2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 6

[720]

Bro, Cooper and AD are gonna be monsters on defense.

what's up with Kyrie. He's perfect with them. We'll he be back?

I think he’s gonna be out most of next year.

[Tripod]

Most people would look at our lineup and think for better balance, Ochai starting over RJ would be ideal.

Then also look at Ochai and think, man OG would fit real nice instead....an upgrade if you will.

It seems like Bryant or Flemming fit that "bigger version of Ochai and an OG type upside". Seems like an ideal fit.

Even right away, they can help defensively with the 2nd unit and fit seamlessly with how they play pressure defense.

If only my dream of Gradey for Lively would come true.

IQ, Ochai, BI, Barnes, Yak
Shead, JKW, RJ, Carter/Fleming, Lively
Battle/Mogbo

That's 2 really good "units" and the 2nd unit would give other teams fits defensively and RJ could still be a main point producer. Battle would gets minutes as teams are never 100% healthy and Mogbo could get more 905 time to work on his offense and touch.

That just seems like such a hard working, grind it out team.

[Thaddy]

Is anyone on the "Queen is a star" bandwagon?

and see how he fits on defence in the NBA and with our core specifically?

He's the one shot creating/initiator who atleast has a shot at slipping to 9.

before the dreams were of Tre Johnson, which are dead.

I think he's too small to be a C. It affects rim defense a lot, even Poeltl isn't great there he has a pretty bad standing reach for a 7+ footer. A C with size like Koloko really improved our defense, the physical presence alone has effect.

I would go with the BPA at 9th, I think it's going to be Traore. Strong league, good size, elite quickness, improved shooting, and complete game. I think he's getting overlooked for playing overseas and his draft combine stats aren't out yet. The outlier trait is his size, wingspan, and speed.

In the 2nd round I would swing for Zikarsky. He has better measurements than Maluach. Among the giants like Zikarsky, Kalkbrenner, etc I would look for the best draft combine drill stats.

[Duffman100]

Funny despite falling to 9, mocks are still having is taking Malauch.

[Clutch0z24]

Is anyone on the "Queen is a star" bandwagon?

and see how he fits on defence in the NBA and with our core specifically?

He's the one shot creating/initiator who atleast has a shot at slipping to 9.

before the dreams were of Tre Johnson, which are dead.

If he were to fall to 9th he would deff be BPA on the board.....He has the most upside to be at least an All star level player if you look at Sengun that is who every expert compares him to....

I think his "defensive issues" get a little dramatic when people bring up his weaknesses....Because the guy gets 1.1 Blocks per game...Thats 0.2 less than a supposed "Rim Protector" in Maluach, If you look at his steal numbers he also gives you 1.1 Steals with 39 on the season....So his stocks per game are pretty decent...But every prospect needs a negative thing for people to harp on....

As for effort and switchability....He was asked to do literally everything for that Maryland team on offense....He was the hub, shot creator, shot maker....That will not be the case in the NBA where he will not have to reserve his energy....He is also in the process of body transformation as he was really over weight coming into the college season...Lost 20+ pounds already....If he loses even more weight and adds muscle he will be able to move better laterally to stay in front of his man better....

What makes Queen better than people think is his high basketball IQ....He may look like hes playing the game slow paced....But hes beating you everywhere on the court, Great passing ability, Footwork, Shot looks already developed from the mid range, Post Moves....Like his Maryland Coach said....While other players are playing checkers he is playing Chess because the game is already slowed down for him at that age...That is special...

Also look at his counting stats he gives you a little bit of everything on the court....He also was pretty elite getting to the FT line...218 times he got to the line in just 30 games....That means he will be good at drawing contact and getting you easy points as he is a good FT shooter...

So yeah at 9 if he were to be the one to fall you take him with a smile on your face.

[bboyskinnylegs]

Funny despite falling to 9, mocks are still having is taking Malauch.

I think his visa situation uncertainty is going to be a major roadblock for teams. There would need some kind of clarity on his availability before investing a lotto pick on him.

[WuTang_CMB]

Funny despite falling to 9, mocks are still having is taking Malauch.

I think his visa situation uncertainty is going to be a major roadblock for teams. There would need some kind of clarity on his availability before investing a lotto pick on him.

