June 25, the day lives change for 60 athletes and 30 organizations.
This year’s NBA draft will be enthralling, especially compared to last year’s draft. Multiple prospects can change the trajectory of a team’s future. Some players are generational talents, while others have the ceilings of elite role players. There is a wide variety of talent across the board.
With this year’s draft being so high-stakes, here is who I would select if I were the general manager of all 30 teams.
Unless a meteor hits planet Earth and wipes out everyone like we’re the dinosaurs, Cooper Flagg will be the number one selection in this year’s draft. There could not be a better place for Flagg to become potentially the face of the league than the Dallas Mavericks.
When it comes to having star potential and being elite defensively, Flagg is the best prospect since Anthony Davis. Now Flagg gets to play next to him. Pair that with Kyrie Irving, and the Mavericks now have a big three that gives Dallas a championship ceiling.
Flagg can play the 3 or the 4, which allows head coach Jason Kidd to figure out who between Klay Thompson, PJ Washington and Naji Marshall fits best in the starting lineup.
I have never in my lifetime seen a No. 1 overall pick drafted into a championship potential team. Expectations will be high for Flagg as he is heading into a team that is perfectly molded around him.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was once the scariest thing to happen in Texas. The San Antonio Spurs' potential backcourt rotation of DeAaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper makes that movie look like child's play.
It will be interesting to see how the Spurs manage this rotation. Fox is the perfect guard to help mold Harper into the perfect guard in the modern NBA. Harper and Fox had very similar play styles heading into the NBA. Fox was a speedy guard who loved to attack the rim. Harper is quite similar, with the difference being Harper is three inches taller and has a better shot than Fox did at the time.
Like the Dallas Mavericks, a big three of Victor Wembanyma, Fox and Harper gives the Spurs a championship ceiling. The Mavericks have better depth than the Spurs do. However, don’t be surprised if the Spurs make a splash in the trade pool to go all in on a championship.
VJ Edgecombe is the perfect complementary piece for Tyrese Maxey.
Edgecombe is athletic and loves to attack the rim. This raw athleticism has already made Edgecombe a solid defender as well. The sky is the limit for the Bahamas native, and he will be ready to play on day one.
The big thing about Edgecombe, especially compared to other potential prospects with pick three, is that Edgecombe can play off the ball. The freshman shot 36.3% on catch-and-shoot 3s.
A lineup of Maxey-Edgecombe-Grimes-Oubre-Embiid with Jared McCain and Justin Edwards off the bench puts the Philadelphia 76ers in championship contention in what is considered a weaker Eastern Conference.
There is no doubt Charlotte is full of excitement with players such as LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Mark Williams. What this team needs is a role player who complements these three. Kon Knueppel is the piece in that puzzle.
Knueppel averaged 14.4 points per game on extremely productive shooting percentages. The freshman shot 47.9% from the field, 40.6% from deep, 43.3% on catch-and-shoot 3s and 91.4% from the charity stripe.
Along with his elite shooting splits, Knueppel is a great playmaker and has NBA height, standing at six-foot-seven. Athleticism will always be a big what-if for Knueppel. That said, his IQ will never be doubted.
To quote the legendary Bill Russell, “This game has always been, and will always be, about buckets.” Tre Johnson always and will always be about buckets. The Utah Jazz desperately need a bucket getter.
Lauri Markkanen got a ginormous bag from the Jazz and took an immediate regression as he averaged 4.2 fewer points per game while shooting 5.7% worse from the field and 5.3% worse from the 3-point line.
While playing in the deeply competitive SEC, Johnson averaged 19.9 points per game while shooting 42.7% from the field, 39.7% from downtown and 87.1% from the free-throw line. Johnson is not afraid to shoot from anywhere on the court, as he has showcased the ability to hit contested shots.
Johnson is also an incredibly underrated playmaker. His biggest downside is his defensive IQ. I believe being paired next to an aggressive, defensive demon like Colin Sexton can cover up those issues.
