There are 7 teams that have multiple first round picks in the 2025 NBA draft (the Nets have four!) which means there promises to be some major roster improvements and probably a number of trades as well. Unlike the NFL draft in April, which saw every NFL team owning their own first round pick, the 2025 NBA Draft features just 14 teams drafting their own first round pick. Trading draft picks is the norm in the NBA and we can expect a lot more of that on June 25th.
The result of all these trades is some teams ending up without a first rounder and some teams ending up with multiple firsts. Today I want to take a look what these teams with multiple first round picks should/could do.
Rebuilding Teams
The Brooklyn Nets Have Four First Round Picks!
With a whopping four first round picks the Nets are in great position to reshape their roster and take a big step forward in their rebuild. The Nets have a few young bigs in Nic Claxton, Day’Ron Sharpe and Noah Clowney, and a nice trade chip in Cam Johnson. But other than that the cupboard is pretty bare and they need a big influx of talent. With so little talent on the roster drafting for need or fit should be out the window. The Nets need to go best player available with all of their picks, or package a few picks to move up for a potential star player.
If Jeremiah Fears is available at pick no.8 I think he would bring a level of energy, upside and wow-factor to the team. He’s a guy who needs the ball in his hands and he could get that opportunity in Brooklyn. There are other point guards who could be considered in this range including Kasparas Jakucionis and Egor Demin. Both would fill a need and be great picks. But I’d lean into Fears if he’s available.
The Nets also own the 19th, 26th and 27th picks. It’ll be interesting to see if they keep all four or if they package a few to move up (or trade for future draft capital). If they stay pat here’s one possible outcome for their four first rounders:
One Possible Outcome For The Nets
- no.8 – Jeremiah Fears
- no.19 – Walter Clayton Jr.
- no.26 – Hansen Yang
- no.27 – Drake Powell
The Utah Jazz Need A Star
The Jazz were perhaps the biggest losers during the NBA Draft Lottery falling all the way to the no.5 pick. Luckily for them there are 5 very good players in this draft. At no.5 they will get to choose from whoever is remaining of Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, Tre Johnson and maybe Kon Knueppel. All of these players would fit the roster but I think the Jazz need to swing for upside with this pick. Tre Johnson would be a great addition with his shot-making prowess and dawg mentality.
The Jazz also own the 21st pick in the draft, a range of the draft that still features a lot of good talent. I would love for them to take another upside swing, maybe looking at a young big like Joan Beringer (if he’s there), Asa Newell or Hansen Yang. Walker Kessler is entering the final year of his contract and he’s been on the trade block for most of his Jazz career. It might be time to move him and draft a young replacement.
If the Jazz come away from this draft with Tre Johnson or VJ Edgecombe and either Beringer/Yang that would be a win. Liam McNeeley also seems like a Danny Ainge type of pick, if he’s still there at no.21.
One Possible Outcome For The Jazz
- no.5 – Tre Johnson
- no.21 – Asa Newell
The Wizards Have Picks No.6 And No.18
The Wizards were easily one of the worst teams in the league last year but they are quietly accumulating some nice young pieces. A top 2 pick in this draft would have done wonders for the franchise but they fell to no.6 on lottery night, a spot where they will still get a good player but probably not a franchise cornerstone. If Ace Bailey falls he’d be a really nice addition but he’ll likely be off the board. That leaves Tre, VJ, Kon and a big wildcard in Khaman Maluach who seems to have a lot of suitors in this range. Drafting the 7-2 defensive anchor to play alongside Alex Sarr is an interesting idea; one that I’m starting to come around to.
The Wizards pick at no. 18 falls in the portion of the draft that I think is really strong. A lottery level talent could fall in this range and again, I think the Wizards should be looking for the best player available and not worrying about fit. If Nolan Traore is still on the board he’d be an awesome addition, to go along with their other French players in Sarr and Coulibaly. They might even want to trade up for Traore if he falls into the late lottery. But at no.18 Walter Clayton Jr. or Ben Saraf are two players likely to be available and that would add shooting and play-making to the roster, respectively.
One Possible Outcome For The Wizards 2025 Draft
- no.6 – Khaman Maluach
- no.18 – Walter Clayton Jr.
Ascending Teams
The Spurs Keep Building Something Special
The Spurs are all but guaranteed to take Dylan Harper at no.2 (barring a trade) and so the question becomes what should they do at no.14. I would love to see them at depth to the front court with a player like Thomas Sorber. I think he’d be an ideal fit as a back-up center who can also play in some big line-ups with Wemby. There’s also a chance they could take a big upside swing on a player like Joan Beringer, a prospect who isn’t as big a name but has big time tools and upside.
The Spurs also need shooting on the wing so Cedric Coward would make a lot of sense as well.
One Possible Outcome For The Spurs
- no.2 – Dylan Harper
- no.14 – Thomas Sorber
The Hawks Picks At No.13 and No.22
There seems to be a perpetual question with the Hawks organization; should they keep Trae Young or move on from him? He’s obviously a great player but I don’t think he’s going to lead them to championship contention. With that said I would be open to drafting a point guard at no.13 and leaving the option open to trade Trae.
There will likely be a very talented lead guard still on the board at the end of the lottery. One of Fears, Demin, Jakucionis or Traore will be there and could mark the beginning of a new era in ATL.
If the organization is set on keeping Trae Young then drafting a young big like Sorber would make a lot of sense. Derick Queen would be an interesting option as well, if he falls that far.
At no.22 the Hawks could look at Rasheer Fleming or one of the other young bigs (Beringer, Yang, Newell) depending on who’s available, or if they go big with their first pick a shooting wing like Liam McNeeley would make sense.
The Hawks nailed their pick last year with Zacharie Risacher. Jalen Johnson is a stud and Dyson Daniels is a really nice piece. Deciding what to do with Young and getting help up front should be priorities.
One Possible Outcome For The Hawks
- no.13 – Thomas Sorber
- no.22 – Liam McNeeley
The Magic Have Picks No.16 And No.25
The Magic are building a nice nucleus and will have a chance to add two good pieces to the team with picks no.16 and no.25. I’d love to see them get a young, athletic big man with one of those picks. Maybe Joan Beringer at no.16 or Asa Newell/Rasheer Fleming at no.25. Hansen Yang would be an interesting addition as well.
Another option at no.16 would be to go with a more NBA ready player like a Cedric Coward, Nique Clifford or even Walter Clayton Jr. Sometimes drafting an obvious NBA player is better than swinging for the upside and I think the Magic are at that stage, where adding depth and good role players is more important than swinging for upside.
One Possible Outcome For The Magic
- no.16 – Cedric Coward
- no.25 – Asa Newell
Contending Teams
The Thunder Have Options – The Rich Get Richer
With the no.15 and no.24 picks the Thunder have options. They could add two more pieces to build depth for the future or consolidate these picks to move up and target a certain player. If they move up they could target a lengthy wing like Cedric Coward (if they think he’s going late lottery) or maybe add some front court depth with Thomas Sorber or Derek Queen.
There are not many holes on the Thunder roster, plus they’ll be getting last year’s first round pick, Nikola Topic, back next season.
Another option would be to trade one of the picks for a future first.
One Possible Outcome For The Thunder
- no.15 Cedric Coward
- no.24 Nique Clifford
With the draft just 10 days away we’ll soon find out if any of these scenarios play out.
Thanks for reading!
Here’s my latest 2025 Mock Draft