2025 NBA Mock Draft - Projected First Round Picks and Player Analysis

2025 NBA mock draft by senior NBA analyst Thunder Dan Palyo. Read his predictions on how the 2025 NBA Draft will play out with a mock draft covering the entire first round. Get projections for all 30 NBA teams in the first round.

The NBA Finals will be settled tonight as the Pacers and Thunder play Game 7. Then the league will quickly shift its focus to the 2025 NBA Draft as the first round is set to take place on Wednesday, June 25, and the second round on the following night.

Last month, my good friend Jamie Calendro shared his predictions for the lottery picks, but with the draft only days away, I am going to do a mock draft for the entire first round. Yes, I will be predicting all 30 first-round selections!

Let's get into it already! This is a tough draft to project! If you think I am way off about a player, let me know on X.

1) Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, Duke

The Mavericks were quite lucky to draw the top pick with only about a 1% chance of winning the lottery. Flagg is the consensus top pick, and I doubt that Dallas is going to do anything here other than take him and hope that it helps fans quickly forget about the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers.

A league source said Cooper Flagg was “even better” than they initially expected him to be at his workout with the Mavericks ahead of the draft 🔥

“Cooper was unreal in his workout. He’s a complete beast,” the source said.

(via Noah Weber) pic.twitter.com/5mCb3GY22z

— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) June 20, 2025

Flagg makes a lot of sense for this team, too, as he can fit in on the wing alongside Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. He won't be relied on to score a lot, which is a perfect situation to step into, and expect Flagg to excel in this situation where he can do a little of everything from passing to rebounding to playing some very good defense.

2) San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, Rutgers

The other player who is almost certainly locked into their draft slot is Harper. While I don't love the fit here with the Spurs already having De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle in the backcourt, reports out of San Antonio have been that the Spurs are most likely going to pick him anyway and then deal with their roster construction later.

⁦@RutgersMBB⁩ Dylan Harper is a ridiculous offensive talent, maybe the best in the NBA Draft. Hate to say he’s a more athletic Cade Cunningham but I’ve seen Cade since he was 15. Dylan may be. ⁦⁦He’ll be 19 most of his rookie season! ⁦@coach_paint⁩ pic.twitter.com/0MmC6C3erJ

— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) April 22, 2025

Even if the Spurs were to trade down here, any team that is trading up to the second pick is doing so to snag Harper, who projects as the best lead guard in this draft class.

3) Philadelphia 76ers: Kon Knueppel, Duke

Here is where I will stray from the pack, as I see a lot of other sites and writers have Knueppel going anywhere from fourth to eighth. I love this kid's game, and I think he's one of the most NBA-ready prospects in this draft. Ace Bailey is sliding down draft boards and scaring teams off, but Knueppel is the complete opposite of Bailey, as he's already a pretty polished player and more of a known quantity.

Kon Knueppel (2.92) has a faster shuttle run than VJ Edgecombe (2.93)

A higher standing vertical jump (31.5 inches) than Harper (30.5), Richardson (30.5), and Edgecombe (30.0)

A better max vert (36.5 inches) than Flagg (35.5) and Bailey (34.5)

So can we stop saying he can’t… pic.twitter.com/xcxBQhjB4l

— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) June 14, 2025

Knueppel has more athleticism than people are giving him credit for, and he is more than just a shooter, as he showed some solid passing skills last year at Duke, too. He's a heady player who should have a short learning curve at the NBA level.

The Sixers have a huge hole at shooting guard. Kelly Oubre is more of a small forward, and Jared McCain is better with the ball in his hands and should probably be leading the second unit as their sixth man. Why not go with a safe pick here and slot Knueppel in at shooting guard alongside Tyrese Maxey?

4) Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor

Do the Hornets need another shooting guard with Brandon Miller already locked in at the position? Well, Charlotte needs all the help they can get, and Miller has the size to slide over to small forward at some point if Charlotte wants to play small, which they already do fairly often with six-foot-seven Miles Bridges at power forward.

There simply aren't any big men here to take this early, so Charlotte is likely to go with the best available, which is Edgecombe for me. He and Tre Johnson are both big, physical guards, but Edgecomb showed a better all-around skill set last year with over five boards and three assists per game.

VJ Edgecombe is one of the prospects where the more you watch him, the more you get excited about his NBA potential.

The Baylor guard reminds me of Victor Oladipo as an explosive athlete, hard-nosed competitor, and three-level scorer with an excellent feel for playmaking.

— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) June 20, 2025

He's drawing comparisons to Victor Oladipo, which is some high praise. The Hornets need more athleticism and some edge (no pun intended). I think Edgecombe could thrive in their fast-paced system led by LaMelo Ball without demanding many shots in that offense.

5) Utah Jazz: Tre Johnson, Texas

Johnson led all freshmen with 19.9 points per game last year and is too good to pass up here for Utah, a team that could use more scoring in the backcourt. Say what you want about the other parts of his game, this kid can get buckets.

Tre Johnson: Professional Scorer

Film school coming soon. pic.twitter.com/wBGMNFRIfy

— Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) June 19, 2025

It feels like the Jazz want to build around Isaiah Collier (a true pass-first point guard) and Keyonte George, so don't be surprised if veterans Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson find their way onto another roster in the offseason or through a trade next season.

6) Washington Wizards: Noa Essengue, France

The Wizards need help everywhere, but have multiple picks in the first round to continue to stock up on talent. I think they target a big man early and why not bring in another French player to develop alongside their first-round pick from last season, Alex Sarr?

Ulm’s Noa Essengue’s anthro measurements from his abbreviated 2025 NBA Draft Combine make-up activities (cm converted, rounded to nearest ¼"):

6’10” barefoot, 203.9 lbs with a 7’0 ¾" wingspan, 9’1 ¾" standing reach, and 9” x 10 ¾" hands pic.twitter.com/uy03UIAIUp

— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) June 13, 2025

Essengue is a raw prospect and still just 18 years old; however, he would give Washington another potential defensive impact player to team with Bilal Coulibaly and Sarr. The timeline on the Wizards reboot is still several years out, so there's no reason not to invest in at least one "project" prospect who might be several years from being ready to contribute in the rotation.

7) New Orleans Pelicans: Derik Queen, Maryland

The Pelicans have Zion Williamson slotted in as their starting power forward, but last season started rookie Yves Missi for much of the season. Missi was a plus rebounder and solid rim protector, but lacked an offensive game.

Projected top-10 pick Derik Queen has been putting in work before the draft with trainer Aaron Miller! 🧪

The Draft community loves to debate, but there’s no denying his skill + feel for the game at 6’10” 🧠

🎥: @HFH_NBA, @EBTMiller pic.twitter.com/ebl02MksMN

— GREENLIGHT MEDIA (@greenlightbball) June 19, 2025

Queen is the most-skilled big man in the draft in terms of already having a fairly polished offensive arsenal. If Zion struggles to stay healthy, they could consider playing Queen at power forward in some big lineups or use him in a platoon at center as the offensive player in a solid tandem with the defensive-minded Missi.

8) Brooklyn Nets: Ace Bailey, Rutgers

Yes, I think Bailey is the biggest faller in this draft, but I can't see him falling past the Nets with the number eight pick. Bailey's decision not to work out for teams is odd, and it's throwing up some red flags for teams. He also measured just six-foot-seven at the combine, not six-foot-ten as he was listed at Rutgers.

This duo in Brooklyn would peak cinema🙏

Two of the leagues toughest bucket getters⭐️ pic.twitter.com/xul6DB8gzA

— NetsFrequent (@Nets_Frequent) June 19, 2025

But my biggest issue with Bailey is that he's pretty one-dimensional. A lot of critics have pointed out his lack of defense on film, and the knock on him is that he might not be as serious a competitor as others. I remember some saying something similar about Anthony Edwards years ago, too, so that could end up being nothing. But Bailey certainly has a ceiling of someone like Edwards and has drawn comps to Brandon Ingram.

The Nets need playmakers and some star power, which Bailey could provide, and they have multiple picks later in the first round where they can go a little more conservative.

9) Toronto Raptors: Khaman Malauch, Duke

I think Toronto will target a big man in this range, and Malauch is one of the few true centers projected to go in the first half of round one. Last year, Toronto played guys like Jonathan Mogbo and Chris Boucher at center when Jakob Poeltl came out of the game or was injured, but both were out of position at center.

You’ll hear plenty this week about Khaman Maluach: the 7-foot-2 Duke big tracking to be a top-10 pick.

Here’s more about Maluach the person: a South Sudanese refugee whose affable aura and love for life have captivated coaches, teammates — and the NBA.https://t.co/hkvIurGzZ9 pic.twitter.com/wlNeSyQlXi

— Kyle Boone (@kyletheboone) June 17, 2025

Malauch would give Toronto some much-needed rim protection and even more length to a team that already has a very tall, long starting lineup. He's still just 18 years old and could develop into an elite shot blocker at the NBA level with his seven-foot-seven wingspan.

