2025 NBA draft combine preview: Flagg, more players to watch

The 2025 NBA predraft process formally kicks off Saturday, with an anticipated 120 gamers, together with Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Derik Queen, Walter Clayton Jr., and others, congregating in Chicago for the NBA draft mix, G League Elite Camp, and company professional days.

On Monday, NBA groups, their followers, and gamers taking part will watch the revealing of the draft lottery (7 p.m. ET, ESPN), which can arrange the ultimate order of the draft’s first spherical. The draft will happen on June 25-26 (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) on the Barclays Middle in Brooklyn, New York.

Whichever workforce secures the precise to draft Flagg will dominate the dialog for the six weeks following the lottery, whereas the opposite 29 groups sift by the remainder of a proficient group of prospects exterior of the Duke freshman.

The draft mix and Elite Camp, held at Wintrust Enviornment, will put gamers by drills, measurements, athletic testing, medical examinations, workforce interviews and 5-on-5 scrimmaging.

The mix affords a possibility for gamers to enhance their draft standing in entrance of tons of of NBA executives, coaches, house owners and brokers. The mix is usually described because the unofficial begin of free company, as groups lay the groundwork for offers that could possibly be introduced as soon as the window opens June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.

There’s rather a lot to sit up for in one of the crucial necessary weeks of the NBA calendar, together with which gamers may enhance their draft inventory, who may withdraw their names from the draft and which prospects will groups start to dwelling in on as personal exercises get underway as quickly because the mix ends.

Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo element what they’re listening to and what to anticipate, whereas highlighting 5 prospects to maintain an in depth eye on.

Leap to a subject:
Five players to watch
G League Elite Camp prospects
Biggest storyline to follow
Gauging interest in agency pro days

Who is prepared, or keen, to make a bounce?

Yearly, a number of gamers use the mix as a springboard to raise their standing firmly into the primary spherical, or in hindsight, present they need to have been drafted a lot larger.

Jalen Williams, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Nembhard, Quentin Grimes, Kevin Huerter and Donte DiVincenzo stand out as current NBA gamers who helped themselves through the mix, whereas Derrick White, Pascal Siakam, Kyle Kuzma additionally confirmed flashes of what ultimately made them impression gamers on the subsequent degree.

The mix is not all the time the be-all and end-all for evaluations, although. Take Washington State’s Jaylen Wells final yr. He wasn’t invited to the mix initially till some last-minute withdrawals elevated him from the G League Elite Camp. And his 5-for-18 two-day mix efficiency (with 0 assists and three turnovers) actually did not counsel he would end third on this season’s NBA Rookie of the Yr voting after the Memphis Grizzlies drafted him within the second spherical.

That is why many prospects sit out of the scrimmages, for worry {that a} poor exhibiting will sink their standing. Whereas each prospect should attend the mix and take part in drills, interviews and the NBA’s medical examinations, the 5-on-5s are non-obligatory.

Over the previous few years, many gamers who had been late second-round picks or who went undrafted have declined to compete within the scrimmages, drawing consternation from NBA executives in attendance. This has brought about friction between groups — which can be in Chicago for greater than per week and wish to get their cash’s value for his or her time — and brokers, who usually really feel much less is extra when exposing their purchasers’ weaknesses.

Beforehand, brokers of elite prospects may strategically steer gamers to most well-liked locations by holding medicals away from much less engaging groups — a follow that’s now not allowed.

Some gamers who’re “testing the waters” on the mix may have little selection however to compete in 5-on-5s, as necessary selections on whether or not to maintain their names within the draft or return to high school await them on Might 28, the day of the NCAA withdrawal deadline.

A number of the extra notable “keep or go” selections embody: Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Alex Condon (Florida), Drake Powell (North Carolina), Cedric Coward (Duke), Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn), Milos Uzan (Houston), Boogie Fland (switch portal), Labaron Philon (Alabama), Isaiah Evans (Duke), Darrion Williams (switch portal), Miles Byrd (San Diego State), Karter Knox (Arkansas), PJ Haggerty (switch portal), Jamir Watkins (switch portal) and RJ Luis Jr. (switch portal)

These 15 gamers’ selections will play a significant function in how subsequent yr’s faculty season performs out. A workforce equivalent to Duke, for instance, would look completely completely different relying on what their testing gamers resolve. Different faculties have been ready patiently for Williams, Haggerty, Watkins, and Luis — 4 of essentially the most coveted gamers within the switch portal — to resolve their subsequent transfer. If these gamers do not just like the suggestions they obtain on the mix, NIL cash may await them subsequent yr ought to they elect to withdraw from the draft. — Givony

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5 gamers to look at on the mix

Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB/Michigan
No. 26 in ESPN’s Top 100

Lendeborg grew to become one of many prime names within the switch portal following his breakout season at UAB, committing to Michigan as an ostensible alternative for Danny Wolf.

