Re-Drafting the 2025 NBA Rookie Class After Preseason
As the 2025-26 NBA regular season gets set to kick off, this year's rookie class will be a fun one to watch.
It's fair to wonder how many NBA teams would make the same choice in a redraft, however, as free agency, summer league and now the preseason have given us more context on how every rookie fits into their new homes.
Relax, Dallas Mavericks fans, Cooper Flagg would still go No. 1 overall. Would a strong early showing from Ace Bailey cause him to go higher than No. 5, though? Would Jase Richardson still fall to No. 25? How much would a torn ACL affect Thomas Sorber's stock?
Here's what the 2025 NBA draft would look like if it took place today.
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg
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Original Pick: Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg's Original Draft Position: No. 1
Cooper Flagg hasn't put up the best shooting numbers this preseason, although there's certainly no reason to panic. The Dallas Mavericks have experimented with him at point guard, a position he'll see a lot of this season while Kyrie Irving returns from a torn ACL.
Dylan Harper may be the better fit here on a frontcourt-heavy roster, but Flagg's upside was simply too high to pass on.
The Mavs don't hesitate for a second in taking Flagg No. 1 again here, as he's been the consensus top pick for the last year and should win Rookie of the Year.
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper
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Original Pick: Dylan Harper
Dylan Harper's Original Draft Position: No. 2
The gap between Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper isn't all that wide, as the latter has unsurprisingly impressed this preseason.
The 19-year-old looks like a veteran with his patience and poise, already showing the ability to dissect a defense and get to the rim while mastering the pick-and-roll.
Wings like VJ Edgecombe and Ace Bailey would have been better fits on a Spurs team that already features De'Aaron Fox on a max contract and Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, although Harper's ceiling is far greater than both.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe
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Original Pick: VJ Edgecombe
VJ Edgecombe's Original Draft Position: No. 3
We're three picks in and so far every team should be confident in their original selections.
VJ Edgecombe hasn't shot the ball well in preseason (31.8 percent) although he's showcased his ability as a scorer, passer, defender and potential as one of the most athletic players in the NBA already.
He'll be a breath of fresh air in a Philadelphia 76ers locker room that needs a spark of joy given the struggles of last season.
The Sixers take a quick peak at Ace Bailey's preseason tape, but they keep Edgecombe as their selection.
4. Charlotte Hornets: Ace Bailey
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Original Pick: Kon Knueppel
Ace Bailey's Original Draft Position: No. 5
Finally, some drama.
Kon Knueppel should have a fine pro career as a starting wing, although his upside has never come close to that of Ace Bailey's.
The Charlotte Hornets shouldn't be afraid to pass on Knueppel for Bailey this time around, even if the former is the better fit for this roster as constructed. Given this is the 10-year anniversary of the Hornets' last trip to the playoffs, however, talent accumulation should still be priority No. 1.
Bailey's 16.0 points per game this preseason rank first among all rookies who have played in two games or more, and he's getting his buckets on incredible efficiency (58.8 percent shooting overall, 41.7 percent from three).
5: Utah Jazz: Tre Johnson
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Original Pick: Ace Bailey
Tre Johnson's Original Draft Position: No. 6
Ace Bailey being off the board means the Utah Jazz are forced into making a new selection.
No more Jordan Clarkson or Collin Sexton on the roster opens up a potentially big role for Tre Johnson, who looks like a certified bucket-getter going back to his time at Texas. It would also mean giving Cody Williams more minutes to develop on the wing alongside Lauri Markkanen.
Utah needs a potential star and were likely thrilled Bailey fell to them. They should be nearly as excited about Johnson, who would immediately become one of the team's leading scorers.
6. Washington Wizards: Kon Knueppel
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Original Pick: Tre Johnson
Kon Knueppel's Original Draft Position: No. 4
Kon Knueppel's mini slide ends here, as the Washington Wizards desperately need his outside shooting.
