals ended Sunday night.
The Oklahoma City Thunder was crowned NBA Champion for the first time. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won finals MVP, adding yet another tally to his historic season.
The finality of the season still hasn’t fully set in, but the 2025-26 season is kicking off Wednesday night as the NBA Draft is conducted in Brooklyn. Cooper Flagg is expected to be the first pick by Dallas and Rutgers’ Dylan Harper is thought to be the leader to be picked second by San Antonio. But after that, it’s anybody’s guess what will go down.
I’ll do my best to accurately predict who ends up where. I won’t be doing any trades during this exercise, but it wouldn’t shock me if the newly minted NBA Champions were aggressive in packaging their two first-round picks and Ousmane Dieng to secure a player in the lottery.
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg – Duke
The easiest pick on the board, I don’t need to go into a ton of detail here.
Flagg is a rangy, versatile wing who showed massive leaps in 3-point shooting during his one season at Duke. He’s one of the best defensive prospects of the last 20 years and is said to be a rabid competitor.
Nico Harrison said he needed defense to win championships when he traded Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. Now, the basketball gods have given him an olive branch to grab on to and save his job by picking the next face of Dallas basketball in Flagg.
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper – Rutgers
Another easy choice, Harper would be the first pick in a lot of classes, but with Flagg leading the charge, the crafty combo guard will look to make it work with De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembenyama on a San Antonio team that could get really good, really fast if this pick works out.
Harper has elite size for the guard position, is crafty around the rim and has shown enough shooting upside to lead most to believe his outside game will eventually be good enough to complement the rest of his superb skills. He averaged 19 points during his one college season and has an NBA pedigree as his dad, Ron Harper, was a long-time standout and teammate of Michael Jordan.
The fit with Harper and Fox will be a little odd, but if he hits in the way some think he will, he could easily surpass him as the Spurs’ lead guard of the future and co-star to Wembenyama.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: V.J. Edgecombe – Baylor
This is where the draft gets interesting.
Philly could be a prime candidate to trade out of this spot to pick up future assets. With tons of money in the trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, the 76ers need immediate role player fits more than they need a shot in the dark that could turn into a future star. But if they stay here, all reports lead me to believe that Edgecombe would be the guy here.
He’s an insane athlete with a ton of upside and he fits some of the things that Daryl Morey has looked for in the past. Morey has done a phenomenal job of scouting guards during his time in Philly and if he thinks Edgecombe can form his backcourt of the future with Maxey, maybe he’ll stick here and take him, throwing his current timeline in the can.
4. Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel – Duke
I’m a huge fan of Tre Johnson and I dug for a reason to put him here, but the Hornets seem determined to make Lamelo Ball the future of their franchise, and I think Knueppel works much better between him and Brandon Miller.
That’s because Knueppel works just about anywhere. He’s an elite catch-and-shoot prospect, he’s shown flashes of off-the-dribble upside, he’s a connective piece on offense and he holds up defensively. The question is, are the Hornets comfortable taking a guy who doesn’t have the 1A ceiling of Johnson or Ace Bailey here?
Time will tell, but it seems that Charlotte wants guys who fit next to Ball, not who could overtake him.
5. Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey – Rutgers
The story of the draft over the past few weeks has been Bailey.
A dynamic talent, Bailey struggled to fit alongside Harper in college, which led to some NBA personnel questioning his maturity. It doesn’t sound like anything bad. From every respect, Bailey is a good kid who has some growing up to do, but when you combine that with odd behavior from his representation, which has led to Bailey not working out for a single team, stuff gets weird.
But, I believe Danny Ainge will jump on an elite talent if one falls to him, and despite Bailey’s best efforts to control his landing spot, I think he ends up in Utah, where he could have a chance to become an offensive star.
6. Washington Wizards: Kasparas Jakucionis – Illinois
This one is a bit of a shocker, and I’m not confident it’ll happen, but I want to be a voice of reason if this is the pick by Washington.
