Re-Drafting Every 1st Round Pick From 2025 NBA Draft
The 2025 NBA rookie class is off to an impressive start, with a number of top prospects (and second-round surprises) already making an impact.
How different would the 2025 draft look if it took place today?
Cooper Flagg hasn't been the best rookie to this point, so would he still go No. 1? Would Kon Knueppel jump higher than No. 4? How much earlier would his Charlotte Hornets teammate Ryan Kalkbrenner go after falling to the second round in June?
Here's how the entire first round would shake out now roughly a quarter of the way through the season.
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 been the best rookie this season, as former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel can claim that honor. That doesn't mean the Dallas Mavericks would consider anyone else, though.
Flagg is still putting up an impressive stat line with 17.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He recently passed LeBron James as the youngest player in history to score 35 points in a game.
That's what we need to keep reminding ourselves of. Still just 18, Flagg is the same age as most high school seniors and five years younger than fellow rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner. He's going to look like the best player in this class sooner than we think.
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper
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Original Pick: Dylan Harper
Dylan Harper's Original Draft Position: No. 2
A calf injury has knocked out roughly half of Harper's rookie season thus far, although he's still shown enough to warrant going No. 2 overall.
Harper looks like a young James Harden. He understands how to break down a defense, use his body to absorb contact and finish gracefully around the rim. His game is built perfectly for the modern NBA, especially if his three-point shot continues to rise.
A player who would have overwhelmingly gone first overall in 2024, Harper is a future All-Star who the Spurs are happy to keep here.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe
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Original Pick: VJ Edgecombe
VJ Edgecombe's Original Draft Position: No. 3
VJ Edgecombe looked like the NBA's best rookie over the first few weeks, although his hot start has begun to cool.
This could have more to do with the workload that he's being tasked with, as he is still leading all rookies in minutes (35.6), ranking 10th overall in the entire NBA.
Perhaps the most exciting first-year player to watch given his jaw-dropping athleticism, this was a home run pick for the Philadelphia 76ers to pair with Tyrese Maxey moving forward.
4. Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel
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Original Pick: Kon Knueppel
Kon Knueppel's Original Draft Position: No. 4
Kon Knueppel has been the best rookie thus far, with his 18.1 points per game leading all first-year players. Mix in a sparkling 40.7 percent mark from deep, 5.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game and the 20-year-old is proving why he was a top-four pick.
His 3.4 made threes per game already rank No. 11 overall in the NBA, and he's definitely the only player to host his team for a meal at mom and dads and nab a spot on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon this season.
One of the lone bright spots on what's becoming another lost season in Charlotte, the Hornets at least made the correct draft pick.
5. Utah Jazz: Cedric Coward
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Original Pick: Ace Bailey
Cedric Coward's Original Draft Position: No. 11
Finally, we get our first shake up of the draft.
Bailey has been better as of late, although Cedric Coward has consistently been the superior rookie this season.
Coward ranks No. 6 in scoring among all rookies (13.0 points), is No. 5 in rebounds (5.6) and 11th in assists (2.6), showing off his complete game.
Owning a three-point mark of 41.0 percent over his first 16 contests, he has shown off three-level scoring ability. His overall upside at age 22 may not be as high as Bailey's, but Coward is probably the safer pick who should have gone much higher in the draft had he not been hurt for much of his final college season.
6. Washington Wizards: Ace Bailey
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Original Pick: Tre Johnson
Ace Bailey's Original Draft Position: No. 5
Bailey doesn't have to wait long to hear his name called in this re-draft.
Dropping just a single spot, he has overcome a slow start, one that's improved since he entered the Utah Jazz's starting lineup.
After averaging just 5.9 points on 33.9 percent shooting overall in his first nine games off the bench, his numbers have popped to 13.1 points on 51.7 percent in 12 starts.
As long as the Washington Wizards can provide him with a consistent role (they can), Bailey's upside is worth taking over Tre Johnson here.
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears
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Original Pick: Jeremiah Fears
Jeremiah Fears' Original Draft Position: No. 7
Both of the New Orleans Pelicans' lottery picks are still on the board here, but (spoiler alert) neither will still be available when they pick again at No. 13.
Fears was the Pels' first selection in the real thing and again lands in the Crescent City now. He currently ranks third among all rookies in scoring (15.9 points) to go along with 3.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and a 38.0 percent shooting mark from three. He also leads all first-year players with 1.5 steals per game.
Not much has gone right in New Orleans this season, although Fears looks like a foundation piece moving forward.
