ESPN's first 2025 NBA Mock Draft sparks stay-or-go speculation

We’re four months away from the 2024 NBA Draft, which means the stay-or-go conversations are just around the corner. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony is getting a head start.

Givony released his first 2025 NBA Mock Draft this morning and it includes three Kentucky Wildcats: Adou Thiero (No. 27), Zvonimir Ivisic (No. 40), and Aaron Bradshaw (No. 44). Givony notes that he considered any eligible 2025 prospect not included in his latest 2024 mock draft. For Kentucky, that’s five players:

• Rob Dillingham (No. 3)
• Reed Sheppard (No. 12)
• DJ Wagner (No. 27)
• Ugonna Onyenso (No. 38)
• Justin Edwards (No. 51)

Of that group, Givony includes Sheppard and Wagner among his list of players he believes will have decisions to make based on the feedback they receive in the draft process. Presumably for Reed, that’s whether or not he’ll go in the lottery and how that money compares to the potential NIL earnings of a sophomore season in Lexington. For Wagner, it’s whether or not a team will take him in the first round.

After his thrilling debut vs. Georgia, Big Z soared on draft boards, coming in as high as No. 9 in Krysten Peek’s 2024 mock. As his minutes dipped, his stock did too, but if he keeps playing like he did Saturday vs. Alabama, he may get drafted this year after all. Ivisic had a career-high 18 points (7-11 FG), 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks in the 117-95 victory over the Crimson Tide. After playing just four minutes vs. LSU and Auburn, he played a career-high 20 vs. Alabama. Ivisic’s defense (like Kentucky’s) is a work in progress, but the lineup of him, Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham, Antonio Reeves, and Justin Edwards was staggeringly good on Saturday, scoring 28 points in just six minutes.

What happens when Tre Mitchell returns to the lineup remains to be seen, but Big Z once again flashed brilliance and likely moved further past Bradshaw in the frontcourt rotation with his performance on Saturday. Bradshaw, also considered a 2024 first-round pick earlier this season, has only played 16 minutes in the last three games, totaling two points, two rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in that stretch.

It’s too early to think about a Sophomore Big Z or Bradshaw, but how about projected first-round pick Adou Thiero? Love to see it.