The Wizards ranked 29th out of 30 NBA teams in three-point accuracy last year (33.5 percent) and should be thrilled to land Knueppel, widely regarded as the draft's best shooter after he made 40.6 percent of his treys at Duke as a freshman.
Jeremiah Fears would likely be in consideration here as well, although he wasn't as nearly efficient during his time in college (28.4 percent from three).
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jase Richardson
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Original Pick: Jeremiah Fears
Jase Richardson's Original Draft Position: No. 25
Jeremiah Fears has not shot the ball well this preseason (32.0 percent overall, 12.5 percent from three), a disappointing sign for a player who also struggled at Oklahoma with his efficiency.
If the Pelicans feel Jordan Poole can handle point guard duties until Dejounte Murray returns from a torn Achilles, we could see a change at No. 7 here.
Jase Richardson falling to No. 25 seemed like a mistake at the time and is only looking worse the more we see him in action.
Richardson is averaging 11.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in his 21.0 minutes this preseason while nailing 70.0 percent of his three-pointers (7-of-10). Height concerns likely caused him to fall in the draft, but he will end up looking like a top-10 pick.
8. Brooklyn Nets: Jeremiah Fears
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Original Pick: Egor Dёmin
Jeremiah Fears' Original Draft Position: No. 7
The Brooklyn Nets should be thrilled if Jeremiah Fears fell to them. Despite the shooting concerns, he has the most star potential of any player remaining on this list, even more so than Egor Demin, their real-life pick.
Brooklyn is very much in the "best talent available" stage of its rebuild, as even Cam Thomas isn't under contract past this year.
With three more first-round picks to go, snagging Fears at No. 8 overall would have been a heck of a start for the Nets.
9. Toronto Raptors: Yang Hansen
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Original Pick: Collin Murray-Boyles
Yang Hansen's Original Draft Position: No. 15
The Toronto Raptors have done little this offseason to address their shooting woes, with Collin Murray-Boyles making just 16.7 percent of his preseason three-pointers.
Adding a poor outside-shooting big to a frontcourt of Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl was a questionable move at the time and hasn't looked any more encouraging since.
Hansen's upside is worth gambling on here. The 7'1" center is averaging 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and shooting 40.0 percent from three in 19.2 minutes a game this preseason, looking ahead of schedule in his projected development.
He would be a far better fit for the Raptors and actually give them some floor-spacing.
10. Phoenix Suns: Egor Demin
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Original Pick: Khaman Maluach
Egor Dёmin's Original Draft Position: No. 8
Originally drafting Khaman Maluach made a lot of sense for the Phoenix Suns on draft night, until the team traded their late first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams.
If the team is committed to Williams (who becomes a restricted free agent next summer), their focus should shift from center to point guard.
Demin would have made a lot of sense for the Suns, who are still set to use Devin Booker at point guard despite him being a natural two-guard.
Tyus Jones left to sign with the Orlando Magic, leaving Phoenix short on table setters. Demin has some real playmaking ability at 6'8" and would have been a strong fit with the Suns.
11. Memphis Grizzlies: Cedric Coward
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Original Pick: Cedric Coward
Cedric Coward's Original Draft Position: No. 11
The Memphis Grizzlies traded up to this spot for the specific reason of drafting Cedric Coward, so there's no reason to believe they would pass on him now.
The Grizz gave up the No. 16 overall pick, an unprotected first-round pick from the Orlando Magic in 2028 and two second-round selections to move up to get Coward, a hefty price for a player they really like to place between Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Coward has struggled this preseason (1-of-15 from three, 6.7 percent) and will have to show a lot more to beat out last year's rookie surprise, Jaylen Wells, for the starting small forward job.
12. Chicago Bulls: Khaman Maluach
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Original Pick: Noa Essengue
Khaman Maluach's Original Draft Position: No. 10
Originally off the board already, the Chicago Bulls should be thrilled to get Khaman Maluach here.
