2025 two-round NBA Mock Draft: From Cooper Flagg at No. 1 to a Michigan big at No. 59, our swing at every pick
Kyle Boone takes a last look at where the prospects could land during Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2025 NBA Draft
By
Kyle Boone
•
1 min read
The 2025 NBA Draft began Wednesday in Brooklyn, New York, officially ending what had been a frenetic and unpredictable finish to draft season. And if the chaos of the last few weeks is any indicator of what draft night could look like, then I offer one piece of advice: please sit back, buckle up and enjoy the ride. Things could get wild.
Where did Ace Bailey fall land? How did the Spurs, who held picks No. 2 and No. 14 in Round 1, make out? And what did the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder do with picks No. 15 and No. 24?
That's just a few of the myriad questions circulating that we'll soon get answers to over the next few days as the future of franchises and the NBA is shaped and molded by selections.
Cooper Flagg set to be top pick in 2025 NBA Draft: What to know before Mavericks select Duke freshman at No. 1
David Cobb
Nothing is certain aside from Cooper Flagg going No. 1 overall to the Dallas Mavericks. But in the final days and hours leading into Wednesday, intel is rolling in to help offer a look at what the landscape could look like as things unfold in the Empire State.
Below is my final two-round mock with a projection of all 59 picks in this year's draft.
Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Flagg is the clear No. 1 prospect in the class and the no-brainer No. 1 pick. He is the second-highest-graded player in my database since 2017 behind only Victor Wembanyama.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
The fit for Harper in San Antonio next to De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle on paper isn't completely seamless but the debate about it, ultimately, is meaningless. Harper is the No. 2 prospect in the class by a wide margin for me, and with a potential All-Star ceiling I suspect San Antonio prioritizes talent over fit as any smart organization would do in this spot.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Philly is the wild card of draft night with the possibility of it moving back from No. 3, dealing the pick or taking any number of prospects ranging from Edgecombe to Ace Bailey or Tre Johnson. Sticking to pick feels the prudent and most likely option, and Edgecombe -- a two-way guard with tremendous athleticism -- is a perfect blend of talent and fit for No. 3.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Knueppel is the best shooter in the draft class and his fit in Charlotte next to Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball is impossible to ignore. The Hornets feel like a sneaky contender to move up to grab Edgecombe, who has elevated in NBA circles as the potential No. 3 pick. But if they don't, Knueppel or Johnson could be killer consolation prizes.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Fears is arguably the biggest boom-or-bust proposition in this draft with flashes of stardom in his one season at Oklahoma mixed in with some worrying red flags that admittedly are tough to overlook. He'll need to develop his shot to be a threat at the next level and excise the errant passes that were too frequently a feature of his game.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Bailey's curious handling of the pre-draft process -- including canceling on a workout with the 76ers last week days before it was slated to take place -- has potentially cost him millions and imperiled his position as a top-five pick. But his combination of size, scoring and youth at this point feels tough to pass on. Washington could welcome him into a position where he walks in as a rookie averaging 18+ points per game.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Queen's the best big man passer in the class with the skill to be a playmaking hub from his position. This is on the higher end of where he could go but the Pelicans have done their homework on Queen and seem to enamored by his upside.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Johnson led freshmen in Division I last season in scoring and made more 3-pointers than any player in his class to boot. He's a bucket-getter who has opened eyes not just with his versatility as a scorer, but with his rounded skill set as a playmaker, too. He's in play as high as No. 3 but could go outside the top five, too, which would make a slip to No. 8 a steal for Brooklyn.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Maluach is a quintessential Raptors prospect armed with the physical tools of a center made in a lab. He stands 7-foot-2 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and is capable of becoming a defensive wrecking ball anchoring the paint and growing into more as he develops.
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From
Houston Rockets
Round 1 - Pick 10
Bryant was merely a bit player in his one season at Arizona but his big frame and promise as a two-way wing who can defend and shoot make him a potential lottery pick in this year's class. He could add a 3-and-D dimension to a Phoenix team now set to move forward with Devin Booker and Jalen Green as its top two options.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Portland shook up its backcourt in a big way this week in dealing Anfernee Simons to Boston in return for Jrue Holiday. Demin could give the team a big point to develop for the long-term to help learn under an aging Holiday.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
 