Vecenie noted this last night. Theres no clarity on it yet. It will be harder for Toronto to pick him vs american teams.
Gotta see.

[WuTang_CMB]

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Still KM

The NBA Draft Lottery is done, which means we have an official draft order and a winner in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes. And it was a stunner.
The Dallas Mavericks won the lottery Monday, falling backward from the disastrous Luka Dončić deal into the right to select Flagg at No. 1 on June 25. The San Antonio Spurs will have the second pick, the Philadelphia 76ers will pick third, and the Charlotte Hornets will pick fourth.
The Mavericks had just a 1.8 percent chance of winning the lottery. This run-out may be among the most unlikely in history, as the Spurs only had a 12.3 percent chance at a top-two pick and the Sixers only had a 32 percent chance at a top-three pick.
The surprising order impacts the lottery immensely, as Dallas moving up reduces one spot in the middle of the lottery for a potential point guard to be selected, possibly resulting in that position cascading down the board a bit. Additionally, don’t be surprised to see this lottery have an impact on the star trade market, as teams like the Spurs, Houston Rockets and Sixers all could look to package their selections for a potential high-impact, win-now player.
A few quick notes on the structure and format of this mock draft:
• Team needs ARE taken into account.
• Player ages are as of draft day (June 25).
• Heights listed are per official team sites and could change based on Draft Combine measurements.
1. Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg | 6-9 forward | 18 years old | Duke
Flagg was going to go No. 1 regardless of who got the pick. He was the national player of the year in college basketball this season at just 18 years old after reclassifying into the 2024 recruiting class. He posted ridiculous numbers, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, but it got even better after January. In his final 25 games, including the Georgia Tech game in which he rolled an ankle after 15 minutes in the ACC tournament, Flagg posted 20.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.6 assists on 51.1 percent shooting from the field, 45.1 percent from 3 and 88 percent from the line. Duke went 23-2 in that run before falling in the Final Four to Houston in staggering fashion (despite Flagg’s 27, seven and four with two steals and three blocks in that game).
Flagg isn’t quite at the Victor Wembanyama level of prospect over the last 20 years, but he belongs in the Anthony Davis tier. And now, he’ll get to play with Davis. Barring injury, Flagg is about as can’t-miss as it gets because of his skill level, athleticism, shot-creation ability and mentality. He is about as competitive as you’ll find on the court and will bring a serious degree of work ethic into whatever situation he arrives. He wants to be great. There’s no red flag in terms of entitlement here.
It will be interesting to see how the Mavericks attack this process. Flagg can play small forward effectively but probably fits better at the power forward spot in how he creates chaos defensively off the ball. But that would mean Davis shifting back to the center spot and reducing two good players in Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford to the bench. My guess currently is that Dallas just plays Flagg at the three, but it will be interesting to see if this outcome results in Mavericks’ ownership seeing this as a get-out-of-jail-free card. Will they try to pivot in a different direction long-term, or will they double down on their roster build?
2. San Antonio Spurs
Dylan Harper | 6-6 guard | 19 years old | Rutgers
Harper was seen as being exceptionally likely to be the No. 2 pick before the lottery. I think that’s still the most likely outcome, but San Antonio getting this pick does throw things for a bit of a loop.
The Spurs just acquired De’Aaron Fox at the trade deadline. Additionally, Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle plays a similar role to Harper as a combo guard. Ultimately, I think the Spurs should just take the best talent on the board, and that’s Harper. I think he’s a better prospect than Castle, and thus, Castle’s presence shouldn’t stop you from selecting him. On top of that, getting the No. 2 pick may have actually put the Spurs in the driver’s seat for a potential superstar trade. I’m not convinced that any team will have a better top asset available for a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade than this pick.
Harper’s 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and four assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the field as a freshman guard put him in rarefied air, as few players have gotten all that close to such marks in their first year. He also creates rim pressure at an elite level, with the ability to get into the paint and finish at the basket at a serious clip with his impressive array of gathers and touch finishes at 6-6 as a lead guard.
The biggest question for Harper remains his pull-up game as a shooter, as he only hit 29.2 percent of his pull-up 3s. I watched Harper work out recently, and it’s clear that working as a scorer in ball screens, re-screens and dribble handoffs is a real emphasis for his pre-draft process. He shot the ball well in the workout that I saw. I felt like the ball would sometimes flatten out on him this season at Rutgers, but he’s starting to work on getting more consistent arc on the shot off pull-ups. Between that, his physical frame being NBA-ready, and his intel all coming back very positively even in the face of a tough season at Rutgers, Harper is very well-positioned.