10) Phoenix Suns (via Houston): Carter Bryant, Arizona

UPDATE: The Suns have traded Kevin Durant to Houston multiple players and picks, including this pick in Wednesday's draft. I originally had Jakuciounas going to Houston, but am changing my prediction here now to Carter Bryant.

The projections on Bryant vary widely, as some have him going as high as the 8-10 range, but I think it's more likely he falls into the teens. Bryant didn't play as much as other prospects last year, coming off the bench for Arizona, but has been wowing scouts at workouts with a very smooth all-around game.

Carter Bryant scoring tape.

37.1% from 3P (8.4 3PA/100) + 70.8% at the rim (1.42 PPP). pic.twitter.com/1xKkzftpXz

— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) June 6, 2025

With Durant now gone and the Suns set in the backcourt with Booker and Jalen Green, the logical pick here is Bryant, who could slot in at the three and provide another reliable scorer on the wing. Bryant is an upside pick, which is why I originally had him going a few picks later, but Phoenix is the perfect spot for him here.

11) Portland Trailblazers: Egor Demin, BYU

Here is my first big surprise (other than maybe Bailey falling all the way to number eight), as I think the Blazers (and other teams) are probably enamored with Demin as a prospect.

The fascinating draft case of Egor Demin (@whoisegor3) ... here's @JakeLFischer with a long look at the Real Madrid guard-turned-BYU star looking to crash the lottery in next week's NBA Draft: https://t.co/Pd0xPJGD5H pic.twitter.com/HyLEfNrOMK

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 20, 2025

Demin is a big point guard at six-foot-eight who already has some experience in the Euroleague before playing at BYU last season. Portland has guards who can score with Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons, but they could stand to add some length and play-making. We saw Deni Avdija function as a point forward there last season, which allowed the Portland guards to function off the ball on offense more.

The rumor is that multiple teams are enamored with Demin and that his stock is on the rise. I think he could go even a few spots higher, but it makes a ton of sense for Portland to take him here at 11.

12) Chicago Bulls: Joan Beringer, France

The Bulls need a big man and have been reported to be targeting Queen, Beringer, and Essengue with the 12th pick. Beringer, like Essengue, is from France and is a young, raw prospect. He has only played organized basketball for four years, but is incredibly athletic for his size at nearly seven feet tall.

Joan Beringer’s official measurements from his abbreviated 2025 NBA Draft Combine make-up activities, per source.

6’11” barefoot, 234.8 lbs with a 7’4½” wingspan and a 9’3” standing reach.

Highly impressive numbers for the late-blooming French big man. pic.twitter.com/AqvCIhiORT

— Jacob Myers (@League_Him) June 12, 2025

The Bulls also need to invest in defense, as they have been one of the worst defensive teams in the league for several years. Beringer could be a few years away from making a big impact, but it would signify a change in direction for the franchise as they embrace a true rebuild.

13) Atlanta Hawks (via Sacramento): Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois

Note: I originally had Jakucionis going to Houston at pick 10 before the Durant trade.

This is an incredibly deep draft at the point guard position. I originally had the Hawks grabbing Carter Bryant here as they need help on the wing, but they also need another reliable ball-handler and play-maker off the bench, too.

This was totally unnecessary but incredibly fun from Kasparas Jakucionis

Circling back on film for some guys in lower on than consensus to make sure I didn’t miss something. Berringer up next pic.twitter.com/pYodvjfZeI

— James Plowright (@British_Buzz) June 13, 2025

Jakucionis has been mocked inside the top 10 by some others, but everyone is just guessing as there is going to be such a small talent gap between picks 8 through 20.

14) San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta): Cedric Coward, Washington St.

Coward is rocketing up draft boards and could still go inside the top ten if a team is absolutely in love with his potential and work ethic. He's not overly tall for a wing player at six-foot-five, but he has an incredibly long frame and elite athleticism. At 21 years old, he's an older prospect than a lot of the teenagers in this group, and he's had to work his way up from a smaller school to finally get his chance to play at WSU last year.

