Dream Destinations for the 2025 NBA Draft Top 5 Overall Picks

An organization and team can substantially alter a player's development.

We’ve seen prospects try to manipulate which team selects them in the NBA draft (nice try Ace Bailey), but ultimately the organization for which these prospects play, when through a draft selection, is up to the selecting organization. However, what if it were different? What if prospects could choose where they play through a recruitment process?

Let’s imagine the top 5 picks in the 2025 NBA draft were able to choose any team with which to start their career and all NBA teams were actively recruiting them. These are the best organizational fits for the top 5 draft picks in the 2025 NBA draft, according to the Here’s The Thing team.

First Overall Pick: Cooper Flagg

Cooper Flagg can come into the league and immediately contribute to winning. He cuts super well off the ball and can create shots for himself as well. While some prospects would be good on a less successful team where they can get a lot of volume, we think Flagg would have plays called for him and be able to get reps on any team. Pair that with the theory that having better players around you make you in turn play better as well; it would be most beneficial for Flagg to choose a team based on how he fits into their already established system and being a piece that can push them towards contention for an NBA title.

Now in terms of the team itself and what that fit would be, obviously, he would not want to go to a forward heavy team where he would have to play behind say a Jayson Tatum. Instead, the team should have a need for a wing that can score and defend at all three levels. Flagg should seek an established system with a good playmaker and a frontcourt that is big and strong enough to help Flagg adjust to the physicality of the league.

Ultimately, our team went back and forth between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the team he was actually drafted to, the Dallas Mavericks. The deciding factor was the fact that there could be a chance that Flagg would have to come of the bench behind De’Andre Hunter, but on the Mavericks, he would definitely be starting at the small forward position. Very ideal spot to be in next to the other forward in that starting lineup, Anthony Davis. Luckily for Flagg, this is reality!

Team: Dallas Mavericks

Second Overall Pick: Dylan Harper

Dylan Harper thrives with the ball in his hands, breaking his man down in space or receiving a ball screen. He is crafty when he gets downhill and finishes explosively over taller defenders. While his initial instincts are not to make plays for his teammates, he has good awareness and instincts to make good passes to open teammates. We do not think that playing for an NBA finals contender should be priority one for Dylan. Dylan should look to play for a team that will give him the opportunity to be aggressive.

The team that comes to mind when thinking about the need for explosive guard play is the Milwaukee Bucks. Coming off of a failed duo experiment in Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, expectations to contend for an NBA championship are not very high. But with a top 5 player in the league on your roster, there will be some pressure to produce.

This pairing would be very mutually beneficial. While Harper will have some grace to make rookie mistakes while increasing his usage rate, he will also be challenged to do what he does best, put points on the board and help Giannis with the scoring load. The Bucks need guard play after having to waive Lillard, and landing Harper would be huge for them.

Teams may be hesitant to give Harper too many isolation opportunities early, and in that case, would turn to the pick and roll. We do not think there is any better duo in the league that would be better to be in pick and rolls/pops with than Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner.

Team: Milwaukee Bucks

Third Overall Pick: VJ Edgecombe

VJ Edgecombe is as explosive as they come. His quick first step, high motor, and ability to get downhill can give a team energy that can instantly spark a run. While his potential is limitless, Edgecombe is not the most polished prospect. So starting his career as a center piece may not be the best option for him because of the potential to expose a lot of flaws early on and potentially hurt his development. If he gets into the right role and culture, he can maximize his development both in skill, but also in how he mentally approaches the game.

It would be beneficial for Edgecombe to be on a team with minimal dysfunction and a clear need for a spark plug off the bench. The New York Knicks would be the perfect landing spot for VJ Edgecombe. Initially, he would not be asked to shoulder playmaking responsibilities, which would allow him to just get downhill and look to be aggressive. The Knicks are a defensive-minded and super physical team that an athletic bulldog like guard would love to be a part of. Edgecombe would fit like a glove in that defense.

Two key points that we think would push Edgecombe to choose the Knicks during this hypothetical recruitment process: mentorship and exposure. When playing for the Knicks, Edgecombe can learn how to best use his footwork and be ultra effective when slowing the game down from the master himself, Jalen Brunson. He can also learn from some of the best wing defenders in the league in OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. Lastly, with his high motor and learning how to rebound at a high clip despite being a short player from Josh Hart, Edgecombe can be an animal when attacking the glass. And regarding the exposure point, Edgecombe has expressed how much he thrives under bright lights and high stakes situations, when all the attention is on him. There is no better place for that than the Mecca of basketball.

Team: New York Knicks

Fourth Overall Pick: Kon Knueppel

Kon Knueppel is a sharpshooter that sets his feet and gets off his release very quickly. Characteristics of his that are not always mentioned are his decision-making skills and his toughness. While not flashy, he has patience and makes good reads in the half court. Do not expect him to play much as a point guard but he will not be a liability if asked to put the ball on the ground. He is tough when attacking the rim and you won’t see him shy away from contact often. He can plug in as a solid role player on any NBA roster, because in today’s league, everyone wants more shooting.

Even though every team would benefit from more shooting, there are only a few that would be mutually beneficial for Knueppel to join right now. Initially, we were split on the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors.

First, for the Nuggets, we see this as a real opportunity to contribute to winning basketball right away and to play with the best player in basketball. He would need to battle for role player minutes against Tim Hardaway Jr; however, we think that Knueppel can not only take those minutes but also challenge Christian Braun for his starting spot.

Next, for the Warriors, we feel it is harder to define what Knueppel’s role would be there, but that player development and team playstyle is a shooter’s dream.

Ultimately, this hypothetical choice would come down to what Knueppel values more. Not saying that he can’t experience great development with the Nuggets as well, but we have seen what the Warriors organization can do for shooters like Knueppel. If it were up to us, we would say that Knueppel should go to the Nuggets, develop with a great team around him, and experience a little bit of adversity early to really carve out his role, which he can master for hopefully a long and successful career. And who knows, maybe in this hypothetical situation he could win a ring under his rookie contract.

Team: Denver Nuggets

Fifth Overall Pick: Ace Bailey

Ace Bailey attacks explosively to the rim and excels at difficult shot making, particularly in the mid-range area. He has a quick second hop and can rise over any defender to get his shot off. While his footwork is great, he will need to work on his balance and ball control when dribbling under pressure. With the use of the mid-range shot diminishing, Bailey will have to figure out how he can translate his wide skillset to the NBA. Because of this, we think it would be best for him to be on a team where he can get a lot of volume and room for creativity and mistakes.

So, for Bailey, when thinking through a potential ideal landing spot, three factors came to mind. Those factors are a team that is rebuilding, a team with minimal wing player concentration, and a historic franchise in a big city (this factor was through his disdain for Utah). Now some teams may have one or two of these, but only one has all three.

That team is the Chicago Bulls. On the Bulls, Bailey can look to polish his game and learn his decision making and shot selection. He can’t go through his growing pains of his shot selection on a win-now team. While the Bulls have solid wing pieces in Isaac Okoro and Patrick Williams, and a rising star in Matas Buzelis, we think Bailey can fit well with those guys and control enough usage rate and volume to work on developing his game and not feel the pressure of winning right away.

Team: Chicago Bulls

Here’s The Thing, NBA prospects do not really have control over where they start their career if done so through the draft, but that does not mean that they do not have control over their career and how they develop. While the dream destinations above may be where we think these players will succeed best, players can turn a good situation into a disappointing career and a poor situation into a very long and successful career. Good luck to all the 2025 NBA rookies!