The 2025 NBA Draft is already generating more buzz than its predecessor, and for good reason. Players both stateside and overseas are catching the eyes of professional scouts, amateurs like yours truly, and even the casual basketball fan. As will be alluded to, the race for number one may be more contested than we thought during the preseason, but many of the names featured in the top ten will be familiar faces. As I do with every mock draft, I use the tankathon.com draft simulator to determine the order (this one was performed on December 17, 2024), to waste no time:
Washington Wizards - Cooper Flagg, PF/SF, Duke (NCAA), 6’9”, 205lbs, proj. 7’0” wingspan, 2006.12.21
Stats (As of 2024.12.18): 16.6ppg, 9rpg, 3.6apg, 1.6spg, 1.4bpg
While the number-one selection may not be as clear-cut as it was projected to be coming into the season, the Wizards’ need for a franchise centerpiece, a defensive identity, and any semblance of a future can all be found in Flagg. His offensive production (specifically jump shooting and creation for himself) has drawn more questions than maybe some thought, but he's proven he'll be able to fill many roles for a struggling Wizards franchise. Should he end up in Washington, that may incentivize the Wizards to dangle Kyle Kuzma next year at the trade deadline, either for future assets or someone who can accelerate the rebuild. None of them are the perfect, long-term answer necessarily, but the Wizards employ enough lead guard types to make them not need the only guy to seriously challenge for number-one now.
Chicago Bulls - Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers (NCAA), 6’6”, 215lbs, proj. 6’10” wingspan, 2006.03.02
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 23.5ppg, 4.8rpg, 4.4apg, 52%FG
The man making the most noise in terms of contention for the number-one selection, Rutgers' Harper will be able to step into a similarly franchise-altering position in Chicago, another team struggling to find an identity. His handle and scoring ability combined with his pace of play and size for his position creates a seriously enthralling option for a franchise. He's had some monster scoring performances so far for Rutgers, and even the idea that he may not "be a natural playmaker" will certainly be overlooked. The Bulls are guard-heavy at the moment, but the lack of a trade partner for Zach Lavine mixed with a Harper selection may allow them to test the waters on someone like Lonzo Ball, Josh Giddey, or Ayo Dosunmu.
Detroit Pistons - Airous “Ace” Bailey - SF/PF, Rutgers (NCAA), 6’10”, 200lbs, proj. 7’0” wingspan, 2006.08.13
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 17.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 0.6apg, 1.1spg, 46.7%FG
I'm so happy writing about this selection, not because I have any level of attachment to the Detroit Pistons (though I am AND HAVE BEEN a Lions fan), but because Cade Cunningham is finally going to get some legitimate shooting around him. With Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, and Ron Holland being featured first-round picks the last few years, the offense around Cunningham has been nothing but rim assaults. Bailey, imperfect as he may be, will bring a Brandon Miller-esque quality to this roster, with equal parts contribution in their rim assault as a team and giving Cunningham the spacing he deserves to operate. If you pair Bailey on the wing with a more competent defender, like Thompson or Holland, the vision can emerge.
Philadelphia 76ers - VJ Edgecombe, SG, Baylor (NCAA), 6’5”, 180lbs, proj. 6’6” wingspan, 2005.07.30
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 11.9ppg, 5.9rpg, 3.1apg, 2.4spg, 1.3bpg
While the selection that's going to follow Edgecombe in this mock draft may be generating more buzz as of late, the existence and continuing emerging stardom of Tyrese Maxey allows me to pair the high-flying Baylor Bear with him to form one of the most athletic backcourts in the NBA. His playmaking and shot creation for himself aren't off the charts, but his ability to make something out of straight-line drives and his athleticism shouldn't be ignored. He projects as a potentially elite defender of guards as a pro, and a promising catch-and-shoot outside shooter, to boot.
New Orleans Pelicans - Kasparas Jakucionis, PG/SG, Illinois (NCAA), 6’6”, 200lbs, 6’7.5” wingspan, 2006.05.29
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 16.1ppg, 6.1rpg, 5.6apg, 46.9%FG, 42%3FG
Very much in contention for the "player whose current draft position has most usurped preseason expectations", the maestro of Illinois' offense has shown potentially elite pace with the ball in his hands, three-point shooting, and playmaking for others. He can get a little bit targeted on defense, but he's shown to have been able to work within the scheme. As the Pelicans continue to struggle to stay on the court and succeed while they're there, having someone who can be a lead guard and actually make plays for whoever is left of Zion/Brandon Ingram/Trey Murphy/CJ McCollum will be very important. Dyson Daniels (who was in this exact position once) has come out and said the Pelicans are "cursed", so for Jakucionis' sake, let's hope not.
