2025 NBA Draft

scottdude8

scottdude8

Moderator, front page and podcast contributor
With the 2024 Draft behind us, we can start looking ahead to the "Cooper Flagg Draft" this time next year!

As they tend to do, ESPN has already released a "way too early" 2025 mock draft, unsurprisingly led by Cooper. Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo don't seem willing to write that down in pen, though, discussing how either of Ace Bailey or Dylan Harper could potentially challenge Cooper for the top slot. We'll see about that.

Other notes relevant to us:
  • Tyrese is listed as one of their "top returning prospects" who can earn his way back into the first round conversation, helped by the fact that he's still just 20 years old. He's mocked at the end of the first round.
  • Khaman is mocked at #6.
  • Fascinatingly, K2 is mocked at #17... if he plays like a first rounder, oooh boy is it going to be a fun year.
  • Caleb is listed as a mid second round pick, but interestingly so is Sion James. Seems Jason isn't the only one on the James train.
  • UNC's two star freshmen are both listed as first rounders: Drake Powell at #11 and Ian Jackson at #25. Elliot Cadeau also finds himself in the second round.
 
Cooper (DOB 12/21/2006) is very likely to be the youngest player eligible for the 2025 draft.

Ulrich Chomche (DOB 12/30/2005) was the youngest player in the 2024 draft, barely reaching the age limit. He was selected 57th by the Raptors.
 
The ESPN mock draft stuff is always insider content, but it's popular, so amateur draftniks on YouTube tend to make reaction videos. I'll link to one when available.

Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo list teams here, one year early, and so the dumbing down of mock draft culture continues. It started last year, when mentally inferior Laker fans/basketball casuals (same thing) said, "Don't tell me about your French prospects and G League Igniters and boring collegians who dominate with their 'performance numbers' and 'track records'. Just tell me where Bronny is going!!!!!!!!!" And many of the draft experts sold their souls and obliged.

But Bronny is drafted now; it's mercifully in the past. Go back to having integrity and just listing the players, and not adding the teams until there's an actual draft order. Adam Spinella used to do that, and now he works for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Including what scottdude8 wrote above, here's where ACC players are listed:

1. Cooper Flagg, Duke
6. Khaman Maluach, Duke
11. Drake Powell, UNC
13. Jalil Bethea, Miami
16. Donavan Freeman, Syracuse
17. Kon Knueppel, Duke
25. Ian Jackson, UNC
28. Tyrese Proctor, Duke
39. Caleb Foster, Duke
43. Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
44. Sion James, Duke
47. Elliot Cadeau, UNC
51. Jamir Watkins, Florida State
53. Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech
 
brevity said:
The ESPN mock draft stuff is always insider content, but it's popular, so amateur draftniks on YouTube tend to make reaction videos. I'll link to one when available.

Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo list teams here, one year early, and so the dumbing down of mock draft culture continues. It started last year, when mentally inferior Laker fans/basketball casuals (same thing) said, "Don't tell me about your French prospects and G League Igniters and boring collegians who dominate with their 'performance numbers' and 'track records'. Just tell me where Bronny is going!!!!!!!!!" And many of the draft experts sold their souls and obliged.

But Bronny is drafted now; it's mercifully in the past. Go back to having integrity and just listing the players, and not adding the teams until there's an actual draft order. Adam Spinella used to do that, and now he works for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Including what scottdude8 wrote above, here's where ACC players are listed:

1. Cooper Flagg, Duke
6. Khaman Maluach, Duke
11. Drake Powell, UNC
13. Jalil Bethea, Miami
16. Donavan Freeman, Syracuse
17. Kon Knueppel, Duke
25. Ian Jackson, UNC
28. Tyrese Proctor, Duke
39. Caleb Foster, Duke
43. Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
44. Sion James, Duke
47. Elliot Cadeau, UNC
51. Jamir Watkins, Florida State
53. Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech
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If James is drafted in the 2nd round at #44 and if Foster is drafted at #39 with Cooper, Malauch and Proctor going in the first round I feel like we'll have a really good season.

GoDuke!
 
jv001 said:
If James is drafted in the 2nd round at #44 and if Foster is drafted at #39 with Cooper, Malauch and Proctor going in the first round I feel like we'll have a really good season.

GoDuke!
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It's funny, but I looked around at some other mock drafts, including SI (I know, I know) and CBS Sports and saw Foster, Evans, and K2 showing up in the first round. So Duke has 7 players who could be drafted next year? Guess that is why we are all struggling to figure out lineups and playing time.

