The 2025 NBA Draft could be wildly unpredictable.
Most mock drafts take a measured approach to predicting the draft outcome. They go pick by pick, assume the vast majority of teams will stay put, and simply slot in the player they believe could be selected -- either based on their understanding of other teams and their boards, or their own personal ranking of players.
Most of the time, that "safe" approach ends up mostly accurate. Yet what it fails to do is capture the possibilities of a more chaotic night unfolding. If one team pulls off a major trade, suddenly everything shifts, and the draft could play out very differently. With the trade market simmering and ready to explode, there is the potential for the 2025 NBA Draft to surprise everyone.
With that in mind, we are unveiling our latest Mock Draft -- but we are doing so in a unique way. Rather than briefly sprint through every selection here, we are going to unpack each pick in a separate post -- giving it time to breathe and to analyze the decision. That keeps this post from being too large and gives you the opportunity to dig into each and every draft selection made.
With the 2025 NBA Draft just days away, it's time to dig into our composite mock draft -- with plenty of surprises and trades incoming. This is an unlikely, but very possible and very exciting potential outcome for draft night.
We start in Dallas, where the Mavericks will be holding onto their pick and turning in their "Get Out Of Jail Free" card they were handed at the NBA Draft Lottery to select Duke phenom Cooper Flagg.
No. 1: Dallas Mavericks select Cooper Flagg, PF, Duke
The Dallas Mavericks kick things off by drafting the player they have to take in Cooper Flagg. The youngest player in the 2025 NBA Draft is also its best, and he brings elite two-way impact and exceptional intangibles. There are no true weaknesses here; Flagg is a scorer, passer, defender and competitor who fits alongside any combination of teammates. The Mavericks have rescued their future and will be drafting a generational prospect.
We have a trade to announce! The Utah Jazz are now on the clock:
No. 2: Utah Jazz select Dylan Harper, PG, Rutgers
The Utah Jazz trade Lauri Markkanen and the No. 5 pick to move up and draft Dylan Harper. The 6'5" point guard looks like a guaranteed future star, with the size, strength and massive wingspan to survive on defense. Offensively he has the full package of dribble moves, passes and scoring. His 3-point shot needs some work, but the ceiling is as high as the Utah mountains.
We have another trade to announce! The Washington Wizards are now on the clock:
No. 3: Washington Wizards select VJ Edgecombe, G, Baylor
The Washington Wizards offer the Philadelphia 76ers significant salary relief and a strong 2026 first-round pick to move back to No. 6. Washington has locked into Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe, an athletic two-way impact player to inject into their growing young core.
No. 4: Charlotte Hornets select Tre Johnson, G, Texas
The Charlotte Hornets wanted VJ Edgecombe, but with the Wizards trading up to draft him they have a decision to make: the talent of Ace Bailey or a complementary wing to slot in beside LaMelo Ball? They decide on Texas guard Tre Johnson, a special shooter with both questions and titanic upside.
No. 5: San Antonio Spurs select Kon Knueppel, SG, Duke
The Spurs trade down and pick up Lauri Markkanen as a sharpshooting complement to Victor Wembanyama. While they have to pass on Dylan Harper, they do land an ideal fit in Duke wing Kon Knueppel, whose elite shooting ability and top-notch intangibles project as the exact traits the Spurs should be targeting in role players around Wembanyama and company. What's more, Knueppel's game hints at on-ball upside that could even unveil star-level upside.
No. 6: Philadelphia 76ers select Derik Queen, C, Maryland
The 76ers trade down to No. 6 but still don't want to draft Ace Bailey. Rather than settle for a future role player, Daryl Morey will want star-level upside. That makes Derik Queen the pick for Philadelphia, a special offensive force who can handle, score and pass at a high level -- but may be the worst defensive big in the draft.