The people running Washington are branches of the Sam Presti tree. Once in Presti’s career has he chosen with the sixth pick. That choice? Josh Giddey. A player who was projected to go in the late lottery who was an oversized point guard with an elite feel for the game and shooting concerns. Sound familiar?
Jakucionis fits that mold. He has good size at 6-foot-5, has next-level feel and has a habit of making those around him better. I don’t think he’s the passer Giddey is, but he can be a conductor for an orchestra in Washington that is currently rudderless and in need of a lead guard. He has some shooting issues, but they aren’t anywhere near the concern level of Giddey.
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Tre Johnson – Texas
Despite their dismal record, the Pelicans actually have a wealth of talent at pretty much every position group, so I’ll go with the best player on the board in Johnson.
He does the hard stuff extremely well. He’s probably the best tough-shotmaker in the entire class, may be the best shooter and has a nice handle for someone at his size. It’s the easy stuff he struggles with.
His rim finishing is poor, he doesn’t always beat defenders off the bounce and his effort on defense comes and goes. There have been a thousand players like Johnson come through. If he hits, New Orleans has an offensive superstar who can carry a playoff offense. But if he misses, as this archetype often does, he’s probably relegated to a shooting role player. The Pelicans have a roster jam, but they need elite shooting, and Johnson will provide that and possibly much more.
8. Brooklyn Nets: Jeremiah Fears – Oklahoma
Brooklyn is in need of a star, and if Fears works out, they’ll have one.
Similarly to Johnson, Fears does the difficult things at a high level. He’s a dynamic athlete who gets to the rim at will, he showed flashes of an off-the-dribble game and he’s a good passer who has good anticipation. He can struggle around the rim and has a long way to go as a shooter, but he’s one of those guys who is so easy to see becoming a multi-time all-star.
While I’d bet on Johnson to become a good player, I’d probably go the other way on Fears, but his talent is so immense at such a young age, it’s hard to argue with his supporters.
9. Toronto Raptors: Kahman Maluach – Duke
A lot like New Orleans, Toronto has everything but needs everything at the same time.
Maluach burst onto the scene at Duke after enrolling in the NBA Academy in Africa at just 14 years old. He’s truly gigantic. Standing 7-1 with no shoes, Maluach has a feel for the game at his size that is very impressive. It doesn’t shine through in his passing yet, but his ability as a defensive anchor and lob threat will get him on the court right away.
He’s only played basketball for four years, so the upside with Maluach isn’t quite known yet, but his floor is a very useful NBA big, and as we just saw in the NBA Finals, having those is a true luxury, even with the best teams in the NBA.
10. Phoenix Suns: Carter Bryant – Arizona
To be clear, I think the Suns are the perfect trade-down candidate.
But, in this world where they stay at 10, Bryant makes sense for the type of player you’d want around Devin Booker. His three-and-D tendencies fit alongside Dillon Brooks well and if Phoenix can eventually figure out the point guard and center positions, the middle three of Booker-Brooks-Bryant actually makes a ton of sense in 2025’s NBA.
Most think Phoenix wants a center here, but with Maluach off the board, I don’t see anyone who makes any sense unless the Suns want to reach on Thomas Sorber.
11. Portland Trailblazers: Derik Queen – Maryland
Do I love this fit next to Donovan Clingan? No, but there are parts of it that make sense.
Like Clingan, Queen can’t shoot right now (20% from 3 in college), but the basis of shooting upside is there. He’s an electric playmaker out of the post, which could unlock some things in Portland’s offense around Shaedon Sharpe, an improving Scoot Henderson and Toumani Camara. It wouldn’t shock me if Portland leaned into its defensive ability and went with Collin Murray-Boyles after trading for Jrue Holiday here, but Joe Cronin has tended to lean toward youth with his lottery picks, and while Murray-Boyles and Queen are the same age, Queen only played one year of college.
