2025 NBA Draft Defined By Dynamic Talents With Untapped Potential.

While the 2025 NBA Draft features a projected generational talent and a handful of potential All-Star caliber players, this year’s class is more than just the sum of its top-heavy parts. For NBA teams undergoing a rebuild or retool, their respective draft selections this Wednesday and Thursday can significantly shape the trajectory of their franchise for the remainder of the 2020s.

The talent level of small forward Cooper Flagg has been a well-known fact since his high school days, when he emerged as a phenom from the state of Maine. He’s the projected number one overall pick for the Dallas Mavericks, who won the draft lottery and the chance to secure a potential franchise cornerstone for post-Luka Dončić era.

Yet, this draft is more than just Flagg. The talent that follows him varies between a collection of guards and wings that offer different skill sets as off-ball scorers and on-ball shot creators, alongside big men who either operate as rim protectors or crafty inside scorers.

The Generational Talent

Cooper Flagg is a modern-day NBA team’s dream wing player. He can operate offensively with the ball in his hands as a three-level scorer and playmaker while remain an impactful force off-ball as a screener, spot-up shooter, cutter, and transition floor runner.

What many arguably feel is the 6’8 Duke Blue Devil standout’s best ability is his defense. His fluid movement, 6’11 wingspan and constant activity make him a defensive menace. He’ll likely be a team’s centerpiece on that side of the ball, even with the projected offensive scoring load on his shoulders.

The Franchise Cornerstone

Scouts see guard Dylan Harper as the undisputed second-best prospect available, and it’s primarily due to his scoring ability, playmaking upside and compact 6’6, 220-pound frame.

The calling card of Harper’s game is his driving ability. He has the frame to withstand contact and can finish amongst the trees with both hands fluidly. Against loaded defenses, he demonstrated an ability to find the open man amidst a crowd while relegating when to force the issue against a sea of defenders.

Harper isn’t devoid of faults, with the two main ones being his defensive focus and inconsistent jump-shooting. He’ll need to have starter-level reps to fully maximize his ceiling as a player, which leads some to wonder about his ideal fit on a guard-saturated San Antonio Spurs team at second overall.

Nonetheless, there’s a pathway for the Rutgers product to fulfill his projected Cade Cunningham ceiling. It’ll likely have to be in an environment where he is the primary distributor on a young, rebuilding team.

The Early Impact Glue Guys

Every NBA Draft class features a handful of glue guys who make their bones in the league as impact rookie role players. This year’s class features a collection of them that play various positions.

The leader of the Glue Guy Clubhouse is Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe, who teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets have shown interest in. The 6’4 guard possesses elite athleticism to complement his high-level defensive effort and blossoming three-point shot making.

Edgecombe’s ability to be a contributor off-ball makes him an enticing early lottery pick. He can bolster a team with playoff aspirations while rounding out the remaining aspects of his on-ball offensive game during the early stages of his career.

The same can be said about Duke’s Kon Knueppel. During his freshman stint, he served triple duty as an on-ball creator/playmaker alongside Flagg and fellow draftee Tyrese Proctor. He’s a high-level shotmaker with underrated finishing ability around the rack that makes him more than just a traditional shooting specialist.

Both Edgecombe and Knueppel are deemed locks to round out the top-four of the NBA Draft due to their versatility as potential high-level secondary players.

The High Risk, High Reward Prospects

There’s no bigger risk during the NBA Draft process than a team buying into a draft prospect who has an unknown ceiling, and a radioactive floor.

Two players that come to mind are Rutgers wing Ace Bailey and Texas guard Tre Johnson. Both are deemed high-level but volatile scorers who bring a skillset to the NBA that’s somewhat masked by their questionable shot-making and limited two-way ability.

Bailey has made headlines throughout the pre-draft process as a prospect who is hell-bent on forcing his way into a situation where his individual abilities are maximized. The rumored places are said to be the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets, who each are entering into year two of their lengthy rebuild process.

Bailey has his flaws as a consistent scorer overall, but his flashes of brilliance are evident as an on-ball creator and off-ball shooter, cutter, and transition player. When engaged, he’s one of the better help defenders in his class and a productive rebounder. However, his motor can occasionally run hot and cold.

Johnson is a player teams and scouts love due to his elite-level shot making under duress, spotting up or on the move. However, he’s not the best playmaker for others, is a guard who doesn’t consistently get to or finish around the basket well, and may be one of the worst defenders projected to the lottery despite his 6’6 frame and 6’10 wingspan.

There’s still a pathway for Bailey to reach the ceiling of a more athletic Michael Porter Jr. and for Johnson to become a more offensively dynamic Cam Thomas. However, the risk of the two not panning out is just as daunting.

Best of the Projected Lottery Rest

Beyond the headline stealers in this draft class are other draft prospects who provide skill sets to potential teams across the board.

Some view Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears as the best non-Dylan Harper lead guard in the class. His athleticism, finishing ability and playmaking chops make him an intriguing young player to invest in for a rebuilding team.

Illinois floor general Kasparas Jakucionis is regarded as one of the more fundamentally sounded pick and roll passers in the game and is crafty around the rim. His struggles defensively, lack of offensive burst and inconsistent shot making may cause pause for some lottery linked teams.

Big men Khaman Maluach, Derik Queen and Thomas Sober are all unique frontcourt players who present different skillsets. Maluach is a traditional rim protector with a plate-finishing offensive skillset at 7’2. Queen is five inches shorter and more of the Alpren Sengun offensive mold as a polished, undersized post center.

Despite possessing a combination of both Queen and Maluach’s skillsets, Sober’s draft stock has somewhat plummeted due to February foot surgery that prevented him from participating in the pre-draft process. Then there’s the 6’10″ Frenchman Noa Essengue, a frontcourt hybrid player who can plate-finish around the hoop while defend within the paint and on the perimeter .

Additionally, Carter Bryant, Cedric Coward, Nique Clifford, and Collin Murray-Boyles are projected wing options in the lottery. Coward, Bryant, and Clifford are all stereotypical three-and-D guys, with Clifford being thought of having the best chance of developing into a versatile two-way forward.

Murray-Boyles, who stands 6’7″, is more of a tweener than the other three. He has a back-to-the-basket style offensive player with a natural playmaking ability. He is also among the most versatile and successful defenders in the class, demonstrating impact on both ends of the court comparable to that of Draymond Green.