Tag: 2025 NBA Draft

Nets projected to take Duke’s Cooper Flagg with #1 pick in 2025 NBA Draft

Adam Finkelstein and Travis Branham of CBS Sports projected that the Brooklyn Nets to take Duke’s Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft.

The Brooklyn Nets had been expected to be one of the teams that tries its best to put itself in position to make it back to the playoffs next season. All of that changed when Brooklyn traded away Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, but the Nets should be rewarded for their commitment to their rebuild.

When the Nets traded Bridges to the Knicks on Tuesday, they also made another trade with the Houston Rockets in which they got back their own first-round pick for the 2025 NBA Draft. With Brooklyn expected to be one of the worst teams in the NBA as they’re definitely heading into a full rebuild, they should have the chance to draft Cooper Flagg, according to Adam Finkelstein and Travis Branham of CBS Sports.

It should be noted that the rules pertaining to the Draft are different in the sense that there are different tiers in which teams have specified towards getting a specific pick, which is how the Atlanta Hawks were rewards the first overall pick despite having a better record than nine other teams in the 2023-24 season. That means that while the Nets should be one of the worst teams in the league, it doesn’t mean that they’re guaranteed to be rewarded according to their record.

However, for the sake of the way-too-early 2025 NBA Draft projections, the Nets are expected to be in position to take Flagg, a player that many expect to be a generational talent after being one of the best high school players in the United States in recent memory. Here’s what Finkelstein and Branham wrote about Brooklyn selecting Flagg:

“The top-ranked prospect in the national high school class of 2024 is arguably the most anticipated college freshman since Zion Williamson. Flagg is a 6-foot-9 native of Maine who reclassified up last summer, essentially skipping a grade of high school, and wouldn’t even be eligible for next year’s draft if he were born ten days later. Instead, he enters college basketball with the early expectations of being the top overall pick. He’s an exceptional defensive player, and one of the best non-seven-foot shot-blockers I’ve ever evaluated. Offensively, he’s an exceptional passer with some point forward type potential, but the extent to which he is able and willing to step into a signature role offensively will be one variable scouts follow next year.”

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Duke commit Cooper Flagg named to USA Basketball select team ahead of Paris Olympics

Duke commit Cooper Flagg is among the 15 players named to the USA Basketball select team ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Duke Blue Devils commit Cooper Flagg is among the 15 players named to the USA Basketball select team that will train with the senior national team ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Flagg, the consensus No. 1 recruit in the class of 2024, is the lone collegiate player on the roster, which will be led by Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley. He is the first collegian to participate with the select team since Doug McDermott and Marcus Smart in 2013.

The select team will practice and scrimmage daily against the senior roster July 6-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team boasts 12 current players in the NBA or G League and 10 players with USA Basketball experience at the junior and senior levels.

USA Basketball previously announced the 12-man roster for the 2024 Olympic Games with NBA All-Stars LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis and Devin Booker headlining the group.

The U.S. qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games by finishing as one of the top two teams in the Americas region of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, despite failing to medal. The group, led by Anthony Edwards, Austin Reaves and Mikal Bridges, finished fourth.

They were selected to compete in Group C. The Americans, who will be coached by Steve Kerr, Erik Spoelstra, Tyronn Lue and Mark Few, will open on July 28 against Serbia and face South Sudan on July 31 and a team still to earn a berth on Aug. 3.

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New 2025 NBA mock draft from ESPN weighs Cooper Flagg’s chances to go first overall

At this point in his hype, Cooper Flagg’s only competition seems to be historic. On Friday, ESPN asked if his status as top dog is locked.

Based on the hype he’s received and the words thrown around about his talent, the competition for [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] seems to revolve around ghosts more than other college basketball players.

The debates, to this point, haven’t been whether Flagg is better than any other freshman in his class. The questions have been whether he’s the best prospect since Zion Williamson or Anthony Davis, looking at the last decade of No. 1 picks.

On Friday, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released an early 2025 NBA mock draft, and while the duo had Flagg go first overall to the Detroit Pistons, they did take a second to break down whether the future Duke star’s a lock to be the first player off the board.

Givony espoused praise for Flagg’s ability on both ends of the floor. His athleticism has always been his selling point, but the longtime NBA draft writer circled an improved jump shot as a reason for even more optimism. However, even with that considered, he mentioned Rutgers commits Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper as potential threats to his status.

“Some NBA teams say they have Harper ranked No. 1 in the 2025 class, but others are enamored with Bailey’s upside,” Givony wrote. “However, most are sticking with the status quo with Flagg as the early favorite since he’s clearly the most accomplished of the group.”