Could Ace Bailey end up in Philadelphia? (Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Images)
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Ace Bailey | 6-10 wing/forward | 18 years old | Rutgers
I expect the Sixers to look into scenarios that involve moving this selection, especially now that they’ve moved up without getting inside the top-two picks. Their backcourt is fairly loaded with Tyrese Maxey, Quentin Grimes and last year’s pick, Jared McCain. There could be a consideration to get a big to backup Joel Embiid, but my read is that president of basketball operations Daryl Morey would see that as a bad way to maximize the current core of players he worked hard to assemble last fall.
Bailey’s range starts at No. 3 now that the Sixers officially have the pick. They certainly could use a bigger wing to pair with Paul George. However, Bailey’s range extends a bit further down than this into even the middle portion of the lottery. He remains quite polarizing for executives and has seemed to have borne the brunt of the blame from NBA personnel for Rutgers’ poor season.
Yes, he averaged 17.6 points and seven rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3. But his style of play did not seem wildly conducive to winning basketball. He settles for a lot of long jumpers because he struggles to get all the way to the rim (he has a high handle and high center of gravity that gets knocked off its line a bit too easily). Defensively, he wasn’t always particularly engaged in help situations unless he saw an opportunity to go get the basketball. It will be interesting to see where the Sixers’ scouting department comes down on Bailey and his evaluation.
It’s worth noting that Rutgers was a catastrophe when Bailey wasn’t on the court. Even in Big Ten play, they lost Bailey’s minutes by only three points per 100 possessions. When he was off the court, they lost those minutes by 23 points per 100, per CBB Analytics. His presence was clearly helpful, and I think that’s what tracks most for me. Bailey is enormous, he’s long, he is a real shooter, and he showed some defensive moments that were very positive in switch situations.
4. Charlotte Hornets
V.J. Edgecombe | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Baylor
Edgecombe ticks a lot of boxes for the Hornets. They’re a team that needs a better defensive infrastructure surrounding franchise centerpieces in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Ball is too inattentive on that end despite his impressive offensive skill set, and Miller is quite skinny and struggles to wall up on opposing guards and wings through his core. Edgecombe is a terrific defensive player with truly elite athleticism. He’d be a real running mate in transition for Ball early in his career while taking on the toughest defensive assignments from the two other perimeter players. On offense, the key will be how Edgecombe’s game grows. He has a lot of potential because of his special athleticism, but he needs to continue working on his ball skills, particularly with his left hand and the tightness of his handle.
Even still, he averaged 15 points, nearly six rebounds and three assists as a freshman and has a long track record of knocking down shots off the catch. This pick makes a ton of sense for the Hornets, especially given that Edgecombe’s intel is quite positive and that he is known to be a leader on the court at even this young age.
5. Utah Jazz
Tre Johnson | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Texas
Johnson was the most impressive player I saw working out during my trip to the U.S. back in early April. He had one of the best shooting workouts I’ve ever seen from a teenage player, showcasing a serious-minded intentionality about how he goes about his craft. He displayed the ability to hit shots off movement at a high level, something that he rarely got the chance to do in an offensive scheme at Texas that could be charitably described as anachronistic but fairly described as hideously archaic. Even within that scheme, Johnson found his way into 19.9 points per game, even if he struggled a bit once he had to foray into the lane because of the team’s lack of spacing and his own still-improving overall strength level.
