Ben DiGiacomo

NBA After Dark: The Surprising Reality of Empty Seats

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The Washington Wizards need a complete franchise overhaul, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/cooper-flagg/69588">Cooper Flagg</a> is the type of prospect who will bring the Wizards onto the national stage for the first time in two decades. 
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1. Washington Wizards: Cooper Flagg, F, Duke

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The New Orleans Pelicans are dealing with another season of injury issues up and down the roster, so they ought to blow up the roster and restart around someone like <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/dylan-harper/69361">Dylan Harper</a>, who comes with all the traits of a franchise guard in this league.

2. New Orleans Pelicans: Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers

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The Utah Jazz didn’t take the leap in their rebuild that they were expecting this season and are now in a place where they can look to add an elite prospect into the mix high in the draft. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/ace-bailey/69357">Ace Bailey</a> has the scoring traits scouts salivate over in a 6’10” frame, but he’ll need to round out his playmaking abilities to be the total package.

3. Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers

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The Toronto Raptors have been eager to land an impact player from the guard position for years, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/tre-johnson/78568">Tre Johnson</a> can pour it in from anywhere on the floor as he’s averaging 19.9 points as a freshman for the Texas Longhorns.

4. Toronto Raptors: Tre Johnson, G, Texas

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/vj-edgecombe/68998">VJ Edgecombe</a> may still be a work in progress, but he possesses natural defensive instincts and is one of the better athletes we’ve seen at the top of the draft in years. His offensive skillset isn’t there yet, but he’s taken promising strides this season at Baylor.

5. Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecombe, F, Baylor

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/egor-demin/68995">Egor Demin</a> is still a relative unknown to most basketball fans as he’s been tucked away at BYU, but the native of Russia has flown up draft boards as an elite playmaker at the point guard position sitting in a gifted 6’9” frame.

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Egor Demin, G, BYU

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The Oklahoma City Thunder may be the best team in basketball right now, and they might land themselves a top-ten pick, given the current trajectory of the Philadelphia 76ers. It has to fall outside the top six to translate, and if it does, the Thunder can afford to take some chances. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/kasparas-jakucionis/69020">Kasparas Jakucionis</a> falls into that category, and he’s sky-rocketed up draft boards amidst his dominant season with Illinois as a well-rounded and savvy offensive playmaker.

7. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Philadelphia): Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois

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The Brooklyn Nets are in a place where they should be throwing darts at a dart board, and Nolan Traore possesses exciting potential despite struggling with his international team currently. He’s the total package on the offensive end, and I don’t anticipate scouts being too dissuaded by his struggles since he’s just 18.

8. Brooklyn Nets: Nolan Traore, G, France

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/kon-knueppel/69587">Kon Knueppel</a> is as pure of a shooter as you’ll find on any basketball court, and the Detroit Pistons will welcome the chance to add him to their wing rotation, where they could use a knockdown shooter among their young core.

9. Detroit Pistons: Kon Knueppel, F, Duke

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Who knows what the Chicago Bulls will look to do at the trade deadline, but <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nba/players/nikola-vucevic/2789">Nikola Vucevic</a> should be on his way out the door in the near future. The Bulls will be looking to draft high-upside players to bring life to their rebuild, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/khaman-maluach/69591">Khaman Maluach</a> appears as a natural long-term replacement for Vucevic, given all the potential he boasts as a 7’2” center with a nice touch around the rim and a ferocious defensive ability.

10. Chicago Bulls: Khaman Maluach, C, Duke

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/asa-newell/69326">Asa Newell</a> finds a ton of success on the basketball court without the ball in his hands, as he has a knack for doing all the little things. He has the motor that NBA scouts salivate for, and if his three-point shot continues to evolve, look out.

11. Sacramento Kings: Asa Newell, F, Georgia

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/liam-mcneeley/69426">Liam McNeeley</a> isn’t the best athlete, but he’s a natural sniper from beyond the arc, and he continues to find ways to make shots without the most gifted skill set. He could be drafted earlier than many fans if he continues to develop at the rate he’s already demonstrated.

12. San Antonio Spurs: Liam McNeeley, F, UConn

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Scouts may be turned off by <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/collin-murray-boyles/5475">Collin Murray-Boyles</a> standing at just 6’7” and looking to be a power forward at the next level, but there is value for him somewhere in the league as he’s been highly productive and will benefit from the new age of small-ball lineups.

13. Atlanta Hawks (via Los Angeles Lakers): Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina

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The Oklahoma City Thunder can afford to take shots on high-upside prospects who need a ton of time, and Noa Essengue has a sky-high ceiling as he’s just 17 years old and already boasts a well-rounded game with exciting traits in a 6’9” frame.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Los Angeles Clippers): Noa Essengue, F, France

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/will-riley/69022">Will Riley</a> may not have an NBA-ready body, but scouts will easily convince themselves they can get him to where he needs to be with an NBA training regiment. Still, his 6’8” frame and ability to knock down the long ball will have him nearing the lottery.

15. Indiana Pacers: Will Riley, G, Illinois

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It will be interesting to see how the San Antonio Spurs look to build around <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nba/players/victor-wembanyama/3090">Victor Wembanyama</a> in the long term. I’m enticed to see if they’ll mess with lineups where they play a physical big man and allow Wembanyama to roam around and make plays. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/derik-queen/69024">Derik Queen</a>, in particular, fits that mold as he can be a playmaker from the post and can take care of business around the glass.