He’s considered one of a number of faculty stars who enter the predraft course of with the monetary leverage to hunt for a good NBA touchdown spot, as he can return to varsity and make glorious cash subsequent season. Whether or not he turns professional hinges not solely on groups’ curiosity however the diploma of curiosity — a problem he can pressure with a powerful exhibiting in scrimmages.

Lendeborg’s measurement (6-foot-9, 240 kilos), budding ability degree and all-around productiveness helped him collect steam as a prospect and may translate nicely in a mix setting. NBA groups are curious to see how he fares, and Michigan will maintain out hope to have him again on campus, which doubtless relies on the suggestions popping out of this week. — Woo

Boogie Fland, PG, Arkansas
No. 42 in ESPN’s Top 100

After lacking a lot of Arkansas’ SEC slate with a thumb damage, Fland returned to play a small function within the NCAA match earlier than getting into the switch portal, the place he has a number of choices.

NBA groups can be curious to see how he fares in a 5-on-5 setting that historically favors guards, permitting Fland to remind scouts of his craftiness and scoring chops. Though he lacks measurement (6-foot-2, 175 kilos) and measurables, he’s nonetheless 18 years previous and comes with a strong pre-college pedigree and can draw events in what could be a watered-down mix setting by way of high-level participant participation.

Fland’s strong begin to the season and the actual fact he missed a key stretch of the convention schedule ought to make him attention-grabbing to groups, however like many prospects actually testing the waters, he would possibly want a stellar exhibiting to really feel safe about his NBA choices relative to the kind of cash and enjoying time accessible to him ought to he keep at school.

Fland, his Arkansas teammate Karter Knox, and Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford are among the many younger gamers who’re weighing comparable selections. — Woo

Darrion Williams, SF/PF, Texas Tech
No. 46 in ESPN’s Top 100

At present within the switch portal and uncommitted for subsequent season, Williams has been on the NBA exercise circuit this week as he weighs his choices. A sequence of robust NCAA match performances elevated Williams’ profile as a prospect, and there’s excessive demand for his providers within the faculty ranks, together with the choice to return to Texas Tech. That is one other case through which Williams’ play on the mix would possibly assist sway his draft vary, with some kind of assure doubtless essential for an NBA workforce to maintain him within the draft.

Williams brings a flexible ability set and robust really feel, able to enjoying each ahead spots in addition to on the ball along with his capability to be a playmaker. His athleticism, body (6-foot-6, 225 kilos) and defensive capabilities go away one thing to be desired from an NBA standpoint, however the success of comparable gamers equivalent to Atlanta’s Georges Niang affords a blueprint for the way he would possibly match right into a rotation.

A robust exhibiting in scrimmages may assist him, however returning to varsity and dealing on his physique and bounce shot (34% from 3) can also be a viable possibility, and a practical pathway to enhancing his inventory in subsequent yr’s draft. — Woo

Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane Bullets (Australia)
No. 47 in ESPN’s Top 100

After getting into the yr with some first-round buzz, Zikarsky stagnated in his second NBL season, as his minutes elevated however his manufacturing was down. At 7-foot-3 with a 7-4 wingspan, the Australian massive man nonetheless has rather a lot to supply bodily, with good coordination for his measurement and the power to impression pictures across the rim. Nonetheless, his capability to make a significant impression and safe a bigger function, stemming partially from his struggles to maintain up with faster-paced video games, moved NBA groups into wait-and-see mode in his draft timeline.

Nonetheless 18 years previous, he has time to catch up as he grows extra snug along with his physique. NBA entrance workplaces have been intrigued by his measurement and distinctive background courting again a number of years: Zikarsky comes from a household of elite-level swimmers as his 6-10 father gained a bronze for Germany within the 1996 Olympics, and his 6-1 mom was an Australian champion ironwoman.

