2025 NBA Re-Draft: Kon Knueppel Soars Ahead of NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Challenge
The best evaluation tools for an NBA draft are the passage of time and the helpful hindsight that comes along with it.
Honestly, though, who has time for all that?
This is the instant-gratification age, so we're mock-drafting picks before they're made, real-time grading them as they happen and rushing judgments all around. In that sense, the seven-odd months that have passed since the actual 2025 talent grab feels like an eternity.
Or long enough to start wondering who got their picks right and who might be desperate for a redo. We've got plenty of praise, questions and material for an early (but not too early) revisiting of the 2025 draft.
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg
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Original Pick: Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg's Original Draft Position: No. 1
No notes, honestly. Dallas, still reeling from the disastrous Luka Dončić trade, needed a franchise player and found nothing less in Flagg.
He's an all-purpose defender and tone-setting competitor, and his scoring is ahead of schedule. Point production wasn't billed as his greatest strength before the draft (and might not be), yet he was just stringing together 30-point outbursts like holiday lights.
Even if he's not the Rookie of the Year—the next player in our redraft is making things awfully interesting—the 19-year-old is just as obvious a No. 1 pick now as he was in June.
2. San Antonio Spurs: Kon Knueppel
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Original Pick: Dylan Harper
Kon Knueppel's Original Draft Position: No. 4
Spurs fans might disagree here, and honestly, their decision-makers might, too. That's fine. This isn't anti-Harper adjustment, it's just a holy-crap-Knueppel-is-awesome acknowledgement.
Maybe Harper has elite basketball in front of him, but Knueppel is flashing elite skills right now. He's trailing only Flagg in scoring (18.9 per outing), angling for 50/40/90 club access (48.5/42.8/89.9 slash line) and playing a huge part in the Charlotte Hornets' 2026 surge.
And while it's early in the draft to talk about need, let's just point out the Spurs would find it easier giving minutes to a shot-making wing like Knueppel than they have a space-constricting combo guard in Harper (21.5 minutes a night).
3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe
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Original Pick: VJ Edgecombe
VJ Edgecombe's Original Draft Position: No. 3
Back to the original draft order here, as the Sixers might spend the next decade doing victory laps for this draft pick.
Edgecombe's scoring ebbs and flows, but his energy and electricity are constants. It also doesn't hurt that his defensive versatility and ability to impact the game in ways other than on-ball scoring basically make him a basketball lab's creation of the ideal backcourt mate for Tyrese Maxey.
Philadelphia, in other words, keeps this pick the same for a litany of reasons that don't involve offense. His 14.9 points and 4.2 assists, then, are mere icing on the cake.
4. Charlotte Hornets: Dylan Harper
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Original Pick: Kon Knueppel
Dylan Harper's Original Draft Position: No. 2
With Knueppel off the board, the Hornets instead place the long-term wager on Harper. And there's a non-zero chance they could find themselves sitting atop a jackpot prize at some point.
He's been impressive so far, even while missing nearly a month with a calf injury and navigating through the barricades of San Antonio's loaded backcourt. Three-point shooting remains a swing skill (25 percent on low volume), but he's been reliable inside the arc (54 percent on twos) and deft with his decision-making (3.6 assists against 1.4 turnovers).
Who knows if the Hornets are having the same success without Knueppel, but they could still view Harper as either a compelling backcourt mate with LaMelo Ball or perhaps the franchise face's replacement.
5. Utah Jazz: Cedric Coward
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Original Pick: Ace Bailey
Cedric Coward's Original Draft Position: No. 11
Back at the draft, when the Jazz were seemingly looking at an endless rebuilding road ahead, it made sense to take a big swing on Bailey's long-term potential.
But now, with Keyonte George leveling up and Jaren Jackson Jr. joining Lauri Markkanen in a win-now (or win-real-soon) frontcourt, Utah could pivot toward Coward's instant impact. There's some worry about his ceiling, since he's already 22, but there are only so many ways to nitpick a first-year swingman averaging 13.3 points on 46.8/34/84.3 shooting.