Utah Jazz - Nolan Traore, PG, Saint-Quentin (FRA), 6’3”, 175lbs, 6’6” wingspan, 2006.05.28
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 10.3ppg, 1.8rpg, 4.7apg, 33.8%FG
Potentially the inverse of Jakucionis, Traore has the potential to fall below several NCAA lead guards as the collegiate season progresses, and depending on how NBA teams value an exceedingly average-sized point guard (the author of this article has the same measurables as Traore) with little jump shooting. The selling points are clear when you watch him, with top-tier playmaking and quickness, and excelling in transition and as a young leader on a team. The lack of shooting is alarming, but depending on who's around him in Utah (another team seemingly destined for roster devastation), it could work. The shooting of Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George with a playmaker like Traore seems like a place to start anyway.
Toronto Raptors - Khaman Malauch, C, Duke (NCAA), 7’2”, 250lbs, 7’5” wingspan, 2006.09.14
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 7.8ppg, 5rpg, 0.9bpg, 76.7%FG (18.4mpg)
As will be the case with a couple of players to be named later, stats don't tell the full story for Maluach. After spending time as a seventeen-year-old on the darling South Sudanese Olympic team this past summer, he's stepped in as a rotational piece for the loaded Blue Devils. He's a rim protector and at-rim finisher at this point, with the field goal percentage to match. There have been flashes of jump shooting throughout his whole career, but he seems like another player with high boom/bust potential. The Raptors are very much a wing-oriented outfit, so someone with the physical presence of Maluach will be an excellent person to draw doubles off people or to end up wide open under the basket.
Charlotte Hornets - Tre Johnson, SG/SF, Texas (NCAA), 6’6”, 190lbs, 6’11” wingspan, 2006.03.07
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 19.9ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.2apg, 48%FG, 43.3%3FG
I always like to include someone in the lottery that's a "fun pick", and just kind of me being selfish and wanting the team/player pairing, and Tre Johnson to Charlotte is this year's iteration of that. A sniper sitting in between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in a year or two (assuming he's not READY ready on day one). Johnson's shooting has been as advertised since he was in high school, and he's one of the cases where early scouting on him (when/wherever that was happening) was probably similar to what people are saying now and will say up through June. Once Ace Bailey leaves the board, depending on how high a top-ten team values pure shooting and scoring, Johnson could go significantly higher even than this spot.
Portland Trail Blazers - Egor Demin, SF/SG, BYU (NCAA), 6’9”, 190lbs, proj. 7’0” wingspan, 2006.03.03
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 13.3ppg, 4.6rpg, 5.8apg, 1.6spg, 49.3%FG
Even just the idea of Egor Demin before you watch the tape is enough to make a modern front office excited. A 6'9" lead playmaker with a high basketball IQ and scoring upside is enough to draw attention right off the bat. Portland is another team in weird flux, expected to move on from either Jerami Grant or Anfernee Simons, and without much assuredness about what Scoot Henderson is going to be as a pro. Imagining a player like Demin on a Blazers team without Grant is where it starts to work—running pick-and-rolls with Donovan Clingan, allowing Simons to play off the ball the way he prefers, and maximizing Shaedon Sharpe's athletic abilities in transition while being someone who can take the ball off the rim and the length of the court.
Brooklyn Nets - Asa Newell, PF/C, Georgia (NCAA), 6’11”, 220lbs, proj. 7’0” wingspan, 2005.10.05
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 16.4ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.2apg, 1.3spg, 1.2bpg
After the recent shedding of Dennis Schroeder (playing the best basketball of his NBA career), it became clear that the Nets are headed for a new identity, and head coach Jordi Fernandez has emphasized speed as something important to an offense built around Ben Simmons as a point guard. Newell on this team brings a dynamic athlete who will be able to rebound and get out in transition as well as drawing a lot of attention in the paint, potentially freeing up shooters like Cam Thomas or Cam Johnson. If the lefty can develop into an outside shooter himself, he could not only be a dynamic weapon for the new-look Nets but also potentially one of the steals of the draft.
