In August 2023, a young Cooper Flagg reclassified to the high school graduating class of 2024, raising the eyebrows of the basketball world.

Moving up his high school graduation placed Flagg in the 2025 NBA draft class, one already deep with star talent and potential role players.

Over the last two years, NBA scouts have reiterated the strength and depth of the 2025 class, and front offices have placed a higher value on picks this year, knowing that there are several potential stars available, even after Flagg is off the board.

With so many coveted prospects sure to hear their names called on Wednesday night, some teams may propose trades to move up higher in the lottery, but the price to do so will likely be steep.

The draft could also be a catalyst for player movement, with the free agency window opening less than a week later.

The NBA offseason carousel will be spinning at full force soon enough, but Wednesday will be about the next generation of stars being baptised into the Association.

The Blue Devil Trio

The Dallas Mavericks received franchise-altering luck when they won the draft lottery in a year with an obvious top pick.

After trading Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis and the subsequent injury to Kyrie Irving, Dallas appeared to be in serious trouble.

Enter: Cooper Flagg.

When Dallas selects Flagg No. 1 overall, he could be a legitimate franchise cornerstone and will provide a lifeline to the Mavs as Davis and Irving age. Even better, the 6-foot-8 forward's versatile two-way game will allow him to take center stage or play alongside other stars.

Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season, leading Duke to a Final Four appearance. Scouts have raved about his work ethic and competitiveness, which showed in his 1.4 blocks per game and 1.4 steals per game.

Flagg is not quite as polished as a scorer as Jayson Tatum was as a prospect, but it is easy to see Flagg blossoming into a similar type of do-it-all forward in the NBA.

COOPER FLAGG JUST WENT COAST-TO-COAST AND POSTERIZED THE DEFENDER

ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS pic.twitter.com/Z5jcZ756ew

— ESPN (@espn) January 8, 2025

But Flagg was not alone at Duke, and a pair of his teammates will likely also be drafted in the lottery.

Kon Knueppel saw his stock rise during his season with the Blue Devils, especially late in the year when Flagg missed some time.

The 6-foot-6 guard may be the best shooter in the draft, and he got some experience initiating offence at Duke. With every team in the league looking for more 3-point shooting, Knueppel may be a top-five pick.

The last of Duke's trio is the imposing center Khaman Maluach.

At 7-foot-2 and 253 pounds, Maluach is a traditional center who controls the paint on both ends of the court.

Maluach is a very good rebounder and shot-blocker, but his offensive game is limited mostly to dunks, putbacks and lob finishes. He is a bit of a developmental project, but his size and athleticism could vault him into the top ten of the draft.

Rutgers duo

Two of the best prospects in this class played their freshman seasons at Rutgers.

And while there is a sizeable group of players a tier below Flagg in this draft class, Dylan Harper has emerged as the best of that group and the likely No. 2 overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs.

The 6-foot-5 combo guard is the son of 15-year NBA veteran Ron Harper and profiles as a similar player to his father, a two-way guard with size and the ability to play either guard spot.

At 213 pounds, Harper has the build to immediately endure the long NBA schedule, while his passing and finishing indicate a high potential ceiling.

The fit is a bit awkward with the Spurs, who drafted Stephon Castle last year and traded mid-season for De'Aaron Fox, but scouts have increasingly felt that Harper alone is worthy of the No. 2 selection.

Harper's college teammate, Airious “Ace” Bailey, has become one of the most intriguing players in the class.

Throughout the scouting process, Bailey had been projected as a top-five talent, but his behaviour regarding pre-draft workouts has left some front offices confused.

Bailey is the kind of player who translates well to the NBA. At 6-foot-8 and 203 pounds, he is a lean scoring forward who can create his own shot off the dribble.

According to multiple media outlets, however, Bailey has not conducted private workouts for any teams, turning down requests from multiple teams.

ESPN has reported that Bailey's camp is trying to avoid the Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets at the No. 3 and No. 4 picks because they already have ball-dominant scorers on their roster.

The Sixers and Hornets may need to weigh the risk of drafting the most talented player available, even if he may not be happy on his new team.

What's the latest With Ace Bailey, and where might he end up on draft night? Went on ESPN Bet Live to discuss. pic.twitter.com/0eHHQkHW6s

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 24, 2025

Other wings

The wing positions have become so crucial to today's NBA, and there are plenty of wing players built for success in the future in this draft class.

Baylor's VJ Edgecombe is one of the most exciting players in the class, and he used his 38.5-inch vertical leap to generate some highlight-reel dunks. He also used his athleticism on defence to average 2.1 steals per game.

Standing at 6-foot-5, Edgecombe also showed some proficiency from 3-point range, shooting 34% from deep at Baylor.

Edgecombe could be drafted as high as No. 3 if Philadelphia or a trade-minded team is wary of Bailey's preferences.

Also a candidate for a top-five selection is Texas' Tre Johnson.

At 6-foot-6, Johnson was a scoring machine in his only collegiate season, averaging nearly 20 points per game. He shot 39.7% from 3-point range last season while attempting nearly seven per game.

His scoring should translate to the NBA level immediately, but there is room for improvement with rebounding, playmaking and defence.

Other wings with a chance to be drafted in the lottery are Arizona's Carter Bryant and Noa Essengue of France.

Other guards

This draft is not super deep with lead guards, but there are a few who could be taken in the back half of the lottery.

Most scouts agree that Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears is the best true point guard in this class after he averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his freshman season.

At 6-foot-4, Fears has the size to see the floor at the next level, and he is not afraid to attack the basket. However, he shot just 28.4% from 3-point range last season and will need to develop better range to become a long-term starter.

Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis also has lottery teams interested after averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists last season.

Jakucionis has excellent size at 6-foot-6 and is likely the most NBA-ready pick-and-roll ball-handler in this draft.

Jakucionis also needs to improve his range after shooting 31.8% on 3s at Illinois, and he will need to cut down on turnovers.

Other bigs

While Maluach is widely considered the best center in this draft class, several other players present upside in the post as well.

Derik Queen was a top-ten recruit out of high school and had a very successful season at Maryland.

Queen is a skilled, inside-the-arc center who averaged 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds. His offensive game is more refined than Maluach's, but the 6-foot-10 Queen lacks elite size and wingspan, limiting his potential as a rim-protector.

Queen rarely shot 3-pointers in college and made just 20% of them, but his 76.6% conversion rate from the free throw line indicates that he could develop reliable range in the future.

It can be tough for modern NBA teams to invest heavily in a center who lacks both 3-point range and high-level rim protection, so Queen will need to improve in those areas once he is in the league.