The Jazz could still decide to bet on Bailey (and, by extension, their developmental program), but assuming they're starting to think about their proximity to competing, then Coward feels like the better fit.
6. Washington Wizards: Ace Bailey
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Original Pick: Tre Johnson
Ace Bailey's Original Draft Position: No. 5
Back at the draft, there were all kinds of rumblings linking Bailey and the Wizards. That connection finally forms here—just later than it needed to and after a wealth of changes in Washington.
Johnson's shot-making would still warrant consideration, but a wager on Bailey feels right in line with this club's low-cost fliers on Trae Young and Anthony Davis. As an athletic, fluid, sizable shot-maker, Bailey projects as a clean fit between the two and also with Washington's more defensive-minded prospects.
Bailey has long hinted at having perhaps the highest upside in this draft (other than Flagg, of course), and Washington would welcome that type of potential. Particularly when it's anyone's guess how long the Young-Davis era will last.
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Derik Queen
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Original Pick: Jeremiah Fears
Derik Queen's Original Draft Position: No. 13
Spoiler alert: The Pelicans aren't leaving this redraft with both of their lottery picks. Well, not unless Joe Dumars has another superfirst he's itching to give away, at least.
New Orleans will miss Fears' creation (though not his streakiness), but it will still view Queen as the can't-let-him-go pick between the two. He plays a funky game, but that kinda makes him a perfect fit for such a jazzy city, doesn't it?
And clearly his unique gifts are working. If the curtains closed on this campaign right now, the 6'9", 250-pounder would be only the 14th rookie ever—and just the third of the 2000s—to average at least 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
8. Brooklyn Nets: Egor Dёmin
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Original Pick: Egor Dёmin
Egor Dёmin's Original Draft Position: No. 8
If you're wondering, then, yes, it is a bit unnerving to make this pick with both Johnson and Fears still on the board. But the Nets clearly prioritized playmakers—they essentially spent four first-round picks on the archetype—and Dёmin checks that box better than the other two.
He's also, apparently, an absolute net-shredder. One year removed from converting just 27.3 percent of his long-range looks at BYU, Dёmin is suddenly splashing to the tune of a 39.5 percent conversion clip from the NBA arch. This isn't small-sample trickery, either, as his 113 triples are second-most in the class.
Who knows what, exactly, Brooklyn is planning on building, but it clearly wants Dёmin to quarterback whatever it winds up being.
9. Toronto Raptors: Tre Johnson
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Original Pick: Collin Murray-Boyles
Tre Johnson's Original Draft Position: No. 6
This feels a little unfair to CMB, who's been an effortless fit for Toronto and has tallied the fifth-most win shares in this draft. The thing is, he might be a little too Raptors-y for the Raptors. Like a lot of his teammates, he has a number of average-and-above abilities, but shooting the long ball with great volume or efficiency isn't one of them.
It happens to be Johnson's specialty, though, and it's very much a need for Toronto, a bottom-third performer in perimeter makes and percentage.
Johnson can be a little one-note with his contributions, but he'd still be a big need-filler for the Raptors, who'd gladly welcome his 2.2 nightly triples and 39.3 percent splash rate.
10. Phoenix Suns: Jeremiah Fears
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Original Pick: Khaman Maluach
Jeremiah Fears' Original Draft Position: No. 7
Ever find yourself watching this season's spunky Suns and wishing they would've added someone who could've eased Devin Booker's double-booked burden as the squad's top scorer and table-setter? Well, that help is here.
Fears might hit as many highs and lows as your favorite roller coaster, but you expect that with a 19-year-old. In fact, you welcome the inconsistency to some degree, as it's often a sign of experimentation. He's still finding his fit and polishing his raw skills—all while supplying his team with 13.2 points and 3.0 assists.
