NBA Mock Draft 2025 - Bean's Blog Edition

The NBA Draft is tonight -- which feels so wrong considering the NBA Finals ended literally on Sunday. But Ball Never Stops! I'm going to give you my predictions for how the Draft will shake out on Wednesday Night. I'm not an insider, I have zero sources aside from the mock drafts everyone has access to on Google -- just giving my off-the-cuff, gut reaction picks.

There will likely be a lot of trades on Draft Night -- I don't know how insiders predict what picks will be traded, because I have no fucking clue. All I have guiding me are the hours and hours of college basketball I watched this past year. Without further ado,

#1 Dallas Mavericks -- Cooper Flagg - Forward, Duke

Pro comp: Kevin Garnett x Grant Hill Hybrid

If there's one guarantee you can expect Wednesday night, it's that Cooper Flagg will be drafted #1 overall. He's not only the best player in the class, but he's only 18 years old and will be one of the youngest players drafted. And he'll fit right in with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving in Dallas as a guy with elite athleticism and defense, great playmaking, a good mid-range game, and range to 3.

#2 San Antonio Spurs -- Dylan Harper - Combo Guard, Rutgers

Pro comp: Cade Cunningham Impersonating James Harden

A step below Flagg, but a step above the rest of the draft -- the 2nd pick will be Dylan Harper. I've been led to believe they're keeping the pick (by the Ringer Podcast Network), and Harper should be able to fit in a backcourt with De'Aaron Fox as a combo guard with dynamic scoring ability. Can shoot it, blow by you with the dribble, and does a good job setting up teammates. Wemby + this backcourt should do damage in the West next season.

#3 Philadelphia 76ers -- VJ Edgecombe - SG/SF, Baylor

Pro comp: Zion Williamson in Aaron Wiggins' Body

I think Philly may trade out of this pick on Draft Night, but it's such a shitshow trying to predict where. If they don't trade out, I think they value athleticism and upside over shot-creation and take the young Edgecombe out of Baylor. High-flying athlete and capable defender, would be a better fit complimenting an offense than he would as the focal point.

#4 Charlotte Hornets -- Kon Knueppel - SG/SF, Duke

Pro comp: Joe Johnson with Jimmy Butler's IQ

I wouldn't be shocked in the slightest to see Kon go #3 if Philly keeps the pick, but especially if they trade out of pick #3. I think Kon is the most pro-ready player outside of Flagg/Harper, and he offers the clearest immediate impact with his shooting and decision-making. Athletically limited, but an incredibly high-IQ player that knows how to win.

#5 Utah Jazz -- Jeremiah Fears - PG/SG, Oklahoma

Pro comp: Rob Dillingham with Jalen Suggs' Jump-shot

Wherever Fears goes in the draft will be my least favorite pick of the lottery. Small and slight, horrible finisher at the rim, and doesn't shoot well. The upside is, he is absolutely dynamic with the ball in his hands, and can blow by his defender to get to the rim. I just think it'll take 3 years for him to learn to finish consistently in the NBA. However, it sounds like Utah likes him.

#6 Washington Wizards -- Ace Bailey - SF, Rutgers

Pro comp: The Michael Porter Jr. of Kevin Durant's

The most negative buzz I've heard about any player in this draft has been Ace Bailey. Questions surround his character and his representation, but if you're the Wizards, there's no reason to pass on a kid who has the upside to be the best player in the draft. Tall and long, great shooter, athletic, and loads of potential.

#7 New Orleans Pelicans -- Kasparas Jakucionis - Combo Guard, Illinois

Pro comp: Lithuanian Coby White

Every year I watch the Pelicans play, I think they are dying for more playmaking. There aren't many elite PGs in this draft, and Jakucionis doesn't necessarily fit the bill of a PG -- but he has great playmaking ability to go with an elite jump-shot. He stuffed the stat-sheet for Illinois this past season, and I think his passing separates him for NOLA over some other guards on the board.

