2025 NBA mock draft: Picks 1-10

The 2025 NBA Draft is happening Wednesday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. While the first two picks appear set, the rest of the lottery is a mystery. Here is our prediction for the first 10 picks of the 2025 draft.

1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, Duke

Flagg is set to be the second-youngest top pick since LeBron James in 2003 and is considered a can't-miss prospect. He's only visited the Mavericks, who seem very content to grab the consensus top player and begin the Flagg Era in Big D.

2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Sure, the Spurs already have two guards in their back court who play tough defense and attack the rim in De'Aaron Fox and Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, but Harper, son of longtime NBA guard Ron Harper, is a true stud prospect. Given the presence of Fox, plus 2023 ROY Victor Wembanyama, this should be the Spurs' last chance at a top pick for a long time. They'll opt for the best player and figure out the fit later.

3. Philadelphia 76ers: V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor

After Ace Bailey canceled his workout with the 76ers, Edgecombe reportedly had a great interview with the team. While the unpredictable Daryl Morey could trade down, the 76ers, like the Spurs, are getting a rare top-three pick and should use it on Edgecombe, a fantastic athlete who is a strong defender and good spot-up shooter who proved he could hang with elite players while playing for the Bahamas last summer.

4. Charlotte Hornets: Khaman Maluach, Duke

This may be early for the 7-foot-2 big man, but the South Sudanese prospect has massive upside as a defensive player. Maluach didn't shoot many threes at Duke, but his free-throw percentage of 76.6 percent shows shooting potential. Best of all, Maluach gets rave reviews as a teammate, worker and competitor — something that's been lacking in Charlotte. The Hornets tried to trade incumbent center Mark Williams last season, and Maluach is the perfect replacement if they try again.

5. Utah Jazz: Kon Knueppel, Duke

The 6-foot-7 Knueppel might be the best spot-up shooter in the draft and a deadeye free-throw shooter (91.4 percent). For a Utah Jazz team that shot the sixth-most three-pointers in the NBA while finishing 22nd in percentage, that's a huge bonus. He's considered a strong playmaker and very good without the ball, both which should mesh well with coach Will Hardy's offense.

6. Washington Wizards: Ace Bailey, Rutgers

Bailey is a controversial prospect. Rutgers had a disappointing season and Bailey didn't work out for any teams leading up to the draft, while teams questioned his maturity. But if any team is equipped to take a flyer on Bailey, it may be the Wizards, who have a strong group of veterans in Marcus Smart, Khris Middleton and now CJ McCollum to help mentor Bailey. He's an excellent pull-up shooter and shot-maker who could thrive with playing time and minimal pressure in D.C.

7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma

Fears is a lightning-fast guard who thrived while carrying Oklahoma's offense in the cutthroat SEC last season, scoring 17.1 points per game. His outside shooting needs work and he has to add strength at 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, but Fears has a huge bag of moves and is still only 18. With Jordan Poole joining the Pelicans this week, Fears has time to develop and become the elite point guard the Pelicans have lacked since trading Jrue Holiday.

8. Brooklyn Nets: Tre Johnson, Texas

Johnson may be the last elite prospect left in the draft. The shooting guard led the SEC in scoring last season with 19.9 points per game and made nearly 40 percent of his three-pointers. He's not necessarily a strong defender, but he's 6-foot-6 and has a fantastic jump shot. For one of the NBA's worst offenses, Johnson would be an immediate shot in the arm.

9. Toronto Raptors: Derik Queen, Maryland

Queen is a very good passer and scorer for a big man, and he could benefit playing alongside a defender like Jakob Poeltl in Toronto. He's 6-foot-10, a little small for a center, but his offensive rebounds and excellent scoring potential (16.5 PPG, 2.3 OREB as a freshman) are hard to pass up at this spot, especially as a pick-and-roll partner for Scottie Barnes.

10. Phoenix Suns: Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina

Murray-Boyles is only 6-foot-7, but his 7-foot-2 wingspan and solid frame make him a strong interior defender. The Suns can use his defensive skills and physicality, though on offense he mainly scores on smart cuts to the basket and offensive boards. It's very tempting to mock Michigan State's Jase Richardson to the Suns here, as owner Mat Ishbia adores the Spartans, but we think Phoenix goes for defense here.