These are our predictions for each team with a lottery pick in the NBA draft:
1. Dallas Mavericks – Cooper Flagg, Duke
The entire city of Dallas is begging Nico Harrison not to trade this pick. Arguably the best freshman basketball player in Duke history, Flagg fits the Mavericks’ new “defense wins championships” mantra perfectly. Last season, he averaged 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Not to mention, Flagg has the potential to become a premier scorer at the NBA level. He was not afraid to drive to the basket against Team USA in Las Vegas, and he hit four three pointers as part of a 42-point outing against Notre Dame in January.
2. San Antonio Spurs – Dylan Harper, Rutgers
This pick may not stay in San Antonio. Nevertheless, it looks to be a lock that Harper will be the second player taken off the board. He is shifty going to the basket, has great mechanics for his lefty jumper, and can play make at a high level. I would not be worried about Harper’s fit on the Spurs, as his multi-faceted skillset will allow him to play alongside Fox and Castle. At 6’6, he can play any guard position, and he got two or more steals in a third of the college basketball games that he played. If the second pick is moved to Milwaukee as part of a Giannis trade, the Bucks will have gotten a great player to center a rebuild around.
3. Philadelphia 76ers – Ace Bailey, Rutgers
Bailey is considered to still be a decently raw prospect. Regardless, the 76ers should not pass on him with the 3rd pick. He fits their current roster perfectly, which lacks forward depth. Also, it is still not clear how the 76ers will decide to move forward. If Embiid does not prove to stay healthy in the coming years, the team may decide to spend a little bit of time rebuilding. Who better to be a core part of a new-look 76ers than a 6’10 athletic forward who can stretch the floor and bring the ball up the court.
4. Charlotte Hornets – VJ Edgecomb, Baylor
Most Hornets fans are reasonably upset that their team did not receive a top three pick. However, Edgecomb is a phenomenal fit alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in the backcourt. He brings much needed energy on the defensive side of the ball and will have no problem playing the fastbreak on a team that can certainly play with pace. If Edgecomb reaches his ceiling, the Hornets could have a Jaylen Brown-level player on their hands.
5. Utah Jazz – Tre Johnson, Texas
Johnson showcased in his freshman year at Texas that he can be a great scorer in the NBA. He averaged 20 points per game while shooting essentially 40% from behind the arc. The idea of the Jazz selecting a point guard such as Kasparas Jakucionas or Jeremiah Fears has gained traction, but the team already has a surplus of players at the point guard position. Former rookie Isaiah Coller has a lot of potential as a playmaker and there is no doubt that Keyonte George can score the ball. Johnson could come in provide a much-needed boost on offense at the SG or SF position for head coach Will Hardy.
6. Washington Wizards – Kasparas Jakucionas, Illinois
It is unclear whether Jordan Poole will be a part of the Wizards long-term vision. Even if he is, the team would benefit from adding a playmaker to its roster. At 6’6, Jakucionas is somebody who could quickly become a 15/5/5 player at the NBA level. He can distribute the ball to Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, and even Corey Kispert: players who have proven to have offensive upside. While Jeremiah Fears would be a good option for Washington as a scorer, Jakucionas could help organize the many moving parts on this team.
7. New Orleans Pelicans – Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
The Pelicans need to draft a player who is a certified bucket-getter. With and without Zion Williamson on the floor, the team scored below the league average of points per game. Fears’ offensive ability would complement the Pelicans’ elite defenders, including Herb Jones and Jose Alvarado. In addition, Dejounte Murray is set to miss the majority of the 2025-2026 season with a ruptured achilles tendon. New Orleans could use somebody in October to take some of the pressure off CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy, and Zion.
8. Brooklyn Nets – Derik Queen, Maryland
It is fully expected that Cam Johnson and Nicolas Claxton will not be on the Nets for much longer. Therefore, Brooklyn should value drafting a big man to join a core that is largely undefined right now outside of SG Cam Thomas. Queen has the potential to become a good three-point shooter in the NBA, and he already has great touch at the rim. He also is in many ways a point-center with the way that he can dribble the ball in a full court setting. Brooklyn needs to draft a dynamic player with a high ceiling, and Derik Queen falls under that category.