Alex Sarr has time to grow for the Washington Wizards. However, his defense wasn’t up to the standards that the Washington Wizards wanted during his rookie campaign. Sarr had a defensive rating of 117.2, which is above the league average defensive rating of centers (111.6). Simply put, Sarr wasn’t good enough on the defensive side of the ball.
Collin Murray-Boyles would provide instant improvement for Sarr and the Wizards’ defensive ability. The sophomore averaged 2.8 stocks last season, showcasing the ability to defend the perimeter and the paint. Despite having a shorter height of six-foot-seven, Murray-Boyles’ 240 pounds of muscle will help him stand his own in the paint.
Murray-Boyles' perimeter shooting is a gigantic red flag at the moment. Yet the addition of Murray-Boyles gives the Wizards a defensive front court for the future.
The New Orleans Pelicans desperately need a backup point guard. Jeremiah Fears would provide day one impact off the bench, yet will still get an appropriate amount of time to develop behind Dejounate Murray and C.J McCollum.
Fears has positive assets that almost make him the perfect modern guard. He has 0 fear of attacking the rim and getting a bucket or going to the free-throw line. Fears is also an elusive ball handler that defenders struggle to stay in front of.
He has to become a better shooter. 28% from deep is not going to cut it in the modern NBA. Yet Fears is only 18 years old. The Pelicans will have the time and correct situation to mold Fears into a great NBA player.
The Brooklyn Nets get their star player to build the franchise around. Ace Bailey has drawn comparisons to former Net Kevin Durant. If Brooklyn could land this caliber of player and have more than two years to build something around him, they could have something special.
Bailey is six-foot-ten and can hit tough shots. He averaged 17.6 points on 46% shooting from the field. He scored 20 or more points on nine different occasions.
Bailey will need the ball in his hands as he shoots on average 14.7 shots per game. He is bad at passing the ball and decision-making. Brooklyn will allow him to reach his scoring potential, given how badly Bailey needs the ball in his hands.
Khaman Maluach started playing basketball when he was 13 years old. He did not start playing basketball in the United States until he was 17 years old. There is so much inexperience, yet Maluach will end up being a lottery pick in the 2025 draft.
The size of Maluach is ludicrous. He is just under seven-foot-one, 253 pounds, seven-foot-seven wingspan and a nine-foot-six standing reach. Playing just 21.3 minutes per game, Maluach averaged 8.6 points per game on 71.2% from the field, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.
Maluach is arguably the rawest prospect in this draft. This has caused him to have fouling troubles and make mistakes on the offensive side of the ball.
He is going to grow and become a great player. This is why the Raptors will take the gamble on him. He will play behind Jakob Poeltl until he is ready to leap into the starting lineup.
The Houston Rockets are in win-now mode. So is Cedric Coward. The six-foot-six senior averaged 17.7 points per game while shooting 55.7% from the field and 40% from the field.
Coward proved to be an efficient scorer on all levels of the court. According to Hoopshype, Coward shot 65.6% at the rim and 61.1% on guard catch-and-shoots.
With a seven-foot-two wingspan, the sky is the limit for the senior who played one year of Division I basketball. Coward would be the perfect sixth man for the Rockets.
With Deni Avdija likely being on the move and Jerami Grant not being the player he once was, it is time for the Portland Trail Blazers to find their forward of the future. Looking to move forward, Carter Bryant is the appropriate pick to be their next young forward.
Bryant has NBA size, which matches appropriately with his athleticism. He has a solid jumper and can guard multiple positions. With Portland not looking to win anytime soon, Bryant will have time to mold his game into the great player he can be.
The Chicago Bulls find themselves needing to answer a lot of questions this offseason. What is the future of this team? Are we building around Josh Giddey or Coby White? One thing that isn’t a question: this team needs a center.
Derik Queen can slide into Chicago’s rotation and make an immediate impact. His ability to operate in the post, scoring and passing-wise, will help the Bulls win games.
