It solely took about 20 video games for the 2024-2025 NBA season to fully reshape what we thought we knew coming into the 12 months. The Boston Celtics and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder rising because the championship favorites in every convention was to be anticipated, however there are many surprises after that.
The Cleveland Cavaliers seem like a juggernaut, the Orlando Magic are nonetheless pummeling groups with out the injured Paolo Banchero, and the Houston Rockets are going from a enjoyable, younger staff to an actual contender. The highest of the league image nonetheless wants extra time to return into focus, however the backside is already turning into clear.
The 2025 NBA Draft has an enormous prize on the high in Duke freshman ahead Cooper Flagg. With such a powerful No. 1 general prospect on this class, groups close to the underside of the standings are going to begin prioritizing their draft place over maximizing their wins in the event that they haven’t already. Right here’s an up to date take a look at which groups may land the primary choose within the 2025 NBA Draft, damaged up into tiers.
Learn our full 2025 NBA mock draft right here. Learn our characteristic on how Flagg grew right into a future No. 1 general choose right here.
Have to unload items quickly
Brooklyn Nets: I pegged the Nets because the second worst staff within the league coming into the season. If the season ended on Monday morning, Brooklyn’s draft choose wouldn’t even be contained in the top-10. The Nets have seemed downright competent below new head coach Jordi Fernandez throughout a 9-12 begin, with Cam Thomas stockpiling factors on higher than anticipated effectivity, and Dennis Schröder handing over one of many higher years of his profession. It appears like Nets management remains to be on the identical web page about chasing Flagg this season, however they’re going to have commerce items off properly earlier than the Feb. commerce deadline to truly have a shot at him. Dorian Finney-Smith and Cameron Johnson are the more than likely commerce candidates right here, however don’t be shocked if Thomas and Schröder are moved too — particularly if the wins hold piling up.
Chicago Bulls: The Bulls are taking part in on the NBA’s quickest tempo, and have gone from the league’s most hesitant three-point taking pictures staff to considered one of its most keen. Chicago can pull some upsets when the threes are falling, however there’s nonetheless not a lot hope right here for the long run. The Bulls can level to Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic each taking part in close to an All-Star degree for why they’ve remained aggressive. Each gamers have been on the buying and selling block since at the least final summer time, and now there may lastly be a marketplace for their providers after sizzling begins to this season. LaVine’s contract remains to be huge, and groups must determine if his high-volume three-point taking pictures (43 % from deep on the 12 months) is well worth the monetary ache. Vucevic figures to be simpler to maneuver together with his three-point shot turning into computerized (almost 47 % from three!) and just one extra season at $20 million on his deal. If the Bulls can transfer LaVine, Vucevic, and Lonzo Ball quickly, they’re going to get proper again within the Flagg sweepstakes. If not, the veteran trio could have Chicago flirting with dropping its top-10 protected draft choose to the San Antonio Spurs. The Bulls wouldn’t thoughts if the youthful groups within the East (the Hornets, Pistons, and Hawks amongst them) began taking part in with extra consistency.
Portland Path Blazers: The Blazers earned some stunning wins in Nov., together with two over the Timberwolves, a win in opposition to the Rockets, and a victory in opposition to the Sacramento Kings. It appears like this roster is cut up into two timelines: there’s the veterans productive sufficient to push for the play-in match (Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, Deni Avdija), then there’s the youthful core who’re displaying indicators of life however most likely wants at the least another 12 months of improvement (Shaedon Sharpe, Donovan Clingan). Scoot Henderson appears like an enormous disappointment to this point, however at the least Toumani Camara appears good? The Blazers have a historical past of tanking onerous after the All-Star break, and I’d anticipate the identical to occur once more regardless of an 8-13 begin. There’s simply not a lot room to maneuver upwards within the West, and that can make Portland’s pivot a straightforward selection as soon as once more.
One harm away from tanking
Philadelphia 76ers: I ranked the 76ers as a championship contender coming into the season. Whoops. Philly has been a prepare wreck from the very begin, with Joel Embiid trying like a shell of himself, Paul George being unable to regain high kind after a preseason knee harm, and the depth round them trying worse than anticipated. The Sixers are 4-14 regardless of Jared McCain taking part in like the simple Rookie of the 12 months to begin the season. Philly’s purpose all alongside has simply been to get to the playoffs wholesome, and that’s theoretically nonetheless on the desk. It actually all comes again to Embiid: does the participant who was breaking per-minute scoring information final 12 months nonetheless exist, or have accidents taken him away for good? The Sixers’ draft choose is top-6 protected, which implies they’ll be flirting with the catastrophe of dropping their choose in the event that they don’t flip it round. Proper now, the Sixers are squarely in place to maintain their choose and choose a high prospect …. however this staff has to show it round sooner or later, proper? The Sixers won’t be on this listing a month from now, but when Embiid doesn’t come again at full energy quickly, the thought of tanking for Flagg gained’t appear so loopy.
Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball is having a incredible 12 months, but it surely wasn’t resulting in many wins for the Hornets even earlier than his newest calf harm that can hold him out a pair weeks. Ball performs with such excessive utilization that it’s onerous to think about what Charlotte’s offense will seem like with out him. Brandon Miller or Tre Mann are able to selecting up extra of the offense, however this staff nonetheless lacks a vital diploma of physicality inside. Charlotte’s 6-14 begin has occurred regardless of new head coach Charles Lee transferring the protection from No. 29 to No. 15 firstly of this 12 months. Charlotte has had so many excessive draft picks over time that it might most likely wish to attempt to make the playoffs within the East, however the losses are already piling up with Ball now out of the lineup. The Hornets nonetheless have loads of time to go on a run as soon as Ball will get again, however his fixed sturdiness points may push this staff into the tank race as soon as once more.
New Orleans Pelicans: The Pelicans get crushed by the harm bug yearly, and it’s occurred once more to an virtually comical diploma. Zion Williamson stays out indefinitely with a hamstring harm, and at this level it feels silly to anticipate him to return to being a productive participant any time quickly. The Pelicans are lastly getting another guys wholesome, with Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy III every returning to the lineup after lengthy accidents to begin the 12 months, and Brandon Ingram coming again quickly. The Pelicans felt like they may have been a protected playoff staff this 12 months if issues went proper, however not by no means appears to occur. After a 4-17 begin with the league’s third hardest remaining schedule within the brutal Western Convention, New Orleans may simply be too far again for Williamson’s potential return to matter. This staff can completely get into the combination for No. 1 general.
Toronto Raptors: The Raptors even have some comfortable vibes for a six-win. Gradey Dick is taking good leap in his sophomore season, R.J. Barrett is having a profession 12 months, and even Jakob Poeltl is balling. With Scottie Barnes getting back from harm and the East trying as pathetic as ever, you possibly can speak your self into the Raptors making a run for the play-in match. Poeltl’s media day remark about not likely making an attempt to win this 12 months remains to be sticking with me, although. Toronto actually wants a future star to construct round, and that makes tanking their greatest transfer. Buying and selling Poeltl would instantly make this staff delicate inside, and until Immanuel Quickley turns round his season in a dramatic trend, this Raptors offense isn’t going out-score groups commonly. The Raps look like a staff dedicated to the little bit of tanking, and another commerce or prolonged harm absence could have them proper within the Flagg combine.
The favorites
Utah Jazz: The Jazz are proving they’ll nonetheless blatantly tank regardless of signing Lauri Markkanen to an almost $240 million extension earlier than the season. Markkanen is having a down 12 months by his requirements, however the staff round him is simply too younger and too uncooked to be aggressive within the West each night time. Keyonte George is placing up numbers however his effectivity is horrid, rookie Cody Williams has been simply concerning the worst participant within the league up to now, and the protection is pathetic even with Walker Kessler having a bounce-back 12 months. Head coach Will Hardy had this staff trying aggressive within the first half of the season the final two years, however Danny Ainge has traded away too many items. This staff is downright dangerous and may head into the lottery tied for the highest odds at Flagg.
Washington Wizards: The Wizards gained their final two video games of Oct., each in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks. They haven’t gained a recreation since. Washington went 0-for-November with their younger draft picks taking part in massive minutes and the veterans (Kyle Kuzma, Malcolm Brogdon, Jonas Valanciunas) all in-and-out of the lineup. Bilal Coulibaly has been a revelation in his second 12 months, No. 2 general choose Alex Sarr is obstructing tons of photographs, and fellow rookie Bub Carrington has had his moments of encouraging creation flashes. Nonetheless, this staff is as distant from being aggressive as any within the NBA. Washington shall be proper again on this place once more subsequent season forward of a loaded 2026 lottery, however having Cooper Flagg on the roster certain would make one other rebuilding 12 months extra tolerable.