Utah needs a backcourt of the future. Keyonte George looks like a backup long-term because of his inefficiency and defense, and while Isaiah Collier had an excellent season passing the ball, he still doesn’t have a great way to score effectively. Johnson also fits really well within Will Hardy’s scheme, as a player who can fly off screens and knock down shots at an elite level.
6. Washington Wizards
Derik Queen | 6-10 big | 20 years old |Maryland
Wizards general manager Will Dawkins comes from the Oklahoma City school of getting guys who can dribble, pass and shoot as well as make decisions. Queen has many of those skills and averaged nearly 17 points, nine rebounds and two assists as a freshman at Maryland. He’s been exceptionally productive at every stage of his career, and he has real offensive talent that should lead to him putting up real numbers in the NBA.
Queen is also from the DMV area and is the kind of personality that this team could use as it looks to take the next step forward. I also love the fit of Queen next to Alex Sarr, as Sarr’s struggles to rebound would be helped immensely by Queen’s positional play on the interior, while still allowing the team to play with some fun five-out concepts. Sarr’s ability to protect the rim from the weak side would also help Queen’s play on the interior defensively, too. This is a fun match.
7. New Orleans Pelicans
Kon Knueppel | 6-6 guard | 19 years old | Duke
The Pelicans have already made substantive changes to their organization, firing David Griffin and hiring Joe Dumars to run basketball operations. The word out of New Orleans is simply not to expect the roster to look the same as it did this year.
They’ll be disappointed to fall in the lottery, but I love this slot for them if they can end up with Knueppel, a bigger shooter who is competitive and tough. He has a case as the best shooter in the class along with Johnson, and his overall game was more impactful this season. They’re right next to each other on my board. He also has more ball skills than you think, especially in ball screens, and was better defensively than he got credit for being. This works really well regardless of the direction the team decides to go in the future. Knueppel is the kind of big shooter who is almost scheme- and roster-proof.
8. Brooklyn Nets
Jeremiah Fears | 6-4 guard | 18 years old | Oklahoma
The reality for Fears is that teams and evaluators either really love him or they don’t. He’s a very polarizing player for evaluators around the league, because you either believe in the upside of him as a primary ballhandler and think he can be a true top-tier option, or you don’t and you think he profiles more as a backup. There are genuinely scouts and executives I’ve talked to who think he’s a top-five upside bet in this draft because of his handle and creativity. Others see him more as a backup long-term and as a bet to take in the late teens or even the 20s.
The Nets have a roster loaded with holes, but the good news is that they seem to have found an excellent coach long-term to build around in Jordi Fernandez. Fears here would make sense, as the team doesn’t really have a primary ballhandler for the long haul on its books. He is a playmaking guard who can get paint touches with his quickness and handle. However, he struggles to shoot the ball right now and isn’t a great finisher, and his defense needs a lot of work. He’s more of a project than a ready-made player. However, the ability to separate is there if he can improve his skill set.




