Oklahoma City Thunder 2025 NBA Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

Georgia's Asa Newell is a classic rim-running big man who does not make the game too complicated for himself. He leads all freshmen in layups and dunks combined this season, per CBB Analytics, and ranks third-most among all men's college basketball players. He also currently ranks first among all freshmen in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) as well.

South Carolina sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles is perhaps the most enticing collegiate player who was not a one-and-done prospect. He is a versatile forward who is averaging 15.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, as well as 1.2 blocks per game this season. He is someone who is ready to contribute in many ways at the next level.

One of the most surprising prospects in this class is Saint Joseph's Rasheer Fleming, who combined athleticism with shooting feel. He is currently the only player in college basketball who has recorded both 25 dunks and 3-pointers, per Bart Torvik. He ranks fourth-best among all NCAA players in the catch-all metric Wins Above Replacement Player.

This is, admittedly, a little higher for Newell than I'm comfortable with, but he fits an archetype that OKC could value as a southpaw big who can, potentially, stretch the floor with his shooting and as a lob threat and simultaneously bring some defensive versatility.

Fears is the most pleasant surprise in this freshman class so far. The question is whether he can sustain it. He's a big, playmaking lead guard who needs a ton of volume and isn't always especially efficient but has playmaking tools. It would be a big swing for an OKC team that is very comfortable betting on its player development.

A late-blooming big wing with a 7-foot wingspan and 39% shooting from behind the arc for his career, Coward began his college career at the Division III level and only played six games this season before a shoulder injury.

Khaman Maluach's 19 points against Notre Dame highlighted his advantageous length and mobility for catching lobs, grabbing offensive rebounds and creating easy opportunities. He's also now up to 77.3 percent from the free-throw line, showing touch we've see him use on jumpers before he arrived at Duke.

Workouts will give Maluach a better opportunity to sell teams on his offense and range.

Regardless, he has a clear archetype with the size, length and movement for the easy baskets and rim protection to be deemed easily translatable. The stats might not show a lot of blocks, but the tape shows a disruptive defensive presence who forces his man to have to make difficult finishes over his reach.

Derik Queen's freshman production has helped generate national buzz, but it's the flashes of perimeter drives and shooting confidence that have earned him mentions in the first-round discussion.

No explosion, a 248-pound frame and a back-to-the-basket game initially had scouts skeptical about how Queen's game would translate to the NBA. There are still questions about how he fits defensively at the next level. And he has cut down on three-point attempts as of late. But his strength, skill, body control at his size and expanding offensive skill set, which includes passing, should have scouts willing to look past Queen's flaws outside the lottery.

After a breakout 14-point game on December 15, Hugo Gonzalez has gone back to Real Madrid's bench.

It's a unique situation, as he's done little to build a 2025 draft case, yet there is plenty of tape and evidence of NBA potential for teams to put stock into. Over the years, he's built a strong reputation over his athletic scoring plays and defensive competitiveness. Last season and summer, he started to deliver more flashes of self-creation and shotmaking.

His draft stock will likely be all over the place, depending on teams' willingness to put more into the FIBA, junior-level and ANGT tape.

Knueppel hasn't blown the doors off the place at Duke, but scouts continue to be really impressed with him. So far, he's averaging 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Those aren't the kind of numbers that jump off the page. However, scouts have been impressed with his defense; he looks like the kind of playmaking floor-spacer who will be able to stick on that end in the NBA. He's only made 35.9 percent of his 3s so far, something that scouts do not believe will last. They really value Knueppel's shooting ability and think he'll continue to develop into the kind of player who can not just make open 3s from NBA distance but also attack closeouts and run ball screens with comfort because of his feel for the game. Knueppel is the kind of player who will likely continue to make positive strides throughout the year as his shooting regresses to its expected level and as he gets even more comfortable with the college game.

Philon is another smaller guard whom teams are struggling to place right now. The Alabama native who attended high school powerhouse Link Academy has some height and is aggressive attacking the rim. However, he is quite skinny and isn't a ready-made shooter at this point. His first step is quite fast, and he goes from slow to fast with real acceleration. He's comfortable finishing with both hands at the rim and seems to take sharp, direct lines toward the rim that allow him to finish with real efficiency.

