Dizzle Dynasty 2025 Mock Draft 1.0

Today, Brian and Zach discuss the 2025 NBA Draft and conduct their first mock draft of the new year to gauge what they might do with each pick.

Welcome to our first 2025 mock draft of the year! Today, Brian and Zach go through the current Tankathon order as of Tuesday, January 14th and make some early picks and predictions for each NBA team. For this mock draft, Brian will be selecting the odd-numbered picks as well as all Utah Jazz picks, and Zach will be selecting the even-numbered picks as well as all Cleveland Cavaliers picks.

Let’s rock!

Round 1

1. Washington Wizards: Cooper Flagg, Duke

Brian: Don’t overthink it. Cooper Flagg would come in as the best player on the team immediately and would further establish the defensive culture being built on the team. Flagg has been the best freshman in college basketball, he’s one of the youngest players in college basketball, and he’s getting better every game. The offense is improving and the defense is still elite. He’s a Naismith Player of the Year Candidate and the favorite to win it. He’s the real deal.

2. New Orleans Pelicans: Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Zach: No brainer of a pick here with Flagg gone. Despite a few bright spots, with rookie Yves Missi playing like a serious Rookie of the Year candidate, Trey Murphy having a career year, Dejounte Murray fitting in well, and the sudden emergence of Brandon Boston Jr., the Pelicans have been dreadful as a whole. They now sit at 9-32, and once again, the health of franchise player Zion Williamson is a massive concern. They’re also faced with deciding if Brandon Ingram is in their future before next month's trade deadline. The bottom line: New Orleans needs star power and something to build upon if Williamson is not their guy for this job, and Dylan Harper can answer the call immediately. Harper has been a superstar with Rutgers this year, leading all NCAA freshmen in points per game and has flashed nothing but star potential from the moment he stepped onto the court. In any other year without Cooper Flagg, Harper would be in play for Naismith Player of the Year. Harper has the exact combination of star-level skills you want for today’s game: the ability to create shots for himself and others, finishing at the rim, shooting, playmaking, ball handling, and just having that dawg in him as a lead player that makes everyone around him better. When you have that It Factor that pops all over the tape, don’t ignore it.

3. Charlotte Hornets: Ace Bailey, Rutgers

Brian: I hate this pick, but I don’t see another decent option. There might not be a team I want to see Ace at least, other than the Charlotte Hornets. Charles Lee has done a good job so far, but I could see Ace continuing bad habits in Charlotte. If he gets him to play the role of a catch and shoot guy, then I totally get it. If it works, it will really work but having Brandon Miller and Ace Bailey on the same team would be something to watch.

4. Toronto Raptors: Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois

Zach: As the best player on the board, Jakucionis is sure to fit in well in Toronto and mesh into HC Darko Rajakovic’s system. As perhaps the best pure playmaker and passer in this talented class, Jakucionis is crafty and fits a strong vision Toronto has built around Scottie Barnes, their franchise player and unique point forward. Jakucionis’ combination of shooting, playmaking and multi-level scoring is going to suit this future group so, so well.

5. Utah Jazz: Asa Newell, Georgia

Brian: Maybe this pick is a surprise to some people, but this draft class has a ton of PG’s. The Jazz don’t have anyone other than Lauri long-term on their roster. If Newell hits, he’s going to be a very valuable player and can easily be the center of the future for the Jazz. He can play with Walker, and there’s an opportunity for Newell to grow more as an offensive player at Utah. Newell has been producing at Georgia this season and the jump shot has been starting to go in. Newell could really start trending up quickly and given the lack of good big men in this draft, he could go as high as 3.

6. Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin, BYU

Zach: I was wondering if Brian would seek out the hometown connection here for Utah, but I really dig the Newell pick. Next up, Brooklyn will scoop up BYU’s Egor Demin as their guard of the future to pair with Cam Thomas. Demin is a crafty passer and has that intriguing jumbo playmaker appeal we love so much that, when it hits, it can be a straight up game-changer. After a hot start, Demin has exposed some new and familiar blemishes to his game that might scare some draft folks at the top. Personally, I’m still bought in on the upside and happy to take the chance here, and I think Brooklyn might be too. Demin needs time, especially with the shooting, and Brooklyn has nothing but that to invest in his development. I’m intrigued to see Cam Thomas work with his running mate of the future and someone not named Ben Simmons playing a pass-first role.

