grant101 wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25201330-2025-nba-mock-draft-top-5-shakeup-2-round-predictions-and-pro-comps
KM new high at #4. TOR gets Kon4. Charlotte Hornets: Khaman Maluach (Duke, C)
Size: 7'1", 253 lbs
Age: 18
Nationality: South Sudan
Pro Comparison: Dereck Lively II
Combine measurements confirmed what scouts expected: Khaman Maluach has elite length, with a 7'7" wingspan, a 9'6" standing reach and oversized hands that help him finish around the rim.
Scouts raved about how he looked during in pro day in Los Angeles. Workouts also create an opportunity for Maluach to showcase shotmaking skill that was masked during the season with Duke.
The buzz and interest have been snowballing to the point where scouts think Maluach will be a strong possibility once Flagg, Harper and Bailey are gone.
5. Utah Jazz: VJ Edgecombe (Baylor, SG)
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: MAR 12 Big 12 Tournament Kansas State vs Baylor
Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Size: 6'4", 193 lbs
Age: 19
Nationality: Bahamas
Pro Comparisons: Andrew Wiggins, Victor Oladipo, Iman Shumpert
VJ Edgecombe weighed in 13 pounds heavier than his listed weight at Baylor—a promising sign for a wing who thrives attacking downhill and finishing at the rim.
His explosiveness, defensive agility and strong assist-to-turnover ratio make him a natural fit alongside a shotmaker like Keyonte George. Edgecombe also knocked down 52 threes and showed flashes of point-of-attack creation, signaling enough scoring upside to justify top-five consideration.
6. Washington Wizards: Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma, PG)
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Oklahoma v UConn
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Size: 6'3", 180 lbs
Age: 18
Nationality: American
Pro Comparison: Dejounte Murray
Once Dylan Harper is off the board, teams seeking backcourt creation, rim pressure and playmaking are likely to shift their focus to Jeremiah Fears. Scouts expect the 18-year-old to draw top-five consideration—especially after he averaged 22.3 points and 4.8 assists over Oklahoma’s final nine games.
Fears will use pre-draft workouts to address concerns about his three-point shooting. While his percentage left questions, his 38 made threes show he has clear shot-making ability, and he converted 42.6 percent of his mid-range attempts.
Some teams may be hesitant due to his inconsistent range, high turnover rate and limited effectiveness off the ball. Still, Fears looks like a realistic target for guard-needy teams drafting early in the lottery.
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Tre Johnson (Texas, SG)
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 11 Alabama at Texas
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Size: 6'5", 190 lbs
Age: 19
Nationality: USA
Pro Comparison: Tyler Herro
Tre Johnson posted encouraging results at the combine: nearly 6'5" barefoot, a 6'10" wingspan, a 32-inch standing vertical and the second-fastest lane agility time.
With convincing shotmaking and eye-test results, he's widely believed to be locked into the top 10 of this draft. The question is how early a team will be willing to draft a non-playmaking guard who rarely gets to the rim or free-throw line. But Johnson also seems advanced enough with his self-creation and shooting to provide surefire perimeter scoring.
8. Brooklyn Nets: Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm, PF)
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easycredit Basketball Bundesliga - ALBA Berlin v Ratiopharm Ulm
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Size: 6'10", 198 lbs
Age: 18
Nationality: France
Pro Comparison: Jerami Grant
Big scoring outputs are becoming more common from Noa Essengue, who just went for 22 points and 14 boards in Ulm's Game One win over the German BBL Semis.
He drilled a go-ahead three and game-sealing And-One finish in overtime.
Essengue is consistently generating easy points all season through rim runs, cuts and offensive rebounds. Now, he’s also showing growth in his self-creation—finishing drives more confidently and knocking down rhythm threes.
Improving on-ball skills and rising offensive production are turning him into a notable draft storyline for the second-youngest prospect in the class.
9. Toronto Raptors: Kon Knueppel (Duke, SF)
Size: 6'6", 217 lbs
Age: 19
Nationality: USA
Pro Comparison: Cameron Johnson
Every team figures to have some level of interest in Kon Knueppel's shotmaking, efficient scoring and easy fit.
Viewed as a safe pick with a valued, bankable skill in shooting, he also flashed strong driving ability and high-level, ball-screen playmaking reads.
Unless the Raptors aren't sold on Knueppel offering upside, he figures to be a primary candidate in the best-player-available discussion at No. 8.
10. Houston Rockets (via Suns): Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois, PG/SG)
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: MAR 14 Big Ten Tournament Maryland vs Illinois
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Size: 6'5", 205 lbs
Age: 19
Nationality: Lithuania
Pro comparison: Coby White
There is some divide among scouts trying to weigh Kasparas Jakucionis' shotmaking skill and playmaking feel versus his lack of burst and separation ability.
Top-10 teams may see too much risk, but later in the lottery, his positional size and shooting-passing combination should create enough translatable versatility.
Kon is a fine pick, but they have us passing both Yang and Markovic in the 2nd! I would be gutted.
If he were available in the 2nd and Maluach were drafted before our 1st, then drafting Yang would be an absolute must imo.
Quite frankly I think we should trade back into the late 1st and make certain we could get Yang. He’d arguably be the ideal fit if he can in fact move his feet well enough defensively to at least be solid ie/ something like how Steven Adams used to.
Mal or die trying