Matas Buzelis and Queen have a similar swagger that will give the Bulls a confident frontcourt for years to come.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have made one thing clear during the 2024-25 season. You will win games if you have a wide variety of gritty players who can defend multiple positions and hustle for rebounds and loose balls. The Atlanta Hawks already have Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson, so why not add Nique Clifford into this mix?
Clifford has showcased more than just defensive strengths last season at Colorado State. The senior averaged 18.9 points per game on 49.6% shooting from the field and 37.7% from deep.
Giving Trae Young and a consistent rotation of Clifford/Daniels/Johnson allows for his weaknesses to be covered up at all times. This draft pick would turn the Hawks into a real threat in the East.
The San Antonio Spurs need a backup big who can come into the game and do the dirty work when Webanyama needs a break. Sorber can provide the impact on day one for the Spurs.
Sorber is a lengthy player who has a seven-foot-six wingspan and a nine-foot-one standing reach. He also averaged 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 stocks per game.
While Sorber would be drafted to back up Wembaynama, the thought of them playing next to each other for years to come sends shivers down the spines of NBA front offices
The Oklahoma City Thunder doesn’t need anything. So they can swing on the most promising player at this spot. That player would be Jase Richardson.
While Jase doesn’t have the same athleticism as his father, Jason Richardson, he still has the same willingness to attack the rim and score at a consistent rate. Richardson shot 48.8% from shots that took place 5-15 feet from the rim.
Richardson is still not afraid to shoot from deep, as he shot 41.2% from three last season. Sam Presti could draft a potential gem at 15.
Following Desmond Bane's departure, the Memphis Grizzlies have horrid depth at the forward position. Thankfully, Noah Essengue is available at this spot.
Essengue provides defensive versatility and can hit a catch-and-shoot three in the corner. It still remains a question on if Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr will be on this team next season. However, if they remain on the team, Essengue provides a style of play that complements them nicely.
It is going to be financially impossible for the Minnesota Timberwolves to keep Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid on the team this offseason. Gobert already has a humongous contract, and Reid is going to ask for a massive contract this offseason, which other teams will be willing to pay.
Maxime Raynaud would be a brilliant rotational piece for the Timberwolves. While Raynaud is nowhere near as good a ball handler as Reid, he spaces the floor just as well. The seven-foot-one center averaged 20.2 points per game on 46.7% shooting from the field and 34.7% from three.
The French native also averaged 10.6 rebounds while blocking 1.4 shots per game. Raynaud is what a modern big is in 2025.
The Washington Wizards likely want to give Bub Carrington another shot at being the team’s starting point guard. But, when a player of the quality of Kasparas Jakucionis is still on the board, you can’t pass up the opportunity.
Jakucionis is an electric playmaker who can find any passing angle that he wants. He is also tall and lengthy, which makes him the perfect modern point guard. A player like Jakucionis helps the development of everyone around him. With the Wizards having a youthful roster, they’ll want a player like this to help everyone grow.
The Brooklyn Nets are looking for a player who can help them win games. Walter Clayton Jr was the star player on a Florida Gators team that brought home a national title.
Similar to Ace Bailey, Clayton is not afraid to put up a shot. He showcased brilliance attacking the rim and scoring off of pick-and-rolls. While Clayton isn’t the strongest nor the biggest, his craftiness allows him to find unique angles to score at the rim.
This draft pick also allows Cam Thomas to become expendable. A team looking for scoring off the bench will be willing to give up a lot of capital for him. Clayton Jr would slot into his role brilliantly.
Nolan Traore was considered a top-five pick heading into this season. If he can showcase that ability in the NBA, then the Miami Heat landed the steal of the draft.
While his pull-up shooting has been horrendous, Traore’s strengths are what the Heat are looking for. The Frenchman has great playmaking ability, which will complement Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo nicely.
They may be the Utah Jazz, yet their defensive struggles have not been music to their ears. Noah Penda is a lengthy wing who has a high motor and can guard multiple positions.
