2025 NBA Draft: Atlantic Division

With the 2025 NBA Finals underway, it is now time to evaluate what each NBA team will be looking for in the upcoming draft. Draft Nation will break down each team’s needs in the upcoming draft and review potential draft targets for each NBA Team. Let’s start with the Atlantic Division:

Philadelphia 76ers

The “Trust the Process” era is coming to a close with Joel Embiid’s knee becoming a chronic injury concern. The 76ers have only a handful of assets to build around to find their way back into the playoffs. In addition to Embiid, Paul George is losing the battle with Father Time. The team must accept that they will have to draft for potential. 

Ideally, Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxey will be the backcourt of the future. Kelly Oubre Jr. is a solid starter who has good chemistry with the team, and hopefully, Joel Embiid has one or two more years of solid center play. The 76ers need another wing to pair with Oubre Jr., as Paul George can’t be expected to be the same player he was with the Clippers.

Ace Bailey (SF/Wing, Rutgers) has the greatest upside of any prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 76ers would be remiss if they didn’t take a swing at a prospect with the tools that Bailey has. On the offensive side, Bailey needs to improve his shot selection as well as his handle. 

However, his shot is smooth, and he’s comfortable from both the three-point line and mid-range. Tyrese Maxey would provide an excellent partner for Bailey to show off his off-ball movement and let him grow at his own pace as a ball handler.

Defensively, Bailey has the most “win-now” talent for the 76ers. He’s agile and can stay with ball handlers as well as provide great rim protection at the small forward position. He still needs to work on his rotations and switching when facing opposing off-ball movement. In college, Bailey would start a rep sagging way off his assignment to try and get a block or a steal in the main action. 

Last year Kelly Oubre Jr. played 40 percent of his minutes at power forward. Oubre is slightly undersized at 6’ 8” and 203 lbs., and the Sixers should want to move him away from playing power forward regularly. However, sliding him to the four position and putting Bailey at the three would give the 76ers a scary small-ball style lineup. This sort of setup with Joel Embiid as the Center would require a lot from Embiid on defense but could be worth it.

Derik Queen (PF/Big, Maryland) - If not Ace Bailey, the 76ers should consider trading down to select Derik Queen. Queen is considered a Center prospect, but there isn’t much tape of him playing a traditional center’s role. Queen could play the four next to Joel Embiid.

If the 76ers select Queen, he could assume the minutes for Embiid while he’s on the bench as well as slide over to power forward when Embiid checks in. Queen has flashes of high-level passing talent when he weaves the ball past defenders to hit cutting teammates or out to the corners. Queen is also a high-level rebounder who constantly finds ways to get his hands on the ball even with a crowded paint. 

On Defense, Queen needs to show more verticality and not hesitate to jump and meet offensive players in the air or contest floaters over the top of him. Outside of that, Queen is a solid defensive player with great shot-blocking and highly active hands that strip players who underestimate him.

By selecting Queen, the 76ers will need to be convinced that he can adapt to playing against bigger and faster competition. Joel Embiid’s presence will help Queen, but during the times when Embiid is on the bench, Queen will need to show he can be a starting Center alongside the young guards of Philadelphia.

Brooklyn Nets:

The Brooklyn Nets enter the 2025 NBA Draft with four first-round picks (picks 8, 19, 26, and 27). As of now, the Nets still need to re-sign Cam Thomas, as he is a great piece to retain for a young core. Cameron Johnson and Nic Claxton are the only other starting-level players currently on the team. Those two might be traded away because their contracts are so salary efficient.

With their cap space, the Nets can sign veteran players who can help provide guidance and locker room leadership for the youth movement they will be working with over the next couple of years. A perfect blueprint for them might be the Houston Rockets model and their rebuild over the past few seasons. Why not copy a proven formula for returning to the playoffs? Fred VanVleet is going to be a free agent this summer. The Nets should even consider overpaying VanVleet so they have a veteran ball handler and floor general for their young core to develop around.

Khaman Maluach (C/Big, Duke) has only been playing organized basketball for a handful of years, but has all the traits to be a truly dominant force in the NBA. Taking a swing on a 7’2” center with a 7’6” wingspan and 9'8” standing reach is something the Nets would be remiss not to do. Maluach plays with a high motor on defense and his college team (Duke) wouldn’t hesitate to bring him out of the paint to defend stretch “bigs”. This is part of the reason Maluach has only average defensive rebounding numbers. His technique is sometimes lacking, but Maluach has the agility at his size to be very tempting for any coach or GM.

Ideally the Nets could bring in a free agent like Andre Drummond or Clint Capela so Maluach has a veteran player to learn from. This is assuming the Nets trade Nic Claxton and fully embrace the rebuild. What can unlock Maluach is having someone to throw him lobs. A veteran point guard who has gotten through his growing pains and knows how to manipulate defenses would love to have a player like Maluach to connect with. His size gives him immense presence in the paint, and he will enter the league as one of the best lob-threats in the NBA. Upcoming free agents like Malcom Brogdon, Chris Paul, current expiring Nets player D’Angelo Russell, or Fred VanVleet would open Maluach’s offensive game.

