2025 NBA Mock Draft: Mavericks Select Cooper Flagg First Overall

In a surprising turn of events,the Dallas Mavericks defied odds to clinch the coveted No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, despite entering the lottery with a mere 1.8% chance.This unexpected victory has reshaped projections, with duke forward Cooper Flagg now widely anticipated to be the mavericks’ top selection. This mock draft analyzes potential top-14 picks, offering insights into team needs and prospect fits.

Top NBA Draft Prospects and team Fits

here’s a breakdown of how the top prospects might land, considering team needs and player potential:

1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, F, Duke

Cooper Flagg is the presumed top pick for the Mavericks. Flagg’s defensive prowess and versatility at either forward position make him a valuable asset. The Mavericks’ frontcourt logjam presents a challenge, but Flagg’s talent is undeniable.

2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers

Despite potential fit questions with existing guards, Dylan Harper’s NBA-readiness makes him a strong pick for the Spurs. Harper’s poise and ability to create in the paint are extraordinary, even with his shooting needing improvement.

3. Detroit Pistons: Kon Knueppel, G/F, Wisconsin

Knueppel is a player who can create and make shots. he is also a plus athlete, can develop into a plus defender and can develop into a potentially elite-level scorer.

4. Charlotte Hornets: AJ Daugherty, PG, Washington

Daugherty is a big guard who can really pass and has a knack for scoring. He is also a solid defender and rebounder.

5. Utah Jazz: Tyran Stokes,F,Prolific Prep

Stokes is someone who can create and make shots. Bailey is also a plus athlete, can develop into a plus defender and can develop into a potentially elite-level scorer. It’s just arduous when you lose the way the Jazz did this season and didn’t come out of the draft with one of the two real prizes.

6. Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson, G, Texas

Shooting has never been more critically important, and the wizards don’t have enough of it, finishing last in offensive rating and 29th in 3-point shooting percentage. The expectation here is that Johnson will bring high-level shooting early in his career and – and this is important – will improve on the weak spots of his game, namely his defense. He’ll bring positional size, so he should have potential on that end.

7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma

With fears, the Pelicans add a heady floor general who operates well in the pick-and-roll and should fit well playing next to scoring options like Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy. Fears’ shooting efficiency was troubling at times during his only season at Oklahoma, but he showed a willingness to step up and take on a bigger role on offense when the lights were radiant.

8. Brooklyn Nets: Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina

Murray-Boyles fits well into their identity. He is a defensive maestro who can slot in between Claxton and Johnson in the frontcourt.The Nets will hope that the frontcourt can form an elite defense while the backcourt carries the weight offensively.

9. Toronto Raptors: derik Queen, C, Maryland

While the latter projects to be a rim-running, shot-blocking center, the Raptors need to bet on offensive upside. Queen isn’t a pure shooter,but his touch and feel for the game should be a good match with the movement-heavy offense coach Darko Rajaković has been trying to install over his first two years.

10. Houston Rockets: Carter Bryant, F, Arizona

In Bryant, the Rockets would have a plug-and-play 3-and-D wing. Houston’s lack of floor spacing was apparent during the playoffs, and Bryant, who shot 37.1 percent from 3 at Arizona this season, is more than capable. His activity at the other end alone aligns perfectly with Udoka’s core beliefs.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Noa Essengue, F, Ratiopharm Ulm

General manager Joe Cronin likes high-upside players, and as the second youngest player in the draft, the 6-foot-9 forward is an intriguing prospect. Blazers fans might remember him from October, when during an exhibition game against the Blazers, he had 20 points, eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks.

12. Chicago Bulls: Khaman Maluach, C, Duke

Thay desperately need defenders and interior size.Maluach, an athletic 7-foot-2 center, checks all the boxes and would be a godsend as an ideal fit for the Bulls’ roster.

13. Atlanta Hawks: Egor Demin, F, BYU

the Hawks also need more ball handling and shot creation on the perimeter, especially when Trae Young is out of the game. thus, Demin becomes the logical choice, even if on paper he somewhat overlaps positionally with last year’s top pick zaccharie Risahcer. Demin is much more of an on-ball presence than Risacher and could operate as the de facto backup point guard if he proves rotation-ready.

14. San Antonio Spurs: Danny Wolf,C,Michigan

An underlying part of San Antonio’s 34-48 season was the lack of a consistent,quality backup big to Victor Wembanyama. Enter Wolf, who by all accounts is more polished offensively at 21 than Bassey and biyombo (a good argument for Mamu, too). at Michigan, Wolf was a bit daring with the ball, and his 3.6 turnovers aren’t a great look at center. But he’s confident with the ball in his hands and should fit well with Mitch Johnson’s pace-and-space scheme.

Did You Know? The NBA Draft Lottery odds are weighted to give the worst teams a better chance at the top pick, but upsets like the Mavericks’ win are always possible.

pro Tip: Keep an eye on players who excel at the NBA Draft Combine; their stock can rise significantly with strong performances.

What are your thoughts on the Mavericks’ potential selection of Cooper Flagg? Which team do you think will make the biggest surprise pick in the 2025 NBA Draft?

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