Nikola Vučević is about a week shy of his 35th birthday and will be a free agent next offseason. The Bulls need to find their next franchise center to pair with Josh Giddey, Mastas Buzelis, Coby White and others, an area they didn't fill by selecting forward Noa Essengue.
Maluach won't ever become the offensive force Vučević is now, although he'll be a far better rim protector who will legitimately be able to anchor an NBA defense.
13. New Orleans Pelicans: Derik Queen
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Original Pick: Derik Queen
Derik Queen 's Original Draft Position: No. 13
Much like Cedric Coward still going to the Memphis Grizzlies, the New Orleans Pelicans gave up far too much in their trade up for Derik Queen to select anyone else.
The Pels parted with a 2026 unprotected first-round pick (the more favorable between New Orleans and the Milwaukee Bucks) in order to move up 10 spots to select Queen, a player who's set to come off the bench behind Zion Williamson and Yves Missi.
Joe Dumars sticks with his guy here and now possesses both Queen and Jase Richardson in our re-draft.
14. San Antonio Spurs: Carter Bryant
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Original Pick: Carter Bryant
Carter Bryant's Original Draft Position: No. 14
Carter Bryant looked like the perfect selection for the San Antonio Spurs in the real draft, a 6'8" forward who can defend and knock down threes between Victor Wembanyana and the three-headed guard monster in the backcourt.
There's no reason to take anyone else here.
Bryant has been solid in four preseason games (9.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 35.7 percent from three in 19.7 minutes) and has landed in an ideal situation in San Antonio.
As long as he continues to make the right reads with the ball, connect on his open shots and be able to guard multiple positions, Bryant will be just what the Spurs need.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Collin Murray-Boyles
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Original Pick: Thomas Sorber
Collin Murray-Boyles's Original Draft Position: No. 9
Thomas Sorber was never going to make a huge impact on a loaded Oklahoma City Thunder team this season, and an unfortunate ACL injury means he'll have to wait until next season to try to make the rotation.
In a re-draft, OKC should be thrilled to scoop up Collin Murray-Boyles here.
It's easy to imagine the 6'7" power forward lining up alongside Chet Holmgren in the frontcourt for stretches, as his strong frame and defensive skills would pair nicely alongside Holmgren's three-point shooting and rim protection.
16. Portland Trail Blazers: Thomas Sorber
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Original Pick: Yang Hansen
Thomas Sorber's Original Draft Position: No. 14
Thomas Sorber doesn't have to wait long to hear his name called in a re-draft, as the Portland Trail Blazers now need a backup center with Yang Hansen off the board.
This is a franchise that can be patient with Sorber as he makes his return from a torn ACL. Donovan Clingan is already entrenched as the starter, and Robert Williams III still has one year remaining on his contract.
Sorber would return next season when Williams hits free agency and make an ideal rotation center with his defense, rebounding and finishing ability around the rim.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Walter Clayton Jr.
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Original Pick: Joan Beringer
Walter Clayton Jr.'s Original Draft Position: No. 17
In real life, Joan Beringer found the perfect mentor in fellow countryman Rudy Gobert, although the Minnesota Timberwolves need to find their next franchise point guard rather than add yet another big man to the rotation.
Mike Conley Jr. just celebrated his 38th birthday. Rob Dillingham didn't look close to being a playoff contributor last season. Picking Clayton, 22, would give the Wolves a young guard who has the experience necessary to contribute immediately after leading the Florida Gators to a title.
Clayton is averaging 11.7 points, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals in preseason action for the Utah Jazz. It's easy to picture how well he would have fit into a backcourt with Anthony Edwards and helped Minnesota compete for a title.
18. Utah Jazz: Noa Essengue
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Original Pick: Walter Clayton Jr.
Noa Essengue's Original Draft Position: No. 12
In this re-draft, the Utah Jazz were forced to take Tre Johnson with Ace Bailey off the board at No. 5. Now, this team should be looking for a wing to pair with its new shooting guard.