Nique Clifford (SG/Wing, Colorado State) - A plug-and-play prospect on the Nets board could be Nique Clifford of Colorado State. Clifford may still be available at pick 19. If he is, it is because he is one of the most experienced prospects expected to go in the first round at 23 years old. His extended time in college has led him to be one of the most NBA-ready prospects in this class. While he may not have the same time to develop as a younger prospect, he still has room to grow as he fine-tunes his mechanics. 

Clifford has the tools to play as a wing, as a shooting guard, or as a small forward. He played last year as Colorado State’s starting shooting guard. At 6’ 5” 202 lbs., and with a 6’ 8” wingspan, he is the size of a prototypical wing. This gives Clifford the ability to fit in several different offensive and defensive systems depending on what his team needs. 

Clifford has a nose for the ball and rebounds well. He also has good passing fundamentals and will keep offensive sets alive. Additionally, he has fine-tuned his defensive game where he handles complex offensive sets with ease and consistently steps in to blow up plays. 

One concern, however, is that he’s extremely streaky from beyond the arc. But Clifford isn’t someone opposing teams can ignore on offense or see as a point of weakness on defense. Having such a polished game means Clifford can play whatever role the Nets need for him day one.

Toronto Raptors:

The Toronto Raptors’ future is named Scottie Barnes. So, the 2025 NBA Draft will be a time to add a prospect who helps emphasize Barnes’s strengths and covers for his weaknesses. Luckily for the Raptors, they already have a solid supporting cast with Immanuel Quickley, Brandon Ingram, Jakob Poeltl, and RJ Barrett. The Raptors need to find someone who can fill in as either a 3-and-D wing or a traditional Big Man to back up and eventually succeed Jakob Poeltl.

Carter Bryant (SF/Wing Arizona) – Sometimes a player has all the characteristics a team is looking for in a prospect and becomes the perfect fit. Carter Bryant from Arizona is that player for the Raptors. Bryant didn’t play a ton of minutes at Arizona, only averaging 19 minutes a game, but he did show all the tools the Raptors have needed since trading away OG Anunoby.

Bryant fits the mold of the modern NBA 3-and-D Wing. Bryant shot a solid 37.1% from deep this past year at Arizona. While this was in a small sample size, his shot mechanics point towards improvement as he adds reps in the NBA. The Raptors have struggled with spacing this past year, as evidenced by taking the 28th most threes this past year. Bryant can add the much-needed spacing this team lacks. This will open up the paint for both Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, who both thrive in the mid-range.

The defensive side of the ball is where Bryant will contribute the most on day one. He’s a 6’ 6” 215 lb wing with an all-encompassing 7-foot wingspan. He plays with a high motor and won’t hesitate to block or contest any ball that dares enter his airspace. Defensively, Bryant used his long reach to harass and poke ball handlers at opportune times. This confidence and constant seeking out of big defensive plays also led to Bryant running into foul trouble. These can be fixed over time, given that Bryant is still only 19 years old. 

Khaman Maluach (C/Big, Duke) - Previously mentioned as a potential target for the Brooklyn Nets, Khaman Maluach from Duke is a traditional defensive center that the Raptors will need as Jakob Poeltl enters his 30’s. In the first couple of years, Maluach can play backup minutes to Jakob Poeltl and give Poeltl a breather. Long term, Maluach can learn from Poeltl’s defense and has the tools to more than exceed Poeltl.

Maluach is a true seven-footer at 7’ 2” with a 7' 6” wingspan. He is enormous on the court and isn’t afraid to show it but will need more time to improve his defensive instincts before he becomes a starter for the Raptors. 

New York Knicks:

The New York Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau soon after their elimination from the conference finals versus the Indianapolis Pacers. As of now, the Knicks only have one pick in the 2025 NBA draft, and that’s pick 50. However, the Knicks have a stockpile of second-round picks for 2026, 2027, and 2028, and may consider trading up if certain prospects fall in the draft.

The best possible 2025 Knicks draft is one where they acquire older prospects that can provide solid rotational minutes to a team that already has the blueprint to be a contender. What the Knicks need is more three-point shooting bigs and forwards to help lighten the load for Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby. The Knicks were 27th in three-point attempts and 24th in three-pointers made. However, they were 8th in three-point percentage. The Knicks have solid shooters, as evident by their shooting percentage, but they need more offensively well-rounded rotation players who can take the offensive load off of their starters.

Eric Dixon (PF/Forward, Villanova) was one of the best offensive players last year in the NCAA. He has a complete offensive game, from his 40.7% three-point percentage off of his silky smooth jumper, to his excellent feel for holes in defense, to his off-ball movement finding openings for his teammates to pass to him. Dixon averaged 23.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists as a major program’s main offensive hub. His big downside is that Dixon is 24 years old, and he struggles on defense. Dixon is a 6’ 8” 259 lb power forward with only average mobility for his size. He won’t be able to defend NBA guards if switched onto them and isn’t big enough to contest NBA centers who have length and strength over him. 