Now, Phoenix could worry about adding an erratic freshman to a team competing at a higher level than expected, but that'd be shortsighted. The Suns might have strong role players around Booker, but they haven't supplied a co-star. Not saying Fears is ready for that gig, but you can at least squint and see the basic blueprint for how it could happen.
11. Memphis Grizzlies: Collin Murray-Boyles
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Original Pick: Cedric Coward
Collin Murray-Boyles' Original Draft Position: No. 9
With Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. gone, and the Grizzlies eagerly awaiting a Ja Morant suitor, it's a full-on roster reset for the former grit-and-grinders.
That makes them a huge-swing candidate here, but there really aren't huge swings to be made. Going all out on upside probably means picking Khaman Maluach or Yang Hansen, but with Zach Edey around, those selections don't really make sense.
So, Memphis could instead target a rock-solid role player like Murray-Boyles, whose insatiable energy would be a valuable culture-creator and whose versatility should help him fit whoever this franchise eventually adds around him and Edey.
12. Chicago Bulls: Khaman Maluach
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Original Pick: Noa Essengue
Khaman Maluach's Original Draft Position: No. 10
The Bulls are finally playing the long game. Maybe for real this time. Their deadline liquidation suggests an overdue acceptance of the inevitable has finally been...well, accepted.
Chicago could basically go any direction here, then, but the direction it ultimately chooses is grabbing June's most coveted prospect who's still on the board.
Maluach is the lone unclaimed top-10 pick in this redraft, and while he's done nothing to retain that status, the Bulls give it to him anyway in hopes he stabilizes the center spot as at least a rim-runner and ideally a capable switcher and shooter over time.
13. New Orleans Pelicans: Kasparas Jakučionis
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Original Pick: Derik Queen
Kasparas Jakučionis' Original Draft Position: No. 20
Jakučionis has, admittedly, not done enough to warrant a seven-pick climb up the draft board. This pick really isn't about him, though.
With Fears gone, Jordan Poole failing to produce and Dejounte Murray both still recovering from a torn Achilles and already a trade candidate, New Orleans probably wants to nab a lead guard in this spot. And if it does, the debate might come down to Jakučionis or Walter Clayton Jr.
It's sort of a "six of one, half a dozen of another" coin flip, but a Pelicans team eyeing a third lottery trip in four years should probably prefer Jakučionis' age (19, Clayton is 22) and superior creation skills.
14. San Antonio Spurs: Carter Bryant
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Original Pick: Carter Bryant
Carter Bryant's Original Draft Position: No. 14
We're really veering into eye-of-the-beholder territory here, because a lot of the (half-) proven commodities are already taken. And some of the more sensible options remaining don't actually make sense for San Antonio. Like, what purpose would Ryan Kalkbrenner serve in a center rotation already featuring Victor Wembanyama, Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk?
The Spurs could instead aim for long-term value with Bryant's three-and-D potential like they originally did with this draft pick.
His offense has mostly been an eyesore, but there have been signs of life lately. Four of his five double-digit efforts have come since the calendar flipped to 2026, and three have happened this month.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thomas Sorber
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Original Pick: Thomas Sorber
Thomas Sorber's Original Draft Position: No. 15
The Thunder have tussled with the injury bug often enough to think they might consider doing something different than taking on Sorber's medical redshirt. Then again, would the defending champs really leave this redraft with a plug-and-play contributor in this spot?
That seems optimistic enough to wager that OKC would simply prefer essentially drafting and (domestically) stashing Sorber again. Assuming there are no long-term effects from his ACL tear, he still possesses a fascinating blend of size and skills—which OKC could absolutely use if it wants a cheaper alternative to Jaylin Williams or even Isaiah Hartenstein at some point.
16. Portland Trail Blazers: Caleb Love
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Original Pick: Yang Hansen
Caleb Love's Original Draft Position: Undrafted
In reality, this probably isn't a pick Portland does differently. The aggressive selection of Hansen last summer was clearly made with the long-term future in mind, and you'd think the Blazers aren't unwilling to back off of that bet.