Cedric Coward has the best physical tools in this draft

- 7’2.25” wingspan with 8’10” standing reach
- Strong 6’5.25” 213lb frame
- 38.5 inch max vert
- 4th in 3/4 sprint (3.06)
- Sub 11 second lane agility (10.97)

Should Be A Top 10 Pick https://t.co/ywgpspZImJ pic.twitter.com/gFcfUeyti6

— Chris Keesee (NBA Scouting) (@HoopKeesee) June 15, 2025

Coward reportedly nailed his interviews and has coaches drooling over his potential and NBA-readiness. We know the Spurs are big on character guys, and I can't see him slide past San Antonio here, a franchise that has the luxury of just stacking talent in this draft and sorting it out later.

15) Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami): Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma

Some experts have Fears as a possible option inside the top ten, but this class is loaded at the point guard position. OKC has the type of organizational depth where they can sit back and take the best available and see who falls to them here.

Jeremiah Fears was exceptional when blitzed in ball screen situations, consistently finding the short roll. As the handler in trap scenarios, he generated 1.29 points per possession (93rd percentile)! 🚀📈 pic.twitter.com/1NJfXoqYBJ

— Drew Munley (@Drew_Munley14) June 20, 2025

One thing they don't have on the roster is a true point guard, as you could argue that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a shoot-first lead guard.

16) Memphis Grizzlies (via Orlando): Nique Clifford, Colorado State

The Grizzlies just traded away Desmond Bane, so why not replace him with Clifford, who is a Bane clone?

Scouting Report

Colorado State Wing

Nique Clifford pic.twitter.com/F0FVhqQkH9

— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) June 1, 2025

Clifford is 23 years old and coming off an impressive career at CSU. He averaged over nine boards last season and has made a reputation as a very good defender. He could be ready to be in the rotation on day one, and again, he fits exactly what Memphis needs after the departure of Bane to Orlando.

17) Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit): Liam McNeeley, UConn

McNeeley is an interesting prospect because he's not flashy, but could be one of the most ready to contribute out of the gate with his very balanced game. He's got good great size for a three-man and showed impressive rebounding and passing skills in addition to plus outside shooting while at UCONN.

Footage of UConn's Liam McNeeley at the NBA Draft Combine. Came in a little bigger than expected at 6'8 in shoes, 215 pounds with a 36 1/2 inch vertical, and showed off his terrific shooting stroke in drills. pic.twitter.com/bfXvws2bzZ

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 16, 2025

The Wolves are bringing back everyone from a team that made a deep run in the West last season and are known for being a tough defensive team with length at every position. I see McNeeley fitting in perfectly as a bench piece for the Wolves and as a guy who could be a regular contributor by the end of his rookie year.

18) Washington Wizards (via Memphis): Jase Richardson, Michigan State

Richardson came on strong at the end of his last season and turned some heads in the NCAA tournament with his scoring ability. He's one of the smaller guards in this class at just six-foot-one, but he's uber athletic and a crafty scorer from different spots on the floor.

Jase Richardson may slip on draft night due to his height but the advanced stats love his impact. His usage increased during the season and he took advantage with a great Rim%, 3P% and 92nd %tile AST/TOV. He’s a willing defender with a 63rd %tile STL+BLK% and 59th %tile DReb%. pic.twitter.com/RezrTyj4j1

— Ryan Miele (@BuckAnalytics) June 18, 2025

Richardson has the NBA pedigree (his dad, Jason Richardson, played a long time in the league), and he drew strong praise from coach Tom Izzo in terms of being mature for his age and a leader in the locker room.

I have Washington taking a big man early in the first round, so coming back later with a guard who can fill it makes sense for them here.

19) Brooklyn Nets (via Milwaukee): Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina

The Nets have four first-round picks, so they can get pretty creative here, and that also makes them a little tougher to figure out since they have so much flexibility.

While Collin Murray-Boyles’ post-up game may not translate at a high level in the NBA, he has a special ability to generate efficient scoring opportunities without the ball in his hands.

- Rolling to the rim 70% (14/20)
- Cutting to the rim 74.3% (26/35) #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/b7ubIEKXx5

— Quinn Fishburne (@QuinnFishburne) June 21, 2025

Murray-Boyles is a bit of a throwback as an undersized power forward at six-foot-six and 240 pounds. Some scouts are really high on him for his versatility, and others think that he is too small to play inside and too unskilled offensively to play on the wing.

He's a dog, though, and someone who will battle for minutes and a spot in the rotation. There's nothing wrong with bringing him into a clubhouse that has lost that competitive nature in Brooklyn and seeing if he can fight his way into the rotation.

