NBA mock draft: What happens after the Wizards capture the Flagg?

As the All-Star break is upon us, fans have some time to take a look at players who might one day make it to the All-Star game. The second half of the NBA season will be filled with conversation about struggling teams, and what they need to do to secure a prime draft slot. Once thing is for certain; there’s a ton of talent to be had in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Unlike last year, there’s not much of a question as to who will go number one. Cooper Flagg has been talked about as the unquestioned top player, but there are a lot of impactful prospects to look at besides the Duke star. Like last year, there’s a good chance we’ll spend a lot of time talking about a French player who could make a big difference in the NBA.

The Heat have completely reset their team now that the Jimmy Butler saga is over. One thing has been abundantly clear for a few years now; they need a point guard of the future. Fland seems like a Heat culture type of player. CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone calls Fland a two-way threat, and said, “watching him pressure the ball on defense is a sight to behold.”

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Atlanta has plummeted in the standings after Jalen Johnson’s season-ending shoulder injury, but they’ll have to hope Sacramento experiences the same type of pain to improve the odds on this pick. The Hawks have intriguing players across the roster, but might look to beef up their frontline as Clint Capela’s days as a set it and forget center appear to be behind us. Newell is a local product who could help in that area.

Traore may keep the French draft streak alive, as he’s definitely in play as a lottery pick. The Rockets have an embarrassment of riches, and could add to their impressive team by snagging Traore. Houston already has a bunch of scoring options on their team, and Traore can be a strong facilitator. Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman believes Traore has “unteachable passing skills.”

It seems like the Dejounte Murray trade happened decades ago, but the Spurs are still reaping the benefits from that move. San Antonio has their backcourt of the future set with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, and they’re also set at center with Victor Wembanyama. They should attack the forward position hard during the draft, and Knueppel would work well here. He’s not a great defender, but CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein has talked up his offensive skill set.

The Spurs would be wise to double down on the wings here, and taking McNeeley here would be a wise selection. NBA Draft Net’s Evan Tomes talked about McNeeley’s good feel for the game, which slots him in as a strong complementary piece. Tomes wrote, “he doesn’t try to do too much and plays within himself.”

While it likely won’t translate into a play-in spot, the Trail Blazers have shown some encouraging improvement this season. They might have a similar draft strategy as San Antonio, as they look to fill in the off-guard and wing spots on their team. NBA Draft Room likens Demin to a “twitchy Josh Giddey,” who can provide play making ability with good size at 6’9”.

All the dots connect Jakucionis to the Bulls. Chicago’s Lithuanian general manager Arturas Karnisovas drafted Lithuanian prospect Matas Buzelis last year, and he might bring in another countryman this year. To make things even easier, Jakucionis plays his college basketball at Illinois, so the Bulls don’t even have to leave the state to scout him. He profiles as a strong offensive lead guard at the next level.

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The Thunder are pretty set from a roster construction standpoint, so they have the luxury of going in virtually any direction during the draft. CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone calls Johnson a “certified flamethrower” who can score outside, inside, and in the mid-range. Oklahoma City could use Johnson as a spark plug off the bench down the line.

After a strong start to the season, the Nets have reverted back to where many believed they would be in the standings. That’s good for them, as they need to come away with a blue chip prospect in this draft. Edgecombe could be their man, as CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein writes that his “athleticism, competitiveness and defensive upside are undeniable.” Brooklyn has to shoot for the moon here.

Many might not agree with the strategy Masai Ujiri has deployed with regard to who he’s committing money to, but Toronto is pretty set at their wing spots. Jakob Poeltl is a solid center, but they could use an upgrade at the five spot. Sorber’s offense needs a lot of work, but he has a disruptive defense profile, as Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report notes. He compares him to Onyeka Okongwu of the Hawks.

The Mark Williams debacle is going to linger over the Hornets for the rest of the season. Even if his physical wasn’t as bad as the Lakers claimed it to be, it seems reasonable for Charlotte to worry about his long-term durability. They could draft an insurance policy by taking Maluach, who, like Williams, also played at Duke. NBA Draft Room believes he’s the type of impact athlete who could flourish once his skills develop.

It feels like the Jazz are doing everything they can do to position themselves at the top of the draft, but it’s unclear as to what they’re looking for. Even though Rutgers hasn’t had a great year as a team, Harper has led all freshman in scoring, as Kyle Boone of CBS Sports notes. His fit next to Keyonte George might be questionable, but Utah might prioritize upside over position at this point.

After Flagg, it feels like Bailey is the consolation prize in this draft. That might not be a bad thing. He’s a 6’10 player who has special shot-making ability, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report. New Orleans is a hard team to figure from a directional standpoint, but they don’t have much of a choice than to take the best player available.

Flagg is the transformative player many franchises have their eye on. He turned heads against Team USA during an Olympic scrimmage last summer, and continues to impress at Duke. Kyle Boone of CBS Sports calls him the “clear-cut best defensive prospect in his class,” and his offensive game is just as tantalizing.

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