The 2025 NBA Draft is less than a week away. Teams are finalizing their draft boards, making calls to trade up, and preparing for the now two-day event that is the NBA Draft. Every team has players that they hope will fall into their hands, but more often than not, they don’t.
However, if teams were fortunate enough to have their dream targets fall into their laps, these are the pairings that would make the most sense. Some are more realistic than others, but as we see every year, anything can happen in the NBA.
Khaman Maluach is an athletic rim-running big man with immense defensive upside. The Hawks need a replacement for Clint Capela, and it is hard to think of a better one than the Duke freshman. He would give Trae Young an elite lob threat from the moment he steps on the court. Maluach would give Atlanta two versatile big men on the defensive end, with Onyeka Okongwu being the other.
Currently, they likely can’t share the court, but over time, they should be able to play together as the latter is slowly developing a reliable three-point shot. It is unlikely Maluach will fall to the 13th pick, but Atlanta has the assets to make a trade-up to select him.
The Celtics need to draft a center this year, as they don’t have a big man under contract beyond next season outside of Neemias Queta. Ryan Kalkbrenner is arguably the best of the bunch that should be available later in the first round, and he would be a great fit for the Celtics. He is an elite rim protector with a great touch around the rim.
He would be a great replacement for Luke Kornet, as he is essentially a younger version of him with added energy.
The Nets need to take a swing on a player with upside, and there aren’t many players in this draft with more of it than Ace Bailey. He is a big wing who has a knack for hitting tough shots. He is coming off an uneven freshman season, during which he averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, but had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio, with 1.3 assists per game and 2 turnovers per game.
Teams have legitimate concerns about his shot selection and lack of playmaking, but his upside as an elite scorer can’t be ignored. Brooklyn needs to find the next face of their franchise, and Bailey is one of the few players in this draft who can become that franchise star.
It’s hard to find a better pairing in the entire draft than VJ Edgecombe and the Hornets. He would slide right in as the team’s starting shooting guard and provide a much-needed spark on both ends of the court.
He would instantly be the Hornets defensive stopper on the perimeter, and he would take a lot of pressure off both LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller on offense as a vertical and perimeter spacer. This pick has been discussed extensively since the draft lottery, and it’s obvious why.
The Bulls need to find a long-term answer at center, and it’s hard to find a better fit than Derik Queen. His guard-like skill set is extremely rare for a 6’10 big man, and his pace of play fits the Bulls’ style. Chicago is a young team that wants to get out and run, and the Maryland freshman is great in transition.
His ability to handle the ball and create for himself off the dribble, as well as initiate offense for others, will fit perfectly in Chicago. He isn’t going to be a defensive anchor by any means, but the Bulls need to focus on adding talent, and Queen is one of the most talented players in the draft.
The Cavaliers don’t pick in the first round, but that doesn’t mean they can’t find an impactful player in the second round. Tyrese Proctor is a big 3-and-D combo guard who can play both on and off the ball. He can have an impact off the bench immediately with his ability to defend and shoot.
Proctor would give the Cavs much-needed insurance as well, with both Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill set to enter unrestricted free agency.
This pick has been set in stone since the Mavericks won the draft lottery. Cooper Flagg is no longer a dream fit for Dallas, as it is set to become a reality next week. He is already an elite defender, as well as a well-rounded offensive player who can make a major impact on day one.
The Nuggets don’t have a pick in the draft, but that doesn’t mean they can’t find an impactful player in undrafted free agency. Koby Brea is arguably the best shooter in the draft with a career three-point percentage of 43.4%, and he would be a phenomenal fit alongside Nikola Jokic. Denver has surprisingly not prioritized adding elite shooters despite having arguably the best passer in the league on their roster.
Brea would give them one, and while he likely wouldn’t be more than a bench piece, he would be able to make an impact with his shooting. The only downside for Denver is the fact that Brea will likely be drafted, but this is an article about dream fits, not realistic ones.
With both Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley set to enter free agency, the Pistons need to add a shooter in the draft. Chaz Lanier is one of the better shooters in the class, boasting a career 40.2% accuracy from beyond the arc. He would be a great bench piece for Detroit as he would open up the court for Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.
Although at least one of Detroit’s shooters is expected to return, if not both, the Pistons need to prioritize adding a sharp shooter in the draft, and Lanier is one of the best.
