The 2024 NBA Draft may still be a fresh memory, but the basketball landscape is already shifting its focus toward the 2025 class. While the previous draft yielded few immediate superstars, early indications suggest the upcoming talent pool could be considerably more impactful.
To initiate a preliminary assessment of this potential, we embark on a mock draft exercise. However, it is essential to emphasize the inherent uncertainty surrounding the final draft order. The upcoming regular season will significantly influence team standings and, subsequently, lottery odds.
To establish a foundation for our mock draft, we will utilize the current NBA Championship via DraftKings odds as a proxy for team strength. This methodology, while imperfect, provides a starting point for projecting draft positions. It is crucial to reiterate that the NBA Draft Lottery, with its element of chance, can dramatically alter these projections, as even the worst teams possess a chance at the coveted top overall pick.
With a comprehensive understanding of these complexities, we proceed with our mock draft, acknowledging its speculative nature and the likelihood of modifications as the 2023-2024 season unfolds.
How Does the NBA Draft Lottery Work
Following the conclusion of the season, the NBA uses a lottery system to decide the first 14 picks in the draft order.
Before we look at the draft order, here’s how the NBA Draft Lottery system works:
Eligible Teams: The 14 teams that do not qualify for the NBA playoffs are eligible to participate in the draft lottery. This includes teams that make the Play-In Tournament but don’t advance past the Play-In Tournament.
NBA Draft Lottery Odds: The teams with the worst records have higher chances of winning a top pick. The teams with the three worst records have the highest chance – a 14% chance – while the odds incrementally decrease for teams with better records among the non-playoff teams.
Ping Pong Balls: Fourteen ping-pong balls numbered 1 through 14 will be placed in a lottery machine. There are 1,001 possible combinations when four balls are drawn out of 14. Before the lottery, 1,000 of those 1,001 combinations are assigned to the 14 participating lottery teams. Those three with the highest odds will be given 140 combinations each – aka the most combinations.
Lottery Drawing: Finally, drawings are conducted for the first four picks of the NBA Draft. The remaining non-playoff teams are then ordered based on their regular-season records, with the team with the worst record picking fifth, followed by the team with the next worst record, and so on.
Also, the NBA shares the footage of the lottery drawing after each draft. You can watch the 2023 procedure here.
Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
2025 NBA Mock Draft
Detroit Pistons: Cooper Flagg – F – Duke – 17 Years Old
Washington Wizards: Dylan Harper – G – Rutgers – 17 Years Old
Charlotte Hornets: Ace Bailey – G/F – Rutgers – 17 Years Old
Portland Trail Blazers: VJ Edgecombe – G – Baylor – 18 Years Old
Brooklyn Nets: Liam McNeeley – G/F – UConn – 18 Years Old
Toronto Raptors: Hugo Gonzalez – F – Spain – 18 Years Old
Utah Jazz: Nolan Traore – G – France – 18 Years Old
Chicago Bulls: Kwame Evans – F – Oregon – 19 Years Old
San Antonio Spurs: Tre Johnson – G – Texas – 18 Years old
San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Noa Essengue – F – Germany – 17 Years Old
Houston Rockets: Jalil Bethea – G – Miami – 18 Years Old
Orlando Magic: Khaman Maluach – C – Duke – 17 Years Old
Atlanta Hawks (via SAC): Hunter Sallis – G – Wake Forest – 21 Years Old
New Orleans Pelicans: Michael Ruzic – F – Spain – 17 Years Old
Indiana Pacers: Alex Karaban – F – UConn – 21 Years Old
Memphis Grizzlies: Derrion Reid – F – Alabama – 18 Years Old
Oklahoma City Thunder (via MIA): Drake Powell – G/F – North Carolina – 18 Years old
Utah Jazz (via CLE): Egor Demin – G – BYU – 18 Years Old
Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC): Carter Bryant – F – Arizona – 18 Years Old
Houston Rockets (via PHX): Kasparas Jakucionis – G – Illinois – 18 Years Old
Golden State Warriors: Kanaan Carlyle – G – Indiana – 19 Years Old
New Orleans Pelicans (via LAL): Elliott Cadeau – G – North Carolina – 19 Years Old
Philadelphia 76ers: Donovan Freeman – F – Syracuse – 18 Years Old
Dallas Mavericks: Tyrese Proctor – G – Duke – 20 Years Old
Brooklyn Nets (via MIL): Ian Jackson – G – North Carolina – 19 Years Old
Utah Jazz (via MIN): Rocco Zikarsky – C – Australia – 17 Years Old
Brooklyn Nets (via NYK): Kon Knueppel – G/F – Duke – 18 Years Old
Oklahoma City Thunder: Collin Murray-Boyles – F/C – South Carolina – 19 Years Old
Orlando Magic (via DEN): Adou Thiero – F – Arkansas – 20 Years Old
Boston Celtics: KJ Lewis – G – Arizona – 19 Years Old
