2025 NBA mock draft

[Zstatman]

We'll be seeing a lot fo these prior to the June draft. But, hey, Payton is in this one as we head into the BTT so why not post it.

2025 NBA Mock Draft: Two-Round Projections as Collegiate Regular Season Ends​

Story by Draft Digest Staff

1. Washington Wizards: Cooper Flagg (Duke)

2. Utah Jazz: Dylan Harper (Rutgers)

3. Charlotte Hornets: Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)

4. New Orleans Pelicans: Ace Bailey (Rutgers)

5. Toronto Raptors: Tre Johnson (Texas)

6. Brooklyn Nets: VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)

7. OKC Thunder (via PHI): Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)

8. Chicago Bulls: Khaman Maluach (Duke)

9. San Antonio Spurs: Kon Knueppel (Duke)

10. Portland Trail Blazers: Asa Newell (Georgia)

11. Miami Heat: Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)

12. Houston Rockets (via PHX): Liam McNeeley (UConn)

13. Dallas Mavericks: Egor Demin (BYU)

14. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC): Rasheer Fleming (St. Joseph's)

5. Orlando Magic: Ben Saraf (INTL)

16. San Antono Spurs (via ATL): Nolan Traore (INTL)

17. OKC Thunder (via LAC): Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET): Derik Queen (Maryland)

19. Utah Jazz (via MIN): Jase Richardson (Michigan State)

20. Miami Heat (via GSW): Noa Essengue (INTL)

21. Indiana Pacers: Danny Wolf (Michigan)

22. Brooklyn Nets (via MIL): Carter Bryant (Arizona)

23. Brooklyn Nets (via HOU): Kanon Catchings (BYU)

24. Washington Wizards (via MEM): Miles Byrd (San Diego State)

25. Brooklyn Nets (via NYK): JT Toppin (Texas Tech)

26. Orlando Magic (via DEN): Noah Penda (INTL)

27. Atlanta Hawks (via LAL): Nique Clifford (Colorado State)

28. Boston Celtics: Labaron Philon (Alabama)

29. LA Clippers (via OKC): Donnie Freeman (Syracuse)

30. Phoenix Suns (via CLE): Hugo Gonzalez (INTL)

Second Round

31. Boston Celtics (via WAS): Alex Karaban (UConn)

32. Minnesota Timberwolves (via UTA): Isaiah Evans (Duke)

33. Charlotte Hornets: Ian Jackson (North Carolina)

34. Charlotte Hornets (via NOP): Adou Thiero (Arkansas)

35. Detroit Pistons (via TOR): Boogie Fland (Arkansas)

36. Brooklyn Nets: Will Riley (Illinois)

37. Philadelphia 76ers: Kam Jones (Marquette)

38. Sacramento Kings (via CHI): Johni Broome (Auburn)

39. San Antonio Spurs: Alex Toohey (INTL)

40. Toronto Raptors (via POR): Neoklis Avdalas (INTL)

41. Golden State Warriors (via MIA): Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State)

42. Orlando Magic: Drake Powell (North Carolina)

43. OKC Thunder (via ATL): Bogoljub Markovic (INTL)

44. Washington Wizards (via PHX): Hunter Sallis (Wake Forest)

45. Utah Jazz (via DAL): Dink Pate (G League)

46. Chicago Bulls (via SAC): Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB)

47. Utah Jazz (via LAC): Sergio De Larrea (INTL)

48. Washington Wizards (via DET): Joan Beringer (INTL)

49. LA Clippers (via MIN): Jamir Watkins (Florida State)

50. Washington Wizards (via GSW): Mackenzie Mgbako (Indiana)

51. Indiana Pacers: Johann Grunloh (INTL)

52. Cleveland Cavaliers (via MIL): Maxime Raynaud (Stanford)

53. Memphis Grizzlies (via HOU): Xaivian Lee (Princeton

54. New York Knicks (via MEM): Rocco Zikarsky (INTL)

---New York Knicks (FORFEITED)---

55. Phoenix Suns (via DEN): Tomislav Ivisic (Illinois))

56. Los Angeles Lakers: Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton)

57. Orlando Magic (via BOS): Payton Sandfort (Iowa)

58. Houston Rockets (via OKC): Joson Sanon (Arizona State)

59. Cleveland Cavaliers: Milos Uzan (Houston)

 

[NorthKCHawk]

I just don't see how Sanford has any shot at an NBA career. His only marketable skill at the next level is 3 point shooting, and he is roughly a career 35% or so shooter, and a very streaky shooter at that. He has done nothing this season to improve his draft stock.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I just don't see how Sanford has any shot at an NBA career. His only marketable skill at the next level is 3 point shooting, and he is roughly a career 35% or so shooter, and a very streaky shooter at that. He has done nothing this season to improve his draft stock.

He's had to have hurt it if anything... He's just not athletic enough. What he does at Iowa with rebounding some and creating his own shot occasionally won't fly at the next level one bit either. Look no further then Joe Wieskamp. He's a more athletic similar sized player with similar roles of what's asked of them and he's not really had more then a cup of coffee with the NBA. I'd take JW every day of the week and twice on Sunday instead of Sandfort.

If Sandfort is to stick at any pro level of basketball it'll be as a Kyle Korver type sniper role. And he's not shown to have been even all that great at that this yr like you noted. He's a tweener in that he's plenty good enough to be a good even great at times college player. But with his low ceiling and lack of athleticism he's just not an NBA level prospect to me.

Other thing I noticed about that list are the Rutgers kids... Are they really that highly thought of? I haven't seen that much of em but I didn't get those vibes when I did.

 

[Zstatman]

I wouldn't be surprised but what Payton doesn't even get drafted. I do see him on a summer league roster and maybe get invited to a camp. But I'd guess he'll be on a G League roster somewhere.

I don't see Payton making an NBA roster but if he does it will be as a 3-point shooter. He's going to have to improve in that area a lot if he's going to make it. The NBA trash bin if filled with guys that couldn't make that leap.

Weiskamp is a good comparison. Joe was always a streaky shooter as well. He could get hot and light it up and he did get his cup of coffee chance.

I also saw a guy on the list named Traore, spelled just like Seydou. He's listed as a Frenchman. Seydou sounds kind of French although he's listed as being from New York City. I looked into it just a bit and could find no relationship. The Frenchman has a brother not named Seydou and I could find nothing saying Seydou has any ties to France.

Lots of international players on the list, they are here to stay.