20) Miami Heat (via Golden State): Danny Wolf, Michigan

Wolf is a very skilled big man who has the size to play center, but the offensive game and passing ability to move over and play the four, too. With Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware set to share the frontcourt again, Wolf would make for a nice backup to both.

Danny Wolf is incredibly unique in his comfort handling the rock, operating out of ball screens, dotting passes, and drilling stepbacks at nearly 7-foot. The question: how does it translate? His feel, physicality, and fight on the glass should help. https://t.co/sqEj0G5Pse pic.twitter.com/gTIp0u7CDE

— Jacob Myers (@League_Him) June 15, 2025

Miami already has a skilled big man on the bench in Nikola Jovic, but he can even slide over and play the three if needed. Wolf already has three seasons of college ball under his belt and could be ready to contribute more quickly than some of the other teenagers available here.

21) Utah Jazz (via Minnesota): Rasheer Fleming, St. Joe's

Fleming is a big, physical player standing at six feet eight inches and weighing 232 pounds. He was nearly impossible to stop on the pick-and-roll last season while playing with two really good guards in Derek Simpson and Xzayvier Brown.

Jazz fans, how would you feel if Rasheer Fleming dropped to 21 and the Jazz drafted him? pic.twitter.com/yiti2fJqPk

— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) June 18, 2025

I have Utah going after a guard with their first pick, so coming back with a big man here would make sense. They have Walker Kessler and Kyle Filipowski at the center position, but just Taylor Hendricks as the only true power forward backing John Collins.

22) Atlanta Hawks (via LA Lakers): Drake Powell, North Carolina

Powell's being touted as a plus defender who could come in and make an impact on the wing with his ability to lock up defenders. He still has a developing offensive game, but is a decent three-point shooter who could help to space the floor for Trae Young in this offense.

It’s easy to see the comparison between Drake Powell and OG Anunoby as Draft prospects.🔮

NBA teams are always searching for 3&D wings — and the UNC freshman checks that box.☑️

Powell is currently mocked at 28, and Anunoby was selected at 23 in the 2017 Draft. pic.twitter.com/JNXjy7a6RU

— GREENLIGHT MEDIA (@greenlightbball) May 19, 2025

If Carter Bryant goes earlier now, as I project, then I think Atlanta can sit back and wait for their wing player until this pick. Powell makes sense here or with someone like Noah Penda, who is also a plus defender who is still very raw on offense.

23) New Orleans Pelicans (via Indiana): Walter Clayton Jr., Florida

I am admittedly higher on Clayton Jr. than others, and as I mentioned before, this is a very deep draft class at the point guard position. Clayton Jr. is on the smaller side, but has proven to be a winner, leading Florida to a national championship last season.

BREAKING: Walter Clayton Jr has received a green room invite to attend the 2025 NBA Draft with his family 🔥

Where do you want to see Walt get drafted at? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VePpJwIE1e

— Florida Gators 🐊🔥 (@gatorsszn) June 19, 2025

With the Hawks possibly taking a point guard earlier, I am swapping Clayton with Powell as both players fit the other team's needs better, in my opinion. The Pelicans have two combo guards in their starting lineup with CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray, with a defensive-minded backup in Jose Alvarado. Clayton Jr. could fit nicely as a guy who can come off the bench and get buckets while leading the second unit.

24) OKC Thunder (via LA Clippers): Asa Newell, Georgia

Again, OKC can sit back and see who falls to them here on their board. They already have a deep enough roster that they don't need to draft anyone ready to step in day one, and therefore, I think they might go after a big man here like Newell.

Asa Newell

High energy rim runner ✅
Explosive leaper ✅
Lob threat/play finisher ✅
Versatile defender ✅
Pick-and-pop ✅
Fluidity + footwork ✅

Potential gem in this draft class if he can get stronger and improve with his right hand. pic.twitter.com/FA4WadmVOu

— DraftCentral (@draftcentralnet) June 17, 2025

Newell fits the mold of what they want from Chet Holmgren - a big man who can stretch the floor and knock down threes. He's six-foot-nine, but plays bigger with a seven-foot wingspan.

25) Orlando Magic (via Denver): Thomas Sorber, Georgetown

The Magic made a very compelling trade for Desmond Bane just last week, and now looks like a team that could contend in the East. They are going to be without a first-round pick now for the next four years, so they better make this one count!

