The winner of the 2025 NBA Draft lottery was the Dallas Mavericks? Seriously, the team that made the finals less than 12 months ago, and traded their franchise player at the deadline, won the lottery with a 1.8% chance. It’s wild, but it’s true, and they aren’t the only team to make massive jumps. The Spurs and 76ers moved into the top three, while the Hornets, Jazz, and Wizards fell out of the top three. The results have drastically changed the outlooks of certain teams, and it sets up for a potentially wild offseason and draft.
Why the Mavericks won the lottery makes no sense, but they did, and they get to add one of the best prospects in recent memory with Cooper Flagg. He is already an elite defender, and offensively, he can create for himself and others with his playmaking. The biggest question with his game would be his three-point shot, but the shot looked good, and he was a more than capable shooter at Duke last season. It is hard to see Flagg not succeeding at the next level due to his ability to impact the game on both ends of the court.
The Mavericks weren’t the only team from Texas to jump in the lottery, as the Spurs moved from the projected 8th pick, to number two overall. With that second overall pick, they will take Dylan Harper, a combo guard out of Rutgers. He is at his best when getting downhill and putting pressure on the rim as he is an elite finisher and a great passer. His ability to manipulate defenses in the pick-and-roll is absurd for a 19-year-old college freshman.
The fit may be a bit weird, with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle already in San Antonio, but Harper is too good of a talent to pass up. The Spurs could also package this pick in a move for a star to pair with Victor Wembenyama. Regardless, the Spurs have a lot of options with this selection.
The 76ers lucked out during the lottery as there was a chance they lost all control of their pick, but they moved up two spots. With this pick, they need to add someone who can help right away, but also be a potential pillar for the future, and Ace Bailey fits that description. He can come in right away and have an impact as an off-ball shooter, playing off of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey.
The limited need for immediate impact will help Bailey develop other aspects of his game such as his defense, playmaking, and ball handling. In the future, he will pair extremely well with Maxey due to his pure scoring ability. He is long and lanky, but he needs time to develop an all-around game, something Philly can provide for him, and he can provide them help in the present and the future.
There may not be a better fit in the entire draft than the pairing of VJ Edgecombe and the Hornets. On the defensive end of the court, he can be the Hornets defensive stopper on the perimeter. On the offensive end, he would be an elite connector with his spacing and rim pressure. He is not a pure shot creator, but he can put the ball on the floor and get downhill with his athleticism.
Edgecombe fits perfectly next to LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, as he makes up for what they lack on defense, and he won’t take the ball out of their hands on offense. The fit is seamless, and it would be a surprise if the Hornets didn’t take Edgecombe if he was on the board.
Tre Johnson is the best pure scorer in the draft, and the Jazz need to find an offensive spark for the future. He averaged 20 points per game as a freshman playing in the SEC last season. He can fly off screens away from the ball and work as a shooter, but he can also create for himself.
A lot of people have compared Johnson to Cam Thomas, as he is a very tough shot-taker and maker, but he appears to offer more upside as a passer. He only averaged 2.7 assists per game, but Texas wasn’t exactly the most gifted team on the offensive end of the court. The Jazz need to continue taking shots in the draft, and taking a shot on the best scorer is not a bad one to make given their overall need for talent.
Not only would Derik Queen getting drafted by the Wizards be an awesome storyline, but it is an awesome fit as well. He is a perfect pairing with Alex Sarr as their strengths complement each other’s weaknesses. The Maryland star is an elite post scorer, but also a crafty scorer due to his ability to create off the dribble, as well as a good playmaker. Sarr on the other hand is a floor-spacing big, who excels more on the defensive end due to his ability to switch onto perimeter players. The pairing would give the Wizards two young bigs, who have completely different play styles, but fit so well together.
If the Pelicans are going to continue building around Zion Williamson, they need to add shooting, and Kon Knueppel is one of the best in the class. He shot 40.6% from deep last season and averaged 2.2 makes per game. He would give Williamson much-needed space to work with, but he would provide more than shooting. He can create his own shot from anywhere on the court, get to the rim, and draw fouls.
Knueppel is also a tough defender who is more than capable of holding his own on the elite perimeter talent. He isn’t the most athletic player in the class, but Kneuppel feels like one of the safest players there is, and he is a seamless fit in New Orleans.
Not many players in the class have more upside than Jeremiah Fears. He will be just 18 years old on the night of the draft after he reclassified to enter college a year early. He possesses one of the quickest first steps in the entire class, and with his 6’4 frame, he can get downhill with ease. Fears averaged 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game last year, as well as 6 free throw attempts a night. He was inefficient last season as he shot just 43.4% from the field and 28.4% from three, but he had games where he shot extremely well from the field on high volume.