7. Portland Trail Blazers: Tre Johnson, Texas

Brian: Portland is in a situation where they need to be taking the best player available. I know they already have Shaedon Sharpe. I just think Tre Johnson is a better prospect at this point. Portland doesn’t have a reliable go-to guy at this point and Tre Johnson can be that. He has been struggling with efficiency recently, but considering that they're going against tougher teams and Texas doesn’t have another go-to guy, I’m not worried about it long-term.

8. Oklahoma City Thunder: Liam McNeely, UConn

Zach: Who’s ready for the extremely filthy rich to get even filthier and richer? We start things off for OKC with their first pick, Liam McNeely. Shooting is always in high demand in the NBA, and whether Sam Presti ends up trading for Cameron Johnson at the deadline or not, McNeely is a great option to bolster their rotation with more shooting. For my money, McNeely has one of the safest floors to bet on in this entire draft outside of Flagg, Harper, and Jakucionis, and I think he’s going to come in and immediately add strong value to the rotation. With the salary cap rising back up with finances looking interesting when it’s time to pay Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, having cost-controlled players like McNeely who can seriously contribute while they’re cheap for a few years and not force OKC to overpay for shooters could be a fantastic move down the road.

9. Chicago Bulls: Derik Queen, Maryland

Brian: I know Chicago fans probably don’t want another defensively challenged big man, but Derik Queen has a real shot to be something really good if he manages to get in even better shape. He’s dominated everywhere he’s gone, he can really pass it, and he has the potential to shoot it. He also has the potential to fit well with Matas Buzelis long-term and could help create a fun offense with his passing.

10. Golden State Warriors: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor

Zach: At cost, I think the Warriors are getting a steal in VJ Edgecombe. It is incredibly funny to peg another guard here, but I think this is a no-brainer if we’re talking BPA and when he’s out of the top 8. Edgecombe has had more than a few hit-or-miss performances this season that are sure to give some questions about his NBA potential, but I’m still sold on him being a lottery talent when you consider his top-tier athleticism, a great ability to finish through contact, good defense, a quickly improving handle, and his shooting being a work in progress. It may not be wise to take a young player (read: a guard and not adding size) who needs some work while Stephen Curry nears the end of his legendary career, but I think the best thing anyone can do is lean into the best talent possible.

11. Houston Rockets: Noa Essengue, Ratiopharm Ulm

Brian: Get the athletic wing that is playing despite being pretty raw. He’s one of the youngest players in the class, fits what Houston’s front office tends to like in general, and who knows what happens to Jabari Smith Jr and Tari Eason? I’ve thought that a good comparison for Essengue is Aaron Gordon and that’s an interesting idea here. He would play well off of Sengun if Noa ends up sticking around on the Rockets as they seem to be in a lot of trade rumors.

12. Sacramento Kings: Rasheer Fleming, St. Joe’s

Zach: I’m not gonna overthink this one for Sacramento’s needs if the plan is to keep the band together in the offseason. Make no mistake, Rasheer Fleming might be the first non-freshman/18-19-year-old off the board to this point, but that doesn’t mean his upside isn’t promising. Great shooting (44.2% off 4.5 3PT attempts per game), very efficient scoring and making his shots from all over (57.1% from the field and 67.3% of his 2s), great rebounding, and has exciting defensive instincts and metrics. Fleming will be a high-impact player from Day 1 and the Kings could really do with a guy like him.

13. San Antonio Spurs: Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma

Brian: It might be a surprise to some that Fears fell this far; I’m not that surprised considering that he’s not physically ready for the NBA, and he doesn’t have a tangible skill that suggests it’ll work in the short term. He’s fast, but that’s not enough. San Antonio won’t need him immediately and he can spend most of the season in the G League. If he gets stronger and is able to deal with NBA athletes, his rim pressure would fit well next to Wemby.

14. San Antonio Spurs: Kon Knueppel, Duke

Zach: We’re beating the San Antonio shooting allegations today. With two picks in a row, they close out the lottery with Kon Knueppel, one of the better shooters in this class. Knueppel has his fair amount of concerns with him not being much of an athlete and a pretty rough defender for his position, but teams will certainly buy into the shot creation (especially based on games like last night against Miami, where he shot 6-8 from distance) and some interesting secondary playmaking. I think he could be an interesting fit playing off Wemby, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Chris Paul.

15. Minnesota Timberwolves: Noah Penda, Le Mans

Brian: Noah Penda is rising quickly. He’s an extremely physical wing that isn’t afraid to impose his will on others. The defense is legit and will translate to the next level. The question is whether or not he can shoot, and this season he has shot it a lot better. He’ll be a role player for years if the shot continues to improve. I said in the last big board article that Penda has the potential to really jump up. Well, he has.

