Not exactly sure who this guy is, but I thought this was an interesting mock draft (Ersin Demar) who had some players to teams that don't necessarily align with the consensus. I think sometimes these kinds of outlier mocks, can highlight some players who could go higher than expected on draft night
https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/2025-nba-mock-draft-20Top 3 are unchanged - Flagg, Harper, Bailey
He has Johnson @ #4 - He used a Tankathon generator, so players could move around a little given team needs\wants, but the point I find interesting is that Johnson @ #4 is not out of reality anymore IMO
Scaling down his offensive role is a challenge for his NBA team. Regardless, Johnson is still growing in his shot selection and approach as Texas’ main scoring option. He’s often forcing the game rather than playing within the flow of the game. Regardless, Johnson shows serious number-one option caliber play as late, with his top-tier perimeter shooting being the base for him to invest in his scoring prowess in the next few years...In terms of flashes, he has shown to be potentially one of the best guards in this class, with his positional size, defensive improvements, and toughness being the main intangibles feeding a likely team-leading role in his prime, which makes him a no-brainer top-3 talent.
Edgecombe @ #5 - So this lines up with Vecenie's comments, and pretty much other pro analyst comments. You have (5) players who have distinguished themselves from the rest, with Flagg a tier well above the rest & Harper as well some where after in the middle (@ #2) - Flagg.....Harper.....Bailey\Edgecombe\Johnson
As for the 6th? For a long time it was Jakucionis, but his stock is slipping, then you see names like Maluach, Queen coming up in that range as well, and a few high risers that could continue to rise like Richardson\Fears.
So This appears to be wide open from #6 to #20 or so
Speaking of #6, Ersin has Noa Essengue, who has mainly been projected as top 20, but it would not be out of the realm of possibility to see him rise into the top 10 like Salaun did. Vecenie FWIW, did not see a surprise riser into the top 10 in this draft like Salum LY, so who knows? But to me, Essengue is a player to watch
Essengue has all the tools to be a high-end scoring forward with wing skills in the NBA. Compared to his peers, he might need time to develop into a starter. However, that doesn’t take away much of his draft value, as his complete package of tools and physical traits give NBA decision-makers an almost blank blueprint they can fill in as they wish.
He’s already a consistent shooter in motion and mechanics. Has shown the ability to keep the ball high on catch-and-shoot attempts. That can make him an effective shooter off the catch in a faster-paced NBA game. That’s the base. He’s tough, aggressive, and looks to execute reads quickly. His game is built for a faster NBA game. His archetype as a plus-sized wing that’s what will lead to a higher draft value. Essengue uses his footwork well to impact the defense. Combined with his good passing, he can be an all-around wing in his prime, impacting the game with his production.
To solidify his top-ten status, his body language and team defense need to improve on top of the need to strengthen in the next few years. That’s the investment for the Nets with this pick.
That could be the report on Salaun LY....
@ #7 he has Murray-Boyles - I have seen some mocks with Murray Boyles in the top 10, even one with him going to POR (not a fan). I am not overly familiar with his game, but on quick review\watch, I don't see what all the upside is?
Murray-Boyles is in an interesting position. He’s been put in a box as an undersized forward but can be seen as one of the more unique prospects of the last few years with a game built to play four or five-out basketball.
Some NBA players can succeed without shooting, and he’s one of them. He has a tremendous physical profile. He stands out both with his mobility (hips, lateral quickness) and toughness (strong frame, broad shoulders, and aggressive style of play). That’s what NBA decision-makers look for to make it feasible that a prospect will offer the same amount of physicality against NBA-caliber big men while switching to smaller and quicker guards and wings.
Offers great defensive versatility by guarding both roll men and ball handlers in the pick-and-roll while being able to switch to all positions when defending off the ball. The only area of development here is to not over-help on the defensive end, leading to late rotations. Despite being a non-shooter, Murray-Boyles shows incredible efficiency near the rim.
The role I see for Murray-Boyles is as a team-connecting four who can produce his points as an active cutter and face-up scorer. His passing is one of the best traits in potential, but he has to figure out a healthy balance of chasing his baskets and creating for others
@ #9 he has POR taking - Asa Newell, sounds familiar
Traditionally, scouts value a high feel for the game, intangibles to build in a proper role, and physical tools. Newell’s motor is at the top of this class. His great rebounding ability has more value due to his active cutting. He’s a double-digit scorer without the ball in his hands, impacting the game with his energy on both ends.