Zikarsky, the tallest listed participant invited to the mix, has the stage to remind groups why he is value a developmental funding. This yr’s playoffs — the place gamers equivalent to Rudy Gobert (Minnesota) and Steven Adams (Houston) had main impacts — have provided reminders as to why groups want to hold measurement on the roster up entrance, whilst a change-of-pace possibility in sure matchups.

Zikarsky must proceed gaining expertise, however gamers along with his bodily profile aren’t simple to seek out. With this draft mild on facilities and with a wave of faculty gamers anticipated to return to high school for larger paydays, there’s a possibility for Zikarsky to assist himself with exhibiting. — Woo

Miles Byrd, SG, San Diego State
No. 51 in ESPN’s Top 100

Byrd’s instruments and defensive prowess made him an intriguing sleeper for NBA entrance workplaces over the course of the Aztecs’ season. He registered a formidable 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per sport on the wing as a younger sophomore who turns 21 years previous on Sept. 8.

He has flashed his capability as a passer, however his offense stays a piece in progress. He might want to add muscle to his 6-foot-7, 190-pound body, however his late-blooming trajectory has earned him favor from entrance workplaces. Though Byrd shot 30% from 3 final season, he tried almost six 3-pointers per sport. He has traditionally been a strong free throw shooter, leaving room for optimism that he would possibly enhance on that key swing ability.

There is a query of how early a workforce can be keen to take an opportunity on him growing his abilities, with the choice for him to return to San Diego State nonetheless on the desk. A constructive exhibiting in scrimmages, the place he might want to maintain his personal bodily and exhibit his defensive playmaking, may assist him agency up a assured deal, which is what it’d take to maintain him within the draft. — Woo

Company professional days: Gauging waning curiosity

After two days of 5-on-5 scrimmaging, brokers will take middle stage Thursday and Friday, placing their gamers by scripted routines meant to intensify their strengths whereas minimizing their weaknesses.

Up to now, groups would fly across the nation to attend these exercises, however rule adjustments have introduced them underneath one roof in Chicago and a separate session in Los Angeles on the Los Angeles Lakers‘ follow facility on Might 20-21.

NBA groups have combined emotions about these exercises. Some recognize the chance to sit down courtside and watch prospects, together with lots of the top-ranked gamers within the draft, to see up shut the bodily attributes, athleticism and taking pictures strategy of gamers they in any other case would see little or no of.

Different groups take into account these exercises an excuse for brokers to tug gamers from aggressive scrimmages in favor of all-for-show-style drills. No less than amongst top-level decision-makers, NBA attendance at these professional days has dropped considerably over the previous few years, as executives now not worry lacking out if one thing important had been to happen.

In flip, lottery picks now not take part in these exercises as regularly, which hurts different purchasers from massive companies who usually depend on prime prospects to attract NBA groups to the fitness center in massive numbers.

It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how groups view the evolution of professional days this yr. No matter whether or not groups are keen to confess it, some prospects previously have undoubtedly helped enhance their draft inventory just by demonstrating the bodily expertise and talent they possess in entrance of a major NBA viewers. — Givony

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Prime prospects on the G League Elite Camp

The G League Elite Camp will start this weekend, with 45 gamers scheduled to attend the two-day occasion. The five-to-eight greatest gamers from the scrimmages can count on to maneuver on to the NBA draft mix later within the week — which is precisely what LA Clippers guard Terance Mann, Charlotte Hornets ahead Cody Martin did in 2019 and Oklahoma City Thunder wing Aaron Wiggins did in 2021, ultimately listening to their names referred to as within the draft after which carving out robust NBA careers.

Different G League Elite Camp alumni — equivalent to Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Vince Williams Jr. and Jose Alvarado — did not get the draft mix call-up however nonetheless went on to develop into impactful NBA gamers.

There was no scarcity of G League Elite Camp members — equivalent to Nembhard, Dillon Jones and Marcus Sasser — who, after attending the camp, withdrew from the draft, after which later developed into NBA draft picks utilizing the suggestions and expertise they obtained whereas in Chicago.

A few of this yr’s prime prospects who can be enjoying on the G League Elite Camp embody Malique Lewis (South East Melbourne), Amari Williams (Kentucky), Caleb Love (Arizona), Caleb Grill (Missouri) and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Penn State). — Givony