16. Oklahoma City Thunder: Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina

Zach: After adding some shooting with Liam McNeely earlier at 8, the Thunder decide to get frisky here and select South Carolina sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles. Murray-Boyles is one of the more bizarre players in this draft; functionally, he’s an undersized forward/tweener at 6’7” with a penchant to play a bully big-ish role and someone who can pass, rebound and out-muscle the heck out of players on the interior. He’s strong and long for his age. His physical style and all-around motor are something I always like in a player and it gives me some young Draymond Green vibes. Still, for all the potential he’s got, the shooting and mechanics are wildly inconsistent (and may not come to fruition at all), the offense needs fleshing out, the turnover problems are rough, and it’s gonna take someone serious about his development to figure out a role for him. I think OKC would happily jump on putting him in a low-pressure situation deep on their bench and in the G League early to develop, figure out if they can unlock the shooting with the world’s greatest shooting guru, Chip Engelland, and ultimately see if he can contribute in a nuanced role that will present some challenges.

17. Indiana Pacers: Thomas Sorber, Georgetown

Brian: I have been a Thomas Sorber skeptic, but he’s played well against good opponents, which was my main concern. He’s an analytics darling, he can move really well for a big man, and he can finish around the basket. Sorber would fit well with the Pacers and allow them to not worry about paying Isaiah Jackson this off-season amid his Achilles recovery. Sorber would have a defined role, which would be the right move for his development.

Note: Due to Brian having pick 17 and the Jazz picking at 18, Zach gave Brian pick 18 in exchange for Pick 19.

18. Utah Jazz: Ben Saraf, Ratiopharm Ulm

Brian: The Jazz don’t have a PG of the future, and there’s a ton of PG’s in this draft. So with this in mind, I took Newell early, and I can get my PG here in Ben Saraf. If he shoots, this will look like a massive steal. If not, there are real questions. However, I like his shiftiness and size for the Jazz and there’s a real chance he could start come opening night. Yes, he’s in a pretty big slump recently, but I’m confident he’ll turn it around. Slumps are normal and I’m not moving him down because of it. It’s possible that he’s the next Killian Hayes, but Saraf has been good in multiple settings and I think it will translate better than Hayes did.

19. Atlanta Hawks: Kam Jones, Marquette

Zach: I told Brian this at the time of our draft, but this was the only pick I felt the least confident about right after I made it through the top 20. Truth be told, I’m still not sure. Nonetheless, I’ll stand by my move and what Kam Jones could offer Atlanta if he can be the backup guard of the present and future. Jones has looked awesome as the leading man at Marquette this year. He’s been everything they’ve needed as a scorer, shooter, creator, and good defender in one package, and I think these are all things Atlanta could use off the bench. With our questions about Dyson Daniels finally being answered as a cornerstone guy, I still question if Kobe Bufkin will be any kind of guy here, and I think beginning to address that with a smart do-everything guy like Jones could make a big difference. This could especially matter if they do eventually move on from Bogdan Bogdanovic. Just to make a quick note for the record: I heavily considered Khaman Malauch here to end the freefall.

Note: Due to Brian having pick 17 and the Jazz picking at 18, Zach gave Brian pick 18 in exchange for Pick 19.

20. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jase Richardson, Michigan State

Zach: Plain and simple pitch: Jase Richardson is an OKC guy through and through. He can defend. He can pass and handle the ball. He can shoot. He’s a solid athlete. He’s capable in various roles and can play on low usage. He’s just good at basketball, folks! If they’re not fully trading picks this year, OKC will continue to stockpile good bets on rotation-plus level talent that can help them contend. If you’re keeping score, we’ve now seen OKC draft Liam McNeely (8th), Collin Murray-Boyles (16th), and Richardson.

21. Brooklyn Nets: Khaman Maluach, Duke

Brian: The Brooklyn Nets take a flier on a true talent in Khaman Maluach. He’s really raw, which is part of the reason he fell. He’s had good advanced numbers, but that’s because he’s dunking everything. There's very little creation apart from that. He’s a massive dude and has been improving his mobility. I’m interested to see how the season progresses. He should dominate in a bad ACC with no high-level big men. Maliq Brown is out for a bit, so this is Khaman’s chance to fully establish himself. He’d fit with Brooklyn in the sense that they have nobody. In this mock, they’ve drafted Egor Demin, who would be great for setting Khaman up. Who knows what the long-term plans are for Claxton and Sharpe. There will be minutes available for Khaman when he’s ready.