Portland took steps toward establishing an identity by trading for Jrue Holiday and forming an elite defensive trio in Holiday, Camara and Clingan, but I think the offensive talent of Queen will be too attractive here.
12. Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue – Ratiopharm Ulm, France
According to several reports, Chicago’s main priority is finding people who fit in with the fast-paced style that Josh Giddey unlocked during the latter half of last season, and Essengue is that guy.
He’s not a good shooter, but he’s elite in transition offensively and has the tools to become a difference-making defensive player. He has a good feel for when to cut, a skill that will fit beautifully next to Giddey and Coby White. Other than that, he’s a blank slate. He’s really athletic, but that athleticism hasn’t shown to be functional in a half-court setting this season.
Who knows what Essengue will be, but at a minimum, he’ll be a demon in transition, and that alone makes him a very good fit for a Giddey offense.
13. Atlanta Hawks: Joan Beringer – Cedevita Olimpija, France
What’s new, another Frenchman is going in the lottery.
Beringer is probably the most unrefined player in this draft, but there’s something about him that feels like it’s going to work. He’s barely played basketball, he has good size at 6-10 and he’s instinctual around the rim, whether that be throwing down lobs or blocking shots.
In Atlanta, Clint Capela is probably gone and the trio of Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels are awesome on the wing. That leaves a need for a center to play with and behind Onyeka Okongwu, and Beringer has the potential to be a great rim-runner, an archetype that Trae Young plays well with.
14. San Antonio Spurs: Cedric Coward – Washington State
One of my favorite prospects in the class, San Antonio comes out of my mock with two players who would fit beautifully around Victor Wembenyama.
Coward is an elite floor spacer, has a 7-2 wingspan and plays with a tenacity that will work in the NBA, barring something unforeseen happening. He played two years at a lower level (Eastern Washington) before going to Washington State this past season, where he played just six games. He was slated to play at Duke next season before he decided to keep his name in the draft.
A future lineup of Harper-Stephon Castle-Coward-Devin Vassell-Wembenyama is one that everyone in the NBA should fear, not to mention the fact they the Spurs also have Fox.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Collin Murray-Boyles – South Carolina
In my opinion, OKC’s biggest need is for a shooter, and I think it would make a lot of sense for it to move up for someone like Coward, but the Thundery vibe of Murray-Boyles is undeniable.
He’s elite defensively, possibly better than anyone in the class outside of Flagg on that end of the floor. He’s got an insane feel for a 6-7 F-C and he’s a very good screener, something OKC needs more of. His shooting is a huge concern, but he was over the 70% FT barometer that a lot of scouts look for to determine if a player can become a shooter and he has very good touch at the rim.
My guess would be he’s never a plus shooter, but his passing in the short-roll will be valuable and he fits in perfectly with what OKC does on defense.
16. Memphis Grizzlies: Egor Demin – BYU
A talented guard, Demin could be a steal if he can ever figure out how to shoot. Memphis needs another creator following the Desmond Bane trade, and Demin falls into that role perfectly and could fit with Ja Morant.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Thomas Sorber – Georgetown
Based on where he’s going in some mocks, Sorber could go far higher than this, but if he’s on the board here, Minnesota should take him as they look to prepare for life after either Naz Reid or Rudy Gobert. Sorber is highly intelligent and has great feel. If he can ever develop a 3, he’ll be very good.
18. Washington Wizards: Asa Newell – Georgia
Newell was a productive freshman at Georgia who has a lot of talent, but the things he’s good at don’t necessarily translate to the NBA all the time. He shot 29% from 3 in his lone college season and his 6-9 with the game of a traditional center. Who knows if it works or not, but Newell is young and gifted with a real pedigree, so Washington should take a shot.
19. Brooklyn Nets: Will Riley – Illinois
Riley, like the aforementioned Carter Bryant, fits the 3-and-D mold that everyone is after. He’s not the same level of prospect, but Brooklyn should be in young talent acquisition mode and Riley came on late for the Illini, raising his stock and becoming a first-round prospect.
