2025 NBA Draft: ESPN releases new mock with notable shakeup in top-five

The 2025 NBA Draft is just over a week away with teams set to be on the clock in the first round on June 25th. That has experts and analysts releasing some of their final mocks for this class, including the latest one this morning from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo.

Givony and Woo released a new, fully complete mock on Tuesday. It “reflects a thorough evaluation of the class and considers intel from scouts and front office personnel” eight days out with the combine, withdrawal deadline, and several workouts and visits now completed by the prospects with all the franchises around the association.

Here’s the updated mock as posted by Givony and Woo ahead of the start of 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday next week:

1. Dallas Mavericks: F Cooper Flagg – Duke Blue Devils

As we all know, there’s “no suspense to be found” as to what Dallas is going to do with the No. 1 overall pick. They’ll be selecting Flagg, the reigning National Player of the Year coming off his freshman season with the Blue Devils where he averaged 19.2 points (48.1% FG, 38.5% 3PT on 1.4 makes), 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks and led them to the Final Four.

Per Woo, Flagg will be taking a visit with the Mavericks today. That’s with him about to be the top selection in the draft “with not only a versatile skill set, but the requisite mental makeup to succeed” in the NBA.

2. San Antonio Spurs: G Dylan Harper – Rutgers Scarlet Knights

At No. 2, San Antonio will be in position to draft Harper, who, according to Givony, is “consider(ed) to be in a tier of his own as the draft’s clear-cut second-best prospect” by talent evaluators. That’s with him posting 19.4 points (48.4% FG, 33.3% 3PT on 1.7 makes), 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals in his lone year as a freshman in Piscataway.

With trade rumors out there around the league, the Spurs are reportedly involved in some of those possibilities. However, teams “have come away with the impression it’s unlikely they move down or off the pick” with Givony noting it’s “difficult to envision the Spurs passing on the opportunity” to pick Harper.

3. Philadelphia 76ers: SG VJ Edgecombe – Baylor Bears

A change in this mock now has Edgecombe going No. 3 overall to Philly. That’s coming off “a positive visit to Philadelphia” with “a strong impression in a private workout as well as in meetings” on the 76ers, according to Givony.

Edgecombe, who put up 15 points (43.6% FG, 34% 3PT), 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per game in Waco, projects as a fit here considering the talent and scoring that would be around him, allowing him to develop his own scoring, playmaking, and defense at the next level. At this point, though, Edgecombe is a consensus top pick anywhere from No. 3 to No. 6 writes Givony.

4. Charlotte Hornets: SG Kon Knueppel – Duke Blue Devils

Another shift up, with this one up into the top-five, is the one by Knueppel, who “has some real fans among NBA teams in this portion of the draft”. That’s the result of highly efficient play by him as a freshman in Durham, averaging 14.4 points (47.9% FG, 40.6% 3PT on 2.2 makes), 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals.

Because of that, Givony has Knueppel ranging anywhere in the top-ten from here at No. 4 to his previous positioning of him at No. 8. He also noted that other teams could target him in a move up as well because of his “plug-and-play skill set” with him “likely to bring value” on the contract for a rookie in the league.

5. Utah Jazz: SG Tre Johnson – Texas Longhorns

Utah, having slid from some of the best odds in the lottery with the worst record in the league last season to the fifth pick, will have to wait and see what comes to them in rounding out the first picks at No. 5. That has them in position to “simply swing on their preferred talent” at that point, writes Woo.

This is where they could see Tre Johnson, SEC Freshman of the Year and one of the highest-scoring players in the country with 19.9 points (42.7% FG, 39.7% on 2.7 makes) along with 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists, going. As Woo writes, his “excellent perimeter shooting and room to develop as an all-around scorer will make him enticing” for a team here like the Jazz

6. Washington Wizards: F Ace Bailey – Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Bailey, who averaged 17.6 points (46% FG, 34.6% 3PT), 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 blocks for the Scarlet Knights as well, is the biggest storyline at this point with this mock with him having reportedly not “conduct(ed) a single known workout to date, having declined invitations from several teams within his draft range” as his circle tries to best position him as they see fit, says Givony. With that, Bailey has slid from as high as third overall and out of the top-five to Washington now at No. 6.

Bailey does, per Givony, have a workout with Philadelphia scheduled for this week, which could get him back in projections where he has been previously at No. 3. Still, franchises are uncertain about him and how his process is presently playing out, leaving the door open for a slide somewhere in the top-ten.

7. New Orleans Pelicans: PG Jeremiah Fears – Oklahoma Sooners

Fears, who posted 17.1 points (43.4% FG, 28.4% 3PT on 1.1 makes), 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals as a freshman at OU, has continued to create “significant momentum” as teams are “thinking hard about his long-term upside”, writes Woo. That has him in projections anywhere from No. 5, like he was in this mock’s previous edition, to No. 8 or so.

That includes New Orleans here at No. 7 with this team still looking for “a starting-caliber lead guard”, which could be Fears. That said, the Pelicans could be just left choosing best player available with several of these other freshman guards and wings being mocked in some order from No. 3 to around No. 7 or No. 8.

8. Brooklyn Nets: C Khaman Maluach – Duke Blue Devils

The third of three projected Blue Devils in the top-ten, Maluach, who averaged 8.6 points (71.2% FG), 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while in Durham, has “showcase(d) the improvements he has made in his skill level and physique” while also being deemed healthy during his draft process, says Givony. That has him among the top options available at this point after what’s seen as “a clear drop-off” from that run of young guards and wings.

Brooklyn, finding themselves after that stretch, “can afford to be opportunistic” with who comes to them after all those selections with them at No. 8. Maluach, assuming he’s there at eight, could be that opportunity with his age, “significant room for growth both physically and skills-wise”, and “ability to anchor a defense” while also having some versatility in his offensive game.

