Comparing NBA expert mock drafts after NBA lottery results

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The NBA draft order is set, paving the way for mock draft season to get into full gear.

The Mavericks were the winners of the NBA draft lottery, as Dallas came away with the No. 1 pick despite having just a 1.8 percent chance to do just that. Right behind Dallas are the Spurs and the 76ers, who both also rose in the lottery to pick second and third overall, respectively.

On the flip side, the Hornets, Jazz and Wizards all had tough lottery luck, dropping down to fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the draft despite each having 14 percent odds to earn the top pick. The major shake-up impacts a draft that seems to have a consensus top four before a drop in the pool.

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Of course, Cooper Flagg is the headliner, as the Duke star has been the expected top pick all year. That means that, unless Dallas makes another shocking decision, the Mavericks will draft the forward as their franchise player just months after trading Luka Doncic.

Besides Flagg, there seems to be three impact players that experts agree should be in the top four. Rutgers teammates Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey failed to make the NCAA Tournament last year, but they are expected to be top picks in June. Additionally, Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe appears to have a lot of support as a top five player.

From there, mock drafts divert depending on how each expert views the players and needs of each team. That should make for a fun and unpredictable NBA draft night.

Here’s a look at how the experts view the first round playing out bow that the order is determined.

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ESPN Mock Draft (Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo)

Released on May 12:

Pick Team Player Position College/Previous team
1. Mavericks Cooper Flagg SF/PF Duke
2. Spurs Dylan Harper PG/SG Rutgers
3. 76ers Ace Bailey SG/SF Rutgers
4. Hornets VJ Edgecombe SG Baylor
5. Jazz Jeremiah Fears PG Oklahoma
6. Wizards Tre Johnson SG Texas
7. Pelicans Khaman Maluach C Duke
8. Nets Kon Knueppel SG/SF Duke
9. Raptors Collin Murray-Boyles PF/C South Carolina
10. Rockets Kasparas Jakucionis PG Illinois
11. Trail Blazers Derik Queen C Maryland
12. Bulls Egor Demin PG/SG BYU
13. Hawks Jase Richardson PG/SG Michigan State
14. Spurs Carter Bryant SF/PF Arizona
15. Thunder Nolan Traore PG Saint-Quentin
16. Magic Will Riley SG/SF Illinois
17. Timberwolves Danny Wolf PF Michigan
18. Wizards Noa Essengue PF Ratiopharm Ulm Germany
19. Nets Joan Beringer C Cedevita Oli
20. Heat Liam McNeeley SG/SF UConn
21. Jazz Asa Newell PF/C Georgia
22. Hawks Thomas Sorber C Georgetown
23. Pacers Nique Clifford SG Colorado State
24. Thunder Hugo Gonzalez SG/SF Real Madrid
25. Magic Walter Clayton Jr. PG Florida
26. Nets Ben Saraf PG/SG Ratiopharm Ulm Germany
27. Nets Rasheer Fleming PF Saint Joseph’s
28. Celtics Noah Penda SF/PF Le Mans
29. Suns Yaxel Landeborg PF/C UAB
30. Clippers Adou Thiero PF Arkansas

MORE: Where do the Mavs rank among the biggest NBA Draft Lottery conspiracy theories ever?

The Athletic Mock Draft (Sam Vecenie)

Released on May 12:

Pick Team Player Position College/Previous team
1. Mavericks Cooper Flagg SF/PF Duke
2. Spurs Dylan Harper PG/SG Rutgers
3. 76ers Ace Bailey SG/SF Rutgers
4. Hornets VJ Edgecombe SG Baylor
5. Jazz Tre Johnson SG Texas
6. Wizards Derik Queen C Maryland
7. Pelicans Kon Knueppel SG/SF Duke
8. Nets Jeremiah Fears PG Oklahoma
9. Raptors Khaman Maluach C Duke
10. Rockets Collin Murray-Boyles PF/C South Carolina
11. Trail Blazers Kasparas Jakucionis PG Illinois
12. Bulls Carter Bryant PF Arizona
13. Hawks Nolan Traore PG Saint-Quentin
14. Spurs Noa Essengue PF Ratiopharm Ulm Germany
15. Thunder Danny Wolf PF Michigan
16. Magic Nique Clifford SG Colorado State
17. Timberwolves Thomas Sorber C Georgetown
18. Wizards Egor Demin PG/SG BYU
19. Nets Asa Newell PF/C Georgia
20. Heat Jase Richardson PG/SG Michigan State
21. Jazz Liam McNeeley SG/SF UConn
22. Hawks Cedric Coward SF Washington State
23. Pacers Joan Beringer C Cedevita Oli
24. Thunder Noah Penda SF/PF Le Mans
25. Magic Walter Clayton Jr. PG Florida
26. Nets Hugo Gonzalez SG/SF Real Madrid
27. Nets Rasheer Fleming PF Saint Joseph’s
28. Celtics Labaron Philon SG Alabama
29. Suns Ben Saraf PG/SG Ratiopharm Ulm Germany
30. Clippers Ryan Kalkbrenner C Creighton

