Hello everybody. We are back. After this post, I will be going down my (probably too early) top 25 rankings for the 2025-26 season, highlighting the new additions. Sorry about the break, but it will become more consistent. I will be giving explanations for the lottery picks, and after that I will only leave a little note rather than all the stats.

FYI: These choices are a combination of what I think the teams will do and what I would do.

#1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg

Last year @ Duke

• 18.9 points
• 7.5 rebounds
• 4.2 assists
• 1.4 steals
• 1.3 blocks

This one really needs no explanation. Flagg is the clear cut best prospect in the draft, as a three level scorer and elite defender. That’s all I’ll say about that.

#2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper

Last year @ Rutgers

• 19.4 points
• 4.6 rebounds
• 4.0 assists
• 1.4 steals

Harper is also a pretty clear pick here. An elite scorer who, despite not being a perfect fit in San Antonio with the addition of De’aaron Fox, is a must pick here. His playmaking ability in his frame makes him an extremely valuable addition, and one who, as his three point shot continues to develop, can become a top tier talent in the league.

#3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe

Last year @ Baylor

• 15.0 points
• 5.6 rebounds
• 3.3 assists
• 2.1 steals

I have been a huge VJ fan last summer, when he impressed playing with the Bahamas national team. He has ELITE athleticism to go along with a strong frame, and despite being somewhat inefficient from the field in his one year of college, that was more of a product of a poorly constructed team. However, the reason I have him at #3 is because of his defensive versatility.

#4. Charlotte Hornets: Tre Johnson

Last year @ Texas

• 19.9 points
• 3.1 rebounds
• 2.7 assists
• 0.9 steals

The Hornets take the best pure scoring prospect of the draft in Tre Johnson. His shotmaking in college was off the chart, and will definitely translate to the NBA. I think a smaller role than he had at Texas will make him even better, taking more reasonable shots. His defense isn’t great, but a 40% three point shooter on 7 attempts a game is hard for a team to pass up on.

#5. Utah Jazz: Jeremiah Fears

Last year @ Oklahoma

• 17.0 points
• 4.1 rebounds
• 4.1 assists
• 1.6 steals

I have never been a big Fears fan personally, but he finds ways to score the ball. The big concern revolves around his shooting for me, at 27.5% from three. However, the 18 year old still has tons of time to improve, and could be a cornerstone to a franchise down the line.

#6. Washington Wizards: Ace Bailey

Last year @ Rutgers

• 17.6 points
• 7.2 rebounds
• 1.3 assists
• 1.0 steals
• 1.3 blocks

A few months ago, Bailey was the clear #3 pick to most (not me, but most). However, after a very weird process in which he didn’t do many workouts, his projection has changed significantly. I think that his agent has no idea what they’re doing, but let’s not go down that path. Bailey is an elite scorer, there’s no doubt about that. However, his shot selection is beyond questionable and his immaturity is a risk for any team. The Wizards just need anything at this point, so this wouldn’t surprise me as their choice.

#7. New Orleans Pelicans: Kon Knueppel

Last year @ Duke

• 14.4 points
• 3.9 rebounds
• 2.8 assists
• 1.0 steals

Kon has been the largest riser throughout the process, which definitely surprised me. He is a hard worker and a knockdown shooter, at 40% from three last season on 5 attempts a game. I am not sold on Kon as an all around player quite yet, but on a team like New Orleans where he can be a spark off the bench, he can develop. He is the safe prospect in this draft, the one who will be a strong role player at worst, but not an all star, while many of these other prospects have a very wide range of outcomes.

#8. Brooklyn Nets: Khaman Maluach

Last year @ Duke

• 8.7 points
• 6.8 rebounds
• 0.5 assists
• 1.3 blocks

Maluach is such an intriguing prospect for this years draft, as the young, 7’2 big had quite an up and down college season. The raw physical tools are undeniable, and the shooting he did at the combine was much better than I expected. However, I am not sold. I do think he will go early, but I’m concerned that a skinny 7’2 big who can’t stretch the floor all that well may have some issues in the NBA. Luckily, he is very young, so there is tons of time to develop him, time that Brooklyn has in their rebuilding stage.

#9. Toronto Raptors: Noa Essengue

Last year @ ratiopharm Ulm in Europe

• 12.4 points
• 5.3 rebounds
• 1.1 assists
• 1.4 steals

Essengue is a dynamic wing with great positional size at 6’10. He is also one of the youngest prospects in the draft, making him an intriguing long term project. If his defensive versatility can be at the level it looks like now, he will be a very valuable player. The Raptors are a team that commonly has players like Noa, such as Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes, players Noa compared himself to in a recent interview.

#10. Phoenix Suns: Derik Queen

Last year @ Maryland

• 16.2 points
• 9.1 rebounds
• 1.9 assists
• 1.1 steals
• 1.1 blocks

Queen really impressed me down the back stretch of the college basketball season. His ability to create space and find his shots is undeniable, and his basketball IQ offsets physical concerns. Queen isn’t an elite athlete, but plays almost as a more athletic and scoring minded Nikola Jokic. The Suns would love to have a big like this who can score and create plays, especially as they continue to try to compete in a stacked western conference.

