The 2025 NBA Draft class was loaded with many exciting and talented rookies who can make an impact in fantasy basketball. Now that the two-day event has concluded, here are the players managers should target and monitor next season.
2025 NBA Draft: Which Rookies To Target In Fantasy Basketball
The Must Draft
Cooper Flagg
To no surprise, the Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg first overall. How could they pass up on a generational prospect and the early Rookie of the Year favourite? The Maine native is a polished player with an extensive skill set, but his most attractive attribute is his versatility. In his lone season with the Duke Blue Devils, Flagg led the team in points (19.2), rebounds (7.5), assists (4.2), steals (1.4) and blocks (1.4). The forward’s staple is his elite defence. Thanks to his six-foot-nine frame, instincts and aggressiveness, he can effectively guard multiple positions, disrupt passing lines and swat shots. Offensively, he is a well-rounded scorer, especially around the rim and in the mid-range, with excellent passing skills. He doesn’t have any red flags, but he sometimes struggles with turnovers and could improve his ball-handling.
With the Mavericks’ current roster construction, Flagg is expected to slot in at the starting small forward spot (and point guard, too). He’ll immediately be thrust into a significant role with plenty of minutes, especially while Kyrie Irving is sidelined. There’s no doubt he’ll make an impact across the board and become a fantasy stud. The sky is the limit for Flagg, and the 18-year-old will go quickly in dynasty drafts. In standard leagues, managers should feel comfortable drafting him between the fourth and fifth rounds.
Late Round Fliers
Dylan Harper
While Dylan Harper is expected to start, he’s joining a San Antonio Spurs team loaded with young talent. Between him, De’Aaron Fox and 2024 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, their backcourt is a little crowded. While the guard’s minutes and impact may not be significant immediately, he should find his footing as the season progresses and roles become clearer. At Rutgers, the second-overall pick displayed three-level scoring, playmaking and solid defensive capabilities, while shooting consistency was an area for improvement. Haper can contribute points (19.4), rebounds (4.6), assists (4.0) and steals (1.4).
Kon Knueppel
There’s a starting small forward spot open on the Charlotte Hornets that has Ron Knueppel’s name written all over it. The No. 4 pick should receive heavy minutes right out of the gate and contribute to the scoring column. He’s an excellent marksman, knocking down 2.1 threes per game at Duke on a 40.6% clip. That’s a perfect recipe for LaMelo Ball to set him up, complementing Knueppel’s catch-and-shoot abilities well. As a three-point specialist, his fantasy production will be better suited to points leagues. However, he has been known to contribute a few boards (4.0) and assists (2.7) on excellent free-throw shooting (91.4%). He’s also an attractive candidate for an increased role down the stretch if the Hornets participate in silly season shenanigans again.
Khaman Maluach
On day one of the draft, the Hornets traded Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns, dampening the excitement around Khaman Maluach’s selection. While Williams is their starting center, his extensive injury history suggests that the rookie can still expect to see some action. The big man can be drafted as a handcuff who can provide managers with rebounds (6.6), blocks (1.3) and some points (8.6) at a high efficiency (71.2 FG%). Maluach has great defensive instincts with scoring upside, which should prompt the Suns to invest good minutes in developing him. On the depth chart, the seven-foot-two South Sudan native likely slots ahead of Nick Richards and should receive decent backup playing time.
Ryan Kalkbrenner
The only second-rounder to make this list is Ryan Kalkbrenner. With Charlotte moving Williams and Jusuf Nurkic declining, there’s a real possibility that the 34th overall pick can make a fantasy impact. While he’s a bit older than other rookies at 23, his defensive potential and IQ are exceptional. Across five seasons at Creighton, he’s displayed tremendous shot blocking (2.7) and inside scoring (19.2) with high efficiency (65.3 FG%). Kalkbrenner isn’t the fastest and can’t generate many scoring opportunities for himself. Still, there’s a very good chance the seven-footer can enter the starting lineup thanks to his tantalizing defence.