Noa Essengue
PF
France
• 6'9"
/ 194 lbs
Essengue is a big riser over the last month and someone who could sneak into the top 10 on draft night. Teams are captivated by the combination of his 6-foot-10 frame and traits as an athletic marvel who can develop into a swiss-army knife defensive stopper. Toronto could also be a viable landing spot for him earlier in the lottery depending on how things shake out.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
This would be a further fall than expected for Jakucionis but it's increasingly hard to find a robust market for true point guards who have flaws in their profile. Jakucionis is a tremendous playmaker but he was turnover-prone at Illinois and shot just 31.8% on 3s.
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From
Atlanta Hawks
Round 1 - Pick 14
 
Joan Beringer
C
France
• 6'11"
/ 230 lbs
San Antonio adds a Frenchman to its ranks to complement another Frenchman already within its ranks, giving Victor Wembanyama a dynamic big to play and grow around long-term. Beringer is the best shot-blocker in the class and someone whose skill set would fit hand-in-glove as a lob threat next to Dylan Harper, De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.
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From
Miami Heat
Round 1 - Pick 15
A late-riser whose steam over the last month has pushed him firmly into the lottery conversation, Coward and his versatility as a multipositional wing with athleticism and scoring fits the archetype that'd make perfect sense for a championship roster in OKC.
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From
Orlando Magic
Round 1 - Pick 16
This is lower than I expect Murray-Boyles to go on draft night but he is a tough one to peg given his profile as a shorter power forward who has clear limitations as a shooter. He's a throwback player who can win with efficiency in the paint and add physicality on defense.
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From
Detroit Pistons
Round 1 - Pick 17
Minnesota has very few holes on its roster but Julius Randle and Naz Reid have upcoming player options on which to decide, so the front office may be wise to consider stacking frontcourt talent either as insurance or for future investments. Wolf is a 6-foot-11 big who has skills of a point guard with his passing and playmaking. Unique prospect who can add value on both ends of the floor.
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From
Memphis Grizzlies
Round 1 - Pick 18
Washington's second pick in the top-20 of the draft nets it another former five-star from last year's class in McNeeley to add next to Ace Bailey in this mock. McNeeley is a competitive wing who can fit in any system and has long-term shooting potential.
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From
Milwaukee Bucks
Round 1 - Pick 19
The son of former NBA player Jason Richardson, Jase, is a silky smooth scorer who can play on and off the ball and would give Brooklyn positional flexibility next to Egor Demin in this mock.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Few teams have as much up-close exposure to Clayton Jr., a Florida native who played at Florida the last two seasons and led the team to the national title this spring. He's a dynamic shot-maker who can add versatility scoring on dribble jumpers and could elevate Miami's backcourt.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Newell would be a best-player-available selection for Utah to add a 6-foot-11 rim-running big who can block shots, be a big lob target for Jeremiah Fears and potentially grow into more as he matures.
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From
Atlanta Hawks
Round 1 - Pick 22
 
Nolan Traore
PG
France
• 6'5"
/ 175 lbs
Brooklyn holds the keys to unlocking chaos on draft night and no one knows which direction it will go if it keeps all these picks. Traore could give the team a starting caliber lead guard who has produced at a high level in France this season and has a pedigree as being viewed only months ago as a potential top-five prospect in the class.
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From
Indiana Pacers
Round 1 - Pick 23
Sorber is an unexpected one-and-done from Georgetown who at No. 23 might be one of the best values in this mock. He dominated the glass in college and measured just over 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan at the Combine.
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Mock Trade from
Oklahoma City Thunder
Round 1 - Pick 24
OKC has two first round picks in this draft and an imminent roster crunch that may prompt it to consider moving off one or both selections. Given that I have a projected mock trade with Utah moving in to this slot to secure big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser from Penn State who has enjoyed a strong pre-draft process and profiles as a promising big with starting upside.
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From
Denver Nuggets
Round 1 - Pick 25
Orlando may look elsewhere positionally after trading for Desmond Bane but adding a player like Clifford who could help contribute early in his NBA career would make sense for the Magic in a wide-open East. He's a five-year college player who improved each season and developed into a star at Colorado State.
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From
New York Knicks
Round 1 - Pick 26
Noah Penda
SF
France
• 6'8"
/ 225 lbs
A French prospect putting together a strong season with Le Mans, Penda checks several boxes as a long forward who can score inside and out and match up well physically defending multiple positions. He could give Brooklyn some long-term flexibility as it enters the next phase of its rebuild.
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From
Houston Rockets
Round 1 - Pick 27
Powell at No. 27 is just the best player available in this mock. The former five-star recruit is a 3-and-D wing with room to grow into more.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
 