Givony said the pressure on Flagg once the 2024-25 season kicks off will be intense, but as of June, there seems to be no reason to think he won’t be the top player on the board in 12 months.

Pair of Oregon Ducks go in 1st round of 2025 NBA Mock Draft

A pair of Oregon Ducks are projected to be selected in the latest 2025 NBA mock draft.

We didn’t see any Oregon Ducks get selected in the 2024 NBA Draft this week, though N’Faly Dante did sign a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets when all was said and done.

Going forward, though, that is expected to change.

Now that the 2024 draft is behind us, all eyes are looking forward to the 2025 draft now, with some impressive talent set to come off the board. For the Ducks, there is a pair of players who are expected to be drafted in the first round, one of whom is projected to go in the lottery.

According to the latest 2025 NBA mock draft from CBS Sports, Oregon sophomore Kwame Evans is projected to go to the Houston Rockets with the No. 11 pick in the draft.

A jumbo southpaw wing who covers the court effortlessly with extreme fluidity, Evans may never be an alpha type scorer or playmaker but he’s a projectable shooter, virtually ambidextrous, and has defensive upside. He might have had some real NBA intrigue this year but opted to go back to Oregon for his sophomore season.

Meanwhile, fellow Oregon sophomore Jackson Shelstad is projected to come off the board next, going to the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 24 pick.

Shelstad is a potent scorer out of Oregon who can fill it up in a hurry. He lacks size for a scorer at just 6-foot-1 but he has lots of game and if he proves himself as a playmaker, he could become a household name in college basketball.

If both of these players end up going this early in the draft, it likely means that the Ducks had a great season in 2024-25, so I have a feeling that Oregon fans would be okay with that.

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ESPN ranks Cooper Flagg as the early No. 1 prospect for the 2025 NBA draft

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony released his early top five for the 2025 NBA draft on Thursday, and future Blue Devil Cooper Flagg sat atop the list.

The 2024 NBA draft hadn’t even fully stopped yet before people started looking to 2025.

Next year’s class is expected to be one of the best in recent memory with franchise-changing players up and down the board. According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, however, none are more enticing than [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag].

Givony revealed his early top five prospects for the 2025 cycle on Thursday afternoon, immediately after the conclusion of the 2024 draft, and he put Flagg atop the list. The consensus No. 1 player in the Class of 2024 will begin his collegiate career in Durham later this fall, leading a class of five other top-40 freshmen.

As a 6-foot-9 forward with eye-popping athleticism, Flagg is viewed as a class-defining athlete who dominates on the defensive end. The word ‘generational’ keeps getting thrown around for the star who led Montverde Academy to an undefeated season as a senior. He’s the highest-rated Duke commit in program history, according to 247Sports.

Two Rutgers commits, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, followed Flagg in second and third.

It isn’t just Flagg’s physicality winning scouts over, however. Duke head coach Jon Scheyer praised him as a competitor with a constant motor, a trait the Blue Devils built their 2024-25 team around.

Incoming Alabama freshman receives first-round projection in 2025 NBA mock draft

While it is still a year away, one Alabama basketball freshman is already earning first-round NBA draft grades.

Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball head coach Nate Oats has revived the program with sustained success on the court, on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal. After reaching the Final Four of March Madness for the first time in Crimson Tide history, Oats may be on the verge of sending another set of players to the NBA.

In 2024, Alabama managed to retain most of its talented roster, which helped guide the team to a deep NCAA Tournament run. As a result, the NBA draft did not feature any Crimson Tide standouts. However, that could change next year.

In a recent way-too-early 2025 NBA mock draft, Adam Finkelstein and Travis Branham projects incoming Alabama freshman small forward Derrion Reid to be selected No. 29 overall to the Orlando Magic.

“Reid is a versatile forward with size, length, athleticism and versatility on both ends of the court. He is at his best as a slasher, defender and rebounder but has also shown promising flashes as a playmaker and has grown as a shooter entering college.”

Reid committed to Alabama in December of 2023, and is one of the highest-rated recruits landed by Oats. He ranked No. 9 in the ESPN 100, and ranked No. 16 in the nation, according to 247Sports, which also tabbed Reid as a five-star prospect.

After committing to Alabama, Reid credited Oats for being a large part in the decision.

“I love their play style and the coaches,” Reid told ESPN. “Coach Oats gets his players better. I believe I can make an immediate impact and get better in all aspects of my game so I can get to the league. Coach Oats is a great person to be around and learn from.”

While the 2025 NBA draft isn’t for another year, it’s important for fans to get familiar with potential stars on the upcoming Crimson Tide roster as the team looks to not only return to the Final Four, but build upon this success as the program seeks a national championship.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama basketball news as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

The Athletic basketball writer raves about incoming Duke freshman Kon Knueppel

Every set of eyes will be on Cooper Flagg next season, but one senior writer for The Athletic adores another member of Duke’s freshman class.

