An Annual Tradition With Xiane And Now FanDuel
The 2025 NBA Draft has lost some interest for Rockets fans, as the Rockets used the 10th pick to draft an almost certain Hall of Famer, Kevin Durant. Still, if you follow NBA prospects, or even the evolution of NBA talent evaluation, the draft is always interesting.
Armin and I, and Blaine, The Friendly Spurs Fan, will be talking draft over on playback, as well. I’ll be updating draft picks, with a bit of commentary as we go, right here, too. I’m talented that way.
Meanwhile, FanDuel will be busy, too. They’ll be updating every NBA team’s 2025-2026 title odds, live, with every pick. I wouldn’t expect the Rockets to change much, as they aren’t picking, but you never know. Check out those title odds! Live!
The Rockets might get into the draft later on, possibly by trading one of their own upcoming picks to Brooklyn. Brooklyn currently has FIVE picks in this draft, surpassing the Rockets 2021 draft with four. The Rockets couldn’t really handle developing four rookies at the same time. Perhaps Rafael Stone made bad picks late, with Garuba and Christopher, but also, the Rockets barely did any development at that point with Green and Sengun, in some respects. Adding two more seemed to be a problem.
Anyhow, on with the draft!
NBA 2025 Draft, Round One, June 25th, 7pm CST.
1. Dallas Mavericks – Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg has already been picked. Not officially, but he has. Cooper is the first white US born player to go 1-1 since 1967. Cooper hasn’t yet brought world peace, or ended all human suffering, but I’m sure he’ll do it soon. For the MFing Mavericks, somehow.
2. San Antonio Spurs – Dylan Harper
Hey, another miracle high pick for yet another Texas team. That’s wonderful. Just wonderful. Dylan Harper is named, of course, for Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. He’s also the higher drafted Rutgers player of this century. Harper is a fashionably tall point, and can play off ball as well. He’s also a legacy, son of NBA player Ron Harper. Dylan Harper won’t turn 20 until next March. So he’s got a lot of development potential.
3. Philadelphia 76ers – VJ Edgecombe
It’s not Ace Bailey, it’s VJ Edgecombe! Edgecombe is there to represent the Baylor Bears in the NBA. That’s all. That’s all he cares about. There’s a bit of a jam with 76ers guards with Maxey, Quentin Grimes, and Jared McCain around already. Grimes is an unrestricted free agent, so perhaps he won’t be a 76er? Edgecombe is a spectacular athlete, so the dream is that he becomes an awesome two way player. Right now he can’t really shoot, so we’ll see if two way traffic appears.
4. Charlotte Hornets – Kon Kneuppel
It’s a great, great, day for pasty white guys! Kon Kneuppel not only went to Duke but has brothers named, I kid you not, Kager, Kidman, Kinston, Krypton, and Kash. One of those isn’t real. Kon is a very heady player, good shooter, plays defense, sets picks and generally makes his teammates better. Basically the opposite of famous teammate LaMelo Ball.
5. Utah Jazz – Ace Bailey
The slide ends! Ace Bailey is a Jazzman! He’s got all the talent in the world, he could be Tracy McGrady. He could be Tracy McGravy. If he focuses, plays defense, learns to shoot better, he could be a top five player in time. Will he? Who knows? Utah has bet big on him, as Danny Ainge and The Ainge Family Business loves to bet on big time prospects, well know guys, and doesn’t care that much about college production. This pick is proof of that.
6. Washington Wizards – Tre Johnson
Tre Johnson is the highest picked Texas Longhorn since push off savant Lamarcus Aldridge was drafted second by the Trailblazers. Sadly, Tre is going to Where NBA Careers Go To Die, Washington DC. That said, he’s a great shooter, with an NBA frame, and high level offensive game. If anyone can continue the Washington tradition of Fake Stars, like John Wall and Bradley Beal, it’s Tre. As TEX, the UT phone registration system for classes of yore, might have said, “Goodbye, and Good Luck, Tre. You’re Gonna Need It.”
7. New Orleans Pelicans – Jeremiah Fears
Fears has a great handle, and speed. He’s also kind of Reed Sheppard without the shooting, or passing. The Jazz worked out Fears, and took Ace Bailey. I have my doubts a non-shooting, non-defending 6’2” guy has a great chance. New Orleans really, really, needed a center. They also needed a point guard. I suppose they got one. Fears DOES get to the line and make his free throws, and his speed and handle are superb. He’s not a bad bet, but he is a risky one. His high level outcome is stardom, and low level is backup guard.
8. Brooklyn Nets – Egor Demin
The Nets first of five possible picks is Egor Demin. Demin is a tall point guard from Russia, and a passing savant. Can he shoot? Can he defend? Who knows? He can pass. Brooklyn needs basically…everything. Adding a giant point with high upside is an interesting move. There are many more to come for Brooklyn.
9. Toronto Raptors – Colin Murray-Boyles
This is another interesting pick. The Raptors probably needed a center, and the got one of sort. Murray-Boyles is a very solid player, and can play center or power forward. He’s not tall though, which is usually a requirement for an NBA center. He’s 6’6” to 6’7” but at least 240 pounds, and kind of an ass kicker. He can play, but can he be a center in the NBA?
