2025 NBA Redraft: Cooper Flagg No.1, Ace Bailey Soars

A preseason-fueled re-draft reshuffles the 2025 class but keeps the big picture intact: Cooper Flagg remains the clear No. 1, Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe hold early slots, while Ace Bailey’s hot preseason lifts him into the top five. The exercise exposes winners and losers — Jase Richardson looks like a steal who should have gone much earlier, Thomas Sorber’s torn ACL dents his stock, and teams favored fit and upside over strict college production. Merlin sees teams using real-game minutes as a crystal ball: shooters and positional fit rose in value, Brooklyn doubled down on high-upside talent, and front offices showed patience with injured bigs. Early rotations and the first month of the season will either prove these preseason truths or send scouts back to the drawing board.