Hugo Gonzalez
SF
Spain
• 6'6"
/ 205 lbs
Gonzalez has flashed real skill and feel for a deep Real Madrid this season at just 19 years old. His athleticism and high-motor pops on tape and his development arc may be a worthwhile investment in this range.
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From
Cleveland Cavaliers
Round 1 - Pick 29
Riley has a lot of fans in NBA circles with his big frame and scoring instincts. He's a young prospect after reclassifying to move up a level and needs to add strength but showed flashes of what NBA teams covet in scoring wings in his one season at Illinois.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Raynuad quietly flourished on a floundering Stanford team last season as one of the best players in all of college basketball. The center has remarkable movement skills for his size and can not only space the floor with his shot, but can put the ball on the deck and create. A rare skill for a player his size.
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Mock Draft
Round 2
From
Utah Jazz
Round 2 - Pick 31
Fleming is a glove-in-hand fit for any team with its lead playmaker established. He's a rangy wing who is among the best spot-up shooters in this class and is coming off a big senior season as the alpha at St. Joseph's.
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From
Washington Wizards
Round 2 - Pick 32
The depth of big men in this class could push Kalkbrenner or others at his position who have first round grades in my system into the early parts of Round 2. He'd be a tremendous value for Boston here.
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Round 2 - Pick 33
Charlotte has back-to-back picks here and I love the idea of adding a stable college basketball veteran like Broome who produced at an All-American level at Auburn and who has shown growth each season. The Hornets need size in their frontcourt and Broome's added maturity could help this young team.
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From
New Orleans Pelicans
Round 2 - Pick 34
A bulldog defender who has tremendous size and made a big leap last season as a scorer, Thiero could stand to improve his shooting efficiency but has proven he can play and impact winning in multiple roles.
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Round 2 - Pick 35
 
Bogoljub Markovic
PF
Serbia
• 6'11"
/ 190 lbs
A soon-to-be 20-year-old from Serbia, Marković has produced at a high level in the Adriatic League this season with Mega Basket and is top five this season in rebounds per game.
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Round 2 - Pick 36
Ben Saraf
PG
Israel
• 6'6"
/ 201 lbs
Saraf is an Israeli guard who has acquitted himself well overseas as a scorer and playmaker at just 18 years old this season, and he's crafty in using his smarts to find open teammates.
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From
Toronto Raptors
Round 2 - Pick 37
Detroit adds another weapon to surround Cade Cunningham with in the backcourt. Brea hit 43.5% of his 3s last season with Kentucky and rated in the 96th percentile on catch-and-shoot opportunities.
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Round 2 - Pick 38
Lanier could be a helping hand on a cheap deal for a deep Spurs team after five college seasons, which culminated with an All-SEC season with Tennessee in 2024-25.
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Round 2 - Pick 39
Once viewed as a potential top-20 draft pick, Proctor remade himself at Duke from a ball-dominant guard into a legitimate weapon capable of adding value as a defender and shooter.
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From
Washington Wizards
Round 2 - Pick 40
Watkins is an older prospect having spent four years in college but his athletic profile and aggressive scoring acumen should land him a spot in Thursday's draft in the 30s or 40s. He averaged a career-best 18.4 points per game last season at Florida State.
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From
Miami Heat
Round 2 - Pick 41
 
Yang Hansen
C
China
• 7'1"
/ 253 lbs
A strong predraft process has Yang in the mix to be selected early in the second round of this year's draft. He averaged a double-double with Qingdao in China last season.
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From
Chicago Bulls
Round 2 - Pick 42
 
Rocco Zikarsky
C
Australia
• 7'3"
/ 257 lbs
Zikarsky is an 18-year-old big from Australia who has largely been a bit player with Brisbane in the NBL but has flashed real promise as a teenager in a professional league. His 7-foot-3 frame and fluid athletic movement could give Sacramento a developmental big in its ranks.
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From
Dallas Mavericks
Round 2 - Pick 43
Peavy was a workhorse last season with Georgetown averaging 37 minutes per game and starting in all 32 of his appearances. He made a career-best 40% of his 3-pointers last season and rated in the 80th percentile on dribble jumpers and in the 86th percentile on 3-pointers.
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From
Atlanta Hawks
Round 2 - Pick 44
 