Along with his high motor, Penda is a selfless player who likes to pass around the rock. If Penda is to get a shot off, it will likely be in the mid-range. Tre Johnson and Penda will bring some excitement to Utah that the city desperately needs.
Like Kylian Mbappe in the 2022 World Cup Final, France gets a hat-trick in consecutive draft picks.
It has been made clear by the Atlanta Hawks that Clint Capela will not be returning with the team next season. Joan Beringer brings incredible upside with his potential to be a modern big in the NBA.
Despite being a towering six-foot-ten center, Beringer is quick and relentless on the fast break. That size has allowed him to grab boards and be an intimidating defensive threat.
Danny Wolf embodies the way the Indiana Pacers play basketball. Wolf likes to pass the rock, move in transition and shoot threes.
With the Pacers willing to play 11 men a night, a center like Wolf would be crucial to this rotation. The thought of the Pacers adding a seven-foot center who plays like a point guard is intimidating.
The thought process remains for the Oklahoma City Thunder: draft the best player available. They land a slam dunk at pick No. 24 with Asa Newell.
Newell has shown the ability to score on all levels. However, it needs to become more consistent.
The main phrase to describe Newell is high potential. He has the size to be an elite defender and has showcased the ability to be an offensive threat. Newell needs to find a way to do it at a more consistent level. There is no better place for him to develop than with the Thunder.
The Orlando Magic need three-point shooting more than a human being needs air. They addressed this issue by trading for Desmond Bane. However, they still need more players who can hit a shot from deep.
That is the idea of Liam McNeeley as a player. He was a great shooter at the start of the season. However, his shooting dropped considerably around the halfway point of the season.
If Orlando could find some magic and reignite the shooting prowess of McNeeley, they’ve found themselves a steal at pick No. 25.
There is doubt about whether Nic Claxton will be a Brooklyn Net next season. Ryan Kalkbrenner would be a valuable replacement who has a similar game to Claxton.
Kalkbrenner is a giant at seven-foot-one. He can grab rebounds and catch an alley-oop thrown his way.
I am going to flat-out say that I’m not a fan of Egor Demin. I believe he needed one more year at BYU.
His biggest strength is his passing, yet he had a turnover problem for the majority of the season. He is also not a strong shooter who can create his own shot.
However, his passing ability has earned him hype as a potential lottery prospect. If the Brooklyn Nets can make the most out of that potential, then they have a point guard for the future.
The Boston Celtics are in such a bizarre situation. They won’t have their star player next season, and the team is in cap hell. I don’t want to consider next season a “throw-away” season for the Celtics. However, I believe they should look at drafting valuable role players who will help them compete in 2026.
Adou Thiero is the perfect fit for Boston. Even when a rebound looks too far for him, he finds a way to grab it. He is an explosive athlete who can defend multiple positions. He needs to find a jumpshot. Next season would be a perfect time for him to try and develop that.
Rasheer Fleming is practically the same player as Adou Thiero. He has a great frame, is a fantastic defender and also can’t shoot the ball.
With there being a 99.9% chance Kevin Durant gets traded this summer, the Phoenix Suns will need a forward to take those minutes. Taking a swing on a prospect like Fleming would be wise for this organization.
The upside of Will Riley is too good for him to slip out of the first round. The Los Angeles Clippers have an opportunity to land a legit scoring threat to come off the bench.
Riley averaged 12.6 points per game on 43.2% shooting from the field. The six-foot-eight forward will need to find a way to become more consistent with his efficiency.
With Mike Conley having limited time left in the NBA, the Timberwolves must find a starting quality point guard. With the team having limited cap and Rob Dillingham not progressing the way they want, they can take a swing on a floor general like Tyrese Proctor.
The seven-foot-one center had a brilliant NBA combine, causing him to skyrocket up the draft boards. With questions surrounding Kristaps Porzingis' job security with the Boston Celtics, Hasen Yang can be a valuable pickup for the team.
