The 2025 NBA Draft is just a few hours away, and anticipation is already building. Adding intrigue to this yearly event are the various trades pulled off by different teams in the days leading up to draft day, which means team needs will change dramatically. This, in turn, will likely affect how this draft, a.k.a the Cooper Flagg Draft, will play out.
That being said, we at Rebanse tried playing GM and picked which players will be drafted, at least in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Check out Rebanse’s first-ever NBA Mock Draft:
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg
Some say Flagg is a generational talent, but that might be a stretch. He’s more like an uber-talented forward, perfect for the modern game. He might yet turn out to be a superstar, but he isn’t in a class of his own at this point.
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper
The Spurs can go any number of ways, and they’ve played this close to their vest. But the bet is they’ll roll the dice with Harper, whose scoring acumen would give San Antonio another major weapon.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe
Edgecombe jumps to no. 3 here because the presumptive third overall pick has reportedly been a headache to get hold of. But Edgecombe isn’t a bad consolation at all with his top-flight athleticism and superb defense.
4. Charlotte Hornets: Ace Bailey
Headache or not, Bailey is too good a talent to pass up. His size, scoring, and athleticism would be a huge addition to a Charlotte side in need of talent.
5. Utah Jazz: Kon Knueppel
The Jazz need any talent available, and Knueppel fits the bill. One of the best shooters in this draft class, the former Duke Blue Devil, will give Utah a high-character knockdown shooter with an evolving floor game, eerily similar to former Jazz lottery pick Gordon Hayward.
6. Washington Wizards: Khaman Maluach
Maluach is a true center who can anchor a defense and do the dirty work in the paint. He’s also an athletic rim-runner in the mold of a Derrick Lively. He’ll give the Wizards not only size but also a ferocity and intensity they’ve sorely been lacking.
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears
Fears could be the fearless playmaker New Orleans needs to light a spark in what has otherwise been a lackluster squad. He’d form a smallish backcourt with the newly acquired, but would give the Pelicans another explosive scorer with star potential.
8. Brooklyn Nets: Noah Essengue
Essengue is the first truly international player off the board in this year’s draft as he falls to the Nets at no. 8. Long, mobile, and athletic, the German big man fits the mold of the rim-running rim protector who can anchor the paint on both ends.
9. Toronto Raptors: Derik Queen
Queen has been widely viewed as among the most skilled bigs in this class, but questions remain about his motor, competitive fire, and shooting. Those questions aside, Queen has the size and skill set to be an asset for the Raptors, who badly need bigs.
10. Phoenix Suns: Carter Bryant
The Suns need size up front above anything else, and Carter is exactly what they need: an aggressive defender with a nice perimeter jumper who won’t get in the way of Devin Booker and Jalen Green offensively. His passing is also an asset.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Tre Johnson
Between trading Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday and the latter’s apparent reluctance to come to Portland, the Blazers are likely in need of guard help. Enter Johnson, who’s not only the best available player at this point but also one of the most explosive.
12. Chicago Bulls: Cedric Coward
Coward’s stock has been rising, and he could be headed to Chicago, which might be wearing thin on Patrick Williams and his lack of development. Coward will feed a need at the wings with his defensive potential, decent shooting, and athletic gifts.
13. Atlanta Hawks: Kasparas Jakucionis
At 6-foot-4 with great playmaking skills and selflessness, Jakucionis would be the perfect understudy to incumbent starter and All-Star Trae Young. His size means he’ll also be able to play with Ice Trae in a potentially explosive backcourt pairing.
14. San Antonio Spurs: Cedevita Olimpija
The Spurs already have some superb perimeter players, and it makes sense now to surround franchise cornerstone Victor Wembanyama with frontcourt help. Olimpija, who is 6-foot-11 and is said to still be growing, would be a good addition.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Egor Demin
OKC doesn’t really need much at this point, but will still get lottery talent, or even a potentially good pick. Demin, a 6-foot-9 guard, fits the bill. A playmaking guard with size, he’ll fit right in with the defending champs.
16. Memphis Grizzlies: Danny Wolf
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Asa Newell
18. Washington Wizards: Collin Murray-Boyles
19. Brooklyn Nets: Thomas Sorber
20. Miami Heat: Nolan Traore
21. Utah Jazz: Liam McNeely
22. Brooklyn Nets: Nique Clifford
23. New Orleans Pelicans: Rasheer Fleming
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Maxime Raynaud
25. Orlando Magic: Will Riley
26. Brooklyn Nets: Jase Richardson
27. Brooklyn Nets: Ryan Kalkbrenner
28. Boston Celtics: Yadic Konan Niederhauser
29. Phoenix Suns: Drake Powell
30. Los Angeles Clippers: Noah Penda
