Walter Clayton Jr. hoists the NCAA championship trophy. His NBA draft stock has risen … More
NCAA Photos via Getty ImagesThe 2025 NBA Draft will be held June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y, where latest group of potential stars will be anointed.
Dallas has the No. 1 choice in the first round June 25, with the second round scheduled the following day. There have been only two rounds in the draft since 1989.
The Mavericks are considered a lock to take Duke forward Cooper Flagg with the first pick after winning May 12 draft lottery despite having only a 1.8 percent chance, the 11th-best odds in the 14-team lottery.
The intrigue in this draft, which is not considered particularly deep because of the rise of NIL money on campus, begins after the first two picks — Flagg and Rutgers freshman guard Dylan Harper, who is widely expected to be taken second by the San Antonio Spurs.
Rutgers forward Ace Bailey and Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. are among those who have seen their stock fluctuate recently.
It would not be a surprise to see Bailey go the Philadelphia at No. 3. Nor would it be a surprise to see Brooklyn to move up in the draft – it has four picks, beginning at No. 8 – to select Bailey.
2025 NBA Mock Draft
Round One
1. Dallas — F Cooper Flagg
2. San Antonio — G Dylan Harper
3. Philadelphia — G V. J. Edgecombe
4. Charlotte — F Ace Bailey
5. Utah — F Kon Knueppel
6. Washington — G Tre Johnson
7. New Orleans — G Jeremiah Fears
8. Brooklyn — C Khaman Malouch
9. Toronto — G Egor Demin
10. Houston (from Phoenix via Brooklyn) — F Carter Bryant
11. Portland — G Kasparov Jakucionis
12. Chicago — C Derik Queen
13. Atlanta (from Sacramento) — C Joan Beringer
14. San Antonio (from Atlanta) — F Noa Essengue
15. Oklahoma City (from Miami via Clippers) — F Collin Murray-Boyles
16. Memphis (from Orlando) — G Jace Richardson
17. Minnesota (from Detroit via New York, Oklahoma City and Houston) — G Walter Clayton Jr.
18. Washington (from Memphis) — F Cedric Coward
19. Brooklyn (from Milwaukee via New York, Detroit, Portland and New Orleans) — F Asa Newell
20. Miami (from Golden State) — G Nique Clifford
21. Utah (from Minnesota) — G Will Riley
22. Atlanta (from Lakers via New Orleans) — C Thomas Sorber
23. New Orleans (from Indiana) — F Rasheer Fleming
24. Oklahoma City (from the Clippers) — F Danny Wolf
25. Orlando (from Denver) — F Liam McNeely
26. Brooklyn (from New York) — F Noah Penda
27. Brooklyn (from Houston) — F Drake Powell
28. Boston — C Ryan Kalkbrenner
29. Phoenix (from Cleveland via Utah) — F Maxime Raynaud
30. LA Clippers (from Oklahoma City) — G Nolan Traore
Nine teams do not have a first-round pick, all 2025 playoff teams – Denver, Golden State, Indiana, the Los Angeles Lakers, New York, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee and Sacramento.
Brooklyn has four picks — No. 8, 19, 26 and 27. The Phoenix Suns are fielding offers for forward Kevin Durant, and a trade could change the order.
Ace Bailey Loses Inches And Support
As recently as a month ago, Bailey (first name Airious) was expected to be the No. 2 pick after averaging 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in his one season at Rutgers.
But after being listed at 6-10 by the Scarlet Knights, Bailey was measured at 6-7 1-2 without shoes at the NBA Scouting Combine, creating an issue around his positional fit. That makes him 6-9 in shoes, which is not a particularly glaring difference.
Teams also appear concerned that Bailey declined to work out prior to the draft. He canceled a work out scheduled at the Philadelphia, which picks third, leading some to speculate that he prefers a landing spot in the 4-5-6-7 range.
Walter Clayton Jr. Remains A Late NBA Draft Riser
Clayton, who led Florida to the 2025 NCAA title, has gone from late first-rounder to possible lottery selection — top 14 — in recent weeks, and he was a late invitee to the draft’s “green room,” where the players who are considered likely to be picked early gather.
He is a smallish 6-2, but his transition to lead guard this season after spending most the of the three previous years off the ball opened scouts’ eyes. Throw in his “clutch” gene, and there is a lot to like.
Clayton had 30 points against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight, leading Florida back from a nine-point deficit in the final three minutes, and followed that with 34 points in a comeback victory over Auburn in the national semifinal.
He averaged 22.3 points in the NCAA tournament and was the first player since Larry Bird in 1979 to have consecutive 30-point games in the Elite Eight and Final Four.
“He’s had the best six weeks of any player in the country,” one NBA scout told CBS Sports, “and has taken himself from a late second round pick to a no-brainer first round pick.”
As the Indiana Pacers have proven this season, especially, ball-handling guards with quickness and the ability to score are always welcome.
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