Hugo Gonzalez has high upside that will intrigue NBA prospects. He has a good size and can attack the rime. He will need to improve on his outside shooting if he wants to remain in the NBA.
Kam Jones is a walking bucket who is not afraid to find his own shot. If he can translate that ability to score in the NBA, the Hornets will have found themselves a steal in the second round.
The 76ers lack depth at the center position. Drafting a local kid who can block shots like Yanic Konan Niederhauser would make a lot of sense for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Bogoljub Markovic is a six-foot-eleven big man who can space the floor. This will provide opportunities for players on the Brooklyn Nets to attack the rim.
Koby Brea is my favorite second-round prospect. He is one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA draft. He even developed his midrange game throughout the previous season.
The Detroit Pistons took a massive leap last season, yet still need help with three-point shooting. Brea will give them that needed boost.
Jamir Watkins will provide the versatility off the bench that the San Antonio Spurs need. He can guard multiple positions and can attack the rim on offense. If the Spurs have to give up depth to make a splash in the trade market, Watkins will fill up one of those bench spots well.
Johni Broome did not test well at the combine. But when you get the opportunity to draft one of the best players in college basketball at pick No. 39, you do so. Broome can do everything at a good level. He will need a way to do something great at the pro level.
John Tonje is just one of those guys who can get you a bucket when you need it. The Washington Wizards would love a valuable guy like this to come off their bench at pick No. 40.
Grant Nelson is another one of my favorite second-round prospects. He is a big forward who can stretch the floor, yet still has that dawg in him to be competitive on the defensive side of the ball. The Golden State Warriors now find themselves with a forward who can help them win games.
Ben Saraf is a great premier defender who would pair nicely with Devin Carter off the bench.
Rocco Zikarsky had some first-round nods heading into this season. He is an extremely physical giant. We will need to become smarter and more consistent if he wants to remain in the NBA.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will make sure not to let another Nembhard ruin their championship aspirations. Ryan Nembhard is a crafty guard who is a great playmaker as well.
Alex Toohey is a good shooter who can develop for the Chicago Bulls next to a fellow Australian in Josh Giddey.
The Orlando Magic could use another defensive guard following the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Hunter Sallis is a strong defender who can fill that role off the bench.
Payton Sandfort is a good shooter who can provide buckets off a depleted Milwaukee Bucks’ bench.
The Memphis Grizzlies will continue to make draft selections at the forward spot since they struggle heavily in that area. Izan Almansa is a great player in the post who can find his shot and locate open shooters.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to address a weak bench crew with the limited assets they have. Chaz Lanier could give them buckets off the bench on day one in the NBA.
Dink Pate has shown tremendous upside on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. The New York Knicks will look to help him become more consistent so he can become a two-way threat in the NBA.
Micah Peavy does everything at a very good level. Outside of the free-throw line, he can score everywhere. He also forced 2.3 steals per game.
If developed correctly, Clifford Omoruyi could become a legit lob threat in the NBA for years to come. This is a center that should excite the Phoenix Suns.
Don’t let a lackluster March Madness make you forget how talented a scorer RJ Luis Jr. His scoring upside will entice the Utah Jazz to select him.
Michael Ruzic has showcased the ability to score from the perimeter and the paint. His offensive potential fits the scheme of the Indiana Pacers.
The Los Angeles Lakers need a center, and they need Amari Williams. The center from Kentucky loves to block shots and grab rebounds.
Eric Dixon showcased a great ability to score for Villanova this past season. All of the Villanova players on the Knicks would welcome Dixon to the bench with open arms.
The Memphis Grizzlies can take a swing on Mark Sears to see if he can translate his scoring ability to the NBA level.
Dylan Cardwell does all the dirty work on both sides of the ball. The Orlando Magic would love to add a player with Cardwell’s heart to their roster
Vladislav Goldin could be a pick-and-roll threat for the Cavaliers with his tremendous size.
The Houston Rockets take a shot on a college basketball legend with the final pick of the NBA draft.