The Warriors need to add some size this off-season, and there aren’t many players in the draft bigger than Amari Williams. He is a true 7-footer with a ridiculous 7-foot-5 wingspan. He isn’t much of a scoring threat, but he is an excellent offensive hub, and he would fit like a glove with the Warriors.
He is a good playmaker who can initiate the offense as well as lead a fast break. He can fill the Kevon Looney role for the Warriors as the two have very similar styles of play.
Alijah Martin fits the Rockets’ culture perfectly. He is a tone-setting defender who uses his athleticism and physicality to disrupt opponents. On offense, he is a solid shooter and good cutter, but he doesn’t profile much as an on-ball creator. Martin is the type of player who can provide the Rockets with solid minutes off the bench from day one, as he will bring a level of physicality and energy that most rookies lack.
The Pacers’ roster is deep, but they lack a reliable backup big. Yanic Konan Niederhauser would give them one, as he is an athletic rim-running big who can protect the paint. For an Indiana team that wants to run and push the pace, the Penn State center would be a great fit. He isn’t going to be much of a scorer beyond lob’s and pick and roll looks, but he would give the Pacers an energetic rim protector in the second unit.
If the Clippers were able to land Rasheer Fleming with the 30th pick in the draft, it would be a home run for them. He is the exact player prototype they are looking for. He is a long wing with the ability to function as a small ball five. Fleming can be the successor to Nic Batum down the road, as there are a lot of similarities between the two players.
He made massive strides as a shooter this year, and if he can carry his progress over to the NBA, he can be a very valuable rotation piece for the Clippers.
The Lakers need to add multiple big men this offseason, and one of them should come via the draft. Yanic Konan Niederhauser would be a great fit as he is a rim-running, lob-catching big who can protect the paint on defense.
Luka Doncic loves having a rim-rolling big man to run pick and rolls with, and Niederhauser would be a great fit for that role off the bench. He can essentially play the Jaxson Hayes role on offense for the Lakers when he is in the game.
Carter Bryant feels like a Memphis Grizzlies pick. On offense, he is a good shooter and cutter, as well as an all-around connector. On defense, he is a versatile playmaking wing defender who can guard multiple positions. He is a prototypical 3-and-D wing who can step in and produce immediately. Bryant may not have the offensive upside of the premier wings in the league, but he is a seamless fit next to Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Along with finding more scoring help this summer, the Heat need to see more shooting and perimeter defense. Carter Bryant would fill both of those needs for Miami. He is the exact type of player that every team wants in today’s NBA, as he can space the floor and guard multiple positions on the other end of the court.
Bryant would be a perfect fit on the wing alongside Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo as he would make both of their lives easier on offense and defense.
The Bucks need to improve their perimeter defense this summer, and Sion James would be a part of the solution. At 6’6, he is a physical combo guard who routinely guarded the opposing team’s best perimeter player at Duke last year. He will likely be a 3-and-D guard at the next level as long as his shot carries over to the next level.
Milwaukee needs to give Giannis Antetokounmpo help on the defensive side, and James is one of the better perimeter defenders in the class, especially in the second round.
Joan Beringer is an extremely raw prospect, but his upside is tantalizing. The Timberwolves have shown they are committed to running lineups with two big men, and the French big man would be a perfect fit for that. He can sit behind Rudy Gobert and develop, and eventually take over as the long-term starter.
His upside as a defender is as high as anyone’s in this class, due to his size and athleticism; however, he needs to learn how to utilize them to his advantage. Landing in a situation where Beringer can develop while playing meaningful minutes is the best outcome.
If the Pelicans plan to continue building around Zion Williamson, they will need to add shooting, and there might not be a better shooter in the draft than Kon Knueppel. He is a sharp-shooting wing with the upside to function as a secondary shot creator and ball handler.
He is also a good defender due to his athleticism and 6’7 frame. Knueppel would give Williamson the necessary space to create in the paint, and he would be a seamless fit next to Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones on the wing.
The Knicks need to find impactful players on rookie-scale contracts, and Tyrese Proctor can be one. He is a two-way combo guard who took massive strides as a shooter last year. With Cam Payne, Landry Shamet, and Delon Wright set to enter free agency, the Knicks will need to add depth in the backcourt.
Tyler Kolek can operate as the backup point guard alongside Miles McBride, but neither player is a defensive stopper. At 6’6, Proctor can guard positions 1-3, and work off the ball as a shooter on the offensive end.
