The 2025 NBA Draft is right around the corner, and Illinois basketball fans will have multiple reasons to watch.
While the NBA Playoffs are still going on, the 2025 NBA Draft is looming. We are about a month and a half out, as the draft will take place on June 25 at 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CT.
This year, the Illini are going to have two players selected. But where will these two players land? Well, Kyle Boone of CBS Sports published a 2025 NBA mock draft recently, and he has both Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley going in the first round.
A perfect spot for Kasparas Jakucionis to land
Cooper Flagg to the Utah Jazz with the first pick overall isn’t a shocker. The Jazz still have to win the No. 1 overall pick in the May 12 draft lottery, though. But you don’t have to go too much further to find where Jakucionis will land.
Boone has Jakucionis landing in a perfect spot. He has him getting picked by the San Antonio Spurs at pick No. 8 overall.
This would be incredible for Jakucionis, as teams that pick that high usually don’t have much of a future. That isn’t the case with the Spurs. They have an incredible player in Victor Wembanyama, and the franchise is building around him.
The only thing I question is whether or not the Spurs would actually take Jakucionis with the No. 8 overall pick. They have a pretty loaded backcourt right now, and I am not sure that is the position they need to address.
San Antonio has De’Aaron Fox locked up for another season. Devin Vassell is signed through 2028-29. And they also have Stephon Castle, who just won the Rookie of the Year. So, do they really need more backcourt help? I haven’t even mentioned the possibility of Chris Paul coming back.
If the Spurs did draft Jakucionis, he would be on a win-now team. He would also not have to be thrown to the wolves early on. This kid could develop and grow without having the pressure of being one of the main options.
Will Riley needs to avoid Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Nets get what seems like a million picks in the first round, and with pick No. 27, Boone has the Nets taking Will Riley.
Just making the NBA is a huge accomplishment, so no matter where a player lands, he is still in the NBA. With that being said, please avoid the Nets. This is one of those franchises that is NBA purgatory.
As a franchise, the Nets have zero direction and will have a hard time contending for a playoff spot for years to come. If Riley did get drafted by the Nets, he would likely have a chance to play early.
Brooklyn doesn’t have much in the way of roster construction. It is just a bunch of guys thrown together. So, Riley would be able to work his way into playing time. If he is good enough, it wouldn’t shock me to see him start, too.
With that being said, I want Riley on a winner. Teams like Orlando, Indiana, Boston, and Oklahoma City surround the Brooklyn picks late in the first round. Those are much better landing spots for Riley to develop.