2025 NBA Reader Mock – June 13 – A First Pass

For those upset that this was rigged….are you not entertained though? Doncic in LA. The injustice of this compensation so obvious it hurts. We all like it like this and I'm not sure what that says about us.

I can't find a reason to buck consensus yet. I don't think the fit is a no brainer as I think the Spurs may like what they have in Fox but the talent of Harper dictates they worry about if there is any redundancy later.

Morey has too many undersized guards already. The roster feels like it wants a SF here.

Too many roosters in the same hen house if you grab another ball dominating scorer. Why not get guy that can shoot and leave more ball for 'Ball'. (I hate myself sometimes). [Looking back at this pick after doing all 30 I'd now say CHA would take Coward or Johnson, or trade down if they feel that good about what they have. Not going to rearrange picks now..I'll do another version next week.]

I'm admittedly coming in cold here but just eyeballing the top point getters on the Jazz and it feels like they have the same type of need for a wing as the 76ers. So despite some 6'4 guys who are higher up in rankings I think the Jazz reach a bit for fit.

If Wing needy teams above let him slip this far Washington should gladly pickup this scoring Guard out of Texas.

at 21 and 61 its more like the New Orleans 'Pelican'ts'…amiright? Well in an effort to be different I have Edgecombe still available in which case I think the Pelicans would gladly take him.

Coming in cold of course I'm looking at the mocks out there. what can I say Yahoo convinced me on this pick. Some high ceiling potential at the 4 spot make sense. https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/?view=default&board=0&filter=round%3Aall

Toronto could use a point guard from what I can gather.

May as well defer to The Ringer on a couple of these. I like the Rockets to take a guy who is pass first, or doesn't demand the ball. Which when I asked Google for a pass first PG Kasparus is who came up 2nd. https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft

Look the big time MockDrafts have him going in the first round somewhere. Why not send a short combo guard/ scoring guard who can probably be a decent pass first PG if he wants to be to a team that isn't sure they really want one anyway. https://sports.yahoo.com/article/jase-richardson-trying-show-true-041957779.html

I independently hit upon the Bulls going with a true center but being unsure I did check up on Yahoo, and the athletic, and theringer and noted a couple of them agreed with me. Vucevic is the only Center the Bulls have per Hollinger's position assignments. Lots of PFs but only 1 lonely Center.

The Hawks may default to players they can slot in at the 4 or 5 over another SG/SF combo guy as they have a decent group of them in LeVert, Daniels, Risacher. Plus why not follow Walt for a pick.

The Ringer is high on this prospects IQ which the Spurs franchise always seems to find such players.

Bryant shouldn't slip this far so need to slot him in already.

The Magic may want the most NBA ready jump shot available given their offense efficiency isn't where it needs to be.

Word is this prospect is on the rise per Yahoo's mock draft, https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/?view=default&board=0&filter=round%3Aall. They have him slated as a Bull. If he drops to the Twolves they'll vibe with Powell's 'best athletic testing numbers'

I do think Queen will slide but not forever and probably not this far. If he is here Washington wouldn't mind having some offensive production from their Bigs and assuming their pick at 6 is a G they can feel good about a well rounded draft.

Walt has Traore here as well. This fit is ideal. The Nets have Russell as a PG and then other guys that also will bring the ball up…sorry Keon Johnson or Cam Thomas but I'm just going by assist ratio and if its not north of 15 I'd argue your a scoring guard who passes it sometimes.

I would think the heat would be looking for SG or a 4. If the top tier of Guards are already gone then I think a guy like Newell would work.

Yahoo calls him the Frenchman which means either the Jazz or the Spurs have to draft him as I understand the unspoken rules of the draft. Rules like the Mavs get the first pick after they give away (trade I suppose) their franchise to the Lakers.

If the Hawks go big with their pick at 13 than it makes sense for them to get more depth with their second pick. Clifford is around 15ish in Yahoo and theringer. So he's up.

Even if the Pacers go on to beat OKC they surely will have a healthy respect for what length can do for you on defense. If so Penda with a 6'11 wingspan and the defensive versatility that comes with it would be a great fit.

I just talked about Penda giving the Pacers some length with Penda but here is leming with a reported 7'5 wingspan. Perhaps I should flip these picks but I like OKC going lengthier still.

I'm figuring the Magic would like to take a flier on a PG given Suggs injury. If they don't take a guard at 16 figure they'll take one here. Yahoo says he's a crafty lefty playmaker. He lead his team in assists. He's not the most athletic but at 6'5 if he's the PG that should be OK..especially on the otherwise plenty athletic Magic.

With back-2-back picks it make sense to take one player that can give the fan base something right away…sounds like Clayton Jr. is that guy per theRinger. And then with their next pick they can go long term.

A nice bit of NBA potential to stash away for a year while hopefully other things happen to help sort this team out.

I agree with Walt. Wolf feels like the successor to Al Horford for the Celtics. And they'll use him perfectly and he'll prove to be an annoyingly solid NBA player who in Boston tradition will play his absbolute best, never missing a shot, against my Sixers…I friggin hate the Celtics.

The Suns aren't short on wings but they are of the polished skill variety. Thiero I'd argue can give them some grit. Yahoo compares him to Jae Crowder for example.

Yahoo and theRinger have Riley going somewhere late in the first round and I'm all out of first round. The ringer dreams of him being tutored by Booker for the Suns and says he has 'a spicy, competitive nature'. Yahoo says he's rough around the edges and 'lacks fundamentals' Clippers don't need to plug him in right away.