Noa Essengue has struggled this preseason (5.0 points, 2.7 rebounds 1.0 assists, 33.0 percent shooting overall, 16.7 percent from three), yet he has enough upside for the Jazz to warrant taking him here.
Is a tandem of Johnson and Essengue better than Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr.? Probably not. Jazz fans should be happy with their real-life draft outcome.
19. Brooklyn Nets: Joan Beringer
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Original Pick: Nolan Traoré
Joan Beringer's Original Draft Position: No. 17
The future of Nic Claxton with the Brooklyn Nets is very much in doubt given how deep into the rebuild this franchise has plunged. Finding a new center to build around should be one of the team's goals with five first-round picks.
Joan Beringer is still just 18 and scratching the surface of what he can become. Preseason has shown us his ability to put immense pressure on the rim on both ends, as he pairs with Jeremiah Fears in this re-draft as a pick-and-roll partner.
Able to run the floor with ease, Beringer doesn't need plays run for him to make a big impact on offense. He'll crash the glass, set screens and suck defenses into the paint on hard rolls.
20. Miami Heat: Kasparas Jakučionis
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Original Pick: Kasparas Jakučionis
Kasparas Jakučionis' Original Draft Position: No. 20
Kasparas Jakučionis has been a bit of a mixed bag this preseason.
It's easy to see why the Miami Heat selected him at No. 20 and why he's still pegged to go there now. The passing and vision packed into a 6'6" frame is something all 30 NBA teams desire, and the Heat needed a true point guard in their rotation.
In his pair of preseason games, however, Jakučionis shot just 28.6 percent overall, with the majority of his attempts coming from behind the three-point line. After converting just 31.8 percent of his looks at Illinois last season, he will need to continue to develop his outside shot to pair with his already impressive passing game.
21. Washington Wizards: Tyrese Proctor
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Original Pick: Will Riley
Tyrese Proctor's Original Draft Position: No. 49
It's possible we overlooked Tyrese Proctor in the draft process.
A three-year starter at Duke, he was never the star of the show with players like Cooper Flagg, Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski around. At nearly any other college in the country, however, Proctor likely would have looked like a first-round pick.
A 6'5" guard with a smooth shooting stroke, Proctor averaged 11.0 points and 3.3 assists in preseason for the Cleveland Cavaliers, looking like one of the steals of the draft thus far.
The Wizards would be happy to take a guard like Proctor here after landing another sweet-shooting wing in Kon Knueppel earlier.
22. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell
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Original Pick: Drake Powell
Drake Powell's Original Draft Position: No. 22
The Brooklyn Nets have already selected point guard Jeremiah Fears and center Joan Beringer in our re-draft, so keeping a two-way wing in Drake Powell makes sense here.
Powell has elite defensive potential with his 6'6" size and athleticism. He's probably never going to be a big-time scorer in the NBA, and that's OK. Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. should be more than happy to take some extra shots.
Powell's job will be to space the floor on offense and wreak havoc on the defensive end. Brooklyn should be happy to take him (again).
23. Atlanta Hawks: Asa Newell
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Original Pick: Asa Newell
Asa Newell's Original Draft Position: No. 23
If the Atlanta Hawks had the opportunity to trade back 10 spots and pick up an unprotected first-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans again, we're going to go out on a limb and say they would.
Asa Newell is a great consolation prize at No. 23 and gives the Hawks some frontcourt insurance in case Kristaps Porziņģis continues to deal with injuries. The former Georgia standout again gets to stay home.
Three-point shooting will continue to be a concern as Newell followed up a 29.2 percent clip in college with an 11.1 percent mark in three preseason games.
24. Sacramento Kings: Nique Clifford
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Original Pick: Nique Clifford
Nique Clifford's Original Draft Position: No. 24
The Sacramento Kings' selection of Nique Clifford is perhaps even more important now with Keegan Murray expected to miss at least the first 10 games of the regular season with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb.