20. Miami Heat: Jase Richardson – Michigan State
Miami was in the race for Kevin Durant, but ultimately didn’t want to pay the price. So, it needs a star. I’m not sure Richardson has that in him, but his shotmaking is the best of anybody on the board outside of Nique Clifford and he’s 19, so the upside is likely higher.
21. Utah Jazz: Nolan Traore – Saint-Quentin BB, France
A predicted lottery pick before the season, Traore struggled in the French pro league. Despite his one bad year, he’s been on the radar of NBA teams for years and the Jazz need to take swings at potential stars.
22. Atlanta Hawks: Nique Clifford – Colorado State
Clifford has some huge fans among NBA draft media, and for good reason. He brings a deep scoring bag and solid size to the equation. The biggest issue is that he played five years of college and typically, guys stay at that level for that long for a reason. Despite his age, his skills are undeniable and Atlanta could be getting an explosive bench guard at good value here.
23. New Orleans Pelicans: Danny Wolf – Michigan
Admittedly, Wolf’s range is something I can’t really get a good grasp on. Some think he’ll go late lottery, while some have him right around this spot in the draft. After getting Tre Johnson earlier, New Orleans doubles down on perimeter skill with Wolf, who brings a unique blend of size and skill to the table.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Noah Penda – Le Mans Sarthe Basket, France
To be clear, I see no world where OKC uses this pick, barring a trade happening before the draft that opens a roster spot. But, in that world, Penda is a good fit for what OKC wants to do. He’s 6-8 and is willing to shoot the 3, although his efficiency has been less than desirable. He plays good defense and has a good feel for the game, which likens him to guys OKC has looked for in past years.
25. Orlando Magic: Rasheer Fleming, St. Joe’s
Orlando recognized its need for shooting and moved toward solving that problem by trading for Desmond Bane, but one high-level shooter isn’t nearly enough. Fleming is a unique player, but he shot 39% from 3 last season and 35% from his career, so he can definitely stretch the floor. He’s a bit of an enigma outside of that, outside of his rim protection, but those two things together make for a potentially valuable NBA player.
26. Brooklyn Nets: Liam McNeeley, UConn
McNeely underwhelmed as a freshman at UConn, but the size and shooting combo is going to lure someone in, and it could be way earlier than this. Brooklyn has taken a guard in Jeremiah Fears and now adds another 3-point shooting wing after taking Will Riley.
27. Brooklyn Nets: Bogoljub Markovic – Mega Basket, Serbia
The likelihood that Brooklyn uses all four of its first-rounders isn’t high, but if they do, and the first three involve an elite passer in Fears and two floor spacers in Riley and McNeeley, Markovic could serve as the very large cherry on top. At 6-11, 190, Markovic is skinny, but he’s a good shooter and very skilled. Shooting is never a bad thing, especially if you draft a point guard whose biggest skill is the drive and kick.
28. Boston Celtics: Walter Clayton Jr. – Florida
The star of the NCAA Tournament, Clayton fits the mold of a good backup point guard. He’s an elite shooter who knows how to rise to the moment. Boston loves to shoot the 3 and Clayton is one of the best shooters in the draft. The rich get richer.
29. Phoenix Suns: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
So, Phoenix lands a prototypical 3-and-D guy in Carter Bryant and ends up with the rim-protecting center it needs at the tail-end of the first. Kalkbrenner had a storied college career at Creighton in a complex offensive system, so he should have no issue making the jump. He’s limited athletically, but forming a duo with Nick Richards could give Phoenix just enough down low to stay competitive.
30. Los Angeles Clippers: Drake Powell, North Carolina
Late in the first, you’re looking for one elite skill in your prospects. For Powell, that skill is his shooting. It took him a while to come on at North Carolina, but by the end of the season, he was contributing for the Tar Heels. The Clippers get a talented, young player who didn’t end up at UNC by accident.