9. Toronto Raptors
Khaman Maluach | 7-2 big | 19 years old | Duke
With Jakob Poeltl potentially hitting free agency next year, the Raptors could use a long-term answer at center. Many people around the league have connected Duke center Maluach here because of his time at the NBA Academy in Africa and Masai Ujiri’s efforts to promote basketball within the region. It’s a connection that makes a ton of sense now with the Raptors sliding back to No. 9.
Maluach isn’t a monster shot-blocker, but he understands how big he is and is excellent at using his size to cut off angles and contest on the interior. Offensively, there are more questions, largely about his hands and overall feel for the game. He got to basketball a bit late and is still working on how to see the floor around him. He also doesn’t always seem to come down with contested rebounds, as was starkly seen in Duke’s Final Four game against Houston, when he played 20 minutes and had zero rebounds. Still, someone will take the bet on a player who’s 7-2 with long arms and real movement skills.




10. Houston Rockets (via PHX)
Collin Murray-Boyles | 6-8 wing/forward | 20 years old | South Carolina
The Rockets are loaded across each position. They have a veteran point guard in Fred VanVleet and drafted their point guard of the future in Reed Sheppard at No. 3 last year; the organization is still extremely high on Sheppard despite his lack of playing time this year. They have their center of the future in Alperen Şengün. I think they will just take the best player available in the lottery, and at this spot, that’s Murray-Boyles for me. He’s a tremendous defender and would fit in perfectly with how Ime Udoka wants to play. He also passes well and has serious toughness to play with many of their players. He processes the game at an elite level and is the kind of prospect the Rockets have valued in the past.
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Kasparas Jakučionis | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Illinois
Jakučionis is big and can play both on and off the ball, coming off a terrific freshman season in which he averaged 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. His vision is sublime, and he fits the current ecosystem of the NBA well with his dribble, pass and shoot traits. Still, he is a bit polarizing for folks around the league as he doesn’t have a ton of athletic explosiveness, and his defensive game was not always on point this year. His range is seen as somewhere from the middle to the end of the lottery.
The Blazers, in my opinion, have a tremendous frontcourt of the future with Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan. However, there are questions in the backcourt surrounding young players Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, and they could use another offensive option to start pushing those guys. Jakučionis can play both on and off the ball, giving him the flexibility to play with either of those players.
12. Chicago Bulls
Carter Bryant | 6-8 wing | 19 years old | Arizona
Bryant didn’t start many games this year at Arizona, but he was a monster defensive player when he was on the court, showcasing serious playmaking chops as well as great on-ball play. He also knocks down a solid percentage of his 3s. Bryant is the guy in this class who seems to have a ton of juice when you talk to front offices, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him land in the top 10. I think I’d park his range in the No. 7 to No. 16 area.
The Bulls desperately need to find answers on the defensive end, especially if they’re going to go all-in on the Josh Giddey and Coby White backcourt this summer when Giddey hits restricted free agency. Bryant would give Giddey a potential transition running mate and would give them a real perimeter defender to attack opposing ballhandlers and wings with.
13. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC)
Nolan Traoré | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Saint-Quentin
Traoré has rebounded well from a tough start to his pro season in France. Over about three months from Jan. 15 to April 6, Traoré averaged 13 points and four assists while shooting 50 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3 and 79 percent from the line. His overall numbers on the year aren’t that strong, but it’s worth remembering that he’s a teenager playing professional basketball for a full season for the first time in his career and leading his team to the cusp of the playoffs as the primary ballhandler at 13-16 on the season. He’s also dropped 20-plus points in back-to-back games recently, too.
The Hawks just moved Bogdan Bogdanović this past trade deadline. They do have Caris LeVert, but he’s entering free agency. They could use another player in the backcourt who could both play with Trae Young or could back up Young as the lead ballhandler in bench units. That’s what they were hoping for with Kobe Bufkin, who has been unable to stay healthy.
14. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
Noa Essengue | 6-9 forward | 18 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm
Essengue is starting to turn things on in France, with multiple 20-point outings over the last month. The 6-9 forward is a terrific athlete who moves exceedingly well for his age. He’ll be the second-youngest player in this draft class behind Cooper Flagg and is averaging 12 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks per game since Jan. 22.
The questions here are largely around his polish. The jumper is starting to fall, as he’s made 35 percent from 3 in that window, but there are real mechanical issues regarding his base and balance that teams think will take a lot of time to work through, despite his solid touch. Additionally, while his defensive playmaking numbers are strong and he’s shown improvement throughout the year, his overall impact on that end isn’t all that high. He gets beaten more often off the bounce than you’d expect for this level of athleticism, and his help instincts waver. Still, he’s a young player clearly coming along well regarding his development. Don’t expect Essengue to be a valuable player next year in the NBA, but he could develop in time to be one of the better players in this draft class if he lands with the right organization.

[WuTang_CMB]

athldtic staff

1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, F, Duke
Flagg is the no-brainer choice, assuming the Mavericks keep the pick. You can absolutely play Flagg at either forward spot (in the moments you can persuade Anthony Davis to slide over to the center position pretty please, just for a few minutes!) but the Mavs will have a traffic jam in their frontcourt with at least five guys who need minutes, and probably more than that when you factor in small forwards, too. That’s a problem for the guys not named Davis and Flagg.

Flagg will fit into the defensive mindset that Nico Harrison has been begging Mavs fans to buy into since he broke their hearts with the Luka Dončić trade. This won’t completely erase that pain, but it’s great for the franchise’s future. — Zach Harper

2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers
There will be fit questions for a Spurs team that is already set at the guard position with recently acquired De’Aaron Fox and Rookie of the Year in Stephon Castle, but outside of Flagg, Harper might be the most NBA-ready prospect. At 19, Harper’s poise and control are impressive, and even as a below-average outside shooter, his ability to create havoc in the paint and leverage his downhill gravity should translate to the pros immediately.