22. Orlando Magic: Boogie Fland, Arkansas

Zach: Before injuries forced him back into action, Cole Anthony has begun to get pushed out of the Magic’s rotation. The trade deadline may force his move and the search to find his replacement to get some strong 3-level scoring juice and defense off the bench. Fland can definitely offer that as someone who can easily play on and off the ball. At minimum, he’s another John Calipari guard, so you can always take a reasonable bet on that.

23. Dallas Mavericks: Miles Byrd, San Diego State

Brian: The NBA wants wings that are long, can defend multiple positions, and can hit 3’s. Miles Byrd checks all of the boxes for everything you want out of a modern wing. He’s playing at San Diego State and can put up video game numbers. Yes, it's a mid-major, but I don’t care. He’s played well against good competition. Now, he’s 175 pounds which will need to improve quite a bit. If he can, he’ll be a player worth 9 figures in time.

24. Orlando Magic: Alex Karaban, UConn

Zach: Brian sniped me there on Byrd. I’ll pivot to Alex Karaban, a steady upperclassman with an elite shooting stroke and a great feel for the game. The Magic have a similar glue guy in Tristan Da Silva who also isn’t a very impressive athlete, and with Karaban’s underwhelming athleticism, footwork, and defensive struggles in totality, this could offer some questions about Orlando’s frontcourt depth. Still, Karaban is an immediate contributor from Day 1 and helps fill a shooting gap that should fit well on a team with multiple offensive initiators. It’s also worth mentioning that Karaban was built under the fascism of Dan Hurley, so you can count on him knowing how to make himself useful for the good of his team.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Hugo Gonzalez, Real Madrid

Brian: This would be a draft and stash situation for Memphis and Hugo Gonzalez. They can bring him over in 2026-2027 if they want to and could be an interesting player off the bench for the Grizzlies. Hugo has played very limited minutes at this point but has looked good when he’s played for Madrid. He can handle the ball, shoot a little bit, just an all-around good player. Maybe there’s some potential for him to eventually be a starting 3, but I’m not super confident in that. He’ll at least be solid off the bench.

26. Brooklyn Nets: Ian Jackson, UNC

Zach: The Nets are back on the board and aiming for the best player available. This is a perfect spot for UNC’s Ian Jackson, a big riser through his recent performances. Jackson is an athletic freak who can knock down shots, get downhill like a madman in transition, and defend with real tenacity you don’t often see in young players with this skillset. The biggest question will be how Brooklyn can iron him out with what he’s shown as being a score-first 6 '4”-6' 5” SG in the same offense as Cam Thomas. Either way, Brooklyn has all the time in the world to figure that out. It’s all about maximizing the high potential.

27. Brooklyn Nets: Kanon Catchings, BYU

Brian: Look, I know the numbers aren’t pretty, but every time I watch Kanon Catchings, I see a dude that has the potential to be a monster. I keep coming back to a potential Derrick Jones Jr. with a 3PT shot. There isn’t self-creation there, but he’s super athletic, can really move defensively, and he’s 6’9” and has a frame that can add some muscle. Now, he’s super still raw and there’s a real chance he doesn’t come out this year and honestly, I hope he doesn’t, but I keep coming away super intrigued. (I know this is a bit off-topic, but I feel the same way about Carter Bryant and he doesn’t get taken in this mock, but I could say similar things and the fit with Brooklyn makes sense.)

28. Boston Celtics: Johni Broome, Auburn

Zach: Boston is in the business of finding cost-controlled pieces that can help them both play now and inject some relative youth into their rotation over time. They did it last year with Baylor Scheierman, and this year, I think the plan is to do the same thing with a big. Al Horford turns 39 this summer and is in the final year of his deal, Luke Kornet is in the final year of his deal, and Neemias Queta has a non-guaranteed deal. If all three of them leave, retire, or are waived, Boston will only have Kristaps Porzingis and Xavier Tillman locked up. With Johni Broome, the Celtics get a guy in serious competition for National Player of the Year who can do it all at 6’11”: defend, pass, shoot, rebound, stretch the floor, and score efficiently. Broome could be a great fit playing off the bench, and while he certainly doesn’t have star upside, he’s a real floor raiser with a super high basketball IQ and feel for the game that will keep him in the league for a long time.