And yet, if you had to label one of their rookies as essential this season, how could you not go with Love? The undrafted guard is already pushing the limits of his two-way pact with 44 appearances so far, during which he's netted 11.3 points, 2.7 assists and 2.0 three-pointers in just 22.4 minutes a night.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Will Richard
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Original Pick: Joan Beringer
Will Richard's Original Draft Position: No. 56
So, this isn't totally fair to Beringer, who has quietly aced his assignments when given the opportunity. The problem is there just haven't been enough opportunities available to him, since the Wolves are well-stocked at center with Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid (plus Julius Randle for a smattering of small-ball big-man duties).
Minnesota instead pivots to Richard, a readymade wing with a reliable 47/35.1/82.2 slash line and the eighth-most win shares of this draft class.
18. Utah Jazz: Walter Clayton Jr.
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Original Pick: Walter Clayton Jr.
Walter Clayton Jr.'s Original Draft Position: No. 18
Look, was Clayton great for the Jazz? Not really. He popped for points here and there and averaged 3.2 assists against 1.3 turnovers, but he also converted less than 40 percent of his field goals and only 30.8 percent of his threes.
He also apparently showed enough promise to help anchor Utah's aggressive deadline deal for Jaren Jackson Jr. Memphis might have valued the three incoming first-rounders the most, but Clayton was presumably a targeted piece of that transaction.
19. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell
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Original Pick: Nolan Traoré
Drake Powell's Original Draft Position: No. 22
Powell entered the NBA with an uncertain ceiling, and things hardly seem cemented on that front. Having said that, Brooklyn seems more than pleased with the things he provides: an endless energy supply, absurd athleticism and contagious levels of defensive engagement.
"We believe he can be not just a good but a great two-way player, which means that, you know, he's going to be a very good defender," Nets coach Jordi Fernández told reporters earlier this season. "I see him as a very good shooter, a very good playmaker, I can run plays for him on the second side, he can handle in transition, he can guard the best perimeter player, his athleticism is top in the NBA for his position."
Doesn't sound like someone Brooklyn would want to risk losing, right?
20. Miami Heat: Ryan Kalkbrenner
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Original Pick: Kasparas Jakučionis
Ryan Kalkbrenner's Original Draft Position: No. 34
The draft's No. 2 performer by win shares probably should've landed higher than this, but the fit never felt quite right. Here, it finally does, as the Heat could use more reliable frontcourt depth behind Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware.
And, honestly, Kalkbrenner could even provide an alternative should Miami decide it's never going to solve the inconsistency puzzle with Ware. Kalkbrenner's potential is limited, but he's reliable with what he does: 8.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks in 22.9 minutes, plus a sky-high 75.5 field-goal percentage.
21. Washington Wizards: Jase Richardson
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Original Pick: Will Riley
Jase Richardson's Original Draft Position: No. 25
Since the Wizards were left without Tre Johnson in this redraft, they might try to replace some of that shotmaking with Richardson.
The Magic haven't given a ton of minutes to the Dunk Contest participant, but good things have generally happened when they have.
During the nine games in which he's logged 20-plus minutes, he has averaged 11 points while shooting 50.6 percent overall and 43.3 percent from range.
22. Brooklyn Nets: Noa Essengue
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Original Pick: Drake Powell
Noa Essengue's Original Draft Position: No. 12
Brooklyn's third pick in this redraft is the first with which it drafts someone other than one of its actual rookies. Because if any team is equipped to take a flier on Essengue's long-term upside, it's the one with five first-round picks and a sub-.300 winning percentage.
Essengue's rookie season featured just two NBA appearances before he was shut down for shoulder surgery. It's impossible to know what his future holds, but there's a universe in which he eventually emerges as the always sought-after big, two-way wing.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Asa Newell
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Original Pick: Asa Newell
Asa Newell's Original Draft Position: No. 23
Honestly, something would feel wrong about sending Newell anywhere other than his hometown team.