Rookies To Monitor/Stream
VJ Edgecombe
The Philadelphia 76ers have plenty of guards, but they need defence. Luckily, that’s VJ Edgecombe’s best quality. The shooting guard is an athletic defender who boasted a 2.1 steals average at Baylor and cleaned up on the glass (5.6). He offers some scoring and assists, but he fits more of a 3-and-D archetype as he struggles to convert shots, especially around the rim, and with ball handling. While Tyrese Maxey is a lock at the one, the other starting guard job could go to sophomore Jared McCain or Edgecombe. Even if the third-overall pick comes off the bench, he should receive a heavy workload and get some action with the first unit.
Ace Bailey
Between declining workouts to rumours that Utah wasn’t one of his preferred destinations, Ace Bailey is spelling trouble. While he reported to the team on Saturday, the forward remains a risky draft pick. He’s certainly a talented prospect with high upside, but he also comes with plenty of concerns. Bailey’s name has already come up as a potential bust candidate, and his production can go either way. Nevertheless, he’s expected to start at small forward and will get an excellent opportunity to develop on the Jazz, especially near the end of the season. The former Scarlet Knight is a versatile scoring threat (17.6) who can pull down rebounds (7.2) and compile stocks (2.3). However, his shooting splits and playmaking leave much to be desired.
Tre Johnson
Tre Johnson is the latest addition to the rebuilding Washington Wizards. The Texan was touted as one of the best shooters of the 2025 class, leading his team in scoring. The shooting guard has more appeal in points leagues, as his primary fantasy assets are points (19.9) and threes (2.7). Johnson is an excellent shot creator with great range, while defence isn’t one of his strong suits. He’s also expected to come off the bench, at least initially. The Wizards have some veterans they may look to trade by the deadline, which could lead to a starting job for the sixth pick.
Jeremiah Fears
The New Orleans Pelicans and Jeremiah Fears don’t make for the best match in fantasy. His fit on the team made many scratch their heads, especially after they traded for Jordan Poole. The point guard’s weak field goal percentage and high turnovers don’t make for the best pairing with the former Wizard. However, he should have some temporary value while Dejounte Murray rehabs from an Achilles tear. His timeline to return is unclear, but there’s a pathway to minutes for Fears until Murray is back at full strength. Pick No. 7’s ability to get to the line (6.2 FTA on 85.1 FT%) and provide some scoring (17.1), assists (4.1) and steals (1.6) could be helpful for a bit.
Egor Demin
The Brooklyn Nets had a record-breaking five first-round picks, using their top selection on Egor Demin. He is dubbed one of the best passers in his class, dishing out 5.5 assists per game for BYU. The Russian has great size for a guard, standing at six-foot-nine, allowing him to crash the boards (3.9). His scoring, shooting and defence are a bit raw, but he has a chance to start ahead of D’Angelo Russell at point guard. Assists will be Demin’s calling card, and managers know how hard those are to find. Brooklyn is an ideal team for young players to develop, but some analysts are calling the eighth overall pick a boom or bust player. It also doesn’t help that the Nets used three of their other picks to stockpile guards.
Collin Murray-Boyles
Collin Murray-Boyles is joining a Toronto Raptors squad loaded with forwards. It’ll be difficult for him to get on the fantasy radar as a rotation piece with limited minutes. However, the No. 9 pick will likely get opportunities in the latter half of the year if the team tanks. That said, the Raptors are also expected to be active over the offseason. Some moves could create a more straightforward pathway to minutes for him. Until then, managers don’t have to pay much attention to the power forward. They should just be aware that Murray-Boyles is a physical and versatile defender who can contribute rebounds (8.3) and stocks (2.8).
Kasparas Jakucionis
Thanks to a lack of options in their backcourt, Kasparas Jakucionis should get ample usage on the Miami Heat. He’s a combo guard, but will likely be thrust into the point guard position, as that’s the team’s biggest need. In that role, the No. 20 pick brings scoring (15.0), playmaking (4.7), rebounding (5.7) and three-point shooting (1.6). The Lithuanian’s bigger size and court vision are his best assets offensively, although he’s prone to off-shooting nights. Even if Jakucionis doesn’t start immediately, he should get the chance to prove himself in the first unit.
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