8. Brooklyn Nets: Derik Queen
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Original Pick: Egor Dёmin
Derik Queen's Original Draft Position: No. 13
The Brooklyn Nets make their first of five selections in this re-draft, opting to take big man Derik Queen.
Positions matter little to the rebuilding Nets, though, who take the best rookie available. Queen ranks seventh among his classmates in scoring (12.3 points), third in rebounding (6.1) and second in assists (3.6). He's a terrific passer who will fire some no-look behind-the-back passes or lobs that make you sit up in your seat.
One of the most unique young big men in the NBA, he is worthy of a rise up the board in our re-draft.
9. Toronto Raptors: Tre Johnson
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Original Pick: Collin Murray-Boyles
Tre Johnson's Original Draft Position: No. 6
Shooting guard may not be the Toronto Raptors' primary need, although it would be hard for them to pass on Tre Johnson if he were available here.
The 19-year-old has shot the ball extremely well for a rookie guard, with marks of 50.0 percent from two, 39.5 percent from three and 81.3 percent from the charity line. Consistency has understandably been an issue, though.
Keeping Murray-Boyles would be fine here as well, but Johnson gives the surprisingly good Raptors some added upside.
10. Phoenix Suns: Ryan Kalkbrenner
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Original Pick: Khaman Maluach
Ryan Kalkbrenner's Original Draft Position: No. 34
The highest riser of any player in this re-draft, Kalkbrenner replaces Maluach as the center of choice for the Phoenix Suns.
Kalkbrenner won the starting job for the Charlotte Hornets immediately and leads all rookies in rebounding (6.8 per game) to go along with 9.0 points, 0.8 steals and 1.9 blocks. His 79.8 field goal percentage ranks first among all NBA players who have taken 50 total shots or more.
Maluach is four years younger than Kalkbrenner and has the higher ceiling, although the latter would be helping the surprisingly competitive Suns far more in their playoff chase right now.
11. Memphis Grizzlies: Egor Dёmin
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Original Pick: Cedric Coward
Egor Dёmin's Original Draft Position: No. 8
With Coward off the board the Memphis Grizzlies may be looking for their point guard of the future instead with Ja Morant again sidelined due to injury and now undergoing the worst season of his career.
Egor Dёmin is a 6'8" point guard who's been better since being inserted into the Brooklyn Nets' starting lineup. He is averaging 10.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and shooting 35.5 percent from three as a starter.
The 19-year-old will need to continue to add muscle and look to get to the free-throw line more (just 14 total attempts in 20 games) while building on his strengths as a passer.
12. Chicago Bulls: Khaman Maluach
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Original Pick: Noa Essengue
Khaman Maluach's Original Draft Position: No. 10
Essengue's rookie season lasted all of six minutes, as the 18-year-old will be sidelined for the rest of 2025-26 following shoulder surgery.
It's safe to say the Chicago Bulls might go in a different direction here. Khaman Maluach gives them a raw, yet talented center to learn behind Nikola Vučević for a season and then take over the starting job as a defensive anchor next year.
Maluach has gotten most of his run in the G League to this point, averaging a double-double with 14.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in 28.8 minutes over four games.
13. New Orleans Pelicans: Collin Murray-Boyles
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Original Pick: Derik Queen
Collin Murray-Boyles' Original Draft Position: No. 9
Queen is long gone at this point, leaving the New Orleans Pelicans searching for a different big man to pair with Jeremiah Fears.
Collin Murray-Boyles is a fine consolation prize, as he's shot the ball shockingly well this season. He has already made more three-pointers this season (11) than he did in two years at South Carolina (nine). A 45.8 percent clip from deep is especially impressive considering he shot just 23.1 percent in college.
A good defender, the 20-year-old is worthy of still going in the lottery now.
14. San Antonio Spurs: Carter Bryant
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Original Pick: Carter Bryant
Carter Bryant's Original Draft Position: No. 14
This pick is certainly debatable, as Carter Bryant hasn't been good this season. He just turned 20, however, and the San Antonio Spurs are still off to a 15-6 start.
The Spurs can be patient with Bryant while they continue to rack up wins even with Victor Wembanyama sidelined.
San Antonio has slowly increased Bryant's minutes as of late in hopes he'll grow into a reliable 3-and-D wing that this team will need long-term alongside its plethora of talented guards.
Bryant has done nothing to deserve being a lottery pick to this point, although San Antonio did not need him to provide much offensively right away, either.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thomas Sorber
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Original Pick: Thomas Sorber
Thomas Sorber's Original Draft Position: No. 15
Thomas Sorber will miss the entire 2025-26 season with a torn ACL. With a 21-1 start to the year, however, it's not like the Oklahoma City Thunder need Sorber or any other rookie in this spot.
