This is part three of the sports staff’s mock draft. Read part one here, and part two here.
** These picks were made on the night of April 29 and reflect the state of the league at that time.**
21. Utah Jazz — Hugo González, F, Spain
Utah has been a perennial underachiever since trading away star guard Donovan Mitchell in 2022. The Jazz have tried to rebuild around 7-foot forward Lauri Markkanen, but that hasn’t worked as intended. Now, its league-worst record and a little lottery luck rewarded it with the top prospect in the nation — 6-foot-9 forward Cooper Flagg. This is a rebuilding opportunity like no other.
Real Madrid forward Hugo González is an interesting player. The 6-foot-7 athletic wing played under 10 minutes per game this season, recording only 1.9 PPG. His resume shows him to be a defensive force with potential as an athletic scorer. González is a work in progress and will have to evolve in the NBA, but the Jazz have enough frontcourt depth to mentor him into a pro-level athletic wing.
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22. Atlanta Hawks — Thomas Sorber, F, Georgetown
After picking guard Jase Richardson at 13, the Hawks look to add size and defense to their frontcourt. Forward-center hybrid Thomas Sorber had his freshman season cut short due to a left foot injury in February. Before going down, he was having an excellent season at Georgetown.
Sorber averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1.5 steals in his shortened season. This small sample size displays Sorber’s incredible defensive instincts, showing he would pair wonderfully with budding star Jalen Johnson. Johnson has what it takes to be a great offensive player, and with a defender of Sorber’s caliber as his frontcourt mate, they would complement each other’s games perfectly.
If the Hawks decide to keep star guard Trae Young, Sorber would have to improve his vertical in order to become an ideal lob threat. If they don’t, Sorber could become a rotational piece or potential high-upside starter.
23. Indiana Pacers — Noa Essengue, PF, France
The Pacers are becoming a threat in the Eastern Conference. In 2024, Indiana made it to the Conference finals for the first time in ten years. It entered the 2025 playoffs as the No. 4 seed.
At this point in the draft, the Pacers’ best option is to pick the best available player. Ratiopharm Ulm power forward Noa Essengue is a gifted athlete who can help bring some production off the bench.
Essengue is a great defender and can help facilitate the offense when needed. He can become a threat in transition and attack the basket. The only concern for Essengue is his sub-par shooting numbers. He only shot 27% from beyond the arc, and barely made 70% of his free throws.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder — Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
Yaxel Lendeborg faces a difficult decision. This offseason, the forward declared for the draft and committed to Michigan. He still has a few weeks left to withdraw his name from the draft. If he remains in the pool, his experience and skill set would fit right in with the Thunder.
Oklahoma City is entering a period of complete contention after a dominant 68-14 regular season and needs to fill out its roster with league-ready players like Lendeborg.
On top of his already-impressive resume, it’s important to note that Lendeborg has only played basketball seriously for five years. He may be able to unlock yet another level of play with the Thunder.
25. Orlando Magic — Ben Saraf, G, Israel
Orlando has strong frontcourt talent in the Wagner brothers and Paolo Banchero. However, it has struggled to find a reliable point guard to run its offense and provide a scoring punch when needed.
Israel’s Ben Saraf would give the Magic a guard with primary playmaking abilities who can also create for himself. Saraf is a natural playmaker who has had a very on-ball-heavy role in his time overseas. His ability to effectively operate in the pick-and-roll is impressive for a 19-year-old.
Saraf uses his size to attack the basket and create opportunities for himself. His instincts are strong for a teenager, and he would bring immediate maturity and skill to the Magic backcourt. He could be utilized as a playmaker alongside a more scoring-focused guard in Jalen Suggs.
26. Brooklyn Nets — Rasheer Fleming, F, St. Joseph’s
The Nets are unlikely to hang onto all four of their first round picks. If they keep this one, and forward Rasheer Fleming is still on the board, he would be the easy selection.
Fleming is among the best shooters in this class. His 53.11 field goal percentage was one of the best in the NCAA this year
Brooklyn shot a dismal 43.7% from the field this past season, earning the second-worst mark in the league. Adding the Saint Joseph’s forward would go a long way in improving that mark.
27. Brooklyn Nets — Boogie Fland, G, Arkansas
With their fourth pick of the first round, the Nets should take Arkansas guard Boogie Fland. Brooklyn has already taken a guard, Dylan Harper, in our draft. They’ve also selected center Danny Wolf and forward Rasheer Fleming. Fland would leave them a forward short of adding a brand new starting five.
Fland enters this draft off the heels of a solid freshman year under John Calipari. The freshman averaged 13.5 points per game for the talented Razorbacks team.
At 6-foot-2, there are concerns regarding his height. He also shot just 37.9% from the field this season. Despite this, he’s still a playmaker and should be able to contribute to a rebuilding Nets team.
28. Boston Celtics — Miles Byrd, G, San Diego State
Boston is already stacked with superstars, so why not add an up-and-coming hotshot like sophomore guard Miles Byrd? This season with San Diego State, Byrd averaged 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 blocks and 2.1 steals per game. He’s an all-around talented player, and with his 6-foot-7 stature, he’d fit right in with the Celtics.
One of his main strengths is his defensive focus. Byrd uses his long arms and high IQ to stop players from scoring or force turnovers. While the Celtics already have defensive masterminds, it wouldn’t hurt to add some fresh blood for more action and energy.
Additionally, Byrd has a smooth pull-up three-point stroke that could be useful to Boston, as it loves to shoot from behind the arc. He could be a real threat once he fully develops in the league.
29. Phoenix Suns — Walter Clayton Jr., G, Florida
This could end up being one of the gems of the 2025 draft. Guard Walter Clayton Jr. began his career as a 0-star recruit, but legendary head coach Rick Pitino believed in him. After two years at Iona, Clayton took a risk by joining the Florida Gators, who were coming off of a 16-17 season, and completely changed the program. He won almost every national award possible, with the highest honors being a Consensus First Team-All American, Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA tournament and National Champion.
The amazing season had Clayton rise up some draft boards, but there’s definitely a range of where people believe he could go. If he falls to 29, the Phoenix Suns cannot pass up this opportunity. It was a toxic year for the Suns, and nobody knows who will be on the roster next year. Their point guard rotation consisted of Tyus Jones and Collin Gillespie to end the season, which will never cut it for a team with championship aspirations. Clayton gives the Suns one of the best shot makers in the draft with a late-round selection, as the four-year player looks to carry his momentum into the NBA.
30. Los Angeles Clippers — Kam Jones, G, Marquette
The Clippers have an aging roster and didn’t facilitate the ball very well. Marquette guard Kam Jones can assist in both of those areas. He was a solid scorer in college, averaging over 19 points per game. He also moved the ball well, with nearly six assists per game.
Without a long-term option at point guard, Jones can learn from the veterans in the short term and take over once they move on. Los Angeles has playoff hopes, and adding a young guard in Jones can extend those hopes past the next few years.