29. Los Angeles Clippers: JT Toppin, Texas Tech

Zach: Back-to-back bigs here, and the Clippers end up with Toppin after the Celtics swipe Broome. Toppin doesn’t have one of the sexiest play styles out there, but he can do the dirty work well. He’s been very productive with Texas Tech after a breakout campaign in New Mexico and looked better this season, with soft touch around the rim and a great feel for his position as a roll man. He’s a little undersized for a big at 6’9”, but I always think he plays well above his size with his 7’2” wingspan. His 3 ball will certainly intrigue teams after hitting just a few this season and one against Iowa State last week. He’ll be a good fit as a backup to Ivica Zubac and a big step up defensively from Mo Bamba.

Note: due to the Jazz pick at 30, Brian and Zach swapped picks 29 and 30.

30. Utah Jazz: Tucker DeVries, West Virginia

Brian: Tucker DeVries is one of my favorite players in this draft and I may be higher on him than consensus, but I don’t care. Tucker is shooting 47% from 3 this season and the shots he’s attempting aren’t easy. A lot of these shots are coming off of screens and coming from off ball opportunities. The Jazz have some interesting pieces, and I think Tucker could come in and immediately be one of the best shooters on the team. It’s not like Cody Williams or Brice Sensabaugh have been amazing. I’m not saying Tucker is better than they are long-term, but Tucker is better than Cody Williams today. I know that much. I think there’s a long-term NBA role player here in DeVries.

Note: due to the Jazz pick at 30, Brian and Zach swapped picks 29 and 30.

Round 2

31. Boston Celtics: Nolan Traore, Saint Quentin

Brian: This is a draft and stash pick for the Boston Celtics. They are going to need good players on cheap contracts. If the shot develops, Traore could come over and be the backup PG for the Celtics and possibly a starter at some point considering that Jrue Holiday and Derrick White aren’t the pictures of NBA youth, while Payton Pritchard might be a causality of the new CBA if the Celtics may be forced to trade him.

32. Charlotte Hornets: Dink Pate, Mexico City Capitanes (G League)

Zach: In my opinion, Dink Pate has easy mid/late-1st round level upside if he manages to hit. Pate came into the G League Ignite as a 17-year-old and the youngest player to make their professional sports debut in United States history. With the Ignite folding, Pate went to the Mexico City Capitanes and is really showing a lot of incredible flashes, especially with his shooting improving. It’s not hard to understand the appeal of an ultra-athletic, wing-sized playmaker and shotmaker. We have some recent examples (Dalen Terry) who will scare folks off, but I’m all in on his upside if he can hit with this archetype. I think Charlotte and GM Jeff Peterson is building a better action plan for development that goes against what Steve Clifford has done, and I believe Pate will be a sick running mate with LaMelo Ball and a core Charlotte player if given enough time and opportunity.

33. Charlotte Hornets: Nique Clifford, Colorado State

Brian: If Nique Clifford shoots the basketball, he’s a very valuable player. Nique can really defend, rebound, be athletic, and do what typical off-ball wing defenders do in the NBA. Charlotte should be interested in this, as Cody Martin isn’t exactly young, Josh Okogie won’t be there long, Josh Green isn’t that good, and there’s a chance Clifford is good. Charles Lee will like him for his intelligence and defense.

34. Detroit Pistons: Danny Wolf, Michigan

Zach: The big man situation needs to change in Detroit. Jalen Duren has struggled mightily this season, and between his lousy motor and effort, his relatively newer turnover problem, and his long-documented defensive struggles, it may be time to move on. The question remains about who stays with the team. Does Duren get traded in a move for another better-suited big player so Detroit doesn’t need to stress overpaying him? Does Isaiah Stewart go during a down year? Either way, I opted to take the best player/big man on the board in Danny Wolf, the unique 7-foot shooter who can handle the ball quite well. He, like Duren, also has defensive concerns, but I don’t think it can get much worse here, right?

35. Minnesota Timberwolves: Alex Toohey, Sydney (NBL)

Brian: This is another draft and stash here. I think this would be for a year and then he’d come over, but when he does, I think Toohey will be a valuable role player for this team. They need shooters, and Toohey has the potential to provide that. He’s good off the ball, provides good defense, and provides what the Timberwolves need. I’ve been high on Toohey, so it’s possible that I am still too high on him. I still think he’s a guy I’m really interested in going forward.