10. Phoenix Suns – Officially Rockets, But Suns – Kaman Maluach
Phoenix badly needed a center besides Nick Richards, Bol Bol, and they got maybe the best one in the draft in Duke’s Maluach. Another very young player with high upside.
11. Portland Trailblazers – Traded To Memphis Grizzle – Cedric Coward
The Trailblazers could have really used Coward, a tough player who can shoot, defend, and played college ball at Willamette for Pete’s sake. Nope. Memphis gets to murder another small forward. Coward’s stock really took off in the draft process. He truly used college to turn into what I think will be a very solid NBA. So very glad he’s going to Memphis. Very. Glad.
12. Chicago Bulls – Noa Essengue
Tall, young, French, grifty, falls down a lot. A real “Maybe” player. Very Bulls.
13. Atlanta Hawks – Traded To New Orleans Pelicans – Derik Queen
The DQ Dude is going to New Orleans. I think he’ll have a great time, and love the food. New Orleans needed a center, and they probably got the most fun center in the draft. Derik Queen is a lot like Sengun, crafty, unpredictable, and a badass.
14. San Antonio Spurs – Carter Bryant
Carter Bryant is a typical Rocket, big, athletic, great defender, suspect shooting. But he’s a Spur. He also wore a plum double breasted blazer that looks like a bellhop uniform without a shirt. So he’s got that going for him.
15. Oklahoma City Thudner – Thomas Sorber
Sorber is a solid center out of Georgetown, which has produced a good center or three over the years. He’s the kind of tough, smart, player the Thudner love. He’ll be insurance for Chet/Hartenstein and the payroll increase OKC has coming. I’m annoyed they took him.
16. Portland from Memphis – Yang Hansen
7’2” with a 90ft standing reach. Yang Hansen has been described by our own NVP as “Chinese Sengun”. So that’s cool. He was dressed, and looked like a Final Fantasy character. I will admit I know next to nothing else about him.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves – Joan Beringer
Another very tall non-American. Joan Beringer isn’t a lesser known folk singer, or heir to the rip off guitar pedal fortunate. No, he’s a center from France. Beringer is only 18 years old, so he’s almost sure to improve, and was pretty good already.
18. Washington Wizards – Traded To Utah Jazz – Walter Clayton Jr.
He made a lot of shots in the NCAA tournament against the state of Texas. He has a very cute child. He’s got one skill, like all the other Jazz guards, so that’ll work out perfectly. Good work, Ainge Clan, you drafted another famous college player.
19. Brooklyn Nets – Nolan Traoré
Another swing for the fences, like Egor Demin. Traore is very gifted, very young. He saw his stock slip recently, but the talent and upside are there. The Nets are going for upside in a big way this draft. This seems like the right move to me.
20. Miami Heat – Kasparas Jakucionis
A big, excellent passing PG/SG from Lithuania, with truly fun and amazing court vision. There are questions about his defense, athleticism, and shooting. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Pat Riley has already declared he’s untouchable.
21. Utah Jazz – Will Riley
Two, count em two, Illinois players in the first round. Riley was a highly rated recruit who struggled for most of the season and turned on late. Very Jazz. Danny Ainge and the Ainge Nepo Mob don’t really care about college performance, so another Aingey pick as part of the Jazz’ seven year rebuild plan.
22. Brooklyn Nets via Atlanta Hawks – Drake Powell
I have no idea who this guy is. He was projected by most in the 2nd round. Pep Guardiola likes his ball winning skills though, so I’m sure it’ll be fine.
23. Atlanta Hawks via some complex trade – Asa Newell
A great pick by the Hawks. A tough, tenacious player, great defender and rebounder. Less of an offensive player at present. A great replacement for a sadly fading Clint Capela.
24. Oklahoma City Thudner – Traded To Sacramento Kings – Nique Clifford
An annoyingly good pick, but fortunately not to the Thudner. Instead the multi skilled Nique Clifford goes to the Sacramento Kings. No doubt the Kings gave up their next 12 drafts for the privilege.
25. Orlando Magic – Jase Richardson
Another legacy. A guy who can play offense, but isn’t gigantic. This is a betrayal of everything Orlando stands for. What a fiasco.
26. Brooklyn Nets – Again – Ben Saraf
Another non American player, this time another RatioPharmer, Ben Saraf, an Israeli player. He’s tall. I really don’t know much about him. I have failed you.
27. Brooklyn Nets – Yet Again – Danny Wolf
Possibly the most fun player in this draft. The American Sengun. Poor Danny was breaking down, thinking maybe he wasn’t getting drafted. His whole family is very tall, and all were crying I can’t wait for Danny’s career.
28. Boston Celtics – Hugo González
A Spanish wing who will no doubt be annoyingly good for Boston. Why wasn’t it Liam McNeely? In Boston.
29. Charlotte Hornets – From Phoenix From Utah From Cleveland – Liam McNeely
Liam McNeely, a shooter who couldn’t shoot. He’s projected to shoot it well though. The fourth Mont Verde Academy player from the same class to get drafted.
30. Los Angeles Clippys – Yanic Konan Niederhauser
No idea. Honestly none. Cool name though. Is 22.
NBA Draft Rating
Fun Factor – Enjoyable Despite No Rockets Picks – B+
Player Clothes – Lavender Suit, Bellhop Coat Without Shirt – A-
Best Family – The Crying Wolfs – A+
Must Improve – Hats – F-