Best Picks of The 2025 NBA Draft

With all the questions entering the NBA offseason, draft night was surprisingly quiet. Of course we had trades leading up to the draft that will shape the 2025/2026 season. However, draft night was a little quiet on the major trades front. After Ace Bailey going 5th and the Pelicans trading up, the draft lacked headlines. If we’re being completely honest, one thing that jumped out to me was the complete debacle done by ESPN. Their draft coverage was absolutely brutal, but that’s not important. Despite the poor coverage and lack of jaw dropping stories, I was locked in to the draft. It’s an underrated event on the sports calendar. To celebrate, I am going to have some fun and list my favorite picks of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Round 1

VJ Edgecombe

1.03 to Philadelphia 76ers

The third pick was where question marks began to arise. Philadelphia made the correct decision and chose the dynamic athlete from the Bahamas. VJ Edgecombe is probably the best athlete in this class and looks to immediately add athleticism to the 76ers. Right away, he will be able to provide an athletic spark for Philly. I see him jumping passing lanes and catching lobs very early in his NBA tenure. The rest of his game, however, is a work in progress. His upside as a potential two way star is undeniable. Edgecombe’s elite athleticism and DAWG mentality combine for a clear vision for his future on that end of the court. Offensively, he’ll need to work on his handle and shooting consistency. In today’s NBA, it is not enough to just be a great athlete. At times during his lone year at Baylor you could tell his skillset was always a step behind his athleticism. Edgecombe is still young and his shooting was much improved once conference play started. I spent a lot of time talking about flaws for a pick I’m claiming to love. The good news is that he will not be asked to create much early in his career. On a team led by Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, and others, he will simply be a spark plug off the bench to start. Edgecombe also fits the timeline with Maxey and McCain as Embiid and George age past their prime. He represents the rare combination of an immediate impact with the room to grow into a star. I also can’t wait for him to put the league on notice when he posterizes some poor soul early in the 2025/2026 season.

Khaman Maluach

1.10 to Phoenix Suns

Maluach was the third Duke Freshman taken in this draft. The key word with Maluach, just like Edgecombe, is upside. The Suns both drafted him and traded for Mark Williams, showing that they are aware Khaman is not ready to play starter minutes quite yet. This is not due to lack of skill or preparation, it’s simply because he is 18 and didn’t begin playing basketball until his teens. Maluach is a rare example of an incredible defensive big that has not developed fully as a shot blocker. His 1.3 blocks per game is a positive but he could average double that in the NBA if he develops like many think he will. Where he excels defensively is his mobility and agility when out on the perimeter. Most guards hunt for big men so they can quickly blow by them. When a guard switches onto Maluach, it’s a death sentence. Early during his Freshman season you could see smaller guards get excited when he switched and then quickly realize their mistake. On offense, he catches lobs and finishes around the basket with precision. This led to him shooting 71.2% from the field. The development of a jump shot could turn Maluach into a star. In the meantime, you can bank on elite defense and an immediate lob threat for consistent production. Phoenix can sleep well knowing they already have a key piece of their team in the post-Durant era.

Cedric Coward

1.11 to Memphis Grizzlies

The rise of Cedric Coward needs to be studied in universities across the country. He went from D-III in Eastern Washington to Washington State and finally to being a lottery pick in the NBA Draft. Coward projects to be a 3 and D wing in the NBA. During his final 3 years of college he shot 38.8% from deep. Unfortunately Coward got hurt just 6 games into his tenure at WSU, but his scoring efficiency and ability were enough to get him on the NBA radar. While people love his 3 point shooting, Coward can get it done from anywhere on the court. While the levels of competition he played against in college weren’t top level, he showed the willingness to bully smaller defenders in the post. Defensively, his 7’2 wingspan had GM's salivating at his defensive potential. The fit in Memphis is potentially perfect, as they’re looking to fill the void left by Desmond Bane. Obviously, Coward is not expected to fill the Bane role in Memphis. However, he will be able to provide some of those same skills to pair with the star duo of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. There will be an adjustment period initially. It would be a mistake to overlook the talent gap between a Non-Power 5 conference and the NBA. Still, I expect Coward to crack an important role in the Grizzlies rotation in Year 1 before the season was over. Cedric Coward’s story is incredible as it currently is, I’m just excited to watch that story continue to grow in the coming years.

