2025 NBA Draft Thread

[aceboon]

#20 in the latest ESPN mock draft

Updated NBA mock draft with movement in the top 10: How we see Rounds 1 and 2, eight days out

Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo share the latest intel from around the league.

www.espn.com

20. Miami Heat (via Golden State)​

Liam McNeeley, SG/SF, UConn
Freshman | TS%: 53.6

Height without shoes: 6-6¾ | Weight: 214
Standing reach: 8-3½ | Wingspan: 6-8½

Adding backcourt talent will likely be a priority for the Heat this offseason, but it's not easy to point to any surefire guard contributors in this range. McNeeley's size, shot-making prowess, feel for the game and toughness are critical attributes that NBA teams value at the wing position. He needs to remind them of his winning qualities throughout the predraft process, following an inefficient season in which he converted 44% of his 2-pointers and 32% of his 3-pointers.

He will likely be asked to play a different role in the NBA, leaning more heavily into his ability as a dynamic perimeter shooter, which was more evident in other settings before college. McNeeley has some momentum behind him now, following some positive workouts, helping to remind teams of what made him so highly regarded entering the season. -- Givony

 

[aceboon]

according to this article Samson has worked out for the Lakers, Heat, Bucks, Jazz, and Wizards.

NBA draft workout tracker: Where prospects have visited in 2025

Rookie Wire examined every team and the prospects they’ve brought in for workouts before the NBA draft on June 25-26.

therookiewire.usatoday.com

 

[REB1094]

Dude went to Rutgers, team had a terrible season, and he still had a real shot to be a top 3 draft pick. Should take advantage of every opportunity to not mess that up, but alas…

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25209018-ace-baileys-camp-reportedly-told-teams-hes-top-3-pick-after-declining-invites

 

[lateralous]

Dude went to Rutgers, team had a terrible season, and he still had a real shot to be a top 3 draft pick. Should take advantage of every opportunity to not mess that up, but alas…

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25209018-ace-baileys-camp-reportedly-told-teams-hes-top-3-pick-after-declining-invites

There were few players harder for me to watch this year than Ace Bailey. Given that I grew up near Rutgers and went to plenty of games at the RAC, I watched some of the early season games to check out the hype. On offense, Bailey was the biggest black hole ever and on D completely disinterested. He could certainly grow out of both habits but IMO he's not someone that should just be penciling himself in for a top 3 pick.

 

[Lafayette]

There were few players harder for me to watch this year than Ace Bailey. Given that I grew up near Rutgers and went to plenty of games at the RAC, I watched some of the early season games to check out the hype. On offense, Bailey was the biggest black hole ever and on D completely sinterested. He could certainly grow out of both habits but IMO he's not someone that should just be penciling himself in for a top 3 pick.

He is literally taking the Carmelo Anthony approach: get pts and rebounds, forget defense. Offense gives you All-Star votes and the stats!

 

[aceboon]

reminds me of scouts talking about Anthony Edwards and Jaylen Brown before the draft and they were wrong on them

 

[HooperScooper]

Dude went to Rutgers, team had a terrible season, and he still had a real shot to be a top 3 draft pick. Should take advantage of every opportunity to not mess that up, but alas…

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25209018-ace-baileys-camp-reportedly-told-teams-hes-top-3-pick-after-declining-invites

I hope Bailey’s agents know what they’re doing but it does seem they’re over playing their hand. We’ll find out next week.

Sources: Draft prospect Bailey cancels 76ers visit

Former Rutgers star Ace Bailey has canceled a visit to the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN, and has yet to visit any NBA teams ahead of next week's NBA draft.

www.espn.com

 

[caw]

according to this article Samson has worked out for the Lakers, Heat, Bucks, Jazz, and Wizards.

NBA draft workout tracker: Where prospects have visited in 2025

Rookie Wire examined every team and the prospects they’ve brought in for workouts before the NBA draft on June 25-26.

therookiewire.usatoday.com

Have to imagine all the players returning to college helped him a bit. I'd love to see if he could latch on to the Heat.

 

[ToolzieFan]

according to this article Samson has worked out for the Lakers, Heat, Bucks, Jazz, and Wizards.

NBA draft workout tracker: Where prospects have visited in 2025

Rookie Wire examined every team and the prospects they’ve brought in for workouts before the NBA draft on June 25-26.

therookiewire.usatoday.com

Look, I know he’s not ready to be on an NBA court, but can you imagine how fun it would be to see him catching lobs from Luka?

 

[bjc42]

I hope Bailey’s agents know what they’re doing but it does seem they’re over playing their hand. We’ll find out next week.

Sources: Draft prospect Bailey cancels 76ers visit

Former Rutgers star Ace Bailey has canceled a visit to the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN, and has yet to visit any NBA teams ahead of next week's NBA draft.

www.espn.com

Dude's a problem and he hasn't even stepped on an NBA court. Serious levels of entitlement

 

[HooperScooper]

Dude's a problem and he hasn't even stepped on an NBA court. Serious levels of entitlement

I'm sure his agents are calling these shots and not him.

 

[bjc42]

I'm sure his agents are calling these shots and not him.

Just weird to me. You have a shot to improve your stock and you don't even try.

