Way-Too-Soon 2025 NBA Mock Draft: A Clear Top Pick Awaits Next Year's Luckiest Loser

Anticipation has been building around the 2025 NBA draft for the past two years. While the 2024 draft didn't feature a consensus top prospect, we'll have one for this next cycle, along with a handful of other quality names who'll create an extremely strong top of the board.

There have already been multiple trades featuring teams trying to acquire or get back picks for next June, specifically the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks.

The San Antonio Spurs could wind up with as many as three lottery picks, while the Oklahoma City Thunder could select in the top 10 despite being in championship contention.

Along with all the high-profile, one-and-done prospects, scouts will also be tracking a solid group of international teenagers who could also help make 2025 one of the best drafts of the decade.

This draft order was based on Bleacher Report's NBA Power Rankings after free agency.

After drafting Donovan Clingan last month, the Portland Trail Blazers may have a chance to further strengthen their defensive identity with a top pick in 2025.

Duke freshman Cooper Flagg generated rave reviews for his play and competitiveness against the U.S. Olympic squad. Incoming college freshmen aren't usually members of the U.S. Select Team, but Flagg made waves with impressive highlights and validating reactions.

Extreme versatility defines Flagg's game, as he continues to show improvement working on the ball with his ball-handling, playmaking and self-created shotmaking. Duke is going to use the 6'9" forward as an initiator in transition and ball-screen situations, though he's also naturally effective tapping into his athleticism and motor off the ball.

While his skill level continues to rise, Flagg's speed, hops and IQ will instantly translate to easy baskets, assists and defensive activity.

The Brooklyn Nets swung a pair of blockbuster trades this offseason to position themselves for a chance to snag one of the top prospects of a potentially special 2025 draft.

Dylan Harper is coming off an outstanding All-Star circuit. He continued to show improvement with his shooting by combining to hit 9-of-17 threes between the McDonald's All-American Game, Nike Hoop Summit and Jordan Brand Classic.

A skilled, cerebral lead guard, Harper gets to his spots with change of speed and craftiness over explosiveness. He creates with advanced footwork to separate into jumpers or slip through gaps. He has good size and touch for finishing and the IQ to facilitate and make passing reads.

We'll have a better idea of where his shooting is after a year of high usage at Rutgers. But Harper should be the top-ranked ball-handler in this class heading into 2024-25.

There usually aren't notable on-court storylines during the summer for incoming college freshmen. But VJ Edgecombe had a chance to compete with the Bahamas national team for the Olympic qualifiers, and the 18-year-old was one of the top performers in a tournament that featured accomplished NBA and international pros.

Playing alongside Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton and Eric Gordon, Edgecombe averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 57.1 percent from the field. He delivered some wild displays of athleticism that highlighted special bounce/hang time at the rim and burst turning the corner. He hit mid-range shots, floaters and shot 5-of-13 from deep. The biggest development seemed to be his ball-handling and live-dribble passing reads.

Edgecombe's creation, shotmaking and playmaking skill levels are starting to catch up to his signature explosiveness. He should ultimately offer even more on-ball offense and versatility than Baylor's 2024 first-round wing, Ja'Kobe Walter.

The Washington Wizards' rebuild should continue to prioritize young, high-upside prospects.

Ace Bailey's 6'10" size, shotmaking and scoring ability should instantly pop and create an enticing archetype that mirrors big wings like Tracy McGrady, Paul George and Brandon Miller.

He should have a green light at Rutgers as well, though he'll have to show self control with his creation, range and confidence, which can result in settling and low-percentage jumpers.

Regardless, Bailey's offensive talent and NBA fit will overshadow his ambitious shot selection.

This will be an important year for the Detroit Pistons' previous lottery picks. The new front office is poised to evaluate the fits of players like Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren after they drafted Ron Holland II and signed Cade Cunningham to a five-year max extension this offseason.

Drake Powell received some quality experience this month at Jayson Tatum's Elite Camp with other top freshmen and college standouts. He's going to build a real case for starter minutes with more versatility at both ends than North Carolina wings Ian Jackson and Cade Tyson.

Head coach Hubert Davis will be able to slide Powell into multiple positions and roles. He's extremely well-rounded and is capable of making plays on and off the ball with his pull-up, passing, improved catch-and-shoot game and athleticism.