Nice problem to have, however.
 
jv001 said:
If James is drafted in the 2nd round at #44 and if Foster is drafted at #39 with Cooper, Malauch and Proctor going in the first round I feel like we'll have a really good season.

GoDuke!
Click to expand...

MChambers said:
It's funny, but I looked around at some other mock drafts, including SI (I know, I know) and CBS Sports and saw Foster, Evans, and K2 showing up in the first round. So Duke has 7 players who could be drafted next year? Guess that is why we are all struggling to figure out lineups and playing time.

Nice problem to have, however.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's worth contrasting this situation to last year a bit. Last year, McCain and Foster were potential fringe OAD guys on most boards in the preseason, but I don't recall Sean or TJ being anywhere on preseason mock drafts. The mere fact that Evans and K2, the guys who we expect to compete for the 8th spot in our rotation, are even seen as potential draft picks speaks to the difference between this year's recruiting class and last year's in terms of potential immediate impact. If either one of them is still on mock draft boards come January and February, I think we'll have had a very nice fall :)
 
SkyBrickey said:
Super interesting. I like Foster getting all the love. I do think there's a chance he supplants Proctor as our lead guard during the season if Tyrese is not delivering at a high level in the PNR game. Lots of competition on this team.
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Yeah, after watching Foster host the Brotherhood Podcast with Gillis I’m really impressed with his maturity and poise. I think Proctor will have a good season but Foster has the look of a guy that will make the freshman-to-sophomore leap maybe like Kennard. Jon just needs to figure out how to balance the minutes because this team has all the pieces for a title run…
 
AGDukesky said:
Yeah, after watching Foster host the Brotherhood Podcast with Gillis I’m really impressed with his maturity and poise. I think Proctor will have a good season but Foster has the look of a guy that will make the freshman-to-sophomore leap maybe like Kennard. Jon just needs to figure out how to balance the minutes because this team has all the pieces for a title run…
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Worth remembering that Proctor had two injuries last season that affected his play. Jon said his ankle bothered him the rest of the season.
 
I was hoping K2 would stay at least 2 years, but if Givony is already this high on him, he's probably leaving.

Who was trying to pie bet me that Kon isn't as good as Gary Trent? I'm pretty confident in that one.
 
AGDukesky said:
Yeah, after watching Foster host the Brotherhood Podcast with Gillis I’m really impressed with his maturity and poise. I think Proctor will have a good season but Foster has the look of a guy that will make the freshman-to-sophomore leap maybe like Kennard. Jon just needs to figure out how to balance the minutes because this team has all the pieces for a title run…
Click to expand...
I agree that Foster looks like a guy who may make the leap, but don't forget that he and Proctor are the almost the same age (3 months apart) because of the latter's reclass. Would be nice and not out of the question for both of them to take a step forward this year.
 
crote said:
CBS's way-too-early mock is especially bullish on Duke:

1. Flagg
5. Maluach
14. Foster
16. Evans
30. K2
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Will be interesting to see how this comes about seeing as Caleb, Isaiah, and K2 largely play the same position and will be battling for mostly the same minutes (I am increasingly of the belief that Cooper will see the majority of his minutes on the wing, not at PF).
 
JasonEvans said:
Will be interesting to see how this comes about seeing as Caleb, Isaiah, and K2 largely play the same position and will be battling for mostly the same minutes (I am increasingly of the belief that Cooper will see the majority of his minutes on the wing, not at PF).
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Score one for me on the way too early predictions podcast? ;)
 
The Cooper Flagg draft.

A duke tradition, alongside the Kyrie Irving draft and Zion Williamson draft.
 
JasonEvans said:
Will be interesting to see how this comes about seeing as Caleb, Isaiah, and K2 largely play the same position and will be battling for mostly the same minutes (I am increasingly of the belief that Cooper will see the majority of his minutes on the wing, not at PF).
Click to expand...
I don't think we will have a PF this year. I think our 5 positions will be labeled:

Point guard
Shooter
Shooter
Cooper
Center

It will be a 4-out Cooper led attack. IMO on defense Cooper can easily guard any ACC 3 or 4, so it will just depend on who's on the floor with him and the strengths/weaknesses of the opponents in terms of who Jon asks him to cover on D.
 
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