36. Brooklyn Nets: LaBaron Philon, Alabama

Zach: Strictly going off BPA here, Philon is an easy pick to develop in Brooklyn. He offers a nice balance to their bench as a good defender and playmaker. In theory, Philon has tons of potential to go a lot higher, but he’s had some recent games that have exposed some critical flaws and might keep him out of the first round with a lack of explosiveness and shooting. Still, he’s a good technician who knows his strengths well and how to use them to win. He’s got solid footwork, good touch inside, and a good passing ability with potential extending beyond what the stats might suggest with 3.8 per game. There’s a lot in Brooklyn to build with and playmakers will matter in seeing it out.

37. Toronto Raptors: Adou Thiero, Arkansas

Brian: I’ll be honest, I don’t love Adou Thiero, but this feels like a Raptors pick. Maybe Adou is the next Oshae Brissett. It’s in the cards for me. That being said, he has a big rate of improvement and has made key additions to his game every single year. I don’t think he can shoot and I’m not certain he ever will, but if he does shoot it, Adou Thiero could easily be a starting caliber player or a really good rotation player.

38. Dallas Mavericks: Andrej Stojakovic, California

Zach: This may feel low given Stojakovic’s recent rises, but for Brian and I, I think we just need to see more to fully buy in as a 2025 guy instead of a 2026 one. For me, he’s certainly there and right on the bubble of a late 1st to early 2nd round pick. Chief among my hopes is if he can continue developing more defensive aptitude. Nonetheless, he’s been a fantastic shooter and scorer this season and I’ve come away quite impressed by his cutting ability and how much more efficiently he’s scored there. The lack of defense, ability to scale his role back down for the NBA from this high-usage one at California, and improvements to playmaking are big things for me to move him into the first round. Looking back on Jaylon Tyson from last year, I liked him more as a prospect than I like Stojakovic at the moment. Here, the Mavericks will be happy to swing on him as a future guy here.

39. San Antonio Spurs: Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana

Brian: The sell for Mgbako is pretty simple. He’s 6’8 and can really shoot the basketball. He's got good NBA size, can play off the ball, and could be able to hang with some fours. I’m not sold on Mgbako as a surefire NBA player, especially since we have seen Saddiq Bey be mediocre and I liked him more as a prospect. If it works, the Spurs could use an off-ball shooter off the bench that won’t kill you.

40. Washington Wizards: Will Riley, Illinois

Zach: Kyshawn George, your twin is coming to Washington. Riley is a fascinating talent, who has a lot to unlock despite some of his huge flaws (a big part of why the George comp is so fitting for me). His shooting and all-around play can be inconsistent, the playmaking comes in nice flashes but is riddled with typical young player mistakes, and while the offensive skills are sharp and could make him dangerous around the floor, he’s going to struggle mightily inside until he grows into his body and puts on some more weight. Nonetheless, I like the talent in the 2nd round for Washington. I’ll be following his career closely to see what shakes.

41. Washington Wizards: Maxime Raynaud, Stanford

Brian: In addition to Cooper Flagg and Will Riley, the Wizards add Maxime Raynaud. Maxime is a 3PT shooting 7-footer with decent size. I don’t see a starter here, but he’s been really impressive and it helps when you don’t have Kanaan Carlyle isos happening at Stanford. The Wizards don’t have a long-term true center, and maybe Maxime can be that.

42. San Antonio Spurs: Bogoljub Markovic, KK Mega Bemax

Zach: The Spurs are no stranger to giving international prospects with loads of talent a shot, and whether they have Markovic come stateside sooner than later or stash him to let him do his thing in Serbia, he has a lot to offer. I’ve admittedly arrived late to check him out, but man, the feel for the game and all-around skills at his age and size at 6’11” is interesting. The biggest thing is just giving him time to keep developing his game and seriously adjust to the physicality, athleticism, and overall verticality of the NBA to make him successful.

43. Chicago Bulls: Sergio De Larrea, Valencia

Brian: This is another stash here with Sergio De Larrera. I’m really interested in him as a big ball handler who can pass and rebound well for his size. Maybe they bring him over in a year or two when the Bulls have sorted out their guard positions.

44. Oklahoma City Thunder: Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest

Zach: The Thunder are going to be absurdly deep at this point with their slew of first rounders, so they’ll likely go BPA here. The easy choice here is a shotmaker like Hunter Sallis, who should suit their usual types of guys and give them some complimentary shooting in the deep rotation.

45. Washington Wizards: Chaz Lanier, Tennessee

Brian: The Wizards add another veteran in Chaz Lanier, who has been a big-time scorer at Tennessee. He can really shoot the basketball, and I expect that to translate to the NBA at a decent level. He’s strong but still pretty small for a two guard. This could be a potential backup 2 guard in the rotation.