Sacramento Kings - Kon Knueppel, SG/SF, Duke (NCAA), 6’7”, 220lbs, unv. wingspan, 2005.08.03
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 11.6ppg, 3.6rpg, 2.9apg, 41.1%FG, 32.3%3FG
While Knueppel (and the player who will follow him directly on this list) haven't exactly been the shooters that they were thought to be percentage-wise thus far, there's enough faith in his ability as a pure shooter and as a bit of a creator for a team to take him in the lottery. A team like the Kings is based around the high-post playmaking of Domantas Sabonis, and they also run actions similar to the masterful Post Splits offense that the championship Warriors ran and still run. For a shooter like Knueppel to end up in an offense like this feels like the current situation with the Lakers and Dalton Knecht. What may sell GMs on Knueppel a touch more compared to the following prospect is the idea that he can create a little more off the dribble for himself.
San Antonio Spurs - Liam McNeeley, SF/SG, Connecticut (NCAA), 6’7”, 210lbs, 6’8” wingspan, 2005.10.10
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 13.6ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.1apg, 42.9%FG, 33.9%3FG
Don't get upset with me for putting Knueppel and Liam McNeeley back-to-back. It's not a cop-out. As I alluded to, he's a little bit more of a situational shooter who has an excellent feel of how to move around and off of screens. He's a little bit more of a weapon in transition but isn't so overwhelming of an athlete that it will make him a sure thing over Knueppel. With another high-post-centric offense (we could probably just call it Wemby-centric at this point), surrounding Victor Wembanyama with high-level shooting is going to be of the highest priority, especially since Stephon Castle (current Rookie of the Year favorite) has seemingly cemented himself as the floor general of the future, and Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson both seem to be in the plans for the future.
Atlanta Hawks (via Los Angeles Lakers) - Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma (NCAA), 6’4”, 182lbs, proj. 6’4” wingspan, 2006.10.14
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 16.7ppg, 3.5rpg, 4.7apg, 2.4spg, 47.7%FG
While the stats for this blog were collected as of 2024.12.18, I did see the 30-point performance that Fears put on on the night of the 18th, including the wild, 4-point play conclusion. This pick is largely based on a fantasy of putting Fears and Dyson Daniels next to each other. Daniels could help Fears (who is a legit 6'4") develop into a more fearsome defender, and Fears could take some offensive expectations off of Daniels when he's on the floor unaccompanied by Trae Young. Kobe Bufkin is out for the season, further thinning out the Hawks' guard rotation. While the Hawks' rebuild may be a little further ahead of schedule, with Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson blossoming into high-quality NBA players, Fears will bring an intensity as a player who'll still be just 18 the night of the NBA draft.
Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers) - Noa Essengue, SF/PF, Ulm (GER), 6’9”, 200lbs, 6’11” wingspan, 2006.12.18
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 6.7ppg, 4rpg, 1.1apg, 33.3%FG (21.1mpg)
The only player in the draft who will be almost as young as Cooper Flagg, the French Essengue is starting to make teams pay more and more attention to him beyond his statistical output. At this point, he's shown himself to be most effective on offense as a rim runner, as he's extremely athletic and has an innate sense of when and where to cut. He's still raw and can show his age at points, missing bunnies and falling back on repetitive finishing moves. The numbers haven't yet translated, but the mechanics suggest a jump shot is there. Defensively, on a team like Oklahoma City, he'll be able to wreak havoc with his length and IQ, especially since he won't be expected to start right away. Ben Saraf, his teammate at Ulm is also drawing a lot of attention, but the Thunder are still hoping for Nikola Topic to develop into a lead playmaker for their bench units.
Indiana Pacers - Derik Queen, C/PF, Maryland (NCAA), 6’10”, 245lbs, 7’1” wingspan, 2004.12.27
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 17.4ppg, 8.4rpg, 2.2apg,1.2bpg, 61.3%FG
The success of Queen has been enjoyable for anyone who misses the 2000s-era, back-to-the-basket bigs like Al Jefferson or Tim Duncan. He's closer to the prior than the latter, but his throwback game is showing that what's worked in the past can work in the future if you execute it correctly. He's not a very good athlete by today's NBA standards, which may lead to concerns on the defensive end, but what he's been able to show on offense both with a shooting touch (78% from the free throw line) and with his back to the basket will be enough to sell a team on him in the first round. Indiana may be a little "run-and-gun" for him at this point, but assuming his conditioning improves as a pro, it won't be an issue. He's another from a loaded Montverde class of 2024, alongside Cooper Flagg, Asa Newell, and Liam McNeeley, and guaranteeing that recruiting coach's extension.
