Everyone talks about the top of the lottery. Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, the big names—they get the headlines and the 24/7 coverage. But if you’re actually paying attention to how winning rosters are built, the real action is happening much later. Honestly, the nba mock draft 2025 2nd round is where the actual chess match begins.
Drafting in the 30-to-60 range is basically a high-stakes scavenger hunt. You aren’t looking for a franchise savior; you’re looking for that one specific tool—a wing who can actually slide his feet, a backup big who doesn't get lost in drop coverage, or a "vibes" guy who eventually shoots 40% from the corner.
Last year's draft proved that the second round is no longer a throwaway. Teams are getting smarter. They’re using these picks on "pro-ready" upperclassmen or stash-and-dash international players who might not come over for two years but have massive upside.
The Grind of the Second Round
Scouts are exhausted by the time they get to these names. But the smart ones? They’re leaning into the data.
Take a guy like Alex Toohey out of the NBL. He’s 6-foot-7, fundamentally sound, and basically the archetype of a modern "connector." Most mocks have him floating around the early 40s. Is he going to be an All-Star? Probably not. Can he play 15 minutes a night in a playoff rotation without making you scream at your TV? Absolutely.
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Then you’ve got the high-variance swings.
International Stashes and Late Risers
- Bogoljub Marković: A Serbian forward who has been tearing it up for Mega Basket. He’s a first-round talent on some boards, but if he slips into the 30s, someone is getting a steal.
- Michael Ruzic: A 6-foot-11 Croatian who can actually shoot. If he drops to the mid-second, he's the ultimate "upside dice roll."
- Mouhamed Faye: Think of him as an "enforcer" type. He’s powerful, rebounds everything, and doesn't need the ball.
Why the Order Shifts So Fast
The second round is incredibly fluid. A single ankle sprain in February or a bad interview in May can send a guy from pick 32 to undrafted. Teams also trade these picks like Pokémon cards. You might see the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Brooklyn Nets—who have a mountain of draft capital—try to package three late picks just to move up ten spots.
It's also about the "Three-and-D" desperation.
Every single team in the league thinks they are one 6-foot-8 wing away from being a contender. This leads to "reach" picks. You’ll see a guy like Liam McNeeley or Darrion Williams get looks earlier than expected because their shooting gravity is undeniable.
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Specific Names to Watch in the 30-50 Range
Let’s look at some real players people are projecting for the 2025 second round.
Motiejus Krivas is a name that keeps popping up. He’s 7-foot-2, playing for Arizona, and while he isn't the fastest guy on the floor, you can't teach that kind of size. In a league that is slowly returning to having "real" backup centers to bang with the Joels and Nikolas of the world, Krivas makes a ton of sense for a team like the Timberwolves or Nuggets.
On the flip side, you have the "tiny but mighty" guards. Tahaad Pettiford is electric. He’s undersized—roughly 6-foot-1—but he can light it up. Most years, these guys go undrafted. In 2025? A team might take a flyer on him at 55 just to see if that scoring translates to a G-League scoring title and a 10-day contract.
The "Older" Prospect Advantage
- Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan): He’s a senior. He’s polished. He’s the kind of guy a contender drafts so they don't have to explain how a pick-and-roll works to a 19-year-old.
- Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida): A fearless shooter. If your bench needs a spark, he’s the guy you call.
- Bruce Thornton (Ohio State): Toughness personified. He’s a "coach's player" who will probably end up playing 10 years in the league as a backup PG.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 Class
The biggest misconception? That the 2025 draft is "top-heavy."
Sure, the Flagg-Bailey-Edgecombe trio is elite. But the depth in the second round is actually better than 2024. Last year’s class was widely panned for its lack of star power and its shallow middle. 2025 has the opposite "problem." There are so many high-level college contributors that the difference between the 25th pick and the 45th pick is almost negligible.
This creates a "Buyer's Market."
If I'm a GM, I’m not desperate to trade up into the late 20s. I’m perfectly happy sitting at 38 and taking whoever falls. Maybe it’s Hansen Yang, the 7-foot-3 Chinese center who has some of the best passing vision we’ve seen from a big in years. Or maybe it’s a high-motor wing like Cedric Coward, who has climbed the ranks from Division III to the brink of the NBA.
Reality Check: The Contract Factor
We have to talk about the CBA. The new collective bargaining agreement makes these second-round picks more valuable than ever. Teams can now use a "Second Round Pick Exception" to sign these guys to three or four-year deals without dipping into their Mid-Level Exception.
That is huge.
It means a team like the Phoenix Suns or the Boston Celtics—teams that are deep in the "apron" and have zero money to spend—rely on the nba mock draft 2025 2nd round to fill out their roster. If they hit on a guy like Zuby Ejiofor or Solo Ball, they get a rotation player on a dirt-cheap contract for four years. That is how you survive the luxury tax.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Draft Nerds
If you want to track this properly, stop looking at "Big Boards" and start looking at "Team Needs." The second round is about fit, not talent.
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- Watch the "One-and-Done" fallers: Every year, a 5-star recruit struggles in college (think of the guys at Duke or Kentucky who don't get minutes). They often declare anyway and become second-round "projects."
- Monitor the NBL and ABA: The "Next Stars" program in Australia is a factory for second-round value. Players like Rocco Zikarsky are elite physical specimens who just need time.
- Don't ignore the seniors: In a world of "potential," the guy who can actually hit a 3-pointer and defend a screen-and-roll today is worth his weight in gold.
Keep an eye on the nba mock draft 2025 2nd round as we move toward June. The names will change, but the strategy remains the same: find the one NBA skill that works and ignore the rest.
To get a better handle on these prospects, start watching the defensive rotations of guys like Collin Murray-Boyles or the shooting mechanics of Liam McNeeley. These are the details that separate a future NBA veteran from a guy playing in Europe by 2027. Pay attention to the players who show high "Basketball IQ" in high-pressure tournament games, as those are the ones scouts will be circling when the second round finally kicks off.