2025 NBA Draft: New Mock Features Best Case Scenario for Nets

O’Connor then has the Nets selecting Georgia freshman Asa Newell at No. 19. Newell is a defensive-minded play finisher. He is slightly undersized at around 6-foot-10 for a five and not versatile enough with the ball (29.2 3P%, 0.9 assists per game) for a four. However, the Bulldogs prospect is productive on both ends at the rim with some switchability on defense. For the Nets, he could resemble a smaller Nic Claxton.

Yahoo's mock has the Nets drafting Tahaad Pettiford at No. 26, which was originally the New York Knicks’ pick. The speedy Auburn guard will get buckets and assists, but he faces an uphill climb to stick in the NBA as a diminutive playmaker. Pettiford is listed at 6-foot-1 by his school, which might be generous.

“The Nets basically don’t have a roster for next season with so many players hitting free agency, and they don’t have any guards under contract, so after drafting two frontcourt players now’s the time to find a ball-handling guard,” O’Connor explains.

Finally, the Nets select Real Madrid and Spain wing Hugo González with the No. 27 pick. That pick would arrive courtesy of the Houston Rockets. González is a feisty, athletic wing who is in desperate need of playing time. He has barely seen the court with his Spanish club team this season, which was to be expected. Real Madrid prioritizes playing proven and veteran players in their permanent quest to win European championships. The pitch on González is that he has the necessary NBA tools — but he remains very unproven and with an uncertain role. 

B.J. Johnson, Brooklyn’s assistant general manager, will run the team's draft process. The NBA announced on April 29 that 106 players had filed as early entry candidates into this year’s draft. That doesn’t count automatically eligible college seniors.