Like former OKC lottery picks Chet Holmgren and Nikola Topić, the Thunder can afford to be patient while they wait for a rookie to recover from a serious injury.
Oklahoma City sticks with Sorber here and hopes he can become a solid backup center in 2026-27.
16. Portland Trail Blazers: Yang Hansen
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Original Pick: Yang Hansen
Yang Hansen's Original Draft Position: No. 16
The Portland Trail Blazers reaching on Yang Hansen speaks to their belief in his long-term success rather than the 20-year-old's immediate impact. That's good, considering the 7'1" center hasn't looked like an NBA player yet.
Only given sporadic playing time to this point, he is averaging just 2.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 6.8 minutes a game. He did recently record 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the G League Rip City Remix.
Hansen is going to be a project, but his size and passing ability is still worth Portland rolling the dice on here.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jase Richardson
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Original Pick: Joan Beringer
Jase Richardson's Original Draft Position: No. 25
A deep Orlando Magic team has failed to give Jase Richardson the proper runway, although the guard-needy Minnesota Timberwolves could use him alongside Anthony Edwards.
Richardson only recently got some real playing time, averaging 11.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 15.7 minutes over three games. He owns a slash line of 50.0/45.5/85.7 percent thus far during his rookie season.
Minnesota passes on Joan Beringer in favor of Richardson in a redo, hoping for some more immediate production as they chase a top seed in the West.
18. Utah Jazz: Walter Clayton Jr.
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Original Pick: Walter Clayton Jr.
Walter Clayton Jr.'s Original Draft Position: No. 18
Walter Clayton Jr. has shown enough to still be selected at No. 18 overall, even if his shooting efficiency could stand to improve.
After selecting Cedric Coward in this redraft, adding Clayton would now give Utah a pair of 22-year-old rookies to help jump-start this rebuild. At 8-13 to start the season, the Jazz are just a half game out of the play-in picture in the West.
Clayton ranks fifth among all rookies in assists (3.4) and recently scored a season-high 13 points against the Brooklyn Nets.
19. Brooklyn Nets: Ben Saraf
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Original Pick: Nolan Traoré
Ben Saraf's Original Draft Position: No. 26
Ben Saraf stays with the Brooklyn Nets in this re-draft, as the franchise should like what it's seen from the 19-year-old while also needing a guard after selecting Derik Queen at No. 8 overall.
Saraf was over his head when beginning the season as a starter and shot just 27.2 percent from two and 16.7 percent from three over his first five games in this role.
He's been much better as of late off the bench, putting up 8.8 points, 3.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks in 21.5 minutes off the bench while shooting 64 percent on twos and 31.3 percent from outside the arc over his last four games.
A 6'6" guard, the Nets should still want to invest in Saraf long-term.
20. Miami Heat: Will Richard
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Original Pick: Kasparas Jakučionis
Will Richard's Original Draft Position: No. 56
Despite almost going undrafted, Will Richard has been one of the best rookies this season. His upside is limited with a 23rd birthday coming up in a few weeks, although a veteran team like the Miami Heat could definitely use his services.
He dropped 30 points against the Sacramento Kings earlier this season and has already started 10 games for the Golden State Warriors. The Florida product has connected on a whopping 74.5 percent of his two-pointers and 39.4 percent of his threes, looking extremely comfortable to begin his NBA career.
Injuries have held Jakučionis back to this point. Miami would benefit from taking Richard instead.
21. Washington Wizards: Danny Wolf
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Original Pick: Will Riley
Danny Wolf's Original Draft Position: No. 27
We've only consumed a small sample size from Danny Wolf thus far, as injuries delayed the start of his rookie season.
Judging by his last few games, however, he may actually go much higher than this spot. He has showcased his outside shooting, passing and rebounding abilities while averaging 14.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists over his last four contests.
The 21-year-old has a terrific shooting form and can space the floor well for a near seven-footer and is connecting on 44.0 percent of his three-pointers thus far. The Wizards should be thrilled with Ace Bailey and Wolf in this re-draft.
22. Brooklyn Nets: Noa Essengue
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Original Pick: Drake Powell
Noa Essengue's Original Draft Position: No. 12
If there was ever a team to take a chance on Noa Essengue even given his season-ending shoulder surgery, it would be the franchise with five first-round picks.
The 18-year-old played just six total minutes over two games for the Chicago Bulls before suffering what was originally diagnosed as a shoulder contusion. He did average 23 points and 8.2 rebounds a game in the G League with the Windy City Bulls and fills a need on the wing for Brooklyn after the Nets previously selected Derik Queen and Ben Saraf in this re-draft.