9. Toronto Raptors – Khaman Maluach, Duke
This is a no-brainer pick if Maluach is available with the 9th overall pick. The Raptors have a bright future with a strong group of guards/forwards: Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Gradey Dick, and Jamal Shead. The team’s one question mark is at the center position because Jakob Poeltl will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Raptors do not need Maluach to become a star right away, which is perfect since he only started playing basketball a few years ago. But if the 7’2, 250-pound center does turn into a viable scorer and All-NBA defender, Toronto will not be as far away from contention as one might think.
10. Houston Rockets – Kon Knueppel, Duke
The first round of the playoffs this year underscored how the Rockets need more shooting across the board. It just so happens that Kneuppel shot 48% from the field, 41% from three, and 91% from the free throw line last year at Duke. Houston needs a player who does not need a significant amount of time to develop, and who could play meaningful minutes if a close game. The NBA-ready Kneuppel checks both of those boxes. If the 10th pick is traded to Milwaukee or Phoenix as part of a Giannis or KD trade, it is likely that a player with more overall upside will be selected. Nevertheless, there is not a single team that would not benefit from Kneuppel’s impressive skillset.
11. Portland Trailblazers – Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina
Murray-Boyles has the potential to become the best defensive player in this draft class. At South Carolina last year, he averaged over two “stocks” (steals + blocks) per game. Portland is likely to trade or not resign Jerami Grant since their timelines do not align. The vacancy that he leaves could seamlessly be filled in by Murray-Boyles, who is a 6’7, 245-pound forward. Not to mention, he would not take any touches away from the Trailblazers’ current players who have showed their prowess on the offensive side of the ball: Deni Avdija, Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson. Next to former rookie center Donovan Clingan, the Trailblazers could be a surprise team to watch in the Western Conference over the next one-to-two years.
12. Chicago Bulls – Carter Bryant, Arizona
Chicago was a very fun team to watch after the All-Star Break in the 2024-2025 season. Coby White and Josh Giddey are fantastic offensive players, yet the team lacked help on defense. Bryant has the potential to become a good jump shooter and playmaker, but he is already a versatile defender. He can play fast alongside Giddey, but then help Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams limit opposing teams looks on offense. Bryant to the Bulls has become heavily mocked, and for good reason. He is a good fit on a team that for the first time in several years left fans feeling optimistic in April.
13. Atlanta Hawks – Asa Newell, Georgia
Newell is the perfect player to add to the Hawks’ young core with the 13th overall pick. He is another athletic forward to complement rising star Jalen Johnson and last year’s number one overall pick Zaccharie Risacher. Newell can also switch onto centers on defense, which could be important for the Hawks as they will most likely lose Clint Capela this offseason in free agency. If Sam Presti of the OKC Thunder has taught rival NBA general managers anything, it is that a team can never have too much depth or versatility. Asa Newell would have no problem finding his role on offense and defense in Atlanta, where he can thrive next to the 2024-2025 assist leader, Trae Young.
14. San Antonio Spurs – Thomas Sorber, Georgetown
Assuming the Spurs keep the 14th overall pick, Sorber is a player who general manager Brian Wright could have his eye on. San Antonio has exceptional guard depth, but lacks many power forward/center options outside of Victor Wembanyama. If Sorber can play 15-20 minutes per game, his shot-contesting and blocking ability will allow Wemby to rest without the team falling apart on the defensive side of the ball. NBA fans saw this postseason how the Denver Nuggets desperately needed somebody to play the five when Jokic took his two-minute breathers. At 6’10, 225-pounds, Sorber’s offensive skillset is centered around his paint scoring and rebounding. Nevertheless, the mechanics for his jump shot are not broken, meaning that he may be able to develop a three pointer when he reaches the NBA.