Even if the Spurs brass deems there isn’t a fit for Harper due to the logjam, this puts San Antonio in a favorable position in any Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes — especially with Damian Lillard set to miss a significant amount of time with a torn Achilles. The Spurs could offer the Bucks the prospect of starting over with Harper, additional role players and future draft capital. — Kelly Iko

3. Philadelphia 76ers: V.J. Edgecombe, G, Baylor
The Sixers will first have to decide whether they want to keep this pick or search for a good deal to include it in. Right now, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said the plan is to keep it. The Sixers will get younger no matter what with this draft; the question is where.

If the Spurs pass on Harper, then this will get interesting for Philadelphia, but he’s off the board in this mock. Here, the Sixers get an athletic guard with pedigree. Edgecombe was the No. 4 player in his high school class. He struggled a bit at Baylor, but he still played well enough in his only college season. He will fit in alongside the Philly trinity of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George and help the Sixers get a little more dangerous. Philadelphia could and should consider Rutgers forward Ace Bailey and Duke wing Kon Knueppel here, too. — Mike Vorkunov


V.J. Edgecombe seems likely to go near the top of June’s draft. (Sam Hodde / Getty Images)
4. Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel, F, Duke
A team plagued by terrible shooting last year could certainly use arguably the best shooter available in the draft, especially one who comes with some helpful local branding from his season up the road at Duke. Charlotte shot just 33.9 percent from 3 last season to rank 28th in the league and should have plentiful minutes available for Knueppel to develop. A 6-foot-7 wing who shot 40.7 percent from 3 and 91.4 percent from the line last season, Knueppel should also benefit from playing next to LaMelo Ball’s passing wizardry. — John Hollinger

5. Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers
The Jazz can go with Tre Johnson here as well. I have both on the same tier. The difference here is that I think Bailey has a higher ceiling, although a lower floor, than Johnson. That’s the separator for me, because the Jazz desperately need someone who can develop into a star-level player.

This is the tier of the draft that makes it difficult for Utah. Had the Jazz gotten the top pick and Cooper Flagg, they would have gotten a near-cant-miss prospect. Had the Jazz gotten the second pick and Dylan Harper, they would have gotten a guy who is more likely than not to be a star. With Bailey, the Jazz are going to have to do a lot of work, because he’s got serious flaws in his game, namely the lack of ballhandling acumen. That being said, Bailey may be the best shot maker in the draft, and the Jazz need someone who can create and make shots. Bailey is also a plus athlete, can develop into a plus defender and can develop into a potentially elite-level scorer. It’s just difficult when you lose the way the Jazz did this season and didn’t come out of the draft with one of the two real prizes. — Tony Jones

6. Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson, G, Texas
Shooting has never been more important, and the Wizards don’t have enough of it, finishing last in offensive rating and 29th in 3-point shooting percentage. The expectation here is that Johnson will bring high-level shooting early in his career and — and this is important — will improve on the weak spots of his game, namely his defense. He’ll bring positional size, so he should have potential on that end. I strongly considered Jeremiah Fears here, but I decided against Fears because the Wizards already have rising second-year player Bub Carrington and veteran Jordan Poole; if Washington’s front office decides that Fears is the best available player on the board, then he should be the pick, despite the overlap. — Josh Robbins

7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma
The Pelicans traded for former All-Star Dejounte Murray last summer, hoping to fill the team’s glaring need at point guard. A year later, the need for a new point guard is greater than ever after Murray ruptured his right Achilles in January. He’s expected to be sidelined for a large chunk of next season, and even when he does come back, there’s no telling how long it’ll take for him to return to form after going through such a devastating injury.

With Fears, the Pelicans add a heady floor general who operates well in the pick-and-roll and should fit well playing next to scoring options like Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy. Fears’ shooting efficiency was troubling at times during his only season at Oklahoma, but he showed a willingness to step up and take on a bigger role on offense when the lights were bright. Playing with Williamson will require Fears to be more reliable as a spot-up shooter. It’s the only way he’ll be able to stay on the floor. If that part of his game shows some improvement, he may end up being the exact kind of piece this team needs to complement the other mainstays on the roster. — William Guillory

