7) Brooklyn Nets-Jeremiah Fears
Despite not having much of an identity currently and only a few building blocks, the Brooklyn Nets can start to turn things around by picking seventh in the NBA draft. While they would probably have hoped for a top-three pick, the Nets have five first-round picks, and they can use the first to select Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears. Fears would make for a terrific offensive fit alongside Cam Thomas, giving them a potential high-scoring backcourt that could instantly make them more competitive.
Fears has put up solid numbers across the board, averaging 15.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals. Those are solid numbers, and while he hasn't shot the ball particularly well from three, drilling only 27.1% of his threes, he has found other ways to put the ball in the basket.
He's averaging nearly six free throw attempts per game in under 30 minutes, something that is sure to translate to the NBA. He is also terrific at creating his own shot in the midrange and mixing in floaters with drives. He'll have to cut down on his high turnovers and improve as a 3-point shooter to make an impact in the NBA. That is doable, and if he can work on those issues, he should make for a terrific fit in Brooklyn's backcourt.
8) Chicago Bulls-Khama Maluach
After trading Zach Lavine, the Chicago Bulls have failed to fall in the standings enough to secure a high first-round pick. As a result, they will be picking near the second half of the lottery. Considering all that they need, that will hurt their rebuild, but they could at least take a step in the right direction by selecting Duke center Khama Maluach.
The 7-2 big man is widely seen as a top-10 pick and could be a terrific starting center in the NBA for at least a decade given all that he showed thus far. He has the biggest standing reaches in the draft, and his size and agility make him a big rim-protecting threat. He also can crash the glass and is a terrific rebounder, particularly on the offensive end.
His size and mobility should make him an easy target as a role player in the pick-and-roll, while he has shown enough range to suggest that he can eventually knock down threes at a consistent level. If that is the case, then he can be a borderline star starting center with a floor of a good starting five.
Considering that Nikola Vucevic is 34 and will be entering the final year of his contract in the summer, the Bulls will need a long-term fit at center, and he could be that player. As a result, the Bulls should select Maluach eighth overall in the 2025 draft.