Powell is going to mark his mark this coming season by impacting games in different ways.

After drafting Matas Buzelis, the Chicago Bulls may want to add a ball-handler who can run offense and take some pressure off Coby White.

Nolan Traore is one of the hottest names in scouting circles after a strong Nike Hoop Summit, standout performances in LNB Pro A and a huge Adidas Next Generation Tournament, where he averaged 25.8 points and 6.5 assists in four games.

Traore has speed for the open floor, but he's able to create and pass at slower paces in the half court. His finishing craft, touch, instincts and passing consistently show.

How high Traore rises next year will be determined by how scouts assess his shooting and athletic limitations. Still, he's delivered enough shotmaking flashes for evaluators to remain optimistic, while less and less stock seems to be put into explosiveness and bounce when scouting ball-handlers.

Hugo González Peña just had a huge Adidas Next Generation Tournament, finishing as the MVP after going for 23 points, six assists and five steals in the final.

A projected top-10 pick last October, he's shown more on-ball development with his handle and creativity at the youth levels. And his motor, intensity and physicality continue to stand out during off-ball plays and defensive possessions.

Gonzalez's shooting will be under scouts' microscope, but he's still a confident shotmaker for a 6'6", 18-year-old. He excels in other areas, both athletically and fundamentally, to keep NBA evaluators patient.

Teams interested in improving defensively or upgrading their rim protection will be scouting Rocco Zikarsky closely this year in Australia. A 12.2 block percentage is an eye-opening number for a 17-year-old in the NBL.

At 7'2" with mobility and obvious instincts, the eye test backs up the stats in rim protection.

Zikarsky is light on his feet and quick off the ground around the basket. That makes him a big finishing weapon off cuts and around the dunker's spot.

Zikarsky can look vulnerable guarding away from the basket, and his offense is still limited. But we continue to see NBA teams use lottery picks on centers who are interior forces at both ends.

For the second straight year, the San Antonio Spurs could pick at least twice in the lottery thanks to the Dejounte Murray trade they made years ago with the Atlanta Hawks.

In 2025, they could target one of the most proven freshman shotmakers in Tre Johnson.

Though he relies heavily on his jumper, it's highly advanced. Johnson is a threat from NBA range pulling up, stepping back or falling away.

Eyes will be on his physical, playmaking and defensive development, as Johnson's impact can be too dependent on hitting tough shots. He should be expecting starter's minutes at Texas, particularly after Dillon Mitchell left for Cincinnati.

Paul George signing with the Philadelphia 76ers could help the Oklahoma City Thunder pick in the lottery again. They're allowed to swap first-round picks with the Los Angeles Clippers.

At 6'11" with a live motor, Asa Newell should deliver immediate activity around the rim, easy baskets and putbacks to Georgia. He covers a lot of ground and loves to crash the glass and sprint the floor in transition.

But his developing three-point stroke and post skill is what will help push him up draft boards in 2025.

Newell shot over 41.5 percent from three during 21 Montverde games logged by Synergy Sports. There should be plenty of NBA interest in an athletic 19-year-old energy big who can stretch the floor this early.

Kasparas Jakucionis has continued to stand out during youth tournaments overseas, most recently while averaging 12.7 assists at ANGT. He's become a serious prospect with 6'6" size, plenty of creativity, passing and confident, pull-up shotmaking.

Even with Illinois adding Kylan Boswell, Jakucionis should have a good opportunity to make plays as the shiftier guard off the dribble.

The San Antonio Spurs signed Chris Paul this offseason, presumably to help expedite the development of Victor Wembanyama and the team's young cornerstones. But the Spurs could finally add their long-term point guard in the 2025 draft.

Any preconceived concerns about Kon Knueppel's athleticism should fade once he shows off his scoring instincts and shooting.

His 22.5 points per game led the EYBL last year, and at 6'7" and 217 pounds, his physical build and shotmaking hint at translatability.

Even if he comes off the bench after Duke added transfers Maliq Brown, Mason Gillis and Sion James, Knueppel's skill level, IQ and efficiency should pop similar to how Reed Sheppard did in a reserve role at Kentucky.

The Atlanta Hawks got a 2025 first-round pick by sending Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans. After winning the 2024 lottery, the Hawks will be rooting for a down year for the Los Angeles Lakers, whose selection now goes to Atlanta.

