2025 NBA Draft Prep Final Edition: The Big Swings
Scouting Coward, Beringer, Sorber, Newell, Traore
Okay folks, the 2025 NBA Draft day is here so let’s get straight to business.
Here is my updated mock draft projection for the entire first round:
While Carter Bryant averages out as the ninth pick, none of the mock drafts I have project him going to the Toronto Raptors. Khaman Maluach, meanwhile, is sent to the Raptors by The Athletic, The Ringer, and Tankathon.
No one has moved up more since my initial June 9th projection than Cedric Coward (from 21st to 15th) and Joan Beringer (23rd to 16th). No one has dropped more than Liam McNeeley (15th to 21st) and Jase Richardson (17th to 25th). I was never high on McNeeley so am unsurprised by the drop. Richardson, as noted in the previous post, has been viewed less favourably since the Draft Combine because of his size and lack of natural point guard skills. He’s more of a scorer.
Kon Knueppel has been heavily linked with the Charlotte Hornets and that’s why he’s moved up a couple spots. While Ace Bailey averages out at fifth, he has been strongly connected to the Washington Wizards who have the sixth pick.
Now let’s get to some scouting:
Cedric Coward
Why has Coward been racing up draft boards? In short, he’s showing skills that make his physical measures at 6’6” with a 7’2” wingspan tantalizing. To start with, the jumper looks absolutely pure. He’s got a great motion straight up and down and always looks in rhythm. What I liked in particular watching the film was that he was able to take a rhythm shot even on plays where he ended up having to make a low catch.
He’s someone who likes posting up and using his footwork to create separation for a shot. If he’s got the work ethic, I can see him becoming quite polished in that aspect. Coward will absolutely have to bulk up to be effective at it in the NBA, though. When creating from the outside, there’s flashes of real potential getting to his spots and pulling up. That 7’2” wingspan in combination with his high release makes him very difficult to block. He will have to develop as a movement shooter but should come in NBA ready as a standstill shooter.
The downside right now is he’s not strong enough to maintain balance on drives or his finishing around the basket. That’s definitely something that translates to rushing at the NBA level for a lot of rookies so again his physical development will have a big say in his ultimate ceiling.
Defensively, he’s someone that’s going to be good at creating deflections and steals, as well as blocks a help defender. It will be interesting to see how he pans out as a 1-on-1 defender because I wouldn’t say he has great speed or quickness. He will probably be switchable between the shooting guard and small forward positions to start out but will need time to strengthen before he can defend power forwards.
There’s star potential here. Why was he so low to begin with? He only played six games at Washington State due to a shoulder injury. The draft combine, and especially his shooting at the combine, is when things started to change.
Potential Raptors Fit: Adding a player who could potentially shoot the lights out and has a solid defensive ceiling would fit any team let alone the Raptors. Is he too big a swing at No. 9? Not if Khaman Maluach and Carter Bryant are gone.
Draft Expectation: Coward is now one of the harder players to predict because of how fast he’s risen. I’d still figure he goes somewhere in the 12-18 range.
Joan Beringer
Long and lanky, Beringer has apparently grown to over 7-feet tall now with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. The French centre runs the floor really well, is mainly a play finisher at the rim, and is considered by some to be the best shot blocker in the draft.
Beringer’s movement lends to believing he can be a very good defender in the pick-and-roll, something that has become an essential aspect of evaluating centres in today’s day and age. There’s a lot of projection that has to be done here because of how new he is to the game and the fact that he’s coming over from playing in the ABA League. It’s quite possible he’ll need time with the Raptors 905, maybe even an entire season.
As far as his offensive potential is concerned, there are moments where he teases great things. He’s had plays where he receives the ball on the run and goes into that slow Euro step (stay on one foot just a bit longer) move we see more of nowadays. Seeing someone with his frame do that when moving with speed is stunning. It’s exactly the type of play that gets you rising up draft boards.
He’s got pretty good hands and catches well, something that teams will look for with a player his size. The hope will be he can knock down shots from around 10 to 15 feet as far as his jumper is concerned.
Like Maluach, Beringer came to basketball late and so how quickly he’s picked up the game lends to believing the 18-year-old can grow a lot more. Like Pascal Siakam, Beringer grew up playing soccer and that may help explain his high level movement relative to his size and general coordination.