Philon is also a sharp decision-maker with good passing vision and creativity. He'll throw live-dribble passes with both hands, and he sees the court with a sharp clarity. He averages four assists versus only 1.6 turnovers per game, an excellent mark for a guard who was a late reclassification into college hoops. He also averages 12.6 points, is generally active on defense and has a nice floater game he can get to as a counter. However, the shooting is going to have to improve. That's where the main concern for teams remains along with the overall frame, given that he's 175 pounds. Philon strikes me as a player who might be better off returning to school for one more year while he gets his body right. It would be a difficult rookie season for him in the NBA. But most teams I've spoken with see him as a first-rounder right now, and that's often difficult to pass up.

Murray-Boyles is another fairly polarizing player around the league, albeit one to whom scouts consistently assign a first-round grade. The big-bodied forward is averaging 15.8 points, nine rebounds and two assists and has consistently played excellent defense this season. He gets to the line and continues to be about as productive as anyone in the SEC. For a nine-game stretch before a loss against Mississippi State, he was averaging 17 points and shooting 67 percent. South Carolina uses him often on the block, but he also can catch high on the court and attack downhill with quick moves off the bounce, particularly in dribble-handoff settings.

He's excellent at screening and rolling into post-ups or slipping into the paint. Murray-Boyles is also a terrific, switchable defender who can move up and down the lineup as well as provide some weakside rim protection. Teams want to learn more about his shooting ability, as he's only made four of his 12 3-point attempts this season. But big, physical defenders who can pass and play well without the ball will always be of interest to teams in the league.

The Thunder have possibly the deepest roster in the NBA and a stockpile of draft picks, giving them the freedom of selecting the best player available regardless of position or possibly dealing this pick depending on the offer.

Saraf continues to turn in a solid season at Ulm, where he has had success in a playmaking role and showcased his fearlessness and craft as a scorer and passer. Saraf's defense can be a bit of an adventure, and there are some holes in his shot diet, namely his rim-finishing and 3-point shooting (27%). His turnovers (2.8 per game) are a critical area for improvement.

Still, teenage prospects with Saraf's level of size and feel warrant long looks in the first round, and the quality season he is putting together likely could help him in June. -- Woo

The Heat will have lottery protection on this pick, giving them a cushion in the draft as their front office handles Jimmy Butler's situation ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline. If Miami makes the playoffs, as it would in this scenario, its pick conveys to Oklahoma City, giving the Thunder a third first-round pick to add more talent and potentially add a high-upside prospect who would boast significant long-term potential.

Riley, 18, has been up and down at Illinois and is struggling as of late. But he's oozing with talent as a 6-8 versatile scorer with outstanding shot-making prowess. With his thin frame and clear limitations on the defensive end, Riley will need to show more in Big Ten play than what we've seen over the past month. He will have to find a team patient enough to develop his body and all-around game. He is the type of long-term prospect scouts covet if he can drop enough glimpses of potential to maintain the early intrigue he built. -- Givony

Oklahoma City could add another developmental frontcourt piece in Newell, who has turned in solid production for a 13-2 Georgia team that has played a light schedule thus far. Teams will be watching closely to see which direction he trends when the Bulldogs face stronger SEC competition.

Newell has a solid frame, good mobility for his size, and has been efficient around the basket (65% on 2s). He is good on the offensive glass (3.7 per game) and showing flashes as a defensive playmaker (2.7% steal rate, 4.9% block rate).

Though there are some positive tools for the Thunder to develop should he fall here, there are valid questions about his long-term role. He's not a skilled enough ball handler or shooter yet (31% from 3) to add value on the perimeter, and doesn't have high-end size or length for a big. Still, he has exceeded expectations and offers long-term appeal in the first round. -- Woo

The NBA Academy Africa product is a 7-2 specimen who can eliminate any and all shots that come in his way. If he's not blocking it, he's altering it in some way, shape or form. While his offense is an area that has room for growth, there are reasons to believe Maluach can become better in that category with how hard he plays and the fact that he's 18 years old. I love this kid's game perhaps more than other evaluators and think his defensive prowess gives him top-10 value.