#11:Portland Trail Blazers: Kasparas Jakucionis

Last year @ Illinois

• 15.0 points
• 5.7 rebounds
• 4.8 assists
• 0.9 steals

While he didn’t shoot spectacularly at Illinois, at only 32%, Kasparas has undeniable basketball IQ and makes plays. Portland needs the best available player at this point, and to me, Kasparas is the prospect I feel best about, given the fact that his shot will continue to improve, as the fundamentals are all there, and he shot it well at his stops in Europe prior to Illinois.

#12: Chicago Bulls: Egor Demin

Last year @ BYU

• 10.5 points
• 3.9 rebounds
• 5.4 assists
• 1.1 steals

Arguably the most divisive prospect in the draft, Demin has some clear pros and cons. He is a guard with elite size at 6’8 who moves well, but both shooting and turnovers are concerns. With his frame, however, I find it very hard to believe that he falls out of the teens. The shooting and turnovers can be fixed in time, but also if you can get him as less of a pure point guard. You know what they say, “you can’t teach size”, and that is the truth in this case.

#13: Atlanta Hawks: Carter Bryant

Last year @ Arizona

• 6.5 points
• 4.1 rebounds
• 1.0 assists
• 0.9 steals
• 1.0 blocks

Despite his smaller role at Arizona, Bryant’s ability to be a 3 and D wing is a perfect fit for the modern NBA, making him valuable to any franchise even at his floor. As another young prospect, it is hard to justify him falling out of the lottery with the clarity around who he can be for any NBA team.

#14: San Antonio Spurs: Thomas Sorber

Last year @ Georgetown

• 14.5 points
• 8.5 rebounds
• 2.4 assists
• 1.5 steals
• 2.0 blocks

The Spurs would love to add a solid big presence alongside Wemby, who (shocker) isn’t your traditional big man. Despite Sorber not being the largest big ever, at 6’9, he is a strong paint player and as long as his foot injury heals well, he could be a good piece as the Spurs young core is beginning to blossom.

#15: Oklahoma City Thunder: Collin Murray-Boyles

An undersized big from South Carolina who brings defensive versatility but needs to develop his shot. Averaged 16.8 ppg last season.

#16: Memphis Grizzlies: Cedric Coward

The biggest winner of the pre-draft process, who played at Washington State last year before a shoulder injury. Despite being an older prospect, his skillset is NBA ready, and the Grizzlies want to compete.

#17: Minnesota Timberwolves: Liam McNeeley

Not my favorite prospect, but has good size at 6’7 and is a strong shooter despite only shooting 32% at UConn last season. Would be a mistake as a lottery pick, but is solid here for a team that is competing for a championship now.

#18: Washington Wizards: Danny Wolf

A super intriguing prospect. After being at Yale two years ago, Wolf went to Michigan and put the world on notice. Despite being older, I think his skillset is very NBA ready, playing like a guard as a 7 footer.

#19: Brooklyn Nets: Nique Clifford

He is on the older side, but his all around skillset is very hard to poke a hole in. He is a lengthy defender and a good shooter, which is what any NBA team wants.

#20: Miami Heat: Jase Richardson

Richardson continued to get more minutes and the ball in his hands throughout the season at Michigan State. He is a dynamic scorer with high basketball IQ, and should make an impact right away.

#21: Utah Jazz: Joan Beringer

A boom or bust prospect from France who has elite physical tools and athleticism. At 18, there are lots of unknowns, but he’s worth a first round risk.

#22: Brooklyn Nets: Walter Clayton Jr.

The star of March Madness should honestly go earlier in the draft, but I think the age and size problems are too large for NBA teams. He will be great with the available minutes in Brooklyn.

#23: New Orleans Pelicans: Rasheer Fleming

A super intriguing prospect from St. Joes, Fleming has elite athleticism and good shooting in his 6’9 frame. In New Orleans, he can be Trey Murphy’s protege.

#24: Oklahoma City Thunder: Nolan Traore

Traore has had a strong season in the LNB Pro A league in France. A solid guard who will be a depth piece for OKC.

#25: Orlando Magic: Will Riley

Riley has a big frame and elite shooting skills, but has a slim frame which raises some concern. After reclassing to go to Illinois, he is a young prospect, so there’s time to develop.

#26: Brooklyn Nets: Maxime Raynaud

The Stanford big man has been underrated throughout college and into the draft. He can score at all levels and has an NBA frame.

#27: Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell

The UNC guard had an underwhelming freshman season but his 3 and D potential is too much for the Nets to pass down, especially with their 5th first round pick.

#28: Boston Celtics: Ryan Kalkbrenner

After trading Kristaps, the Celtics need a big, and Kalkbrenner can do it on both ends, as an elite rim defender and he’s begun to stretch the floor from three.

#29: Phoenix Suns: Kam Jones

I kind of chose this cause it would be cool to see him with Oso Ighodaro again, but he also is a good depth piece and playmaker.