The free-throw shooting is underwhelming, and that’s his area of development for the next few years. He’s decent as a passer but not good enough to make him a reliable hub in the interior. That’s the investment Portland makes by picking him in the lottery. Despite a crowded frontcourt, Newell doesn’t have the game to be a full-time five. However, with his quick-twitch athleticism and improving ability to put the ball on the ground and make plays, he’s best to grow into the role of an athletic four.
Maluach @ #9 - Queen @ #10 - Still think (1) of those 2 will go top 10, depending on the team. TOR\OKC\CHI seem like most likely possibilities, maybe PHI?
Maxime Raynuad @ #12 - That would be a surprise, him going in the 1st would not, maybe even the teens, but he is a name that is rising
The Rockets are one of the league’s best franchises in terms of depth. They don’t need much, outside of improving their depth at the center position. Raynaud comes at the right time. At over seven feet, he can add much-needed floor-stretching to Houston while also being able to play as a four. He’s not fully utilized as a passer at Stanford, but regardless, his court vision, great intangibles, and habits on top of his production as a dark horse to win ACC Player of the Year makes Raynaud a combination of upperclassman production and fit into what the NBA needs to make four, or even five-out schemes work. Raynaud changes the entire dynamic of the Rockets’ frontcourt.
Jakucionis @ #15 (please tell me POR would not pass on him....I bet they would
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He’s been the toughest evaluation for me in this draft cycle. I’m not on board with the hype around him. Regardless, he has a path to be a good starter in the NBA. The Magic were one of the first to adapt to emphasizing skills and size to each position. Scaling down his ball touches is a risk, as he needs the ball in his hands to succeed.
The other side of the coin is the high level of turnovers, which are a result of him being forced to dictate the game for Illinois, making it easier for opponents to force him to make mistakes. His combination of craft, offensive creativity, and handles form the base to change his offense to a two-handed finisher, which he needs to add to his game to succeed in fully compensating for his lack of physical tools and athleticism. A higher risk but a much higher reward the Magic can gamble on with the Lithuanian ball wizard.
Dailyn Swain to OKC @ #17 - A name I am not familiar with, but wouldn't this just be the sort of out of the box pick OKC would take?
Swain’s role as a versatile defensive stud fits his role as a complementary piece on a winning team. He's an active cutter with a great feel for timing. Swain is composed and cuts at the right moments when defenses are forced to make decisions. This applies to his passing. As a ball-mover, Swain makes quick decisions while using his size well. His focus on beneficial passes rather than bail-outs will benefit his development as a playmaker and passer. On top of that, he generates paint touches in bunches. Both use his timing and good physicality. This opens up the opportunity to play as a closeout-attacker and use that to showcase his self-creation ability. That’s the path to potentially grow into a starter for the Thunder in a few years.
Andrej Stojakovic @ #19 - Another name that has been mentioned, but never as a 1st rounder
Roster versatility made the Pacers successful. Especially when considering they already have their two stars in place in Haliburton and Siakam. These are the guys Indiana tries to build around with offensively creative scorers and secondary playmaking. Stojaković didn’t put himself in the best position to succeed at Stanford, but his move to California made him seamlessly take over the large chunk of usage that was left on the table. I expect Stojaković to continue to develop as a pick-and-roll ball handler, which gives him a complete scoring package while having the physical tools, foot speed, and consistent rotations to ensure a role as a key role player off the bench.
Demin @ #20
It’s not exaggerating to say Demin is a top 20 passer out of the pick-and-roll in the entire basketball world. However, he has many gaps to fill if he wants to keep a team’s offensive rating at par while needing the ball in his hands to succeed. The Jazz follows Demin playing in their backyard in Provo, UT. However, despite the underwhelming efficiency, Demin has a clear path to playing minutes in the NBA.
As a true 6-foot-9 playmaker, Demin’s role is to complement the stars around him. Roster construction that gives importance to size and future potential makes Demin the ultimate candidate. Demin’s adjustment to the NBA should be quick, as the NBA-branded style of running multiple variations of the pick-and-roll is working to perfection in Demin’s early-season schedule.