Liam McNeeley comes to Connecticut with an attractive game to NBA teams. UConn figures to optimize his shooting, spot-up scoring and IQ.

A strong supporting cast should help McNeeley put together an efficient season with an easy-fit, complementary skill set. He's seemingly a lock to finish with a strong three-point percentage, low turnover rate and a persuasive highlight reel of smart drives and passes.

Collin Murray-Boyles' per-minute production as a freshman points to a sophomore breakout with heavier usage.

Murray-Boyles is likely to divide scouts with an older-school game that's predicated on interior scoring instincts. But he proved to be highly effective using them, along with his 240-pound frame and excellent hands. He also put up encouraging supporting advanced stats that highlight passing IQ (17.2 assist percentage), defensive mobility and foot speed (2.8 steal percentage).

On paper, Murray-Boyles is an undersized big who lacks a modernized skill set. But it may also become difficult to argue with his scoring ability around the key and short corners, where he can play back to the basket or face up and attack.

Production and efficiency could help teams buy into an outlier.

Just being a part of the Bahamas national team for the Olympic qualifiers should have served as valuable experience for Donnie Freeman.

He's still on the raw side, but the 18-year-old has an appealing skill set for a power forward prospect. He's developed into a versatile scorer who's capable of getting baskets in different ways—hitting threes and pull-ups, attacking closeouts and using touch around the post.

More progress with his shooting next season should lead to surefire NBA interest at Syracuse. The idea alone of a 6'9" face-up weapon should keep scouts patient through any inconsistency.

Egor Demin averaged 18.0 points at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament and then became BYU's biggest commitment.

He creates advantages with athletic pop and burst for slashing, transition finishing and cutting. And he's showcased a versatile skill set that includes ball-screen driving, playmaking and diverse shotmaking. Demin can be used in different roles on and off the ball.

How he shoots and executes on creation possessions will determine how high he climbs 2025 draft boards. Demin shot only 3-of-21 from three at ANGT.

A competitive setting at the Nike Hoop Summit exposed Khaman Maluach as rawer than most of the projected 2025 lottery picks, though his 7'2" size, 7'6" wingspan and movement for finishing and rim protection should keep scouts patient.

He'll do most of his damage tapping into his tools and athleticism for picking up easy baskets and contesting shots. He'll tease some upside with occasional flashes of three-point range.

Duke's roster is loaded with both freshmen talent and upperclassmen, so it wouldn't be surprising if Maluach's production didn't match the potential.

It looked easy for Derrion Reid at the U18 Americans Championship. The then-17-year-old forward averaged 10.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in only 16.5 minutes for the U.S., scoring effortlessly against inferior international opponents using his length, touch, instincts and motor around the paint.

His passing and defensive tools are big pluses as well, and he's made some encouraging developments with his mid-range shot and range. However, improving his shooting remains an obvious priority.

Alabama is loaded with guards and bigs, but the starting lineup should have a spot for a wing like Reid who's comfortable off the ball and can guard inside and out.

Coming off three impressive EYBL sessions with UPlay (21.9 points), Will Riley committed to Illinois and reclassified to play college basketball in 2024, making himself eligible for the 2025 draft.

At 6'7", he's a tough scorer with crafty shotmaking and the ability to improvise or counter into difficult jumpers and floaters. Despite an underwhelming frame and limited explosion, he finds ways to get to his spots.

After some impressive moments through Nike Hoop Summit week, Riley should be on most NBA teams' radar entering 2024-25.

Having played more than 17 minutes per game at 17 years old in the Spanish ACB, Michael Ruzic was a main draw at Eurocamp. He delivered one of the better performances at the event—a 28-point showcase of inside-out scoring versatility with shooting range, face-up footwork and instincts around the basket.

His lack of quickness and athletic pop may cap the height of his theoretical ceiling. But to be this productive with interior tools and perimeter skill at his age, Ruzic seems on track to become an established name during the next draft cycle.

Karter Knox followed head coach John Calipari to Arkansas after originally committing to Kentucky. He'll now have to stand out in an experienced rotation with decorated guards, bigs and forwards.

Still, even if his role remains limited compared to most other lottery picks, his positional strength, attacking and confident shotmaking should still pop.

