Los Angeles Clippers 2025 NBA Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

San Diego State guard Miles Byrd is deservedly climbing up mock drafts and big boards recently, averaging 14.2 points and 4.5 rebounds with 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He ranks 99th percentile among all NCAA players this season in Wins Above Replacement Player (WARP), Win Shares (WS), as well as Player Efficiency Rating (PER). Byrd also ranks fourth-best among all NCAA players this season in Box-Plus Minus (BPM), via Bart Torvik.

He's strong, athletic, potentially versatile defensively, and competes with a high motor. If the shooting ever becomes reliable, he would be a very nice role player, which is what the Clippers would love to find here.

At 19 years old, Noah Penda has started 16 games this year in Pro A. International scouts will be drawn to his versatility, not necessarily his scoring projection, which is hampered by creation and athletic limitations.

Instead, improved shooting (36.2 percent 3PT), passing and defensive playmaking have helped the 6'8" forward generate interest this draft cycle after a strong showing over the summer at the U20 European Championships.

Arguably no player has been hotter in college hoops than Jackson, a five-star freshman guard who started slowly while being stuck behind guards R.J. Davis, Seth Trimble and Elliot Cadeau. However, over his last eight games, he's averaging 19.3 points while shooting 53 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3, including at least 23 points in each of his last four games. Jackson has long been extremely confident going back to high school, so belief in himself was never going to be a concern. His game has translated quite well because he's knocking down shots. If he sprays out to the corners, he's firing without concern. If he gets downhill in transition, he's attacking with real force. If he sees a mismatch with a big on him, he'll use quick crossovers to create an angle and attack. What teams would like to see now is any sort of passing ability. Jackson's averaging 0.7 assists per game during this run and hasn't showcased much in the way of creativity as a distributor. He looks the part of a bench scorer in the NBA right now. But the difference between that and a starting guard is the ability to help make your teammates better. That's what makes him more of a later first-round type of prospect despite the hot scoring run.

In his second G League season with Mexico City after the dissolution of the Ignite team, Pate's draft stock has been in a bit of flux. At 18, he's the youngest player in the league and is still searching for consistency but a well-timed 26-point breakout game at the G League Showcase in front of myriad NBA decision-makers appeared to be fortuitous.

Pate has excellent size for a guard and has looked more comfortable since moving into an off-ball role, but he would still be a project player for the projected Clippers. He will need time for his skills and feel to catch up with his physical tools though. The flashes of talent have helped him of late. Sneaking into the first round isn't out of the question, provided he continues to make progress. -- Woo