MORE: NBA Draft Lottery 2025 winners and losers

CBS Sports Mock Draft (Kyle Boone)

Released May 12:

Pick Team Player Position College/Previous team
1. Mavericks Cooper Flagg SF/PF Duke
2. Spurs Dylan Harper PG/SG Rutgers
3. 76ers Ace Bailey SG/SF Rutgers
4. Hornets VJ Edgecombe SG Baylor
5. Jazz Tre Johnson SG Texas
6. Wizards Kon Knueppel SG/SF Duke
7. Pelicans Collin Murray-Boyles PF/C South Carolina
8. Nets Jeremiah Fears PG Oklahoma
9. Raptors Kasparas Jakucionis PG Illinois
10. Rockets Egor Demin PG/SG BYU
11. Trail Blazers Nolan Traore PG Saint-Quentin
12. Bulls Derik Queen C Maryland
13. Hawks Nique Clifford SG Colorado State
14. Spurs Khaman Maluach C Duke
15. Thunder Danny Wolf PF Michigan
16. Magic Carter Bryant PF Arizona
17. Timberwolves Liam McNeeley SG/SF UConn
18. Wizards Walter Clayton Jr. PG Florida
19. Nets Ben Saraf PG/SG Ratiopharm Ulm Germany
20. Heat Noa Essengue PF Ratiopharm Ulm Germany
21. Jazz Jase Richardson PG/SG Michigan State
22. Hawks Rasheer Fleming PF Saint Joseph’s
23. Pacers Thomas Sorber C Georgetown
24. Thunder Drake Powell SF North Carolina
25. Magic Asa Newell PF/C Georgia
26. Nets Maxime Raynaud C Stanford
27. Nets Hugo Gonzalez SG/SF Real Madrid
28. Celtics Labaron Philon SG Alabama
29. Suns Yaxel Landeborg PF/C UAB
30. Clippers Joan Beringer C Cedevita Oli

MORE: How will the Mavericks roster look with Cooper Flagg? 

Sports Illustrated Mock Draft (Kevin Sweeney)

Released May 12:

Pick Team Player Position College/Previous team
1. Mavericks Cooper Flagg SF/PF Duke
2. Spurs Dylan Harper PG/SG Rutgers
3. 76ers Ace Bailey SG/SF Rutgers
4. Hornets VJ Edgecombe SG Baylor
5. Jazz Jeremiah Fears PG Oklahoma
6. Wizards Tre Johnson SG Texas
7. Pelicans Kasparas Jakucionis PG Illinois
8. Nets Kon Knueppel SG/SF Duke
9. Raptors Khaman Maluach C Duke
10. Rockets Collin Murray-Boyles PF/C South Carolina
11. Trail Blazers Egor Demin PG/SG BYU
12. Bulls Derik Queen C Maryland
13. Hawks Nolan Traore PG Saint-Quentin
14. Spurs Noa Essengue PF Ratiopharm Ulm Germany
15. Thunder Will Riley SG/SF Illinois
16. Magic Jase Richardson PG/SG Michigan State
17. Timberwolves Nique Clifford SG Colorado State
18. Wizards Carter Bryant PF Arizona
19. Nets Joan Beringer C Cedevita Oli
20. Heat Walter Clayton Jr. PG Florida
21. Jazz Rasheer Fleming PF Saint Joseph’s
22. Hawks Thomas Sorber C Georgetown
23. Pacers Asa Newell PF/C Georgia
24. Thunder Hugo Gonzalez SG/SF Real Madrid
25. Magic Danny Wolf PF Michigan
26. Nets Ben Saraf PG/SG Ratiopharm Ulm Germany
27. Nets Yaxel Landeborg PF/C UAB
28. Celtics Cedric Coward SF Washington State
29. Suns Liam McNeeley SG/SF UConn
30. Clippers Johni Broome PF Auburn

MORE: Best NBA Draft Lottery reactions to Dallas winning from social media

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