46. Golden State Warriors: Darrion Williams, Texas Tech

Zach: Williams started out pretty slow from 3, but as he’s ticked back up to 37% this week (3.4 attempts per game), I’ve really been more bought in on the upside at this price point. As a junior at Texas Tech, Williams has been incredibly versatile as a 6’6” forward who can play in a variety of roles. He’s very much a Swiss Army knife type of player, with his playmaking being my favorite skill of his. He reminds me a lot of someone like Dillon Jones or David Roddy as a big-bodied, thick player with some unique skills for their size and position. I have some questions about where he fits best in the NBA given his limitations and what his upside really is if he’s viewed more as a rotation 3&D guy than something like a point forward, but he’s certainly someone who might rise higher for me in the next few months as Texas Tech looks to improve.

47. Indiana Pacers: Payton Sandfort, Iowa

Brian: Sandfort struggled to start the season, but he’s been starting to get back on track recently. I haven’t overly panicked about him, and the scouting report remains the same: a really good shooter who can play well off the ball, can rebound and pass decently for his size, and struggles on defense. Playing off of Haliburton and McConnell could be good for someone like Sandfort. The Pacers will have to decide what they want to do with Benedict Mathurin and Sandfort could slot into that role.

48. Atlanta Hawks: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

Zach: Coming back around, the Hawks will take Kalkbrenner, one of college basketball’s best rim protectors and shot blockers. Everything about Kalkbrenner’s game is pretty old school and not too indicative of being more than a rotation guy, but having another big body and a good defender like him in the mix with Onyeka Okongwu is a worthy addition with the potential of Clint Capela and Larry Nance Jr. packing their bags in 2025.

49. Los Angeles Lakers: Michael Ruzic, Joventut

Brian: This is another draft and stash. Ruzic has been hurt and so he’s fallen off the radar a bit, but he’s a wing/big that can score and shoot it a little bit. Ruzic probably wouldn’t come over immediately but considering that the Lakers are struggling with the big man position, having someone like Ruzic on deck could be an interesting flier.

50. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jamir Watkins, FSU

Zach: I could’ve gone with a backup big man, but unfortunately, this class is a pretty rough one for them. However, in this scenario, I would assume the Cavs filled this need at the trade deadline or in free agency for a ready-to-play big body. Instead, I’ll give the Cavs another do-it-all wing to balance Kenny Atkinson’s wing-by-committee type of approach with Jamir Watkins. While the 3PT shooting has always offered some questions, Watkins is capable in big and small roles as a two-way threat, a strong rebounder for his position, a physical player with solid athleticism, and is great at drawing fouls and finishing through contact at the rim. He’s got that dawg in him and he’s exactly the kind of guy the Cavs could want that cracks the rotation at some point.

51. Los Angeles Lakers: Koby Brea, Kentucky

Brian: Now to try and help address the shooting, get the definition of a pure shooter in Koby Brea. Defensively, it's going to be a concern, but I could see JJ Reddick liking Koby Brea and maybe he can get his way onto the floor for 6 minutes a night or so to take 4 3’s.

52. Orlando Magic: John Mobley Jr., Ohio State

Zach: If he was just 2-3 inches taller, Juni Mobley would’ve gone so, so much higher. Unfortunately, when you’re small by today’s NBA standards, you’re automatically at a disadvantage unless you’re just otherworldly on offense, you’re a great defender, or you have some kind of specific great-to-elite skill that wins games and will demand minutes. There’s a chance Mobley could be good enough to hang off the strength of being one of the best pure shooters in this class and a great off-ball guard despite the height and so-so athleticism.

53. Dallas Mavericks: Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern

Brian: Brooks Barnhizer is a big do-it-all all wing for Northwestern. He’s got good size and is a really smart player. Here, Dallas is taking another wing/big that can defend. I really don’t think Barnhizer is going to end up shooting it, but if he does, he’s a really interesting player.

54. Charlotte Hornets: Joseph Tugler, Houston

Zach: Look, I don’t care who you are or, in this case with JoJo Tugler, how weak the scoring bag is. If you’re that good as a defender with a 6’8” height and 7’5” wingspan (!!!!), you’re getting a shot to play somewhere. Charlotte will take the chance on Tugler to see what happens here. He’s an incredibly versatile defender who, in my opinion, has some defensive similarities to Jonathan Isaac in terms of being a menace on the perimeter or at the rim, and has a neverending motor. This is exactly what you want in a super-athletic energy guy who may have more to unlock if you can tinker with him offensively.

