The 2025 NBA Draft is a month away and with the combine now complete, teams are now angling for which prospects they want to select.
All indications are that Cooper Flagg will be selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the number one overall pick. As for the other top prospects, their future teams are anything but decided. Here are the best team fits for five of the top prospects in the NBA Draft.
1. Dylan Harper
Best team fit: New Orleans Pelicans
After Flagg, Harper is the clear-cut second best player in the draft. His unique blend of scoring and playmaking while dictating the pace of the game is reminiscent of Pistons guard Cade Cunningham. He has all the traits to be a lead franchise guard.
The Pelicans are in need of a long-term floor general, with Dejounte Murray out due to a torn achilles and the expiring contract of C.J. McCollum. New Orleans has the seventh overall pick, so they will need to move up to secure Harper’s services, but pairing him with Zion Williamson would be a step in the right direction.
2. Ace Bailey
Best fit: Philadelphia 76ers
Bailey has the kind of tough shot-making that you can’t teach and possesses freakish athleticism. He has a high motor on both ends of the floor and has a developing offensive game. He has all the tools to be a versatile wing in the league.
The 76ers are in a position to win now, but with the injury history of Joel Embiid and Paul George, they need to have an eye towards the future and add to a young core that features Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain. Having Bailey learn from George and continue to develop his game would be a great start to the youngster’s career.
3. VJ Edgecombe
Best fit: Charlotte Hornets
Edgecombe is probably the best athlete in the class. His explosiveness off the bounce and defensive ability are by far two of his best attributes. His shot is coming along nicely as well and his ability to put constant pressure on the rim due to his speed is another plus.
The Hornets are in the business of acquiring young talent to surround LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller with. Edgecombe is raw and has to round out his offensive game, but head coach Charles Lee has shown that he is committed to player development as the first step in the Hornets’ rebuild.
Edgecombe offers a skill set that neither player has and adding him to complete a versatile trio would help Charlotte’s long-term outlook.
4. Tre Johnson
Best fit: Brooklyn Nets
Johnson is one of the best pure scorers in the draft. He is great at getting to his spots and is not afraid to let it fly from anywhere on the court. He averaged 20 points per game at Texas and shot 40 percent from three.
Johnson does need to add more strength to his 6’6” frame, but that will come with maturity. He also has a 6’10” wingspan, which will allow him to play passing lanes well on defense, but he needs to develop more overall awareness on that end of the floor. Nonetheless, Johnson is one of the more exciting prospects in this draft.
The Nets just started their rebuild and while they already have a young guard in Cam Thomas, Johnson offers better long-term upside. Brooklyn has three first round picks this year and having a class spearheaded by Johnson would be the prudent thing for general manager Sean Marks to do.
5. Derik Queen
Best fit: Utah Jazz
Queen is one of the most versatile big men in this class. He has a polished offensive game, as he has a nice handle for someone his size and his post game is strong. His touch around the rim and the mid-range is also a strength, but he does need to continue developing his outside shot.
The Jazz have gone absolutely nowhere with their rebuild in the sense that they are still lacking a franchise player. They have nice young pieces in Isaiah Collier, Brice Sensabaugh, and Kyle Filipowski, but Queen has more upside than all of them.
He can be a franchise big man due to his versatility on both ends of the court and he would easily be the best player in Utah’s core. Selecting Queen could allow for the Jazz to finally have someone to build around.