16. San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta): Derik Queen, C, Maryland

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Ben Saraf may be the highest-drafted international player in this draft. He already has an established ability to score at all three levels in Europe and what many view as an untapped playmaking ability.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami): Ben Saraf, G, Israel

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With John Calipari’s arrival in Fayetteville, it remains to be seen if the usual “Kentucky guard” sentiment now translates to the Arkansas. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/boogie-fland/69340">Boogie Fland</a> is the current by-product of that, and scouts are especially thrilled with his ability to not just rely on his speed. He can make plays as a smart passer and efficient scorer.

18. Golden State Warriors: Boogie Fland, G, Arkansas

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If you’re an athletic wing player who can knock down shots from beyond the arc and be an above-average defender, you’ll have a spot in the NBA for a long time. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/miles-byrd/15020">Miles Byrd </a>may be an unknown to most, but he has the makings of being the prototypical three-and-D wing in this league.

19. Houston Rockets (via Phoenix): Miles Byrd, F, San Diego State

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The Utah Jazz should be taking as many swings on high-upside guards as possible, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/ian-jackson/78355">Ian Jackson </a>fits that mold as a once highly-touted prospect who is now being overshadowed on a talent-rich North Carolina team. Still, the talent and upside are there for teams to view him as a backend first-round prospect.

20. Utah Jazz (via Minnesota): Ian Jackson, G, North Carolina

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Hugo Gonzalez may not have the biggest role on Real Madrid currently, but he’s been on the NBA’s radar for quite some time and there will be multiple teams who view him as a first-round talent despite the current lack of production.

21. Brooklyn Nets (via Milwaukee): Hugo Gonzalez, F, Spain

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Labaron Philon has risen up draft boards in recent weeks with Alabama as he continues to showcase his efficiency in making all the smart plays you look for in a young collegiate guard.

22. Orlando Magic (via Denver): Labaron Philon, G, Alabama

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/adou-thiero/5696">Adou Thiero</a> was once viewed just as a gritty wing player, but John Calipari has unlocked an offensive skill set with an improving outside shot and savvy play as a finisher that has scouts buying into him as a first-round prospect.

23. Orlando Magic: Adou Thiero, F, Arkansas

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The Brooklyn Nets need to take shots on high-upside guards. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/jalil-bethea/69575">Jalil Bethea</a> could be one of the biggest sleepers in this draft, as the former five-star prospect hasn’t been given the opportunities at Miami many would hope for. However, he still boasts a dynamic scoring ability in a 6’5” frame that will have scouts willing to take the chance on him should he make the jump to the Association.

24. Brooklyn Nets (via New York): Jalil Bethea, G, Miami

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NBA scouts will easily find reasons to draft a 7’2” center who is just 18 years old, but his lack of minutes in the NBL currently could draw some concern if his workload doesn’t take off. Rocco Zikarsky will be an interesting player to watch in the pre-draft process.

25. Brooklyn Nets (Via Houston): Rocco Zikarsky, C, Australia

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/ryan-kalkbrenner/9990">Ryan Kalkbrenner</a> could be viewed as a high-floor backup center in the league. Given his time at Creighton, teams will know what they’ll get from him as a smart post player with a strong defensive presence.

26. Dallas Mavericks: Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton

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There’s a possibility that <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/drake-powell/78358">Drake Powell</a> opts to stay in college basketball for another season, but should he enter the draft, I find it hard to believe he wouldn’t be a first-round pick. He’s an elite athlete who was lauded as a high school prospect for his three-level scoring traits.

27. Memphis Grizzlies: Drake Powell, G/F, North Carolina

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/jeremiah-fears/78673">Jeremiah Fears</a> has flown up draft boards despite being a relatively unknown early on, thanks to his tenacious motor downhill and ability to pour in points from all over the court. He hasn’t been the most efficient player, but coaches will be able to convince themselves that they can coach him up.

28. Los Angeles Clippers (via Oklahoma City): Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma

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The Boston Celtics have no needs, but they’ll need to look to add an insurance policy at the center position with all the injuries that <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nba/players/kristaps-porzingis/3067">Kristaps Porzingis</a> has dealt with. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/thomas-sorber/78442">Thomas Sorber</a> was Ed Cooley’s first big prospect at Georgetown, and despite being a tad undersized, Sorber has demonstrated a well-polished post-game that NBA scouts will drool over.

29. Boston Celtics: Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown

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We haven’t had an exciting prospect out of Saint Joseph’s in years, but <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cbb/players/rasheer-fleming/15763">Rasheer Fleming</a> has burst on the scene as a 6’9” stretch forward who is a physical presence around the glass on both ends of the floor and an impressive shooter from beyond the arc. He’ll need to keep it up, but if he does, the tape is too impressive for him not to be a first-round pick. We could be looking at a lottery pick if you remove the small school bias.
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30. Utah Jazz (via Cleveland): Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph’s

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Basketball season is in full force, and as we discover more about the NBA teams and top college prospects, here is the only 2025 NBA Mock Draft you need.

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