Carter Bryant

1.14 to San Antonio Spurs

I’m operating under the assumption that every move made by the Spurs is a good one. Carter Bryant is no exception to this assumption. Similar to Cedric Coward, Bryant projects to be a 3 and D wing. San Antonio will be looking for him to play a supporting role to Wemby, Dylan Harper, and De’Aaron Fox as the Spurs look to become a perennial contender. This also works for Bryant’s current skillset. He had a low usage rate during his lone year at Arizona but showed plenty of flashes. His number will not jump off the pages, but the intangibles are off the charts. Bryant’s athleticism gives him the ability to finish over opposing players and also allows him to be active on defense. The combination of size and athleticism will allow the Arizona prospect to contribute immediately while he develops his other skills. The vision for Bryant is for him to be a versatile defender with the potential to guard multiple positions while growing into a knockdown three point shooter. He shot 37% during his Freshman year at Arizona. That ability is there and as his comfort from deep grows, so will the Spurs’ trust in him. Bryant might never make an All Star team, but he’s exactly the type of prospect that every team wants.

Thomas Sorber

1.15 to Oklahoma City Thunder

Fresh off their 2025 NBA Title, the Thunder have done it again. Thomas Sorber is a defensive minded, throwback big man. Don’t let the fact that he’s an undersized center fool you, his wingspan and defensive instinct more than make up for being a smaller center. What makes Sorber unique in the modern NBA is the fact that he is neither a rim runner or a stretch big man. Being the anchor of the defense with a back to the basket post game is where he thrives. During his only season at Georgetown he averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He’s a great screener and was willing to move the ball instead of being a black hole on the offensive end. Most undersized big men possess incredible athleticism, but Sorber relies on his instinct and basketball knowledge to dominate. What makes this an interesting pick is the fact that, barring injury to other players, Sorber likely won’t see the floor much as a rookie. The Thunder have Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams coming back to play the center position. Sam Presti’s genius is on full display with this move. Adding a Hartenstein’s replacement for when his contract is up, is what has made this rendition of the Thunder so great. Presti didn’t draft for immediate need, he kept the long term in mind. Don’t forget about Sorber while he’s seeing limited minutes this season. He’ll be blocking shots and setting screens for SGA before we know it.

Walter Clayton Jr.

1.18 to Utah Jazz

Many scouts were torn on Walter Clayton Jr. following his incredible season at Florida. I’m here to say Clayton is a stud and deserved to be selected in the 14-20 range of this year’s NBA Draft. Following a National Championship at Florida, the former Gator is ready to take on the next level. Some scouts questioned his size and athletic ability. To those people, I urge you to re-watch his performances during March Madness. My favorite thing about Walter Clayton Jr. during that run was how he stepped up in big moments, also known as the clutch gene. That is something which cannot be taught. You either have it or you don’t. Florida had close games against UConn, Texas Tech, and Houston during their title run. In each of these games, Clayton had a clutch shot or play that helped Florida secure the victory. Clayton’s primary skillset is that of an elite shooter than can create his own shot or play off the ball. He also is a sneaky good finisher in the paint and is a capable playmaker for his teammates. While he’s not an explosive athlete, Clayton is unbothered by contesting defenders and knows how to use his body. I think the floor for Clayton is a scoring guard that comes off the bench and his ceiling is that of an elite shooting that scores in the high teens or low twenties per game. Don’t worry about the measurables, just watch the tape.

Round 2

Rasheer Fleming

2.01 to Phoenix Suns

After the Kevin Durant trade, Phoenix demonstrated they’re entering a new era and this draft is a move in the right direction. Drafting Maluach in Round 1 was a favorite pick of mine and Fleming dropping to them in Round 2 was a great value. Fleming comes in at 6’8 and around 230 pounds. He’ll immediately play the 4 but has the flexibility to play the 5 in small ball scenarios. Fleming improved greatly throughout his three seasons at Saint Joseph’s and nearly averaged a double double this season. He is a springy athlete that developed his distance shooting throughout his collegiate tenure. Last season he shot 39% from 3 causing him to emerge as a potential prospect. The concern with Fleming is his lack of awareness and current processing speed. Developing his processing is something that will only come with time and experience. Based on his development throughout his time at Saint Joseph’s, I’d expect that to continue with an NBA coaching staff in Phoenix. Many expected him to go late in Round 1, so selecting him on the second day is a major steal for Phoenix. The Suns are in an odd spot currently, but this will provide Fleming the room to continue his development.

Ryan Kalkbrenner

2.04 to Charlotte Hornets

Simply put, a lack of mobility for Kalkbrenner is the reason he wasn’t a 1st Round Pick. That’s putting it politely. At times, Kalkbrenner looks like he’s playing in snow boots that are twice his size. All that being said, Ryan Kalkbrenner is an elite rim protector and efficient scorer around the basket. At Creighton, he won the Big East DPOY 4 times and 2.4+ blocker per game in 4 straight seasons. On the offensive end, he is terrific in the pick and roll and shot 65.8% from the field throughout his college career. As he developed as a player, he proved capable of making shots from beyond the arc. While nobody will mistake him for Steph Curry, defenses have to respect Kalkbrenner in pick and pop or trail threes. The fit here with the Hornets is pretty solid as the Creighton star could see immediate minutes. Charlotte traded Mark Williams on draft night, so there are minutes available at the position. What Kalkbrenner lacks in mobility, he makes up for with experience. He’ll look to make an immediate impact on the defensive end for a Charlotte team that could really use a boost on that end of the court.