Alex Toohey
SF
Australia
• 6'8"
/ 223 lbs
Toohey turned some heads at the NBA Draft Combine with strong measurements and solid shooting in drills. The Australian product just turned 21 and has made good use of his time the last few seasons in the NBL.
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From
Sacramento Kings
Round 2 - Pick 45
A big-bodied center with a high motor who competes on both ends. He produced in the NBL last season on the league's championship-winning team and has made big strides each of the last few seasons.
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Round 2 - Pick 46
Jones' efficiency took a step back last season as he moved from an off-ball scoring role to an on-ball high usage role. He's a marvelous shooting prospect, though, and someone who has real versatility as a scorer and facilitator.
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From
Detroit Pistons
Round 2 - Pick 47
Milwaukee keeps a Wisconsin player close in John Tonje, who played six college basketball seasons and officially broke out last season with the Badgers. He was an All-American last season keying one of the sport's most potent offensive attacks.
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Round 2 - Pick 48
Martin played a key role in leading two teams (FAU in 2023 and Florida in 2025) to the Final Four and helped the Gators clinch the title earlier this year. He's a big leaper who is a career 36.4% 3-point shooter.
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From
Milwaukee Bucks
Round 2 - Pick 49
Small is a four-year college player who began his career at Eastern Carolina and transferred up to the Big 12 while improving his production. He averaged 18.6 points and 5.6 assists last season at West Virginia and profiles as a potential backup lead guard.
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From
Memphis Grizzlies
Round 2 - Pick 50
Despite measuring as the second-shortest player at the NBA Combine, Nembhard has a chance to stick in the league because of his selfless play style and pass-first mentality at point guard. He led college basketball in assists last season. His brother, Andrew, established himself as an indispensable player for the runner-up Pacers.
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Round 2 - Pick 51
James was a key piece for a 35-win Duke team last season operating as a lead defensive hound and sharpshooter. He's physically mature and has a role-playing skillset with his ability to make shots and facilitate.
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From
Denver Nuggets
Round 2 - Pick 52
 
Dink Pate
SG
G League Capitanes
• 6'6"
/ 201 lbs
A former five-star recruit, Pate eschewed college to go to the G League Ignite -- only for it to fold after his first season. Despite that, he's still flashed NBA talent with his big frame and playmaking, though he needs to continue adding to his frame and developing as a shooter.
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From
Los Angeles Clippers
Round 2 - Pick 53
Sallis was one of the most productive guards in the country the last two seasons at Wake Forest, and he averaged career-highs in rebounds, points and steals last season. He's a former five-star with a big pedigree who has tremendous athletic pop and could be a bench scorer.
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Round 2 - Pick 54
Lahkin had an ACC-leading 7.9% block rate in league play last season at Clemson and brings size and energy to the center spot. He showed improvement as a shooter last season as well and has a knack for grabbing boards in big spots.
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Round 2 - Pick 55
Dixon's a professional bucket-getter who led college basketball in scoring last season and earned All-American honors in his fifth and final season at Villanova. He plays bigger than his measurements indicate and has managed efficiency as a scorer in various roles in college.
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From
Houston Rockets
Round 2 - Pick 56
The fluid movement and sheer athleticism of Nelson is NBA-caliber, though the holes in his game as a below-average shooter are tough to totally ignore. He plays big in big games and competes hard on both ends.
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From
Boston Celtics
Round 2 - Pick 57
Sanders played four seasons at Cal Poly before transferring up to Nevada and flourishing, where last season he averaged 15.8 points and shot 34.2% on 3s as a dynamic offensive weapon. He rated in the 85th percentile on dribble jumpers and has immense feel for a big-bodied guard.
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Round 2 - Pick 58
 
Izan Almansa
PF
Spain
• 6'9"
/ 220 lbs
I've long been a fan of Almansa's game and think the combo of his size and passing feel could be a hit in the NBA. He measured among the longest in vertical reach at the combine and has a wingspan pushing 7-2.
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From
Houston Rockets
Round 2 - Pick 59
Goldin was part of a unique two-big rotation at Michigan last season and held up his end of the bargain as a rim protector who rated out very well on the defensive end. He blocked 1.4 shots per game for the Wolverines, who had a top-12 defense.
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