Post Lottery 2025 NBA Mock Draft!
The craziest NBA lottery of all time happened today with three teams jumping into the top four! Naturally, I must immediately create a mock draft to celebrate! Lots will change between now and the draft. There will be trades, players will return to college, and players will see their stock rise at the combine. That being said this is what I would do if I were drafting for each of these franchises! Comment your thoughts on the draft lottery and who you want your team to draft!
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, F, Duke
Either Adam Silver told Nico Harrison that they would be rewarded with the #1 pick if they traded Luka, or God himself pitied Maverick fans, but Dallas made the miraculous jump all the way to the first pick. The Mavs will look to create a big three with the Swiss Army Knife prospect joining forces with Anthony Davis and hopefully an eventually healthy Kyrie Irving.
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers
There is a good chance this pick could be traded but in this scenario the Spurs take the best player available. I don't think they should overthink the fit with Fox. I think they can learn to coexist and Fox needs some backcourt help anyways. The Spurs can add needed perimeter spacing later in the draft and free agency.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers
The 76ers can go lots of directions with the third pick. I decided to go with Ace Bailey. The freshman wing specializes in shot making and can add scoring punch to the roster. I can't think of many players better to mentor Bailey than Paul George.
4. Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecombe, SG, Baylor
Hornets elect to go with the versatile wing/off ball guard from Baylor. Edgecombe showed promise as a scorer and can hopefully take down LaMelo Ball's insanely high usage rate. He also adds some defensive versatility and would be a good connective piece to add to Ball and Brandon Miller.
5. Utah Jazz: Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
Jazz need help everywhere and elect to go with who I think is the BPA at #5. Walker Kessler seems to always be in trade talks and Maluach would be an ideal replacement/eventual upgrade. They could even be a very fun double duo.
6. Washington Wizards: Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma
I think the Wizards are still in need of a true building block at the point guard position. Bub Carrington showed flashes in his rookie season but I think his best role is as a two guard. Fears might be the best P&R facilitator and could be the lead guard the Washington franchise has been looking for.
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Tre Johnson, SG, Texas
The Pelicans need backcourt additions with Dejounte Murray recovering from a January achilles tear and CJ McCollum presumably entering his final few years. Johnson is amongst the best shooters in the class and will add some spacing to the New Orleans roster.
8. Brooklyn Nets: Derik Queen, C, Maryland
The Nets need some true blue chip prospects. While Queen might not be that, his unique skillset might be too tempting for the Nets to pass up on. He is more offensively skilled than the big men on Brooklyn's roster and I believe the organization and Jordi Fernandez could get the very best out of Queen.
9. Toronto Raptors: Kon Knueppel, SG, Duke
Knueppel truly would be a great fit for any team in the league. He is the best shooter in the draft, an underrated ball handler and playmaker, and I do not think his athleticism question marks will hurt him too much defensively. Knueppel will give the Raptors rotational options.
10. Houston Rockets: Kasparas Jakucionis, PG, Illinois
The Rockets need a true point guard in my opinion. VanVleet will likely come back, reportedly on a team friendly deal, but we saw in the playoffs how stagnant their offense could get in the half court. Jakucionis has the potential to run an NBA offense while also being able to create his own shots.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Asa Newell, PF, Georgia
Newell and Clingan would be a really exciting front court duo in Portland. I see Newell's being a very good defender who can play the 4 or the 5 and I believe that Newell has shown enough potential with his touch to be a reliable offensive weapon down the line.
12. Chicago Bulls: Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State
Jase has great shooting potential and could be a lead guard at the next level. The Bulls desperately need elite young talent and Richardson is someone who can be a reliable building block in Chicago.
13. Atlanta Hawks: Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina
Atlanta chooses to continue to stockpile on versatile wings with CMB. An elite defender with lots of playmaking chops, Atlanta adds to its wing depth alongside Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher.
14. San Antonio Spurs: Carter Bryant, F, Arizona
Bryant was not a focal point during his freshman season but he showed enough to have lots of fans amongst the NBA community. He shot the three ball at a very high rate and showed the ability to defend on the perimeter. He has the ideal skillset the Spurs are looking for to continue to build their roster around Fox and Wemby.
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