Thomas Sorber has got the physical profile & versatility to be a great modern big man💪

Aggressive & strong, good interior scorer & defender, a good connector. If he can polish the decision making & ability to switch on to guards he'll be awesome📈 pic.twitter.com/VGWN5tYRTs

— Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) June 19, 2025

I think they badly need to address the center position. Wendell Carter Jr. is an undersized guy there who is talented on offense, but doesn't add much defense. Behind him is Goga Bitadze, who brings rim protection but has not shown that he can be a 30+ minute player yet, and is limited offensively.

Sorber would be another big body to add to the mix and potentially the center of the future for a team that has opened up a window to contend.

26) Brooklyn Nets (via New York): Nolan Traore, France

Who knows what the Nets do here as they have back-to-back picks at 26 and 27. I could easily see them go after some younger prospects with high ceilings and simply stockpile as much talent as possible.

At worst, Nolan Traore is a top 3 passer in this NBA Draft class:

- Elite court mapper
- Floor general
- BIG TIME SPEED

The French point guard is a joy to watch on film. He’s excellent at throwing teammates open.

With an improved 3pt, Traore will be a steal late in the 1st Rd. pic.twitter.com/QQ03eRZBBD

— Mike O'Donnell (@MOD4three) June 18, 2025

Traore grades out really well as a passer, and the Nets don't have a pass-first guard on the roster (don't tell me that D'Angelo Russell is either). Depending on who departs in free agency, this team could overhaul most of its roster, so stay tuned.

27) Brooklyn Nets (via Houston): Maxime Reynaud, Stanford

I like Reynaud's upside quite a bit, and taking a senior with their last pick could make sense if they take some chances of younger prospects with their other picks.

✅ 20.2 PPG
✅ 10.6 RPG (1st in ACC)
✅ 25 double-doubles (2nd in the nation)

Maxime Raynaud NBA Draft Tape ⬇️@StanfordMBB | @GoStanford | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/kXM29Gh4Rm

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) June 17, 2025

The big man from Stanford can stretch the floor (something that Nicolas Claxton doesn't do), and give the Nets the ability to play a different style of basketball. Reynaud has been praised for his rebounding, too, an area the Nets have struggled in recent years.

28) Boston Celtics: Noah Penda, France

The Celtics are a really interesting team to watch. We don't know whether they plan to rebuild with Jayson Tatum out, or just reload and keep their core intact until he returns.

It goes without saying that Noah Penda is the best wing defender in this class but it’s what he does WITH the ball as a playmaker that impresses me the most.

1.48 A/TO + 19.1% AST on the season — such a high-feel & connective player that has a knack for making the right play. https://t.co/RxiHsB87TZ pic.twitter.com/AelisoX38q

— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) May 11, 2025

But we do know that they love guys who can play defense. Penda has some weaknesses on offense, but scouts love his toughness and maturity for a 20-year-old. He just sounds like a guy that the Celtics would love to put alongside their veterans.

29) Phoenix Suns (via Cleveland): Hugo Gonzalez, Spain

If the Suns take a wing player earlier, then I could see them opt for a point guard here like Saraf, but for now, I am holding firm on my pick of Gonzalez, the SF from Spain.

Real Madrid’s Hugo González’s anthro measurements from his abbreviated 2025 NBA Draft Combine make-up activities:

6’6 ¼" barefoot, 222.7 lbs with a 6’10 ¾" wingspan, 8’5 ½" standing reach, and 9” x 10 ¼" hands pic.twitter.com/MfYE3JzLMK

— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) June 12, 2025

One thing is for sure - Devin Booker and Bradley Beal need help. The Suns have eight players who are unrestricted free agents, and this roster could look very different next year. Gonzalez is a very raw prospect at 19 years old, but has been playing professionally in Europe with Real Madrid. He is a big-bodied wing who could bring some physicality and shooting.

30) LA Clippers (via OKC): Ben Saraf, Israel

Our final pick in the first round is yet another point guard. Saraf is coming over from Europe and has flashed some impressive play-making ability at only 19 years old.

our ben saraf scouting profile is live @bbinsidersnews, breaking down one the draft's most skilled players. how will he fit in the NBA offensively? pic.twitter.com/jSEs8a7fyT

— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) June 19, 2025

Continuing the trend we are seeing with big, European guards, Saraf is very long and athletic, standing six feet six. He's a crafty lefty, and perhaps he will back up another lefty (James Harden) for the Clippers this season.

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