forecasting the first two rounds of the nba draft post-combine

The 2025 NBA Draft combine has come and gone, leaving teams and fans scrambling to reassess their favorite prospects and project how the first two rounds will unfold. With Cooper Flagg all but cemented as the No. 1 pick for the Dallas Mavericks and other teams jockeying to find their cornerstone players, this draft class is shaping up to be both promising and complicated. What players rose or fell after the combine's measurements, drills, and scrimmages? And how will the various teams’ needs and trade talks influence their selections? Let’s dive deep into the post-combine forecast for the first two rounds, tapping into insights from ESPN, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, CBS Sports, and scouting minds across Basketball Insider, DraftExpress, and HoopsHype.

Top 10 NBA Draft Picks Post-Combine: Unpacking the Early First-Round Movers

While the Mavericks have locked in Cooper Flagg—the Duke standout fresh off a Wooden Award-winning freshman season—as the clear No. 1, intrigue brews immediately after. San Antonio’s Dylan Harper, another freshman, looks secure at No. 2, fitting alongside Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle with his scoring and playmaking. The Philadelphia 76ers, sitting at No. 3, face a more open field, balancing internal debates about Ace Bailey’s raw but tantalizing talent against other prospects like VJ Edgecombe and Tre Johnson.

Among the immediate key takeaways:

• Cooper Flagg’s Defensive Versatility: Scouts admire his all-around impact on both ends, though some question if he stays an All-Star or rises to a franchise face.
• Dylan Harper’s Fit with Spurs: The Spurs prioritize best available talent, confident in Harper’s potential despite backcourt depth questions.
• 76ers’ Options at No. 3: Potential package deals are swirling with veterans like Kevin Durant rumored to be involved, but internal evaluations keep Bailey in focus for a reset.
• Charlotte Hornets and VJ Edgecombe: Despite slipping to No. 4, Edgecombe’s slashing style and defensive upside suit the Hornets’ backcourt needs next to LaMelo Ball.

This part of the draft has a campy tension, with a handful of players fitting various styles and timetables but also raising questions on scout boards.

Teams Leveraging Combine Data to Address Roster Needs

Several teams are banking on the combine's measurements and on-court drills to justify picks or reevaluate potential gambles:

• Utah Jazz and Jeremiah Fears at No. 5: After missing out on the top slot, Fears represents long-term promise with speed and shot creation, a possible cornerstone in Utah's rebuilding.
• Washington Wizards Opting for Tre Johnson at No. 6: Despite style concerns, the Wizards see Johnson’s scoring abilities as key in their rebuild timeline.
• New Orleans Pelicans gravitating towards Khaman Maluach at No. 7: His physicality and defensive presence give a younger Pelicans frontcourt a boost.
• Brooklyn Nets select Duke’s Kon Knueppel at No. 8: Expected to add floor spacing and sharpshooting, although Brooklyn’s potential moves keep options fluid.

These teams exemplify the fine line between “best player available” and strategic roster fit. Additional workouts, especially for international players like Joan Beringer and Noa Essengue, who missed the combine due to club commitments, will add more wrinkles as draft night nears.

Second Round Prospects and Hidden Gems: The Untapped Depths of the 2025 Draft

The second round draft class is a mix of overlooked seniors, international players, and late bloomers—fraught with upside but also risk.

• Minnesota Timberwolves betting on North Carolina’s Drake Powell at No. 31: A stiff defender with a solid shooting touch, Powell could be a steal as the Wolves seek young wings to support Anthony Edwards.
• Boston Celtics eyeing Ratiopharm Ulm’s Ben Saraf (No. 32): International upside with size and developing playmaking skills—useful for a Celtics squad balancing veteran commitments.
• Charlotte Hornets holding multiple picks in the 30s: Could look to add point guard depth with Labaron Philon and more frontcourt versatility with Adou Thiero.
• Brooklyn Nets with several picks in late first and second rounds: Picks like Rasheer Fleming and Yaxel Lendeborg offer intriguing developmental projects with size and athleticism.

Teams like the Thunder, Magic, and Jazz remain cautiously opportunistic in the second round, aware that gems occasionally emerge beyond the first 30 picks.

International Prospects Still Awaiting Their Turn

International players like Joan Beringer and Noa Essengue, who missed the main combine but will attend Treviso’s upcoming workouts, remain wildcards. These players are noted for:

• Beringer’s rim protection and switchability—despite only three years of basketball experience, his trajectory is upward.
• Essengue’s physical tools and efficiency—known in German leagues for versatility and energy but questions linger about immediate NBA readiness.

NBA teams continue to balance these unknowns with workouts and interviews, knowing history shows international players often make significant leaps following their initial draft year evaluations.

Trade Talks and Draft Strategy: How Front Offices Are Navigating the Draft Maze

Trade rumors clouding the draft waters hint at a few lottery teams possibly moving picks or packaging assets. Notably:

• Philadelphia 76ers’ potential to leverage the No. 3 pick for veteran stars like Kevin Durant or Lauri Markkanen in a major reset.
• San Antonio Spurs entertaining trade ideas around the No. 2 pick amid discussions of acquiring established stars, though no concrete deals seem imminent.
• Brooklyn Nets managing four first-rounders, may package some to optimize cap space and roster construction.
• Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder exploring draft assets to either ramp up a win-now approach or deepen future capital.

Understanding team draft lottery history and nuances, detailed extensively by Basketball Evolution’s lottery guides, is key to grasp the nuances behind these moves. For a full rundown on these draft implications, check resources like Basketball Evolution's NBA Draft Lottery Guide and specific team draft lottery reviews such as Mavericks NBA Draft Lottery.

What Analysts Are Saying: ESPN, Bleacher Report & More

Experts from sources such as ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, Bleacher Report’s mock drafts, and The Ringer’s insightful analysis emphasize the challenging nature of projecting beyond the top five picks. CBS Sports and Yahoo Sports also highlight the fluidity of pick values in this draft, noting that vibrant workouts and interviews have complicated simple rankings.

• Scouting insights from DraftExpress and Basketball Insider underline how physical testing—like wingspan and vertical leap—affect perceived player ceilings.
• HoopsHype and Sports Illustratedcontribute by analyzing off-court traits such as maturity and fit, which could shift teams’ priorities in late-first and second-round picks.

For a deeper dive into how players like Cooper Flagg or Tre Johnson improved their draft stock post-combine, visit Basketball Evolution’s detailed analysis of Cooper Flagg and related profiles on early entries and major moves this offseason at NBA Draft Early Entries.