9. Toronto Raptors: Noa Essengue – Germany

Essengue is the first foreign prospect off the board in this mock. He has moved into the top-ten, though, despite not working out with teams as he has yet to come overseas because of his season still being played for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany.

Toronto, if they make the pick at No. 9, has been linked to frontcourt options, with Essengue fitting that mold with a “blend of size, versatility, extreme youth and burgeoning production” writes Woo as a prospect expected to go somewhere in the top-fifteen. The Raptors, though, are another team that could possibly be part of a trade that could include this top-ten selection.

10. Houston Rockets (via Phoenix Suns): F Carter Bryant – Arizona Wildcats

Rounding out the top-ten, Bryant, who “has received strong reviews throughout the pre-draft process”, has moved up in this mock, with him also “likely to hear his name” anywhere through the top-fifteen writes Givony. That’s because of his pairing of size and versatility along with “plenty of room for growth” as well, after posting 6.5 points (46% FG, 37.1% 3PT on 1.1 makes), 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 0.9 steals for the Wildcats

However, again, Houston is not guaranteed to stay in this slot with rumors of them making a possible trade that could involve their pick at No. 10. That makes another team in the Rockets worth monitoring for potential deals ahead of the start of the draft next week.

11. Portland Trailblazers: PG Kasparas Jakucionis – Illinois Fighting Illini
12. Chicago Bulls: C Derik Queen – Maryland Terrapins
13. Atlanta Hawks (via Sacramento Kings): G Egor Demin – BYU Cougars
14. San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta Hawks): C Joan Beringer – France
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami Heat): PF Collin Murray-Boyles – South Carolina Gamecocks
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Orlando Magic): G Jase Richardson – Michigan State Spartans
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit Pistons): C Thomas Sorber – Georgetown Hoyas
18. Washington Wizards (via Memphis Grizzlies): PF Asa Newell – Georgia Bulldogs
19. Brooklyn Nets (via Milwaukee Bucks): F Will Riley – Illinois Fighting Illini
20. Miami Heat (via Golden State Warriors): F Liam McNeeley – Connecticut Huskies
21. Utah Jazz (via Minnesota Timberwolves): F Cedric Coward – Washington State/Duke
22. Atlanta Hawks (via Los Angeles Lakers): PF Danny Wolf – Michigan Wolverines
23. Indiana Pacers: SG Nique Clifford – Colorado State Rams
24. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Los Angeles Clippers): F Hugo Gonzalez – Spain
25. Orlando Magic (via Denver Nuggets): C Maxime Raynaud – Stanford Cardinal
26. Brooklyn Nets (via New York Knicks): PG Nolan Traore – France
27. Brooklyn Nets (via Houston Rockets): F Rasheer Flemming – Saint Joseph’s Hawks
28. Boston Celtics: F Drake Powell – North Carolina Tar Heels
29. Phoenix Suns (via Cleveland Cavaliers): G Walter Clayton Jr. – Florida Gators
30. Los Angeles Clippers (via Oklahoma City Thunder): F Noah Penda – France

Second Round:
31. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah Jazz): G Ben Saraf – Germany
32. Boston Celtics (via Washington Wizards): C Ryan Kalkbrenner – Creighton Bluejays
33. Charlotte Hornets: F Adou Thiero – Arkansas Razorbacks
34. Charlotte Hornets (via New Orleans Pelicans): C Yanic Konan Niederhauser – Penn State Nittany Lions
35. Philadelphia 76ers: C Hansen Yang – China
36. Brooklyn Nets: F Jamir Watkins – Florida State Seminoles
37. Detroit Pistons (via Toronto Raptors): F Alex Toohey – Australia
38. San Antonio Spurs: SG Chaz Lanier – Tennessee Volunteers
39. Toronto Raptors (via Portland Trailblazers): F Bogoljub Markovic – Serbia
40. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix Suns): C Johni Broome – Auburn Tigers
41. Golden State Warriors (via Miami Heat): C Rocco Zikarsky – Australia
42. Sacramento Kings (via Chicago Bulls): F John Tonje – Wisconsin Badgers
43. Utah Jazz (via Dallas Mavericks): G Tyrese Proctor – Duke Blue Devils
44. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Atlanta Hawks): F Eric Dixon – Villanova Wildcats
45. Chicago Bulls (via Sacramento Kings): G Sion James – Duke Blue Devils
46. Orlando Magic: G Kam Jones – Marquette Golden Eagles
47. Milwaukee Bucks (via Detroit Pistons): SG Koby Brea – Kentucky Wildcats
48. Memphis Grizzlies (via Golden State Warriors): G Javon Small – West Virginia Mountaineers
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Milwaukee Bucks): C Vladislav Goldin – Michigan Wolverines
50. New York Knicks (via Memphis Grizzlies): F Lachlan Olbrich – Austrailia
51. Los Angeles Clippers (via Minnesota Timberwolves): C Viktor Lakhin – Clemson Tigers
52. Phoenix Suns (via Denver Nuggets): G Kobe Sanders – Nevada Wolf Pack
53. Utah Jazz (via Los Angeles Clippers): G/F Dink Pate – NBA G-League
54. Indiana Pacers: F Micah Peavy – Georgetown Hoyas
55. Los Angeles Lakers: G Hunter Sallis – Wake Forest Demon Deacons
56. Memphis Grizzlies (via Houston Rockets): C Amari Williams – Kentucky Wildcats
57. Orlando Magic (via Boston Celtics): SG Alijah Martin – Florida Gators
58. Cleveland Cavaliers: PG Ryan Nembhard – Gonzaga Bulldogs
59. Houston Rockets (via Oklahoma City Thunder): G/F RJ Luis Jr. – St. John’s Red Storm