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8. Brooklyn Nets: Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina
The Nets built a cohesive defensive identity early last season before they started to pull their roster apart. It’s unclear who will still be on the roster heading into next season, with only Cam Johnson and Nic Claxton currently locks for the rotation. This team needs offensive leadership, even if it does re-sign Cam Thomas. But if the Nets keep this pick, Murray-Boyles fits well into their identity. He is a defensive maestro who can slot in between Claxton and Johnson in the frontcourt. The Nets will hope that the frontcourt can form an elite defense while the backcourt carries the weight offensively. — Jared Weiss

9. Toronto Raptors: Derik Queen, C, Maryland
The Raptors have enough talent that they don’t have to go in any particular positional direction here. Masai Ujiri tends to swing for upside, and this board shakes out with giving the Raptors some nice options up front: Queen or Duke freshman Khaman Maluach, who came from the NBA Academy in Africa. While the latter projects to be a rim-running, shot-blocking center, the Raptors need to bet on offensive upside. Queen isn’t a pure shooter, but his touch and feel for the game should be a good match with the movement-heavy offense coach Darko Rajaković has been trying to install over his first two years. It’s a close call, but the Raptors go offense over defense here. — Eric Koreen

10. Houston Rockets: Carter Bryant, F, Arizona
It’s difficult to envision another young player attempting to crack a tight Ime Udoka rotation — Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore spent this season observing — but in Bryant, the Rockets would have a plug-and-play 3-and-D wing. Houston’s lack of floor spacing was apparent during the playoffs, and Bryant, who shot 37.1 percent from 3 at Arizona this season, is more than capable. His activity at the other end alone aligns perfectly with Udoka’s core beliefs.

There are some similarities in terms of defensive playmaking with current wing Tari Eason, but Bryant is probably a better ballhandler with a high ceiling. Houston is big on upside plays, and at 6-8 with legit two-way potential, it would be hard to pass up on Bryant. — Kelly Iko


Carter Bryant celebrates a play against Oregon last season. (Steven Bisig / Imagn Images)
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Noa Essengue, F, Ratiopharm Ulm
General manager Joe Cronin likes high-upside players, and as the second youngest player in the draft, the 6-foot-9 forward is an intriguing prospect. Blazers fans might remember him from October, when during an exhibition game against the Blazers, he had 20 points, eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks. He’s skinny and unpolished, but with Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija, the Blazers don’t need him to play huge minutes right away. — Jason Quick

12. Chicago Bulls: Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
How could Bulls chief basketball exec Artūras Karnišovas, a native Lithuanian, not be tempted to select Illinois guard Kasparas Jakučionis here? It would be the second straight draft that Karnišovas would have selected a player of Lithuanian descent after taking Matas Buzelis No. 11 last year. But the Bulls have a logjam in the backcourt. They desperately need defenders and interior size. Maluach, an athletic 7-foot-2 center, checks all the boxes and would be a godsend as an ideal fit for the Bulls’ roster. — Darnell Mayberry

13. Atlanta Hawks: Egor Demin, F, BYU
It’s going to be hard for the Hawks to resist taking a 7-2 center here if Maluach gets to them, but hater Mayberry took him off the board at No. 12. That leaves Atlanta in a more traditional “best player available” mode, and the Hawks also need more ball handling and shot creation on the perimeter, especially when Trae Young is out of the game. Thus, Demin becomes the logical choice, even if on paper he somewhat overlaps positionally with last year’s top pick Zaccharie Risahcer. Demin is much more of an on-ball presence than Risacher and could operate as the de facto backup point guard if he proves rotation-ready. — John Hollinger

14. San Antonio Spurs: Danny Wolf, C, Michigan
An underlying part of San Antonio’s 34-48 season was the lack of a consistent, quality backup big to Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs cycled through the likes of Charles Bassey, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Bismack Biyombo, all of whom are headed for unrestricted free agency this summer.

Enter Wolf, who by all accounts is more polished offensively at 21 than Bassey and Biyombo (a good argument for Mamu, too). At Michigan, Wolf was a bit daring with the ball, and his 3.6 turnovers aren’t a great look at center. But he’s confident with the ball in his hands and should fit well with Mitch Johnson’s pace-and-space scheme. He’s a 7-footer who moves well for his size, has a good feel for the game and could potentially play alongside Wemby at times.

[PhilBlackson]

I’m just praying that the Nets really like one of Jak or Kon, I think WAS takes hometown boy Queen. So it’s Maluach or die trying for me at this point lol…as in if we don’t get him then trade the pick (down or out).