For the Knicks, Dixon would be a solid offensive contributor as a roller and spot-up shooter. On defense, the Knicks do have a roster full of solid defenders who can help cover for Dixon and provide help. If Dixon can continue to be a three-point, driving, mid-range shooting threat, then the Knicks’ other players will have more easy buckets. Plus, the more teams focus on defending a big-bodied stretch four like Dixon, the more other shooters on the Knicks will have to have easy open threes.

Sion James (SG/Wing, Duke) - If Dixon is a play finisher, then Sion James is a play extender. James is a 22-year-old 6’5” 218 lb Small Forward who played well on a star-studded Duke roster. James has three key strengths. First is his speed, having run the fastest ¾ sprint at the NBA Combine at 2.97 seconds. Second is his bulldog point of attack defense, having a solid DBPM (Defensive Box Plus Minus) of 4.9. Third is his decision-making with the ball, having a 2.45 assist-to-turnover ratio. James will step in his first year as an aggressive perimeter defender with the speed to get quick transition points. This past year he has also shown he isn’t hesitant to pass to his more score-focused teammates like Cooper Flag and Kon Knueppel.

However, Sion James is an older prospect. And while he is a willing passer, it also means he doesn’t score himself as often as a team would want from a ball handler. Additionally, outside of this past year, when James shot 41.3% from deep, he struggled beyond the arc. For the Knicks, James has limited upside. Yes, he will step in as a plus defender who won’t turn over the ball and set up his teammates, but he can’t be expected to ever be the main offensive scorer for a team. Luckily, the Knicks need more guys who can accept their role and play complementary ball to their stars. 

Boston Celtics:

The Boston Celtics are a cap-strapped team and their best player, Jayson Tatum, is out for the entirety of the next season. So many questions are swirling around the Celtic’s organization right now as their future is uncertain. Brad Stevens has indicated the team could be entirely reshaped at the beginning of next year’s regular season. Players like Al Horford, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis are showing signs of regression.

The Celtics have more recently developed players like Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and even revived Luke Kornet. Pritchard could end up taking over the starting spot from Jrue Holiday by the time Tatum is back from his Achilles tear. However, this will also be when currently 38-year-old Al Horford will be on his last leg’s last leg. Porzingis will most likely be traded, too, given his struggle to stay healthy, making his contract too expensive to keep. This is not even mentioning that Derrick White will be 32 and Jaylen Brown will be 30 in the 2026-27 NBA season. 

The Celtics need solid contributing minutes from an as-yet-unfound young core. They need players who will both develop quickly so they can maximize Jayson Tatum’s prime, but also players who still have the upside of being starters. All while only having pick 28 and pick 32 in the upcoming draft.

Rasheer Fleming (PF/Big, Saint Joseph's) stands out as a potential Al Horford replacement. Horford’s current role on the team is to be a great help defender, defend the stretch wings of the opposing team, hit three balls at an average to above average rate, and make the right passes. Fleming is a 6’ 8” 232 lb power forward with an insanely long 7’ 5” wingspan. Horford is a 6 9” 240 lb power forward with a 7’1” wingspan. Fleming has the physical tools to fill Horford's role and beyond with proper time and development.

On day one, Fleming will have a strong rotational role as a defensive stretch four. His shot mechanics could use some refinement, as he pulls the ball to his left side before switching over to his right before the shot. But he’s confident. Before this past year, Fleming’s three-ball was not efficient as he shot 29.7% on 2.4 attempts per game in his freshman year and 32.4% on 3 attempts per game in his sophomore year. This year, he not only increased his shot efficiency to 39% from behind the arc but also took 4.5 attempts per game. Consistent, steady increases in efficiency and shots taken point to Fleming’s need to grow, or at the very least, improve his shot to a league-average threat from deep. 

Boboljub Markovic (PF/Big, Mega Basket) - Boboljub Markovic won the Serbian Adriatic League’s Top Prospect award this past year at 19 years old. The currently 20-year-old Markovic stands out in the draft pool as a talent with varying levels of NBA Readiness in his game. From the three-point line Markovic has shot a solid 37%. When driving the 6’ 11” 190 lb Serbian will embrace contact and use a flurry of post-up movement to try and find angles to score from. Markovic also isn’t hesitant to pass to teammates when teams over-commit on him. However, Markovic is very static when using his hands on the defensive end. He will get into passing lanes and pick off passes. But once he is defending a post-up play, he holds his arms straight up for a standard contest. 

The top end of Markovic’s potential is a solid rotation stretch four. Whether he reaches that ceiling is questionable. Markovic has the tools and a competitive streak in him that he showed at the Nike Hoops Summit. The Celtics need prospects that can step in when their core starts to age. Markovic has a high-energy offensive game that can be molded into being a supporting piece for the existing core. The Celtics will need to work on his defensive game for him to see extended minutes, but they have a full year to work on that.