The Hawks haven't called his number a ton, but the early returns have been generally promising. He's averaging 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.3 stocks (steals plus blocks) and 2.2 three-pointers per 36 minutes while shooting 54.1 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from deep.
24. Sacramento Kings: Maxime Raynaud
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Original Pick: Nique Clifford
Maxime Raynaud's Original Draft Position: No. 42
While the Kings never found a trade for star center Domantas Sabonis, the fact that they were fielding offers tells us two things.
First, they do, in fact, recognize how big of a mess this roster has become and how much work it will take to clean everything up.
Second, they might be sneakily comfortable with handing over the 5 spot to Raynaud, who's third among rookies in both rebounds and blocks and ranks 12th in scoring.
25. Orlando Magic: Will Riley
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Original Pick: Jase Richardson
Will Riley's Original Draft Position: No. 21
The Magic are forever in the market for shooters—preferably ones who don't melt under the scorching Florida sun—and Riley is starting to look like he might be a really good one.
Over his last 10 outings, which included six double-digit scoring efforts, he's averaging 2.4 triples while shooting an absurd 47.8 percent from distance. Those are good numbers for anyone, but they look particularly drool-worthy for a 6'9" swingman.
26. Brooklyn Nets: Nolan Traoré
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Original Pick: Ben Saraf
Nolan Traoré's Original Draft Position: No. 19
For all the talk you might hear about how prospect growth is not linear, you're still hoping first-year players will close the season better than they started it.
Things just might be trending that direction for Traoré. He's finished six of his last 11 outings in double digits, posting a 46.8/41.2/78.6 slash line with 4.5 assists against 1.9 turnovers in this stretch.
27. Brooklyn Nets: Joan Beringer
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Original Pick: Danny Wolf
Joan Beringer's Original Draft Position: No. 17
For Brooklyn's final pick of the first round, it winds up replacing Wolf's theoretical offensive skills with Beringer's more projectable bounce and rim-running.
The 19-year-old has quietly crushed it in Minnesota, finishing 67.3 percent of his field goals while posting per-36-minutes marks of 16.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
It's just that many have likely failed to notice, since the Wolves' congestion at center has limited him to fewer than 200 minutes on the season.
28. Boston Celtics: Hugo González
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Original Pick: Hugo González
Hugo González's Original Draft Position: No. 28
Having González land in his original draft slot is a not insignificant victory for Boston.
He might be a work in progress offensively (related: he turned 20 earlier this month), but his defense is tremendous. Defensive estimated plus/minus holds him as an 89th percentile stopper, per Dunks & Threes, which has him tied for second among rookies with Dylan Harper.
29. Charlotte Hornets: Sion James
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Original Pick: Liam McNeeley
Sion James' Original Draft Position: No. 33
The Hornets, like the Celtics right before them, are sprinting to the podium to land their real-life rookie. It's just not the one they initially selected in this spot.
McNeeley hasn't sounded alarms or anything, but James is already looking like an essential for the Hornets. There aren't a ton of layers to his game, but defend and shoot (36.3 percent from three) at these rates, and coaches are never complaining.
30. Los Angeles Clippers: Yang Hansen
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Original Pick: Yanic Konan Niederhäuser
Yang Hansen's Original Draft Position: No. 16
To be perfectly clear, this is not a performance-based pick. If the Clippers went that route, that might mean deciding between Nique Clifford, Noah Penda or their own rookie, Kobe Sanders, in this spot.
But with James Harden and Ivica Zubac shipped out of town, L.A. might be on the brink of an organizational overhaul. (Then again, Kawhi Leonard is still around, so who knows what the plan is?)
If that's the case, the Clippers could stop Hansen's slide and place the ultimate bet on upside. He may have looked largely unplayable to this point, but he's still a 7'1", 20-year-old with true offensive hub potential if everything breaks right.