San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta Hawks) - Ben Saraf, PG/SG, Ulm (GER), 6’5”, 200lbs, 6’8” wingspan, 2006.04.14
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 11.2ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.2apg, 0.9spg, 47.6%FG (21.3mpg)
With the way Saraf is rising on many draft boards, the Spurs would be elated to luck into him with a pick that's not even their own at number 16. The tall, left-handed Israeli guard is beginning to present himself as a real crafty playmaker for himself and others, with a good handle (especially for his height) and excellent vision and IQ. Sounds like a certain other 6'5"/6'6" left-handed guard that used to play in San Antonio... At this point, his shooting is a question mark, as that's a skill that's borderline imperative to have as a guard in the modern NBA, but Nolan Traore being a high draft pick (and the valuation of the next player on this list) shows that it's not an absolute necessity. If Saraf can show himself to be a more competent shooter and defender by draft time, he most certainly won't be here when the Spurs would want him.
Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami Heat) - Collin Murray-Boyles, PF, South Carolina (NCAA), 6’7”, 245lbs, proj. 7’2” wingspan, 2005.06.10
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 16.5ppg, 9.5rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, 1.3bpg
Finally (for Thunder fans, not for the rest of us), the stockpile of future first-round picks that Sam Presti is sitting on is starting to rear its head in a fearsome way. Adding a defender and athlete like Murray-Boyles, a player who some think was the top defensive prospect in LAST year's draft, is just unfair (especially after just picking Noa Essengue). Murray-Boyles is still projecting as a non-shooter at this point, but there's enough to like in just about every other aspect of his game to make people ignore it. He's undersized, and a little one-dimensional on offense, but he's very tough, an elite defender who punches above his weight, and a strong athlete. That will fit well with this OKC team regardless of how you slice it.
Golden State Warriors - Will Riley, SF/SG, Illinois (NCAA), 6’8”, 180lbs, proj. 6’8” wingspan, 2006.02.10
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 13.5ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.5apg, 42.6%FG, 37.5%3FG
Riley is a player who's drawn mixed reviews throughout the collegiate season, but he's shown the ability to shoot at an extremely high level, as well as create for himself at 6'8" and likely growing. What he's shown between the three-point arc and the rim has been cause for a bit of eyebrow-raising, but a team like Golden State is always going to prioritize role players who can shoot, and Riley sure can shoot and sure isn't a day-one starter in 2025-26. The fact that he's just 180 pounds and 6'8" suggests he'll probably fill out to 200 or 205 pounds by the time he reaches his physical prime. He's not a "playmaker" by the professional definition at this point, but has had moments in the pick-and-roll that make you think there could be something there as a secondary.
Houston Rockets (via Phoenix Suns) - Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina (NCAA), 6’6”, 190lbs, unv. wingspan (proj. +), 2005.09.08
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 5.4ppg, 3.4rpg, 0.8apg, 0.8spg, 0.8bpg (20.7mpg)
I'm higher on Powell than some, but what I've seen both in high school and in his limited role so far at UNC (a school not currently known for developing one-and-done talent) makes me convinced that several members of NBA scouting departments have seen the same things. He makes an impact through sheer effort, though sometimes that can go a little too far and cause him to be a foul problem. He's also pretty raw offensively, though his shooting mechanics seem to be improving. The Rockets have a myriad of players in varying stages of the same flavor of development track that Powell could find himself on (Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, and Tari Eason to name a few), and if he can develop under Ime Udoka as a defensive impact player, that'll make the bed for the rest of his career.
Utah Jazz (via Minnesota Timberwolves), Thomas Sorber, C/PF, Georgetown (NCAA), 6’10”, 255lbs, proj. 7’3” wingspan, 2005.12.25
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 15.5ppg, 8.2rpg, 2.5apg, 1.7bpg, 56.6%FG
Sorber has made himself known as another guy who has a chance to be a real impact big man in the NBA, with a game that doesn't revolve around being a pick-and-pop threat. He's strong, and he has a long wingspan, and potentially most underrated, he has excellent hands. He's not the shooter that Derik Queen is, as his offensive game revolves around him imposing his will on people less strong than him, but he's able to use that strength in tandem with some very good post moves and play finishing. He's also a very solid passer for his position, which is very valuable in the modern NBA. If he can prove to be a more effective defender outside of drop coverage or to be a decent jump shooter, he may go higher than this depending on who needs a big.
