2025 NBA Draft: New Year's Resolutions for top consensus prospects

How can the top consensus prospects of the 2025 NBA Draft improve upon their flaws -- or add more clarity to their games -- as we enter new year?

It’s 2025, and the NBA Draft is becoming clearer. Lottery teams form and aim for top picks. The board solidifies as prospects build sample sizes and grooves, improving or harming their draft stocks. As we enter the new year, I analyze top consensus prospects to identify areas for improvement and change skeptics’ perspectives.

Cooper Flagg: Scoring More Efficiently. Good news — Flagg is hitting his stride scoring the basketball, scoring 21.3 points per game on 62.1 true shooting the past four games. His scoring arsenal has been one of his few flaws in his early collegiate career, as the streaky shooting that showed in high school hasn’t totally left him. It’s not unprecedented for a top pick to struggle as an efficient scorer — top-3 picks Anthony Edwards and Jaylen Brown both possessed eFG’s lower than 50 percent in their lone collegiate seasons. Nonetheless, if Flagg’s recent shooting spark sustains — flashed with a nice stop-and-pop mid-range game — his case for the top pick will be undeniable, as it’s proof he can pair his wrecking-ball defensively with go-to scoring abilities.

Dylan Harper: Show his true defensive role. Harper has emerged as the top prospect to potentially supplant Flagg with his dazzling scoring and playmaking. His defense, though, could further build a case. He’s not an incredibly efficient defender, or a frequent event creator. However, his physical tools are a baseline for being a formidable defender. He’s a big body for the guard spot, which could lead to a two possibilities. He could either be a guard that defends up in positions, or he could become an imposing point-of-attack defender against smaller guards. If his defense pops off in the new year, this race for the 1 spot will be one of the most intriguing we’ve seen in a long time.

Ace Bailey: Move the basketball. Let’s not dismiss Bailey’s scoring prowess. Yes, it’s not the ideal shot diet, but when it’s falling, his shot creation at his size is memorizing. It’s a trademark skill that could help him eventually become the best prospect in the draft. In today’s NBA, as a go-to scoring option on the wing, you have to be a playmaker, and Bailey’s assist rate (4.5) is ridiculously low — for context, of all top-5 picks in Barttovik’s database, only Hasheem Thabeet had a season with a lower rate. Yes, it takes two to tango for an assist, but Bailey has to improve as a decision-maker, especially when sizing up a defender, by finding opportunities for his teammates.

Kasparas Jakicionus: Trim down the turnovers. Jakicionus has been the biggest party-crasher at the top of the draft with his intriguing combination of playmaking, shot creation, shooting accuracy at his size. He’s an ideal combo guard that can co-pilot an offense. In order to be a full-blown primary initiator, he has to trim down his turnovers, as he’s averaging 3.6 turnovers (25.1 percentage). His passing creativity and lack of ideal athleticism leave him susceptible to dicey situations that lead to turnovers. Reducing his turnovers will lead to more buy-in of his role as a franchise cornerstone.

Khaman Maluach: Be undeniable. I highlighted Maluach a ton in my “risers, fallers, and prospects to monitor” article. I won’t go too extensive. He’s been productive, but mostly splits time with Maliq Brown, as he’s averaging just 18.8 minutes per game. In conference play, he needs to make an undeniable impact that sees him drawing closer to 25-30 minutes per game, en route to become a top-5 pick.

Nolan Traore: Find answers after touching the paint. Another player discussed in a recent column. Traore is just not an effective guard — he’s shooting 35.4% from the field, with alarming splits with three-point percentage (26.3), two-point percentage (42.2), and field goal percentage at the rim (53.4). He’s a blur, and his lightning-quick first step draws so many paint touches. The process is great, but at some point he has to generate results. Several skills stand out when improving towards better results on paint touches: finishing amidst contact, gear-shifting to not be so sped up when trying to make decisions, and improving upon his touch. Maybe he can’t put it together there, but the process will stick with a team — as it could be a baseline for him to add value as a lead guard.

Asa Newell: Shine against tougher competition. Newell might be the sleeper of the lottery — he’s a two-way big that’s incredibly productive on both ends of the floor. He’s a combo big that’s an effective finisher, active rebounder, and versatile defender — while dabbling with the 3-ball just a little bit. Despite his remarkable efficiency, the competition Georgia has faced prior to SEC play hasn’t popped off the page. Just in January, he’ll have tests against Johnni Broome of Auburn and Collin Murray-Boyles of South Carolina — as well as games against top teams such as Florida, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. He’s off to a great start after tallying 13 points, 13 rebounds (10 offensive) and 4 stocks against Ole Miss, then 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 stocks while hitting 2 of his 5 three’s against Kentucky. Continuing his stellar play in conference games could catapult Asa Newell closer to the top-5 of draft discussions.

Egor Demin: Give more clear answer on his NBA position. Demin became a popular prospect early in the cycle, but has struggled against stiffer competition. Performing well in Big 12 play could bode well in solidifying his draft stock — and in the process, giving a more clear definition on his position. Can he create advantages enough to be a primary playmaker? Can he shoot and defend well enough to play on the wing? He’s a riveting playmaker and solid finisher for a 6’8” ball-handler, but he’s still a huge question mark given his flaws that have been exposed against stronger opponents.

VJ Edgecombe: Find his offense. Edgecombe is a bit on the smaller side for being a two-guard, but his defensive activity is monstrous — the two notable players that have also had a block percentage better than 4% and a steal percentage better than 5% are Matisse Thybulle and Gary Payton II. Unfortunately, he’s shooting 28.6% from 3 and has a 49.1 true shooting percentage. Like with Flagg, it’s not totally detrimental for his NBA outcome. However, effective offense is essential for an undersized two-guard that may not have the playmaking to be a pure combo. Already a wicked athlete, his defense offers a steady floor for an All-Defense outcome, but his offense unlocks a possible “two-way star” outcome.

Tre Johnson: Get to the rim efficiently and a bit more often. Tre Johnson is fascinating to me, under the scope of consensus top prospects. He’s a knockdown shooter that has real creation prowess. To unlock his highest end outcome, he should look to get to the rim more often — as he has 26 field goal attempts at the rim in 12 games, per Synergy Sports. He doesn’t generate a ton of separation off the dribble, lacking strong burst to create really advantages. His shooting is a ticket to early playing time, but a concerted effort to get to the rim more frequently and effectively gives him star upside.

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