Fears needs time to develop, but for a Nets team that isn’t expected to be contending anytime soon, he will be able to work on his game and go through the growing pains. Brooklyn needs to take swings on upside, and there aren’t many players with more of it than Fears.
If the Raptors don’t pick Khaman Maluach it will be a surprise. He is oozing with potential and fits the mold that the Raptors look for. He is long and athletic, and he moves extremely well for a 7’2 big man. He isn’t the shot blocker that many would expect, but he bothers shots at the rim due to his length. The Raptors need another center on the roster, especially a long-term starter, and Maluach is a perfect fit for their style of play.
The Rockets need more help on offense, but the board didn’t fall for them, so instead they add one of the best defenders in the draft. While undersized, Collin Murray-Boyles brings a physical presence on the offense end, and great versatility on the defensive end, two things Rockets head coach Ime Udoka will love. He also showed a lot of upside as a playmaker last year, but he didn’t have the talent around him to showcase it in the box score as he averaged just 2.5 assists per game. He would fit the Rockets culture, and give them a lot of different lineup options due to his versatility on defense.
The Trailblazers have a crowded backcourt with Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons, but they don’t have a true playmaker, and Egor Demin would solve that issue. He is the best passer in the class and it isn’t particularly close. He would be able to make life easier on the rest of the roster as he would be able to run the offense and find the open player at all times. The team would get better looks as a whole with Demin running the point. His scoring is a work in progress, but at 6’9, he should be able to take advantage of smaller defenders and shoot over them.
The days of Carter Bryant being the best-kept secret in the draft are long gone. At 6’8, he is the ideal 3-and-D player in today’s NBA. He can guard multiple positions, as well as space the floor on the other end. He is also an underrated playmaker even though he only averaged 1 assist per game at Arizona last year. He is long and athletic and full of upside. The Bulls appear to have hit a home run with Matas Buzelis last year, and adding Bryant would give them another high-upside wing, but also a player who can step in and play right away.
Kasparas Jakucionis is a combo guard who can run the offense but also play off of others. At 6’6, he is a taller point guard who can rebound, pass, and shoot. He would make life easier for the Hawks when Trae Young is not in the game, given his ability to run the offense. He does need to limit his turnovers and know when to slow things down as he can sometimes play out of control. Jakucionis gives the Hawks a great secondary ball handler to compliment Trae Young, and a starting point guard if they decide to move their franchise star.
Adding shooting around Victor Wembenyama and their trio of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and likely Dylan Harper is mandatory. Liam McNeeley is one of the best shooters in the class and he is a perfect fit on the roster. He is a fierce competitor and a good team defender who can come in a play right away. He also showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and create for himself at UConn, but he will mostly used as a shooter in the NBA. McNeeley will make life easier for the Spurs stars.
The Thunder don’t really have any needs, so it allows them to go best player available, and Asa Newell fits that. He is an athletic big man who has a great touch around the basket. He needs time to develop and add muscle, and the Thunder can essentially give him a red-shirt rookie season. He has the tools to become an impactful two-way player, but he just needs time to develop.
Everyone knows that the Magic need shooting and scoring, but they also need a playmaker. Nolan Traore was seen as a top-five pick entering the season, but after a rough start to his season, he rapidly fell down draft boards. He has been rising as of late and could even find himself in the lottery. In this scenario, he goes to Orlando to be their point guard of the future. He is a good passer and finisher, and while his shot is inconsistent, he has shown promise as a shooter. He will be able to make life easy on Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner with his ability to set them up for easy looks.
The Timberwolves could lose Nickeil Alexander-Walker in free agency this year and they will need a replacement. Nique Clifford can come in on day one and play big minutes for the Timberwolves due to his ability to impact both ends of the court. He is a great rebounder, a good playmaker, and an all-around scorer, as well as a versatile defender. For a team that is considered a contender, adding a ready-to-play rookie like Clifford would be a home run pick.
Noa Essengue is a long, athletic forward full of potential. At the moment he is at his best on offense when he gets the opportunity to get downhill and use his speed. He can guard multiple positions with his athleticism, but he is too small to guard up in size. The Wizards have shown that they like this archetype of wing player with the selections of Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George. Essengue would give them three extremely twitchy wings who can be disruptors on the defense end.
Day’Ron Sharpe is set to be a free agent, and with four first-round draft picks the Nets appear poised to draft his replacement. Thomas Sorber is a throwback big as he prefers to work in the post as opposed to the perimeter. He is a very smart player as he reads the game extremely well. He moves extremely well for a player his size and it shows up on defense with his ability to stay in front of quicker defenders. Sorber can play right away as a backup for the Nets, and possibly become their center of the future if they trade Nic Claxton.