Brooklyn Nets (via Milwaukee Bucks) - Boogie Fland, PG/SG, Arkansas (NCAA), 6’2”, 175lbs, 6’5” wingspan, 2006.07.10
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 15.5ppg, 3.6rpg, 5.7apg, 1.9spg, 42.7%FG
Boogie Fland has been one of the most fun surprises of the NCAA season so far, having the keys to an Arkansas offense with a handful of returning guards of reasonable quality, and coached by John Calipari. It feels lazy to compare a 6'2", offensively minded guard to Kemba Walker, but when you see the first step, ball-handling, and midrange shooting, it's hard to not do that. He's proven to be a more positive defender than someone his size may project to be, but as the athletes only improve and get bigger in the NBA, questions make themselves known about what his true role will be. He's been way up on boards earlier in the season, but some of the initial nuclear hype seems to have died down, though a clear first-rounder with lottery potential remains.
Orlando Magic (via Denver Nuggets) - Hugo Gonzalez Pena, SF, Real Madrid (ESP), 6’7”, 205lbs, unv. wingspan, 2006.02.05
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 6.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.3apg, 52.8%FG, 31.3%3FG (13mpg)
Gonzalez Pena hasn't had a ton of minutes on the Real Madrid "A" squad he currently occupies, but he's still made himself known as a first-round threat and a tough swingman who will surely have no problem adjusting to the physicality of the NBA. If anything, he will likely accrue a decent amount of fouls early in his career by playing a little rough. His jump shot is proving to be questionable at this point still, but his handle is strong, and his feel is on display, often swinging the ball at the right time so as to catch overzealous defenders. His future as a role-playing slasher with playmaking potential works for the current state of the Magic, as should he come off the bench with someone like Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, or the player to follow this selection, he could create a lot of value for himself.
Orlando Magic - Joson Sanon, SG/PG, Arizona State (NCAA), 6’5”, 195lbs, unv. wingspan, 2005.12.27
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 14.8ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.3apg, 49.5%FG, 52%3FG
It warms my cold, New England heart every time I get to write about a Vermont Academy alumni (the only "real" prep school in the entirety of my home state). Sanon has been one of the most highly-touted VA prospects in recent memory, potentially even since Bruce Brown, the original high-level VA recruit. He's proven without a doubt that he's the same shooter that he was in high school, both off the bounce and off the catch, and could be an electric bench piece looking for some plug-and-play offense. He hasn't shown himself to be a defensive prospect worth drooling over just yet, but his athleticism certainly suggests that there's one in there. With big playmakers like Gonzalez Pena and Tristan Da Silva, Sanon and Cole Anthony could do real damage from beyond the arc in the second unit, never giving Magic opponents a break when Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner exit the court.
Brooklyn Nets (via New York Knicks) - Miles Byrd, SF/SG, San Diego State (NCAA), 6’7”, 190lbs, 7’0” wingspan, 2003.01.01
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 13.1ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.4apg, 1.6spg, 1.1bpg
The third of the Nets' four(!!) first-round picks in 2025, Byrd fills another role for Brooklyn after they locked in Asa Newell and Boogie Fland earlier in the evening. Byrd is a cagey wing who's not as old as most third-year college players and shows a lot of promise in multiple aspects of the game. He's shooting almost forty percent on 5.5 attempts from three per game, which shows that even if his mechanics are a little funky, he's a capable shooter. His +5 wingspan will allow him to be a competent-at-worst defender as a pro, and his ability to handle, pass, and shoot (well enough, anyway) adds to the young core of Nets wings with a lot of upside.
Brooklyn Nets (via Houston Rockets) - Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane (NBL), 7’2”, 227lbs, proj. 7’6” wingspan, 2006.07.11
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 4.5ppg, 3.6rpg, 0.5bpg, 54.9%FG (12.1mpg)
And finally, to round out the Nets' work in the first round, they get a backup big in Zikarsky that is just that, a (really) big. He was someone who was talked about in lottery and higher conversations earlier in the year, but there have been several moments throughout his limited campaign for the Brisbane Bullets that have caused his stock to freefall a little bit. As is often the case with a player like Zikarsky, who's going to sell teams on his defense (don't look at the current BPG, that's one of the things that's affected his stock), rebounding, and size, he's going to get picked before people know what the full story is, and if he doesn't show to be effective as an American pro, he'll go down as a cautionary tale and will be out of the league within five years.