No one remaining really stands out for me so might as well either see if we can trade for a disgruntled star or back and roll the dice on a couple of players (Bryant/Fleming/Traore/Noa).

[bboyskinnylegs]

on draft day I think there will be good opportunities to acquire a pick from some of these teams like OKC/ATL/ORL/BKN that have multiple 1sts and may not want to tie up the capspace on too many guaranteed salary rookies.

[Clutch0z24]

Funny despite falling to 9, mocks are still having is taking Malauch.

I think his visa situation uncertainty is going to be a major roadblock for teams. There would need some kind of clarity on his availability before investing a lotto pick on him.

Vecenie noted this last night. Theres no clarity on it yet. It will be harder for Toronto to pick him vs american teams.
Gotta see.

Thats what worries me at 9th i am hoping one of Queen/Maluach are available...But if Mal basically can't get drafted here because he is recommended to stay in the states....That would kind of suck for us....And i see us not drafting him due to that....Lets hope thats not the case....If Kon really gets picked in that top 8....I would like any of Queen/Mal/Fears at 9...

[Prestige]

What happens if they draft Maluach and he ends up being unable to leave and re-enter the US?

[BoyzNTheHood]

I wonder what the Raptor’s view on Sorber are. 6’9 without shoes and a 7’6 wing span.

The main issue with Sorber is that he fails to show up against better competition.

Oh yeah, how so? I haven't followed that closely but I got the feeling he showed up on the radar late to the party. Him getting injured didn't help.

I love Sorber’s game, but the lack of production versus the best opponents is a big red flag. There’s no reason he should be this bad against good teams. He has a really good skill set. It’s disappointing.

Vs Marquette on Jan 7
11 pts on 3-5 shooting

Vs UConn on Jan 11
9 pts on 3-9 shooting

Vs SJU on Jan 14
5 pts on 2-4 shooting

Vs SJU on Jan 28
8 pts on 3-9 shooting

He’s one of those guys that I want to believe in so badly. He looks like a top 5 pick when you watch him play most teams, but then you wonder what he’ll do when the playoffs come around, or if you need him to go head to head with a star. Am I really willing to take that guy? Maybe at 9 the risk is lowered, but I’m not sure I’d choose him over a guy like Queen, or Bryant.

[Clutch0z24]

What happens if they draft Maluach and he ends up being unable to leave and re-enter the US?

I doubt we draft him if that happens....His camp , He himself, and i doubt Masai would do that to him....If he needs to stay in US and can't travel to Canada he would only miss a few games a year....If he was drafted here and stuck in Canada he would miss majority of games....Lets just hope something gets resolved...

[MavCarter]

Man those fleming measurements are so intriguing

[pilkoids]

When was the last time a college had 3 of its players go top 10 in a single draft?

[720]

Is anyone on the "Queen is a star" bandwagon?

and see how he fits on defence in the NBA and with our core specifically?

He's the one shot creating/initiator who atleast has a shot at slipping to 9.

before the dreams were of Tre Johnson, which are dead.

I think he's too small to be a C. It affects rim defense a lot, even Poeltl isn't great there he has a pretty bad standing reach for a 7+ footer. A C with size like Koloko really improved our defense, the physical presence alone has effect.

I would go with the BPA at 9th, I think it's going to be Traore. Strong league, good size, elite quickness, improved shooting, and complete game. I think he's getting overlooked for playing overseas and his draft combine stats aren't out yet. The outlier trait is his size, wingspan, and speed.

In the 2nd round I would swing for Zikarsky. He has better measurements than Maluach. Among the giants like Zikarsky, Kalkbrenner, etc I would look for the best draft combine drill stats.

We could try going small with Scottie at the 5 and Queen at the 4. But man our spacing is awful with RJ, Ingram, Barnes, and Queen on the court together.

[Rodrickle]

Surprised Thomas Sorber is 263 pounds. Great measurements though. And is Thiero's wingspan a misprint 7'9 wingspan? lol

[Lord_Zedd]

Sorber is def on our board

Yep, I think he's going to rise up on the boards. Measured really well at the combine and most importantly, cares about his own side of the court.

Would not oppose in taking him at 9 at this point.