Raptors Fit: The Raptors already took a long-term prospect in Ulrich Chomche a year ago. How they view Beringer’s developmental trajectory is vital in evaluating his fit. There are some appealing skills but the competition level wasn’t great. He is absolutely not a candidate for No. 9 but more so if the Raptors trade down.
Draft Expectation: If Coward isn’t available, he’d be a really good option for the Thunder at No. 15. Beringer would be in a place where he can take his time but also have healthy competition pushing his development.
Thomas Sorber
Sorber’s basketball IQ is something that jumps at you. Whether on offence or defence, he understands the value of positioning and timing. He can operate as a passer at the elbows and consistently makes good reads. On the defensive end, Sorber anticipates incredibly well and uses his 7’6” wingspan to great effect.
I can’t imagine his floor being lower than a solid backup centre. He’s too smart to not maximize his physical attributes and, even if the scoring doesn’t reach a high level, he is someone that I project to be a positive impact player. If he reaches his ceiling, there’s a starter here.
His lack of bounce and athleticism is something that will be tested at the NBA level, but again, it’s his instincts that are vital in this regard. He’s someone who will need time to develop his offence. He’s decent at posting up but the post-up game in today’s NBA has become a bit like the mid-range. Only the elite of the elite as far as efficiency is considered get a healthy dose of opportunities.
Sorber will have to add strength and then use that to create separation on the interior at the NBA level. If not, he’ll have to become a really reliable shooter to give his team enough on the offensive end.
Defensively, I’d probably project his biggest concern to be defending pick-and-rolls and especially if he’s switched onto faster guards or forwards. That lack of bounce and mobility allows for those player types to blow by him and if it was happening in college you can rest assured NBA athletes will exploit it even more.
I will say that though Derik Queen is certainly more offensively gifted as far as an overall package is concerned, Sorber has — at least from what I’ve seen — a more workable jumper. If he can
Sorber’s personality has reportedly stood out over the course of the last few weeks. Executives have noted his big personality and someone who comes off as a fun loving guy. We like fun guys in Toronto.
Raptors fit: I rate him higher than Queen and would not shy away from picking him at No. 9. Toronto showed a penchant for high IQ players in the last draft and I won’t be surprised if that trend continues.
Draft expectation: I have to say it’s surprising to see Joan Beringer generally picked higher than Sorber. Beringer is going to need time and Sorber has shown well against tougher competition. I think Sorber is the type of player the Spurs would draft at No. 14 and we’re all left saying of course San Antonio drafted him.
Asa Newell
This is another long, athletic big who runs the floor well. When playing for Georgia, Newell spent a lot of time in two-big lineups and that’s a concern for me at the NBA level.
He primarily operates in the paint currently and that’s not a good sign if his preferred position is as a power forward. In some ways, he could be an even bigger project than Beringer.
What teams do see in him is a versatile defender who can defend pick-and-rolls very well because of his ability to switch. He is definitely very mobile.
I don’t think he has very good hands, doesn’t finish well enough around the basket, but there is perhaps a bit of potential with his jumper. He’s not someone who should be on the Raptors’ radar in my opinion so I don’t want to take too much time here.
Raptors Fit: He does not fit what Darko Rajakovic wants to do on the offensive side of the ball. Positionally, he would further complicate the small forward/power forward.
Draft Expectation: I lean towards where The Ringer has him at No. 26. The Nets currently have so many picks in the late first round and Newell could be viewed as a long-term Nic Claxton replacement.
Nolan Traore
Traore is a French point guard with good size. He has a good handle and has an explosive first step. His ability to get into the paint is a big plus and he’s got options as well since he’s pretty comfortable shooting the ball.
He’d be another possible candidate for the Raptors if they trade down from No. 9. He’s got a bit of a slow release on his jumper and so that will need to improve at the NBA level. Traore shows good point guard instincts and should definitely be considered more of a pass-first player.
Raptors fit: He’s a decent option for the Raptors if they pick in the 15-25 range. Having Traore behind Quickley and Shead is a good option and he can get ample time to develop in the G League as well.
Draft expectation: I like him for the Minnesota Timberwolvest at No. 17.
My final big board specifically for the Raptors at No. 9:
Khaman Maluach
Carter Bryant
Thomas Sorber
Cedric Coward
Noa Essengue
Joan Beringer
Egor Demin
Derik Queen
Kasparas Jakucionis
Nolan Traore
That’s everything I have for you as far as pre-draft coverage is concerned, hope you enjoyed it!
Enjoyed it. Now need to see how it develops. Thanks