Our NBA mock drafts lean heavily on intel to make projections for the players and the 30 teams. This mock draft, with Cooper Flagg as the projected No. 1 pick, isn't like the others.
Instead, ESPN draft analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo explored the first round of the 2025 NBA draft from two differing perspectives: selecting for team need versus drafting for best available.
How would teams approach this year's draft if they were selecting with their biggest needs for the upcoming season at the forefront? How might that approach change if they were looking to extract the most value for their pick in selecting the best player available, regardless of fit?