 

[aceboon]

What a half from the Pacers

 

[ctbro1999]

Latest take on McNeeley (via The Athletic):

19. UConn wing Liam McKneeley​

Versatile. Tough. He was a lot bigger in person than I realized. His rebounding seemed like he had a level of confidence as a freshman that was impressive. Obviously got hurt during the year, but he’s a guy that impacted them a ton because of his ability to get to the foul line. Will that translate as well or will he be just more of a guy that’s making catch-and-shoot corner 3s? Because at UConn he was a decision maker, and I don’t know if that’s going to translate as well as it did in college.

I wouldn’t call him an elite shooter, but a very good shooter. Defensively, he’s not better. Better than I thought he’d be. I think he has a high ceiling. Physically has to get stronger, but I think with his feel, his knack for getting fouled and his competency defensively, he’s an NBA starter at some point.

 

[ToolzieFan]

I'm sure his agents are calling these shots and not him.

Everything I’ve heard is that he’s a good kid and a hard worker, just maybe a bit immature. I’d attribute these bad decisions to his representation. They should know better. Even if he’s not working out for teams because he has a preferred destination or a promise (I don’t think he does), you’d want your stock to be as high as possible. Make teams want to get you at #3 so you can get the best contract possible.

 

[ToolzieFan]

Ryne Russillo actually just had Steve Pikiell on, and while you’d expect a coach to talk up his own players, he speaks glowingly of both Bailey and Harper as people. Ace needs to play more mature and maybe get a better agent, because the potential is there.

They also talk UConn for a while, giving plenty of love to Calhoun and what the program has become. I’ll always root for Pikiell, even at Rutgers.

And I haven’t watched the first part yet, but most of the show is with Sam Vecenie, and his draft stuff is always great.

 

[aceboon]

Brutal

 

[HooperScooper]

#20 in the latest ESPN mock draft

Updated NBA mock draft with movement in the top 10: How we see Rounds 1 and 2, eight days out

Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo share the latest intel from around the league.

www.espn.com

20. Miami Heat (via Golden State)​

Liam McNeeley, SG/SF, UConn
Freshman | TS%: 53.6

Height without shoes: 6-6¾ | Weight: 214
Standing reach: 8-3½ | Wingspan: 6-8½

Adding backcourt talent will likely be a priority for the Heat this offseason, but it's not easy to point to any surefire guard contributors in this range. McNeeley's size, shot-making prowess, feel for the game and toughness are critical attributes that NBA teams value at the wing position. He needs to remind them of his winning qualities throughout the predraft process, following an inefficient season in which he converted 44% of his 2-pointers and 32% of his 3-pointers.

He will likely be asked to play a different role in the NBA, leaning more heavily into his ability as a dynamic perimeter shooter, which was more evident in other settings before college. McNeeley has some momentum behind him now, following some positive workouts, helping to remind teams of what made him so highly regarded entering the season. -- Givony

Givony moved McNeeley to 17th this morning.

NBA draft 2025: Final big board for the top 100 prospects

Who made big jumps in the top 10? Where do the Duke, Rutgers players rank? Here's our final top 100 big board.

www.espn.com

Interesting that McNeeley is the subject of the title of the article on the ESPN website front page ("Where does UConn's Liam McNeeley rank in our final big board?").

ESPN - Serving Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.

Visit ESPN for live scores, highlights and sports news. Stream exclusive games on ESPN+ and play fantasy sports.

www.espn.com

 

[ctbro1999]

Brutal

Oof, that sucks. And can't return to college.

 

[husky429]

Oof, that sucks. And can't return to college.

I'm not sure if they get injury nsurance or not until the pro contract. Or maybe even in college? My friend who played in the NFL didn't get his until the pros but that was years ago.

Hope he has some compensation lined up. Horrible luck

 

[gsmooth]

Brutal

Damn. Normally I don't use the word "tragic" when it comes to strictly sports as I reserve that for other harsh realities in this world that occur. But this is tragic because this happened before he got drafted and a severe injury like will severely dampen his career prospects.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Gus is a must-follow for cbb fans.

 

[Lafayette]

Gus is a must-follow for cbb fans.

Not sure he falls to the Nets but Barclays is an easy subway ride to see him

 

[HuskyHawk]

I'm waiting for the trades to start coming this week. I expect quite a few on draft night as well. The league is in a strange place right now with Tatum, Halliburton and Dame all out in the East. Three guys wearing 0 all tear their Achilles.

How will those teams react in the draft? Which team will decide to go for it (Orlando seemingly).

 

[aceboon]

latest ESPN mock this morning, Wizards would probably have to move Kispert at this point, which has been rumored

We have new predictions in our 59-pick mock draft: Risers, fallers and latest intel

Will the 76ers, Hornets and Jazz take best-player-available approaches? We project both rounds of the NBA draft.

www.espn.com

18. Washington Wizards (via Memphis)​

Liam McNeeley, SG/SF, UConn
Freshman | TS%: 53.6

Height without shoes: 6-6¾ | Weight: 214
Standing reach: 8-3½ | Wingspan: 6-8½

McNeeley has drawn positive feedback on the workout circuit, where he reminded teams of his all-around offensive ability coming off a tricky season that was hampered by an ankle injury. He has interest all over the back half of the first round, with Washington among his potential landing spots.

The Wizards were the most committed team in the league last season to giving their rookies meaningful minutes, and the current front office has thus far strongly valued positional size and feel in the draft. McNeeley could be a nice addition to the team's group of wings as a capable decision-maker and shooter who also brings a level of toughness. -- Woo