Sacramento needs wings who can defend, which means it will stick with Clifford here.
The 23-year-old has also been one of the highest scoring rookies this preseason, averaging 12.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 24.9 minutes.
25. Orlando Magic: Chaz Lanier
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Original Pick: Jase Richardson
Chaz Lanier's Original Draft Position: No. 37
Sorry, Orlando Magic fans. Jase Richardson is just too good of a prospect to fall this far again.
This roster still needs shooting ability, though, and Chaz Lanier's strong preseason play proves he should have been selected higher than the early second round.
Lanier ranks third among all rookies this preseason in made threes per game (2.5) and is making 41.7 percent of his looks. For a Magic team that finished dead-last in the NBA in three-point accuracy (31.8 percent), his floor-spacing would be a beautiful fit.
26. Brooklyn Nets: Will Riley
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Original Pick: Ben Saraf
Will Riley's Original Draft Position: No. 21
The Brooklyn Nets have already selected Jeremiah Fears, Joan Beringer and Drake Powell in our re-draft and dip into the wing pool again with their fourth first-round selection.
Will Riley has the kind of upside this Nets franchise should be compiling, as the 19-year-old has enjoyed a strong preseason.
With averages of 10.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists on 50.0 percent shooting, he joins a young Nets team that could find a rotation spot for him immediately.
27. Brooklyn Nets: Danny Wolf
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Original Pick: Danny Wolf
Danny Wolf's Original Draft Position: No. 27
The last of the Brooklyn Nets' five first-round picks should look familiar.
Danny Wolf is versatile enough as a point-center to play with any lineup combinations and has averaged 8.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists on 61.5 percent shooting in just 13.5 minutes per game this preseason.
He can play either side of the pick-and-roll, go coast-to-coast in transition and space the floor. Even after selecting Joan Beringer, Wolf makes sense as a second big due to their different skill sets.
28. Boston Celtics: Ryan Kalkbrenner
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Original Pick: Hugo González
Ryan Kalkbrenner's Original Draft Position: No. 34
It's no secret that the Boston Celtics' frontcourt got depleted this offseason. A Chris Boucher signing has done little to change that.
The Celtics steal Ryan Kalkbrenner one pick ahead of the Charlotte Hornets here and should be encouraged by his preseason play. He leads all rookies in rebounding (8.0 per game) to go along with 11.0 points, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks on 78.9 percent shooting in 20.6 minutes.
The 7'1" center would have gotten his share of starts for Boston this season, a team that should have selected the four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year.
29. Charlotte Hornets: Yanic Konan Niederhauser
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Original Pick: Liam McNeeley
Yanic Konan Niederhäuser's Original Draft Position: No. 30
With no Ryan Kalkbrenner left on the board and with a center room that looks even worse than that of the Boston Celtics, the Charlotte Hornets would be determined to get a big man here.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser went just one spot after this in the real draft, so Charlotte isn't reaching much. He is a better physical prospect than Kalkbrenner, able to run the floor with ease and be a vertical lob threat for LaMelo Ball.
The Hornets finish our redraft with Ace Bailey and Niederhauser, giving them another wing with star power and some center depth.
30. Los Angeles Clippers: Ben Saraf
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Original Pick: Yanic Konan Niederhäuser
Ben Saraf's Original Draft Position: No. 26
The Los Angeles Clippers see their original draft pick go just one spot ahead of them, although they selected Yanic Konan Niederhauser before signing Brook Lopez this summer. They'll be just fine at center for one more year at least.
The idea of getting 6'6" point guard Ben Saraf in the building and letting him learn behind James Harden is too intriguing to pass up.
The 19-year-old is leading all members of the 2025 draft class with 5.7 assists this preseason to go along with 7.3 points on 50.0 percent shooting.
Los Angeles desperately needs young offensive talent to build behind its grizzled veterans. At No. 30 overall, Saraf would be a steal.
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