Still very young and with good size at 6'8", Essengue is worth drafting and waiting for if you're Brooklyn.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Asa Newell
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Original Pick: Asa Newell
Asa Newell's Original Draft Position: No. 23
Asa Newell looks like he's ready for a larger workload, although his playing time with the Atlanta Hawks has ebbed and flowed. The part-time availability of Kristaps Porziņģis in the frontcourt hasn't helped him establish a consistent role, either.
Overall, there's no reason for the Hawks to pass on their original pick here. Newell is putting up 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per 36 minutes of play and is shooting 47.6 percent from three so far.
With Porziņģis missing 11 games already this year, the Hawks stick with the 6'10" Newell as some frontcourt insurance.
24. Sacramento Kings: Nique Clifford
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Original Pick: Nique Clifford
Nique Clifford's Original Draft Position: No. 24
It's tough to get a good read on Nique Clifford to this point, as the Sacramento Kings have again been a mess while cycling through 13 different starting lineups and dealing with injuries to Domantas Sabonis and others.
We'll stick with Clifford here for now, as he has the defensive potential this team needs. The Kings currently rank 27th overall in defense (119.6 rating).
Orlando Magic: Kasparas Jakučionis
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Original Pick: Jase Richardson
Kasparas Jakučionis Original Draft Position: No. 20
Kasparas Jakučionis has failed to carve out any real time with the Miami Heat yet this season, spending the majority of his minutes in the G League.
The 19-year-old is averaging 16.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.7 assists in his seven games, although he's shooting just 42.0 percent overall and 31.6 percent from three.
The Magic would view him as a rotation player for next season, developing him behind veteran Tyus Jones for now.
26. Brooklyn Nets: Joan Beringer
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Original Pick: Ben Saraf
Joan Beringer's Original Draft Position: No. 17
The Brooklyn Nets make their last pair of picks here, with a re-draft of Derik Queen, Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue so far.
With Joan Beringer still on the board after the Minnesota Timberwolves opted for Jase Richardson, the Nets add a potential defensive anchor in their frontcourt alongside Queen.
Just turning 19 last month, Beringer has averaged 17.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes for the Wolves, shooting 72.7 percent overall.
He's still pretty raw on both sides of the ball, but a team so deep into rebuild mode like the Nets wouldn't mind one bit.
27. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell
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Original Pick: Danny Wolf
Drake Powell's Original Draft Position: No. 22
The Brooklyn Nets should be happy to keep Drake Powell, as he's shown enough on both ends of the ball to want to select again.
The 20-year-old ranks eighth overall in steals per game (0.9) among rookies and is making 36.7 percent of his threes.
This kind of 3-and-D wing is needed on every team. The Nets end their re-draft with Derik Queen, Ben Saraf, Noa Essengue, Joan Beringer and Powell.
28. Boston Celtics: Hugo González
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Original Pick: Hugo González
Hugo González's Original Draft Position: No. 28
Hugo González may never become a 20-point-per-game scorer, although he's guaranteed to hustle his butt off every night and become a really good role player in the NBA for years to come.
A good defender, he is also shooting 44.4 percent from three in his young career and recently scored 14 points in just 17 minutes against the Washington Wizards.
Boston could look for a big man here, although González has shown enough (especially on the defensive end) to warrant the Celtics selecting him again.
29. Charlotte Hornets: Sion James
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Original Pick: Liam McNeeley
Sion James' Original Draft Position: No. 33
Originally a second-round pick, the Charlotte Hornets make sure they get to keep Sion James by passing on McNeeley for him here.
James has started 13 of his 22 games for the Hornets, serving as a reliable floor-spacer alongside LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and fellow rookies Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner. The 23-year-old has made 38.0 percent of his threes overall.
His ceiling isn't as high as McNeeley or other prospects the Hornets could go with here, yet James is a high-floor rookie who knows his role and has played it well thus far.
30. Los Angeles Clippers: Noah Penda
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Original Pick: Yanic Konan Niederhäuser
Noah Penda's Original Draft Position: No. 32
With Kawhi Leonard's future in question with the Los Angeles Clippers amid a woeful 6-17 start to the season, the team could use a young forward over Konan Niederhäuser.
Noah Penda is a solidly-built forward who's shooting 41.7 percent from three to begin his career. He's already shown the ability to attack closeouts with aggression, using his strength to go through opponents on his way to the basket.
The aging Clippers desperately need an infusion of young talent. Penda would have been the better selection over Konan Niederhäuser here.
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