#30: Los Angeles Clippers: Hugo Gonzalez

Even though he hasn’t played a ton for Real Madrid, the potential and athleticism are there, and he can develop over time.

Round 2

#31: Minnesota Timberwolves: Johni Broome

The Auburn big man was elite in college this past season, and despite his lacking athleticism, his skillset is too good to pass on.

#32 Boston Celtics: Noah Penda

A flexible fit from France who can score on multiple levels and defend multiple positions. He put together a pretty strong season at Le Mans.

#33: Charlotte Hornets: Ben Saraf

The Israeli guard is a crafty scorer and playmaker at only 18 years old, which is good for the Hornets.

#34: Charlotte Hornets: Adou Thiero

The Arkansas guard is an elite athlete, but the shooting is a definite concern. However, his scoring steps are moving in a good direction, so the shooting could come with.

#35: Philadelphia 76ers: Hansen Yang

The Chinese 7’1 big man has risen in the pre draft process and is a very intriguing prospect, especially at 19 years old.

#36: Brooklyn Nets: Chaz Lanier

An elite scorer at Tennessee last season, he can make an instant impact on a team like the Nets.

#37: Detroit Pistons: Koby Brea

An elite shooter to surround the playmakers like Cade Cunningham. Brea is fairly one dimensional, but he’s so good at his one skill that this pick is worth it.

#38: San Antonio Spurs: Alijah Martin

A key piece in the national championship team, Martin, despite his size, is an elite athlete and good shooter. A very solid rotational piece.

#39: Toronto Raptors: Tyrese Proctor

Proctor peaked at the end of the year, with an unbelievable March Madness shooting performance, which teams will be hoping he carries into the league.

#40: New Orleans Pelicans: Yanic Konan Niederhauser

The Penn State big from Switzerland has been rising up draft boards, with a diverse skillset and elite athleticism out of a 7-footer.

#41: Golden State Warriors: Rocco Zikarsky

The 7’3 big from Australia has shown promise in the NBL as an 18 year old. While unpolished, he’s worth a risk.

#42: Sacramento Kings: Bogoljub Markovic

The twenty year old Serbian big has already produced at a high level for Mega Basket in the Adriatic League, while also shooting 37% from three.

#43: Utah Jazz: Jamir Watkins

The Florida State guard has had the disservice of being on a terrible team, but he’s got the scoring skills of an NBA player.

#44: Oklahoma City Thunder: Dink Pate

The G-league prospect has a big frame and and playmaking ability, but his shooting isn’t great.

#45: Chicago Bulls: Mark Sears

An elite scorer at Alabama, Sears lack of size is why he’s a low pick, but he could be a great spark off the bench.

#46: Orlando Magic: Sion James

A strong guard and good shooter, James will be a solid NBA player, with a high floor but low ceiling.

#47: Milwaukee Bucks: Micah Peavy

After scoring 17 points a game at Georgetown last year, Peavy made 40% from three, despite his old age.

#48: Memphis Grizzlies: Hunter Sallis

Sallis kind of regressed this past year, but he is still a dynamic scorer who can be a solid depth piece.

#49: Cleveland Cavaliers: John Tonje

Tonje broke out this year at Wisconsin, shooting well and getting to the free throw line at a high clip, which could work well in the NBA.

#50: New York Knicks: RJ Luis

The hometown kid from St. Johns stays in New York. Despite shooting concerns, he can still score the ball, with great touch at the rim.

#51: Los Angeles Clippers: Ryan Nembhard

The veteran guard averaged 10 assists a game at Gonzaga last year, and can be a great role player in the NBA. I honestly think he should be picked earlier.

#52: Phoenix Suns: Lachlan Olbrich

A big center from Australia who has continued to produce in the NBL, with a high basketball IQ.

#53: Utah Jazz: Eric Dixon

Dixon produced at an amazing level last year for Villanova, and while his skillset isn’t one that the NBA loves, he is a good shooter, which at his size makes him a solid risk.

#54: Indiana Pacers: Chucky Hepburn

Chucky really broke out at Louisville last year, scoring at a much higher level and averaging 2.4 steals a game.

#55: Los Angeles Lakers: Grant Nelson

Nelson is a dynamic forward from Alabama who is a great athlete and can stretch the floor, which is a good fit with LA.

#56: Memphis Grizzlies: Javon Small

Small has had a 4 year college career, but averaged 19 points per game at West Virginia this year.

#57: Orlando Magic: Viktor Lahkin

Lahkin had a strong year at Clemson, with his ability to play inside and out on full display. He’s not a great athlete, but he has the skills.

#58: Cleveland Cavaliers: Kobe Sanders

The big bodied guard from Nevada is old but had an impressive season at Nevada, scoring 16 points per game.

#59: Phoenix Suns: Vladislav Goldin

Goldin was apart of the dominant backcourt duo at Michigan, and while his skillset doesn’t translate as well as Danny Wolf’s, his size is still valuable at the next level.