Chaz Lanier

2.07 to Detroit Pistons

Lanier is a straight up sniper from deep. During his only season at Tennessee, he shot 39.5% from three on over 8 attempts per game. The combination of efficiency and volume is how you know Lanier is a pure shooter. Crazy enough, the 39.5% clip from deep was actually below his career average of 40.2% from beyond the arc. After starting his career at North Florida, he made his way to Tennessee and averaged 18 point per game in a historically deep SEC. In Knoxville, Lanier showcased the ability to be more than just a spot up shooter. He excels coming off screens and hitting shots on the move. The reasons why Lanier is available in the 2nd round are his age, he’s played 5 seasons of college basketball, and lack of contribution outside of scoring. The Tennessee star does not provide much in terms of rebounding, defense, or playmaking. The major question for Lanier is, how does he contribute to the cause when his shot isn’t falling? On the bright side, he will not be asked to do much other than knock down perimeter shots in Detroit. The Pistons are looking for knockdown shooters to put around Cade Cunningham. Especially after losing Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley this offseason. The hole on the roster was clear and Lanier can fill that void perfectly for an emerging Piston’s team.

Kam Jones

2.08 to Indiana Pacers

Watching Kam Jones at Marquette over the past few seasons has been an absolute delight. The growth from heat check scorer to lead playmaking guard was unexpected. Looking at the rosters of successful teams in the playoffs, they all have prolific scorers that come in off the bench. That is exactly the role Jones will look to bring to the NBA. There is a chance he becomes a starter, but in all likelihood he’ll be providing that ever sought after spark off the bench. Every time you saw Jones play, he was jumping off the screen with his scoring ability. Kam doesn’t provide much defensively, so improving upon his 31.1% clip from three this past season will be a must. Considering he shot 40% on more attempts in 2024, I’m not too concerned there. Marquette used Jones more in a facilitator role after Tyler Kolek graduated. While I like him more as a microwave type scorer, he doubled his assists (2.4 to 5.9) as his usage increased. Adding the ability to operate with or without the ball. The Pacers are loaded with players that can both create and score. So Jones will fit right in with the fast style Indiana has implemented in recent years.

Maxime Raynaud

2.12 to Sacramento Kings

Coming out of Stanford, many people expected Maxime Raynaud to be a First Round selection. Him falling towards the middle of Round 2 is a stroke of luck for the Kings. During his Senior season at Stanford, Raynaud averaged 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds. The 7-footer is a double double machine and is a force offensively inside the paint. What separates the former Stanford star from the typical big man is his ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim. Offensively, Raynaud is incredibly versatile boasting solid range and an elite handle for a big man. On that end of the court he is everything you’d want in a modern big man. The question for Raynaud arises on the defensive end of the court. He does not possess elite athleticism or have the presence expected of someone his size in the paint. His athleticism and defense could be a struggle at times. As he adjusts to the speed of the game, he’ll start learning to position himself in ways that hide his lack of athleticism. In the meantime, look for Maxime to make an immediate impact on offense and surprise NBA defenses with the bag he possesses.

Tyrese Proctor

2.19 to Cleveland Cavaliers

Proctor is a player that fell to the 2nd Round due to his slender frame. At Duke, he didn’t play with the physicality that will be required at the NBA level. With the areas for improvement out of the way, there’s one thing that Proctor truly excels at. That skill is shooting the basketball. Proctor shot 40% from three on 5 attempts per game during is final season at Duke. As we all know based on the way the game is evolving, NBA teams are always looking for more 3 point shooters. Shooting is his most notable skill but Proctor is also a willing defender and capable ball handler. Each year at Duke, he showed consistent improvement in all aspects of his game. At times Proctor flew under the radar at Duke due to some bigger name players during his tenure as a Blue Devil. Last season, he was playing a supporting role to Duke’s 3 Freshman stars but came up huge during their run to the Final Four. After losing Ty Jerome in free agency, the Cavaliers are looking for scorers to come off the bench. Cleveland found great value in Round 2 in someone that could develop into a crucial rotation player for the Cavs.

The same goes for this list as every draft list that I create, don’t roast me too hard in 4/5 years. The biggest thing I urge everyone with this is to be patient. The NBA is filled with late first round and second round picks or guys that took a few years to find their NBA niche. Just look at the NBA Finals this year. Players like Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and TJ McConnell were all 2nd round picks, undrafted, or delayed in their development. On the other hand, there are players that will make an immediate impact. And that my friends is the beauty of the NBA Draft. It is unpredictable and makes us all look goofy. To all those couch potato general managers out there, this draft humbles everyone. With that being said, I’m excited to see the careers for the 12 players I listed above progress.