Jase Richardson is one of the smoother scorers in the draft. He is crafty around the rim and he understands how to get to his spots. He is a smaller guard who lacks high-end athleticism, but he reads the game extremely well, and it led to him being an effective defender in college. He will also have a good understanding of what to expect at the next level as his dad, Jason Richardson, played 14 years in the league. For a team that needs help on the offensive end, Richardson would be a great pick for the Heat.
After adding possibly the best scorer in the draft in Tre Johnson, the Jazz still need to take upside swings, and that’s what Will Riley is. He is a long wing who has real upside as a shooter and all-around scorer. He was up-and-down as a freshman last season, but the highs of Riley on the offensive end were elite due to his ability to hit tough shots. He showed he can create for himself and get a look he likes from anywhere on the court, as well as play off the ball. On the defensive end, he is a work in progress given his thin frame.
The Hawks need a replacement for Clint Capela, and Joan Beringer it the perfect fit. He is an athletic, rim-running big, who Trae Young would love as a lob threat. He offers upside as a defender due to his athleticism, but he is still growing on that end of the court. The Hawks have a nice young core and Beringer would add to it and possibly make an immediate impact.
Danny Wolf isn’t the vertical spacer that Myles Turner and even Isaiah Jackson are, but he can spread the floor and create mismatches for opposing defenses due to his ability to handle the ball. He essentially acted as Michigan’s point guard last season, despite being a 7 footer. The Pacers need to add a big in this draft and Wolf is the best one on the board. He fits their fast play style and he can create a lot of mismatches in inverted pick-and-roll situations due to his gaurd-like ability.
Noah Penda is a pro-ready defender, but his offensive game still needs a lot of work. Due to their immense depth, the Thunder can allow him to stay overseas while he works on his offensive game, and bring him over when they feel he is ready to make an impact. They need to take a developmental player here and Penda is one of the better ones on the board.
Nolan Traore would solve the Magic’s need for a playmaker, but they still need a scorer, and that is exactly what Walter Clayton Jr. is. He is an electric shooter both on and off the ball, and he is a creative finisher around the basket. He will be able to provide the Magic a spark off the bench from day one and open things up for both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. When draft night rolls around it would be a surprise if Clayton is still on the board for the Magic here.
Rasheer Fleming is every team’s ideal 3-and-D wing as he is 6’9 with a 7’5 wingspan. At the moment he is much cleaner on the defensive end of the court due to his length, but he has shown a lot of promise as a shooter this season. He shot a career-best 39% from three and averaged just under 15 points per game, and that was also a career-high. He will be able to have an impact on defense from day one, but his shooting will determine his role in the league.
Cedric Coward won’t go this late on draft night, but that is how this mock played out. He is a long wing who can really shoot it from beyond the arc. He has shown promise of being a three-level scorer one day due to his tools and length. He would work mainly off the ball at the start of his career due to his shaky handle, but the hope is over time he will develop as a ball handler. At the very worst, Coward will be a pro-ready shooter from the moment he enters the league, but he has the upside to be so much more.
Yaxel Lendenborg isn’t the prototypical Celtics player, as he isn’t a high-volume shooter, but he is one of the most well-rounded players in the class. He averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game last season at UAB. He showcased his ability to score from every area of the court, as well as operating as a primary playmaker at times. He can space the floor well enough to allow the Celtics stars to operate in the paint, but he is at his best when attacking the basket. He is also big enough to play some small ball five for the Celtics if they want to give that a shot.
Lendenborg is one of the more fascinating prospects in the draft due to his unique offensive game.
The Suns need to find impactful players on rookie deals, and Labron Philon would give them one. He is a long combo guard who always took the assignment of guarding the opposing team’s best player. On the offense en,d he showcased great touch around the basket, as well as the ability to dictate the pace with his unique ability to stop and start on a dime. His shooting was inconsistent, but the shoot looks good, and there were enough positives to buy into him developing into a consistent shooter at the next level.
Philon can play next to Devin Booker and take pressure off of him on the defensive side of the ball. He is a fierce competitor with an elite motor who can develop into a two-way difference maker, but also have an immediate impact.
Not many players were more fun to watch in college basketball than Tahaad Pettiford. Every time Auburn needed a bucket, their star freshman would deliver. He is a crafty, left-handed scorer, who has a knack for hitting tough and clutch shots. The Clippers starting backcourt is set with James Harden and Norman Powell, but they don’t have a long-term solution behind either of them, and Pettiford can be that. The biggest knock on the freshman star would be his 6’1 frame, but that didn’t stop him from taking over games last year, and he should be able to overcome it at the next level. Pettiford is a gamer and a great pick for the Clippers.
Over the next month, this mock draft will drastically change. Players will return to school if they don’t feel good about their stock. Some players will see their stock rise and others will see it fall. The teams always do unexpected things on draft night, and with the way the lottery fell, there could be some major surprises on draft night.
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