55. New York Knicks: Javon Small, West Virginia

Brian: Javon Small caught my eye to start the season, but I was pretty skeptical considering the fact that he had a pretty mediocre year at Oklahoma State last season. Now with DeVries and Hansberry out, Javon Small has been incredible and helped West Virginia knock off Kansas at home. Javon can shoot it and defend well as a guard. He’s just a small guard, but he’s so fun to watch. He would fit the New York culture very well.

56. New York Knicks (forfeited): Yaxel Lendeborg, UAB

Zach: Unfortunately, the Knicks have to forfeit this selection, but in the spirit of this mock, I’ll make a pick just to show what I would do. After Brian selected Javon Small, I’m intrigued by UAB’s Yaxel Lendeborg, a big-bodied forward who can play a master-of-none role similar to that of Jalen Slawson or other older players of years past. He’s more of a functional 4 that *could* possibly moonlight as a small-ball 5 if he’s legitimately 6’9”. He has a good combination of solid athleticism, rebounding, possible shooting abilities to expand on, good touch, and a good feel for the game as a passer. He’s been one of the more productive players this season and, for the fantasy guys, has a very intriguing profile. He just strikes me as a guy the Knicks would want in their deep rotation.

57. Memphis Grizzlies: Walter Clayton Jr., Florida

Brian: Walter Clayton Jr. is good at basketball. Memphis likes guys that are good at basketball and they find a way to play well with the opportunities they get. Clayton can really shoot and score the ball well. He’s athletic and has been one of the best players in college basketball this season. The Grizzlies roster is stacked, so it will take time.

58. Orlando Magic: Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois

Zach: It’s late down the stretch here, and we’ve had a lot of interesting Magic additions above with a potential Cole Anthony replacement (Fland), another shooting wing (Karaban), and another good guard to bolster their depth late (John Mobley Jr). At this point, there isn’t a lot the Magic will realistically need, but taking a big man flier surely doesn’t hurt. Tomislav Ivisic is pretty different from his brother Zvonimir at Arkansas. If I were to say that Zvonimir was, I don’t know, a Dollar General Kristaps Porzingis, I suppose you could call Tomislav a Dollar General Nikola Vucevic or Domantas Sabonis or something? Make of those arbitrary comps what you will, but I do believe Tomislav Ivisic is the most ready-to-go brother right now. Despite the defensive concerns, Ivisic offers a good outside shot as a 7-footer, good rebounder, and modern face-up player that could moonlight in a deep bench role depending on Mo Wagner’s recovery this offseason.

59. Houston Rockets: Max Shulga, VCU

Brian: Houston always finds these analytical guys and Max Shulga is a really interesting mid-major guard in this respect. Shulga can shoot it, has decent size and can play a bit of PG. I think Shulga could trend up even more getting closer to the combine and if you told me he goes in the top 40, I wouldn’t be shocked.

60. Cleveland Cavaliers: Zeke Mayo, Kansas

Zach: Let’s close this one out on a high note with my best player left on the board: Zeke Mayo, who has easily been the Kansas Jayhawks’ second-best player all season long and arguably their best for multiple stints. I’ve been a huge Mayo fan for years now and he’s shown everything he could do at South Dakota State is replicable at a big, storied school with high expectations from fans and staff alike. In a class full of great guard talent, Mayo absolutely belongs, and for my money, should go higher than the late 2nd round when considering the combination of shotmaking, creation, good rebounding at his position, and an ability to play both on and off the ball.

Undrafted Free Agents

To close things out, we’ll each pick five undrafted free agents we’d like to give a shot outside of our top 60 above. This isn’t necessarily indicative of how we rank these players or if we view them as being “draftable”, but more of a thought on some of the talent available after the fact. Enjoy!

Brian’s 1st UDFA: Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State

Zach’s 1st UDFA: Chad Baker-Mazara, Auburn

Brian’s 2nd UDFA: Ryan Conwell, Xavier

Zach’s 2nd UDFA: Mark Sears, Alabama

Brian’s 3rd UDFA: Coleman Hawkins, Kansas State

Zach’s 3rd UDFA: Adama Bal, Santa Clara

Brian’s 4th UDFA: Igor Milicic Jr, Tennessee

Zach’s 4th UDFA: RJ Luis Jr., St. John’s

Brian’s 5th UDFA: Jaxson Robinson, Kentucky

Zach’s 5th UDFA: Hansen Yang, Quigdao (China)