**I wrote this before I saw the Jordan Poole trade. They'll probably take Tre Johnson or Derik Queen but I don't feel like rewriting/ordering these**

#8 Brooklyn Nets -- Tre Johnson - SG/SF, Texas

Pro comp: Jamal Crawford in Benedict Mathurin's Body

Athleticism and shooting is the name of the game with Tre Johnson -- two skills all NBA Teams are looking for, but especially Brooklyn. I think there's a real chance Tre goes as high as #3 to Philly (or someone else trading into the spot), and if I'm a GM I'd take him over Fears or Kas above him. If he slips, Brooklyn will happily scoop him up as a guy who can move constantly and knock down 3's.

#9 Toronto Raptors -- Khaman Maluach - Center, Duke

Pro comp: Jalen Duren ate a Mushroom from Super Mario

Toronto is in no man's land as far as team make-up, but I think their biggest position of need is an impactful defensive center. Maluach provides just that as a massive 7'2 jumping-jack with more touch and finesse than he gets credit for. He can step in and immediately impact a game with his energy and motor, and he'll become a great lob threat for the average playmakers of the Raptors.

#10 Phoenix Suns (via KD Trade) -- Derik Queen - Center/PF, Maryland

Pro comp: Boogie Cousins with Zach Randolph's Brain and Shot Selection

My favorite prospect in the draft by a mile, not because I think he'll be the best player, but because I love his game. An old-school post-player with a solid short-mid-range game, but zero 3-point shooting. But he's incredibly versatile, has great feet and hands down low, an incredible handle for a guy his size, playmaking chops, and a bag of finishes at/through the rim.

#11 Portland Trail Blazers -- Carter Bryant - Wing/Forward, Arizona

Pro comp: Gerald Green and Dorian Finney-Smith's Love Child

Bryant's one of the younger players in the draft, and closed the season strong for Arizona. A big-bodied, athletic wing with great shot mechanics, and a versatile, hard-working defender. I have questions about his ability with the ball in his hands, but he had big playmaking games at Zona, and a lot of people like his dynamism in transition, which will be attractive to Portland.

#12 Chicago Bulls -- Egor Demin - PG/SF, BYU

Pro comp: Young Russian Joe Ingles

This would be the biggest shock of the night thus far if the above plays out. I think after the season Josh Giddey had in Chicago that the Bulls really value these big playmakers, and I think Lonzo could be out the door. Demin's shot is an issue, but Giddey shot 38% on 4 attempts a game, so maybe they think they can fix it. Pro-level passer, massive size, great PNR player.

#13 Atlanta Hawks -- Collin Murray-Boyles - Wing/F, South Carolina

Pro comp: Paul Millsap Without the Mid-Range Game

Despite always being a hot name in trade rumors, I think the Hawks go into the draft every year trying to find players that fit around Trae Young. And while under-sized, Murray-Boyles is the type of defensive-minded player that would fit seamlessly. Gives me some Draymond vibes the way he defends and passes the ball at times, but the shot's a work in progress.

#14 San Antonio Spurs -- Joan Beringer - PF/C, Cedevita

Pro comp: French Jarrett Allen

The foreign guys are always a crap shoot for me. I don't grind enough tape to feel good about projecting any foreign player, but Beringer and Essengue are the two I've heard the most about. I think the Spurs could value athleticism and defense in their 2nd unit, and Beringer is a big body with a motor to run the floor in transition.

#15 OKC Thunder -- Cedric Coward - Wing, Washington State

Pro comp: Jae Crowder with Martell Webster's Fluidity

There's a lot of smoke about the Thunder trying to move into the Top 10 with their massive inventory of draft capital. If they stick here, I think they're eyeballing whoever's available out of the 2 foreign kids, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Cedric Coward. As a fan, I would prefer the pro-ready-body, shooting, and fluidity of Coward's game on an already elite team.

**bold prediction dark horse move: Thunder trade up to #3 from Philly and take Knueppel

#16 Memphis Grizzlies -- Liam McNeeley - Wing, UConn

No more pro comps, time to start cooking through these

I don't have a clue what else Memphis is going to do after trading Bane last week. If Jaren Jackson and Morant are out the door too they could go a million ways, as currently-constructed, they could use a wing that can shoot.