No player in the country will balance more 2025 NBA draft hype than Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, the consensus No. 1 player in the incoming freshman class.

According to The Athletic senior writer Sam Vecenie, however, there’s another Blue Devil newcomer that fans should keep an eye on.

Vecenie revealed his early 2025 mock draft would be published next week after the 2024 edition concludes on Thursday, and he’s particularly bullish on Kon Knueppel. He commented on some footage of Duke’s first scrimmages to confirm that Knueppel will be a first-round pick in his projections.

“I get the athleticism. I don’t care,” Vecenie wrote. “Think he’s just an absolute stud and will be Duke’s second-best freshman this year.”

Knueppel, who was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Wisconsin this year, was one of four five-star signees in Duke’s esteemed 2024 recruiting class. 247Sports ranked him as the 17th overall player in the class, and he measures out at 6-foot-7 and 217 pounds on the team roster.

Knueppel’s highlights from the scrimmage showed him knocking down two 3-pointers, a beautiful reverse layup off the glass, and a one-handed breakaway dunk.

Report: Spanish forward Izan Almansa to withdraw from 2024 NBA draft

Izan Almansa will withdraw from the 2024 NBA draft and explore his professional options for next season.

Izan Almansa, a 6-foot-10 forward from Spain, will withdraw from the 2024 NBA draft and explore his professional options for next season, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Almansa averaged 10.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 54.3% shooting from the field with the G League Ignite. He registered five games with at least 20 points, including a season-high 23 points and five rebounds on Jan. 2.

He had until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday to withdraw from the draft.

The 19-year-old competed in the draft combine last month in Chicago, Illinois. He was considered a potential second-round pick, given his ability as a defender and prior professional experience before signing with the Ignite last year.

Almansa began playing professional basketball at 16 years old with the Real Madrid junior team in the Liga EBA. He then spent one year each with Team OTE and YNG Dreamerz at Overtime Elite before signing with the Ignite in June 2023.

He has also represented Spain several times at the junior level, earning Most Valuable Player at the 2022 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, 2022 FIBA U18 European Championship and 2023 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. He averaged 16.9 points and 7.1 rebounds last year.

Almansa will now look to play with another team next season and establish himself as a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft. He will need to improve his offensive skill set and shooting ability and has shown promise to reach that potential.

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Khaman Maluach named to South Sudan’s 25-man prelim roster for 2024 Olympic Games

Duke commit Khaman Maluach was among the 25 players named to South Sudan’s training camp roster for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Duke Blue Devils commit Khaman Maluach was among the 25 players named to South Sudan’s training camp roster for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

The preliminary roster, which was reduced from 50 players, includes several others from the group that claimed a berth in the Olympic Games by finishing as the top African team in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, such as Wenyen Gabriel, Peter Jok, Carlik Jones and Marial Shayok.

South Sudan, whose president and assistant coach is former 15-year NBA veteran Luol Deng, also added newcomers like Bol Bol, Makur Maker, Thon Maker and JT Thor, among others. The team will eventually reduce its roster to 12 players for the Games.

South Sudan will open the Olympics in Group C, along with Serbia, the United States and a team still to earn a berth. The group will begin its preparations with exhibition games against Great Britain (July 18) and the U.S. (July 20).

Maluach became the third-youngest player to suit up in the FIBA Basketball World Cup last year with South Sudan. He totaled eight points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in four games to help South Sudan claim its first berth in the Olympic Games.

The 7-footer is considered a potential top-five pick in the 2025 NBA draft as an international prospect born in 2006. He is highly touted for his size and versatility as a player who can shoot and defend, with his reported 7-foot, 4 1/2-inch wingspan and 9-foot, 8-inch standing reach.

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Report: Pelicans to defer Lakers’ first-round draft pick to 2025

The Pelicans will reportedly defer the first-round pick owed to them from the Lakers to 2025.

The New Orleans Pelicans will reportedly defer the 2024 first-round pick owed to them from the Los Angeles Lakers to 2025, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The Pelicans are to receive the pick as part of the Anthony Davis trade with the Lakers. They have already acquired two picks from the deal and will opt to receive the final pick next year, giving the Lakers the 17th overall selection this month.

New Orleans had until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday to decide on the pick.

The two teams agreed to the trade in June 2019, with the Lakers sending Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and three first-round picks to the Pelicans.

After deferring the Lakers’ first-round pick to 2025, the Pelicans have the 21st pick in the draft this year. The Lakers also have the 55th pick in the second round to pair with the 17th pick.

The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.

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