Redrafting the 2025 NBA Draft: Derik Queen moves into top 10, Liam McNeeley makes big jump after summer league

Dallas should have no second thoughts here on capturing Flagg and securing a superstar at No. 1.

There was never a doubt San Antonio would select anyone else predraft. That much remains true postdraft.

Philly locked in on VJ Edgecombe late in the draft process and he has done nothing so far to dissuade anyone from him not being worthy of this selection. He said during summer league he has “no fear at all.” I think he’ll fit in just fine with the 76ers.

I was widely lambasted in May when I projected Knueppel at No. 4 to Charlotte shortly after the draft lottery. That turned out to be prescient, and Charlotte should feel good about flying Kon Air.

Ace has already shown enough predraft and during summer league to validate his top-five selection. Utah, which had tied for the best odds to get the No. 1 pick before falling to No. 5 on lottery night, might have lucked out here.

Johnson scored 18 points in his summer league debut earlier this week and — to no surprise — very much looks the part as a pro that he did as a flamethrowing college player. Fun times ahead in Washington.

My final mock draft had Queen projected to New Orleans at No. 7. I was right on the first part but off on the second, as they selected Jeremiah Fears No. 7 before making a megadeal to get Queen at No. 13. I’d have taken Queen here if I valued him as much as they did and been content looking to address the backcourt later in the draft.

Brooklyn might have found something in Egor Demin, its original No. 8 pick, but its collection of four first-round picks together — Demin, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf — was on the whole pretty underwhelming. The swing here on a boom-or-bust prospect like Fears would be a fun one to help reshape its potential future.

Toronto made this pick just before parting ways with long-time decision-maker Masai Ujiri, and his fingerprints were all over this one. But I don’t think the Raptors will be upset with CMB. He’s a defensive menace who will be a stopper on that end and add physicality and ferocity to this team.

Demin was scooped up by pick No. 8 on draft night but it’s fun to think about him falling here to Phoenix at No. 10. His passing and overall playmaking graded out as the best in this draft class for me, and pairing him next to a pair of scorers in Devin Booker and Jalen Green could’ve been a nice backcourt to build around.

Memphis made a draft-night trade to move up and get Coward here at No. 11. I’m not sure I’d have done it — especially with Derik Queen and Carter Bryant available — but it’s clear the front office targeted him. I won’t stand in their way of landing him again in this exercise.

My word: Josh Giddey-Coby White-Ayo Dosunmu-Matas Buzelis-Khaman Maluach would’ve been fun in the Windy City. Maluach’s big 7-6 wingspan and impactful presence on both ends around the rim is exactly what I’d have hoped the Bulls could get. Alas.

Here’s a question: If you’re New Orleans would you rather have Derik Queen and Clifford AND your 2026 1st you gave up in the Queen deal instead of Fears + Queen? Because that could’ve been possible. Clifford went 24th overall and could’ve been had for the Pels at their original slot at 23. I know which direction I’d have gone — and it’s not the one New Orleans took.

Carter Bryant falling to No. 14 in a perfect situation in San Antonio is the most Spurs thing since they stumbled into the No. 2 overall pick in a stroke of lottery night luck. He’s looked awesome in Summer League and can be a great complementary piece — and maybe more — to grow up with alongside Victor Wembanyama and this team’s young core.

There’s been some good and some not-so-good from Essengue in his limited time with the Bulls. (Johnny Furphy posterizing him is firmly in the latter camp.) He’s an interesting long-term project who’d make some sense for an OKC organization that seems to consistently bet big on these archetypes.

Portland has to feel at least a *little* vindication after its stunning first-round selection of Yang here after the way he’s flashed in Summer League. I’m still skeptical of the pick overall, but he is clearly a talented player with skills as big as his 7-foot frame.

Sorber went No. 15 overall and wound up going higher than most everyone mocked throughout the draft process to an OKC team that always keeps a low profile. He’d be a nice developmental big for any team and Minnesota in particular would’ve made sense.

I’m still scratching my head wondering how McNeeley fell to No. 29 in the draft. It shouldn’t have happened. That’s not a take based on summer league — though he has looked great — but it’s a flag-plant I believed for much of the last six months. He was a top-20 player in the class who nearly fell to Round 2.

Beringer has looked great already and appears ready to pay off his billing as an elite defensive prospect. I don’t think Minnesota will be unhappy with having him to groom the next couple years.

Brooklyn snagged Traore at No. 19 and jumped in front of the Heat for him. But this alternate universe gives the Heat the guy I thought might be a fit for them. I think he’d have been their guy if he didn’t go a pick earlier.

I would have loved for Washington to have a player of Jakucionis’ caliber fall here to No. 21. There was unfortunately a pretty big tier drop among playmakers after Traore and Jakucionis fell.

I had Powell projected to Brooklyn in my final mock before the draft, and so as a humble brag I’ll keep him Brooklyn-bound in this space. I like him as a talent and felt he was underrated relative to his perception. There’s a lot to like here long term.

This was a pick Atlanta acquired on draft night in the deal with New Orleans. They took Newell then and will do so again here. The Hawks front office cleaned up on draft night.

Sacramento made a deal with OKC to land Nique Clifford in this spot here — which so far seems like a huge, huge hit — but in this mock he’s gone. I like the idea of Clayton Jr. as a King to give them shotmaking and guard optionality.

Some picks just feel *right*. Like, oh yeah, Jase to the Magic. His pops played in Orlando from 2010-2012 and he’s a wonderful addition to this young Magic team.

I’m not so sure Riley would have lasted much longer if he hadn’t been taken No. 21 by the Wizards, but Brooklyn — with its four first-round picks — would have been a tremendous spot for him to land and offer him a long runway to learn on the job.

Wolf was a good pick by Brooklyn at No. 27. I endorse this. He’s a unique talent and someone who can be a legitimate playmaking presence at 7-foot.

Allow me to again tout my predictive ability here: This one I had right leading into the draft. Gonzalez seemed like a Celtic for a team and roster in flux. I think he’s got a bright future in Boston.

Charlotte made Kalkbrenner a Hornet at No. 34 overall, but why not do so earlier here? He was so obviously a great fit for this team, and the smoke surrounding him and the Hornets leading into the draft now in hindsight makes so much sense.

Los Angeles has made some major moves of late — including adding Bradley Beal — but selecting Niederhauser at No. 30 feels like it was still a smart move in the short- and long-term. He’s not supplanting Ivica Zubac as a starter anytime soon but he’s an NBA player who can break into a rotation and be a useful piece.