#17 Minnesota Timberwolves -- Danny Wolf - C, Michigan

I lied 1 more pro comp: The Washington Wizards Russell Westbrook of Nikola Jokic's

Seen a lot of mocks with Thomas Sorber here. They already have a ton of young guards/wings, but their frontcourt is solidified, so I think take a shot on Danny Wolf. From the sounds of it, he's shot the fuck out of the ball in workouts, and he's an unreal passer/rebounder.

#18 Washington Wizards -- Noa Essengue - SF/PF, Ratiopharm Ulm

I'm not a fan of this kid at all, but the Wizards could see him as a high upside/value pick at #18. This is a guy that gets to the free throw line at a high rate and has athleticism to boot. Questions surround his shot mechanics and work-ethic, but when he's on the court he's a load.

#19 Brooklyn Nets -- Thomas Sorber- C/PF, Georgetown

Best player available in this slot because I've read about the Nets potentially moving this pick. I think any team could use an athletic, skilled Center with good shot mechanics and productive shot-blocking analytics.

#20 Miami Heat -- Nique Clifford - Combo Guard, Colorado State

Nique Clifford screams Miami Heat to me. Miami saw Herro shoulder too much load and Terry Rozier fall off a cliff last year, and Nique is as hard-nosed and poised as they come. Wildly productive at CSU and got hot from 3 down the stretch (47%).

#21 Utah Jazz -- Asa Newell - PF/C, Georgia

Utah's another team I typically default to best player available on because I never know what Ainge is cooking over there. I had them take Fears at #5, I'll go with Newell here as a big who was highly productive in college as a freshman.

#22 Atlanta Hawks -- Will Riley - Wing, Illinois

Similar theme as earlier, it seems like Atlanta is always coming in looking for complementary players to Trae Young. An 18-year old, 6'7, smooth-shooting wing in Will Riley fits that bill having the length and athleticism to develop as a defender.

#23 New Orleans Pelicans -- Nolan Traore - PG, Saint-Quentin

The Jordan Poole trade still has me in a tizzy so I'm not sure what NOLA is doing Wed. night, so I'm going with a player IDK much about. Traore has been mocked as high as like 9 as a highly-touted prospect, and like I said before, can't have enough playmaking in NOLA.

#24 Oklahoma City Thunder -- Rasheer Fleming - PF/SF, Saint Joseph's

Another choice made more as an "I want" than an "I think they will," but Fleming is a player I really like for the right team. Looks like he's made out of concrete, athletic, shoots the hell out of the ball, has all the tools to be a great defender (nearly 3 steals + blocks a game).

#25 Orlando Magic -- Walter Clayton Jr. - Guard, Florida

Orlando quite literally cannot need shooting more -- even with the Desmond Bane trade. Cole Anthony's out the door, and Walter Clayton offers positional replacement as well as the best shot-making in the draft. Truly elite shooter.

#26 Brooklyn Nets -- Jase Richardson - Guard, Michigan State

Nets have too many fucking 1st rounders they could do anything. They might not even be making this pick. Jase Richardson is a big name, someone will take him 1st round.

#27 Brooklyn Nets -- Drake Powell - Wing, North Carolina

I refer you to the above. Drake Powell went to UNC. Next.

#28 Boston Celtics -- Ryan Kalkbrenner - Center, Creighton

They just traded Kristaps Porzingis, and they already have his buddy Baylor Scheierman from last year's draft. With the injuries and inconsistency they've had in the front court, I could see them taking my former AAA Conference Rival at #28.

#29 Phoenix Suns -- Maxine Reynaud - Center, Stanford

Reynaud and Kalkbrenner could be flip-flopped here -- Boston is surely known to value shooting over all else in recent years, and maybe with Tatum's injury they're more interested in the offensive-upside of Reynaud. The Suns will scoop up either for additional frontcourt depth.

#30 LA Clippers -- Adou Thiero - SF/PF, Arkansas

Thiero was a load early in the season and in the NCAAT for Coach Cal and Arkansas (still feels weird to say that) and I think he'd fit well with this team. Not a great shooter, but a really tough, hard-nosed kid that brings energy on both ends.

That's all she wrote, will post my scorecard tomorrow for how many I got right/wrong. Hoping for 15/30 correct, 28/30 correct for who goes in the first round -- expecting 7/30 and 20/30 to as a "you don't know ball" slap to the face.