Knox will likely have to sell them with flashes rather than consistent production while playing in a lineup with D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Trevon Brazile, Jonas Aidoo, Adou Thiero, Zvonimir Ivišić and fellow freshman Boogie Fland. But he should be capable of impressing with those flashes of scoring versatility skill for a 6'6", 225-pound, 19-year-old wing.

Wooga Poplar transferring to Villanova opened the door wider for Jalil Bethea to showcase his creativity, shotmaking and playmaking potential.

The incoming freshman is shifty off the bounce and has a bag full of pull-ups and step-backs, which allows him to take over stretches of games.

At 6'4" and 170 pounds, he'll just have less margin for error with his shooting. Scouts will want to see some combo-guard passing out of him, too.

While Dink Pate's execution wasn't consistent in the G League last year, his age (18), archetype (big ball-handler) and improvable weakness (shooting) give him exciting potential and warrant patience.

He'll suit up for the Mexico City Capitanes this year now that the G League Elite program has been shut down.

His upside pops most when he's on the ball, creating, slashing and playmaking at 6'8". There is just some guesswork as to how he'll be used with a new team this coming season.

Regardless, Pate figures to still look like more of a project by this time next year based on his 43.1 true shooting percentage and 21.3 turnover percentage from last season.

Raising his 26.7 three-point percentage remains the obvious priority for Kwame Evans Jr. Better shooting should unlock an attractive archetype for NBA teams, as the 6'9", 19-year-old is coming off a freshman season as an efficient finisher and active defensive playmaker (3.2 steal percentage, 5.0 block percentage).

Evans did make 79.5 percent of his free throws, and he's been attempting threes regularly since high school. A greener light and more confidence should benefit his shot development.

There should be NBA interest in a big forward who wreaks havoc on defense, rolls and pops, scores from the post and executes from the dunker spot.

Long-term potential is easy to detect within Isaiah Evans' 6'6" size and shotmaking ability.

However, it's difficult to feel confident in his short-term outlook. Duke added some older transfers, and he'll have to combat the arrival of Cooper Flagg and a stronger, more polished freshman Kon Knueppel.

Evans, who's 175 pounds, will have to be very efficient with his shot selection and shooting to give Duke consistent minutes and production. But scouts may ultimately be willing to look past any inconsistency for a wing with Evans' caliber of perimeter scoring versatility.

Older, international opponents had trouble stopping Joson Sanon at Eurocamp.

After flipping from Arizona to Arizona State, he's now walking into a featured role that will showcase his downhill driving, shotmaking and ability to facilitate.

Sanon already told Bleacher Report that he's planning on being one-and-done. He should have enough freedom, physical talent and scoring/playmaking skill to sell NBA teams during his one year in school.

Ian Jackson has been one of the most visible and accessible prospects for scouts. He played in three FIBA tournaments, the All-Star circuit last spring and a number of games against Overtime Elite.

He's a pure scorer who provides rim pressure, confident shotmaking and off-ball movement.

Jackson would have some adjustments to make in a starting lineup alongside Elliot Cadeau and RJ Davis. But with North Carolina bringing in sharpshooting wing Cade Tyson, Jackson may actually benefit from playing an offensive-spark role off the bench.

Despite modest scoring numbers, Jarin Stevenson's combination of finishing tools and shooting potential should have earned him a spot on NBA watch lists entering next season.

He went off in the Elite Eight, scoring 19 points while making five triples. Alabama returning Mark Sears and Grant Nelson could make it difficult for the sophomore to receive many more reps, but he figures to be sharper and more confident with the ones he gets as a spot-up shooter, pick-and-pop big and play-finisher.

More consistency next season could earn him a spot in the first-round discussion, given the appeal to a 6'11" forward with a three-point stroke who doesn't turn 19 until October.

Alex Karaban is going for three consecutive national titles and first-round interest after NBA combine feedback likely pushed him to return to UConn.

Karaban's combination of positional size and 147 made three-pointers through two seasons is his main selling point, but he also shows off-ball scoring feel and defensive IQ/toughness.

JT Toppin doesn't have the most modernized skill set, but NBA teams may deem his production worth buying, particularly if he builds on his three-point shooting flashes.

Toppin had some encouraging moments at the NBA combine, both around the basket and behind the arc. His potential to bring hustle buckets, rebounds, efficiency, defensive playmaking and possible floor spacing should eventually draw solid NBA interest.