Carter Bryant @ #21
His early-season production at Arizona made it questionable for Bryant to be a one-and-done prospect. But that changed during conference play. As a switchable and versatile defender at 6-foot-8, Bryant’s role as a slashing and shooting wing with a soft touch at the rim gives him a clear role. That gains value, considering how well he can defend against multiple positions.
His long wingspan and frame with room left to add muscle and overall level of talent will have many teams willing to take a bet on him. His excellent defensive awareness and explosiveness on the offensive end make Bryant fit in a much-wanted blend of wing-defending threes who can consistently make shots while impacting the game with his rebounding. That makes him a worthy bet for the rebuilding Nets.
NIque Clifford @ #22 - Yeah MIA would seem like a good fit
The Heat’s culture is built around toughness, unselfishness, and making the most out of every role thrown at them. To succeed under Coach Spoelstra, fundamentals and substance are two vital elements. Clifford is a tremendous athlete who fits this style of play. He comes to the NBA with five seasons of experience where he’s slowly developing a consistent three-pointer while struggling to functionally use his top-tier athleticism related to his fewer-ball-touches expected role. Regardless, the Heat will take the most out of his physical tools combined with him still growing in his role.
Kon Kneuppel @ #23 - Have not seen a mock w\o him in the top 10 lately, could he slide like Knecht did? Even though analysts have him in top 10, there has not been a ton of glowing about him, just that he is a savvy\serviceable wing with size. Does that warrant top 10 pick? Maybe? maybe not?
The lack of physical tools is the reason for lowering Knueppel compared to many other draft outlets. However, he’s a mistake-free player who can evolve into a key role player with his solid shooting and strength as his base. Knueppel lacks creativity and is a predictable scorer inside the arc. Therefore, it puts more pressure on his shooting to translate. However, he has many counters, with his connective passing and ball-moving being two vital parts. He’s strong enough to switch against two positions as a defender, but his deficiencies on that end are hidden by playing with many good defenders around him at Duke. The Nets get a reliable role player in the process, but who has a serious degree of positively impacting their offensive rating without relying much on ball touches.
Sergio De Larrea @ #25 - He has been mentioned as a sleeper a few times now, would not be surprised at all if he slipped into the 1st round
...a stellar creator out of the pick-and-roll. With his tight handles, top creativity, and excellent feel in ball screens, De Larrea is one of the best guards in this class no one has talked about so far.
His game is focused on creating good looks for others, where he’s best to thrive with a good screening and play-finishing center. De Larrea thrives on serving as a spot-up shooter while showing the ability to get paint touches as a pick-and-roll ball handler. He’s best to fit into the role of a complementary playmaking guard, which Orlando desperately needs.
Hugo Gonzalez @ #26 - Interesting write up. Inteersting about Spanish players being more system based and therefore tend to struggle in the NBA
Building through size and versatility has been Dawkins’ strategy so far. González Peña fits the mold of the plus-defending wing shooter. He’s a versatile offensive option whose base is as a ball-moving closeout attacker and volume shooter. However, the fundamentals-focused game helped him adapt to every situation throughout his career. That makes it feasible that he’ll have a high floor.
The biggest question mark surrounding his long-term potential is the ability to be a self-creating scorer in the NBA. Prospects such as González Peña often ‘fool’ the American public because they fail to contextualize the system he’s in. Spain is one of the top-performing European countries due to the consistency of their system. The ability to put up numbers and be creative against American-caliber athletes is what González Peña needs to answer this upcoming season.
Joan Beringer @ 29 - Outside of ESPN, which I think had him in the teens if I can recall, this is the only other place I have seen him mentioned int he 1st round
The NBA needs uber-athletic rim-running play-finishers. On top of that, James Harden’s playmaking works best when he has a vertical lob threat in the middle diving off screens for him. The Clippers are betting on long-term potential with Beringer, who’s one of the best screening fives in this class. With teams valuing four or even five-out-styled brands of basketball, Beringer’s biggest swing skill is his development as a passer and playmaker. I expect him to be one of the league’s better interior options as he’ll continue to grow into his body while supporting a team’s defensive rating with his stellar defense in the pick-and-roll.
