We're officially past the year mark of last year's NBA Draft, the class that saw Cooper Flagg claim the obvious number one spot, and Egor Demin, the first of many to enter the NBA via the Kevin Young BYU basketball pipeline, come off the board eighth overall. It was a draft of risers and fallers, and the spindly Russian out of Provo, Utah, was a big riser when the Nets took a chance on him.
Demin shared that he was prepared to be selected anywhere between the fifth pick and the 25th pick -- an extreme variance for a player of his talent, but understandable considering his uneven freshman output.
But Demin left no doubt as a rookie, notching a scorching 3-point percentage of 38% and breaking Nets franchise records along the way.
In the Summer League, he's looked even better after adding some muscle in the offseason and improving his downhill driving ability in early appearances. The sophomore scored 23 points in each of his first two games and was the clear best player on the court in both instances. So the question I pose is simple: if the NBA had a chance to draft the 2025 class all over again, where would Demin come off the board?
2025 NBA redraft: starting fresh and picking again
1. Cooper Flagg (previous: 1)
Yeah, he's the obvious pick, and was the runaway favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award despite a late push from his teammate back in Durham. Flagg does it all, and still appears to be the future of the league alongside players like Victor Wembanyama and Cade Cunnigham.
2. Kon Knueppel (previous: 4)
Knueppel shoots the three-ball like a seasoned pro, and already carries himself with midwest physicality that's hard to come by in his archetype. He nearly stole the Rookie of the Year from Flagg, and I can't push him any lower that this in good conscience.
3. Dylan Harper (previous: 2)
Sure, Harper spent too much time on the bench during the regular season, but he handled business with a steady hand in the NBA Finals, which is more than could be said about his mentor, Fox.
4. VJ Edgecombe (previous: 3)
I don't believe the Sixers have any regret in taking a player who can complement Tyrese Maxey so well with a delicious blend of shooting and athleticism.
5. Ace Bailey (previous: 5)
Likewise, the Jazz believe they have something very special in Ace Bailey, a player who erupted for over 30 points near the end of the season, and is growing into one of the best off-ball scorers at his age.
6. Egor Demin (previous: 8)
I might be listing Demin higher than others would, but considering how quickly he turned his weakness (shooting) into his strength, Demin is one of the most frightening combinations of size and position the league has seen. And he's putting it all together.
7. Collin Murray-Boyles (previous: 9)
The Raptors got a steal in a player who can do it all, and does it all well. That jumper still needs a bit of work, but this is a player's player right here, and a name you'll hear a lot in the coming years.
8. Derik Queen (previous: 13)
Baby Jokic is hitting the scene, and it's not all too surprising to see how well he did as a rookie when it comes to scoring and sharing the ball. He's physically limited, yes, but absolutely dangerous.
9. Cedric Coward (previous: 11)
Coward was little more than an intriguing combination of length and shooting upside. He's become so, so much more in a very short stretch with the Grizzlies. He was a man among boys in the Summer League, and dominated every matchup other than Darryn Peterson.
10. Tre Johnson (previous: 6)
With no disrespect to Johnson, the Wizards missed a bit considering the talent that fell behind him. A strong shooter, but little more than a complementary piece.
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