It’s hard to find a player who fits the Thunder more than Carter Bryant in this draft. He is a playmaker on the defensive end of the court and a shooter on offense. He would give Oklahoma City another versatile wing who can play all over the court. It would be a seamless fit for both Bryant and the Thunder, given his skill set and their values.
The Magic still needs to find offensive help despite the addition of Desmond Bane, and there may not be a better fit than Walter Clayton Jr. He would give the Magic an immediate spark plug off the bench due to his shooting and scoring ability. He isn’t the type of defender that Orlando usually looks for, but the rest of the roster is full of strong defenders who can make up for what Clayton Jr. lacks.
He can play both on and off the ball, and he would open up the court for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner in ways no one has been able to.
There isn’t a perfect fit for the 76ers at the top of the draft, but VJ Edgecombe makes the most sense of the available players. He is an ideal complement for Tyrese Maxey as he can work off the ball on offense and take on the best perimeter player on the opposing team.
Edgecombe is an elite athlete who thrives when getting downhill and attacking the basket on offense, but he is just as comfortable working as a secondary option. The 76ers already have three players who work best with the ball in their hands, so adding a player who can thrive as a shooter and cutter right away and develop into so much more is the best pick they can make.
The Suns are in dire need of a true floor general, and Kasparas Jakucionas is one of the better ones in this draft. At 6’5, he is a bigger guard who excels in the open floor when getting downhill.
He showcased his ability to play both on and off the ball, thanks to his passing and shooting skills. Jakucionas will make life easier for Devin Booker as he will be able to set him up for easy looks and let him play off the ball more.
The Trailblazers need to add shooting and playmaking on the wing, and that is Kon Knueppel to a tee. He is a knockdown shooter who can create for himself and others when his number is called.
He will give the Portland trio of guards so much more room to operate due to the spacing he will provide. The Trailblazers can put together a lot of different lineups with Knueppel’s versatility on offense and his ability to hold his own on the defensive end.
The Kings have a lot of players who can score the ball, but not many who are defensive-minded. Drake Powell is a long and athletic 3-and-D wing who can provide a defensive spark for the Kings. Outside of Keon Ellis and Devin Carter, Sacramento doesn’t have many defensive-minded players, so finding one in this draft is a must.
Powell has a lot of room to grow on offense, but he can make an immediate impact on defense and create havoc on the perimeter with Ellis and Carter.
Dylan Harper’s commitment to the Spurs has been practically locked in since the draft lottery. San Antonio doesn’t need a point guard with both De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, but the player is too good to pass on. Harper would be the best passer of the three, and he would be able to work on and off the ball.
His upside as a jumbo-sized combo guard is tantalizing, and he is a perfect fit with Victor Wembenyama for the foreseeable future.
If the Raptors have a chance to pick Khaman Maluach and don’t, it will be one of the biggest surprises of the draft. He is an athletic rim-running big man with upside as a defensive anchor. Toronto doesn’t have a reliable big man on the roster outside of Jakob Poeltl, and they need to address that this summer. Maluach would be able to develop and eventually take over as the team’s long-term starter.
The Jazz have yet to find a true young franchise cornerstone for the foreseeable future since committing to their rebuild, but Tre Johnson would change that. He is arguably the best scorer in the entire draft, and he is as pro-ready as any freshman in recent memory.
He isn’t an explosive athlete, but he is an elite shooter from everywhere on the court, and a true shot creator as well. Despite spending multiple picks in the backcourt, the Jazz don’t have a locked-in franchise guard, but Johnson could change that.
Outside of the potential pairing of VJ Edgecombe in Charlotte, Derik Queen to the Wizards is arguably the best fit in the entire draft. He and Alex Sarr are perfect complements for each other on both ends of the court. The Maryland freshman is an extremely skilled and polished offensive player who has his limitations on defense.
Last year’s second overall pick is a floor-spacing big who is still developing on offense, but he is already a strong paint protector and versatile defender. Queen and Sarr make up for what the other lacks on both ends of the court, and it is a perfect fit, and one the Wizards should strongly consider.
While every team has hopes that their pick will work out, that isn’t always the case. Players don’t always develop as teams hope, and sometimes they don’t fit as well as teams had expected. For this year’s draft, these are the dream fits for every team that make sense for both the player and team for many different reasons.
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