Dallas Mavericks - Adou Thiero, SF/PF, Arkansas (NCAA), 6’8”, 220lbs, 6’11” wingspan, 2004.05.08
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 18ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.9apg, 2.1spg, 61.9%FG
Thiero is an interesting case, a Kentucky transfer who found Coach Calipari and in an increased role has shown to be improving in most aspects he was expected to, coming into this season. He has good size for his position, has long arms, and is athletic in a way that pairs very well with his defensive instincts, translating to over two steals a game. He's at his best offensively when he's assaulting the rim in a way that will pair well with Olivier Max-Prosper. Naji Marshall and Maxi Kleber are the sorts of wings that could help Dallas return to the Finals in the summer, but Thiero would be an excellent disruptor to throw at wings that are starting to heat up. His three-point percentage isn't notable in a good way at this point, but his free-throw form suggests all may not be lost as a shooter.
Memphis Grizzlies - Nique Clifford, SF/PF, Colorado State (NCAA), 6’6”, 200lbs, 2002.02.09
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 16.4ppg, 10.5rpg, 3.3apg, 50.4%FG, 35.3%3FG
The Grizzlies are reminding people that with Ja Morant, and when they're healthy, they're as good as any team in the West (why is a team in Memphis in the West again?). Nique Clifford joining that Grizzlies team injects them with another super-athlete. He rebounds well above his size, he's elite in transition, and he's extremely versatile defensively. Offensively, there are more questions than answers at this point, but the Grizzlies have tons of shooting, especially off the bench, so as guys rotate out with injuries and guys like Luke Kennard and Jake Laravia need to take turns in the starting lineup, a big wing that brings pure energy would be great for them.
LA Clippers (via Oklahoma City Thunder) - Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama (NCAA), 6’4”, 177lbs, unv. wingspan (proj. +), 2005.11.24
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 11.5ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.8apg, 1.3spg, 53.5%FG
Though slight, and though he plays next to one of the top guards in college basketball (Mark Sears), Philon has emerged as a reliable scorer and defender from the lead guard position. He's a little shaky with the ball in his hands, leading to some turnovers that aren't ideal even by turnover standards, but his defensive effort sometimes makes you forget them. He's aggressive and pursues rebounds successfully more than you'd think someone of his size would. The Bones Hyland experiment hasn't worked out for the Clippers, and there are parts of Philon that make you think they may make the same mistake, but the defensive effort will earn him minutes on whatever team he finds himself on.
Boston Celtics - Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton (NCAA), 7’1”, 220lbs, 7’5” wingspan, 2002.01.17
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 17.4ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.3apg, 2.5bpg, 72%FG
The Celtics are in as good of a place as any team in the NBA, setting new offensive statistical records seemingly every night, defending their championship well at the time of writing, and with their three best players entering their physical primes. Kristaps Porzingis isn't a sure thing (though he is more so than Robert Williams), and Luke Kornet is what he is at this point in his career. Perhaps most upsetting, Al Horford will retire eventually, so bolstering the front court should be of priority in the first round for Brad Stevens and Co. Kalkbrenner can team up with his old teammate Baylor Schierman and spend some time in Portland, Maine honing his skills, stepping into Boston out of necessity and as an effective defender and rim runner with shooting potential.
Utah Jazz (via Cleveland Cavaliers) - Ian Jackson, SG, North Carolina (NCAA), 6’4”, 190lbs, unv. wingspan (proj.+), 2005.02.14
Stats (as of 2024.12.18): 10.8ppg, 2.8rpg, 0.7apg, 47%FG, 42.4%3FG (20.4mpg)
I know I'm not alone in remembering when Ian Jackson ("Captain Jack" is one of my favorite nicknames ever) was one of the most highly touted recruits in his class. As I alluded to earlier, North Carolina isn't known for sending guys straight to the pros after one year, and Jackson found himself in a similar situation as Drake Powell is in this year, buried behind guards who have been around for a few years. As a pro, he'll bring some lightning off the bench on both sides of the ball, and use his athleticism to create some highlight plays on both sides as well.
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